1. Fishing Galveston Bay Adapting Conventional Wisdom to a Fly Fishing Perspective

2. Converting to Fly New Fly Fishermen tend to be narrowly focused on the type of fishing they were educated in. New Fly Fishermen tend to be narrowly focused on the type of fishing they were educated in. Namely – Trout Fishing or Cold Water River/Stream Namely – Trout Fishing or Cold Water River/Stream Simply put – almost all types of fishing can be accomplished by means of a fly rod. You just have train you mind to see it that way. Simply put – almost all types of fishing can be accomplished by means of a fly rod. You just have train you mind to see it that way. Many new fly fisherman fail to convert over from conventional tackle because they do not give their fly rod an honest effort when pursuing fish. Many new fly fisherman fail to convert over from conventional tackle because they do not give their fly rod an honest effort when pursuing fish.

3. Give an Honest Effort Don’t set yourself up for failure: Don’t set yourself up for failure: Practice casting before you go fishing (Not During) Practice casting before you go fishing (Not During) Start with an area you already know how to fish Start with an area you already know how to fish Control Beginner Urges Control Beginner Urges Don’t take conventional tackle as a backup Don’t take conventional tackle as a backup Expect to catch a fish on every cast Expect to catch a fish on every cast At one point we all started new with conventional tackle and had to build confidence. At one point we all started new with conventional tackle and had to build confidence.

4. Trout vs. Saltwater Fly Fishing for Trout: Fly Fishing for Trout: Lighter Lines and Tippets Lighter Lines and Tippets Smaller flies with delicate presentations Smaller flies with delicate presentations Short to Medium Casts on Slower Action Rods Short to Medium Casts on Slower Action Rods Generally Shallow Water Applications Generally Shallow Water Applications A Lot of Nymphing A Lot of Nymphing Fly Fishing Saltwater: Fly Fishing Saltwater: Heavier Lines and Tippets Heavier Lines and Tippets Larger flies with active retrieves Larger flies with active retrieves delicacy of presentation is not an issue (due to chop) delicacy of presentation is not an issue (due to chop) Medium to Long Casts on faster action rods Medium to Long Casts on faster action rods Shallow to deep water application Shallow to deep water application Wind issues, Tidal Flow, Salt corrosion Wind issues, Tidal Flow, Salt corrosion

5. Equipment #8 Rod #8 Rod (preferably medium fast) – due to wind. Better casters will go down to #6 – also depends on fly size (preferably medium fast) – due to wind. Better casters will go down to #6 – also depends on fly size Reel (any w/ considerations) Reel (any w/ considerations) arbor size, backing capacity, corrosion resistance arbor size, backing capacity, corrosion resistance Lines Lines floating WF & sinking lines: intermediate, sink tips, sink leaders, or longer leader w/light splitshot. floating WF & sinking lines: intermediate, sink tips, sink leaders, or longer leader w/light splitshot. Tippet – 10 to 15 lb test Tippet – 10 to 15 lb test Fly assortment Fly assortment shrimp patterns, baitfish imitations, Clouser Minnows, crab patterns (on saltwater hooks) shrimp patterns, baitfish imitations, Clouser Minnows, crab patterns (on saltwater hooks)

6. Equipment (Cont.) Waders Waders Wading Boots (Stingrays) Wading Boots (Stingrays) Fly Vest Fly Vest Polarized Glasses & Hat Polarized Glasses & Hat Pliers/Clippers Pliers/Clippers Computer*** (Trip Planning) Computer*** (Trip Planning) Sunscreen Sunscreen Water / Food Water / Food Stripping Basket (Optional) Stripping Basket (Optional) Kayak/boat (optional) Kayak/boat (optional)

7. Skills Knots: Knots: Loop knot (doubles surgeons, perfection loop) Loop knot (doubles surgeons, perfection loop) Terminal knot (clinch, loop knot, uni), Terminal knot (clinch, loop knot, uni), Line joining knot (double Surgeon***) Line joining knot (double Surgeon***) Practice casting in windy conditions Practice casting in windy conditions (considerations) – Wind direction with respect to casting arm, casting into the wind, casting with wind at back (considerations) – Wind direction with respect to casting arm, casting into the wind, casting with wind at back Maintaining contact with line Maintaining contact with line Slack is bad but sometimes necessary Slack is bad but sometimes necessary Fly stripping Fly stripping Creating lopes, when to pick up and recast Creating lopes, when to pick up and recast using roll cast to begin next cast when stripping in close using roll cast to begin next cast when stripping in close Hook setting & Fight the fish Hook setting & Fight the fish

8. Trip Planning Check Conditions Check Conditions Marine Forecast Marine Forecast Chance of Precipitation (Also Recent Rain Effects) Chance of Precipitation (Also Recent Rain Effects) Barometer (pre-frontal conditions) Barometer (pre-frontal conditions) Moon Phase Moon Phase Water Temperature*** Water Temperature*** Wind Speed & Direction*** Wind Speed & Direction*** Tidal Flow*** Tidal Flow*** Water Temperature, Wind Direction, and Tidal flow will ultimately determine where you decide to fish. Water Temperature, Wind Direction, and Tidal flow will ultimately determine where you decide to fish. Also Check Recent Fishing Reports Also Check Recent Fishing Reports www.2coolfishing.com www.2coolfishing.com

9. 3 Features to Key On Bait Bait No Bait = No Fish, got to have bait! No Bait = No Fish, got to have bait! Look for Slicks Look for Slicks Look for Birds Look for Birds Structure Structure Mud to Sand, sand to Shell Reefs Mud to Sand, sand to Shell Reefs Grass, Potholes Grass, Potholes Guts, Drains, Cuts Guts, Drains, Cuts Mud with Deviations in surface Mud with Deviations in surface Tidal Flow Tidal Flow The tide moves the bait The tide moves the bait Controls saltwater inflow into bayous and back bays Controls saltwater inflow into bayous and back bays

10. Fishing Scenarios

11. Saltwater Flats Fish are looking for bait in grass/mud estuaries Fish are looking for bait in grass/mud estuaries Fishing with the tide Fishing with the tide Movement is stealthy with some chop preferred Movement is stealthy with some chop preferred Less blind casting as opposed to watching for signs Less blind casting as opposed to watching for signs Keeping it moving but out of sea grass (lower coast) Keeping it moving but out of sea grass (lower coast) Look for potholes in grass Look for potholes in grass When tide is falling target drains and inlets When tide is falling target drains and inlets Floating lines, longer leaders Floating lines, longer leaders Saltwater Flats

12. Target Tailing Reds (Not Schools of Mullet)

13. Fishing Deeper Water Fishing deeper water (3+ feet) Fishing deeper water (3+ feet) Fishing channels, guts, and drop offs Fishing channels, guts, and drop offs More blind casting More blind casting Using sinking mechanisms to get fly down Using sinking mechanisms to get fly down Intermediate to Slow Sinking Lines Intermediate to Slow Sinking Lines Sink Tips, Sink Leaders, Splitshot Sink Tips, Sink Leaders, Splitshot Modify Retrieve to Match Conditions Modify Retrieve to Match Conditions

14. Surf Fishing Using the wash to move the fly for you Using the wash to move the fly for you Fishing drop offs between sandbars or cuts Fishing drop offs between sandbars or cuts Vented stripping basket Vented stripping basket Kayaking in the surf Kayaking in the surf

15. Wade Fishing Rules Work an area thoroughly – fan casts from 9-12-3 Work an area thoroughly – fan casts from 9-12-3 Move slowly, shuffling feet (stingrays) Move slowly, shuffling feet (stingrays) Don’t stomp on shell – when you find it stop and fish it before moving on. Don’t stomp on shell – when you find it stop and fish it before moving on. Start skinny and work out deep. Start skinny and work out deep.

16. Locations