Fly Fishing Houston

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Fly Fishing Houston & Southeastern Texas is the 2023 Silver Medalist of the National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA)

Fly Fishing Houston & Southeastern Texas also won the 2024 Silver Medalist of the Benjamin Franklin Awards (IBPA)

***Autographed copies of Robert’s book are available at the Orvis Houston on located at 5727 Westheimer Road in Houston, TX 77057. And at Gordy and Sons Outfitters located at 22 Waugh Drive Houston, Texas 77007.

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Open your fly fishing repertoire to some of the most unique urban fisheries in the country.
Houston, Texas is one of the largest cities in the United States. Within the metropolitan area of the “Bayou City,” and beyond, there exists unique waterways worthy of fly fishing. The fly angler has ample opportunities to explore and fish in streams that lie outside the realm of the stereotypical fly fishing experience.

Travel no further than to the city’s “concrete flats” to stalk carp with Houston’s iconic skyline as a backdrop. Just outside the metro area, wade in the secluded spring-fed waters of the Pineywoods to find spotted bass, largemouth bass, and a variety of panfish. Launch a canoe or kayak in nearby lakes and backwaters to search for gar and bowfin. Add some adventure with a trip to Village Creek, a fascinating biozone where bass and catfish thrive along with four varieties of carnivorous plants and 35 species of orchids. With Fly Fishing Houston & Southeastern Texas as your guide, discover the rewards for anglers this unique region offers, from inside the city limits to the countryside beyond.

A look inside:
* 38 detailed on-the-water descriptions of “wades” located on 12 unique streams and waterways
* Descriptions of access points for paddles in local lakes
* Suggestions for creating personalized fly boxes for southeastern Texas.
* More than 300 color photographs, including close-ups of the key sport fish available
* QR codes supplying GPS coordinates for all of the wade locations
* Suggestions for the best gear to get started fly fishing
* Local angler-friendly breweries and fly shops
* Background about local historical events
* Insider tips for sneaking up on fish

* Updates from the publisher of Robert’s book can be found on The Local Angler series home site here.

Fly Fishing Houston & Southeastern Texas WAS PUBLISHED online and in fly shops and wherever fine books are sold on February 7, 2023.

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Robert H. McConnell was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. It was in the shadow of the Allegheny Mountains where he developed an affinity for fishing and the outdoors. At college, Robert pursued a degree in geology, which was one of the only classes that offered frequent field trips to the great outdoors. After graduating, Robert began a career in the oil and gas industry, which brought him to the wilds of northern Pennsylvania. He began fly fishing in earnest after discovering the joys of hiking into remote freestone streams in pursuit of native brook trout. Spring and summer weekends were spent exploring the vast network of streams and rivers along the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. In 2014, Robert and his wife, Ellen, moved from their home in rural Pennsylvania to the bustling city of Houston, Texas, the “Energy Capital of the World,” where they reside today. Robert continues his passion for fly fishing, but instead of chasing native brook trout, he now pursues the multitude of warmwater fish species that live in the surrounding waterways of Houston, Texas. Robert especially enjoys exploring the more remote waterways, including those found in the Pineywoods of East Texas.

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Praise for Robert’s book:

“This fine guide includes everything you need to find these forgotten streams: maps and descriptions, helpful information on fly patterns, behavior characteristics of the fish, QR codes showing the best place to park, and GPS coordinates for legal access points. Everything you’ll need for an hour, an afternoon—or a full day of fly fishing fun.”—Ron Watters, National Outdoor Books Award (NOBA).

A podcast, discussed urban fly fishing in Houston with Robert on The Feather Mechanic, hosted by South African fly fisherman and host Gordon Van Der Spuy interviews Robert in February 2023.

“If you fish in Houston, you definitely need this guidebook. It’s the essential source on freshwater angling in Southeastern Texas, complete with handy maps, captivating photographs, and enough savvy insider tips to ensure a place in your dry bag for years to come.”–Wes Ferguson, former Senior Editor for Texas Monthly (06/09/2022)

“Houston, Texas is most likely not the first destination that comes to mind when one thinks about fly fishing. However, Houston and the surrounding area boasts a diverse array of fisheries and fish species that are worthy of every fly angler’s time. Fly Fishing Houston and Southeastern Texas is an essential resource to anyone who intends to fly fish the greater Houston area. From local, urban fisheries to remote destinations buried in nearby National Forest, this book covers it all in surprising detail! You will most likely add a few destinations to your “bucket list” after exploring the pages of this book – I know I did!”–Chris Johnson, Owner Living Waters Fly Fishing, Round Rock Texas (07/11/2022)

“Fly Fishing Houston takes an extremely thorough and detailed look at the diverse fishing opportunities available in Houston’s myriad bayous, creeks, and lakes and highlights the incredible array of species available to the intrepid angler. With detailed descriptions of access points, wading trips, ideal flow and discharge rates for each creek, and fascinating notes about the biology and ecology Houston’s local species, Fly Fishing Houston is an invaluable resource to anglers of any skill level looking to explore Houston.”–Travis Richards, Fisheries Biologist, Texas A&M University at Galveston (07/06/2022)

“With this book and a sense of adventure, any “creek freak” fly fisher willing to step over copperheads and wade mysterious waters can tie into some of the most exciting freshwater fly fishing Texas has to offer. This guidebook should find its way into the glove compartment of every fly fisher who wanders the woods and waters of southeast Texas. With it, they’re almost certainly within reach of fishable water in some of the most surprising places.“–Chris Hunt, journalist and author of Catching Yellowstone’s Wild Trout: A Fly Fishing History and Guide. (05/18/2022)

“Definitely a must for anyone wanting to learn what the greater Houston area has to offer. Love all the waters/species included as well as the local fly guys.”–Danny Scarborough, Houston Fly Fishing Guide Services (07/05/2022)

“Robert has taken the guesswork out of fishing our local waters, telling you how to prepare, where to go, and what to bring. School is out, homework is done (by Robert), time to go fishing!”–Don C. Puckett, President, Texas FlyFishers.org (06/17/2022)

“A sumptuous feast of angling opportunities featuring an incredible diversity of waterways and species for our consumption. Exhaustively researched, Fly Fishing Houston and Southeastern Texas reveals where and how to pursue “lunker” largemouth bass in sprawling lakes, massive carp from urban concrete canyons, and gorgeously-colored longear sunfish from remote Pineywoods streams. This is a fun, informative read and an invaluable resource.“–Terry & Roxanne Wilson, authors of The Bluegill Diaries: A Fly Fishing Chronicle, Largemouth Bass Fishing, Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing, Crappie Fly-Fishing and Bluegill Fly Fishing & Flies (05/31/2022)

“What a wonderful resource! Robert has described, mapped and critiqued so many accessible areas in and around Houston that have been overlooked in the past. Getting to know him while we worked together was a real pleasure. Anyone who wants to learn about this area, must have this book!”–Mark Marmon, professional guide at MetroAnglers.com and the original pioneer for fishing Houston’s urban waterways. (05/19/2022)