Photo Credit: TPWD
By: Tom Behrens
After a lot of last-minute changes, missing equipment, an ice storm and delayed egg shipments, Houston Fly Fishers working with different schools, have finally begun the 2023 Texas Fly Fishers sponsored Trout in the Classroom project. Thanks to over ten years of donations by Texas Fly Fishers, there are 15 trout tanks running in high schools from Katy to Pasadena.
This year there are tanks running in the following Katy schools:
Katy HS (4 tanks)
Morton Ranch HS (2 tanks)
Paetow HS
Rainbow trout tanks in other Houston area schools:
Westbury HS
Pasadena Memorial HS (2 tanks)
BF Terry HS
Lamar HS
George Ranch HS
Foster HS
Randle HS
The students will raise the fish for approximately three months, after which the young trout will be released into the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited section of the Guadalupe River.
Rainbow trout were originally stocked in the Guadalupe River by the Lone Star Brewery, creating the southernmost trout fishery in the country. In the mid-1960’s local biologists, anglers, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) all supported studies and programs to introduce trout to the Guadalupe. The chapter started small, however grew to be the largest chapter in the country.
Houston Fly Fishers is a Houston based 501 c(3) non-profit organization associated with the International Federation of Fly Fishers and dedicated to the promotion of fly fishing education, conservation, and outdoors ethics.
The Texas Fly Fishers of Houston was founded in 1976 by a group of avid fly fishermen. Their objectives then and now are to share their knowledge of fly fishing with one another and others who want to learn, to help in conserving our natural resources, to enjoy the camaraderie of fly fishing, and to have a good time doing it.
The Houston club describes themselves as active club with a full range of activities. There is something for everyone, from beginner to expert, “from the very young to those who remember when all fly rods were made of cane, and for all skill levels, from those who haven’t yet held a fly rod to those who can cast more fly line than you can buy.”
For more information, contact Matt Blyth, Houston Fly Fishers, 832-444-4206
