Guadalupe Bass

Midcurrent.com has a great piece taken from Chris Santella's book - 50 Places To FlyFish Befroe You Die entitled - Llano River, Texas Hill Country: “Fifty More Places To Fly Fish Before You Die” - if you are a bass fanatic like I am, you will enjoy this piece

Renzetti Fly Fishing Fair - This December!

Renzetti Inc, world known manufacturer of fly tying and rod building equipment, will host the 3rd Fly Fishing & Rod Building Fair in Titusville, FL Dec 3rd, 2011.  World-famous fly angler, author and instructor Bob Clouser, Jon Cave, Bob Popovics, Pat Ehler, are among the speakers that day, along with John Stumpe,   and other rod builders will be demonstrating the art of rod building.

The 3rdFly Fishing and Rod Building Fair @ Renzetti’s is scheduled for 9: a.m. to 4: p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Renzetti’s manufacturing facility in Titusville. It is an opportunity to also see and speak with a number of manufacturers such as Temple Fork, Hell Bay Boat works, Custom Gheenoe, Tufffleye, Dragon Fly Boatworks,  Renzetti and more. Fly fishing is more than equipment and the reason for attendees to see beautiful art work from extraordinary artists from Florida.

Unlike any other Fly Fishing gathering, this event focus on promoting the sport  thru education and hand seminars and at the same time raise funds for 2 deserving organizations. The proceeds from this event will go to Casting for Recovery and Project Healing Waters.

A one day seminar with Bob Clouser,  Jon Cave and Bob Popovics will be held on Dec. 2nd, 2011. The cost of the seminar is $400 per person, includes a catered lunch, refreshments, entry ticket for cocktail reception that evening as well and study materials. Advance registration is required and space is limited to 16 anglers. Please contact Lily Renzetti 321-267-7705 or email@ flyfair@renzetti.com for more information or to reserve your spot.

A Dinner reception on Dec. 2, 2011 will highlight the mission of Casting for Recovery FL and Project Healing Waters and guest Speakers for the event.. It will also be an opportunity to socialize with all the invited speakers, and bid on some of the wonderful products that will be auctioned that evening. The cost for the cocktail reception is $50.00 per person, cash bar. Like on the one day seminar advance registration is required and space is limited to 100 guests

The 3rd Fly Fishing and Rod Building Fair @ Renzetti’s is sponsored by Renzetti Inc and Hells Bay Boat Works, both of Titusville FL. For those traveling from far, The Holiday Inn KSC Titusville is offering a special rate for this event. Discount code is Renzetti Fair. Call 321 383 0200.

Callaway Expedition - July 2011

We spend a week every summer at Callaway Gardens over in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Aside from golf, tennis and a plethora of activities for the kids - Callaway has a top notch fly fishing program and a bunch of stocked lakes and ponds that will entice every angler from the novice to the expert.

Our guide was Kent Edmonds from www.flyfishga.com - Kent is a FFF Certified casting instructor and gave my son a casting lesson before we hit the water. Float tubes were new to us, but we immediately understood their attraction for pond fishing (especially in a fully managed and clean pond). Our day held all panfish, but the lakes also have bass. During the late fall to spring season the lakes are stocked with trout. We plan a return during the winter holidays to get into these.

Tarpon Trip

Went down to Matlacha, FL (Mat-La-SHAY) to fish for tarpon with Capt. Gregg McKee.

I was especially interested to give my new Temple Fork BVK reel a workout (5/6 model on a 7 wt.). While I didn't get a tarpon, I did get several shots at them - and was successful in producing several speckled trout and ladyfish.

My youngest took the prize by keeping our guide completely busy rebaiting his hook. A good time was had by all - I would highly recommend both the area and the guide to anyone who is interested in tarpon or any other light inshore fishing. Matlacha is next to Pine Island and just north of Captiva/Sanibel.

Endangered Rivers

AmericanRivers.org has published their annual list of endangered waterways. Note that four fall within our geographic area, the Black Warrior being smack in the middle.

http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/endangered-rivers/

UltraWiggleShrimp - Pink

I created this fly when I was living on the North Shore over in Slidell, LA. It is a cross between a Popovic's Ultra Shrimp and a Wiggle Bug. I will be honest - it is deadly, especially in coastal skinny water -

Poppers

"By far the majority of largemouth bass taken on fly rods are caught with surface bugs of some kind." - Charles Waterman, Black Bass & the Fly Rod, 1993.