It began when a fly fisherman named Martin Pursch arrived in the Texas Hill Country from Seattle. In 1990, he opened the Country Fly Fishers Shop (located on Goehmann Lane in Fredericksburg, about two miles north of Highway 290). In 2001, he and a friend (Mark Cole) decided to form a club; about ten local enthusiasts showed up for the first meeting of the "Heart of the Hills Fly Fishers."

       The club grew rapidly, and soon was too big for the small shop. It now meets in the Fredericksburg EMS building as the "Fredericksburg Fly Fishers," and seeks to raise public awareness of the sport by holding various entertaining and educational events throughout the year. One of their main events (the brainchild of club member Steve Rawls) is the annual Oktoberfisch, held at Morgan Shady Park, on the South Llano River in Junction.

       Morgan Shady Park is a beautiful park just south of downtown Junction, with expanses of green grass shaded by a grove of mature pecan trees on the west bank of the South Llano River. It offers plenty of space for 100-plus fishermen (and wannabes) from all around Texas to camp and enjoy a weekend of great fly fishing. Activities include exhibitor booths, streamside lectures, casting classes, canoeing and kayaking, campfires, raffles, and even a catered steak dinner on Saturday night.

       Oktoberfisch is not only a great way to spread the word about the joys of fly fishing; it's a wonderful introduction to the charms of Junction and the sparkling South Llano River. This scenic jewel of the Texas Hill Country has escaped the notice of too many Texans; we'll do what we can to correct that unfortunate situation.

By John Hallowell

John Hallowell is the past editor of several Hill Country publications. He has been exploring the Texas Hill Country for almost 20 years.