Fly fishing can offer a satisfying lifetime of enjoyment.  Joe Brooks, for those who don’t know about the “famed fisherman of the past” – was the “Lefty” of the middle of the 20th century. 

“Joe Brooks began his professional fly-fishing and outdoor writing career in the 1940s, pursuing the sport with zeal until his death in the early 1970s.  . One quote in particular seems to encompass the legacy left by Joe Brooks. "Through my memories," he writes in the preface, "may you fulfill your dreams”  Through his writing and his television appearances, Brooks probably did more to introduce the sport to the masses than just about anyone in the business. Joe Brooks on Fishing is a compilation of writings excerpted from his many books, ranging from nymphing for trout and fly-rodding for bass to his offshore and international saltwater fly-fishing travels. Part instructional guide and part fishing journal, this book gives the reader a taste of the early days of the sport.”  http://www.flyfishinsalt.com/article.jsp?ID=36303

Joe loved to fish Argentina, and I had the honor of staying at his favorite place, and fishing his favorite river - the Rio Chimehuin  (me picture to right).  Joe wrote about this very place in many of his books.  The wind is very often 45 mph in this part of the country and it was here Joe developed the horizontal side cast, as well as casting backwards facing away from the water and releasing the fly toward the water behind you when 45 mph wind is at your back.   He taught the locals this at the city square downtown.

Address:

"Hostería Chimehuín"   Cnel. Suarez y 25 de Mayo - (8371) Junín de los Andes  Tel : (02972) 49-1132 Fax : (02972) 49-2503

E-mails:

This lodge is located very close to the fabled Chimehuin Rio that Joe fished for the monster trout he often wrote about.  When I was there the widow of the owner still operated the hotel and would tell stores about Joe sitting near the fireplace where I was sitting, and as she spoke I looked with admiration at the photographs of Joe Brooks that adorned the walls. 

The "Joe Brooks photo wall" and to the left below with me in front.   Here I am , with two fine Argentina Rainbows in bottom

right photograph. .

It makes no difference if you are fishing Belize Turneffe Flats (bottom right, where I took the 13+ lb. bonefi(where I have been 26 times, and have a 13lb. bonefish from there mounted on my wall above where I am writing at the very moment), or fishing the great Texas Coast from Palacios  to Padre Island, fly fishing is always exciting.  Once the initial cost is made in some good equipment (I prefer Orvis  -my Editor's Choice-for most of my fly fishing because I started with them over 40 years ago, and 40 years later their supplies are always still top quality – and nobody stands behind their products better than Orvis -home page), fly fishing is relatively inexpensive (especially if you learn to tie your own flies). 

             The author fly fishig the flats.

Fly fishing in Texas is such an interest that Southwest Fly Fishing editor, Steve Probasco in the 2007 January/February issue spends the bulk of the editorial on page 4 talking about Texas as a destination for great winter fly fishing.  The book, Fly Fishing the Texas Coast by Pruett Publishing, authored by Chuck Scates and Phil H. Shook,  starting on page  62 – Middle Coast Flats -  covers the Matagorda Bay area.   Palacios  area fishing is covered on pages 70-72.  There are plenty of great guides in the area

Below, one of the fine "two digit" trout we caught in Argentina -another one on my wall in my writing office at home.   More fly fishing pictures.

http://texassaltwaterfishing.com/palacios/ 

http://www.matagordabay.com/

Happy traveling, happy fishing, and Merry Christmas.