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Suggestions and guidelines for submitting SCFF Newsletter

by Scott Kitayama

Thank you for being a volunteer contributor to the award-winning Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Newsletter.  Without effort and content from the membership, there would be no newsletter at all.   Below is information to make it easy to get your article into the newsletter.

Timeline:

3rd Sunday of the month:  Articles need to be submitted.

4th Wednesday of the month:  Newsletter editor has reviewed all articles.

4th Friday of the month:  Online and print newsletter is created.

Newsletter is sent out over the weekend.  

Article Submission:

Articles are submitted online at:  https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/newsletter-submit/

There are specific fields in the form and below are explanations of what they are and what to do.

First & Last Name  (Mandatory fields)

Email (Mandatory)

Indicate which month the article should be published:

You can submit an article ahead of time and we will put it in the correct newsletter.  If you do not indicate the month, we will put it in the next newsletter.

Note for newsletter editor

Please let us know if there is anything, we need to get your article to look correct on the online and print newsletter.  For example, if you could not find a picture, you could describe what kind of picture you think would work best.

Article Category:

Helps us determine where to place the article.  Take your best guess of where if it’s based on the categories below.  (the editors reserve the right to move an article to another category).

Section

Description

Monthly Meeting Program

Speaker info.

Fly Tying Class

Information on the monthly fly-tying class.

Fly of the Month

Instructions on how to tie a fly.

President’s Line

Monthly musings from the club’s president.

Reel News

Newsy items like upcoming fly shows, other organization fund raisers, lost and found, press releases of interest, reminders of getting fishing licenses at beginning of year, etc.

Membership Notes

Information on new members, board update (i.e. treasurer’s update).

Conservation Concerns

Information on conservation issues that affect fly fishing waters and fish stock.

Gearing Up

Full description of the fish out and some information of what you need.

Monthly Raffle

Items that will be raffled off at the next club meeting.

Cartoon

Fishing funnies.

Bait for Thought

Quotes. life lessons, and inspirational stories.

Lifelines

Survival and safety tips.

Recipe of the Month

Cooking recipe of interest to members.

Fishy Tales

Letting the membership know about individual’s fishing trips.

Gone Fishing

Reports from official club “fish out” trips.

Cast of Thousands

 items for sale, looking for items, free giveaways

Article title:  (Mandatory)

Catchy titles are best

Author byline:

Enter your name as you would like it to appear as the author byline in the newsletter. For example,  “Conservation Director Jo Smith.”

Article Text:

This is where you paste in the story as simple text.   Text bolding, underlining, font type and size will not be seen by the editors.  If you want to have specific formatting, please let the editors know in the above field:  “Notes to the editor”.    Finally, please try and paste the article without a paragraph/carriage return at the end of the article.

Article Summary:  (New Field)

We are trying to work around email length limitations imposed by Gmail.  To allow all articles to appear in the email, we are limiting the email text of the article to the first 40 words OR a brief description of the article in less than 200 characters or about 40 words.   This field is where you would put in your description.  (Note:  On Windows, I use a free text editor Notepad++ that counts characters as you type)

Source: (Option, rarely used)

If the article submission is from another website, here is where you would enter the URL address.

Featured Photo

Please try and include a photo/image for every article.   The editors have been spending a lot of time trying to find an appropriate photo for the articles.  I would be best if you could submit the article with an image.  Here are some

  • Please try and provide an image with permission rights for us to use.  
  • The image looks best if square.  
  • The image should be more than 640 by 640 pixels (i.e. more than 100 kb in size).
  • Should be a JPEG, PNG or GIF.
  • IF you cannot find an image, then in the field “Notes to the editor”, let us know what kind of image you would like to see with the article.  This will help us try and source one.

Additional Photos

More photos are great!  May not use them all in the printed newsletter, but all of them in the online version.   If the photo is supposed to be located next to specific paragraph, please let us know that in the field “Notes to the Editor”.

Again, thank you for making the SCFF newsletter a “must read” every month!

Posted on January 25th, 2021

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For Sale: 1997 Mercury 200 horsepower Two Stroke Outboard motor

by Dan Firth

For Sale 1997 Mercury 200 horsepower Two Stroke Outboard motor Long Shaft

$3600 or best offer

Contact: danfirth@comcast.net

Motor is in excellent condition, lightly used (182 hours!) and regularly serviced by an authorized Mercury dealer. I have receipts. No rust or corrosion!

This motor was rebuilt while still under warranty after sucking a plastic bag and then stored for several years. When I bought it the motor had 10 hours on the rebuild. It now has 182 hours. Service has been every 1-2 years at Moore and Sons Mercury Outboard Motor Shop in Santa Cruz.

If you are interested to buy, Moore and Sons can pull the motor from my boat and install on yours. Or, if you are not near Santa Cruz I am willing to drive some distance to have the motor removed from my boat at an outboard motor shop of your choice. Contact me at danfirth@comcast.net for more information. Thanks.

Sale of this motor includes the oil mix tank and associated hoses, steering cables, gauges and top mounted binnacle.

Posted on January 25th, 2021

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Opportunity for a September Alaska trip for two

Steve Rawson writes:  I have a deposit in on the trip targeting trout to Cooper Landing, Alaska.  Leaving September 4 and returning  September 21, 2021. It is not going to work out for me this year, so there are a couple of spots to fill.

Trip is a shared trip (rental car, guides, cabin and groceries) with three others. Very economical. I did before and highly recommend.

contact:  Steve Rawson 831 917 0551

Posted on January 28th, 2021

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Midnight Cowboy

by Elaine Cook - fly tying instructor

Hook: TMC 5263 or TMC 200R   Sizes 6 (at Pyramid ) -12.   Adjust materials for the smaller flies.

Thread: black 6/0

Tail: Black marabou with fluffy tips ( straight tips can be broken off )

Tail Flash: both red and blue Flashabou

Hackle: Black strung hackle, AKA India hen back.

Body: Speckled midnight fire chenille ( black chenille with short projections of both red and blue flash )

1. Crimp barb.

2. Attach thread behind eye. Wrap to above hook barb, then forward to mid shank.

3. Note: moisten marabou for easy handling.  Cut moderately large clump from stem. If barbs are not at least 2 shank lengths long, tie in at rear of shank. Lay on top of shank, butt ends 2 eye lengths behind eye. Tie in place to top of entire shank. Advance thread 1/4 inch. Shorten length of tail, by pinching  not cutting, to length of hook (some prefer a tail half that length).

4. Holding one strand of both red and blue Flashabou together, moisten for easy handling, cut in half. Tie center of all strands to top of shank with a couple wraps. Holding half on far side of tail and half on near side, tie in place back to rear of shank. Cut to length of tail.

5. Holding tip of hackle, stroke all other barbs against the grain. Tie tip to rear of shank with shiny side facing you. Advance thread to 1-2 eye lengths behind eye.

6. Strip 1/4 ” chenille from center threads. Tie threads to shank. With touching wraps, wrap to rear of shank then forward to tie in. Tie of, cut excess.

7. Spiral (palmar) hackle forward in about 8 wraps, stroking barbs backward with each wrap. Tie off, cut excess.

8. Holding barbs back, wrap thread head. Whip finish. Cut thread. Apply Zap-A-Gap glue or similar.

Posted on January 28th, 2021

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PHOTO TIME!

by Jeff Goyert

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

Date:  Jan, 13 (Wed.)

Time:  6:30pm

Place:  Zoom class

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Hula Shrimp

by Larry Yien --- instrutor

I designed this fly for chasing after saltwater varieties in Hawaii, namely: bonefish, trevally , and barracuda. This fly also does well in Bahamas, Belize, and Christmas Island. It’s derived from the famous “Bunny Gotcha” and almost resembles a shrimp.

Upon recommendation from my friend Robert Eberle, I’ve discovered that this pattern also works well for surf perch on local beaches.

Please call to sign up, and let me know if you need thread (flat waxed nylon-white) and/or vise and tools. This fly will be a little more challenging for beginners but never let that stop you from learning tying techniques. Your material and directions will be at my door after you sign up.  Larry Yien – (831)325-4589

The Zoom link for the fly tying class is on the menu of the website, just below the link for the general meeting.

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Tie one on: The Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai

by Scott Kitayama

Let’s dream about warm Hawaii in chilly January by tying Hula Shrimp flies and drinking Mai Tais. As many of you know, the Mai Tai was created by Victor Bergeron (Trader Vic’s) in Oakland. A decade later, the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach was the first to serve the drink and it quickly became synonymous with Hawaii instead of Oakland.

The Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai*:
Ingredients
1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce light rum
1 ounce orange curacao
2 ounces orange juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
Dash orgeat
Dash simple syrup (bar syrup)

Preparation
Combine all of the ingredients in the order listed in an old fashioned style glass over shaved ice. Stir with a swizzle stick. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.

Note: There are many downsides to virtual fly tying, however staying at home provides a benefit that adult beverages can be consumed during the class.

* From Hawaiimagazine.com July 31, 2017

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Happy New Year

by Tom Hogye

Happy New Year!

At this writing, I’m pretty happy cause I hooked a steelhead with the Spey Rod and a red/black woolly bugger in the San Lorenzo under the train trestles today.

Considering I’m still learning how to control line on this big stick, I was totally stoked.   Third cast this morning.   Course I didn’t land it and it was likely a young first year fish cause it was not more than fourteen inches (and I’m being as realistic as I can be) but bright and silvery.  It was what we’d call an LDR – long distance release!  Considering my casting, I was quite happy about it.   My hands were frozen.  It said 28 degrees in Ben Lomond when I left, for the river.

For the next three hours I continued, by myself.   Seriously strange if you know the history of the San Lorenzo River.   If the tide was high in the Estuary, and it was a fishable day, before Christmas, you’d see at least 10 people fishing.  Over the years, three or four.   But yesterday and today?  One.  Me.   It was awesome, practicing my casting with no concern about some other angler laughing his arse off watching me pummel the water learning.   And it was beautiful.   Oh – I had an audience alright.   Donned in my Santa hat to keep my ears and cranium warm.  It is the “season” after all.    They knew very little about how good I was, but I was, the Fly Fisherman.   While I paid no attention, focusing on my casting, pretending I didn’t hear their marvelous accolades, praises and adorations, it was nice to be raising awareness that yes, there are fish in this river.

It was not likely I was going to catch another fish, as my casting was not near enough as good as it was yesterday.  I called it, ‘beating the water to death for the next three hours’.    I suppose I was suffering from YouTube Spey Casting overload.    Too much information.  I was likely trying too hard, mixing up my Perry Poke with the Snap-T, or is it Iced-T?   When that wasn’t working and the breeze was blowing counter to my downstream shoulder, I must’ve needed to change to my Double Spey.   Yeah – that was it!   Nope.   Maybe I was casting with the wrong hand – switched hands.  That didn’t do it either.   Oh no, please don’t tell me it’s the Snake Roll.  No way I got that one yet.   Was clearly my overhand pushing and not my underhand.    Arrggg.

Back to basics – roll cast, watch my D-Loop, keep it up,…, Single Spey.  Ahhhhhh.   You know you have it right when all the line runs out, tugs on your reel and you realize it’s pretty far away all nice and straight and you hardly heard anything hit the water.   Try to remember how you did that and do it again, and again, and again?    More practice.

When I learned to cast the single hand rod, I would practice for hours and hours.   It’s a little harder to do with a Spey Rod.   Taking a 13’6” 8 weight to the park is a good bit different than a 9’ 5 weight.  So I like these days when I am okay with casting away in the estuary when the tide is up.    I’m not worried about hindering a larger fish that might be moving up to spawn, when the flows are again, tragically low.

One good year does not a Steelhead river make.   The San Lorenzo is suffering again with little less than 22% of “average” rainfall again.   The flows for the last several years, but one, have been 50-60% of the 82 year average flows.

If you fish the river, be careful.   Make sure you are single-barbless, no-bait, no scents, and are careful where you walk.

Some have asked why fish when the river is in peril.    To raise awareness.   If the fishermen go, who will speak for the Steelhead, Tide water goby, the Stickleback, Lamprey Eel?    The San Lorenzo will turn into the LA River – just a water supply for the city and the majority of population who will never know why the Steelhead, Coho (and all the other wildlife), are so important and necessary to thrive.

In the last 50 years, our biodiversity in wildlife which was 65% of the entire plant, is today just 35%.   The San Lorenzo, and our adjoining rivers, Scott, Waddell, Pescadero, Soquel, Aptos, Pajaro…, are in peril.   They need water.    Pretty much it.  Water.   More than these rivers are being allotted today.  And I don’t mean just from a Water Department perspective, but a development, stewardship, awareness, do something about it stance.

Some of the water departments would have you “Conserve” with a belief it’s good for the environment, but the water you are conserving is not going to the fish.   It’s going to developers who don’t even live in these watersheds.

Whoa! Where did that come from?  Wasn’t I just hooking a young steelhead in the estuary with my Spey Rod?    Yeah.   Let’s get back to that.

2020 is now behind us – we can look for a lot of new things in 2021.  Even when Covid is gone, we’re hopefully realizing that gardens are good, less is better, working from home is doable, and we don’t need to be flying around the country to have fun.

The club will take a lot of what we were forced to do in 2020 and use it to your advantage for 2021 and beyond.   You have a great club and it is great because of you.    Love your input, even if it’s constructive.   Keep it coming.   Jump on a committee or a board position- have fun with us.

Happy New Year.    Hogye

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Fishout Schedule

by John Cook---Fishout Chairman

Covid 19 is making it hard to encourage club members to sponsor much desired fishouts. Outings in the out of doors where people can social distance, such as The O’Neil Forbay and the surf are the safest and have worked well in 2020. Gatherings at campgrounds are a great option, as well as spontaneous, short notice outings that you can announce on our Google Groups  email site. Fishouts that involve housing are more challenging. Therefore the Green River and Mammoth fishouts will not  happen this year. If you wish to schedule a fishout that involves  housing , the vaccine role out , safety mandates , and participant comfort level , will be important considerations. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a fishout. Thanks, John.     (831)688-1561

DATE LOCATION SPECIES FISHMASTER
APR 5-11 Pyramid Lake Lohanton Cutthroat Mike White – 706-5556
MAR TBA Los Banos Reservoir Bass & Trout Dan Eaton – 336 2933
Spring TBA Clear Lake Bass & Crappie John & Elaine – 688-1561
MAY 8, 2021 @ 5:50 am Rio Del Mar Beach Surf Perch / Stripers Sam Bishop – 831 274 4024
June 05, 2021 @ 5:35 am Palm Beach Surf Perch / Stripers Sam Bishop – 831 274 4024
July 10, 2021 @ 5:45 am Manresa Beach Surf Perch / Stripers Mark Traugott – 831 252-3300
August 07, 2021 @ 6:00 am Rio Del Mar Beach Surf Perch / Stripers Sam Bishop – 831 274 4024
September 04, 2021 @ 06:30 AM Manresa Beach Surf Perch / Stripers Sam Bishop – 831 274 4024
October 09, 2021 @ 7:00 am Palm Beach Surf Perch / Stripers Mark Traugott – 831 252-3300
OCT – NOV TBA O’Neil Forebay Stripers Steve Rudzinski – 462-4532

Posted on December 24th, 2020

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Pyramid Lake Fish-out April 5-11th 2021

by Fishmaster: Mike White - (831) 706-5556

Fishmaster: Mike White – (831) 706-5556,  lumberguy73@hotmail.com

We are planning on having a Pyramid Lake 2021 fish out. The dates are April 5th through the 11th. We have 4 mobile homes reserved so far, and currently they are all full. If you are interested in attending please contact Mike White immediately and he will help you find accommodations preferably at Pyramid Lake Lodge at (775) 476-0400. This has been an unusual time for all, and trying to arrange a fish out under these conditions has been challenging. However, at this point we have confirmation that everyone on the list of current attendees understand the risk, and are still committed to going on the trip. So, if you are in that camp contact Mike White.

The Pyramid Lake trip is one of the best-attended fishouts the club has, and for a good reason. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout cruise parallel to the shore in easy casting distance from shore. Cost for the week including meals and lodging and is around $300+ per person depending on the number in attendance. You need not fish all six days as there may be openings (usually later in the week.) Contact Mike for more details (831) 706-5556, to check on openings, or be put on a waiting list. First come first served.

You can also make your own arrangements either by bringing your own RV (Pyramid Lake Lodge has hook-ups and sells permits to park on the any of the beaches along the lake) or staying in Reno. Reno is 45 minutes away. Call Pyramid Lake Lodge to inquire about last minute cancellations in their cabins as well (775) 476-0400 and check out their website to see what the cabins look like at www.pyramidlakelodge.com. The General Store in Sutcliff offers meals on selected nights only to those who call in before 2:00 PM. Check at the General Store for details.

Equipment: 6-9 weight rods with hi-speed, hi-D shooting heads or fast sink integrated lines to fish the bottom in 6 to 9 feet of water, and a floating line for indicator fishing. You should bring a stripping basket and a ladder that will accommodate it. A ladder helps to get you up out of the cold water and enable you to cast out to where the fish are. You can still catch fish without one but not with near as much consistency.

Flies: Woolly buggers in black, white, purple, olive, midge, caddis and mayfly nymphs to name a few. If as in years past the Confab in February is offering the opportunity to see how some of the best Pyramid patterns are made plan to attend and bring a vise and tie some yourself. Flies may also available from club member Jim Hall who ties some very good flies specific to Pyramid cutthroat as well as other species at reasonable cost. His number is (831) 713-6835. There is a general store with provisions as well as tackle and an assortment of flies.

How to get there: Take US 80 to Reno-Sparks, take the Pyramid Blvd. off ramp and go north about 35 miles. Crosby Lodge is at Sutcliff, near the Ranger Station.

If you have any questions about equipment or how to get there, check the “Gearing up” columns in the March 2007-2009 archives on our great club website, or call Mike White at (831) 706-5556.

If you are considering going to Pyramid again this year with the club and you have not already done so, please contact the person who is booking the trailer you stayed in last year. Trailer-masters, if your trailer has gaps or cancellations, you can call Mike so he can pass the names of members who don’t have lodging to fill the empty spots.

Fishing, Camping, and New Ladder Regulation:

Fishing and camping permits can be purchased online prior to the fish-out. We would highly recommend doing this. Go to www.plpt.nsn.us to obtain your licenses. There is also an RV Park available at (775) 476-1155.

As with any great fishery there are always a long list of rules and regulations. We would recommend you review them on the website above. Suffice to say those of us who have been going to Pyramid Lake for many years are a good source of information as well. We will help inform and guide all newcomers.

15.6 USE OF LADDERS, ETC. Any ladders, milk crates, boxes or other objects used in the water as a fishing aid must be occupied or closely attended (i.e. remain in the area) by fishermen at all times. Any person who leaves such objects unoccupied in the water for more than one hour will be deemed guilty of littering. 15.6.1 Fishing aids described above must have a permanent tag affixed that has the name, address, and phone number of the owner of the fishing aid. If the permitted angler using the fishing aid is not the owner, the owner will be the responsible party for any infractions by the permitted angler.

NOTE: Due to insurance regulations, all attendees must be paid up members of Santa Cruz Fly fishermen, so get your membership paid up if you haven’t done so yet.

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Hatchery report and more 2021

by Conservation Slim

Hatchery Report for the Swanton Road facility: As of 12/18 I just got the letter from Ben Harris as to the status since the fire damaged most of the outdoor tanks and infrastructure. Currently they are working with county OES/environmental health department to arrange clean up of the site under Phase 2 (public option) to save money on labor, public contractors will take care of hauling away the tanks and debris. Two bridges need to be built over the creek and permits needed to be approved still. Work is expected to begin before Jan 1.

Volunteers are always treasured and deeply appreciated and January is a busy month where the Warm Springs facility expect the spawning will be in full swing the second and third week of January. Permits are in place to capture fish at the Felton dam fish trap. They are going to have Gordon explain how the trap works as you work 8 hour shifts during the prime time when fish are moving upstream, day and all night. This is hard work and not for everyone, die hard fishermen usually love this stuff.  You will need to sign a waiver and get training and have a fishing license to register.

Fish and Wildlife say they plan to release Chinook salmon smolts again in Santa Cruz and Monterey in 2021-22 releasing 120,000 at each site. Last spring was the first time fish had been dropped off the wharf and bypassing the small craft harbor for the first time. I would try fishing off the wharf for salmon in a couple more years as they return to the source of their entry to the sea. The sea lions will be on the scene but we caught some big salmon mooching off the wharf, sea lions get their share. Ben Harris director says he is asking for more releases but the fires and funding has affected operations at the Mokelumne Hatchery. Low flows and numbers of native fish has greatly reduced production of smolts this year.  Fish are released from Fort Baker to other locations south to Monterey.  This project has been my passion over 10 years when we received fish at the Harbor launch ramp and tended a sea pen to feed and fatten fish to be released after 5 days in the pen. It was a ton of work assembling and storing the sea pen and now they just drop them 40 feet off the wharf and they do fine. (we hope)

Since our club does not have our own conservation projects it is interesting and fun to help out other local groups like MBSTP or Coastal Watershed Council as a representative of SCFF.  The Hatchery staff have asked us for help many times and we always send a few who make the difference in a successful effort like fin clipping parties at the Felton Hatchery to taking water samples at the annual ‘First Flush’ storm sewer analysis where it meets rivers or shoreline.

Contact: www.mbstp.org for information or call or write me.

PS. Thanks to all who attended the casting clinic at Jade St Park in Dec. I think at least 25 came throughout the afternoon, this will happen again in 2021 or  when the current stay at home for 100 days is over.  I am asking for help in posting conservation articles for 2021, Thanks to Bob Garbarino for his help this month.

‘Be the Bug’.  Stosh aka (Con-Slim)

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Coho Salmon Die-Offs May Be Linked to Tire Particles

by Conservation Contributor Bob Garbarino

A team of university, state and federal researchers from Washington and California together with Canadian scientists have identified a compound that is formed when a component in tires reacts with ozone is washed into creeks and streams during storm runoffs. They concluded that the toxic compound is deadly to the endangered Coho. The research was conducted in streams in the Puget Sound vicinity.

The culprit turned out to be related to a chemical called 6PPD, which is essentially a preservative to keep car tires from breaking down too quickly in the presence of ozone. When 6PPD hits the road and reacts with ozone gas, the chemical transforms into multiple new chemicals, including a compound known as 6PPD-quinone.

Hopefully the outcome of this research will result in changes in the chemistry of tire design that will eliminate this Coho killer. Undoubtedly, this could be a long uphill battle against the tire industry. My thanks goes out to those committed to science and conservation of our wildlife!

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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John Steele Award

by Vice President Kevin Murdock

This is your last chance to nominate your candidate for our annual John Steele award.
You can submit your nomination by texting your V/P (Kevin Murdock) at

(831) 238-3037 or emailing to troutdock89@gmail.com

John has forever been a mainstay of our club, offering whatever help was needed to whoever needed it for the last 30 years. In that spirit, this award is presented to whoever has aided you on your fly fishing journey. You can vote as often as you need, to capture the spirit of your fishing gurus.Call or text me and let me know how they’ve helped you.  You can nominate a member for each individual kind act.
Thanks

Kevin

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Thank you to New members and those who have renewed

by Bob

As of the week before Christmas, we have 135 memberships,  including 21 new members for 2021..We are hopeful to have 15 more renewals by the end of the year…Majority of the renewals have been online and 90% of new members were online….To date we have received over $2,500 for conservation and scholarships and a thank you to those members for their thoughtful donations.

Posted on December 24th, 2020

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Coming Out Midge Emerger

by Elaine Cook -- Fly Tying Chairman

This pattern was orininated by Jeff Henkemyer and simulates the emerging stage of a midge. Midges are a very important food source for trout in the winter. They are imparative to have in your fly box when fishing tailwaters and spring creeks throughout the year. Apply floatent and use a floating line with 4x, 5x or 6x tippet, depending on size of fish? If unable to see when fishing, trail a foot or 18 inches behind a fly more visible. A simple fly to tie, with few materials. Magnification for this very small fly is most important to get the details of the fly accurate. With small flies, every wrap of thread counts. Don’t bulk up the fly.

Hook: TMC 2487   Sizes 18-22

Thread: black 8/0

Tail (shuck): grizzly hen hackle tip

Body: black thread

Hackle: grizzly

1. Crimp barb.

2. Attach thread 1/3 back on hook shank. Touching wraps to beyond barb, then touching wraps to above barb.

3. Select a very small hen neck feather. Position on top of shank so it extends hook length to rear. With touching wraps forward, tie in up to hook point. Cut excess.

4. Moisten fibers at end of Zelon, pull to straighten a little. Make cut straight across. Pinch fibers, then tie to top of shank with touching wraps to one eye length behind eye. Cut excess. Tie down butt ends. Cut off any stray fibers. Tilt hook back in vise a little.

5. Select hackle with barbs 1 and 1/2 hook gap. At butt end, cut about 4 barbs short on each side of the stem “crew cut”.  With dull side facing you, tie in “crew cut”with touching wraps back to wing. Using touching hackle turns forward, forcing thread forward with each turn, end up one eye length behind eye. Tie off cut excess.

6. While holding hackle back out of the way, wrap small thread head. Whip finish, cut thread. Cut off any whiskers.

Posted on December 30th, 2020

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Fly fishing knots

by Elaine Cook

I’m frequently asked how to tie various knots. I demonstrate when I can. Covid has precluded that. Certain knots that I infrequently tie require some refreshing for me as well. I’ve had an invaluable book for years that I highly recommend if you can find it. I think it’s out of print. Practical Fishing Knots II by Mark Sosin and Lefty Kreg. There’s a new book out that looks good.  Guide To Fly Fishing Knots by Larry Notley. It’s small and inexpensive.

Posted on December 30th, 2020

Date:  12/2/2020

Time:  7:00 pm

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Bass fishing Clear Lake, using the Float and Fly technique

by Program Coordinator: Jim Black

Ryan Williams is going to join us again.  This time he will be discussing Clear Lake and more about his Float and Fly technique.

After Ryan’s earlier presentation in August about Lake Oroville, Sam Bishop and his friend fished with Ryan after the presentation to the Club. Sam enjoyed fishing with Ryan and suggested we have him do another Zoom Presentation.

Ryan’s expertise covers major Rivers and Lakes, among which are the Lower Sac, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, and most fish in which we will are interested: Smallmouth and Black Bass, Stripers, Trout, and Steelhead. He will be presenting Bass fishing Clear Lake, using his Float and Fly technique

I’ve included his web address above as before and suggest you visit his website. I did in August and found it informative, interesting and fun, all set to music!  https://flyfishcnv.com/

 

Posted on November 21st, 2020

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Pick your prize monthly raffle

by Jeff Goyert

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 :

  • PYRAMID LAKE BIG BOY LANDING NET
  • ECHO 5 WT ROD/REEL
  • VICE/TOOL TYING KIt

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.

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS

Posted on November 24th, 2020

Date:  Dec. 9th 2020

Time:  6:30 p.m.

Place:  Zoom Meeting

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Sheep Creek

by Elaine Cook - fly tying instructor

This month will feature an emerging aquatic insect for trout. Best used in stillwater with a floating line.  Once again, a simple fly to tie, which is working best via Zoom. Great fly for you beginners. We have tools and vise to loan to you. Sign up by calling, and allowing enough time to pick up materials and directions at my door. (831)688-1561.

Beginners need to allow a little more time for a face time session to learn how to use equipment. If you live far away, I can mail you what you need or if you wish to use your own materials, I can email you the directions. Feel free to just tune in to watch , if you wish. Its best to set up and review directions ahead of time. The thread will be olive 8/0.

Wed, December 9,   Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Posted on November 22nd, 2020

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Happy Holidays

by Tom Hogye

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Always feels weird saying things like ‘Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.’, when in order to get this in the newsletter, you’re writing the article a couple weeks before!   Over the years, I’ve often wondered how do they get Winter catalogs in the mail in August, and they have people modeling new clothing in snow. Never mind.

We have been busy. Covid did not slow us down. The raffle last month was awesome, and we had 38 people on the Zoom meeting with Chris King’s outstanding presentation on Steelhead and big rainbows. Your generous support if our Conservation and Scholarships has been amazing.   While we aren’t having our Annual Dinner/Fundraiser in January, we have been managing our expenses, membership, and donations such that we are in vey good shape to weather what Covid might yet throw at us.

Your Board has been very active engaging membership, fishing together, in California mostly, and exploring new ways to continue keeping you fly-fishing.

We are looking forward to something more “back to normal”, but the tools we’ve developed because of Covid, are giving us more tools to use when we do go back to normal. It is likely we will continue with Zoom enhancements at our functions by broadcasting our club meetings over the web, even when we are meeting together.

Our future is secure and we are growing. The youth, as we’ve mentioned before, are the future of our environment, our fisheries and this club. Due to the response in our Scholarship program, and other available youth programs for next year, David South, normally, our Annual dinner Organizer suggested a Youth Programs Chair – which is a terrific idea.   If you’re interested in being involved and chairing this committee, please reach out to me/us.

Our Programs Chair, Jim Black, is also looking for someone to shadow him and help take part in bringing on new and exciting speakers.   Since they don’t have to travel, these speakers, men and women, can come from virtually anywhere there is a Zoom connection.   If interested, we welcome you.

Our Website/Newsletter Chair, Scott Kitayama, has been doing a terrific job with both; as you’ll see in this month’s pub, an expanding selection of SCFF merchandise in collaboration with our Marketing Chair, Michael McGannon. Scott is looking for some assistance, from anyone interested in more internet-based outreach and support with things like Instagram, Tik Tok… If interested in this, please reach out to Scott.

Also, thanks to an idea from Steve Rudzinski, we’ve nominated and approved our first “Meteorologist At Large”, going to our local Santa Cruz surfing, fishing and weather expert, Lee Solomon. Welcome to the Club, Lee!   Can’t wait to see you donning waders and a fly-rod for an upcoming weather segment on KSBW!

We are wishing all of you a very happy Holidays. Stay tuned – a lot of fun stuff coming up.   Thank you for your incredible support and your own very special enthusiasm.   Thank you for coming to the meetings, fly-tying, supporting conservation, the club, scholarships and so much more.

We will continue to grow, and we will always – promote, educate and enjoy, the sport of fly-fishing.

Merry Christmas!   Tom

Posted on November 24th, 2020

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Pebble Mine Update.

by Conservation Slim

In August we thought it was ‘Smooth Sailing’ for saving Bristol Bay as the Army Corps of Engineers, in all their wisdom, could not permit the plan as stated by Pebble Mine Inc. The Army set the bar so high that the corporation would never be able to show it was safe from future flooding and releasing the toxic chemicals into the watershed. Pebble ‘brushed off’ the Army’s letter promising a response which now the Army is not sharing with the public so there is a mystery as to the details.

Much of the problem is due to the silence coming from both Senators Murkowski and Sullivan who Trout Unlimited
Alaska Fund representatives report have not fully put their support behind saving the fishery once and for all. Both claiming that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) needs to be using their authority under the Clean Water Act to veto the permits sought by Pebble Mine proponents Northern Dynasty Mining Inc.

TU says to write the Senators now and tell them to say ‘NO to the Pebble Mine’.

Lisa Murkowski 302 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510 www.murkowski.senatte.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Dan Sullivan 202 224 3004 (same address as Murkowski) email: www.sullivan.senate.gov/contact/email

I want to send out a special thanks to our members who joined up with the Salinas Fly Fishers and TU to do a couple days of clean up along the Salinas River where the RR tracks and Hwy 1 cross the estuary and where club members put in small boats and float tubes to fish for Striped Bass. Photos show a huge dumpster on site filled with mattresses, tires, furniture and trash galore.   Special thanks to volunteers, Sam Bishop, Jeff Sloboden, Jeff Gose, Scott Kitayama and any others I missed.

I am preparing for the Covid Casting Clinic this Wed and meeting our new ‘Weather Guy at large’ Lee Solomon from KSBW newsroom. We will let Lee decide what to call his new position on the board. eg Weatherman at large or Meteorologist at large, however he decides we want to welcome him this week at the clinic and hope he can find a minute to log into our Wed general meeting Dec 2.

On Dec 5th the following Saturday at 2 PM I will have another casting clinic for those who cannot attend the Wednesday mid week events due to working for a living.  This will be the last casting event till Spring so please RSVP me if you plan to attend and or bring a guest caster friend or relative.

Happy holidays to everyone, please be healthy wealthy and wise and be kind to everyone. 2021 is going to be more topsy turvy than 2020 is my guess.  Let’s all get through this and keep our sanity.  Peace,   ‘Cal Slim’

Posted on November 24th, 2020

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Send in your pictures!

by Program Coordinator: Jim Black

It’s now time to prepare for our Annual Santa Cruz Slideshow (Zoom Meeting on January 6th, 2021) and look forward to sharing last years Fishing Experiences with our entire club.  As he did last year, Rich Rubin has graciously agreed to be the Master of Ceremonies for Our Slide Show.

Please submit your photos to Rich Rueben to richr@cruzio.com

Pictures should be emailed directly to Rich so he can save them to his iPad.  Please don’t use Dropbox or other cloud based applications.

 

Posted on November 24th, 2020

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Annual Salinas River launch-site cleanup

Geoff Malloway from Central Coast Fly Fishing writes on Facebook: “Another successful Salinas River cleanup!  We had an exceptional turnout thanks to the Salinas Valley Flyfishers, the Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen, CDFW , AmeriCorps and Trout Unlimited. Also, special thanks to Jefferson Farms (Jay and Benji) and MPWMD.  A lot was accomplished but there’s always more to do.”

The Salinas Valley Fly Fishing club have been doing this cleanup for years right before the December opening of the Salinas river.  There were about 25 people total who helped on the morning of November 22nd.   SCFF was represented by Jeff Gose, Jeff Slaboden, Sam Bishop and Scott Kitayama. Great to meet people from the other organizations.

 

If you are fishing any of the coastal rivers this winter, Tim Frahm from Trout Unlimited asks that you fill out the “Central Coast Striped Bass Catch Reporting Survey” which shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds to fill out and will help better understand our local waters.  The survey can be found at https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/wge1mabO    

Posted on November 24th, 2020

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December 31st reminder dues deadline

by Bob

More than half of all current members have renewed 2021 membership online https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/join/membership.

The balance of renewals (45) have been mailed out to members to be paid by check or online.  To date, over $2,200 has been received for Scholarships/ Conservation.  This years renewal response has exceeded expectations and members continue to support our Club in this transitional time.

Thank You

Posted on November 23rd, 2020