If you missed the first part of Capt. Johnson’s interview, read it here, and visit Fly Fish Rockport here.
What’s a typical guiding day look like for you and your team?
Of course this can depend on the time of year, as far as when we actually get out and hit the water. But certainly most of my days are about the same.
My alarm goes off at 4am every day. Then it’s straight to the computer to catch up on emails and stuff like that. Then a few laps around the house getting my affairs in order and out the door to the boat barn where I keep all of our boats.
Lately, we have had our boats in the water by 5:30 awaiting clients. We are typically on the motor by 6am heading to our hunting grounds for the day. Most of our runs are fairly short. Often less than 20 minutes and we are on the poling platform in search of fish.
We are typically on the hunt for fish for 8 hours or so, before packing it in and heading back to the marina. A few quick goodbyes later and our guests are on their way to one of our favorite watering holes. Then it’s straight to the boat wash to clean everything up and rinse everything off. Then back to the boat barn and hopefully the same watering hole.
After that, my evening turns back into office time. Working on bookings, websites, videos, lodging schedules, fishing reports, etc. I try to get to bed at a decent hour most nights. But 10-11pm is very common.
The next morning… wash, rinse, repeat.
As a guide who spends a great deal of your day wrangling clients chasing often spooky fish in often windy conditions on the Texas coast, what’s the best advice you’d give the first time fly fishing adventurer headed down for a day or two with you?
The first advice I often give people, especially in the salt, is don’t be intimidated. We all hear or have heard how difficult the saltwater game can be. And, often, it can be true. But I don’t want that to discourage people to getting out there and giving it a shot.
I have met many anglers that have put off saltwater fishing for years, while they were “getting better” fishing freshwater. This just shouldn’t be the case. Yes, the salt can be difficult. But you have to learn sometime. Even for those that have been fishing for many years, but are new to the salt, they find it difficult as well. Any time we learn new things, we struggle. It’s all part of the fun and experience.
I have taught many people to fish in the salt. Their first fish on a fly rod… a redfish. So of course it can be done. And I would never discourage someone from trying. Sight fishing in Texas is amazing. Seeing these fish swimming in shallow, crystal clear water is an amazing experience. Whether you land a fish or not shouldn’t really matter. Enjoy the experience. Enjoy learning. And enjoy being out on the water. The fishing part will come around with a little time and experience.
There’s some great food in your neighborhood – what’s your favorite place for Texas Gulf Coast seafood? Tex-Mex? And Barbeque?
It’s true there is some good food in our neck of the woods. Rockport, Texas by far has the best food on the Texas Coast. We are very fortunate to have a number of great options in our little beach community.
Myself, and the other guides at Fly Fish Rockport can be found at Glow every Friday evening. This is one of our favorite places to catch up, share a drink, eat a little food and enjoy some time with our friends in the community. The “Pedro” cocktail is a fan favorite for sure, and all of the food is outstanding.
Those that have fished with us will also know that we are big fans of 495 Chesapeake in Rockport as well. Fly Fish Rockport encourages many of our folks to eat here. We even get the first round of drinks for each of our clients eating here. Great cocktails, outstanding food and hands down the best whiskey list around.
Tex-Mex is a staple, especially for me. I love Mexican food! Arandas is the place to be in Rockport, Texas. Awesome food, solid margaritas and a great family running the show in there. I recommend the Tacquitos Arandas. My favorite dish for sure.
And of course you can’t come visit Texas without eating some BBQ. Stevie Lew’s is the jam in Rockport. Outstanding BBQ. But you have to be on it to get some. They have limited hours and sell out every day. But definitely something worth scheduling your down day around. And don’t forget to order a cobbler for desert!
When you’re not chasing fish in the salt, where are you fishing (or planning to fish)?
The second I park my skiff in Texas, you will find me in a driftboat on the Missouri River in Montana. It is the best dry fly trout river around. So you can often find me, during the hotter months, rowing around the Mo in search of large trout sipping dry flies.
Guiding over 300 days a year comes with a price though. Mainly, I don’t get to fish nearly enough! But when I do choose to take days off, you might want to look for me somewhere with an 11wt in my hand, looking for large northern pike. I did take the time to travel North to Alaska last year to film a movie fishing for pike. I had so much fun, that I am headed back again this year with a group of friends to hang out for a while and chase some huge pike.
If you could encourage fly fishers to do just one thing in terms of stewardship this next year, what would that be?
Teach someone to fish. As a fly fishing guide, for many years, in both the fresh and saltwater, I have had the opportunity to teach countless people to fish. I am still fishing with clients today, that I first taught to cast more than 10 years ago. It is really cool to see them grow as anglers, knowing that I had even a little bit to do with it.
But our sport, and its participants, is aging. It’s aging quicker than we are bringing in new people to the sport. So I believe taking people fishing, teaching people to fish and introducing them to our sport is the best way to help out. And not only with our sport, but with our water, outdoors, etc. If we can all teach someone to fish and appreciate the resources we have out there to fish, then we will have a lot more respect and understanding for our waters.
Thanks again to Capt. Jeff and his team for taking the time to spent a little digital time with us here on Chi Wulff; learn more and book your trip here.
