Ed, Author at NEW BRAUNFELS FLY FISHING CLUB

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** SEPTEMBER FLY FISHING REPORT
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To all who’ve recently subscribed to our newsletter: Thank you for joining!
It has been a great summer for fly fishing. The temperatures are about to drop as the fall season approaches. The changing seasons will increase different bug hatches. The fish bite will also increase as we get closer to the brown trout spawn. The annual rainbow trout stocking has already occurred on the Gunnison river. Some cooler temps and cloud cover should make for some great streamer fishing. September is a great time to book a Colorado trip to experience some epic dry fly fishing. Check out https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=6c53af620e&e=113d00b1e2 to book a trip (https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=f79a7604e8&e=113d00b1e2) , buy some gear (https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=f60ad971e7&e=113d00b1e2) or gift certificate (https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=bbfe7d1211&e=113d00b1e2) , or get up to speed on the latest river info.

RIVER CONDITIONS
The water temperatures on the Guadalupe are too warm to target trout. The flows on the Guadalupe below Canyon Lake are 68 CFS. This is the time to enjoy all the warm water species the Texas Hill Country has to offer. Many great fishing stories of bass biting on poppers and streamers. The Canyon Lake level is a few feet low and flows could reduce more if rainfall doesn’t increase. It’s very important to keep a watch on the river flows. Wading can become dangerous if you are on the river when the dam suddenly increases its flow. We recommend visiting https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=06c9fda0ec&e=113d00b1e2 to stay informed of the lake level and dam release. Make sure to book a trip (https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=913387d7bb&e=113d00b1e2) soon to secure your date.

Flows on the lower Gunnison river in Colorado are above 450 CFS, and should remain that way through October. This means plenty of cold water with great hatches. Hoppers, BWO, and Stone Fly nymphs are a few of the long list of flies currently working. There are some great trout opportunities on the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers as well.
Please contact us if you want to experience some great Colorado or Hill Country fly fishing. Guided trips and gift certificates can be purchased online at https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=c060f73602&e=113d00b1e2 by clicking the “BOOK NOW” button.
FLY SHOP and RIVER ACCESS
The Action Angler fly shop and river access will be closed to the public until mid October as we turn our focus to guiding in Colorado. Appointments to purchase items from the fly shop during this time can be made by email, or purchases can be made through or website at any time of the year. Guided fly fishing trips and lessons with our numerous qualified guides are also available by email.

I’d like to fill you in on the most recent news in the Texas Hill Country and west/central Colorado.

NEWS AND UPDATES
1. Action Angler is a booking agent and guide for 1, 2, and 3 day float trips on the Gunnison River through the Gunnison Gorge and lower Gunnison River. This allows us to hold preferred dates for our clients. The Gunnison Gorge is thought of by many as a Top 20 Destination To See Before You Die, and also referred to as a mini-Grand Canyon. The lower Gunnison River is an easier-paced section, with day trips starting at $600. Please contact us for details.
2. If you are planning to be in the Aspen or Glenwood Springs areas in the summertime or early fall, call Aspen Fly Fishing and/or Crystal Fly Shop to book trips. Be sure to request Chris Jackson as your guide. https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=6e9ccdc1ab&e=113d00b1e2 https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=1d48d98767&e=113d00b1e2 If you are planning to be in the Crested Butte or Gunnison areas in the summertime or early fall, call Dragonfly Anglers to book trips on the upper Gunnison River and request Chris Jackson as your guide. https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=e0a453f1e5&e=113d00b1e2
3. Please let us know if you are interested in a premier Bull Trout fly fishing destination in the Northern Rockies of British Columbia.
4. The Guadalupe River Holdover Tournament hosted by the new Braunfels Fly Fishers is scheduled for November 7, 2020. More details provided soon!
5. Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited will be opening registration for the Lease Access Program on October 1. Troutfest is officially cancelled for 2021 due to Covid. Go to grtu,org (https://actionangler.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f77c2fc981da1f0c3e323af1a&id=d944aac275&e=113d00b1e2) for more details.

Thank you for supporting our small business. We hope everyone is safe and healthy during these difficult times. Sincerely,
Chris Jackson Owner/Lead Guide
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TEXAS RIVERS
Guadalupe | San Marcos | Colorado | Llano | Devils River
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Looking for expert information about Texas’s best waterways?
* 19 years of guiding service
* Day trips for trout, Guadalupe, largemouth, & smallmouth bass and more..

COLORADO RIVERS
Gunnison Gorge | Colorado River | Roaring Fork | Frying Pan River
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Is your bucket list getting shorter?
* May – October Guiding
* Gold medal waters
* Bucket list-worthy experience

Make this a summer to remember.
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Smitherman’s Mountain Lobster

Smitherman’s Mountain Lobster

Creative designer Josh Smitherman went through several rounds of testing and many variations of his Mountain Lobster before settling on the final signature design in today’s tutorial. This fly won’t be commercially available until 2022, so in the meantime, be sure to spin up a few for yourself and a friend,
if you’re feeling generous!

The sizing and jig style make this pattern ideal for our Hill Country creeks, where springtime crayfish run, or rather crawl, in droves across stream beds. In his design process Josh was able to solve a common problem he encountered with other similar patterns – the claws sticking together once they were wet. The tie on this one however, ensures the claws stay split under water. Additionally, the dubbing body props the fly into a fighting position, which draws more attention to it’s profile and better engages stubborn fish. Incredibly versatile, the Mountain Lobster can be scaled up or down to target everything from trout, to bass, to cichlids and sunnies!

Smitherman’s Mountain Lobster

Hook: TMC 403BLJ, Size 8
Thread: 8/0, Fl. Orange
Bead: Tungsten Jig Bead, Orange, 5/32″
Antennae: Daddy Long Legs, Brown
Claws: Whiting Chickabou, Brown/Orange
Legs: Sili Legs Nymph, Pumpkin Barred
Shell Back: Squirrel Zonker, Crawfish Orange
Body: Cohen’s Carp Dub, Crazy-Zee Orange

Sept in the Gorge

Thunder Creek Minnow

New post on J. Stockard Blog Thoughts On The Fly

Fly of the Month – Thunder Creek Minnow

by admin

Guest Blogger + FOM Tyer: Mike Klein, Bozeman, Montana

In the 1970s, Keith Fulsher, a commercial fly tier from New York, popularized the Thunder Creek Minnow style of baitfish streamer. The reverse bucktail style head enabled larger heads and eyes on otherwise slender baitfish patterns. The style has been widely adapted to both fresh and saltwater species. Although a relatively simple pattern to tie, creating a clean, secure head and eyes using the original methods takes a bit of practice. This is where Deer Creek comes in (metaphorically). Deer Creek is just one of many brands of UV cured cement. Brand is not important here, but UV cured cement, Fish Masks and Living Eyes has made tying the Thunder Creek style a whole lot easier.

As I occasionally participate in fly swaps on Flytyingforum.com, I recently took the opportunity to participate in a “Classic Bucktail” swap. The rules were simple: “Anyone up for some quick, easy classic bucktails? Don’t get hung up on “classic” patterns…get creative if you’d like.” Swaps are great opportunities to get a bit creative so I needed a pattern I could play with. I had all the materials I needed to create a variation of the Thunder Creek style for the swap. The result has proven to be a pretty effective fly on my local trout streams.

Pattern:

Hook: Firehole Stick, 811, #4-8
Thread: UTC 140 Fluorescent Orange or Red
Tail: Finn Raccoon
Body: Polar Flash
Flash: Polar Flash
Parr marks: Grizzly or Cree hackle
Upper wing: Dark bucktail or moose body
Lower wing: Light bucktail or moose body
Head: Fish Mask, # 4-5
Eyes: Living Eyes

Tying Steps:

After forming a thread base on the rear 2/3rds of the hook, tie in a short clump of Finn Raccoon with guard hairs removed. The tail should be no longer than 2/3rds the hook length.
Select 5-8 strands of Polar Flash and tie in at the hook bend at the middle point of the strands. Wind forward creating a smooth body to a point 1/3 behind the hook eye and secure ensuring the tag ends are on top of the hook shank.
Fold the tag ends back toward the tail and secure with a few wraps. Make a smooth transition of thread toward the hook eye. Trim the flash even with the tail. Apply a bit of cement to the wraps.
Select two grizzly or Cree hackles. Tie one hackle on each side of the hook shank with smooth wraps. The hackle should extend no longer than the tail. Apply a bit of cement to the wraps.
Select a small clump of dark bucktail or moose body hair for the top wing. Remove and the fuzz and short fibers and ensure the butts are flush. With bucktail you usually have to trim the butts to get the desired length. Moose body hair is already an ideal length for size 4-8 hooks.
Take the hair clump and hold it tight on top of the hook with approximately ¼ inch of butts back from the hook eye. Begin securing with loose wraps and follow with tighter wraps as you proceed. There are two critical aspects of the step. Don’t allow the hair to spin on the hook shank. When finished, all the hair fibers should be on top of the hook shank. Two, make sure there are a few tight wraps close to the hook eye. Moose is going to flair more than bucktail but provides a slightly bulkier profile in the water.
Repeat steps 5-6 with a lighter colored hair. Finish the thread wraps at least 3/16 inches behind the hook eye. Trim any wayward hair butts and apply a liberal coat of cement. This helps keep the whole head area of the fly from twisting loose.
Carefully grab the dark top hair and fold back along the hook shank. Pulling the hair tight, take several tight thread wraps at the tie in point.
Turn the hook over (rotary vise works well here) and repeat step 8 with the lower hair. Make sufficient wraps to create a smooth, even gill line. Secure with several half-hitches and cut the thread.
Slide the Fish Mask over the head to ensure it fits. Remove the mask and apply an even coat of thick UV cured cement on the entire head. Slide the head on and allow the cement to settle a bit before curing. When curing, hold the hair wings tight along the hook shank so they lay as flat as possible.
Apply Living Eyes, seal with a flexible UV cement. Apply a finishing coat of normal cement over the whole head.
The UV cured cement and Fish Mask take away the tedious method of finishing the original Thunder Creek Minnow style making this fly simple and quick to tie. Using Moose also makes using the Fish Mask easier as there’s no need to build up a bulky thread head. It is a versatile style that can be tied on any number of color combinations and sizes to simulate whatever baitfish is needed.My originals have been on the water several times with great success.