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Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

NewsletterNo. 92 January 2010 Publication Data on Pg. 16

GRTU MeetingSaturday, January 23rd

Canyon Lake CRRCSouth Acces Road

Sattler, TXDirections on pages 2-3

9 AM - Lease AccessOrientation & Social Hour

10 AM - Business Mtg

11 AM - “Fighting and LandingBig Trout” with Landon Mayer

12 - Raffle & Lunch12:30 PM - Lease Access

Orientation1 PM GRTU Board Meeting

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101112121314141516

Big Trout Specialist Landon Mayer to Speak atJanuary Chapter Meeting

January speaker Landon Mayer

What’s Inside

January SpeakerSeason Raffle ItemsDirections to MeetingPresident’s MessageFisheries ReportThird Annual TroutfestConservation OutreachProject Healing WatersLocal Authors’ BooksBiosurvey PlannedBooks of NoteHonorary Life MembersBoard & OfficersSpring Meeting SpeakerCentury Club MembersPublication Data

Trout season is in high gear on theGuadalupe River now with at leasttwo GRTU stockings completed.The river is full of large trout, andthe web forum is full of pictures ofgreat catches and stories of the onesthat got away. If you have been thevictim of drag-melting trout thisseason, and are wondering how toskillfully fight, land, and release thattrophy, the guest speaker for ourJanuary general meeting will be ableto add to your trout fishing prowess.

The next GRTU chapter meeting isscheduled for Saturday, January23rd, at the Canyon LakeCommunity Resource RecreationCenter (CRRC) on South AccessRoad in Sattler. There will be asocial hour and Lease OrientationClass beginning at 9AM, with themeeting beginning at 10. See themap on page 3 for directions to theCRRC. Landon Mayer will be ourguest speaker, and his topic will be“Fighting and Landing Big Trout.”

Landon Mayer is fly fishing guide inthe Colorado Springs, CO area,calling the South Platte River hishome waters. He has been guidingon these waters for the past elevenyears, as well as one year in Alaska.

Passion and love for the sport offly fishing is what motivates Landon.His success in catching trout isfueled by an addiction of pursuinglarge trout with small flies andlightweight fly-fishing equipment.Landon also displays enthusiasm inteaching and demonstrating histechniques and on-river knowledgeto fellow anglers. Through trial anderror and perseverance, he hasdeveloped innovative techniquesfor hooking and landing selectivetrout. He is sharing thesetechniques and secrets in his bookstitled Sight Fishing for TroutStackpole Books, new for 2010;

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2010 Raffles IncludeKodiak Raft Package

In April, we’ll raffle off a WaterMaster Kodiak Raft Package witha retail price of $1395. Thepackage includes the boat, a pairof standard breakdown oars, softseat, foot pump, patch kit, and theboat bag (a seven cubic foot drybag backpack) it all fits into. Formore information on the raft, go toshop.bigskyinflatables.com.

How to Catch the Biggest Troutof Your Life published by WildRiver Press in 2007; and his DVD’sLanding the Trout of Your Life(2007) and Weapons of BassProduction (2008) featuring JohnBarr, both produced by Mad TroutMedia.

Landon is a contributing writer forHigh Country Angler, and FlyFisherman magazine and majorpublications such as, AmericanAngler, and Fish & Fly. Hecurrently teaches by guiding, fly-fishing classes, and givespresentations on his techniques.Landon is an ambassador forCloudveil fly-fishing apparel and isa member of the Ross Reels, RIO,Smith Optics, Ross World Wide,Fish Pond pro staffs.

We will have two chapter-sponsored raffles this season, oneat the January meeting and one atthe April meeting. Our January rafflewill include an 8.5 ft 6wt fly rod andreel combo from LL Bean, anUmpqua fly tying kit, and aRedington 5/6 reel.

Colorado guide and author Landon Mayer, with one of the huge trout he isfamous for. Landon will be our January guest speaker.

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The Ultimate Guide to fly fishing The Ultimate Guide to fly fishing The Ultimate Guide to fly fishing The Ultimate Guide to fly fishing

in the texas hill countryin the texas hill countryin the texas hill countryin the texas hill country

Order your copy today and have it in

time for the holidays

www.fishheadpress.com

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Directions to the Canyon Lake CRRC Recreation Center

>From NORTH or SOUTH: Just North of New Braunfels on I-35 take Exit 191, (Canyon Lake Exit), whichis FM 306 and go WEST, about 14 miles to Sattler (Canyon Lake area). Go past the traffic light at FM 2673in Sattler for about 2 miles, (through Canyon City) and turn Left at the blinking caution light and small road signmarking the South Access Rd. Follow the South Access Road for about two miles, passing below the damand across the spillway. The Recreation Center will be on your left.

>From the WEST: From US 281, turn EAST on FM 306, which is between Twin Sisters and Spring Branch. Drive about 16 miles to the blinking caution light (just before you enter the area called Canyon City). TurnRight on South Access and follow the directions above to the Recreation Center, which will be on your left.

>From the EAST: From I-10, take SH 46 to I-35. Go North on I-35 to Exit 191 (Canyon Lake Exit), whichis FM-306. Go west, (Left), on FM306, and follow the directions for North and South above.

Map of GRTUMeeting Area

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Hill Country Fly Fishers Hill Country Fly Fishers Hill Country Fly Fishers Hill Country Fly Fishers wishes wishes wishes wishes totototo

announce the second annual couples fly announce the second annual couples fly announce the second annual couples fly announce the second annual couples fly

fishing workshop on the beautiful South fishing workshop on the beautiful South fishing workshop on the beautiful South fishing workshop on the beautiful South

Llano RiverLlano RiverLlano RiverLlano River April 30April 30April 30April 30thththth ---- May 2May 2May 2May 2ndndndnd, 2010, 2010, 2010, 2010

During the two and a half days we will cover

basic and advanced fly casting, “reading the water,”

and basic fly tying.

To test these skills everyone is guided on a half day

wading trip and a full day float trip. Also try your

hand at our casting games to win cool gear.

This workshop is limited to 4 couples and will fill

quickly. For more information and to reserve your

spot E-Mail Kevin Hutchison at

fishhead@texas.net or call (512) 589-3474.

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President’s Letterby

Bill Higdon

I would like to express my deep appreciation for thework done by the Board of Directors, along with theefforts of other volunteers in the chapter. We haveimproved our image in the Chapter, TPWD, locally,nationally, and on the state level, by increasingconservation, online orientation and other projects.Hats off to all of you who participated in these projects. As I look forward to this winter fishing season, theimage of conservation for me is to bring real river habitatrestoration projects to improve the overall health andhabitat of the Guadalupe. We have had some greatsuccess with the education programs over the lastseveral years, and I would like to expand theconservation-related educational opportunities weprovide. Finally service, service in my mind is helpingpeople. The chapter has been involved in projectslike Project Healing Waters. This effort helps ourservice men and women who have been woundedrehabilitate through fly fishing-related activities. Fall is a busy time for our volunteers. Lease accesssign-ups are starting to roll in and our new onlineorientation is working well, with only a few hiccups.Lease access fees are unchanged – even thoughexpenses for fish and some leases will increase, theboard has decided to keep fees the same as previousyears. By the time you receive this newsletter we willhave stocked two times, from the top to the bottom ofthe Trophy Zone. Our Trout in the Classroom program has someambitious goals this year. We are trying to expand intoa classroom in Houston. Karen will need additionalvolunteers to help maintain the equipment at this newschool. If you are interested in helping, contact KarenGebhardt at GebhardtK@grtu.org. In addition, we are again working with Texas Parksand Wildlife Department to track and gather data fromthe trout telemetry study. We will have moreinformation on this program in the coming months. Thesecond program is working with US Army Corps ofEngineers to restore some in-stream and bank habitatbelow Canyon Dam.

Finally, we will have our Third Annual Winter TroutFestin February at Rio Raft. This long weekend, scheduledthis year for February 19-21, is always a big hit withthe whole family. We’ll have activities for all ages,from bug classes for the kids to fly casting and fly tyingfor the adults. See Corby Bittner’s article elsewherein this newsletter for more details.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Januarymeeting, where we will hear Landon Mayer advise uson how to fight and land some of those big, football-shaped trout we have stocked in the river this year.

Bill HigdonPresident

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January 2010 Fisheries Reportby Bill Higdon, VP of Fisheries

Against all odds, the fishery is in the best shape I’veseen it in a couple of years. The flows are doublewhat they were last year at this time; and the watertemps are down in the low 50’s. By the time you readthis, there will be over 7800 lbs of trout stocked onthe GRTU lease sites. The flows are perfect for wading,we have 18 great leases, and plenty of fish in the river.

We have released several big trout (5lbs +) to reallygive the anglers a shot at a real trophy in the TrophyZone. These fish were stocked early in Novemberand again in December. The entire Trophy Zone hasbeen stocked from top to bottom. In addition, manyof the trout survived and held over even with the lowflows and high temps over the summer months. Weare seeing large hatches of caddis, PMD’s, and

BWOs. This year, we even seem to have a goodhatch of woolly buggers, I’ve seen quite a few in thetrees, lining the river.

Just this morning while writing this report, I saw anangler net and release four nice trout. I am amazed atthe quality of trout in our fishery. I’ve been blessed tofish with anglers who have fish all over the world andmost are surprised at the quality of the fishery and thetenacious trout we have in the Guadalupe. If you area serious trout angler, you owe it to yourself to takeadvantage of the GRTU lease program.

I would like to thank all the people who participatedin the stocking. We could not do it without you. ThankYou, Thank You, Thank You !!!!!!!

I look forward to seeing you on the river.

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Rio Raft & Resort

14130 River RoadNew Braunfels, TX 78132(877) 746-7238www.rioraft.com

AC Riverfront Cabins

Full RV Hookups • Tent Camping

Swimming pool • Trout Fishing

Tubing • Rafting • Kayaking

Third Annual TroutfestComing in February

byCorby Bittner

The third annual Troutfest has beenscheduled for February 19-21 atRio Raft in Sattler. Troutfest is agreat family-oriented weekenddesigned with the premise of givingus a better chance to know eachother while refining our fishingtechniques.

Troutfest will begin Friday night at7 PM with our annual social event.An opportunity to win a door prizewill be awarded with each paidregistration. The silent auction willbegin Friday night with some itemsextending into Saturday.

One of the most popular activitiesof Troutfest is our mentorprogram. Each mentor will helpindividuals learn how to fish theriver and become moresuccessful. So if you’re new tofly fishing or trout fishing theGuadalupe River, this is a greatway to get started.

A great side benefit of Troutfestis that the money generated helpssupport the chapter’sconservation projects. So wehope to give you lots ofopportunities to “invest” in GRTU,with silent auction or raffled items

that benefit our chapter. If youwould like to donate items for thesilent auction or raffles, then pleasecontact Corby Bittner atcbittner@tmlirp.org.

Troutfest will be held at theconference room at Rio Raft, whichis located at the Fourth Crossing onRiver Road in Sattler. Rio Raft isoffering discounts on cabin rentalswith a two-night stay. Just let RioRaft know that you are with GRTUand they will charge you theweekday rate instead of theweekend rate.

Troutfest Schedule:

Friday EveningFebruary 19, 2010

Conference Room – Rio Raft,Sattler, Texas

Registration (Beginning at 7 p.m.)Social mixerSilent auctionsDoor PrizesFood

SaturdayFebruary 20, 2010

Conference Room – Rio Raft,Sattler, Texas

Registration (From 7:30 a.m until9:00 a.m.)Children’s activitiesCasting InstructionFly tying exhibitsSilent auctionsFishing mentorsCatered dinner

SundayFebruary 21, 2010

Open day for fishing

Events are subject to change

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GRTU Conservation Outreach :Lower Mountain Fork River,

Oklahoma

GRTU’s Coldwater Outreach Conservation (COC)Program has provided a grant to assist with streamimprovements on the Lower Mountain Fork River, atailrace trout fishery located in southern Oklahoma andfished by many of our north Texas GRTU members.Working in cooperation with the 89’er Chapter ofTrout Unlimited and the Lower Mountain Fork RiverFoundation (LMFRF), GRTU’s grant will assistLMFRF with raising the funds needed to clean outand reconstruct a re-regulation dam that is located onthe lower river and has become clogged with debris.Upon completion, the reconstructed dams will allowbetter flows over the dam, increasing oxygen contentand lowering water temperatures, resulting in improvedtrout habitat.

The LMFRF has lined up matching fund grants thatwill allow them to leverage GRTU’s $3,000contribution into $9,000 of additional funding for theproject. The project will also offer TU members,including GRTU members, an opportunity for hands-on participation in the project. Since nearly a quarterof GRTU’s members lives in northeast Texas, itprovides them a great opportunity to work on a

coldwater conservation project and to improve afishery that’s close to where they live.

The LMRF project participation opportunity wasrecognized and championed by several of our northTexas GRTU members, including Roger Turner, ourNorth Texas Area Membership Representative (whois on the LMFRF Board), and David Schroeder, ourFlows Chairman, who was instrumental in early workon that fishery. A well-written grant application thatprovides background information on the LowerMountain Fork River and the project has beensubmitted by the 89’er Chapter and LMFRF. Theapplication has been posted on the GRTU conservationforum for review by GRTU members.

The LMFRF project represents the fifth project thathas been funded by GRTU’s COC program. Theseprojects include Trout Run Creek in Minnesota, SouthPlatte River in Colorado at Camp Alexander, LosAlamitos Creek in New Mexico and the Pebble Mineopposition in Alaska. Through our COC fund, GRTUis having a national impact on coldwater conservationand our efforts are being recognized by TU Chaptersall over the country.

Jeff Schmitt, Texas NLC Representative

Luxury log cabin rental in SE Oklahoma:Discount to GRTU Members

30 minutes from Beavers Bend Resort Park and the LowerMountain Fork trout fishery!

Treehouse Loft is a fully equipped luxury cabin, one of asmall collection of luxury cabins in the Kiamichi

Mountains of SE Oklahoma called The Reserve on EagleCreek.

The cabin is for couples only, and is available for nightlyrentals of two or more nights. Eagle Fork Creek runs rightthru the property, and there is a small stocked lake onsite

as well.

To learn more or to make reservations, visitwww.thereserveoneaglecreek.com

or call 580-244-3729

Mention that you are a GRTU member when reservingTreehouse Loft (either via phone or in the comments

section when booking online) and receive 20% off yourentire stay!

Log check dam at Lower Mountain Fork River

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Project Healing WatersThose of you who attended the October GRTUmeeting got the opportunity to meet Scott Lathan andlisten to him talk for a few minutes about the impactthat GRTU’s Project Healing Waters (PWH) programhas had on his rehabilitation from the injuries he sufferedwhile serving our country in Iraq. Scott is a perfectexample of what PHW is all about….assisting withthe physical and emotional rehabilitation of ourwounded warriors by teaching them the skills offlyfishing.To date GRTU’s PHW program has consisted offlyfishing outings for soldiers at Brooke Army MedicalCenter in San Antonio. We plan to continue theseoutings this spring and will need both volunteers andcontributions in order to sponsor the outing.Our next step in developing a robust PHW programhere in Texas is to start and on-base fly tying and flycasting program at Brooke Army Medical Center. Theon-base part of a PHW program is one of the keythings that differentiates PWH from the many “take asoldier (fishing, hunting, kayaking, etc)” programs thatare available. The on-base portion of PHW is goingto require a group of dedicated GRTU and AlamoFlyfishers volunteers to staff the program.Following the fall chapter meeting, I heard from severalmore GRTU members who have indicated they wouldbe willing to volunteers for the on-base program.Enough that we’re going to make an effort to start aregular program of GRTU/AFF PHW volunteers whoshow up on the same day/time each week, teach flytying, fly casting, meet the soldiers and help integratethem into both our chapter and our PHW outings. Itis this regular, on-base contact that has made ProjectHealing Waters so successful at Walter Reed and themany other places where it has taken roots.Our Project Healing Water program is, however, stilllooking for one key volunteer to serve as the SanAntonio coordinator for the on-base program. Thisvolunteer would keep the roster of PHW volunteers,establish a volunteer schedule and make sure we havesomebody from PHW on base every week. If youare willing to take on that role, I would definitely liketo hear from you and talk to you about it.I want to also mention that at the October meetingRon Skarbowski donated a very nice fly tying benchto our PHW efforts. I am in the process of having that

bench outfitted with tying tools and materials and weare going to work with the folks at Brooke to find aplace for that bench to have a permanent home atBrooke. It will have a place to post notices of ourPHW activities and events. In order to outfit that benchI need a vice and some basic tying tools. I also need“kits” of materials (not bulk materials) and instructionsfor tying individual fly patterns. The “kit” should haveenough materials to tie a dozen or so of the pattern, ina baggie or small plastic container, along with thewritten instructions for the pattern. If you would liketo put a couple of kits together and bring them to theJanuary meeting, I would very much appreciate it.Even though the GRTU Project Healing Watersprogram is still in its infancy, those of us who haveparticipated in this have found it to be a very rewardingexperience. I hope you can volunteer or donate insome way and share in the Project Healing Watersexperience.Jeff SchmittGRTU PHW CoordinatorSchmittj@grtu.org

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Local Experts Author RecentFishing Books

Two local fly fishing experts have recently publishedbooks that are worthy of your attention. While it mightbe late to include them in someone’s stocking, youmay have some Christmas cash or gift certificatesburning a hole in your pocket, so these may be justwhat you are looking for.

Joe Robinson, whose decades in the fly fishing industryinclude helping to start the LL Bean Fly Fishing Schooland providing valuable assistance at Sportsman’s Finestin Austin, has a new book entitled PiscatorialAbsurdities ; A Fly Fisherman’s Guide to RadicalFreshwater Ultralight Spin Fishing. Many of youknow Joe for his skill casting a fly rod, but you aremissing something unless you see him cast an ultralightspinning outfit. One flyfisher told me “Joe can cast alight lure like a bullet into a Styrofoam coffee cup atquite distance, and often with no perceptible backcast.”

Joe has decided to donate all the profits from thisprinting of his book to Trout Unlimited for their effortsto oppose the Pebble Mine in Alaska. Joe says he isdoing so because “Trout Unlimited is the onlyorganization I know that both embraces spin fishingand works to conserve our fishing resources.” Joe’sbook is available at Sportsman’s Finest in Austin.

The other local expert with a new book is DennisFreeman, better known to his many customers andstudents as The Rodmaker, since he has taughtthousands of students and built thousands of rods. Hehas also been a big supporter of GRTU, donating rodsand other items to our silent auctions and raffles.Dennis’s book, entitled Custom Rodmaking andOutdoor Adventures, captures Dennis’s 20 yearsexperience as a builder of custom fishing rods. In it,he provides step by step instructions for building afreshwater fly rod, a saltwater fly rod, a casting rodand a spinning rod. Dennis also recounts many huntingand fishing stories and life lessons along the way. Hisbook is available through his website at www.rod-makers.com.

Custom Rodmaking and Outdoor Adventures

A new book written by Dennis O. Freeman,central Texas’s renowned custom rodmaker,

shares 20 years experience teaching rodmaking.

As a story teller, he relates adventures andadrenalin rushes he has experienced hunting and

fishing, as well as life lessons learned along his path.It’s an instructional, informative, humorous,

entertaining read.

Priced at $23.50 including tax and mailing expense.

Dennis will personally write a message and sign eachbook ordered through his website at

www.rod-makers.comor via email at

rodmaker@rod-makers.com.

RodmakersDennis O. Freeman

24385 Wilderness Oak, #8104San Antonio, TX 78258210-530-1831 Office210-426-2064 Cell

Http://www.rod-makers.com

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ConservationCommittee Begins

Biosurvey of theGuadalupe

While we are awaiting a responsefrom the U.S. Corps of Engineersto our stream restoration proposal,GRTU’s Conservation Committeehas been busy developing abiosurvey plan for the fishery. Whatis a biosurvey, or a biomonitoringplan as it is sometimes called? It isa plan to monitor the life forms livingin the water body. Why are weinterested in monitoring the bugs,leeches and worms that live in theriver? Because aquaticinvertebrates have varying degreesof ability to withstand pollution andmay be used as indicators of waterquality and habitat conditions. Wecan use the results of thebiomonitoring to identify and assesschanges to conditions over time,either related to degradation bypollution or overdevelopment orimprovements resulting fromrestoration actions we undertake.

Insects commonly present in riversinclude mayflies, stoneflies,caddisflies, midges, and black flies.Of these, stoneflies are the mostsensitive to pollutants with midgesand black flies the least sensitive.If stoneflies were present in theGuadalupe River as alluded by BudPriddy in his book Fly Fishing theTexas Hill Country, they have longsince succumbed to declines inwater quality perhaps attributableto increased development of thearea or other causes. Non-insectinvertebrates of interest includesnails, leeches, worms, and scuds,

all of which typically have highertolerances to pollutants.

How will we use the invertebratesto determine the health of thefishery? Using kick nets we cancollect samples of the invertebratespresent at various locations alongthe river and establish invertebrateassemblages and their relativeabundance present at each location.The invertebrates will be groupedinto three categories based on theirpollution tolerance or sensitivity. Amathematical scoring methoddeveloped by the Ohio Departmentof Natural Resources and otherscan then be applied to calculate anindex of water quality for eachsurvey location. The water qualityindex can be related to a streamquality rating of good, fair, or poor.

What will the biomontoring planinvolve? The plan will include adetailed presentation of theprocedures to be used tostandardize the biomonitoringevents and to facilitate comparingresults over time. The plan will alsoidentify locations where themonitoring should take place andwill establish a frequency for thesurveys.

We hope to develop thebiomonitoring plan in the next fewmonths and will implement themonitoring upon approval by theBoard of Directors. We will needvolunteers to help with themonitoring events and this will bean excellent way to learn moreabout the insects the trout feed on,so stay tuned.

Gary Cobb, Conservation Chair

Books of Note

I’ve always been a “bookworm”and since beginning to fly fish andtie my own flies in the mid 1990s,my library on those subjects hasgrown rapidly, to the point wheremy shelves are full and my “TyingRoom” (yes, I have a room that’sdevoted to fly tying) now has stacksof books piled on a nearly everyavailable flat surface. I’m oftenasked to recommend fly fishingbooks, so here are some mypersonal recommendations.

The first book is actually not a flyfishing book, but anyone who isserious about conserving our naturalresources should read it. Last childin the woods: Saving our childrenfrom nature deficit disorder isRichard Louv’s attempt to helprectify a growing problem. He saysthat “our children are the firstgeneration to be raised withoutmeaningful contact with the naturalworld.” In it, he quotes a fourthgrader who says “I like to playindoors better ‘cause that’s whereall the electrical outlets are.” Louvargues that “the young (and the restof us) need nature” and lays out aplan for a “nature-child reunion.”

Nick Lyons has for decades beenone of the leading publishers offishing and fly fishing literature. Oneof the first books I read when Istarted fly fishing is Lyon’s SpringCreek, which recounts a summerhe and his wife spent fishing andpainting along a private spring creekin Montana. I’ve read it three timesand find new things to marvel ateach time.

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The Guadalupe RiverChapter of

Trout UnlimitedHonorary Life Members

The following distinguished members of GRTU have been designated, some posthumously, as Honorary LifeMembers of the Chapter for their exceptional contributions to our work. This honor is reserved for commendatory

recognition of individuals whose personal service contributions to the Chapter are deemed to have had outstandingimpact in advancing Chapter and TU objectives.

Clement W BirdAlan BrayBill CobbDick FintaRupert GreshamHoward IttenWilliam A. (Bill) JohnsonJames W KeetonBob Newman

Chad OliverIrving O’NealWilliam C. (Bill) PabstJ. Bill ParvinBasden L. (Bud) Priddy, MDGlenn RichardsonJeff SchmittDavid SchroederMrs. Hazel Schubauer

Lt. Col. Paul A. Schubauer (Ret.)Betsy StoryBob StoryMarian TilsonBilly TrimbleR.E. (Bob) TuttleJim VynalekWilliam G. (Bill) WestT.B. (Tom) Whitehouse

Another of my favorite authors isthe late William Tapply. I was firstintroduced to Tapply’s writing fromthe essays he penned for AmericanAngler magazine. Upon furtherresearch, I discovered that he wasthe author of more than 40 books.Some of my favorites are part ofhis Brady Coyne mystery series,about a Boston lawyer who lovesto fly fish and also manages to getmixed up in solving murders. Morerecently, Tapply wrote threemysteries about Stoney Calhoun, afishing guide and fly shop ownerwith a sinister past and an equalpropensity for solving murders. I’dhighly recommend all three – BitchCreek, Gray Ghost, and DarkTiger.

Currently on my bedside table, inaddition to Dark Tiger, is a bookthe recounts one summer’s

adventures of a fly fishing guide, TheAlaska Chronicles by Miles Nolte.The book is organized as a seriesof diary entries covering early Mayto late September, 2007. Nolteoriginally wrote them as a blog forThe Drake magazine’s internetmessage board. One reviewer callsit “a hard-edged look at theoutfitting business, stripped of all thehype and glamour.” It’s bothirreverent and entertaining.

If you want a book that improvesyour fly fishing and fly tying, try RichOsthoff’s No hatch to match:Aggressive strategies for fly-fishing between hatches or AllenMcGee’s Tying and fishing soft-hackled nymphs. Both booksprovide lots of great fly patterns totie as well as explanations of thefishing skills and techniques toemploy them most effectively.

Another quirky book in that samegenre, currently out of print butavailable from used book sellers, isSid Gordon’s How to fish from topto bottom. This 1955 book is likethe fly fisher’s version of the BoyScout Handbook, offering guidanceon everything from sampling waterand insects to stream restoration,to fly tying.

For sheer beauty in both writing andillustration, it’s hard to top DavidM. Carroll’s Trout reflections: Anatural history of the trout andits world. Carroll is a renownedauthor, artist, and naturalist whosefirst love was turtles but whocaptures in this book a year in thelife of a brook trout in northern NewHampshire. It’s another book Icome back to again and again.

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The Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

2009-2010GRTU Officers and Board of Directors

President Bill Higdon 830-964-5565 President@grtu.orgVP Chapter Affairs Mark Dillow 512-773-9115 VP-affairs@grtu.orgVP Fisheries Bill Higdon 830-964-5565 HigdonB@grtu.orgVP Membership Steve Stilp 512-784-6013 StilpS@grtu.orgTreasurer Phil Dopson 512-708-1616 DopsonP@grtu.orgSecretary Joe Filer 210-654-6220 FilerJ@grtu.orgEx Officio Greg Neubauer 281-856-0546 NeubauerG@grtu.orgDirector Gary Burns 713-249-7764 BurnsG@grtu.orgDirector Gary Cobb 512-257-0397 CobbG@grtu.orgDirector Mark Hazelgrove 210-658-3999 HazelgroveM@grtu.orgDirector Gary Lehman 210-394-2833 LehmanG@grtu.orgDirector Doug Kierklewski 512-250-0840 KierklewskiD@grtu.orgDirector Ron McAlpin 830-980-8043 McAlpinR@grtu.orgDirector Ted Mendrek 512-507-6626 MendrekT@grtu.orgDirector Jim Roberts 210-826-2766 RobertsJ@grtu.orgDirector Bob Runion 830-537-5129 RunionB@grtu.orgDirector Dennis Sheppard 512-965-6394 SheppardD@grtu.orgDirector Rafael Torres 512-560-4380 TorresR@grtu.org

Regional RepresentativesVP Membership Steve Stilp 512-784-6013 StilpS@grtu.orgAustin/Central Texas Chris Johnson 512-828-3474 JohnsonC@grtu.orgDallas/North Texas Roger Turner 214-475-1551 TurnerR@grtu.orgHouston/East Texas Gary Burns 713-249-7764 BurnsG@grtu.org

New Braunfels Tiffany Fluitt 830-625-4440 FluittT@grtu.org San Antonio/West Texas Karen Gebhardt 830-980-7580 GebhardtK@grtu.org

Other PositionsNewsletter Editor Mick McCorcle 972-569-9134 news@grtu.orgTU Liaison Mick McCorcle 972-569-9133 McCorcleM@grtu.orgWebmaster David Schroeder 512-996-8283 SchroederD@grtu.orgConservation Chair Gary Cobb 512-719-6011 CobbG@grtu.orgNLC Representative Jeff Schmitt 512-282-6016 SchmittJ@grtu.orgEducation Chair Karen Gebhardt 830-980-7580 GebhardtK@grtu.org

GRGRGRGRGRTU Spring MeetingTU Spring MeetingTU Spring MeetingTU Spring MeetingTU Spring MeetingMarch 24, 2010

Special Guest Speaker:Local Fly Fishing Legend

Joe RJoe RJoe RJoe RJoe Robinsonobinsonobinsonobinsonobinson“Ultralight Spin Fishing Tactics

for Guadalupe Trout”

Look for Joe’s new bookPiscatorial Absurdities: A Fly Fisherman’s Guide to Radical Freshwater Ultralight Spin Fishing

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The Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout UnlimitedHonors Our

Century Club MembersThe following have contributed $100 or more for GRTU programs, including the Guadalupe River Legal DefenseFund, in addition to their supporting membership donations and lease access fees. Please note: This list is only

current as of press time; we apologize to members added after that date.

In the Hills Fishing ExcursionsBill Higdon

1854 Ponderosa

Canyon Lake, TX 78133

830-964-5565

www.inthehillsfishing.com

FLY FISHING THE BEAUTIFUL RIVERS OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY FOR TROUT, BASS, ANDPANFISH FROM A RAFT OR DRIFT BOAT

Now Open: The Guadalupe River Lodge, an exclusive fishing lodge on the Guadalupe River

Check our website for the latest details on this new venture

David BairdErik BatailleDenis BeaudoingBob BlairRandy BlandJames BoehmAndre BoutteAlan BrayPage BristolSam CastleberryBynum CavittMark DillowPhil DopsonLeaford DowneyDonald DozierJoe FilerMalcolm Freeman

Edward FritschJoel GarciaJerry GatlinKaren GebhardtRichard GraysonMatthew GreenRoy HaleyDavid HallMilton HerrmannDavid JohnstonGary LehmanTony LevinsonPhil MahanLloyd MathewsMark McCollumMick McCorcleMark McCurley

Derrick MeyerAshby MillerWilliam OdenthalWilliam PoskeyKevin RichardsJimbo RobertsJames RogersMichael RotmanJeff SchmittJeff SipesKim StoddardMichael SweeneyRafael TorresHenry WarrenMarvin WilliamsJeff Wooley

16

Guadalupe RiverChapter of Trout

UnlimitedPO Box 536

Austin, TX 78767

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDAUSTIN, TX 78767PERMIT NO. 1627

GRTU NewsletterPublication dates: January, April, and October to over4,000 Trout Unlimited members in Texas.

With regard to your membership, change ofaddress, not receiving Trout magazine, or other

matters, write, phone, or E-mail:Trout Unlimited

1300 North 17th St., Suite 500Arlington, VA 22209-3800

Phone: (703) 522-0200Fax: (703) 284-9400E-mail: trout@tu.org

Worldwide Web: http://www.tu.org/trout/Membership Phone: 1-800-834-2419Membership E-mail: sdavison@tu.org

12 noon - 5PM Eastern Time

ContactsBill Higdon, President, Canyon Lake, TX, (830) 964-5565,president@grtu.org; Mick McCorcle, Newsletter Editor,(972) 569-9133, news@grtu.org.

Advertising RatesAd sizes: Business card size, 1/4, 1/2 and full page. Rates:Business card- $75 for 1 issue, $125 for 2 issues, $175 for3 issues; 1/4 page- $90 for 1 issue, $140 for 2 issues, $200for 3 issues; 1/2 page- $150 for 1 issue, $250 for 2 issues,$375 for 3 issues; full page- $275 for 1 issue, $450 for 2issues, $625 for 3 issues. Ad Copy: Camera-ready blackand white. Ad copy deadlines: January artwork due De-cember 1; April artwork due March 1; October artworkdue September 1. Payment: Due with artwork. Make checkspayable to Guadalupe River Chapter, TU. Mail to GRTU c/o Phil Dopson, Chapter Treasurer, at PO Box 536, Austin,TX 78767.