Guadalupe River Chapter Trout Unlimited Newsletter

P.O. Box 701864 / San Antonio TX 78270-1864 / (512) 261-4409 / newsletter@grtu.org

Published three times each year: January, April, October / Number 68 / January 2002

Editor: Richard Stanley (rgstanley@msn.com) / Contributors: George Spalding, Eric Peper, Bob Tuttle, David Schroeder, Dave Elliott, Shelley Marmon, Jimmy D. Moore, Ray Chapa, Jr.

Meetings: Fourth Saturday of the above months.

OFFICERS			DIRECTORS
President	George Spalding	(512) 329-8771	Carl Bohn	Shelley Marmon
VP Chapter Affairs	Ray Chapa Jr.	(210) 680-0912	Tony Corbett	Doug Ming
VP Fisheries	Scott Graham	(512) 847-6222	Oscar Dupre	Jimmy Moore
VP Membership	Scott Thompson	(830) 931-3900	Dave Gutweiler	David Schroeder
Secretary	Karen Gebhardt	(830) 980-7580	Hylmar Karbach Jr.	Marian Tilson
Treasurer	Michael J. Scott	(210) 496-6911	Doug Kierklewski
Newsletter	Richard Stanley	(713) 784-0443	Ex Officio: Billy Trimble
TU Liaison & Mailings	Bob Tuttle	(512) 261-4409	Webmaster: John Oliphant

Notice of Annual Winter Meeting

Saturday, January 26, 2002

L SAME DAM LOCATION: Dam Red Barn 7

(Just below Canyon Lake Dam on the South Access Road See next page for directions.)

¼ SPECIAL LEASE ACCESS ORIENTATIONS: 9:00 am & 1:00 pm ½

MEETING SET-UP: 8:00 am (Volunteers Needed! And for Clean-up, too!)

REGISTRATION, SHOP THE GRTU GENERAL STORE, SOCIALIZING: 9:00–10:00 am

CHAPTER BUSINESS: 10:00–10:45 am

PROGRAM: Johnny Quiroz, II and Marcus Rodriguez of San Marcos present

"Fly Fishing Texas Rivers and Streams”

10:45–11:45 am

RAFFLE PRIZE: Super Sunglasses: Maui Jim’s polarized Kapalua from EyeMasters

RAFFLE AND DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS AND MEETING WRAP-UP: 11:45-12 noon

LUNCH: 12 noon. $7.00. Beer, wine and sodas will be available for purchase. Donated desserts welcomed and appreciated!

IN-STREAM CLINIC: River flows permitting, Johnny and Marcus will teach freshwater species tactics from 1:00–3:00 pm

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: 3:00 pm (location to be announced)

Fly Fishing Texas Rivers and

Streams Is January’s Program

With almost 4,000 members, the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited Chapter is the largest TU chapter in the world. In our ranks are fly fishermen of all kinds, trout, salmon, steelhead, saltwater, bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and guadalupe), bluegills, stripers, perch, white bass, and those of us who fish for all of them. I dare say that there are very few of us who fish for cold water fish only. So. . . . since our last several programs have dealt with trout, I thought it befitting for us to have a program on fishing our rivers and streams for the other above-mentioned fresh water species.

Our program for January will be presented by "The Guides Of Texas"—Johnny Quiroz, II and Marcus Rodriguez of San Marcos. It will be an outstanding slide presentation of fly fishing and tactics used on rivers such as the Blanco, San Marcos, San Gabriel, Llano, Medina, and others across Texas. They will also put on a "streamside clinic" after lunch, river flow permitting, to demonstrate fresh water species tactics, in particular, the Guadalupe bass.

These two outstanding young men are the owners and guides of the above guide service. The Guides of Texas had humble beginnings, all starting several years ago with a beat-up john boat and a couple of spinning rods that very soon were replaced with fly fishing outfits, canoes, and kick-boats. Johnny and Marcus have spent countless days on Central Texas rivers, learning and perfecting techniques that make for a successful and pleasant fishing outing. Both have been fishing Central Texas rivers and streams for over 20 years. These young men definitely know their stuff.

If you want to learn more about river and stream fishing for other freshwater species, and enjoy a few good laughs, you'll want to be in attendance at the January 26 meeting. Johnny and Marcos play off each other and use humor to get their points across.

See you at the meeting.

Jimmy D. Moore, GRTU Program Chair

General Store for TU Logo Gear

The General Store at the meeting will again feature national TU logo goodies in addition to our GRTU logo items (see the ad in this issue for details). National TU offerings include Catch and Release logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, bumper/window stickers, lapel pins, and license plate holders. All proceeds go to GRTU.

Win Top-of-the-Line Maui Jim Shades: Get Raffle Tickets Now

The January raffle prize is a pair of Maui Jim polarized Kapalua sunglasses donated by EyeMasters. These top-of-the-line fishing shades guarantee that you’ll see great—and look great too. We can’t include raffle tickets in the Newsletter, but you can make your own tickets and mail them in (see the Raffle page for instructions) or buy them at the meeting, or you can print “official” raffle tickets from our Website, at www.grtu.org/tickets.html. It’s under Events.

To pre‑purchase tickets, send your raffle tickets and checks to GRTU, Attn: Raffle, P.O. Box 701864, San Antonio, TX 78270-1864. Please mail early so we have them before the meeting.

Same “Old Meeting Place: The Dam Red Barn

From the North: Take I-35 Exit 191 (FM 306 to Canyon Lake, before you get to the north side of New Braunfels). Go west (right) on FM 306 approximately 14 miles (2 miles past the stoplight at FM 2673 in Sattler) through the area called Canyon City and turn left at the blinking light and small road sign that mark South Access Road. Follow it for about 2 miles, passing below the Dam and across the spillway. The Dam Red Barn will be on your left.

From the South: Take I-35 Exit 191 (FM 306 to Canyon Lake north of New Braunfels). Go west (left) on FM 306 and follow the directions above.

From the West: From US 281, take FM 306 to the east (281 and 306 intersect between Spring Branch and Twin Sisters) for about 16 miles to the blinking light at the South Access Road (just before you enter the area called Canyon City). Turn right on the South Access Road and follow the directions above to the Dam Red Barn.

From the East: From I-10, take SH 46 to I-35; go North on I-35 to Exit 191 (FM 306 to Canyon Lake). Go west (left) on FM 306 and follow directions above to the Dam Red Barn.

Ed Engle Tells Nymphing and

Tailwaters Secrets in October

Acclaimed outdoors writer, avid fly fisherman, small-fly specialist, instructor, and Colorado guide Ed Engle, opened new vistas on the subjects of “Dead Drift Nymphing and Tailwater Fishing” at the October meeting.

The lucky raffle winner at the January meeting was David Uhler, who took home with a new Sage DS2 Series 4-weight rod and reel given to the Chapter by TU in recognition of our contributions to national conservation initiatives in 2000.

There was an excellent array of door prizes donated by G Loomis (two caps, key chains, and decals), Shakespeare (two soft tackle bags and two caps), Austin Angler (two caps), Pflueger (Medalist fly reel), Ed Engle (two autographed copies of his book Fly Fishing Tailwaters, and Jimmy Moore (fly box).

Thanks for helping with the meeting go to Oscar Dupre, Lefty Ray Chapa, Billy Trimble, Scott Thompson, Marian Tilson, Bob Tuttle, Shelley Marmon, Karen Gebhardt, Carl Bohn, Dave Gutweiler, Doug Kierklewski, Hylmar Karbach, Mike Scott, Jim Cartier, and several others who came early to help set up but whose names were lost in Jimmy Moore’s computer meltdown.

Flyfishers Needed for First

West Texas Flyfishing Expo

GRTU members are cordually invited to be charter participants in the First Annual West Texas Flyfishing Expo benefiting Disabilities Resources.

Yes, flyfishing in West Texas!! You will have the unique opportunity to catch both rainbow trout and black bass right here in the Abilene area! Have you ever caught a truly LARGEMOUTH bass on a flyrod? No? Well, you don't know what you are missing!

During the first day of the two-day Expo, you will receive lessons in tying flies as well as in casting, taught by professional guides and certified casting instructors. Whether you are experienced or just starting out, our guides and instructors will enable you to develop the skills needed for a successful day on the water on Day 2. We’ll cap off Day 1 with an elegant banquet and auction for the participants and their guests that will feature flyfishing equipment, art, guided flyfishing trips for New Mexico trout, and more.

On Day 2, you will go with your guide and fishing partners to your exclusive fishing location and have a day of excitement catching fish on the fly! A Texas barbecue dinner will await you at the end of the day at the DRI facility.

Don't miss this opportunity! Contact us today! Applications received before February 15, 2002 will get a 10% discount on the cost of the weekend. This discount also applies to all sponsorships as well, so take advantage of this opportunity to promote your business. Costs for this event are tax deductible. There are about 18 spots available for trout fishing and a great line-up of bass ponds with bass over 10 pounds in some. Applicants can choose their location in the order that we receive payment.

To receive a brochure or find out more about this great event please contact us: Shane Jennings at 915.676.9066 (office) or 915.673.5459 (home) or John Belcher flyfisher22@texasinternet.com or 915.854.1770 (home).

Kid Fish Volunteers Needed

Once again GRTU will help host Kid Fish at Landa Park in New Braunfels. The two events will be on February 2 and 9 (both are Saturdays) from 8 a.m. until 11a.m.

Typically the weather is at its worst, but a bunch of kids do show up and we need several volunteers to assist with casting instruction and some little fishing help.

GRTU supplies the gear, the kids supply the enthusiasm, the New Braunfels Parks Department furnishes the trout, and our volunteers are the “glue” that makes this a great event.

Rod and reel kits will be awarded on both dates. Bring plenty of warm clothing.

Lefty Ray Chapa, San Antonio, Texas