Before coming to Trout Unlimited in September 2001, Chris Wood served as the senior policy and communications advisor to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service where he helped protect 58 million acres of publicly owned land. Chris began his career as a temporary employee with the Forest Service in Idaho and also worked for the Fish and Wildlife program of the Bureau of Land Management. He is the author and co-author of numerous papers and articles and three books including, Watershed Restoration: Principles and Practices (AFS 1997), From Conquest to Conservation: Our Public Land Legacy (Island Press, 2003), and My Healthy Stream: A handbook for streamside owners (Trout Unlimited and Aldo Leopold Foundation, 2013).
Featured Presenters
George Daniel
George has been chasing anything that swims with his fly rod since age 6 and still has the same passion 37 years later. George has competed at high level for Fly Fishing Team USA, earning individual back to back US National Fly Fishing Championships titles and ranked as high as 5th in the World. George has also served as captain for Fly Fishing Team USA and Coach for the US Youth Fly Fishing Team. He has competed and won other regional and national fly fishing competitions over the years. At age 30, George decided to give up on competitive fly fishing and focus on what he enjoys most-teaching.
George Daniel considers himself a teacher first and a fly fisher second. He has authored three best selling fly fishing books and has authored dozens of articles for national fly fishing publications, including Fly Fisherman Magazine. He continues to travel the county conducting lessons and workshops for private groups, corporations, and conservation organizations. In 2022, George decided to come back to coaching the US Youth Fly Fishing Team. He’s a brand ambassador for a number of fly fishing companies. He is currently the Director of the Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program at the Pennsylvania State University. George currently lives on a farm homestead with his wife, two children, and Boykin spaniel.
Hilary Hutcheson
Hilary started her fly-fishing career as a teenage guide in West Glacier, Montana. She guided on the Flathead River and worked in the fly shop at Glacier Anglers through college, then took her journalism degree to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a television news anchor and reporter. She eventually returned to Montana to guide and co-own and operate Outside Media and Trout TV for nearly a decade. Today, she’s still guiding at Glacier Anglers and owns and runs her fly shop, Lary’s Fly & Supply in her hometown of Columbia Falls, Montana. She serves on the boards of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, AFFTA Fisheries Fund, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Protect Our Winters. She sits on the advisory committee for Guiding For the Future, Northern Rockies River Council and Flathead River Alliance. Hilary is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, and is on the masthead of Fly Fisherman Magazine as a contributing editor. Her greatest joy is working on the river alongside her three adult children, Ella, Delaney and Killion and her partner, Ebon who are all industry professionals.
Jako Lucas, Founder, Capt Jack Productions
Raised in South Africa, Jako Lucas began fishing South Africa’s fresh and saltwater destinations at the age of four. He represented his country in various competitions throughout his youth before starting his career as a full-time guide in 2006. Along the way he expanded his horizons to include photography and film work, establishing his own Fly Fishing film production company, Capt Jack Productions. Jako’s guide resume includes years of working in Mongolia, Norway, Russia and all throughout the Indian Ocean; including time spent on Astove, Cosmoledo, Farquhar, Providence, and Alphonse. He’s fished all across the globe and has won numerous awards for his film work. In between his travels, he is guiding on the Texas Coast for Redfish, Jack’s, Black Drum and Tarpon.
Alice Owsley
Alice Owsley is the owner of Riverside Anglers, Inc., in West Yellowstone, Montana. She has been guiding the area’s blue ribbon waters for twenty years and independently outfitting clients since 2012.
A fly rod led Alice from spring creeks in Ohio, where she learned to pursue trout at the age of 8, to the Rocky Mountain West hunting for any fish that would take a fly. Through all of her travels—from Belize to Alaska—no place or fish has held her interest like the trout species that inhabit the waters of Greater Yellowstone.
Alice is an award-winning caster who enjoys teaching clients reach casts, tuck casts, and proper fly presentation when Montana’s afternoon winds begin to blow. She has field tested Winston rods and loves the Winston Pure 9 foot 5 weight for its adaptability to any dry fly situation in southwest Montana.
Alice lives in West Yellowstone year-round and spends her winters guiding snow coach trips in Yellowstone National Park. She loves skiing, photography, bird hunting, cooking, and spending evenings watching fish rise on the Madison River.
Duane Redford
Duane Redford, a professional fly fishing guide, spends the majority of his days guiding on the freestones and tailwaters on the Western Slope of Colorado. He began his fly fishing career fishing the Rocky Mountain West, and has been toting a fly rod for better than four decades.
As a retired teacher and coach, Duane has a unique, systematic approach to the river that he has used as the basis of his guiding for the last twenty years. This systematic approach, derived from guiding countless days on highly pressured, technical waters, has been refined over time, and is easily understood.
Duane is a sought after national speaker, Master Nymph Fly Rods Ambassador, consultant for Hookhead apparel, signature tier for Montana Fly Company, and the author of The Fly Fishers’ Playbook, a Systematic Approach to Nymphing and Hidden in Plain View, Recognizing the Obvious and Exploiting the Obscure in Fly Fishing.
When he’s not guiding, Duane spends his time teaching fly fishing classes, blogging, tying, speaking, archery, and writing. When he’s not teaching, writing or guiding, you’ll find him on the river.
His latest presentation: The Perfect Drift, Easy As X,Y,Z delves into the three dimensions involved within the perfect drift. Whether you’re pitching dry flies, nymphing, tight-lining or dry-dropping, this presentation has something for you. It also covers, lively bugs in a dead drift, the fly fishing formula, rod alignment control and management, specialty casts and mends, and the X, Y and Z dimensions approach, plus much more!
Panel Discussion Participants
Alvin Dedeaux
Alvin Dedeaux has been fishing ever since he can remember, fly fishing since he was twelve-years-old. His love for fishing has led him on an exciting journey which cultivated him as Central Texas’ premier fly fishing guide. Alvin has been fishing Central Texas River’s since the early 80s.
After managing the Austin Angler over a decade, Alvin began guiding full time. Alvin also guides the central Texas coast for redfish on the fly. With more than 20 years of experience as a professional guide, no one is more knowledgeable or enjoyable to help you experience the best of what Texas Rivers have to offer than Alvin.
Kevin Hutchison
Kevin has guided Central Texas longer than most, and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to fly fishing the immediate area and beyond! Join us for a day filled with friends, laughs, stories, info, and more! You can learn more about Kevin and his renowned guide service at www.hillcountryflyfishers.com
Fly Fishing the Texas Hill Country is the most comprehensive river access guide available to local anglers. Originally penned by the late Bud Priddy, the book has evolved much over the years. Kevin Hutchison has in the recent past, beautifully re-written, updated, and refreshed this invaluable piece of fly fishing literature. Come and hear more about how the book took shape and how it can serve you on your next Central Texas fly fishing adventure!
Chris Johnson, founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing
Chris Johnson is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country since 2006 and has fly fished the heart of the state for over 20 years. Chris has been a licensed guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is an IFFF Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and TPWD Angler Educator. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King, and Scientific Anglers. Chris is dedicated to sharing his passion for the sport and investing in the next generation of fly anglers. He often is a featured presenter and fly tier at fly fishing, outdoor, and community events throughout the state.
Chris and his shop have also been featured in several outdoor publications including Trout magazine, Garden and Gun, and Tenkara Magazine. He was also awarded the 2014 Man of the Year from the IFFF Texas Council, and in the same year, Living Waters was the recipient of the IFFF’s prestigious Lee Wulff Award.
In addition to fly fishing, Chris is passionate about film and photography. He co-produced the short film “Unspoken,” in an effort to raise awareness for Rio Grande Cutthroat trout conservation. As a result, Living Waters is working with Trout Unlimited as a Gold Level endorsed TU Business to restore Rio Grande Cutthroat throughout their native range.
Chris is happily married to his wife Emily and together they enjoy fly fishing the world and raising their children in the sport.
Lise Lozelle, State Development and Communications Director for Best Buddies International
Lise grew up in Michigan chasing adventure. She currently is the State Development and Communications Director for Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization that promotes inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She is also the owner and founder of Maven Fly, an outdoor apparel company for women. Before Best Buddies, she was Marketing Director at Casting for Recovery, a nonprofit organization focused on providing fly fishing experiences for women with breast cancer. Lise has a background in marketing and communications with a focus on brand building. She’s a graduate of the University of Arizona. In addition, Lise is currently serving on the American Fly Fishing Trade Association’s Fisheries Fund Board and her local Trout Unlimited Chapter Board. Lise calls Austin, TX home, where she lives with her longtime Veterinarian boyfriend, daughter, and three dogs.
Dylan Mendoza
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Dylan developed a passion for the outdoors and everything the great state of Texas has to offer. Fly fishing has been the center of his focus since graduating college in 2014 where he played baseball and studied Economics at Texas A&M and Texas State. From bass fishing on the lakes and rivers of the hill country to traversing the salt marshes and lagoons on the coast – Dylan has immersed himself deep in the heart of Texas searching for the best year-round fishing opportunities.
Immediately after college he found his calling as a full-time freshwater and saltwater guide—sharing his knowledge of fly fishing and the beauty of Texas with his guests. Capt. Dylan will customize a trip specific to your needs, skill level, and targeted species to ensure your day on the water is successful and most of all enjoyable. Come aboard for a day of fishing and experience the best of what the Texas fly fishing has to offer.
Marcus Rodriguez
Marcus Rodriguez has been guiding fly fishers in the wilds of Texas since 1998. Formally from The Guides of Texas, he now guides with Living Waters Fly Fishing out of Round Rock, Texas. Marcus’ home waters are the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers, but he has guided on over 1000 river miles in the Texas Hill Country. Marcus runs raft trips through the hill country, but his specialty is one on one canoe trips through the least pressured rivers in Central Texas.
Ryan Shaper
Ryan Schaper’s love for the outdoors started very young when he learned how to fish around age 3. He grew up fishing the lakes and rivers of south and central Texas; teaching himself and soaking up anything he could learn about bass and catfishing. In college, he worked as the manager of an outdoor recreational store, which opened the door to kayaking and fly fishing. Ryan continues to enjoy fly fishing for bass, many other warm water species, and trout, but has grown a special interest in fly fishing for common carp over the past few years. In 2019, Ryan was crowned the Texas Carp King for the Texas Fly Carpers United Tournament by catching 448.5 inches worth of carp throughout the 3 series tournament. After many years of fly fishing the rivers of central Texas, as well as the Texas coast, fishing has become a lifestyle for Ryan. He is a wealth of knowledge not only about fish and fishing, but the history and geology of our landscape, and what makes the outdoors of central Texas so special.
Odom Wu
Odom caught his first fish, a carp, at the early age of 13 when living in Tennessee. Since he moved to Texas, he has fallen in love with the Hill Country and quickly adopted fly fishing as one of his passionate hobbies. Odom is an avid fly fisherman and fly tyer. He enjoys fly fishing for all species of fish – carp, bass, trout, cichlids, and saltwater species. His passion is sight casting for them from his kayak and adventure kayak camping.
His other passion includes photography, where he incorporates the love of fly fishing into his art. You can find some of his work in Fly Fishers International, Fly Fusion, Flylords, Hatch, and American Carp Society magazines. When you don’t see him on the rivers, Odom spends time with his wife, two children and their two dogs in San Antonio.
Tiffany Yeates, Owner, Gruene Outfitters
Tiffany Yeates owns Gruene Outfitters in New Braunfels and has been flyfishing for more than 20 years. Her saltwater roots are in Port O’Connor, Texas, where she grew up fishing, floundering, and duck hunting with her Grandfather. Tiffany began working full time at Gruene Outfitters while attending Texas State University and quickly developed a passion for saltwater flyfishing. In 2006, Tiffany seized the opportunity to buy the business from her friend and former boss and remains the sole owner today.
Tiffany strives to engage women and youth in the sport of flyfishing. She recently founded “Fly Girl Society,” a platform for women of all ages that share her passion for celebrating their independence in the outdoors. She encourages outdoor living and conservation and supports the New Braunfels community through volunteering her time and financial support to numerous religious, civic and conservation groups. In the spring of 2021, the San Antonio Woman Magazine featured an article about Tiffany and her devotion to her community and to expanding the sport of flyfishing. She and her two daughters live near Gruene where deer and pretty birds are daily guests. Her kitchen stays full of fresh produce from the garden, and her backyard stays full of children, laughter, and women learning to cast a fly. She loves the Lord and teaching her children about His creation and all the outdoor experiences Texas has to offer.
Chapter Meeting Speaker
Kevin Terry
We are pleased to announce Trout Unlimited’s own Kevin Terry will be the speaker for our February general meeting. Kevin is a long-time native trout advocate is the Rio Grande Basin Program Director for TU’s Western Water and Habitat Program. Kevin started his career as a youngster, stalking trout with his brother and father in northern New Mexico. After a B.S. in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University, Kevin moved to Colorado where he has lived for the past 18 years. Kevin’s work focus is split between collaborative flow restoration programs and work to Protect, Restore, Reconnect and Sustain habitat and populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout and wild brown trout. You can find Kevin and his family high in the mountains where they love to boat, fish, ski and snowboard, hike, bike, and hunt. He and his family call the Rio Grande headwaters home.
Kevin is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to native trout restoration and water usage/management. He has fished and guided Southern Colorado for years and will be giving a presentation to our chapter about the work that is ongoing for Rio Grande Cutthroat across their range and how anglers can make a difference for native trout.
TROUTFEST TX 2023
February 16-18, 2024 @ Lazy L&L Campgrounds 11699 River Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78132 | Map
