New Club in Texas Council. Welcome the Lubbock Fly Fishers

Want to welcome a new club to the Texas Council. the Lubbock Fly Fishers. Thank you David Crawford and members in the forming of this exciting new club. Keep an eye on this group as they will be growing rapidly.

Follow them on facebook.

Texas Council Presenters

Bruce Sublett started tying flies for sale in his on-line store, Gulf and Ozark Flies, in 2005, after retiring from Angelina College, where he taught English, journalism, and photography for three decades.  Since then, he has been honing his angling skills on the upper Texas coast, on East Texas lakes, and in the Rockies.  He has been a regular fly tyer at events in Texas and Louisiana. puts his classroom skills to use presenting programs for area clubs, at Fly Fish Texas, and at the Texas Council Expo.  His flies are available on his Gulf and Ozark Flies website (www.goflies.com), and selected flies are also on MyFlies.com and on sale at Larry Offner’s Green Trout Fly Shop.  His latest venture is a custom rod business called Pyratehead Rods (www.pyrateheadrods.com) specializing in fiberglass fly rods.

Chris is the owner and head guide of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based in Round Rock, Texas.  He has guided the Texas Hill Country for over a decade, and has fly fished the heart of the state for almost 20 years.  Chris is an IFFF Certified Casting Instructor, an Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, TPWD Angler Educator, and is part of Scott Fly Rods Pro Team.  He and his wife Emily, operate the fly shop and enjoy fly fishing across the globe together.  Both Chris and Emily are dedicated to sharing their passion for the sport and investing in the next generation of fly anglers!  Their shop was awarded the Lee Wulff Award by the IFFF in 2014.  Living Waters is the first and only Gold Level Trout Unlimited endorsed business in the state of Texas!  Chris and his shop have also been featured in several publications including Trout Magazine and Tenkara Magazine.

Jen Ripple is the Editor-in-Chief of Dun Magazine and the Executive Editor of a Tight Loop Magazine.  When not on the water, she spends her time empowering women in fly fishing by teaching fly tying and fly casting clinics, speaking nationwide on issues regarding women in fly fishing and devoting her time to conservation efforts through nonprofits.  A sounding board for women in this currently male-dominated sport, Jen has created a home base for women worldwide to connect and engage in the art of fly fishing.

Jim has been fly fishing, fly tying and rod building for over 30 years, the last 20 based in the Central Texas Hill Country.  Jim is an active member of the Austin Fly Fishers and has served as both the President and Vice President.  He is currently the Vice President of the IFFF Texas Council.  Jim is a frequent presenter at Texas, Louisiana and Florida fly fishing clubs, giving presentations on Hill Country rivers, tying Hill Country flies, fly fishing for carp and fly fishing England and beyond.  In 2014 he was recognized as the IFFF Texas Conservationist of the Year, and in 2015 he was recognized as the IFFF Texas Man of the Year.  Jim and Jeff Hoelter designed the Llanolope, one of the most popular flies in Central Texas.  Jim also developed the Jim’s Damsel and the SB100.  Most weekends you can find Jim fishing the Llano or Colorado River, or when conditions are right, chasing carp on smaller streams and lakes.

Kelly started his fly fishing career at the age of 13, tying flies for the local tackle shop. He started guiding at the age of 16 and is still guiding to this day some; well lots of years later. He owned the Troutsman fly shop in Northern Michigan for 20 years. He sold the Troutsman and moved to Montana where he and his wife Penny bought the Slide Inn lodge on the banks of the Madison River. Kelly has written two books Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners, and has numerous DVD’s on tying and fishing. He has over fifty nationally recognized fly patterns that are sold world wide. He is also a line and rod designer for Scientific Anglers and St Croix rods. Kelly has been published in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country and is one of the Editors a large for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly is also the hosts of Fly Fish TV on the VS’s Network. Kelly is one of the most sought after speakers in the country and spends much of his winter months speaking for clubs and Sports shows. In 2003 Kelly received the living legend award from the FFF, and in 2007 the Charles E Brooks memorial life award.

Lefty Ray is a San Antonio, TX based, award winning, professional photographer and writer specializing in outdoor subjects like fly fishing, kayak fishing, and waterfowling. He just recently was voted the President of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association (TOWA) and won several awards in outdoor photography at their recent conference last month as well as awards from the national organization, OWAA, in July. In January he was elevated to the national level of the G. Loomis Pro Staff.

He is also a lecturer on the Texas fly fishing opportunities and can be found giving slideshows and seminars around the country. When not writing, he is kayak fishing at the Texas coast, fly fishing the Texas Hill Country streams, or shooting at ducks in season.

Lefty Ray’s is a frequent contributor to Southwest Fly Fishing magazine and his work has appeared in other magazines like Newsweek, Texas Highways, Kayak Angler, Paddler, Shallow Water Angler, Fly Fishing in Saltwaters, Gulf Coast Fisherman, and Texas Parks & Wildlife. His work has also appeared in newspapers like the San Antonio Express-News, La Prensa, and Saltwater Texas.

This year marks the 15th year anniversary of conducting his “Kayak 4 Redfish” seminars. The was the first ACA certified kayak fishing school on the Texas coast. In 1994 he was among the first group in Texas to be certified as FFF fly casting instructors.

The nickname “Lefty” comes from his high school golf team playing days. While actually left-handed he learned to play golf right-handed using his dad’s extra set of golf clubs. While the team as a whole was not in the calibre of Tiger Woods, the golf coach was often overheard saying to other coaches that “His team could probably not outplay their team, but his team could out-drink, out gamble, and out-fight any other team in the state of Texas!”

Lester “Les” Jackson was born to fish. Growing up in Houston, he spent his boyhood weekends at his grandparent’s house on Galveston Bay where his grandfather taught him the finer points of crabbing, and fishing for every kind of saltwater species. He has fond memories of hopping in the “red boat” with his grandfather cruising around the sandbars catching the speckled trout run.

He was a conventional tackle guy most of his life until he met the new love in love, his wife Kay, who was responsible for introducing him to fly fishing. It was love at first sight—not sure if that was Kay or fly fishing, but nevertheless, he was hooked.

Les loves fly fishing for any kind of species in any kind of water—warm, cold or salt. He and Kay have travelled to wonderful trout streams in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Georgia. Les has now carved his niche as the “urban angler” with the itch to fish any ditch with water including his “home waters” of spring-fed creeks in Arlington and around Tarrant County, and has taken many to his secret holes and made converts out of fishing inside the city limits of the Metroplex.

He is the past president of the Fort Worth Fly Fishers, current board member for the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, and active on many fishing sites. He also collects vintage fly rods and reels and an avid fly tyer. He and Kay live in Arlington, Texas.

Molly Semenik was born and raised in Michigan. She fondly recalls the day when, at the age of fourteen, her father presented her with his prized Orvis bamboo rod. When Semenik moved to Utah in 1979, she brought the rod along and spent the next several years fly fishing in western fresh water. She eventually ventured into saltwater angling.

A career in fly fishing started with her move to Montana in 2000. By the following year, Semenik accomplished three major goals: she was a Federation of Fly Fishers certified fly-casting instructor, she received her Montana guide license, and she founded Tie the Knot Fly Fishing. Tie the Knot includes guided fly fishing on the Yellowstone River and local spring creeks, as well as instruction and fly-fishing destination trips for women. Semenik specializes in introducing women to the sport in a fun, professional, and encouraging way; she believes that “when a woman can tie her own knot, she has started down the path of independence.”

Not willing to simply rely on her earlier accomplishments, Semenik became a Federation of Fly Fishers master fly-casting instructor in 2006, cofounded the Yellowstone Fly Fishing School with Matt Wilhelm in 2006, and two years later became a certified outfitter in the state of Montana. She was elected to the Casting Board of Governors of the Federation of Fly Fishers in 2010.

Semenik and her family live in Livingston, Montana. She has been guiding for eleven years and is busy teaching, sharing, and fishing throughout the country.

Pat Cohen lives in upstate New York. He began fly fishing in 2008 and has been tying flies since January of 2009. Pat is a full time commercial fly tyer and regularly teach classes, does presentations and demos at events, fly shops and clubs across the east coast. His specialty is deer hair bass bugs, but has a string passion for all types of streamers and carp flies.

Rob Gonzalez is an avid fly tyer and Tenkara angler from the Central Texas Hill Country. For the past few years, he’s been at the forefront of promoting Tenkara statewide. He’s passionate about the simplicity that Tenkara fly fishing offers and enjoys sharing that with the fly fishing community. Join him at www.facebook.com/groups/TenkaraTexas

Russell Husted is the current President of the Texas Council, and avid river fly fisherman. If not on the Brazos, you may find him on the Nolan, Red, or his home waters of the Trinity. Russell used to go after numbers of bass, until he met friend and mentor Bob Pool. from then he only throws  big bugs and streamers after big bass!!!  Come see him share his favorite urban waters, which mean so much to him. Something about catching five pound bass as traffic passes you by!!!

Destination Texas Fly Tying Exhibitions at this years Expo. Septh 9th and 10th!!

For you fly tiers out there. Check out the amazing lineup

we have for the exhibition of FREE fly tying sessions!!!

This will be a must to attend during the Texas Council’s

Destination Texas Expo.

Expo Fly Tying Instructors

Matt Bennett is a full-time commercial fly tyer and the owner

of Fly Geek Custom Flies. While having a varied interest in

many different types of fly fishing, Matt most enjoys both tying

flies and fishing for the native bass species of the Texas Hill

Country, and most of his flies were created to fool these specific

quarry. However, most of Matt’s patterns have a broad universal

appeal to fish species all over and he very much enjoys sharing

his tying and fishing knowledge with others. Matt is a member

of the Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Fly Designer

program and his initial pattern, Bennett’s Lunch $, is starting to

show up in fly shops all over the country. Matt currently serves

as the President of the Austin Fly Fishers, and was awarded the

2015 Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award by the International

Federation of Fly Fishers

Pat Cohen “found” fly fishing in 2008. He fell in love with fly

tying in 2009 and since 2012 has been a full time commercial

tyer, fly, material and tool designer. He runs an internet based

business called Super Fly, www.rusuperfly.com. Pat is a warm

water fanatic, specializing in smallmouth, largemouth, pike

and carp on the fly. Pat travels all over the country teaching fly

tying classes and doing presentations on warm water fly fishing

techniques.

Kelly Galloup started his fly fishing career at the age of 13,

tying flies for the local tackle shop. He started guiding at the

age of 16 and still manages to run a couple trips a year. Kelly

owned and operated The Troutsman fly shop and guide service

in Northern Michigan for 20 years. He sold the Troutsman in

2001, and purchased The Slide Inn lodge on the banks of the

Madison River in southwest Montana. Kelly has written two

books: Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and

Spinners, and has numerous DVD’s on tying and fishing. In

2003 Kelly received the living legend award from the FFF, and

was awarded the Charles E Brooks memorial life award in 2007.

He has over fifty nationally recognized fly patterns that are sold

worldwide, and is currently a signature tier for Montana Fly

Company. He is also a rod and line designer for St Croix rods

and Airflo fly lines. Kelly has been published in every major fly

fishing periodical in the U.S., and is one of the Editors at large

for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly is also the host of Fly Fish TV

with Kelly Galloup . As one of the most sought after speakers in

the country, Kelly spends much of his winter months speaking

for clubs and Sports shows across the country.

Kyle Hand after about 25 years of tying flies for someone else, Kyle

decided he needed to expand his horizons. Yes, he took the deep dive and

started tying Classic Salmon flies. Since then he have also started tying

Classic bass flies, wet flies and Rangeley style streamers. It is a continuing

education. Kyle also got into dyeing his own materials and soon hope to

get into making his own hooks. Kyle lives in Ft. Worth, TX with Susan, his

wife of 35 years. They have two daughters and their families that live there

as well and 5 grandchildren ranging from ages 13 to 2. Kyle recently retired

from the BNSF Railroad so he’s adjusting to that life and hopefully can find

more time for tying, fishing and learning the bass guitar.

Fred Hannie Internationally renowned realistic fly tier and author. 2014

GCC fly tier of the year. Fred’s flies have been featured in numerous

magazines including the cover of Fly Tyer magazine. Authored his first

book “Fly Tying with Monofilament ” in 2015 . Fred conducts fly tying

workshops , teaching his style of tying across the south. A pro staff tier for

Deer Creek, Togens hooks ,On The Vise and many more. Also a member

of the IFFF Fly Tying Group.

Russell Husted is the current President of the Texas Council IFFF, and

past President of the Fort Worth Fly Fishers. Russell spends most of his

spare time fishing Texas Rivers and targets BIG Bass. He is an avid fly tier,

focusing on simple patterns that are proven to do the trick. Russell loves

urban bass fishing and enjoys spending time doing seminars and working

with the youth.

Mike Morphew has been fly fishing for trout, salmon and saltwater fish

for over 50 years. He tied his first fly aged 13, caught a trout on it and was

“hooked”. He has been fascinated with tying “ultra-realistic” insects for 15

years. In 2003 he was asked to create a salmon fly display for Her Royal

Highness Princess Anne. All of his flies and realistic imitations are hand

tied and mounted for the best presentation. Mike lives in Smithville, Texas

and is on the board of the Austin Fly Fishers Club.

Jen Ripple is the Editor-in-Chief of Dun Magazine and the Executive

Editor of a Tight Loop Magazine. When not on the water, she spends her

time empowering women in fly fishing by teaching fly tying and fly casting

clinics, speaking nationwide on issues regarding women in fly fishing and

devoting her time to conservation efforts through nonprofits. A sounding

board for women in this currently male-dominated sport, Jen has created

a home base.

To top that off, there will be a special fly tying area at the convention center,

that will focus strictly on fly tying. Come get one on one tying expertise

from some the state’s  best!!!

Hope to see you there. Check out all of the other events and register on-line

at http://txflyfishexpo.com/.

Texas Council Expo Registration Now LIVE!!!

For all of you fly fishing anglers, or anyone that wants to learn about fly fishing, the Texas Council’s Destination Expo is coming to North Texas. September 8th through the 10th. With so many activities for you to enjoy and learn from, this is a must event to attend. Registration is NOW Live!! Simply go to the http://txflyfishexpo.com/ website and either register on line, or print a mail in form and send to us. There is also a full list of FREE Activities that include fly tying demonstrations, presentations on fly fishing in Texas, a kayak demo day on the banks of Lake Grapevine, and so much more. Activities for all ages, and fly fishing abilities., from the beginner to the advanced angler.

The casting programs this year are better than ever. Sign up for specialized instructions on various casting instructions from some of the very best, that specialize on casts that work so well under our Texas conditions. Sign up now as these classes are limited in space so there is better coverage with you from the instructors, and will fill up fast.

There is also the kayak raffle. This years kayak raffle will feature a fully equipped fly fishing boat. Details coming out this week. Need not to be present to win, but recommended as this will be announced at our awards dinner on Saturday night.

Some other highlights of the week.

Thursday night welcoming dinner with the showing of the IF4 Film show, which will only be shown once in Texas this year

Friday night BBQ dinner with host Kelly Galloup. Streamer expert will be doing a presentation for us that you wont want to miss!!!

Saturday morning an amazing women’s breakfast with Jen Ripple and Molly Semenik. Also a breakfast for the youth, before their full days worth of activities. A kayak demo day, and then to end the weekend with the awards dinner, live auction and kayak giveaway!!!

Again, REGISTRATION is now LIVE!! Take advantage of these opportunities and sign up now.

See you all there!!!