I recently returned from a gathering of ultralight flyfishing enthusiasts down in the Texas Hill Country. Had a great time. A few of us glass enthusiasts went to the Hill Country several years ago. In speaking with Keebranch a few nights ago, we discussed going back to the Hill Country. TXH2Oman (Aaron) had been talking about another Ultralight meetup in the Hill Country and has expressed interest in joining the two groups together for such an event. So far we seem to have at least five people interested. While not yet ready to go into the planning stage, how much interest is there in such a gathering? Any ideas on where in the Hill Country would be a good place to meet. Would like to get some input. We have a hardcore group of about six people that get together once or twice yearly, with an occasional new face showing up. Would like to see some more new faces to put together with the Usernames we see on here.

Larry

P.S. - **CAUTION** - If you decide you would like to join us, you may need to get a precautionary vaccination. Some of the ultralight guys actually fish with....GRAPHITE. I know, it's an ugly thought, but sometimes you just have to overlook some people's disgusting habits.

I’ve fished the South Llano and it’s pretty great, count me as interested.

Thanks for the info, Ron; much appreciated.

Larry

We could get real crazy and do a float on the Devil's River......

It is my understanding that a person had better be in pretty good physical condition to run the Devil's River. Of course I am a splendid physical specimen, but I am concerned about some of the other guys' level of fitness. We are still about 7 to 8 months away from setting out on this great adventure, so keep the ideas coming in.

Larry

I'm interested, but there's a fair chance I will have to go to the Bahamas around that time.

A rio?! We can catch those in my backyard in Bee Cave.

They’re really easy to catch with a little nymph that has a little flash. Even easier than some species of sunfish. But they do make a killer photo op. This thread has a pic from my best day of nymphing them up on Little Barton.

viewtopic.php?t=56728

Shonto Ranch has cichlids over 3 lbs.
It would be an easy day trip to Johnson Creek (or even Cibolo) for A-strain endemic Guadalupe bass.


Sabinal River (above Utopia), if somebody wants to hunt for a lodge with private access

I have not been here since the late 1990s, but Foxfire cabins on the Sabinal River would lend itself to a conclave (on the river, nice accommodations, central meeting places).

I just took a look at Shonto Ranch online because it sounded appealing from the description above. I have to say -- and this is my opinion and I know not everyone shares it -- that I believe high fence ranches rob us of a public resource, interrupt gene flow, and are generally bad for wildlife. Hunting in Texas generally does not conform to traditional ideas of fair chase, with our feeders and food plots. I could go on about deer breeding programs, managed-land deer permits, and exotics. But I won't.

As an alternative -- and if folks are most interested in Rio Grande cichlids and Guadalupe bass -- Central Texas, using Georgetown, Austin, or one of the nearby state parks (Pedernales Falls SP, Colorado Bend SP, Blanco SP) are all options. The Lampasas River, which I've been exploring lately, is nearly unfished, can accomodate three or four walking anglers easily, and has some easy access about 25 minutes from Georgetown -- also incredible diversity (Guadalupe bass, LMB, carp, white bass, freshwater drum, channel cats). Pure strain Guadalupe bass in Brushy Creek, parts of the San Gabriel River, and in Onion Creek. Rios in the Gabe, Brushy and Onion.

Also of note: Living Waters Fly Fishing is a world-class shop in Round Rock, and The Well (60+ whiskeys) in Georgetown is slated to be open by then. Chris Barclay is rumored to be coming to the Round Rock area in early June. ;-)

A Brushy Creek Guadalupe bass from last week (carbon rod, but a 2 wt!) and a Rio from Onion Creek earlier in the year shown below.

I'll talk to Larry this afternoon (after he is done preaching and going to Luby's, ya know), see what he has in mind!





Onion Creek LMB (oh, hey ... a glass rod!):



Onion Creek Guadalupe bass:



Lampasas River greenie:



Lampasas River channel cat:



Brushy Creek scenery (last week):









San Gabriel River scenery:









Lampasas scenery:





Onion Creek scenery:







All of the above within a 60-mile radius, most much closer. Plus, Orvis company store in Austin, another fly shop (Sportsman's Finest) on the southwest side of town, and both Cabelas and Bass Pro. And two FFI clubs for local participation.

Actually I'm quite open to suggestions regarding time and place. There may be as many as 12-15 people showing up from comments I've received, so we need to find places to fish that will accomodate that many at once, or where we can split up and hit different places nearby. I know that some of the rivers offer limited access or you need a water craft of some sort, which not everybody has. In 2015 we camped at the city park in Mason and fished the Llano and San Saba. Good access at both rivers. I and a couple of other guys plan to spend the week. Mason or Junction are fairly central locations in the Hill Country and are within an hour to an hour and a half from the Guadalupe, the Nueces, the Frio and the Sabinal. By early to mid-May school is letting out which means the parks will be full of campers and some of the rivers will be filling up with tubers and kayakers, so I would think some time in April would be good. Suggestions, comments, criticisms all welcome at this time.

Larry

Bulldog, those sunnies are monsters! Are you sure it's safe to get in the water there?

actually, cypress tunnels are where endemic bass are native - the other remaining A-strain is at Herff Springs in Cibolo Creek.


I caught them in the Guadalupe before state-stocked smallmouth ever invaded.

the state continues to stock them westward to "save the species"
Most recently, the state stocked white bass in the upper Guadalupe, where they can get into Johnson Creek and prey on that A-strain.
this hen would have been the state record, but I wasn't willing to kill her for a liver biopsy

I released her back into Mueller falls