Texoma on the Fly

Hello Everyone, please join the Red River Fly Fishers and Eisenhower State Park this Saturday for the fly fishing event ?Texoma on the Fly II? at the park. I hope you?ll come up and join us!

The event will be from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday, June 23, 2007 at Eisenhower State Park.

Here?s a Lake Texoma Fishing Report.

The lake level is higher than normal and flood gates have been open for the last few weeks. The lake water is ?stained? in the area around Eisenhower State park. Farther up river the lake is muddy, but the park is located near the dam and that area is significantly clearer. The coves within and near the park had remained clear through last weekend. I don?t know what affect Monday?s storms will have on the lake and on the water clarity, but the most severe storms were located south and west of the lake and not directly over it.

Stripers are being caught right now, but most of the reports indicate that they are being caught using bait in 40 to 60 feet of water. Unfortunately, those are not the most fly fishing friendly conditions. The good news is that I also have reports of Stripers being caught using topwater flies off of main lake points early in the morning last weekend. The topwater bite has been slow this year, so the reports of topwater action with a fly rod are exciting news. I was out there Saturday and both bass and bluegills were plentiful in the backs of the park?s coves. They are easily accessible with a fly rod, just cast your fly as close as possible to any vegetation in the water. (Bluegills are a real hoot on a 3 wt.)

Here?s the bad news, the higher water level means that backcasting room is more limited than it was last year. However, there are still plenty of areas that can be fished from the shore or by wading. The park has several coves that are great for kayaks and float-tubs. The park also contains a good boat ramp. Please remember that a fishing license is required if you get into any type of boat or if you leave the state park.

Here?s the basic schedule is:

6-9 a.m. - Fishing at Eisenhower SP. As part of the ?Family Fishing Celebration?, a fishing license is not required to fish from the shore in any Texas state park during 2007.

9-12 noon
- Registration at the Door

- Fly Fishing Education Stations

- Fly Tying Demonstrations and Instruction

- Fly Casting Lessons
Instructors will include FFF certified casting instructors

12 Noon - Lunch with free hot dogs (while they last) and soft drinks.

12 Noon ? Casting Demo by Al Crise FFF MCCI

12:30 ? Casting Demo by Ken Cole FFF CCI

1:00 p.m. ? Seminar: "Texoma stripers past to present". A historical overview of ODWC?s Striped bass program including historical information as well as the present status of the population. By Paul Mauck - Southcentral Region Fish Supervisor Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

1:45 p.m. ? Seminar: ?Sink Tips- using full sink, intermediate and sink-tip fly lines to catch more fish?. By Rob Woodruff - Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide on Lakes Fork and Caddo in East Texas and the Mountain Fork River in Southeastern Oklahoma.

2:30 p.m. - Seminar: ?Texoma on the Fly". It will consist of a discussion of fly fishing opportunities on Lake Texoma. Emphasis will be on Stripers. By Steve Hollensed ? Fly Fishing Guide on Lake Texoma and Lake Ray Roberts, and Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor.

3:15 p.m. ? Panel Q&A ?Ask the Experts?

We hope you will come and join for a fly fishing day on Lake Texoma.

Directions to Eisenhower State Park: From TX Highway 75 north of Denison, TX. Take Exit # 72 west toward the Denison Dam. (The store ?Dave?s Ski and Tackle? is located on this corner.) At the edge of the Texas side of the Denison Dam, turn left onto 1310. Follow 1310 to the park entrance.

For the Red River Fly Fishers,
Rex

Texoma on the Fly - June 23