TFFC to host Fly Fish Texas

Bruce Sublett of Lufkin will teach a session on flies and tactics for spring bass at Fly Fish Texas March 9 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. He also enjoys catching rainbow trout from TFFC’s ponds. (LARRY D. HODGE/TFCC)
Bruce Sublett of Lufkin will teach a session on flies and tactics for spring bass at Fly Fish Texas March 9 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. He also enjoys catching rainbow trout from TFFC’s ponds. (LARRY D. HODGE/TFCC)

By Larry D. Hodge/TPWD

ATHENS—Fly Fish Texas returns to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center March 9 with the goal of teaching visitors to tie a fly, cast a fly and catch a fish with it all in one day.

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All Fly Fish Texas activities are free with regular paid admission to the center.

Fly Fish Texas emphasizes hands-on learning and immediate application of newly acquired skills. Visitors can collect aquatic insects from the center’s streams, tie a fly to imitate one of those insects under the supervision of a skilled tier, learn to cast it from a casting instructor certified by the Federation of Fly Fishers, then use it to catch a rainbow trout, catfish or sunfish from one of TFFC’s stocked ponds or streams. Before that, ensure that you’re equipped with a sturdy fishing line to tackle the monstrosities of fishes that you might catch. Better yet, see the full review here of the best fishing lines one can get their hands on.

Throughout the day, experienced fly-tiers will be demonstrating and teaching fly-tying in the Anglers Pavilion on a one-on-one basis. In addition, group instruction in beginning fly-tying will be offered in the Hart-Morris Conservation Center. Both are offered on a walk-up basis.

Beginning casting instruction will take place all day in the Conservation Center parking lot, again on a walk-up basis. Other sessions will teach single-hand and Spey rod casting at scheduled times.

Vendors will be displaying and selling fly-fishing gear, and seminars will brief visitors on where and how to fly-fish in Texas fresh and salt waters for a variety of species.

Featured presentations include fly-fishing the Llano River in Texas, trout fishing in Colorado, fly-fishing urban creeks in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, fly-fishing for carp, flies and tactics for spring bass and fly-fishing Texas bays for red drum and speckled seatrout.

While most activities at Fly Fish Texas are offered on a walk-up basis, others are scheduled. For a complete schedule of activities and seminars plus a video of the event, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/tffc and click on the Fly Fish Texas link.

Food service will be available onsite, or attendees may bring a picnic.

Event sponsors include Sabine River Authority, Best Western-Royal Mountain Inn, Holiday Inn Express-Athens, Super 8-Athens, Temple Fork Outfitters, Orvis-Dallas, Cripple Creek Bar-B-Que, First State Bank, Red Hat Rentals, Wulf Outdoor Sports and Friends of TFFC.

Obituary: Lewis Earl Gray

Services for Lewis Earl Gray, 87, of Mabank, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday. Feb. 12, 2013 at Eubank Funeral Home with Bro. Mike Roberson and Bro. Ronnie Daniell officiating, under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home, Canton.

Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mabank.

He passed away Feb. 8, 2013 in Canton, Texas.

Mr. Gray was born Sept. 24, 1925 in Scott, Texas, to Thomas Eugene and Ruby Marguerite Cannefax Gray.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Canton.

Surviving are daughter, Nancy and Sam DuBose of Mabank; son, Thomas Earl & Jane Gray of Plano; daughter, Barbara Gail and Gerald Linnenkugel of Mabank; granddaughter, Angela DuBose of Mabank; granddaughter, Jana and Steven Taylor of Ben Wheeler; grandson, Thomas Earl and Julie Gray of Plano; granddaughter, Melissa Gray of Garland; great-grandchildren, Joeylynn Gray, Landon Hilario, Samantha Taylor, Julianna Taylor, Kennedy Hilario, Brother, Joel and Elizabeth Gray of Mabank; brother, Kenneth and Margaret Gray of Payson, Ark.; sister, Wynonia and the late Kenneth Brewer of Mabank.

Lewis was preceded in death by his parents; wife Aileen Gray; three infant sons; brother, Ralph Gray.

Pallbearers are Angela DuBose, Jana Taylor, Steve Taylor, Thomas Gray, Julie Gray, Melissa Gray, and John Hilario.

Family will receive friends Monday 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Daily Brief: Top 5 Stories of the Week

Athens ISD Police Chief Paul Redic is pulling pulling stickers out of a young man's shoelaces and retying his shoes during the 100 Days Celebration at South Athens Elementary School this morning. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
Athens ISD Police Chief Paul Redic is pulling pulling stickers out of a young man’s shoelaces and retying his shoes during the 100 Days Celebration at South Athens Elementary School this morning. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)

Story No. 1 – School funding unconstitutional: A Texas district judge this week ruled that the state’s system for funding public education is unconstitutional.
Why it is important: The school funding issue sort of cuts to the heart of the current debate in the country: How are you going to pay for the government services you want?
Learn more: The story led off our Tuesday Daily Brief. https://hendersoncountytexasnow.com/daily-brief-judge-says-school-funding-is-unconstitutional/

Story No. 2 – 100 Days of School: The school calendar hit 100 days this week. South Athens Elementary School celebrated with a big event, which included the community.
Why it is important: Because 100 is a big number for elementary students.
Learn more: We had some pretty cool photos. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.209947172483740.63755.184307831714341&type=3

Story No. 3 – Court dedication: TVCC will official name its basketball court for former mens coach Leon Spencer Saturday.
Why it is important: Spencer coached the Cards for 42 years.
Learn more: Here is a story from KLTV http://www.kltv.com/story/21079743/tvcc-to-dedicate-court-to-former-coach. The court will be dedicated in a ceremony at halftime of the women’s game (approximately 4:45 p.m.) The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Leon Spencer Court Dedication button, which features a photo of Coach Spencer along with his signature.

Story No. 4 – CCL Day in Austin: Tuesday was Cedar Creek Lake Day in Austin, with dozens of lake-area residents making the trip with the CCL Area Chamber of Commerce.
Why it is important: Because lawmakers need to hear local voices, particularly when they are in session.
Learn more: Kathi Nailing at the Review has the story. http://www.athensreview.com/local/x503844300/Cedar-Creek-Lake-gets-its-day-in-Austin

Story No. 5 – Score!: Athens High School senior Gerardo de la Fuente battled back from a deadly disease to go from the hospital, to the soccer pitch, to GOOOAAAALLLLL!!
Why it is important: Gerardo had aplastic anemia, which is a devastating disease.
Learn more: Joe Elerson tells the story in the Review. 

ON TAP

A big Saturday, including the Cain Center’s annual coat/garage sale, pancakes out in Eustace, and baseball/softball signups. Check out our community calendar.

In addition to the Leon Spencer Court Dedication (see above), Trinity Valley Community College will also be hosting its annual rodeo. 

WHAT YOU MISSED

AARP is providing free tax return preparation. 

Obituaries: James Harold Rains and Larry Gideon.

If you need something added to the Daily Brief, just click “Contact” in the menu bar and let us know.

You can get the Daily Brief in your inbox, Monday through Friday. Just add your email in the form below and let Henderson County Now come to you.

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Daily Brief: AARP provides free income tax filing service

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(Flickr photo courtesy Ken Teegardin.)

HOT TOPIC: Plenty of folks around the county are starting to think about filing their income tax … and hoping to get a return.

One of the great services we have in our community is the AARP income tax assistance program, which has been headed up by Mr. Gil Betts for several years. It really is a benefit for a lot of people; and remember, you don’t have to be a senior to take advantage.

The AARP free income tax preparation assistance program will be in the following locations/times:

  • Mondays, 8 a.m. to noon, in Seven Points at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake, 410 East Cedar Creek Parkway.
  • Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon, in Malakoff at the Senior Citizens Center, 503 North Terry Street.
  • Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Athens at the Trinity Valley Community College Liberal Arts Building, Lakeside Drive.

This service is provided by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the IRS.

  • The service is free.
  • Taxpayers do not have to be elderly or members of AARP.
  • Married taxpayers must both come to the site unless one is incapacitated.

Taxpayers should bring with them:

  • Photo IDs for all taxpayers
  • A copy of any return for 2011.
  • All tax-related income documents for 2012 such as: W-2s, 1099s, SSA-1099s.
  • Social security cards for all taxpayers and all dependents.
  • Date of birth for all dependents and taxpayers.
  • Details of any itemized deductions.

ON TAP

The Henderson County Performing Arts Center production of “Sanders Family Christmas: Smoke on the Mountain II” begins tonight.

If you love rodeo, you are going to want to check out TVCC’s event this weekend.

The Cain Center is having its annual Coat and Garage sale this weekend. 

WHAT YOU MISSED

The Pinnacle Women’s Club (PWC) held its annual Philanthropic Luncheon recently. 

South Athens Elementary School held a 100 Days Celebration yesterday and invited the community to the event.

WHAT OTHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT

The Athens Review reports on Cedar Creek Lake Day in Austin. 

Services have been set for the Kaufman County assistant district attorney who was gunned down last week. 

If you need something added to the Daily Brief, just click “Contact” in the menu bar and let us know.

You can get the Daily Brief in your inbox, Monday through Friday. Just add your email in the form below and let Henderson County Now come to you.