Item’s that will be raffled off at the next club meeting.
May is here which means that trout season is in high gear and that it’s time to head for the hills. The weather gods have smiled upon us with a bit April airborne moisture, conditions are great for chasing some trout.
Posted on April 26th, 2022
GOOD NEWS: Big club fishout at Pyramid Lake the first week in April. ?
BAD NEWS: There will be no online raffle Prior to the April meeting.?
HOWEVER: There will be a raffle, and door prizes, at the April 6 meeting held at the Aptos Grange starting at 6:30 pm.?
Take a look at these great raffle prizes.
Let’s start with 200 plus pages of beautiful trout artwork by world renounded artist James Prosek. His famous work “Trout of the World” deserves a special spot on any fly fisher’s book shelf.
Next take a look at this custom wood laminated release net. Perfect size for serious trout and Black bass as well as school sized stripers. Low visibility soft vinyl netting is gentle on the catch. Included is a magnetic release and a carbineer clipped tether cord.
Classic is a word that comes to mind when describing this St.Croix “Triumph” rod. It is a 4 weght eight foot medium/fast action 4 piece rod perfect for small stream trout. It is match with a Sougayilang CNC machined aluminum alloy reel for light weight and balance.
Great prizes to win, come to the meeting and buy some tickets; ones dollar each, twenty bucks gets you 25.
Posted on March 25th, 2022
Whether you’re throwing midges under an indicator or stripping Beetles along the bottom you will need some serious gear to do battle with the monster trout of Pyramid lake.
 | Either a 9 foot 8 WT Echo ION XL 4 piece rod or a bit heftier 9’8″ 9 WT G.Loomis IM6 2 piece rod. The matching Katuysha 6071-T6 aluminum alloy reel is corrosion resistant and has a large arbor for increased backing capacity and a fast retrieve. |
  | Speaking of Beetles and Midges, take a look at these Pyramid lake beauties. We have a dozen Beetles and 16 midges packaged up in a pocket size Adamsbuilt two sided case. Keep them handy in your shirt pocket to save yourself a trip off the ladder back to your truck when you need to re-rig. Proven Lahontan Cutthroat winners. |
 | A great new book by John Gierach: “Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers”? It is a great collection of short stories, there is even one about Pyramid lake! A book like this is also great for those dark winner nights that are too cold to walk to the bar. |
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
The online ticket sales are available and will close at noon on Wed. March 2nd. Tickets are a dollar each. 20 bucks get you twenty five. Click on this link to purchase tickets:
https://santacruzflyfishing.org/raffle
Posted on February 19th, 2022
Two good things about February, first we are nearly through winter with spring not too far off and second, it’s time to win some new gear for the upcoming season! Our raffle this month is designed to help us get on with it.
Rod and reel package
What would be better to get started this spring than a brand new 5 WT 9 ft high carbon max catch rod in a hard denier case matched with a aluminum alloy Sougayilang reel. A classic California trout outfit perfect for all skill levels.
Be a winner, buy a ticket!
Fly Box Case
We all might need to spend a little time in our gear bags organizing our varied and numerous flies. To help with this endeavor we have, from Adamsbuilt, four Super Slim Series fly boxes along with a fully padded denier textured nylon carry case. Perfect way to keep track of and access hundreds of flies.
Be a winner,buy a ticket!
Fish Whistle
Back by popular demand, we have a Simms Fish Whistle up for grabs. Tried and true, this gem will save the day when the fishing gets tough. Kit includes papers, whistle, Bic, and waterproof stash container. (Stash not included). All contained in a hard zippered cordura mini pack with carabiner clip. Endorsed by fishing guides coast to coast. Be a winner, buy a ticket!
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 will open at noon on Sunday 1/30/22 and will close at noon on Wednesday, the day of the monthly zoom meeting, 2/2/22.
Posted on January 25th, 2022
Buy your tickets from home or buy them at the Posse Grounds BBQ meeting. Or both!
To celebrate our first “in person” meeting in many moons, we have a bunch of choices for our lucky raffle winners.
How do I win? Easy. Just buy tickets! There will be 3 chances to win!
Tickets are a dollar each sold in blocks of five, Twenty bucks gets you 25 tickets.
Tickets will be available starting at noon on Saturday January 1st. Click on:
https://santacruzflyfishing.org/raffle
The cutoff to purchase tickets will be at noon the day of the January meeting Wednesday 1/5/22.
Tickets will also be available that evening at the meeting. Need not be present to win.
Posted on December 22nd, 2021
Everyone who attends the December Fly Club zoom meeting get a free ticket to the monthly door prize drawing.
We have some neat stuff, keep it yourself or use it for fly buddy stocking stuffers.
These prizes are all from the new REI store that has opened up in Santa Cruz across from Dominican Hospital. Great place, check it out . Gift receipts are included if you would like to swap out the prize for some other treat.
Posted on November 21st, 2021
We have some great door prizes for lucky meeting attendees. Take a look! A really cool Trout Unlimited sling pack to carry all your goodies, An Adamsbuilt wader safety belt, great for you or for your fishing partner if they forget theirs, and a pair of lucky fishing socks, who doesn’t need a little extra luck.
No tickets to buy, just show up at the Zoom meeting.
Posted on October 23rd, 2021
Posted on September 21st, 2021
Just when we thought things would be back to normal, the Covid crud creeps back into our lives. Kind of like when you spend an inordinate time painstakingly tying up the perfect indicator drift rig with multiple flies, split shot, and tippit only to have the whole mess tangled hopelessly fifteen feet off the ground on your first cast in the only tree within a quarter of you.
Anyway, we have the good news that we will have some great door prizes at the September Zoom meeting, everybody attending will get a free ticket!
We are in the process of revamping our regular monthly raffle to make it bigger and better when we start up our in person meetings. Stay tuned.
Posted on August 23rd, 2021
Instagram is going well and many thanks to those who have provided photos/videos. It’s been fun connecting in new ways and we have helped sign up 30 new members so far this year. Many of our new members listed “social media” as the way they found us. As you know, healthy membership sign ups bodes well for the club’s success so on behalf of SCFF, THANK YOU!
If you’re new to the club, welcome! You can find us on Instagram at SantaCruzFlyFishing or you can view that same content on our website SantaCruzFlyFishing.org.
With another season coming to an end, I’m asking for your help by sending me some of your favorite fishing photos/videos. For our next meeting on September 1st I’m going to raffle off a waterproof fly-box with a dozen trout flies.
How to get a raffle ticket:
Posted on August 26th, 2021
Even though we have no meeting in July, I thought I would give a little tease of things to come in the way of raffle prizes. As you can see in the photo, it looks like I have the makings of small fly shop with all the prizes that I have stashed away; rods, reels, flies, nets, fly boxes and gear bags. On top of that, we’ve got the new John Gierach book, a Simms fish whistle, and a certificate for a Humble Heron guided fishing trip. Wow, lots of cool stuff.
Posted on June 26th, 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
Posted on April 26th, 2021
How about a gift card ($100 bucks!) for fly tying stuff from the Fly Shop in Redding? Wow!! They have a huge selection of absolutely everything a fly tyer could dream of. Call them up or go online, it is truly a fly tying paradise. Just like being a ‘kid in a candy store’.
Ok. Full disclosure. The gift card is good for anything at the Fly Shop, just wanted to show a little love to the fly tying folks.
Now that you have tied up a bunch of new flies or maybe just did some organization of your old flies it would be great to have some boxes to stash them in. Take a look at this neat package from Adamsbuilt of Fallon Nv. Four individual clear lid boxes and a padded heavy duty zippered carry case. Great way to store hundreds of flies at your fingertips.
For those of you who just want to grab a box of flies and hit the road take a look at this box of custom tied flies by John T. Kraschinsky. They were donated by club member Matt Maulin and are beyond gorgeous. There are a little over 2 dozen flies. Dry, nymphs, and a few midges. Beautifully presented in a custom Fly Club box.
YOU CAN’T WIN A PRIZE IF YOU DON’T BUY A TICKET!! DON’T BE A WHINER, BE A WINNER !
Tickets are a dollar each, $20 bucks gets you 25 chances to win. Need not be present at the Zoom meeting to win.
Click on this link to purchase tickets.
Posted on March 27th, 2021
Cameo and Brooks of Equinox Alaska are not only are putting on a great Zoom presentation about Southeast Alaska, they have donated a great box of custom tied steelhead flies and a really cool Equinox hat for our monthly raffle. Two important things to remember; don’t miss their presentation and make sure you buy a bunch of raffle tickets.
Another great raffle prize this month is an Echo 9 foot 4 wt rod. It is their 4 section Carbon XL model which includes a fabric soft case inside a zipper top hard storage tube. A matching Echo Ion large arbor disc drag reel is also included. This is a sweet package for our smaller waters that sometimes require a lighter touch and a bit of delicate finesse.
It is one thing to get your gear ready for an adventure, it is another thing is to have something to stow said gear in. Adamsbuilt gear puts out their Klamath wet/dry bag that has room for just about everything. It has a rugged moulded waterproof bottom, velcro rod tube holder, waterproof interior compartment for waders and boots, five interior pockets, and a rugged padded shoulder strap. It has room for just about everything and feels right at home in the back of the float plane or your . wagon.
To buy your raffle tickets click on https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/raffle
Tickets are a dollar each, 20 bucks get you 25. You will be able to allocate your tickets toward each specific prize. Club membership is not required to purchase tickets, need not be present at the Zoom meeting to win.
Remember the words of that famous Fly Fisherman, Albert Einstein, “the more tickets you buy, the more prizes you win”
Posted on February 18th, 2021
Say what? How many of us have a Fish Whistle? How many of us even know what a Fish Whistle is? Well, I gotta say Simms makes a great one! (Go ahead, Google it).
This kit has a nice descreat little pipe with screen, a Bic Sparky, and an eighth ounce waterproof stash cup. Note: organic green vegetable cuttings not included. It is perfect when things get slow; just take a break and whistle up some fish. It may not bring on a hatch but you probably won’t care.
Consult local regulations concerning “whistling”.
I am neatly at a loss for words when I look at this box of Pyramid lake flies. There is a total of 36 beauties, tied by Gary Turri and donated by Matt Maulin, half are buggers and beetles along with half nymphs and midges. Whether you’re a milti-season veteran or first time greenie to the land of the Giants, this box of flies does it all. Don’t miss out on this collection, this box belongs in your vest.
New to the sport and need an all around “go to” rod and reel or need a backup spare to keep in the truck for emergencies? This Adamsbuilt, out of Fallon Nv, package is perfect for you. It is a 9 ft 4 section 5 wt rod with a MMH reel pre-loaded with backing, a floating line, and leader. This is all contained in a hard rod and reel tube case. This package is ready to fish.
Raffle tickets are $1 each sold in packets of 5. Spend $20 bucks and get 25 tickets. Please indicate to which prize your tickets should be applied. Ticket sale purchases must be made by noon of the day of the monthly meeting (February 3rd, 2021). NEED NOT BE PRESENT AT THE ZOOM MEETING TO WIN. Click on the following link to purchase tickets.
Posted on January 22nd, 2021
Raise your hand if you like photos of your fish, either to share with friends or to provide your own fond memories. Raise your hand if you are hesitant to use your cell phone for such photo out of fear of damaging or losing said cell phone. My hand is raised on both counts along with just replacing my third cell phone due to loss or water damage. Believe me when I say that a root canal is almost (note “almost”) preferred to replacing a cell phone.
How about a really nice waterproof digital camera from FujiFilm?I Perfect for the float tube, Pyramid Lake ladder, or just stuck away in a pocket in your vest. This XP140 is shockproof, dust proof, and waterproof to 82 feet. Attach it to a float, no worries. It features Bluetooth/WiFi to transfer both videos and stills without the need for cables.
There is an old adage that states “the best camera is the one you have in your hand” , this camera will be that one.
To buy your raffle tickets click on https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/raffle
The tickets are a dollar each, 25 for 20 bucks. The raffle drawing will be held at the January 6th. Zoom meeting. No need to be present to win.
Posted on December 19th, 2020
Something new this month, we are doing a bucket raffle. No, we are not raffling off buckets, rather you put your tickets towards the prize you want to win. Here is how it works. We have three great prizes :
Select the number of tickets you want per prize. A 20% discount will be applied if you have purchased 25 or more tickets. (i.e. 25 tickets for $20) You do not need to attend the Zoom meeting to win.
Check out the new Web Store page on the link below where all the raffle tickets will now be sold. Pick your prize and buy exclusive raffle tickets for that prize.
Posted on November 24th, 2020
THIS IS ONE YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!
check this out! The Fly Shop in Redding California, known for decades as the “go-to” shop for their guided fly fishing trips, has donated to our club an all inclusive full day guided trip for TWO! Package includes all gear to include rods, leaders, tippets, and flies along with a hearty streamside lunch.
The lucky winners have their choice of any of the Fly Shop’s destinations to include the Lower Sacramento, the upper Sacramento, the Fall River, the Pit River, Hat Creek, the McCloud River, and Baum Lake. California fly fishing at it’s finest. Excluded are the Trinity and Klamath Rivers. Your guide fr the day will be Russ Kegler, check out his Bio on the The Fly Shop website. www.theflyshop.com
The trip prize is intended to be used during 2021. Only one trip will be awarded. Gratuities not included.
Click on the following link to purchase tickets, one dollar each, 25 for $20.
Buy a bunch of tickets, the more you buy, the better your chances!
The drawing will be held at the November zoom meeting on 11/04/20.
Need not be present to win.
Posted on October 24th, 2020
Lots of good stuff for this month’s Zoom meeting raffle. The lucky raffle winner this month gets to pick a prize. The more tickets you buy, the more chance to win!
Door number 1
How about a Coleman propane camp grill. This is not your run of the mill camp stove but rather a real gas grill! Throw on chicken breast, salmon fillets, or maybe a couple of hot links. This is a great way to cook in your fish camp or at a tailgate gathering at the Pleasanton Fly show.
Door number 2
While you are at fish camp a great way to be comfortable is with this Browning XT (extra tall) director’s chair. Perfect for storytelling around the campfire or hanging on the beach at Pyramid Lake.
Door number 3
Float tubers know that at times a bit of extra reach comes in handy. To that end we have up for grabs a beautiful laminated wooded long handle landing net. It has fish gentle clear netting and, best of all, it floats.
Door number 4
Can’t have a raffle without a rod and reel package. Let’s do a winners choice for either a 4wt or 5wt Echo Carbon XL, 4 piece 9 ft. Rod along with an ION large arbor disc drag reel. Either one a great outfit for Sierra trout.
Raffle tickets are a dollar each, a double sawbuck ($20) gets you 25! Click on this link to buy your tickets.https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/join/raffle-ticket/
In the remarks section please note which prize you would prefer to win.
Cutoff for purchase of raffle tickets is noon the day of the Zoom meeting (Wednesday 10/7). Need not be present to win.
Everybody attending the Zoom meeting will get a chance at the no charge door prize drawings featuring a bunch of great prizes.
Posted on September 18th, 2020
If any of you faithful followers have thought about giving Euro Nymphing a try now is the time to buy a handful of raffle tickets ($1 each, 25 for 20 bucks).
This months raffle prize is an Echo CBXL 10′ 3 WT 4 piece Euro Nymph rod. This is matched with a Rio 0x/2x 11-12 ft tapered Euro Nymph leader featuring a two-tone sighter leader and a tippet ring for your point fly leader.
To make sense of all this will be a full length DVD by Euro Nymph masters Devin Olsen and Lance Egan included with the rod and leader.
To buy your tickets click on this link:
The drawing will be held at the monthly Zoom meeting Wednesday September 2nd. At 6:30 pm. Need not be present to win. Raffle ticket sales will end at noon the day of the meeting
During the meeting a drawing will be held for a number of cool door prizes, no ticket purchases will be required.
Any questions, call/text me at 831-234-0033.
Posted on August 23rd, 2020
We are going to do a little online raffle this month for a great Echo rod and reel package. Click here to purchase your tickets in blocks of $5, $10, $15, or $20. NOTE: purchase of a $20 block gets you 5 extra free bonus tickets!!!
The prize package this month is a beautiful Echo Carbon XL 9 foot 4 piece rod with a carbon fiber reel seat. This is matched up with an Echo Ion lightweight cast machined aluminum reel. The large arbor design makes for faster retrieves, consistent drag performance, and minimal line memory. The drag system is a smooth Rulon/stainless steel disk, the reel can be easily changed from left to right hand retrieve.
The best news is that the the lucky winner get to choose between a 4wt. or 5wt. Rod!
Click here to purchase your tickets. Winner need not attend August Zoom meeting to win.
Posted on July 18th, 2020
It’s been a while since we could have one of our good old fashion buy a raffle ticket, win a new fly rod events at on of our monthly meeting. This isn’t for a lack of goodies to raffle off. My back storage room is loaded great fly fishing gear, quite the opposite of the toilet paper aisle at Safeway.
So, what I am going to try to do is do an online/meeting raffle. Figure for the September Meeting I will lay out the loot with instructions as to how to purchase tickets. Somehow online with a credit card though our newsletter/website? I don’t know but we will try to figure it out.
In the mean time, enjoy your 4th of July, see you at the August BBQ.
Posted on June 26th, 2020
I still haven’t figured out how to do an actual zoom meeting raffle collecting money and selling tickets, I can barely boot up my computer much less write binary quantum digital stuff. Having said that, during last month’s zoom meeting we were able to pull off a pretty good door prize give away. So we will do it again!
What we have this month is a really handy gizmo called a Stanley Fat Max jump starter and compressor. Most of us in lock down have not been using our vehicles very often resulting in dead batteries and low tire pressure. To the rescue comes this jumper for you battery and an electric pump for your tires. This also includes USB ports to charge your phone and attached trouble light. Perfect for the garage or stashed away in the truck on your next fishing adventure.
Remember, every body gets a free ticket. Winner must be present at the June Fly club zoom meeting.
Posted on May 23rd, 2020
I was all set to raffle off T-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers that screamed
“SHELTERED SUCKS”
however I haven’t quite figured out to do an online raffle but I am still working on it. What I am going to do for the May zoomer meeting is to do virtual door prize. Everybody gets a free ticket, must attend the meeting to win.
First the prize! We have a really trick Phixton XM-L2 tactical & military WT-04 rechargeable flashlight torch. Included are both ac and USB charging accessories or can function on three AAA batteries. All of this is packaged in mil-spec snap closure case. Perfect for the car, boat, float tube, or airplane.
“How to I get a door prize ticket?”
As everbody logs into the meeting I will write names on tickets that will go into a hat for the drawing. The lucky winner will receive their prize by USPS. What could be simpler?
Posted on April 26th, 2020
Just a little tease for the next club raffle. The big prize will be a 10 ft. 3wt Echo Carbon XL Euro Nymph rod with a Rio Euro Nymph sighted leader with tippet ring. Along with these will be the DVD by Devine Olsen on how the whole Euro Nymph thing works. If you ever thought about trying this, now is your chance.
Since lock down here in the bunker I have been ordering a lot of cool stuff, stay tuned.
Posted on March 23rd, 2020
Just in time for your big trip to Pyramid Lake we have an Echo Ion XL 9 ft. 8 wt. Rod which features a twin ring locking reel seat, alignment dots on each of the four sections, and a nice little fighting butt. Paired with this rod is an Echo Ion large arbor Rulon disc reel. This package is perfect for the big fish and the big winds that Pyramid is known for. It also is a nice rig for the surf.
In case we have forgotten, it is still on the cool side of spring so it might be nice to have a little bit of heat on these cold mornings when we are outdoors. This Little Buddy heater runs off the small propane tanks putting out 3800 BTU’s of heat for in the tent, the back of the truck or in the shop. It will heat up to 95 square feet and will run for over 5 hours on single tank of gas. Also great for the bath at home when the power is out.
As long as we’re up early in the dark or possibly facing a power outage, a GE Enbrighten lantern can help light the way. It puts out 500 lu-mens of bright white light for 180 hours running on 4 D cell batteries. It features 3 light levels and a carabiner style hanger handle.
DOOR PRIZE! EVERYONE GETS A FREE TICKET! We have a really nice little pocket knife by Opinel of Savoie France. It has a twist lock ring and Trout image wooden handle. The company dates back to the late 1800’s. It is perfect for streamside picnic lunch preparation.
Posted on March 22nd, 2020
