DECEMBER EVENTS

CHRISTMAS PARTY
Saturday, December 9 at Living Waters Fly Fishing

Early in December we like to kick off the holiday shopping season with a festive Christmas Party shopping event! We’ll have warm drinks, treats, and festive games throughout the day as you come and go to shop. As an added perk, you’ll be rewarded for shopping early with our Raffle Prize Drawing! For every $10 you spend* in store or by phone, you’ll receive a FREE raffle ticket to place in the prize drawing(s) of your choice! Winners will be notified Monday, December 11th. You DO NOT have to be present to win!! *Tickets are awarded when a gift certificate is purchased or on the purchase balance after a gift certificate is redeemed.

CHRISTMAS PRIZE DRAWINGS
PRIZE 1 – Full Day Guide Trip for Two
PRIZE 2 – Scott Fly Rod & Ross Reels Combo
PRIZE 3 – Three Scientific Anglers Fly Lines of Your Choice
PRIZE 4 – Simms Shopping Spree
PRIZE 5 – Whiting Hackle Assortment
PRIZE 6 – Fishpond Elkhorn Pack
PRIZE 7 – Texas Signature Tyer Fly Assortment

CHRISTMAS IRONFLY COMPETITION
During the Christmas Party, the upstairs loft will be set for a festive Iron Fly Competition. Vises, tools, and plenty of holiday décor will all be provided. Stop by any time between 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. to tie up your best and most creative fly using the items provided! There will be an Adult and a Youth Division, and the winner of each will be awarded a $100 Fly Tying Shopping Spree! You do not need to be present to win! Winners will be notified by phone on Monday, December 11th.

SIGHT LINE PROVISIONS TRUNK SHOW
Meet the maker, Edgar Diaz at the party! Edgar will be on site with his trailer for a special trunk show, featuring limited edition pieces and new styles. Plus, you’ll get a FREE HAT BADGE with the purchase of any SLP product!

FLY SHOP CLOSED
Sunday, December 24 – Monday, December 25

FLY SHOP CLOSED
Sunday, December 31 – Monday, January 1

 

JANUARY EVENTS

FLY TYING NIGHT – INSTRUCTIONAL
Wednesday, January 3, 7:00 P.M. at Living Waters Fly Fishing

Fly Tying Nights are divided into three distinct types – Instructional, Roundtable, and Virtual. The first and second Wednesdays of the month are Instructional Fly Tying for Beginner and Intermediate+ level tyers. These nights will be held in-person at the fly shop. For Beginner tyers, we will supply everything you need – vise, tools, and materials – to learn two patterns each night. These four total patterns will equip you with the essential techniques for continuing your tying journey. For Intermediate+ tyers, each week you’ll learn a new Fly of the Night. We will provide the instruction and materials, but please bring your own vise, tools, and thread.

6:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Closes
7:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Re-Opens / Fly Tying Night
Beginner Fly #1-2 / BC Streamer and Foam Beetle
Intermediate Fly / Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear
9:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Closes

WINTER WARM WATER TACTICS
Saturday, January 6, 10:00 A.M. at Living Waters Fly Fishing

From December to February many (if not most) Texas fly anglers concentrate their efforts targeting trout on the Guadalupe River or other stocked fisheries. The result is often a lot of preparation and driving to lease access sites or crowding in together for a few days before stocked locations get cleaned out. Thankfully there are many other options and chances for days on the water during the winter than that! While our Texas native and naturalized species slow down as the temperatures cool, you can still have great success targeting warm water species in the “off season!” Come learn how to adjust for seasonal behavior changes and how to plan your outings strategically to maximize your fishing opportunities year ’round!

FLY TYING NIGHT – INSTRUCTIONAL
Wednesday, January 10, 7:00 P.M. at Living Waters Fly Fishing

Fly Tying Nights are divided into three distinct types – Instructional, Roundtable, and Virtual. The first and second Wednesdays of the month are Instructional Fly Tying for Beginner and Intermediate+ level tyers. These nights will be held in-person at the fly shop. For Beginner tyers, we will supply everything you need – vise, tools, and materials – to learn two patterns each night. These four total patterns will equip you with the essential techniques for continuing your tying journey. For Intermediate+ tyers, each week you’ll learn a new Fly of the Night. We will provide the instruction and materials, but please bring your own vise, tools, and thread.

6:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Closes
7:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Re-Opens / Fly Tying Night
Beginner Fly #3-4 / Woolly Bugger and Elk Hair Caddis
Intermediate Fly / CDC Pheasant Tail
9:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Closes

INTRODUCTION TO FLY FISHING (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Saturday, January 13 at Living Waters Fly Fishing

Join us for a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of fly casting and fly tackle, as well as access points and fly selection for the Texas Hill Country. All necessary equipment will be provided; just bring a notebook and pen!

10:00 – 11:30 / Introduction to Fly Casting (Traditional and Tenkara)
We’ll be kicking things off with a casting class catered towards beginners. Join us for a clinic on the basic principles of fly casting. Casting traditional and tenkara fly rods will be demonstrated and discussed, with plenty of interactive learning opportunities! This portion of class will take place outside; please dress for the weather. 

11:30 – 1:00 / Basic Rigging for the Hill Country (Traditional and Tenkara)
This presentation will explain the how’s and why’s behind rod, reel, and line selection for fly fishing our local waters. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different fly line tapers, and show you the knots you need to get rigged up and ready to fish!

LUNCH BREAK – We’re located just a short walk from many local eateries. 

2:00 – 3:30 / Local Hot Spots 
Learn where, how, and when to fish our local hot spots, including techniques, river access, and fly selection for each body of water!

FLY TYING NIGHT – ROUND TABLE
Wednesday, January 3, 7:00 P.M. at Living Waters Fly Fishing

Fly Tying Nights are divided into three distinct types – Instructional, Roundtable, and Virtual. The third Wednesday of the month is in-person Roundtable Fly Tying. We will provide the space and beverages, but all tyers are responsible for bringing all their own equipment and materials for freestyle tying. Come share with and learn from other fly tyers in your area!

6:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Closes
7:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Re-Opens / Fly Tying Night
9:00 P.M. – Fly Shop Closes

FLY FISHING THE GUADALUPE RIVER
Saturday, January 20, 10:00 A.M. via ZOOM

The Guadalupe River is Texas’ only year-round trout fishery and is ranked as one of the top 100 trout streams in the United States! While at times it fishes very similarly to western tailwaters, “The Guad” would not be truly Texan if it didn’t have a mind of its own.

In this presentation, Owner Chris Johnson will share his 20+ years of experience fishing and guiding the Guadalupe River effectively for rainbow trout. He will cover fly selection, reading the water, entomology, perfecting your presentation, flow rates, river etiquette, and more. Whether you are a first time Texas trout angler or a Guadalupe veteran, you will learn something from this presentation focused on our local TU chapter’s home water!

FLY TYING NIGHT – VIRTUAL
Wednesday, January 24, 7:00 P.M. CST via ZOOM

Fly Tying Nights are divided into three distinct types – Instructional, Roundtable, and Virtual. The fourth Wednesday of the month is Virtual Fly Tying. Join Living Waters’ owner and Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Chris Johnson live online for a tie-along Fly of the Night.

Dave’s Red Squirrel Nymph
Hook: TMC 200R, #10-16
Bead: Round Tungsten or Brass to match hook
Thread: Veevus 10/0-12/0, Tan or Brown
Tail: Fox Squirrel, Tan
Legs: Sili Legs, Nymph, Barred Rootbeer
Rib: French Tinsel, Small, Gold
Abdomen: SLF Dubbing, Whitlock Red Squirrel Abdomen
Hackle: Hebert Miner Hen Saddle, Wild Type
Thorax: SLF Dubbing, Whitlock Red Squirrel Thorax

READING THE WATER
Saturday, January 27, 10:00 A.M. at Living Waters Fly Fishing

Knowing how to properly eliminate unproductive water when fly fishing will save you time and frustration. Join us at the fly shop to learn how to identify the small percentage of water that holds the highest percentage of fish.