The following was posted in the local newspaper. I called the forest service and was told the lake will be designated for fly-fishing only.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
USDA-FOREST SERVICE
NATIONAL FOREST AND
GRASSLANDS,
WISE COUNTY, TEXAS
FLY FISHING LAKE DESIGNATION
The National Forest and Grasslands in Texas, specifically the Caddo/LBJ Ranger District, in Decatur, Texas has received a request from the Fort Worth Fly Fishermen to designate Wind Mill Lake a Fly Fishing lake and allow only catch and release.
The National Forest and Grasslands of Texas has several mid-size lakes on the LBJ National Grasslands that are open to all types of fishing. These 9 lakes are approximately 20+ acres. There are numerous smaller lakes, five acres and less, that are open to fishing. Designating Wind Mill Lake a fly fishing lake will provide a new recreation experience/opportunity to fishermen on the LBJ National Grasslands.
It is anticipated that a Decision Memo will be prepared in accordance with the Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, section 31.2.
Pursuant to 36 CFR 215.5, the Responsible official is seeking comments on this proposal. Comments must be postmarked or received within 30 days beginning the day following publication of this notice. Comments should be sent to, Responsible Official, Caddo/LBJ National Grasslands, P.O. Box 507, Decatur, TX 76234. If you have any questions or need additional information please call 940/627-5475.


I don't care for the elitist attitude that some groups have. Why do they need a lake designated for their use only, when they can fly fish every other lake on the grasslands? When I'm driving around the grasslands with my wife and daughter, who don't fly-fish and have no desire to, and decide to stop at Windmill Lake and catch a few, I guess they can sit in the truck and watch. The posting says this will provide a new recreation opportunity, yet it restricts baitcasters and spincasters. I guess I'll have to learn to throw punch-bait with a 8 weight fly rod.

Eddie,

Please see my response to this one in Open Freshwater where you also posted. I think that once you have the facts, you'll probably wished you'd taken a different approach to this....

Kelly Denham

[This message has been edited by Kelly Denham (edited 10-08-2002).]

Great response Kelly!

well its obvious that a button has been pushed. The differing points of view are now aired, I believe that this will be resolved in a gentelmanly manner and all will get their chance to speak on the matter.

Us flyfishermen aren't asking alot, just a little old pond up in Decatur

As to the "snob" moniker, I know a lot of flyfishermen and none are snobs. I wouldn't fish with them if they were. Just a different way to fish is all.

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RRhyne56
northtexasonthefly@attbi.com

I posted in the open fresh discussion also but just want to know why is it important to have your own little pond in Decatur. I am not being a smart a.., just genuinely interested.

I don't know why it is so important to them to have a fly fishing only lake but why is it so important to yall that it not be? It doesn't matter to me one way or the other (I don't fish that lake) it just seems that a few people strongly oppose this and I don't know why.

I love to fly fish, but I don't understand the need to limit it to fly fishing only. I can understand cnr, barbless hooks, and imitation lure restrictions. Like several others I'll probably never fish it anyway due to it's location.

I want to thank everyone from the top of the post on down for their input and opinions. That is what makes this board a great place to post, that opinions can be heard and differences recognized.

Hope everyone is getting to do some fishing!

best

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RRhyne56, Flyfishing Warden
northtexasonthefly@attbi.com

Here's the deal...

Studies have shown that fly fishing is best way to successfully catch and release a fish. More than likely, the restriction "fly fishing only" will more accurately mean "single barbless hook only". This will mean the fish have less damage done to them.

You mention punch bait. That's put on a treble hook, usually, and the barbs are never pinched down. That's a whole lot of damage being done. Whereas a single barbless hook swallowed to the stomach can often times be removed without much injury to the fish.

Less fishing pressure due to the restrictions will make the lake a much better one for those who do fish it... including the kids who throw a casting bubble with a fly on the end of it.

They aren't saying "no spincasters allowed" as much as "take it easy on the fish".

Hope that clears it up a little. They're not being snobs... they're trying to be responsible.

one more point, the Fort Worth Flyfishers have worked on other lakes in conjunction with the SCS, this is just the one that will be flyfish only http://www.iflyfish.com/fwff/Windmill_Lake.html

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RRhyne56, Flyfishing Warden
northtexasonthefly@attbi.com