Author: Ed

Greetings Fellow Fly Fishers!

We are excited to kick off our October events with none other than Alvin Dedeaux, owner of All Water Guides! During his visit to the fly shop on Saturday, October 4th, Alvin will share his secrets to success when Fly Fishing the Lower Colorado River. From flies to techniques, you are sure to learn new insights to carry with you on your next adventure. Don’t miss your chance to meet and learn from one of Texas’ legendary guides!

Fly hooks come in all shapes and sizes, and learning the differences and application between each model can be daunting for many fly tyers. On Saturday, October 11th, Chris will release a new YouTube class dedicated to the ins and outs of Fly Tying Hooks 101. In his presentation, Chris will demystify the bend shapes, numbering systems, and unique sizing across several brands. He will also discuss hook anatomy and the different uses for each style of hook. Be sure to tune in to learn how to quickly choose the best hook for your tying needs!

New to fly fishing? Join us at the shop on Saturday, October 18th for our Introduction to Fly Fishing course! During this FREE event day, we’ll take you through the the fundamentals of fly casting, tackle and rigging, as well as access points and fly selection for the Texas Hill Country. All equipment is provided! Registration is required.

When fly designer Chase Smith – known for his Scarpion, Spiral Spook and variations on Blane Chocklett’s GameChanger – isn’t behind the vise, he spends as much time as possible on the water analyzing fish behavior and testing his patterns. He knows that fall in the Texas Hill Country is one of the best times of year to target bass on the fly and will be at the fly shop on Saturday, October 25th to share his Fall Bass Tactics. Learn how changes in water temperature and daylight affect bass behavior, how to choose and present flies tailored to fall feeding habits, and other tips for new and experienced anglers alike to sharpen their approach for the season.

Want to learn to tie your own flies? Or do you already tie? Whether you’re new or experienced, join us Wednesdays for Fly Tying Nights! The first and second Wednesdays of the month are in-person Instructional Fly Tying for Beginner and Intermediate+ level tyers. Beginners, please register in advance. Instruction and materials are always provided free of charge! Vises and tools are also available for Beginner students.

The third Wednesday of the month we hold Roundtable Fly Tying at the shop. These evenings are an informal setting for freestyle fly tying. Bring your own vise, tools, and materials.

The fourth Wednesday of the month is Virtual Fly Tying. Tune in to our YouTube channel, where Living Waters’ owner and Umpqua Signature Fly Designer Chris Johnson will share a new in-depth fly tying tutorial each month!For more details head to our Events & Education page!

Take care and God Bless!

Tight Lines,
Living Waters Fly Fishing

The riffle was just wide enough for the small raft to squeeze through. We were at the mercy of the swift current as I had no way to make oar strokes until the rapid poured into the pool several yards downstream. I was glad to be at the mercy of swifter water as me and my fellow anglers, KC Williams and Chase Smith, were tired of getting in and out of the raft to pull it several yards to the next section of floatable water. Due to the shallowness of the river, this particular rapid was one of the few we did not have to drag through.

I had the oars stretched out in front of us, and I feathered them and tried to keep us in the deepest part of the inches deep channel and off the banks. The rapid dropped about six gradual feet, and as it plunged into the pool, the front of the raft ran aground on a hump of limestone. Luckily it was here where the rapid opened up as it plunged into the pool. While the front end of the raft stayed pinned on the hump, the back of the raft slid backward and into deeper water. Here, I had enough water for a hard stroke with both oars. I pulled hard on the oars and the front of the raft slid off the limestone hump, and we were back in floatable and fishable water.

I spun the raft on a dime, and we faced downstream again. I made a few minor oar strokes and got the raft back into position for KC and Chase to start fishing again. KC was throwing a large feather Game Changer and Chase was throwing a small frog pattern. The pool was wide and the water clear. We were surrounded by cypress trees and even though the sun shined hot overhead, we were mostly in dark shadows and dappled sunlight. I rowed the boat quietly and slowly enough for both anglers to take good shots at the bank or to work structure, like submerged logs, lily pads and stands of water willow. I watched holding my breath as the two anglers made beautiful and precise casts, and I was in awe of how they worked the flies enticingly. Chase had tied both flies, and he talked about how he tied them and how he expected them to work. I was amazed that he is so innovative in his tying. I tie wooly buggers.

Chase cast his frog pattern to the bank, and it landed with splat, similarly to how a real frog would fall and splat into the water. Chase stripped the frog quickly and skittered it through snags and fishy water. KC cast the Game Changer deep into standing and submerged timber. The fly came alive on the first strip. As I glanced downstream to see where I was rowing and to admire the beauty river, I heard KC from the front of the boat. “Here we go boys,” he said calmly before setting the hook perfectly into a nice bass. As I turned, I saw the sizable bass jump out of the water trying to throw the hook, fighting hard to get into snags in an attempt to come free of the tension pulling it where it did not want to go. After a quick but hard fought battle, KC swung the fish into the waiting net, and we all celebrated with hand shakes, fist bumps, and words of congratulations. We sat in the raft in a cypress tunnel in the dappled sunlight of August. Our exited chatter merged with a kingfisher somewhere downstream and with the clicks of grasshoppers on the bank and the cicadas roaring in the trees.

Folks,