For our May 2 membership meeting, Pat Vanek of Bosque Valley Fly Fishing in Waco shares his approach to chasing bass in the Brazos River, based on 30 years of fishing downstream of Lake Whitney and other central Texas waters. He owns and operates Bosque Valley Fly Fishing guide service on the rivers of central Texas and ties custom fly orders.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at our regular venue, Room RES 114 at the UNT Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth. For a map of the building entrance and parking, click here.
“I started fly fishing at around age 10 with a Martin glass rod and Model 62 reel from an S&H Green Stamps store,” Pat says. “I caught my first fish on the fly, a big red breast sunfish, on Turtle Creek in Kerrville on that rig. I still have it today.”
Pat has fished the Brazos tailwater below Lake Whitney, as well as other Central Texas and Hill Country rivers, for over 30 years.
“Over those years, I’ve learned, mostly the hard way, by spending countless hours on the water, how to successfully find and catch the bass, sunfish, and other species on the fly.”
Besides largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, he’s pulled in carp, channel cats, drum “and some really big redbreast sunfish” from the Brazos. “They all make great targets to throw a fly at.“
“I really enjoy sharing my knowledge of fly fishing and tying with others, and teaching this great sport both on the water and off. I enjoy giving fly fishing presentations to clubs and fly shops around the state and helping out with fly club or other local fly fishing and tying classes.” Pat is a past treasurer and past president of the Waco Fly Fishing club.
Currently when not guiding, fishing, hunting or tying flies, “(or unfortunately at my regular job), I am at home near Crawford with my wife and 17 year old triplets.”
