Author: santacruzflyfishing_gia1ac

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Getting Through the Storm, Planning the Future

by Getting Through the Storm, Planning the Future!

Well at this writing, Mona and I are in Florida helping Emily batten down the hatches for Hurricane Ian which is set to bring heavy rains and winds to her community near Ocala.   It is practically a divine appointment, because this trip was a last-minute plan, no hurricane in the picture, just some time to get out to help our daughter with her place and visit.   Getting out may be equally as interesting since we’re supposed to leave right as it grazes Gainesville with heavy rain.

Planning.  How many times have we planned something and then it doesn’t happen, or something changes our plans – like COVID?!    Well, that’s what happened to our Annual Dinner / Fundraiser many of us have cherished and looked forward to for decades.   That event is so much fun, most of us who plan, volunteer, and participate, know it is a full day of fun together – and the very next best thing to fishing together.   All the prep beforehand, coffee and donuts in the morning – just like fishing together.   Covid really put a damper on this for the last couple of years, which seems like centuries – BUT – no more.   Hang on to your britches family – we are going to have the Annual Fundraiser again – on February 18th.   Mark your calendars.     More to follow, but plan for an event that starts early in the day, is full food, fun, the installation and acknowledgement of our members, board members and other fun stuff, AND the raffle!!    This has normally been our largest fundraising event for our facility, conservation funds, events, and our scholarship fund.    So stay tuned for more.

The fly-tying classes are back in full swing at the Grange, the second Wednesday of the month.  If you are interested in taking some wintertime to tie up some bugs – get to the basics and other good foundational techniques and tools to use for your own fly-tying.  I love tying flies on those shorter winter rainy days and evenings.  If you haven’t ever taken a class – great!  Reach out to Elaine Cook and you’re in.  We all started with ugly bugs that still caught fish!

We will have another casting class at Jade Street Park last Saturday in October, so please stay tuned.   We can work on single hand Spey techniques which are excellent for some of our local Steelhead waters when that time comes this fall and winter.   And for those of you wanting to work on anything else – we’re game – bring it!!

Fish-outs for the 2023 year are already getting on the calendar.  Check it out.   Make a plan ahead of time.    If you want to join us at Kennedy Meadows on Sonora Pass next year and you want to stay in a cabin – even a small one – get on the list with them now.    Most cabins book nearly a year in advance.  It’s a beautiful place to be in the summer.

I am super grateful for our board – your board, and all they have done to help you make the very best of your own fly-fishing dreams.   We are continuing to develop our “hybrid-meetings” and kudos needs to go out to Scott Kitayama and Tommy Polito for continuing to improve this experience, despite some of the pitfalls.    We are still working on getting speakers to physically come to the meetings, but some of them are just so good we will likely continue to have some of our speakers via zoom.

Thanks, Jeff Goyert, for making the best raffle in all the Northern California clubs.   The prizes are awesome and the opportunity for every member to participate is the best thing we can offer the membership.  Don’t forget – those raffle dollars go directly into the clubs scholarship and conservation funding, amongst other club necessities.

I’ve read a couple of good books lately.  Of course, they revolve around that which makes our fly-fishing enjoyable.   Both books are eye openers.  One more scientific; the other more passionate, deep, compelling, mysterious.  Both a very good read.  First one, “Salmon Without Rivers”, by Jim Lichatowich.   An easy-to-read scientific write about the history of salmon and steelhead and her delicate and vital habitat.   Thank you, Carly Blanchard, for allowing me this good read.  If you don’t know what we did to the rivers, habitat and other species just barely 150 years ago – you need to read this.    Another good one is “My Story as Told by Water”, David James Duncan.    A series of chapters around all forms of trout, steelhead, salmon, some deep passionate and activist revelations, some significant successes, and some interesting takes on Salmon from the perspective of how they were perceived long before we turned them into an industry.  Thank you Jeff Goyert for this one.  I highly recommend both books.   Would love to hear what you guys read as I’m needing a new one.   I suppose if you write to me with a suggestion, it means you read this President’s message!

Thank you to everyone who has been active in the club.   I love seeing all the enthusiasm, new ideas, new members.   I love getting to know you even if I only see you once or twice a month.   For me, the club is a respite from the storm I look forward to so often.    And as we are getting back to the Grange in person, it sure is fun seeing you now more often or even the very first time.

Spread the word – the plan is it keeps getting better and better because of you.    See you soon.

Tom

Posted on September 26th, 2022

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Fly Tying Class – October


Oct 12 6:15 PM : Cicada
Cicada

If you plan to dry fly fish for trout anywhere in the world it’s a good idea to have a few of these flies in your box. A lot of club members fish the Green River in Utah and if you go there in the spring, this is a must have fly. To protect people from Covid during our class, if you are not vaccinated and boosted wear a mask. Otherwise wearing a mask is recommended for all. Please bring your vice tools and light. Also 6/0 black thread. Some tools, vices and thread will be available for beginners who are always welcome. The class is free and all other materials are provided.

Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to URL to see the current information.

Fly for Class Date Excerpt
Blow Torch - November Fly Tying ClassNov 09 Blow Torch - November Fly Tying Class

A must have steelhead fly.

Posted on September 26th, 2022

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Olive, gold and white clouser

by Elaine Cook, fly tying chairman

HOOK: Mustad 34007 size 1/0 or 2/0
THREAD: white flat waxed nylon
EYES: barbell eyes-white with black pupil
BELLY: 1.Doug’s Bugs Motion Flash-pearl (similar to Krystal Flash or Mega Baitfish Emulator. These are thicker strands. So use fewer.)
2. Gold craft fur.
3. White or cream craft fur.
BACK: Zap-A-Gap or similar glue.

  1. Crimp barb.
  2. Attached thread behind eye. With touching wraps, cover front 1/2 of shank. Position thread 1/2 way between hook eye and point.
  3. Attach eyes to top of shank with figure 8 wraps and wraps around base of barbells. Apply glue to thread wraps. Advanced thread to  in front of eyes.
  4. Using about 15 strands of flash, cut in half, bundle.  NOTE: If using other materials, they at thicker strands, so use less. Also when fibers bundled they should be 5 inches long. Place center of bundle in front of eyes, tie in place with two wraps. Fold forward strands rearward and tie in place with 2 wraps behind eyes.
  5. Advance thread to in front of eyes. Cut patch, about 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch, of gold craft fur and clean out fuzz. Tie in butt ends snuggly up against eyes. Then wrap down with two wraps behind eyes.
  6. Advanced thread to in front of eyes. Cut and prepare patch of white craft fur, about 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch, as above. Tie in as above.
  7. Advance thread to in front of eyes. Tie a half hitch. Reposition hook upside down vise.
  8. Prepare olive craft for, 1/2 inch by three-quarter inch, as above. Tie in only in front of eyes. Wrap down but ends forming a tapered nose.
  9. Whip finish, cut thread, apply glue to nose and fibers between eyes.
  10. Trim extra long fibers to shape fly. Overall length of fly should be about 3 inches.

Having clousers to fish for stripers is essential. Here’s one to try next time you go for these powerful fish.

Posted on August 25th, 2022

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Conservation Organizations Thank Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club

by Bob Garbarino

In case you missed the September meeting, I want to revisit one of the important annual SCFF traditions: donations to support conservation organizations. Two of these organizations, CalTrout and the Coastal Watershed Council, received donations. I wanted to share with you thank you letters from them. Through your membership and participation in our fundraising activities, our club is able to support CalTrout, Coastal Watershed Council and other conservation organizations that help repair, enhance and preserve our fisheries.  Thank you!

From the CalTrout website:
“At California Trout, we work to ensure healthy waters and resilient wild fish for a better California. It’s our belief that abundant wild fish indicate healthy waters and that healthy waters benefit all Californians. With more than sixty large-scale conservation projects underway, in tandem with public policy efforts in Sacramento, our six regional offices work tirelessly to advance our cause through a three-pillared approach to conservation.”

Letter from CalTrout:

Dear Bob,
Thank you so much for your gift of $500.00 received on 09/08/2022. Our vision of a California with healthy waters flowing from headwater to sea, where the diversity and resilience of our waters and fish match that of the people throughout our state, is achievable.
We are working harder than ever! Your contribution directly supports:
Removal of Rindge Dam and upstream barriers to restore Malibu Creek watershed which includes critical habitat for endangered Southern steelhead.
Working to establish baseline science on the Klamath River to capture variability and response in the post-dam removal era.
Recreating a healthy ecosystem in Humboldt Bay by restoring Cochran Creek estuary, which has been cut off from the ocean and no longer provides quality habitat to native fish and other wildlife.
Tracking coho and more in Walker Creek while monitoring water quality and temperature to better understand conditions for endangered salmon and threatened steelhead.
Expanding our presence in two new regions critical to habitat recovery and statewide impact: Battle Creek and Sacramento.
Building our Outreach and Education Program to effectively foster the next generation of conservationists, one that mirrors the diversity of our state.
Together, we will leave California a better place for future generations.
Yours in resilience,

Casey O’Sullivan
Membership Manager

From the Coastal Watershed Council website:

“The Coastal Watershed Council is transforming the lower San Lorenzo River into a community destination by inspiring people to explore, enhance and protect this critical natural resource.”

Letter from the Coastal Watershed Council:

Dear Bob and members of the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club,

Thank you for being among the growing group of people committed to transforming the lower San Lorenzo River into a place where all Santa Cruzans can connect to nature in their daily lives.

Your donation of $250, received on August 31, 2022, matters so much. Together, we’re enhancing native habitat, improving water quality, and engaging thousands of youth through environmental education and leadership development. With your gift to the Coastal Watershed Council, we’re increasing positive activity along the river and the Santa Cruz Riverwalk, an urban park that lines its banks.

l’d welcome an opportunity to walk along the Riverwalk, meet for a chat, or schedule a call to learn more about why you care about the watershed. Let’s talk!

Every day, l’m inspired by our vision of a thriving urban riverfront and the support of people like you. Thank you.

ln gratitude,

Laurie Egan
Executive Director

Posted on September 27th, 2022

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Protecting and Enhancing Wild Steelhead Populations with Tim Frahm



Sep 07 6:30 PM Aptos Grange (in-person) and Zoom (online)

Tim Frahm, Trout Unlimited’s Central Coast Steelhead Coordinator, will be speaking with the club about the conservation of wild Steelhead on California’s Central Coast.  He will be discussing ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance wild steelhead populations on the Central Coast such as eliminating fish barriers, improvement of summer flows, and floodplain restoration.

These projects require massive effort in locating, designing, permitting, funding, and finally construction.  The price around such restoration often ranges in the millions.  Please join September’s meeting to learn about the past, present, and future efforts to give wild steelhead a fighting chance in their historical, native watersheds on the Central Coast.

Posted on August 22nd, 2022

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A Time To Remember- September!

by Tom Hogye

Well, here we are entering September!    Wow!  What a year getting back to “normal”.

I don’t want to rub it in, but if you missed the August Club BBQ for any reason in excusable, we really missed you.   What fun it was to see more than sixty of you at the Sherriff’s Posse Hall and how fun it was.

Shout out to Kevin Murdock and David South for working their magic at the BBQ and for taking the time to go to the store, get all the food, condiments, utensils, set up, and tear down/clean up at the end.   If any of you enjoyed the squash, those were Tromboncino and Green Squash from my garden.   Yum. Yum.

To all of you who brought items for the swap portion, that was really awesome.   Those funds will be going toward our high school scholarships.   And thank you to Elaine Cook for carefully organizing all of Doug Severin’s fly-tying materials into specific categories of which I think each bag easily had a life-time of fly-tying materials for each.   To say that I have so much fun doing the raffle with Jeff Goyert – who is expert at orchestrating the raffle and who easily and willingly takes your money – understatement.   It’s a blast calling out the numbers messing with you guys.  Just glad you play along nicely.  Way to go Ester and Dar for triple winnings and coincidently being great fly-tiers who helped Elaine last month.    You couldn’t stage this better.

Ernie Kinzli, our founding father – so to speak – was present and I was grateful to introduce him to a number of you who weren’t around during the days when he ran his fly-shop in Santa Cruz, then in Soquel right at the bridge of Soquel Creek, Ernie’s favorite haunt for Steelhead and Coho, back in the day.  Ernie donated a classic mix between a float tube and a raft that breaks down into it’s own carrying pack.  Watch for it in upcoming events.   The proceeds for that will be going to the scholarship fund.  Thank you, Ernie!

Ernie Kinzli

I cannot begin to say thank you enough to everyone.  When they say distance makes the heart grow fonder, that could not be more true.   I was just happy to finally see so many of you after this war we’ve been waging for far too long.

As my second, and unprecedented, term as your President begins to wind down, I am going to be at a loss for words given all the emotion, memories, and support I have to be thankful for.   Okay – kidding about the ‘loss for words’ part!   But anyhow, I’m not going anywhere and will be around to continue supporting the club, you, and doing some other fun stuff – like teaching the casting classes!

I LOVE casting.   I’m probably a better “caster” than I am an angler – or one who catches fish.   I’ve just loved learning all the way back to 1992 when Mona and I saw a couple of guys fly-fishing on the Stanislaus, and when we went to the Fly Fishing Show, I tried out a Sage SP (which I still have), and got my first “lesson” from Randy Swisher, none other than the infamous Doug Swisher’s son.

I practiced in the grasses at Ed Levin Park in Milpitas during my lunch breaks practically till my arm fell off.   Then when we had the “Con-Fab” in February – which I’m hoping we’ll bring back – I just had to beat Kathy Powers at the distance casting.   Nothin doin.  Kathy is an amazing caster, and probably the best dressed of all of us – any day of the week.    But I loved casting.

Then Walt Robinson, who was a member of this club and the San Jose club, was a Master Casting Instructor and fly-tier, gave me some lessons and helped me rig my reel with backing, line, butt section with a nail knot, and blood know to tippet so my line would turn over as beautifully as it should, provided I did what I was supposed to.

Walt suggested I go for my Casting Certification – which I did at the following years Fly-Fishing Show.   I was so new back then, and I still wasn’t as good as I really needed to be.   Ironically, that morning when I was casting on the casting pond, it was frozen over.   Burrr.     You should have seen my roll cast – more like a whip and a splat.

But I digress.  I love casting and while I’m far from expert, I enjoy seeing you improve, get it, and how you start controlling line so you know exactly where you can put a fly no matter the conditions.   Sure distance is a part of casting as the good fish always seem to be on the other side, or just a little bit farther.    And you will get there, working your way from the closest water first, and the farthest water last.   Often stopping somewhere in between, hitting the honey hole.

So come join me and the rest at Jade Street Park for the rest of the summer, last Saturday of the month – 1:30.    When winter comes, and we get some good water on the San Lorenzo, we can do some spey casting in the estuary, or some “chuck n duck” in the gorge.  And when Spring comes again, we can pull out the shooting heads for Pyramid and Surf Perch Striper fishing.      Can you say double haul?

See you at the Grange for an informative gig with Trout Unlimited and what we’re all working to do to restore salmon and steelhead habitat in the most challenging of times.

Keep em wet people.    Peace out.   Tom

Posted on August 22nd, 2022

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Fly Tying Class – September


Sep 14 6:15 PM : Foam Run Caddis
Foam Run Caddis

IMPORTANT: This class will be taught at the Aptos Grange Hall. Masks will be required for this session. No zoom access.
If you are looking for an easy dry fly trout pattern, here it is for you. And certainly great for beginners, who are always welcome. Caddis are one of the most important food sources for trout and should be included in anybody’s fly box. The upcoming Mammouth fishout will be one of those places that you can readily use this fly.The classes are always free and all materials are provided except for the thread if you have it available. This time we will be using olive 8/0 thread.The club has tools, vises  and thread to borrow if you need them.
Please call Elaine Cook at 831-688-15612 reserve your spot and ensure that there are enough materials for the class.

Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to URL to see the current information.

Fly for Class Date Excerpt
CicadaOct 12 Cicada

Fly for bass, trout and carp!

Posted on August 22nd, 2022

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Carey Special

by Elaine Cook — fly tying instructor

The Carrie is a searching wet fly. Extremely successful in lakes. Use on a sinking line and twitch or strip to entice the mighty fish. It’s a good fly to use with a trailer. There are various options in tying this fly. I personally prefer sizes 10 or 12 on 3X long hooks, with back feathers of the Ring neck Pheasant for tail and hackle.
HOOK: Many hooks will work. TMC 5262, 5263, 300.  Mustad 9672.
Crimp barb.
THREAD: Black 6/0
Attach to mid hook and wrap to rear of shank.
TAIL: Ring neck pheasant. Rear feathers for a brown fly, back feathers for an olive blue fly.  NOTE: Rear feathers are longer than back feathers.
Remove fuzz from stem of one feather. Stroke all barbs toward tip and feather. Measure from tips to 1/2 hook length. Attach that spot to rear of shank. Tips will extend beyond hook bend. Attach feather to hook shank up to two eyed lengths behind eye. Cut  access in front of thread wraps.
RIB: Medium sized copper wire which is optional.
Attached to top of mid shank, allowing a short tip to be bent backward. Snuggly attach back to rear of shank.
BODY: Dark olive chenille
Strip 1/4 inch of chenille off inner threads.  Attach threads to rear of shank. Wrap thread forward to 2 eye lengths behind eye. Wrap chenille forward using  touching wraps. Tie off, cut excess. Wrap wire forward, in opposite direction as chenille, in about six wraps. Then 2 final wraps of wire on shank, 1 on top of the other.  Twist to break.
HACKLE: Ringneck Pheasant — Rear feather for brown Carrie. Back feather for olive/blue Carey. NOTE:Rear  feathers are longer than back feathers.
Select feather with barbs at least a little longer than hook shank but up to 1 1/2 times hook length. Remove fuzz from stem. Cut stem short to one 8th inch from barbs. Attached stem behind eye with shinny side towards you. Positions thread behind eye. Tie one or two have hitches, let’s thread hang. Attach heckle pliers to several barbs at tip. Wrap hackle around shank 2-3 times, stroking barbs to rear with each  wrap. Tie off, DON’T cut excess. Stroke all barbs to rear then wrap in place by forming a thread head. With finish, cut thread.

Posted on May 15th, 2022

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The Drought—Lake Shasta and Downstream

by Bob Garbarino

Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California is 124 feet below its fill line. It is at 36% of total capacity. The last three years have been the worst in the history of the reservoir, which was formed in 1948. While many of California’s reservoirs receive water from snowmelt, Lake Shasta gets 90% from rainfall. Power generation, fish, farmers, municipal water departments are all negatively impacted by restricted flows from Shasta. Central Valley farmers have been reduced to 18% of a normal year’s allocation. However, with one good year of rain, the reservoir can almost fully recover as it did in 1977 when it was down 230 feet. For more on this ongoing story and a short news video go to: https://www.ktvu.com/news/drought-critically-low-water-levels-at-lake-shasta-californias-largest-reservoir

In other news related to the drought and the Sacramento River, the Bureau of Land Management and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working together to help the winter-run Chinook salmon in the midst of the ongoing drought. The work is taking place at the Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery directly below Shasta Dam. One of the projects is the installation of chillers to maintain the cold water temperature required for rearing Chinook at the hatchery as the lake water supply warms. For more information, go to: https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/39957-in-california-reclamation-and-u-s-fish-wildlife-service-launch-innovative-plan-to-aid-winter-run-chinook-salmon-amid-extreme-drought

Posted on August 22nd, 2022

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Membership is over 200 and Instagram has 500 followers

by Bob

This month membership is over 200 dues paying members largely with new online members averaging 2 new members a month. Another milestone is that Jerry Mckeon has over 500 followers on Instagram which has increased significantly since Jerry has been aggressively marketing the activity. He reminds members, including new members to submit photos to him thru his email metropolitantrout@gmail.com. Thank you to those who have contributed photos.

Posted on August 22nd, 2022

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We can’t go to Florida, but we certainly can go to Palm Beach!

by Sam Bishop

FLY FISH THE SURF!!

Take West Beach out of Watsonville to the west until you hit the sand dune, then back up and park. No RSVP required, just show up with a smile on your face. Guests are welcome, so bring friends.

Let’s meet at 0620, the days are getting shorter with sunrise at 0640, so we can meet later than before. High tide will have been at 05:20.

Parking is just outside the State Park. I tend to pick State Park beaches among other things, because there is a shower there to wash the sand off and do a first rinse of your salt laden rods and reels.

If you haven’t been out in a long time or are new to the game, you might want to review the surf fishing article on our website www.santacruzflyfishing.org. It is under the “knowledge” drop down menu.

I will have extra flies and stripping baskets. We are almost out of the baskets I make, there are maybe 5 left.

Everyone is welcome, so bring guests. See you Saturday, September 3 at 0620.

And BTW, yes we catch bigger fish than the one in the picture that Tom Bradley caught one day, but this perch was almost smaller than the fly he hit. Dreams of grandeur I suppose.

 

Posted on August 26th, 2022

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Casting Classes for Aug 27 and Sep 24

Howdy –
Want to work on your double haul or just simply presenting a fly right where you want it every time and not necessarily 80′ away from you?
Maybe you want to know more about a shooting head for Pyramid Lahontans,  Surf Perch and Stripers in the surf
Maybe you just want to know how to cast in virtually any situation which is simply understanding line control and what you can do when the line is moving – hopefully under your control!
Maybe you want to add some Spey casting to your single hand rod skills in situations where there is no “back cast”.
Or maybe you just want to hang out with a bunch of people flingin big sticks with colorful lines on them.
Then come to Jade Street Park on 8/27 at 1:30 , and again on 9/24.  We’ll cast for a couple hours then talk about how awesome we are at Carpo’s and Beer Thirty.
See you then!!    Bring what you have – or grab one of the club rods we’ll bring.  Bring a friend!!!    Any questions prior, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or write.    Fish on.   Tom  831-214-7578 / thomashogye@yahoo.com

Posted on August 25th, 2022

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Quick Montana Trip

by Pat Steele

Quick Montana Trip – August 13th – 18th, 2022

By Pat Steele

John and I hadn’t been out to fish for at least a year, and we had been craving some good ol’ river fishing with guides we know in Montana.  Our good friend and outfitter, Ed Lawrence, who has been a speaker at several SCFF meetings in the past, set us up with lodging and guides, and we set out on Saturday, August 13th, for Bozeman.

            We arrived in the afternoon, got settled in the hotel, and met Ed and his wife at a nearby steak house for dinner and to make plans. He had told us before we came out that the first guide had tested positive for COVID, and that our first day of fishing was going to be up to us to arrange.

We had had a bit of trouble connecting with the owner of the Turo rental car we used.  We had to have an Uber driver drive us to the house where the rental car was, which seemed rather inconvenient, but that’s the way peer-to-peer car rides and car rentals often are, if you are into saving bucks not using cabs or car rental places.

John called a friend, Richard, who used to live in Corralitos, but now resides in West Yellowstone.  Richard has a boat, and he agreed to take us out on the Madison on Sunday. We met him on the river, Richard launched, I watched the boat, and Richard and John ferried the tow vehicle downriver about seven miles, then John drove Richard back to the boat.

We had great fun in the morning, fishing foam hoppers.  I caught three nice fish, John nicked a few, and although we only did a half day, we didn’t sit in the hotel moping about missing a day’s fishing.  It got hot in the afternoon, and the fish just dove deep and sulked.

Day two, Monday, was a bit of a challenge.  We had to get up at o’dark thirty and drive to Craig, up near Helena to meet with the guide.  Ed enlisted him to sub for the guide who had COVID, so we couldn’t complain.  Russ, the guide, took us out on the Missouri River, between Pelican Point and Cascade.  That part of the river is pretty slack water, slow moving, not very well oxygenated and warm. It was hot all day.  We each caught a couple nice rainbows on hoppers, but the water temps made for very slow, reluctant takes.

We moved from the hotel in Bozeman to a place in downtown Helena.  On Tuesday morning, the guide, John Hall, came to pick us up, towing his drift boat, so all we had to do was get in and go.  With John Hall, we did the section of the Missouri between Mid Cañon to Pelican Point, so we were above the section of river we had done the day before.  The water was a little faster-running, and John rigged us up with hoppers and droppers.  We caught many more fish that day, most on the dropper, which was a bead-head nymph, tied on a jig hook, turquoise body with a silver tungsten bead head and a teensy red tail.

The last day we spent was my favorite.  John picked us up at the hotel again, this time with his tricked-out bass boat.  It has a jet drive motor, and really, really long oars, I think John said they are 13 feet long. We did the section of the Missouri that is impounded by two dams, aptly dubbed “The Land of the Giants.”  The challenge that day was the wind.  My John had to fish sitting on the prow chair.  I fished the stern, alternately bracing myself against the chair in the stern and sitting in it.  I can’t cast very well seated, so I mostly just tried to keep from being blown overboard.

This picture makes your fish look fat!

We were rewarded for our efforts with many very hefty, healthy rainbow trout.  We fished a double rig again, the upper fly was a red tungsten bead head with a purple body with silver wraps; the bottom fly was a was on a jig hook, silver tungsten bead head, turquoise body and a teensy red tail, like the one we fished on the river the day before.  The big fish mostly liked the lower fly, and several times, they bent it almost straight.  I felt lucky to have landed fish, considering!  I think the 4X tippet is what saved me from breaking them off, because these guys often like to jump, shake their heads, and rub on rocks to get loose.

After four days of frantic fishing, both of us were pretty well worn out, drove back to Bozeman, had dinner at Outback, and crashed.  We worked a deal with the Turo car owner, left the car in the hotel parking lot and Uber’ed back to the airport.  We got back home Thursday evening, happy to be back, satisfied with the fishing we got to do in Montana.

Posted on August 25th, 2022

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What’s In Your Fly Box?

by your President, Tom Hogye

As I sat drinking my delicious coffee on our third morning at Kennedy Meadows, I had all my Trout fly boxes out to look at what I had left that I’d want to throw at the fish the next couple of days.  Everything tastes and feels better when you’re in the mountains, especially the coffee.   As we fished hard the last few days, the rewards were great, but the sacrifices many.   For me it as a few wear marks on my feet from wet wading in sandals, and the loss of flies I’d been doing so very well with.

I love the mornings up here, especially early before anyone else is awake.   The only technology to behold was the lantern, the coffee pot and my fly boxes.    No rushing to respond to anything.   Just the contemplation of what will work next.

This trip was even nicer with the addition of some of our club members and good friends.  Scott, Bob, Cecilia, Sophia, and Kathryn.   The opportunity to fish together, laugh, eat, and chill by the campfire or coffee together in the morning.   We are nominating Kathryn for both the Otter and Alligator award at our Annual Dinner in January.   This gal out-fished all of us and carried the battle scars to prove it, first day getting a black eye, from a fall.  The next day attempting to cause yours truly to pass out with a hook deep in her finger and that barb she thought was pinched, wasn’t completely, scaring all the bears in the forest as Cecilia tried to help with that pull it out quick with some leader looped around it trick.  Then, after landing yet another sizeable fish in a challenging piece of water, decided to go for an early morning swim after nearly donating her rod and reel to the Stanislaus in homage to the fish she caught.   The most beautiful spirit and super fun person, who would have stayed the duration if not for the untimely, but perhaps timely, passing of her father who would have wanted her to be fishing and to keep fishing when he departed – which she did, but then headed home as anyone would have done.  I am so looking forward to next year already.   What a blast we had.

A fly box can tell you a lot about yourself, or someone else.    It’s not just a box that holds your flies.  It could possibly be a reflection of you.   At least that’s my observation as I stare into these somewhat organized but deliberate assortments within.  Then there’s those other folks.    You know; you’ve seen those meticulously organized boxes with dry flies, hoppers, nymphs, perfectly arranged by type, size, weight.    Maybe six or more of the same flies all in a row, color coordinated, labeled on the outside, some even stacked in their own fly box holders, ready to be selectively stuffed into a vest depending upon what body of water is being fished.  Hundreds of them.   And I’m just talking trout boxes.  If you’re like me, and you see these fly boxes in a raffle, scoop them up, and after a few years, they never look that way ever again!

My fly boxes are somewhat organized but are a scattered collection no less.  Nymphs, attractors, dry fly, wet fly, fly flies and un-fly flies, all together.   And while I may have originally had six or more all neat in a row, I’ve fished them, lost them, and usually replaced the empty spaces with different flies.   And I don’t have just one box like this.  They’re all that way.  Probably because if I only had one box, I’d want it to cover top, sub-surface and dredging.   Some are even flies I’ve acquired, but never used.  Or flies I’ve used and purposely tried not to lose, an attempt to keep at least one of them in the box so I know to either tie some up on a cold rainy winter night or buy some at the next fly shop I visit.   Some I’ve used just for teaching because they really look like the bugs they are imitating, or a frog, a mouse.     Kid’s love to see that when you open the box and a fly is tied like a mouse – I guess it isn’t a “fly”, is it?!

I know all the flies in the boxes, which ones I’ve used where, and even remember fish they’ve caught.     In the latest instance, I had these quite favorable BWO’s (Blue Wing Olive’s) with a trailing shuck for a tail.  They were terrifically effective, and I felt they could catch a thousand fish.  But I lost my last one on a fish this week, and I couldn’t tell you where in any of my fly boxes there was a space for one, let alone six of them in anymore but one size or two.

Your fly box is also a memory holder.  When you open each one, a flood of memories embraces you – hopefully most of them good memories.   If you’ve had that fly box for as long as you’ve been fly fishing, the box alone is a memory.  You remember when you got it, why, from whom, and with all those flies, you remember the fish, the day, the experience casting that fly, the take, the play, landing that beautiful specimen, and its safe release back into the wild.   The high-five you had with the friend with you, or the extraordinary gratitude you had for the gift, the peace and tranquility as you look at all the beauty around you.

No doubt the next time I see a Blue Winged Olive in my fly box, I’m going to remember this trip and especially those who were with us who made it most enjoyable.

See you Wednesday at the Barbeque and Swap Meet – Sherriff’s Posse Hall, Ocean Street Extension.

Tom

Posted on July 31st, 2022

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Fly tying – August 2022


Aug 10 6:30 AM : Fluke Fly – Aug Fly tying
Fluke Fly - Aug Fly tying

IMPORTANT:  This class will be taught at the Aptos Grange.  Masks will be OPTIONAL if you are vaccinated.   NO ZOOM access.

The Fluke Fly is a smaller adaptation of a deceiver. It is tied with deceiver hackle and synthetic materials, on a light jig hook for snag resistance, a slow fall and easy castability. Fished on a floating line near shore or structure, it will sink near the bottom of a lake or pond (where the fish are?) and rise and fall as it is stripped back. The target is black bass and sunfish.

Contact Greg Foy to attend the class. greg@foyconstruction.com

Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to URL to see the current information.

Date More Info Excerpt
Foam Run CaddisSep 14 Foam Run Caddis

A simple great drive fly pattern for this month.

CicadaOct 12 Cicada

Fly for bass, trout and carp!

Blow Torch - November Fly Tying ClassNov 09 Blow Torch - November Fly Tying Class

A must have steelhead fly.

Posted on July 31st, 2022

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Parachute Ant

by Elaine Cook – fly tying chairman

There are many and patterns, most of which are hard to see on the surface of the water. Here is one with a nice white post. Ants are most effective mid summer on and are more available to fish on windy days. Add floatant and fish with drag free presentation. They are good on lakes as well.
HOOK: TMC 100  Sizes 12 to 16.
THREAD: Black 8/0.     Attach mid shank
OVER BODY: White Antron yarn
Attach Antron to back half of shank and extending to the rear of hook. Note: Antron pieces need to be long enough to go over rear back body and then up as post.
REAR BODY: Black super fine dubbing and black permanent marking pen.
Dub a bulbous rear body up to mid shank, no further. Pull Antron snuggly over rear body and tie down. And attach Antron to top of shank with touching wraps forming a narrow mid body, about 1/4 of shank. Note: if tying a size 12 hook, additional touching thread wraps back to rear body then forward again.
POST: Continuation of white Antron
Hold Antron upright. Make 4 to 5 thread wraps upward around Antron. Then make 4 to 5 wraps down to base.Make a couple of wraps in front of post to hold upright.
HACKLE: grizzly  barbs equal to 1 1/2 to 2 times hook gap
Prepare hackle by cutting off fuzzy end then cutting 4 to 5 barbs short at base of stem (crew cut).
Identify shiny dark side of hackle. Position on your side of hook, shiny side facing you, tip to rear, and crew cut at base of post. Tie in place in front and behind post.
FORWARD BODY: Black super find dubbing. And some ants have a red forward body, so thread can be changed to red and red superfine dubbing used for this section.
Wrap a small bulbous forward body from eye back to midsection.
HACKLE: same feather from above
Wrap thread behind post, then forward, then in front of post, then allow to hang on your side. Using hackle pliers, wrap hackle around base of post about four times , then allow to hang on your side. Bring thread up in front of hanging hackle till parallel to table.  Wrap around post and under parachuted hackle about three times. Several half hitches behind hook eye. Cut thread. Cut excess hackle. Cut Antron so that it equals hook shank length. Push up on heckle from beneath hook to be sure it is parallel to table. Trim any barbs that hang below.

Posted on March 30th, 2022

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Nevada Paiute Tribe Receives Federal Grant

by Bob Garbarino

There is a dam on the Truckee River just upstream of Pyramid Lake near the town of Nixon. Numana Dam was built in 1971 to divert water from the river to be used by the Paiute Tribe for irrigation on their reservation. However, this dam was not originally constructed to allow the cui-ui fish to migrate up the Truckee toward Lake Tahoe to spawn. The cui-ui is an endangered fish only found in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River.

In April the Interior Department approved $8.3 million to support Lahontan cutthroat and cui-ui recovery. The project will include installation of screens to allow the fish to move down to Pyramid and an underwater ramp to migrate up past the dam.  For more information on this and how climate change is having a negative impact on fish populations in our rivers, go to the web page.

Posted on July 22nd, 2022

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Update on 2022 Roster

by Bob

Hopefully, the 2022 Roster is going to the printer this week and maybe  be available WED August 3.  The Roster is also available in a pdf file now for those that would like an electronic version for their iphone or computer.  Please email me @ robert6367 if interested in a hard copy or the electronic pdf file.  We are also planning to add the Roster to Google Drive and it will be available online thru our website .  Membership continues to grow with 2 new members a month and is @ 195 current members

Posted on July 25th, 2022

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Lake on BLM land- Wyoming

by Elaine and John Cook

Planning to travel and fish during Covid has been more challenging due to so many folks choosing an outdoor vacation experience. So we find timing of locations, and reservations a necessity. We so much prefer being nomads. Our first destination in Wyoming, a place we have been to many times, is a sweet lake that we have camped at and fished for many years. It always provides us with wonderful, powerful rainbow trout up to 22”. 2x tippet and 6 wt. rods are a necessity if you plan to land any. No reservations are available on BLM land so timing was imperative. RV and forest service reservation we made in route and arrival late on the 4th was perfect. A short wait and we hade the whole campground to ourselves. Few people fished the lake all week. What makes the lake even more special is that it’s catch and release and when we go a massive damsel hatch occurs. Adult damsel fly patterns are the ticket. The insects are crawling out and hatching all over your tube, and clothing as well on vegetation and the sandy shore. Adults are everywhere and in times in swarms where numerous  males are in per suit of a few females. The pursuit is on, looking for backs and tails of sipping trout and getting a fly into their path and fooling them. Such fun! Now just to be different, John likes using big flies, so he wants the wind to come up which is when they will take something different. Well this year he decided to be ridiculous and use a mouse pattern. Oh my, it actually worked!!

Posted on July 22nd, 2022

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Rio Del Mar surf fish-out

by Sam Bishop

The fish were mostly small, but the dozen fly fishers that came to Rio Del Mar on the Friday before the 4th of July holiday had a good time and most had hookups or fish. Afterwards a few of us had a social time at the Pixie Deli, known for its good breakfast burritos. Three members from the Salinas Club were happy to be with us too, including their President, Elizabeth McCarter (pictured). She and our own Emily Marriott were the damsels amongst us, trying the surf for the first time. Jeff Slaboden is moving to Florida, which is sad for us, because it is likely we won’t see him often for our local fishouts.

Elizabeth (Salinas Fly Fishers)
Fred (Salinas Fly Fishers)

Tommy Polito and Scott Kitayama are leading up the August fish-out. Stay tuned for that one!

I think I missed a name or two, but here is the gang that went fishing: Peter Swarzenski, Gordon Cummings, Emily Marriott, Jeff Slaboden, Scott Kitayama, Josh Wilkens, Tommy Polito, Koney Eng, Sam Bishop and from the Salinas Club, Elizabeth McCarter, Wilson Taguinod and Fred Farias

Posted on July 22nd, 2022

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Happy Summer – We Want to Hear from YOU!

by Tom Hogye

 

Happy Summer – I hope you are getting out to do some fishing, hiking, exploring, resting, and taking good care of yourself wherever you are these days.

I just returned from a brief respite in the Eastern Sierra and while it was a plan to fish as much as I could, I was just happy to be away from the hustle and bustle of life’s daily activities, in remote wilderness with my best friend, and adventurer wife, Mona.     While Mona is a pretty good fly-angler and loves the water, she’s also really engaged in finding minerals, crystals, and semiprecious stones when we’re out and about.    I’m always just looking for gold.   And no – haven’t found any yet.   But it sure does take us to some of the most beautiful places in California.

I want all of you to know that this Newsletter is for you.  Part of what makes this club so fun and such a terrific resource is all of YOU!

If you look on the website, you’ll see the Newsletter “button” and under that button, you’ll see a place where YOU – yes – YOU – can Submit an article, a photo, a short snippet of something about you, about fly-fishing, maybe even searching for gold!   AND, you can add really cool things like pictures, just like I get to do every month.  You can too!!    It’s easy and we want to hear from you.   Who knows, you might just be the next Norman MaClean, Steinbeck, David James Duncan, …  or you might just be the member another member would love to hear from.

It’s easy.  Go to the Newsletter Button -> Article Submission -> Submit Page.   Don’t be scared – It won’t bite!

There really aren’t that many rules, just your name, email address, month you might want this published.   It’s not necessary to write a note to the Newsletter editor, but if you want to – go ahead!   You cannot make a mistake.

You do have to pick an Article Category.  But don’t worry, if you make a mistake, we’ll fix it – easy.

Article Title – Be Creative!  Or just be simple!

Author Byline – It’s really just your name.  Or if you go by another name as a writer, then feel free to express yourself.    I sometimes go by Brad Pitt!  Or Pauly!

Article Text – Now this is maybe a bit tricky.   I always type my note in a Word Document.  I save it then “Select All” – copy and paste in to the “Article Text” area.   Now you don’t have to do that, but it bears mentioning that if you are writing some really good stuff and think you might win a Pulitzer Prize or think it will then get published in Gray’s Journal or Fly-Fishing Magazine – you should save it as a Word document.   If you don’t and your just typing free text in the Article Text field, and PG&E decides it’s time for a PSBS (Power Safety Bull…) and the power goes out.  Well, there goes yer Pulitzer Prize.  Or it’s like havin a Rogue River Steelhead on your line for about 15 seconds, long enough to get excited thinkin the God’s have just answered yer prayers, only to see the thing jump in the air and send yer Hobo Spey into the Stratosphere.  Trust me.  Save your stuff in Word, copy, and paste into the body of the Article Text.    Oh, and don’t worry about all the Bold, Italics, Font, bullet stuff at the top.  I never use that.   Just copy and paste or if yer gutsy, free text in that space and go for it!

Saving in Word will also help you with your editing especially if you have a newer Word version that alerts you to all the spelling errors yer makin  – like these I leave here intentionamentally.

Article Summary – you don’t really need one of these, but it’s okay to put something there – in the event you’re creating the next best seller and need a “Foreward” maybe stated as said by someone the likes of Brad Pitt.    But not necessary.

Source – It’s pretty self explanatory.  I never use it.   Mostly because I’m not plagiarizing anyone – at least not that I know of!

Featured Photo – Now this is where I get excited!  Every month I get to post another picture of myself, loving where I am, who I am with, and just plain love looking at pictures of me with other people I like in places I like to be.  Okay – you guessed it – I just like lookin at pictures of me!

Okay – seriously.  The photos should be saved somewhere on your computer, and it should be simple.   Click on the “Choose File” button.   Go to the folder where that beautiful photo is and “Select” it.   You can add a simple caption.  Easy – but not necessary.

Additional Photos –   You can also “drag and drop” up to 6 more photos, that our illustrious editor will carefully place within the article.

Then “Submit” – and be patient – wait for your computer to catch up and that’s it!  You are now officially a published author and potentially the next Pulitzer Prize winner!

It is much simpler than I’ve written – a short – hey we went fishing here, I had a great time, love the club and think Tom Hogye is the best …., put a couple photos in there and presto you’re in.

So next month I’m hoping I see a wonderful selection of work from all of you.  Because without YOU, we would not be!

Grateful for all of you.   Hogye

P.S.   You can’t submit a President’s Line – until yer President!! 🙂  But it sure is fun when you can!

 

Posted on June 27th, 2022

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Fly tying – July 2022


Jul 13 6:30 PM : Pat’s Tungston Bead Head Rubber Legs – JULY Fly tying
Pat’s Tungston Bead Head Rubber Legs - JULY Fly tying

IMPORTANT:  This class will be taught at the Aptos Grange.  Masks will be OPTIONAL.   NO ZOOM access.

The tungsten bead head Rubber Legs is a heavily weighted nymph pattern that makes a great point fly for a euro nymphing rig, and can also be used to sink an indicator rig deep into the water column.  This fly imitates medium to large species of stoneflies—particularly skwalas, and can be tied in a variety of colors to imitate other species of stoneflies.  Rubber Legs Patterns are generally used to target trout but can also be used to target black bass and other freshwater species.  This is a particularly useful pattern for fishing the Yuba and Truckee rivers. 

Contact Dar to attend the class.  mendsandbends@gmail.com

Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to URL to see the current information.

Date More Info Excerpt
Fluke Fly - Aug Fly tyingAug 10 Fluke Fly - Aug Fly tying

Greg Foy, Instructor – Fluke Fly is a jig to target Black Bass and Sunfish

Foam Run CaddisSep 14 Foam Run Caddis

A simple great drive fly pattern for this month.

CicadaOct 12 Cicada

Fly for bass, trout and carp!

Blow Torch - November Fly Tying ClassNov 09 Blow Torch - November Fly Tying Class

A must have steelhead fly.

Posted on June 27th, 2022