Jimbo
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Ron and Alex
The Board is working on all of this and more. Spring meeting was canceled because of COVID concerns. There will be a TroutFest 2022, Dakus’ Flyfishing Camp for kids, and getting back into river restoration. There will be yet another updated website. LAP will probably be a mad dash for membership signup again, but again this is very popular for a reason. So be ready on the morning of October 1st. I’m up in Pagosa starting my annual Summer Trip in the Rockies. I fished the Los Pinos in Trujillo Meadows yesterday. Monsoons have their firm grip in the Mountains here and Northern New Mexico. It rained on me most of the day, chased off by hail after only about 45 minutes fishing in the light rain. Funny thing about this stretch of water, it could be a great place restore Rio Grande Cutthroats, but they keep messing a good thing up. The lake went dry because of drought and agricultural demands a couple of years ago. Before that it was mainly Browns between the falls and the lake. Then it dried up and they put Rio Grande Cutthroats in it,… Yea !!! They were generally small things but abundant. This year it’s mainly back to Rainbows as they seem to only want to stock Rainbows in the Lake… Too Bad… Boooo !!!
Yes that’s rain….
Yes that’s Hail
The “All in One” was the Dryfly of the day….
Jimbo
Humm…
An early season tropical wave is developing in the Bay of Campeche….
Possibilities are out there….
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit
Jimbo
I sure was hoping for the rain to continue, but it’s really slowed down and the lake is 3 feet short of 909’msl. About the only thing that will bring that kind of rain, this time of year, is a tropical storm coming ashore and settling in the right place…
So maybe I should change my style a little and consider bringing the singing frogs to the forefront….
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit….
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit….
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit….
Jimbo
Wet Flys and Soft Hackles…..
You know I like those flys and have caught my fair share on them over the years. I’ve got boxes and boxes dedicated to soft hackles and Dave’s Red Squirrel Rubber legs. I need more standard wet flys though. I remember several speakers at TroutFest over the years, including Dave Whitlock himself talking about fishing wet flys and soft hackles Wotton style !!!
Jimbo
It’s the casting stroke that opens the loop. It is very simple, just swing the rod through a greater arc. This will create a larger loop. The larger loop will keep you flys and leader apart if there is still enough velocity in the flyline. Slow it down too much and you will find those trailing loops again tangling things up.
Jimbo
The lake is headed for 906’msl. Upper river has above average flows for this time of year. The soils are saturated, we need just 1, maybe 2 more weeks of wet weather, and we could hit 909’msl and get the sustaining summer flows. There are still good numbers of Trout swimming around in the river and that of course would be a fabulous thing for the Trout Fishery and the coming 2021-22 season.
So my job is to beat those drums and ask for just enough rain in the right places to get the lake past 909’msl.
Tom tom tom tom…..
Tom tom tom tom…..
Tom tom tom tom…..
Jimbo
And now again we will see a week of rain and increasing flows into Canyon Lake…
Tom tom tom tom…..
Tom tom tom tom…..
Tom tom tom tom…..
Jimbo
The period/season for the Leases Access Program begins November 1st and runs through October 31st. Enrollment in the upcoming season opens up October 1st most years.
Jimbo
The answer is “The Loop Hole” in the Trout regulations…
The direct answer is anyone can use bait or artificially scented baits (like powerbait or artificially scented products, including any scented soft plastic imitation) and say they are targeting other species like Bass, Perch, Stripers or Catfish, regardless of whether they are actually targeting Trout or not. The regulation says that “no Trout maybe retained using bait or artificially scented products”. So if they catch a Trout on bait or artificially scented products, and release it: live or dead, they are within the fishing regulations for the Guadalupe River. And that is the loophole in the regulations. If TPWD were to say no bait or scented products maybe used to catch Trout (thus hooking and fighting a Trout would be illegal even if it was not retained), that would make it illegal to use bait or scented products anywhere in the Guadalupe River where Trout could be present. Although a no “bait or scented products” was considered, many local residents, most riverside property owners, said that would mean their small children, who are not skilled in casting and using artificial lures and flys, could not use bobber and bait to fish for other species right out their own backyard. This was said often enough at these public opinion meetings that the no “bait or scented products” was scratched as a possibility in the regulations. Of course if they are using bait and actually keeping any Trout in the 2 Special Regulations Zones (no Trout can be retained using bait or artificially scented products, all Trout retained must be caught using artificial lures or flys, 1st: From 800 yards below the dam to the eastern most bridge on 306, all Trout from >12″ and <18″ must be released, Bag 5 Trout, only 1 fish in the bag 18″ or longer the rest 12″ or less, 2nd: from the eastern most bridge on 306 to the second crossing on River Road, only 1 Trout maybe retained and it’s minimum length must be 18″) then they are in violation of the Fishing Regulations for Trout and can be cited by Texas Game Wardens. Of course they must be caught in the act by a Game Warden to be cited. So if you see this going on, you can call a game warden and let them know where it is happening and describe the individuals doing this. Also know that any time you approach an individual who is violating the fish and game laws, even though they are violating the law, they can say you are interfering with their rights to fish or hunt and can sue you. This is why it’s best to call and game warden and let them handle it. (Also note: Outside these Special Regulation Zones: any form of legal fishing, including using bait and artificially scented products is allowed, bag limit 5 Trout, any size)
Jimbo
Congrats
Looks like another real “Jack of all Trades” attractor dryfly!
I’d fish it !!!
Jimbo
I glad you remembered that fly. I discovered it about 12+ years ago and it has served me well in rivers and streams everywhere and for all species. It’s almost the woolybugger of dryflys. I wish I had been there this spring for the dryfly bite that has been fairly dependable on the Guad for the last 6 years or so. I’ve been looking for some Trout out here in California between surgeries. What I have learned from my limited opportunities is the better Trout fishing is hours away from Bodega Bay. I’ve found the coastal streams around here are open only in the winter, mainly for Steelhead, and very poor Trout waters. I found lots of good water around Redding and some around Truckee. These California waters are really restricted as to when and where you can fish them. I know of many good rivers along the ridges of the Sierras and their eastern slopes, but those are all overnight trips to get any time at all on the waters. I should be back in Texas about the middle of May. So I am guessing unless ya’ll get some real significant rains these next few weeks, I’ll be warm water fishing till it’s time to head to the Rockies for my summer trip. I am planning a very long trip this summer to make up for last summer. I can’t wait to start running up those little blue lines and chasing Cutthroats again.
Jimbo
Ryan
I won’t be back to Texas till the 1st of May or so, but I’ll go with you. I can show you the Guadalupe river which I know like the back of my hand. I don’t know much about the San Marcos except a few short sections I wade. I’ve been down a section of the Colorado a few times and it fishes well. Nonetheless I am up for some floats and don’t mind going places I haven’t been.
Jimbo
210-415-6822
I know Zebra Mussels are in Canyon Lake and should eventually be found in the river. Are you sure this is a Zebra Mussel and not some other mussel or clam ordinarily found in the river? I too have caught a clam/mussel while nymph fishing some years ago and have a picture of it somewhere.
Yesterday, while fishing Hat Creek here in California, there were signs warning of the New Zealand Mudsnails and advised freezing boots and waders for 6 hours to prevent contaminating other local waters. By the way Hat Creek is one AWESOME Fishery !!!
Jimbo
Call Dustin Scott V P of Membership and he can get it back to the rightful owner….
Jimbo
Going with a guide the first day is really good advice for someone who hasn’t flyfished for Trout on the Guadalupe. These fish aren’t the push-overs most people expect, especially if it’s a blue-bird day (cloudy days are usually better). These fish can be very spooky in these low flows. So one, be stealthy in your approach to the water. Don’t go charging through the water to get to your spot. Don’t let your shadow fall on the water where you want to fish. I see people standing right on top of where they want to fish, and those fish will be looking up, and then wonder why they’re not biting. Two, stand below (downstream) the fish your attempting to catch and in their blind spot if you can. Third, nymph fish under and indicator. Flys that have been working: San Juan worms, eggs, jimmy legs, rainbow warriors, flashback pheasant tails, soft hackles and soon they will be switching to the small stuff #18-22, zebra nymph, 2-bit hookers, rojos, barr’s emerger. Fourth, if that doesn’t work throw some streamers especially early in the morning. If people around you are catching some fish, ask they how they are doing it and what they are using. Most people will be willing to share that information. So best of luck to you and keep at it !
Jimbo
