July 19, 2004 Newsletter

 

This past week I have been in mourning for the soon to be passing of the Austin Angler in Austin.  It’s not just for its impending closure but for the demise of a great fly shop, good friends and fly fishers beginning with Joe Robinson, Robert McCurdy through Larry Sunderland and all the others, and I’m afraid is further evidence of change in the fly fishing industry from ‘shops’ to electronic retailing warehouse operations, and mega sporting goods outlets.  It is understandable the desire to acquire at the best possible prices, many times without paying any state sales tax, but the future of fishing holds small promise when the teachers of our form of stress management are gone and we are left with a book of instructions, or an internet Web site to direct us in our fishing passion.  Ah, well.  

 

Capt. Chuck Naiser (cell # 361-230-9392) said last week the water levels returned to normal but water clarity was best further South of Port Aransas.  He said whenever he has clear, clean water he finds schooling red fish in groups of 4 – 6 fish up to schools of 20 – 25 fish.  He believes when the first tropical depression sits out in the gulf, hopefully to our East, the higher tides will bring fresh clear green water to the inner lakes and estuaries setting the table for some great fall fishing.  Right now the bait fish aren’t in the back water.  Another customer of mine had a great afternoon/following morning in the channel coming out of Brown and Root catching numerous above average sized trout – on Saltwater Popper’s!  Wow, talk about fun fishing. . . . . .

 

Congratulations to the ‘Team Navy guys on taking third and fourth place in 4 categories in the past weeks ‘Deep Sea Roundup’ in which there were over 600 entries!  They took third in Black Fin Tuna, Barracuda, and Shark, and 4^th in Ling.  My son Ryan led a group of four guys on Saturday the 17^th in the new Fountain boat, and after arriving on Friday evening in time to see that days catch come ashore consisting of large Dorado (Dolphin Fish), Ling, Snapper, Grouper, Shark, all hanging for photo opp’s.  Excitement and anticipation was high on Saturday morning!  Try as they did, in the same locations that held a large number of fish the previous day in comparable weather and sea conditions, the fishing was great only the catching wasn’t. . . . .The shrimp boats that we all anticipated would be anchored out in deep water two days after the offshore shrimping season began, were anchored in close – less than 100 foot of water – not ideal for Black fin Tuna and other species hoped for by our fishers.  Another group of my customers and friends went out on Sunday the 19^th and as of this writing, I don’t have any reports on their experiences.

 

In lieu of adding a line or two of fishing clothing to my inventory, I opted instead to increase my selection of flies and expect delivery of an additional supply of over fifty dozen by weeks end, primarily salt water flies.  I have also increased my inventory of fly tying materials and my friend and confidant Herb Mossman will continue to provide tying instruction for beginners to the advanced on Monday evenings from 5: to 8: p.m.  Take advantage of this freebee! 

 

I have been building a goodly number of rods these past weeks and am getting caught up enough to start building some much needed finished rods for inventory.  I have a good supply of spinning rods, casting rods, and of course, fly rods ready for the water.  My inventory of blanks and rod building components will provide many options in your selection of that perfect rod.  As long as I can keep my overhead as low as possible and avoid the ‘trappings’ of maintaining an inventory that requires additional employees, I think I should be able to sustain my little ‘niche’ in the market and continue to provide service, advice, and quality designed and built fishing rods that, in my opinion, are affordable and not attainable on the open market.

 

My friend and customer Rick Gracy asked me to mention they have several open dates to rent his house near Xcalak in the lower Yucatan (email Rick at: bnfsh2@aol.com; www.theblueheaven.com) where the fish’en is great and the prices very reasonable.  I have gone down there two years in a row and intend on going again late fall, early winter this year.  Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon and other species abound located just across the border from Belize.  This is about the last of the old ‘third’ world fishing destinations and I’m afraid will soon be altered by the new power lines extending along the new highway.  The house has 4 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 10 people with cook, guides available.  It’s a great experience.

 

I recently received my latest newsletter/update on the fishing in Northern New Mexico, principally the San Juan, from guide friend Harry Lane.  If you would like to be added to his newsletter list contact Harry at sjtroutfitters@zianet.com.  Harry writes a good story and I can easily visualize myself walking the waters Harry is so familiar with, listening to him school me on the ‘hatch’ and pointing out large trout.

 

I am grateful for the business you all have given me – sales tax figures say I had a great quarter!  Who knows, someday the bank account may agree!

 

Dennis O. Freeman

13457 Blanco Road

San Antonio, TX 78216

210-479-3477

rodmaker@rod-makers.com