The Redding Flyshop is hosting a Labor Day Luncheon 10am to 2pm Friday 9/3
celebrating 43 years in Redding. Product manufacturer reps will be present.
The Flyshop will donate a $50 Gift Certificate to our monthly Raffle and we hope you can make it.
Posted on August 23rd, 2021
Hi everyone. I am back from a terrific fly-fishing and hiking week with family high in the Sierra, far away from the internet or a phone. The only technology in my hand was my 3wt, Sage LL with my beloved Abel reel. Okay, truth be told, I had my “camera” with me – that sometimes doubles as a phone! Hence the photos in this P-Message. Tommy and I fished a mile together for the entire day both landing about thirty fish each, Tommy catching more than 15 on dry flies. The beauty of a net and barbless flies is they often came out of the fish in the net, and made getting them back to their habitat all the better. It was awesome spending a whole day together doing that, laughing, and talking. The fish made it best of all and so much easier to do the rest.
Getting away from technology is one of the best things we can do today. But admittedly, there is technology that enables us to enjoy that getting away even more.
As Mona and I traveled Sonora Pass in our air-conditioned comfy Ford F150, enjoying our cabin with electricity, a shower and a refrigerator, we took turns reading about the history of Sonora Pass, it’s first discovery, how treacherous it was to build and how people “camped” there in the weekends traveling there in Model T Fords with an ice box, no electricity, no showers and no “facilities”. No fly boxes filled with hundreds of flies purchased with ease, if necessary, from the comfort of your home delivered to you next day.
Sonora Pass has some terrific history – ironically, if it weren’t for the Depression in the 30’s and WWII, it would likely not be the treasure it is today. In the 20’s, plans were to take full advantage of that area building communities for getting away from the city. Clark’s Fork, if you’ve ever been there, ends at Iceberg Meadow’s, abandoned plans for another highway that would have continued north and east, connecting with Highway 4. Leland Meadows, a place I haven’t been, is reportedly the one place that was last developed beyond Pinecrest, but most halted because of the depression and the war.
While no one likes a pandemic, a depression, a war, these things have benefited the earth and all the creatures, and people, that were here long before us. Even on this trip, while a year later, it seemed more beautiful, quieter and abundant. I never realized that if it weren’t for the depression and WWII, where we’ve been going – for almost 30% of it’s entire 100 year+ existence, would not be what it is today. Pretty cool.
I hope to see you at the BBQ Wednesday. Look at the newsletter and send Scott an article under the Newsletter submission page. Someplace where you fished with family and or friends. We love hearing from you – our members.
As we work hard to navigate the waters of living today, please know your board is actively and constantly talking about how we do our best to continue our mission to promote, educate and enjoy the sport of Fly-Fishing solely for the purpose of our members having fun, being engaged and being contributors to the same. Thank you all for your encouragement, your membership and for participating like you do. It is in fact how all of us came to this club, joined and took interest. It is a lot of fun and such beautiful work.
As the year winds down, we are looking ahead at how we can continue growing. I’m excited about the opportunities to be together, have fund-raisers, education days, new fish-outs, fly-tying, casting and other activities we will do thoughtfully with you, our members, in mind. Do keep the ideas coming and thank you for being the most important part of the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club.
Oh – Follow us on Instagram: santacruzflyfishing – and follow me: tomhogye !
Fish often my friends. Tom
Posted on July 31st, 2021
In the California budget for 2021-2022, $1.3 million is allocated to pay each commercial fishermen $110,000 in exchange for turning in their gill net. Gill nets are huge nets (up to one mile) suspended in the water column that ensnare any fish or mammal that gets entangled in the net. Sea turtles, whales, sea lions and dolphins are some of the sea creatures that have been trapped in the nets. California state law mandates that all gill nets be phased out by 2024. Deep set buoy gear is the new method that is suggested to replace gill net fishing. As expected, some commercial fishermen are resisting the change, claiming that gill nets are not as harmful as claimed by the NOAA and Oceana. The fishermen also say that alternate fishing techniques are not commercially viable.
Posted on July 26th, 2021
Our club’s financial support has helped this campaign and one of our former ‘in person’ presenters at the Aptos Grange Hall, who lost his life on a sweeper tree on the American Creek AK, was our incentive to act for the noble causes to save the last non-dammed rivers in the North West and especially the greatest fisheries for commercial and sport salmon fishing in the world. Pebble Mine is the big challenge and we must keep opposing them.
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Posted on July 26th, 2021
2021 Rosters will be available at the August 4th
BBQ…..Should you not be able to attend, email me @ robert6367@aol.com and I will mail one out to you.
Annual dinner volunteer needed to help set up online silent auction thru square and zoom. Can send me an email if you can provide technical assistance.
Posted on July 26th, 2021
While summer is in full swing, now is the time to take note of the help you receive on your flyfishing journey. Freeze in your mind each act, and then nominate the perpetrator for this year’s John Steele Award. Our Annual B-B-Q at the Sherriff’s Possee House would be a great place to drop off a ballot. Or just e-mail me at troutdock89@gmail.com
Posted on July 26th, 2021
The only fishers without mask tan lines are ones with beards!
Posted on July 25th, 2021
Date: 8/11/21
Time: 6:30
Place: Zoom
Posted on
At first glance this fly looks like your typical wooly bugger but it’s not. It’s tied in a way that allows it to hang in the water column in a horizontal plane or balanced. Hung under an indicator in choppy water the fly pulses and swims the way a baitfish or leech does. Professional fly anglers like Phil Rowley and Brian Chan are big advocates for this pattern on still waters for trout and I’ll vouch for it as a great bass pond fly.
The body of this fly is created using a dubbing loop so some kind of dubbing whirl tool is needed. Dubbing looped bodies are also very effective for nymphs and other streamers so this is a good technique to know. If you need more info, check out this video with options for dubbing whirls:
Class is 8/11/21 @6:30PM on Zoom.
Please email metropolitantrout@gmail.com by 7/29 and include your address so I can mail you the materials. The days leading up to the class I will be out of town and unavailable to reach which is why I’m asking for the early RSVP.
Hope to see you there, Jerry
Posted on July 24th, 2021
We have found an incredible venue for our annual B-B-q/Swap Meet this year! The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Posse House is a beautiful property on the bank of the San Lorenzo River. There’s an outdoor picnic area, a pasture where we can demo or practice our casting, a beautiful indoor area with tables for our swap meet, a built-in grilling pit, and a horseshoe pit. (There’s also a fire pit but we will abstain for now). The club will supply burgers, dogs, sides, and soft drinks. We’ll have club swag for sale. You can bring your family & friends, but please RSVP in form below or email to troutdock89@gmail.com so we know how much food to provide. You may responsibly bring adult beverages, as well as any rods you might want to try out or tackle you want to swap or trade. No leaving unclaimed gear behind. Please, no pets.
The Address is 2127 Ocean Street Extension. To access, take the Ocean Street Extension past the cemetery, past the crematorium, about a quarter-mile down on the left. Use the second driveway entrance. Please drive slow and be respectful of the neighbors and this beautiful historic property.
5:00 pm: Casting practice, swap meet display
6:30 pm: BBQ Dinner
Cost: $0.00
The Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Posse Grounds
This will be our first opportunity in what seems like forever to meet and greet in person. Please, if you are un-vaxed, wear a mask for your own protection.
Posted on July 24th, 2021
If you have never fished the Firehole, it’s fun to know that the stream has many geysers that drain into it which makes the water warm year round. Our annual trek brings us here to catch Browns and rainbows that average 9″ to 12″ and some up to 15″. This year found the water warmer than usual and only the 1st day produced fish. When the water reaches 70 degrees the fish turn off and fishing is highly discouraged. In the photo, you can see where we fished right across from a major outflow from one of the geysers and the fish readily came up for dry flies.
Posted on June 30th, 2021
It is estimated that up to 95% of wild salmon habitat has been wiped out by damming of rivers in California. Hatcheries have helped make up for the impact of dams. Now amid the ongoing drought, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has launched a program to release 17 million Chinook Salmon smolt into San Francisco Bay and others—including Monterey Bay. The fish are being loaded in trucks from hatcheries and transported to the bay and released. Historically, the fish have been released into rivers and streams. But, with drought-induced low flows coupled with warmer temperatures, the survival rate is extremely low. The hope is that more fish will have a better survival rate (estimated to be about 80%) which could provide some support for the $900 million commercial and sport salmon fishing business in the state. For more information, check out the web link.
Posted on June 26th, 2021
Let’s go fly-fishing!! Happy Summer everyone! I hope at this writing you’re all making plans to get out and do some fly-fishing in the coming days or you’re already gone doing just that. Send us some photos we can share with the world – info@santacruzflyfishing.com .
While California is a bit short on water this year, that means flows are very manageable and fish are hungry. Mona and I had an epic adventure over the Memorial Day weekend and are planning another trip around the Sierra Mountain streams in late July. Best way to spend our 30th Anniversary together. It was really surprising and fun to find miles and miles of dirt roads and off-road trails we were able to explore in our truck. Many of you have likely been to Crowley Lake, fly-fishing, but did you know there are incredible “columns” on the backside of the lake that make it look like you’re in Greece? But access is literally a good mile and a half hike on trails. Fly Fishing Hot Creek is great, but have you also seen the geothermal hot springs? Have you ever seen the 3 mile long lava flow of some of the largest obsidian deposits just south of Mammoth? Chidago Canyon Gold Mines? Have you heard of Cerro Gordo – once the largest silver mine in California? The Alabama Hills and Movie Road? Haystack Mountain? (UH spoiler alert – there is no hay!) Climb Mt. Whitney? Come on people! Get out there!!
Kennedy Meadows/ HWY 108
If you’re relatively new to fly-fishing, and love camping where it’s not too remote, Mona and I have been enjoying the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus along Highway 108 for 30 years. Dry-fly and nymph fishing to both planted and wild fish is generally quite good. Most of the fish are in the 10” range, but some surprising large fish are there. The campgrounds along the river are easy to access and nice. Kennedy Meadows Pack station/resort is at the base of Sonora Pass and if you love exploring the mountains away from Yosemite, this is the place to do it. You can pack horses, do day trips, or hourly trail rides. Cabins, a store, restaurant and saloon are all favorites of many for decades. The pass rises from 6,300 feet to over 10,000 feet in 9 miles. If anyone is interested in hanging out with us at Kennedy Meadows in late July – let me know. Fly-fishing the meadow all day is second to nothing.
No July Meeting
Historically there is no general meeting in July as it falls right around the 4th and many are in fact fishing. But there will be a fly-tying class and our Board Meeting – if you’re interested in becoming part of the team.
August BBQ and Swap Meet – Sherriff’s Posse Hall – Ocean Street Extension
August will be our first physical gathering since March of 2020. It is our August BBQ and Swap Meeting. It will be held at the Santa Cruz Sherriff’s Posse Hall on Ocean Street extension. It’s an awesome outdoor country venue. Hot dogs, burgers, Beans, Potato Salad and who knows what else! Remember, if you bring something to the swap meet, please be prepared to take it home if someone doesn’t want it. I’m particularly excited because we have been blessed with so many new members who have never experienced a physical club meeting yet. While this won’t be like our general meeting, it is surely something to look forward to as we start getting together again. September meeting we’re hoping to have at the Grange Hall. More details in your newsletter to come.
Thank you.
Special shout out to David South and Bob Peterson for the excellent work handing out scholarships at the high-schools this year. There is interest in making these scholarships larger in dollar amounts. If you’d like to participate for next year, let us know. We’d love to do more for the students, the future of our sport and this planet.
Thank you to Jerry McKeon, Scott Kitayama, and Carly Blanchard for the terrific work on the website, Instagram, Facebook page, and the Club Roster, it has helped us stay so connected and active in the very best way. It was so nice to hear guest speakers say how awesome our club is, how funny we are, engaged, and how many people have been making the Zoom meetings – 38 last month for Brian O’Keefe’s presentation on photographing fish, wild-life, … Really amazing. He will be back next year for sure.
Thank you, Elaine and all your guest Fly-Tiers, helping us get through quite a year navigating Zoom and getting fly-tying materials to everyone.
Jeff Goyert and Micheal McGannon for putting together the most awesome and engaging raffle items and SCFF merch to buy – and more to come!
Steve Rudzinski, thank you for going out of your way with the Jade Street Park casting fun and Sam Bishop, for helping with that and so many fish-outs close to home.
Thanks to everyone of you on the board, members, guests and those who support the membership, our goals, objectives, who helped us thrive during these most interesting times. I would not have been able to do this without each and every one of you.
I look forward to finally seeing all of you again, in person. But if I miss you this time – it’s because we’re fishing!! ?
Posted on June 26th, 2021
Membership Rosters are now available by email request, or can be picked up on August 4th at the Sherriff Posse BBQ first monthly meeting of the year @ 1227 Ocean St Ext. Should you not be able to attend, or would like an electronic version, please send me an email @ robert6367@aol.com.
I would also like to thank Carly Blanchard for her technical assistance in formatting the Roster for final printing by Community Printing.
Posted on June 26th, 2021
In the pre-COVID days, our July meetings were typically the lightest attended of the year. Our membership clearly wanted to be on the road over the 4th of July holiday. Accordingly, we would hang a ‘gone fishing’ sign on our monthly general meeting. That’s what we’re doing this July. Enjoy the holiday, go fishing. We’ll reconvene with a special meeting in August. For our August meeting, we’ll get together at a new location for our annual summer B-B-Q. This year, we’ll meet at 6:30 pm at the Sheriff’s Posse House on the Ocean St extension in Santa Cruz. It’s located about a half mile beyond the cemetery. Ample parking and outdoor seating come with the venue. The club will host a burger and hot-dog cookout with all the fixings. We’ll also hold a fishing swap-meet/flea market. Bring your gently or un-used gear to the meeting for cash or trade. There is also a perfect field for casting demonstrations and competitions. Bring your favorite rod and cast for prizes.
The Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Posse Grounds
This will be our first opportunity in what seems like forever to meet and greet in person. Please, if you are un-vaxed, wear a mask for your own protection.
Posted on June 21st, 2021
| Date | Location | Target Species | Fishmaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 3, 5:45am | Manresa Beach | Surf Perch (DATE CHANGE) | Mark Traugott, 831-338-6056 |
| July 13-17 | Loreto, Baja Sur | Saltwater Fishing | Rich Hughett (831) 595-0288 |
| Aug. 7, 6am | Rio Del Mar Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Jeff Gose (831) 227-0722 |
| Sept. 4, 6:30am | Manresa Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| Sept 4-12 | Alaska | Rainbow, Salmon and Dolly Varden | Roy Gunter (831) 809-0316 |
| Sept 18-25 | Mammoth Lakes | Trout (2 SPOTS OPEN) | John & Elaine (831) 688-1561 |
| Sept 26- Oct 2 | Mammoth Lakes | Trout (CONDO FULL) | John & Elaine (831) 688-1561 |
| Oct. 9, 7am | Palm Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| Oct. – Nov. TBA | O’Neill Forebay | Stripers | Steve Rudzinski (831) 462-4532 |
Posted on June 21st, 2021
Date: 8/11/21
Time: 6:30
Place: Zoom
Posted onAt first glance this fly looks like your typical wooly bugger but it’s not. It’s tied in a way that allows it to hang in the water column in a horizontal plane or balanced. Hung under an indicator in choppy water the fly pulses and swims the way a baitfish or leech does. Professional fly anglers like Phil Rowley and Brian Chan are big advocates for this pattern on still waters for trout and I’ll vouch for it as a great bass pond fly.
The body of this fly is created using a dubbing loop so some kind of dubbing whirl tool is needed. Dubbing looped bodies are also very effective for nymphs and other streamers so this is a good technique to know. If you need more info, check out this video with options for dubbing whirls:
Class is 8/11/21 @6:30PM on Zoom.
Please email metropolitantrout@gmail.com by 7/29 and include your address so I can mail you the materials. The days leading up to the class I will be out of town and unavailable to reach which is why I’m asking for the early RSVP.
Hope to see you there, Jerry
Posted on June 18th, 2021
Dateline 5 June 2021, 0530 hours:
It was a wild surf this morning at Palm Beach! 11 loyal members showed up at dawn ready to do battle with the wild surf, sea lions and barred perch. Their skills produced 20 – 25 or so barred perch. A rather large sea lion patrolled the area regularly and I suspect that is why no one caught a Striper. Next month we fish Manresa.
Our group: Judy Johnson, Aaron Reisman, Todd Goudberg, Jeff Gose, Mark Traugott, Robert Eberle, John Davis, Joe Clark, Sean Hyslop, Kirk Mathew and yours truly, Sam Bishop
Posted on June 8th, 2021
First of all I want to thank all of you who have participated in the Zoom meetings we’ve had over the last year. You made the leap and helped all of us have fun at a time when the media wanted us to focus on doom and gloom. I am grateful for all the new members we got to meet via Zoom, and some of the casting classes we were able to have together.
Now that the world is beginning to turn again – I’m singing the song – “Crimson and Clover, Covid is over…”.
At this writing, Mona and I are preparing to take off for almost a week of Eastern Sierra bliss – no cell, no work,. Just fly-fishing and exploring that beautiful part of our country along the 395. We will be hitting Mammoth, Crowley, Bishop, Lone Pine and Cerro Gordo (look it up and follow Brent on YouTube). I hope to have some photos for our Instagram and Facebook pages to share with all of you – pretty much – instantly – when cell or wifi is available. .
Our June meeting will be via Zoom – but don’t miss it. We’re bringing back a special presentation we use to do years ago – Teach you how to take awesome photos of the fish you catch. Brian O’Keefe, has some of the most common sense, but often overlooked, tips on how to get great photos of your fly-fishing experiences – including those of fish you would like to show off. Then you can share them with us so we can post to our Instagram page!!!
July we should be starting to experiencing some sense of normalcy, but we don’t have a club meeting historically, for obvious reasons. You’re all out fishing!!
August – Mark your calendars – we are going to have an in person Club BBQ. We historically call this our slop and swap – which means we grill up the food and you bring something to swap with other members. This will be our first physical gathering since March of 2020. More to follow, but we’re planning to have this at the Sherriff’s Posse’ hall on Ocean Street Extension, a beautiful rustic club atmosphere. Could be a sign of things to come.
Haven’t figured out who will be our speaker in September yet, but we’re hoping this will then be our first club gathering together. If any of you want to hear yours truly, speak on our own San Lorenzo River, with some recent updates, let me know. Otherwise send me some suggestions of what you’d like to hear.
Our raffle this month is going to be as good, and relevant, as ever. Thank you, Jeff Goyert for pulling in some of the best prizes our membership has had the pleasure of winning. You guys are barely spending twenty bucks on average, winning prizes that are worth hundreds. Keep it up. Even when we get together permanently, we’re going to continue the raffle as it is, so everyone has a chance to win something whether you’re at the meeting or now. Although, I’m thinking maybe I better have Jeff pull something really awesome just for those who pull their keesters out of the easy chair and make it to the meeting!
I’m really looking forward to “normal” again. I’ve met so many of you who have yet to experience the fun we have when we are together, aside from fishing together. Speaking of – lots of fishing to do together. If you’re not on the club email – get on it. There are lots of outings people are planning – surf, San Luis, Sierra, and more.
Our scholarships went out again this year and while we didn’t get as much participation due to covid, nine of the 14 available scholarships went out to students at San Lorenzo, Soquel, Aptos, Pajaro and Watsonville High Schools. We’re hoping Santa Cruz and Harbor have pulled it together after this writing to make it 13 out of 14. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the “Donation” button. That is where these dollars are going and we’re planning to continue and grow this in the future.
Some of you may be following me on Instagram, and you should also be following “Santacruzflyfishing” on Instagram also. If you’re following me, you’re probably wondering why you see more horses than fish. I moved here in 1982 as a 20-year-old kid, competing in horse sports. After Tommy and Emily were born I stopped riding and focused on family, building a house, career. Some of you know Emily turned out to be quite the accomplished vaulter, rider, trainer and started asking me to ride again. I knew what that meant if I was to do it right. And, since you only have so much time to spend with your kids, when they ask – you do.
Someone once asked me about fly-fishing and if I was getting to do all the fly-fishing I was able to do. At the time I answered, not completely, but I’m really happy with all the opportunities I do get to spend that time fly-fishing. They seemed disappointed when I said it was probably maybe 50 days a year. But they are the most precious days of the year with really awesome people – most of them from this club and my family.
Who could ask for anything better! Tread lightly people. We are all sensitive, even the fish.
I can’t wait to see you. Tom
Posted on May 25th, 2021
Wow, what a great turnout for our surf fly fishing today, May 8, 2021! I think everyone but me (!) caught fish on this glorious spring day. It was a mid-flood tide, which is arguably the best time to fish the surf and the waves were breaking perfectly for us.
Attendees were Elaine Cook, Scott Kitayama, John Davis, Jerry McKeon, Doug Hessel, Jeff Slaboden, Kirk Mathew, Judy Johnson, Aaron Reismer, Jeff Gose Robert Eberle, Kevin McClish and Sam Bishop.
Next club surf outing is June 5 at Manresa. More info elsewhere under Gearing Up.
Posted on May 25th, 2021
OK, this may not be big news like the dams being removed on the Klamath river, but it is in our own backyard. The Sempervirens Fund has received a $550,000 grant to remove an abandoned 110 year old dam on Mill Creek. The creek feeds the San Vicente watershed between Bonny Doon and Davenport. By removing the dam, both Coho salmon and the water customers of Davenport are expected to benefit. The fish are expected to have improved spawning habitat and access to more of the creek. The water quality for the 950 customers downstream will be improved by allowing more erosion of granite.
Posted on May 25th, 2021
Refer to “Fishy Tales” in the September 2019 newsletter. It actually happened!
Posted on May 25th, 2021
“PALM Beach” (but not in Florida) is our next destination for surf fishing. If you know Pajaro Dunes, that is it. We meet on Saturday, June 5, starting at 05:35 am. The tide will be mid-flood. This is a long stretch of beach that has produced lots of fish, including my largest Striper. Kirk caught 10 Stripers in a row on this beach on one of our outings.
You may want to use 2 hooks, one smaller for perch and a larger one for Stripers, but it will likely be harder to cast with two (or especially with three) flies. When I add flies I often need to use lighter weight ones than I might with one fly. For example, dumbbell eyes are heavy, so I tie most Clousers and jig flies using bead-chain or even plastic eyes, knowing I will very likely be using 2 or 3, so need them to be light enough to cast.
A reminder that the surf is not a place to learn to cast, but it will force you to improve your line control! Stosh has hosted a few casting clinics and that is a great place to learn to cast.
DIRECTIONS: Take Highway One to Watsonville, Riverside Exit towards the ocean. Turn right and follow Lee Road. Turn left on West Beach and go to the end, park just outside the State park parking lot, which will be closed at that hour.
Posted on May 25th, 2021
Since the big fire last year, things are moving along with the hatchery rebuild. Fundraising efforts to rebuild are underway from many sources. They include the need to replace the upper bridge for full access to the hatchery.
A few orders for the first phases of the rebuild have been placed to re-plumb the intakes and drains for tanks which survived last year’s fire more or less undamaged. Once we get the tanks re-plumbed and recirculation running, we will be able to receive this year’s production of our fish (Coho) back at the hatchery. It is not likely we will be able to actually spawn fish this year, as there are contamination and potential blockage issues from fire debris. The post-fire effects on the environment around the hatchery are not attractive for now.
Our Chinook releases (smolt hatched elsewhere) from the Santa Cruz and Monterey wharfs will have happened by the time this is published. We make a direct release into the Bay, well after dark. This has been quite successful from the Santa Cruz Wharf, as the birds, seals and sea lions are pretty much asleep and don’t seem to realize the giant feast being dumped in a few feet away! Sorry, but we could not publicize this in advance for the public to watch due to concerns about crowds and Covid restrictions.
For those not acquainted with our history of the Chinook releases; for years they were put into a big pen in the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor (also sometimes Moss Landing and Monterey), then released from there. Problem was that they acclimated to the Harbor and came back later when they grew up. That created problems with too many people coming in to fish, trespassing on boats, fishing where prohibited, and of course even more sea lions came in to feast.
Posted on May 25th, 2021
I really enjoyed this video and it was a wonderful escape to the days of late 20’s early 30’s where dragging an inflatable raft down trails and rock to the river. The boys purchase a short size school bus and turn it into the camp out king on a small budget. They drive north to Montana and fish the Madison and Missouri and another feeder stream. The guys are full of adventure, humor and the cooking will convince you that hungry fishermen will eat anything and say ‘yum’. I hope you will sit back and enjoy the 13 day fishing trip.
Locally, good news for salmon fishermen on the bay, the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project have contracted Fish and Wildlife hatchery trucks to deliver a full load of 60K chinook salmon smolt’s. Again the truck will just drop the fish from the roadway level into the bay. (May 25).
Lakes all over the state are down to levels that have launching boats impossible. The only 2 lakes (Eastern Sierra) that have launch ramps in operation is at Lake Davis and Frenchman’s. Some have the docks alongside the ramp and others do not so check ahead if you are pulling a boat. Float tubers never have to worry about that.
I guess we all know the drought has hit us again this winter. I measure 12.60″ only from this rainy season. I cannot find a year except in 06/07 where we had 11.40″ locally in Santa Cruz/Soquel. We can expect this fire season will be constant till the rain returns in Nov/Dec. We can all do our part by saving water and shower with a friend.
Posted on May 25th, 2021
Hello fellow anglers. I hope you are doing well and have some fishing trips on the calendar. I hope your lines are tight, and your net is heavy. Hopefully you will be inspired by our speaker, Bill OKeefe, and want to show the world your much-improved fish picture. Let us help you share it with the world by emailing it to me at Metropolitantrout@gmail.com or text it to 831-588-4759,
If you have lots of pictures, give me a call and I can explain how to easily upload a lot of pictures.
Thanks! Jerry McKeon
Posted on May 22nd, 2021
June is the time of year, this year for sure, that we fly fishers get serious about spending some serious time on the water. It is time to get out of the house and visit our favorite lakes and streams. How about we do that with some new gear?
WINNER’S PICK ROD/REEL COMBO
Who among us can’t use a new rod and reel? Something to fill in a blank spot in our quiver, something as a back up to stash away in the back of the truck, or maybe a gift for someone new to the sport. The lucky winner with the lucky raffle ticket will have their choice of a four piece, 9 foot high carbon rod with matching reel in either 4wt, 5wt, 6wt, or 8wt. The winner picks!
All the rods include a cloth case inside a zippered cordura hard case and a protective cloth reel sack. The 8wt has a nice little fighting butt, perfect for Pyramid Lake or San Luis reservoir.
SUMMERTIME TROUT FLIES – 5 DOZEN!!
Unbelievable! Need to to give your heart a jump start? Just open this box of flies donated by Matt Maurin. 60 beautiful flies; Elk hair Cadis, midges, Pheasant Tails, and more. Wow, got to be $150 worth of flies in a really cool Santa Cruz Fly Club box. Don’t miss out on this one.
THINK SAFE PFD Life Preserver
If you spend any time on the water, be it float tube, kayak, or pontoon boat, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and WEAR A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE! Don’t have one? Buy a raffle ticket and win one! This USCG approved Type III vest also has top flap and side entry gear pockets along with a D ring for accessory attachment. Constructed of durable nylon with large armholes and open neck for great range of movement.
THE FINE PRINT:
Raffle tickets are a dollar each sold in blocks of five, twenty bucks gets you 25 tickets. Click on this link to purchase tickets:
https://santacruzflyfishing.org/raffle
Club membership not required to purchase tickets, need not be present at Zoom meeting to win. Ticket sales cutoff is noon June 2nd the day of the monthly meeting.
Posted on May 22nd, 2021
Date: June 9, 2021
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Zoom - Find in website menu
Posted on
This is a great stillwater pattern, as dragonfly nymphs are found in most western lakes. There is no pupal stage, and they stay as nymphs for 3-5 years. So even when hatching there are still nymphs present. Dragonfly nymphs breath using gills in their abdomen. The difference is they do this through the anus. Yes, they breath through their butts. This is also how they swim, short 4-5 inch bursts along or near the bottom as they head toward shore to emerge. There they wait till nightfall to emerge to avoid predation by birds. Fish this fly on a weighted leader or sinking line, near the bottom and weed beds. Use short 4-6 inch retrieves using a slow hand twist technique. We will be using furry foam for this fly that has many other applications. This pattern can be easily adapted to become a damselfly nymph. We will be using 6-0 or 8-0 olive thread. If you give me enough time I can mail you a packet or you can pick one up at my house. Text me at (831) 234-2244.
Posted on May 22nd, 2021
| Date | Location | Target Species | Fishmaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 5, 5:35am | Palm Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| July 10, 5:45am | Manresa Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| July 13-17 | Loreto, Baja Sur | Saltwater Fishing | Rich Hughett (831) 595-0288 |
| Aug. 7, 6am | Rio Del Mar Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| Sept. 4, 6:30am | Manresa Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| Sept 4-12 | Alaska | Rainbow, Salmon and Dolly Varden | Roy Gunter (831) 809-0316 |
| Sept 18-25 | Mammoth Lakes | Trout (2 SPOTS OPEN) | John & Elaine (831) 688-1561 |
| Sept 26- Oct 2 | Mammoth Lakes | Trout (CONDO FULL) | John & Elaine (831) 688-1561 |
| Oct. 9, 7am | Palm Beach | Surf Perch and other species | Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451 |
| Oct. – Nov. TBA | O’Neill Forebay | Stripers | Steve Rudzinski (831) 462-4532 |
Posted on May 20th, 2021
Date: May 8
Time: 2 pm
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Stosh (Steve Rudzinski) will hosting a social casting practice at Jade Park in Capitola on Saturday, May 8th. There is no agenda, just be at Jade Park at 2 pm and stay as long as you would like. There will be novice casters and experienced casters to assist as desired.
We will have plenty of Club 5 weight rods there for practice too.
See you May 8th, 2 pm
Posted on April 27th, 2021
Long before “A River Run’s Through It”, there were six guys in Santa Cruz who fished together, likely since they were kids. One of them, Ernie Kinzli, had recently opened a Fly Shop in Soquel, at the bridge on Soquel Drive over Soquel Creek. At this time there were several fishing shops in Santa Cruz as many of our creeks and rivers were chock full of trout, Steelhead, Coho and Lamprey Eel, all year.
Jim Hall, Ernie, Manny Gutierrez, the Morelli brothers and Rick McCary knew about the San Jose Fly Casters and the Salinas Fly Fishers. In Santa Cruz there was another group who called themselves the San Lorenzo Steelheaders. Jim teases that they were known as the hardware, bait guys, and were in fact the guys who founded Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project.
Since Ernie’s store would become the nucleus of fly-fishing in Santa Cruz in the early 70’s, these six guys came up with an idea of a club. I bet it was over dinner with their wives, because I know Mona is always the one coming up with the best ideas for the club. Ironically, they wanted to be “different” than the San Jose and Salinas clubs, and didn’t like the word “fisher” or “caster”, so in 1977 they named their club, The Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen.
The guy’s wives became members, performing duties such as Vice President, Conservation Chair, Membership, Finance and Secretary. Ernie Kinzli and Jim Hall, who are still members today (I fished with Jim at Pyramid last month!), acted as the clubs first presidents and fishing trip coordinators. Soon thereafter, people you know even today, joined the club and participated in some capacity as board member, fishing trip organizer (Fish-Outs), Spaghetti dinners, Conservation… They teamed up with the fledgling MBSTP and began more organized efforts to save the fisheries. They had meetings and parties at nearly every Elks Lodge, Portuguese Hall, German Hall, and Grange in Santa Cruz.
Women joined the club and got their boyfriends and husbands involved. Kathy Powers, Elaine Cook, Betty Rentz, the Steele’s and more. Family memberships were created so people could get the whole families involved. Singles started mingling and fishing together, then were a couple. The Annual Dinner was created simply as a means of getting together to celebrate friendship, fishing and food. Ernie had some things from the store and came up with an idea for a raffle, which then became something he contributed every single month his store was in business for over 30 years. The Pyramid Lake and Mammoth Fish-outs were born. People joined who often fished at other places – like the Delta and San Luis Reservoir, Ed Marcillac and Gil Santos, which then became fish-outs. Kathy Powers jumped into Conservation. Pat (Patricia) Steele and Elaine mastered what became our award-winning news-letter – seriously. Lois and Walt Robinson started casting classes, George and Pat Peterson – fly-tying and rod building. Programs started to involve anglers from afar who came over, had dinner with us, then spent the night talking to us about new places to fish, photography, hiking and horse-packing – which then lead to the creation of the “Pack Trip Fish-Out” which went on for years. Fly-tying classes came about as a way of just getting together to hang out with the friends you were making. The Con-Fab was created because we were all competitive by nature so it was a fun way to enjoy casting, exchanging gear and hoping to claim the “Big Dog” trophy, for being the proclaimed best caster for that time, that day!
I joined the club in ‘91/92, after I got married and one of my wife’s friends was telling her about fly-fishing and the club. I just realized at this moment, that if it were not for my wife, I would not be a fly-fisherman. Hmm. I met Kathy Powers, Manny Gutierrez, Elaine, and Henry. Never forget that. Kathy got me hooked and that was it.
Some of you know, I became the Conservation Chair (where, in my exuberant youth, I proceeded to piss off a great deal of anglers as I worked to change regs on Steelhead and Coho fishing in California – who ended up liking me because it was weird- I was a fly fisherman), then President, and then Program coordinator. We had a lot of fun teaching so many people of all kinds who had seen the movie, and were interested in fly-fishing. We were in all the schools teaching the kids, and the teachers and the parents! We were in parades, in the newspaper, in other places all over the world.
Fly fishing is fun, it’s about being, as Hank Patterson would say – “in nature, all peaceful and quiet, alone with yourself, screaming at a bait-fishermen who just plunked into yer hole with a two pound chunk o’ lead, a night crawler and a bobber – that thing fly anglers call an indicator. It’s a bobber!”
In my business, these last 20 years, if we didn’t change when technology changed, we would never have lasted a month. Covid. Covid taught us all how to change very quickly. We were, all of us, shoved off a cliff and made to fly or land with a splat. We all did things we never, and I mean never, thought we would do. Some of us said the word “never”, but within a month we were doing exactly that thing we said we’d never do.
Our club is now a part of Santa Cruz history. We have a very real purpose here and are looked upon with a good bit of respect. This community leans on us soundly whenever there is a question or concern about the creeks and rivers here that so desperately need our help. Whenever fish are stranded, or the runs of steelhead are coming in, or a clean-up is needed, we participate in so many ways. We did the work, laughed, joked, and then had coffee or a beer together later, thankful we did something good. When Covid is over, if you’re new, you’ll see and have a chance to participate. If the club ever went away, it would leave an enormous hole in the stewardship and accountability role we play here in Santa Cruz, and thanks to our Conservation Chairs, around the world. Our Scholarship fund, which came from an idea my wife had to honor Gary Hazelton, John Fong, Ric Von Carnap and others who left us too soon, started as simply as adding the word “Donation” to the bottom of our membership form, and is now a maturing high-school scholarship fund for students entering environmental studies and science.
Change is the only constant in life, and while no one can ever please everyone, we are always considering things we need to do, or should do to improve, to meet the spirit of our mission, which is “To Promote, Educate and Enjoy the Sport of Fly Fishing”. I didn’t create this. Our founders did. Forty-four years ago.
More than a few times, the word “Fishermen” had been brought to our attention. When firemen became firefighters, stewardess became flight attendant and horseman became rider, or when nurse became – uh, well, wait, it’s still nurse – you know what I mean. Men were starting to become nurses and flight attendants; women were becoming firefighters, law-enforcement, and now today, Vice President of the USA. Changing “fishermen” was at times contentious. And you should know, that resistance did not always come from the ‘men’.
After careful consideration, the Board has decided to change the name of the club to fit more appropriately our unwavering dedication always to being a welcoming place for anyone interested in the sport of fly fishing. We are now “Santa Cruz Fly Fishing” or you will see The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club where appropriate. SCFF will still be our acronym, if you will, because we are an active organization. New logos, patches, stickers and some really cool art is to follow.
We are not a name. We want everyone to feel they are an important part of who we are. We are more concerned about the future of how we can best represent fly-fishing, conservation, preservation and restoration. Your background, our experience level, how you identify – none of this matters to us. If you are interested in fly fishing, you are our type of people, and we’d love to meet you.
While there were a multitude of different sentiments on the naming decision, this does not change who we are as a club, or our commitment to our mission. It was hard. There is a lot of history in “The Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen”. The name was never meant to exclude anyone. Our founders will tell you they chose that name because it was different than the other two; they didn’t like “fishers” and they weren’t just “casters”. So, this name still holds a lot of respect and historical significance to us. Our founders, board and membership are the most caring and supportive people I’ve ever met. Considerate, embracing, engaging and fun to be around. I personally have the fondest, best memories, and love for those we’ve been involved with for forty-four years.
The foundation, mission, spirit and fun this club is, remains. It is growing stronger and younger. Our members (I like to think of you as family) are the most important part. Our perception and respect in the fly-fishing world is important. We want to be a role model, good stewards, set good examples, do good, work hard, give back and have fun.
If you are not a member, and you are reading this, I challenge you to join, now. Yes, right now. Go to the “Join” button and join. ALL are welcome. Step in, be part of the next forty-four years. You will see what I mean and you will find friends you never thought you’d ever have. Do not hesitate. Time is too short.
Thank you, Tom
Santa Cruz Fly Fishing ? SCFF
Posted on April 26th, 2021
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