Texas Redfishing Weekly Recap for May 1st through 7th

Well… as predicted, things changed pretty much right after our last update. So I figured I would do my best to bring everyone up to speed again, as to where we are at with all things Covid-19, as it pertains to fly fishing the Texas Coast. So let’s see how I do this time.

From my last report on these issues, we were starting to see some closures on the Texas Coast, but we were still allowed to operate as guides. That hammer finally fell no more than 48 hours after I posted that. The Governor declared a Shelter-in-Place order for the entire state of Texas. In this declaration, all non-essential businesses were forced to shut down. Sadly, that includes ALL guides in the state of Texas.

So Fly Fish Rockport, and all other guides in the state of Texas, are now forced to sit and wait for things to settle a bit. As of right now, this order extends through the 24th of April. But, we have been warned that we should plan on this continuing throughout the month of May as well. That will make it more than two months without being able to take guests out on the water. Huge bummer.

Also, almost immediately after our last report, there were far more fishing closures and restrictions added as well. Most noticeably in Rockport. All of our marinas and boat ramps are now closed. In addition, fishing piers, jettys, etc. are all also closed to fishing. And, beginning at midnight tonight (April 8th), all State Parks in the state of Texas are closed. So while Goose Island State Park had remained open to boaters, that will now be closed. So this means there are now no ramps open in Rockport. All ramps are currently blocked off and have signs posted. We do not know how long these will remain closed at this time. But you can safely bet it will be at least through the end of April.

The city chose to do this, as have many others, due to the increase in boat traffic. Obviously Shelter-in-Place seems to mean, “shelter-in-Rockport”. So after a huge increase in boater traffic following the shelter orders across the state, they opted to restrict access to the water, in hopes of convincing some folks to stay put wherever they may live. While I do live and work here in Rockport, and would love to be using these marinas right now, I am all for it. Following the initial shelter orders, our town was busier than it was all of Spring Break. So clearly folks weren’t staying home. So this is a step in the right direction, even if it hurts us locals a bit.

On the brighter side, there are a couple of our regularly used marinas still open… for now. Boat ramps in Aransas Pass, Port A and Corpus are all open. But be aware that social distancing is required at all times. So this means…

When you get to the marina in the morning, expect to be greeted by local police officers and a city representative of some sort. This morning, a Code Enforcement Officer was accompanied by two Aransas Pass Police Officers on land, and a police boat on the water. They will look at your boat, and all anglers, and make sure you can remain “socially distanced” within the boat. If you cannot, they have the ability to issue you a ticket. Fines start at $500. Ouch!!! But all that is to say that they are taking things seriously, which I applaud. But with just two of us in the skiff, we had no problems at all launching and getting on with our day.

You will notice the presence of far more law enforcement all over the place these days. Marinas and boat ramps are certainly a focus of theirs. So make sure you have your act together and are obeying all these new rules laid out for us. And don’t forget to be nice to these folks. They don’t want to be dealing with this mess any more than we do. So give ’em a break and be polite when they ask you for a few moments of your time before you put your boat in or out of the water.

With just these few boat ramps open on the coast, it has been pretty busy. The ramps are full every day. Who knows if these cities will see this as a problem or not. If so, we can expect more closures. But hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that. But we are aware that in more populated areas like Austin and Dallas, they had to close access to the water to get people to stay home. So we will see how this plays out down here.

Another measure taken to limit the traffic on the coast, is that all of our area hotels, bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals have been ordered to shut down. So if you are looking for an AirBnB or hotel in the area, you may be out of luck. As a rental property owner, I can tell you that we are directly ordered not to accept ANY reservations at this time. That means anything moving forward. Even if beyond the current shelter order. But for the short term, that means that there really isn’t anywhere for weekend warriors to stay down here right now.

Are you starting to get the drift here??? Shelter-in-Place means stay home, in your city or town. It doesn’t mean hook up the boat and come hang out on the Texas Coast because you have nothing else to do. All of our coastal towns are asking people to stay home and not come to the beach, until this all calms down. And they will continue to close things down for everyone, if this doesn’t happen.

This stay at home stuff has been a real pain in the ass for everyone. Myself included. Of course I, and all of my Fly Fish Rockport fishing guides, are lucky. We live here and are still able to get out on the water for a little fresh air. And we are very thankful to be able to do so, without breaking or stretching any rules. But we would also like to keep it this way. So we are doing what we can to obey the rules and operate as instructed. Hopefully, this will enable us to remain on the water a little bit here and there, so we don’t go completely crazy.

So we will still try to fish some, as we did today. And I will keep the Rockport Fly Fishing Reports coming each and every week for you as well. So while most of you may not be able to come down and get out on the water, you will at least know what’s going on down here. And hopefully there will be some new videos and photos coming as well, to keep those locked down entertained. I will do my best to keep some fresh content coming, as most folks are just looking for anything else to focus on, but the news these days.

So, sadly, we are not able to guide here for the foreseeable future. Which really sucks. But, it is the best thing right now. And we really don’t have a choice. But we are still booking trips for dates down the road. Nothing in April will be booked. But we are holding out hope that we might be able to guide during the month of May. So we are allowing folks to reserve dates in May, without deposits at this time. As things continue to evolve, we will roll with the punches and continue to figure it out.

We want to be on the water as much as everyone else does. So we will do whatever we can to help make that happen for you. So if you are interested in fly fishing in Rockport, Texas or the surrounding area, please feel free to contact me any time.

We are also offering a Coronavirus Special down here, to help out. We know many are suffering financially due to all this. We are too. So drop me a note if you are looking for some upcoming dates and we will make it happen for you. And of course if anyone has any other questions about anything going on down here on the Coast, please hit me up anytime. Happy to help where I can and try to point you in the right direction.

I wish everyone continued health. Be respectful of the rules, as they are there for all of our benefit. And be respectful of others around you.

Thank you,

Capt. Jeff Johnson

Owner Fly Fish Rockport

With everything going on in the world and Coastal Bend of Texas these days, we thought we would share a little update on where we are at down here in Rockport and on the Coast. By the time I write this, it will most certainly be outdated already. Things are evolving that fast around here. But we will try to share where we are at right now, and what we know going forward, as little as that may be.

First and foremost, I am very happy to share that all of us over here at Fly Fish Rockport are in perfect health and doing well. And we most certainly hope that is the same for everyone in our fly fishing family as well. For those who are affected currently, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours. We wish everyone well and a speedy recovery.

Things down along the Coast, and everywhere in the world, are kind of in flux. Our little community is working through this, just like many others are. Every day is an adventure really. And with things changing so quickly, I will get right to the point and tell you the most important things you may want to know, when it comes to fishing. So…

In Aransas County (Rockport, Fulton, Lamar, etc.) we are under Shelter-in-Place orders. Just like many other parts of the country. Unfortunately, this order has not yet come from our Governor. Instead, everything is being handled by individual counties, cities and towns. This is not ideal, as the rules can vary widely. But in this county, all of our restaraunts, bars and other similar services are currently closed or limited to carry out only. This is pretty much the same across the country at this point. But our shelter in place just got a lot more serious here in the last 24 hours.

Aransas County has now issued closures to all vacation rentals, hotels and the like. In addition, all of the parks and similar public places are now closed. Most importantly, this means ALL OF OUR MARINAS AND BOAT RAMPS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. Also, all bank fishing, pier fishing or jetty fishing is closed as well. Kayak launches are also closed. This just went into action as of March 31st. So that means all of our ramps in and around Rockport are now closed for at least two weeks.

As it stands today, San Patricio County and Nueces County are still allowing the use of their marinas. So everyone is certainly flooding to those areas to get their boats in the water. My expectations… as things progress and continue to get worse, they too will follow suit and begin closing their ramps as well. In Rockport this morning, there was a city police officer at each and every ramp before 7am to help “educate” potential ramp users.

So the next question I am getting a lot is… Are you still guiding? And the answer is yes. Due to the restrictions placed in Aransas County, all fishing guides are declared non-essential business operators. So we are not allowed to guide or use the boat ramps. However, San Patricio and Nueces Counties have not yet declared the same. So we are still able to guide and fish, as I did today, using those marinas very close to Rockport. So moving forward, this is our plan…

So long as we are able to safely, and legally, guide clients, we intend to be doing so. As these restrictions change or morph, we will adapt with them. At the time that we are no longer permitted to take customers on the water legally, we will most certainly sit back and wait for the opportunity to get back out there.

So that is where we are at as of today, right now, right this second. Hopefully this will hold for a while. But there really is no telling, as the only news we are all hearing each and every day, is negative news. So we are doing our best to roll with it.

Fly fishing is something we have the privilege of doing. It’s a sport. It’s a hobby. It’s a passion. And, for some of us, it is our job. But there are lots of jobs out there. I know how fortunate I am to be making a living on the water. And I know there are plenty of people that would trade places with me in a heartbeat. But at times like these, perspective comes into play a bit more. While I do love what I do, it just doesn’t seem so important right now. A feeling I had not so long ago, after Hurricane Harvey ripped through Rockport, Texas. It’s just fishing… right?

But it is also a release. It is an escape. From the city. From your job. From the rest of the world. And when better than right now to look for that type of escape? I for one, am so very thankful that I have been able to ride out the past few weeks down here in Rockport. While others are asked to stay home in their city, with no escape in sight, we are still able to get out on the water. Now of course I wish I was working and guiding each of these days. But what a treat to be able to get out of the house, away from the news and get a little mental health out on the water. Maybe the only thing keeping me sane at this point.

So having said all that, I do intend on continuing to get out on the water. And also intend to guide folks during these times as well. Of course there are many limiting factors involved in all of this. But if you can or want to get down here to the water, Fly Fish Rockport would love to have you. We are missing being on the water with our guests just as much as they are missing their opportunity to be on the water.

If you are interested in fly fishing in Rockport, Texas or the surrounding area, please feel free to contact me any time. We are offering a Coronavirus Special down here, to help out. We know many are suffering financially due to all this. We are too. So drop me a note if you are looking for some upcoming dates and we will make it happen for you. And of course if anyone has any other questions about anything going on down here on the Coast, please hit me up anytime. Happy to help where I can and try to point you in the right direction.

We want everyone to be safe out there. Be smart. Obey the rules in place. And if you can’t fish with us now, then let’s all live to fish another day.

Thank you,

Capt. Jeff Johnson

Owner Fly Fish Rockport

Some of the crew here from Fly Fish Rockport made the trek up to Plano, Texas again last weekend for the Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival. Now in its third year, this has quickly become one of the larger events for the Texas fly fishing community. And certainly it is the largest for the Dallas/Fort Worth area. So Capt. Jeff and Capt. Gibson packed up, grabbed a shiny new Towee Calusa, and headed up to Plano.

This event is a two-day show combining all things fly fishing, with a number of micro breweries. Visitors are able to sample a variety of craft beers, while checking out all the latest gear, gadgets and fishing venues from around the globe. There is also a number of instructional courses, casting lessons and demo sessions on the casting pond. So plenty of stuff to keep folks entertained.

Fly Fish Rockport has a long standing relationship with the good folks over at Sweetwater Brewing, who also are a big part of this event. We were again happy to work with them this year. Patrons of Fly Fish Rockport were able to get any of the fine brews from Sweetwater Brewing for free. Not a bad gig for sure!

Capt. Jeff did a couple of lectures for those wanting to learn more about fly fishing for redfish on the Texas Coast. He covered some of the basics, as well as some of the more advanced techniques used down here while flats fishing in Texas. The classes were very well attended. And all were rewarded with a free Sweetwater Brew.

Overall, it was another good show. It’s always fun to catch up with other friends from around the country, and world. And  huge thank you to all of those who swung by to say hello to us. Great to see returning clients there, and of course meet new ones as well.

This event marks the end of our trade show and event season. It’s often hectic, mixing these into the schedule. Especially this time of year. But they are a bunch of fun and certainly a good way to let people know about flats fishing in Texas. Now, it’s all ahead full for the entire crew here as Spring fishing is finally upon us.

This is a crazy busy time of year. So it’s good to have everyone back on the water and catching fish. But we will certainly be back up in Plano again next year. Hopefully with some more cool stuff to give away and free beer. Thanks again to all who hung out with us there. Hope to see you on the water soon!

We are now a good week or so removed from trip up to GRTU’s Troutfest. This was the first year that we have been able to exhibit, or even attend, the event up there. But Capt. Phil, having formerly been one of the organizers of the entire event, kept insisting that Fly Fish Rockport had a presence there. So we decided to jump at it and see what happened.

Of course we were well aware of the event each year, and the outstanding reputation it’s always had. We just had never taken the time out of our very busy Spring fishing season to make it happen. But definitely it lived up to, or exceeded our expectations. And, on top of all that, it was really just a bunch of fun for us as well.

We were excited to team up with our friends over a Towee for another event. Always fun to show off a shiny new Calusa micro skiff in the booth. People are always very curious about the micro skiffs we love to run around the Texas flats. So it’s cool to have a boat on hand for folks to see and touch. Really helps folks get an appreciation for the boats, and why we love running them around so much. And, most importantly, it just looks damn good in the booth!

Both days of the event were very well attended. We were able to meet a lot of cool folks there. Also, always fun to have friends we have been fishing with for years swing by and have a beer with us. Just a bunch of good times with all the other fishy folks here in Texas.

We were giving away swag to people, tons of candy to the kids, flies to those who were curious and again raffled off another free guide trip. The lucky winner this time was Michael Page, who had driven over from San Antonio on Saturday. So huge congrats to him on the free trip, and we will look forward to having him down on the Texas flats with us very soon.

Troutfest really is a great event. The proceeds largely go to GRTU, and in turn, their fishery there on the Guadalup River. So for those who maybe aren’t that familiar with it, please check them out. And of course look at attending the event next year. We will most certainly be there again.

This is a great family event, in an awesome setting. The indoor/outdoor venue is perfect for a nice Spring day. There were casting and kayak demos in the river, a trout pond for the kids and of course all the exhibitor that set up to show off their goods and services. The evenings were also packed with a number of events, films and of course food and drink. Not a bad way to spend a weekend in late February.

We would like to thank everyone there at GRTU for having us and all the hard work on making this event happen. And of course a big thank you to all that attended and came by to say hello. We hope to see many of you down on the Texas Coast very soon.

As we sit here, on a rainy and cold Tuesday, we wanted remind everyone that we will be heading North to the Guadalupe River on Friday. GRTU’s Troutfest is this coming weekend, and we will be hanging out in our booth with the crew from Towee Boats.

GRTU’s Troutfest Texas is the largest event of its kind in Texas and brings out a crowd of over 3,000 people interested in fly fishing and preserving and protecting cold water fisheries. The event is hosted by the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the largest TU chapter in the country with over 5,500 members. The three-day event includes keynote speakers, live auctions, casting instruction, gear demo’s and all types of other fun stuff.

If you are bored this weekend, and want to come hang out with a bunch of fishy folks, this is a great event for kids and an awesome way to help out our local chapter of T.U. Swing by our booth and check out the new Towee micro skiff. Or enter to win a free guided fishing trip through the raffle. We will be there handing out all kinds of free swag to folks that stop by.

For more information CLICK HERE.

As many of our faithful readers know, our Fly Fish Rockport crew got together with a few friends for a little bonding time. Some called it a corporate retreat. Others called it a vacation.  And still others simply showed up to get away from the oppressive August heat here in Texas. Regardless of what they called it, bags were packed and flights were booked for the great white North of the Alaskan backcountry.

A year prior, Capt. Jeff was invited up to this same location to shoot a short film fly fishing for northern pike. Capt. Jeff has a rather long history of fly fishing for pike. He has also helped design a rod and fly line specific for targeting these Essox specimen. So this was right up his alley. So off to Alaska he went, to shoot the film. At the completion of this first trip, Capt. Jeff enjoyed it so much, that he decided to reserve the entire houseboat for this year. The plan… to bring up the rest of the Fly Fish Rockport family for a little fun, relaxation and crazy fly fishing.

Fast forward to this August. Capt. Jeff and the gang packed their bags, their 10wt fly rods, and plenty of warm clothes for the trip up North. The first night consisted of everyone arriving in Anchorage, awaiting the bush flight out the next morning. Perfect excuse to have a ridiculously large meal along the Alaskan waterfront, complete with beluga whales swimming by. Good food, and cocktails, were had by all.

Alaska northern pike fishing with Fly Fish Rockport and MSTPA

" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/MSTPA-Headquarters-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/MSTPA-Headquarters-1.jpg?fit=600%2C399&ssl=1" class="wp-image-8694 size-full" src="https://www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/MSTPA-Headquarters-1.jpg" alt="Fly Fish Rockport Alaska Pike Fishing Headquarters" width="600" height="399" /> Our Alaskan home for the week

There was an early morning bush flight to be caught the next morning. The destination, two hours away, was a gravel strip somewhere near Holy Cross, AK. From there they loaded up their gear in an aluminum jet boat for another 2 hour ride to their final destination, a 90′ houseboat tucked away in a remote drainage off of the Yukon River. Off the grid was an understatement.  This was just a bit past the middle of nowhere. For the week, this houseboat was home.

Fly Fish Rockport fishing in Alaska with Midnight Sun Trophy Pike Adventures

" data-image-caption="

The Fly Fish Rockport bush crew

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fly-Fish-Rockport-in-Alaska.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fly-Fish-Rockport-in-Alaska.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-8702" src="https://www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fly-Fish-Rockport-in-Alaska.jpg" alt="Fly Fish Rockport in Alaska" width="600" height="600" /> The Fly Fish Rockport bush crew

A typical day would begin with a morning cup of coffee. For Capt. Jeff, this would be outside on the front deck of the boat, usually sporting some mellow tunes, while watching moose and other wildlife walking by. As others began to stir around, breakfast would begin to take place. After eating way more food than needed, there was a little down time before hopping in the smaller skiffs and heading out to fish for the day.

Trophy pike on the fly in alaska with MSTPA

" data-image-caption="

Levi breaks the 50″ barrier!

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alaska-pike-with-fly-fish-rockport-client-Levi-1.jpg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alaska-pike-with-fly-fish-rockport-client-Levi-1.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-8696" src="https://www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alaska-pike-with-fly-fish-rockport-client-Levi-1.jpg" alt="Trophy Pike in Alaska" width="600" height="450" /> Levi breaks the 50″ barrier!

Pike fishing, for all those who haven't tried it, is pretty crazy. It is a very visual thing. If you don't first spot your fish, you will most certainly see each fish that eats your fly. And they don't just eat it, they attack it! Violent is about the only way you can describe the takes by these top tier predators. They absolutely destroy everything they go after. It's truly remarkable to see.

Imagine casting into 2-4 feet of clear water, then retrieving some brightly colored fly that can be as much as 15″ long. Or perhaps a topwater offering that can also eclipse 12″ in length. As you retrieve your fly… it happens. Out of nowhere, you see a flash and a mouth big enough to engulf the entire fly, easily. Then you give it your best tarpon set, or maybe even harder. And then the mayhem begins. And all this happens in the flash of an eye. Completely insane.

Fly Fish Rockport visits MSTPA in Alaska for trophy pike fishing

" data-image-caption="

Brittany's first fish on a fly… a northern pike

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Northern-Pike-vacation-fly-fish-rockport-1.jpg?fit=300%2C201&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Northern-Pike-vacation-fly-fish-rockport-1.jpg?fit=600%2C401&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-8698" src="https://www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Northern-Pike-vacation-fly-fish-rockport-1.jpg" alt="Northern Pike Fly Fishing" width="600" height="401" /> Brittany's first fish on a fly… a northern pike

These Alaskan pike are big, really big. A "good fish" starts at 40″ in length, then goes up from there. Fish this size are going to start in the 20-25 lb range. Some of the larger fish caught over the course of the week would be over 50″ in length, and pushing 40 lbs. So a 10wt rod is common place. For leader, it's all straight 60 lb wire. Even then, we were under-gunned at times. Capt. Jeff brought 8 different 10wt rods with him. Only 4 made it back alive!

For all on the trip, other than Capt. Jeff, it was not only their first time fly fishing for northern pike, but it was also their first time visiting Alaska. So it truly was a great experience for everyone. Where better to vanish from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. No cell phones, no email and no other humans. The most relaxing place on earth… with the benefit of wildlife, good friends and a few large fish.

All of our Fly Fish Rockport fly fishing guides and friends had a great time in Alaska. Apparently so much so, that there are rumors of another such trip next year. But we will let you know. Or maybe Capt. Jeff has another plan in mind. He was overheard mumbling something about Papua New Guinea and black bass one evening after a few whiskeys. Either way, the Fly Fish Rockport Corporate Retreat is guaranteed to be an annual event.

Fly fishing for pike in Alaska with Midnight Sun and Fly Fish Rockport

" data-image-caption="

Nice hat Ben!

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fly-Fish-Rockport-client-Ben-with-trophy-alaska-pike-1.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fly-Fish-Rockport-client-Ben-with-trophy-alaska-pike-1.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-8697" src="https://www.flyfishrockport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fly-Fish-Rockport-client-Ben-with-trophy-alaska-pike-1.jpg" alt="Northern Pike on the Fly" width="600" height="600" /> Nice hat Ben!

We think vacations are good. Really good. Summers are long here on the Texas Coast. So breaking it up with a little time away is just what the doctor ordered. And the ability to play together doesn't come along for all of us very often. Low and behold, we kinda liked that part too. So we are already looking forward to our next trip. Whether that be within our home state of Texas, or a journey abroad, we hope to be able to share another trip report with you again soon.

A huge thanks goes out to Scott, and his amazing guide crew (Brent, Pat and Wade), at Midnight Sun Trophy Pike Adventures. What an amazing group of guys and an amazing place they get to play in. We encourage you to check it out when you get a minute!

If you are interested in finding more information, photos or whatever else from our trip… You can always email any time. We continue to post on  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Or perhaps SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel as well. We continually are trying to add more videos and stuff there. We try to keep stuff fresh for those of you that are wishing you were on the flats with us. So be sure to follow us on all our social media stuff. And don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter below.

Well, as they say, all good things come to an end. This includes our little “corporate retreat”, or vacation if you want to be real about it. But what a time we had. Good stuff all around.

It was great to have a much needed break from the Summer heat. Also kinda nice to get away from the world and be completely off the grid for a little over a week. No phone calls, emails, text messages or annoying headlines to filter through. It’s amazing just how relaxed a person can get, when all those distractions are removed. What a breath of fresh air.

But, nothing lasts forever. So we are now back among the living. Our phones are on once again, and emails are frantically being filtered through. For all of those that got in touch with us in our absence, we are very sorry for the delay in responding. Of course we appreciate you reaching out to us. We are doing our best to catch up on things and be present for all your Texas fly fishing needs from here on out.

Now that we are back, we will be working on an updated fishing report for you very soon. Also in the works, we will try and get a full write up rehashing our recent trip up North, complete with photos, stories, embarrassing moments and anything else entertaining we can come up with. You can also look for our September newsletter in the next day or so as well.

Again, thanks to all for your patience with us. We are glad to be back and feeling refreshed. Vacations are awesome. Feeling rested and refocused is also awesome. We are very much looking forward to cooler temps and our Fall fishing season coming up soon, and keeping everyone in the loop with whats happening on the flats around Rockport, Texas.

You can always email any time if you would like any up to the minute Southwest Texas fly fishing or Rockport type news. We continue to post on  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Or perhaps SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel as well. We continually are trying to add more videos and stuff there. We try to keep stuff fresh for those of you that are wishing you were on the flats with us. So be sure to follow us on all our social media stuff. And don’t forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter below.

This time of year, things down here around the Texas Coast are pretty darn warm. It’s already been a pretty long Summer, and we still have another month or so to go yet. These dog days of Summer are always the hardest for us, as we are already looking forward to our Fall fishing season right around the corner. With that in mind, we decided to try something a little different this year. So for the first time ever, Fly Fish Rockport is having a little corporate retreat.

Capt. Jeff figured that everyone has had enough hot weather for now. So the poling skiffs are stowed away and the whole crew is headed to Alaska. Where better to get away from the heat, than the backcountry of Alaska in search of trophy northern pike on the fly. The gang flew North on the 22nd and will be there, entirely off the grid, until the 30th of August.

They are living on a houseboat, somewhere in the interior of Alaska, and running around each day in smaller jet boats to chase pike that range up into the 50-55″ range. While Capt. Jeff has spent quite a bit of time in Alaska, this will be the first time for everyone else in the crew. So it should make for some pretty interesting stories and such.

At last report, we do know that the crew had made it as far as Anchorage. There were some reports of a pretty crazy dinner, complete with plenty of cocktails and even a few beluga whales passing by. This morning, the Fly Fish Rockport folks will be flying out of Anchorage and off the grid for the next week. We aren’t real sure what all Capt. Jeff has planned for them up there. Perhaps it will be like any other corporate retreat, filled with icebreakers, seminars, continuing education classes and maybe even a few trust falls.

More than likely, it will just involve a lot of good times, good food, good cocktails and maybe even a little fishing along the way. We won’t be able to get in touch with them while up there, so we will have to just assume they are all getting along. Or maybe someone end up going crazy and a Lord of the Flies situation ensues? You never know, with that bunch.

But, for the next week or so, things will be a little quiet at the Fly Fish Rockport headquarters. Apologies to any who try to contact us while we are away and are not able to respond promptly. We will certainly be catching up with everything once out of the woods and back in civilization.

You can always email any time if you would like any up to the minute Southwest Texas fly fishing or Rockport type news. We continue to post on  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Or perhaps SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel as well. We continually are trying to add more videos and stuff there. We try to keep stuff fresh for those of you that are wishing you were on the flats with us. So be sure to follow us on all our social media stuff. And don’t forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter below.