The Salmon was great, the raffle tables were overflowing with stuff and everyone seemed to have a good time.
Posted on February 27th, 2025
2025 Fundraising Dinner was a success!
Club Activities – Mar thru May
| Date | Activity Link | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01 9:00 am - 5:30 pm | Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth | The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have booth B6 at the Pleasanton Fly Show. Club members will be staffing the booth and will have our new club signage at the show. | Alameda County Fairgrounds |
| Mar 02 9:00 am - 4:30 pm | Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth | The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have booth B6 at the Pleasanton Fly Show. Club members will be staffing the booth and will have our new club signage at the show. | Alameda County Fairgrounds |
| Mar 05 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm | Introductory Skills: Basic Fishing Knots |
From the New Member Orientation meeting we had in February, it was obvious that we need to provide some introductory skills and knowledge to members who are just starting out in fly fishing. Instead of building some complicated training program, we are going to start by providing short skills development before the fly casting clinic and the general meetings. The first one, will be about basic fishing knots. | Aptos Grange |
| Mar 15 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Fly Casting Meetup | We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques. I will have practice rods if needed. Hope to see you there. | Jade Street Park baseball field |
| Apr 02 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm | Introductory Skills: Setting up, Moving, and Breaking down the fly rod |
This will cover the basics of setting up, breaking down the fly rod. Practice and a few simple tricks will make you proficient. Another topic covered will be how to secure your rod and flies when moving from one area to another. Note: From the New Member Orientation meeting we had in February, it was obvious that we need to provide some introductory skills and knowledge to members who are just starting out in fly fishing. Instead of building some complicated training program, we are going to start by providing short skills development before the fly casting clinic and the general meetings. | Aptos Grange |
| Apr 19 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Introductory Skills: Removing a hook from your skin |
Here is a skill for the novice as well as the expert. How to get a hook out of the skin quickly and minimal pain or damage. It is a simple technique, but one that makes sense when you see it and can practice it. If you just want to know how to do it, here is a video, but I am sure you are going to want to practice it. https://youtu.be/KNvWououyp4?si=_WeZUxkrtrVw4JEq | Jade Street Park baseball field |
| Apr 19 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Fly Casting Meetup | We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques. I will have practice rods if needed. Hope to see you there. | Jade Street Park baseball field |
| Apr 23 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm | Fly Fishing Film Tour 2025 | The 19th annual FLY FISHING FILM TOUR (F3T) 2025 is at the Woodhouse Brewery with a top notch selection of short films that are sure to get you fired up for the season ahead! | Woodhouse Brewery |
| May 07 6:15 pm - 6:45 pm | Introductory Skills: Removing a hook from your skin |
Here is a skill for the novice as well as the expert. How to get a hook out of the skin quickly and minimal pain or damage. It is a simple technique, but one that makes sense when you see it and can practice it. If you just want to know how to do it, here is a video, but I am sure you are going to want to practice it. https://youtu.be/KNvWououyp4?si=_WeZUxkrtrVw4JEq | Aptos Grange |
| May 10 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Fly Casting Meetup--10:00 AM Start Time this Month | We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques. I will have practice rods if needed. Hope to see you there. | Jade Street Park baseball field |
Posted on February 27th, 2025
Fly Fishing and Conservation
For this month’s “My Turn” article I’m going to focus on what we as fly anglers can do to make a positive impact on fish and the environment they inhabit. From my own journey in fishing, it wasn’t until I began fly fishing that I started to became increasingly aware of the challenges in improving, sustaining and enhancing native and wild fish populations. During my time with many of you, my fly fishing friends, I’ve been inspired by your awareness and passion for a better future in this sport. And we’ve seen some encouraging signs of hope with coming out of collaboration between many of the conservation organizations we support. The Klamath dam removal project is a shining example. The Carmel River Steelhead Association is a local group dedicated and fighting for their native fish. However, as I write this, I’ve become increasingly concerned that the headwinds facing our fisheries are growing stronger in the face of a number of politically motivated decisions. It’s becoming more urgent that we become stronger voices for fish and their habitats. So, what can we do? Many of us practice conservation already to some degree. Here’s a few suggestions of what we can do on and off the water. Most of my suggestions apply to cold water fish such as trout and salmon, but can be used for other species as well.
Catch and Release
Lee Wulff said in 1938 that “gamefish are too valuable to be caught only once.” If that was true back then, it certainly is now. There are exceptions like put-and-take fisheries, invasive species and others, depending on your point of view. But the rule of thumb approach is to release fish after catching them, handling them with care to minimize stress and ensure their survival.
Proper Fish Handling
This dovetails with catch and release. Try to land the fish without playing it too long. An exhausted fish is less likely to survive—especially in warmer water. Minimize the time fish are out of the water. I find that in many situations, using a landing net (with the soft plastic material) speeds up the time to release the fish. The net also allows you to keep it under control in the water. Before handling the fish, wet your hands and for larger fish, support its body with both hands. If the fly gets swallowed deep, cut the tippet off and leave the fly in the fish. If you plan on taking a photo, keep the fish under water until the photographer is ready. I’ve seen some great photos of fish in the water, so consider that. If the fish is sluggish and not ready to take off, gently hold it facing upstream until it’s ready to swim off. If in a lake, move the fish slowly to get some water moving through its gills.
Be Aware of Water Temperature
According to many sources, when the water temperature approaches 68 degrees Farenheit most trout become stressed to the point where their survival rate becomes much diminished after being released. In fact a recent study done suggests the 68 degree threshold is too high. For more on this subject, see the link below.
https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/are-we-wrong-about-safe-temperatures-for-trout-fishing
Another practice that is being recommended or enforced is the so-called “hoot owl” restrictions where anglers are to not fish after a set time in the day as the water temperature increases. So, bring a thermometer with you and use it to determine when to stop fishing. Look for the current best practices in the area you are fishing. If the water is too warm, look for colder water (like headwaters) or find a fishery that bass or carp inhabit as they can tolerate warmer temperatures.
Follow Regulations
Understand and abide by all local fishing laws including size limits, seasonal restrictions and protected species regulations. For fishing streams on our south central coast during steelhead season, a useful phone number with updates on flow restrictions is 831-649-2886.
Use Barbless Hooks
Practice using barbless hooks to facilitate easier release of fish. In many trout waters they are a requirement. The added benefit is it’s much easier to remove a barbless hook from your body and clothes. I can attest to that!
Minimize Environmental Impact
Avoid littering, access waterways carefully to minimize shoreline damage, and clean up any debris found on the water. If you see litter, pack it out if you can. If you are fishing during a spawn, learn to identify redds so you can avoid trampling them.
Support Conservation Organizations
Join and donate to groups like Cal Trout, Trout Unlimited and Fly Fishers International that actively work to protect fish habitats. Join (encourage your friends too) and support SCFF because we donate $4,000 annually to 15 organizations including Trout Unlimited, Cal Trout, Friends of the Eel River and very local Coastal Watershed Council, Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project and Carmel River Steelhead Association. Participate in volunteer efforts to restore degraded stream banks, plant native vegetation, and remove invasive species. Our members have volunteered with Coastal Watershed Council, Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, Carmel River Steelhead Association, Trout Unlimited, Trout In the Classroom. We have also organized our own San Lorenzo River trash cleanup.
Educate Others
Share your knowledge about conservation practices with fellow anglers and the wider community. This includes helping and encouraging younger generations to develop an appreciation for conservation and a passion for fly fishing. It’s extremely gratifying to help pass on some helpful tips to a receptive angler on their journey. Another famous quote by Lee Wulff which is right on the mark: “When we teach a person to fly fish, we just created a conservationist”. Support those seeking careers that help protect the environment. One way SCFF does this is by providing scholarships to local high school students that are pursuing higher education in environmental science related studies.
Advocate for Policy Change
In California, many decisions that impact how our water is managed puts fish survival at risk. Show your support for sound legislation that protects aquatic ecosystems and promotes responsible fishing practices. Call or write your representatives and decision makers to voice your support policies that help protect and improve our fisheries responsibly. As we’ve seen with the Klamath River and now what is about to happen (we hope) with the Eel River, conservation minded individuals and organizations can help make changes when they work together with other stakeholders.
Learn about Local Ecosystems
Understand the unique fish species and environmental conditions in the areas you fish to make informed decisions about your angling practices. Not only will you learn how to practice conservation in you fishery, but it will likely make you a better angler.
I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful in your quest to be a responsible steward of our sport of fly fishing. If any of you have an idea for organizing a group of our members in a conservation activity, contact me or another board member. Thank you SCFF conservationists!
Posted on February 27th, 2025
Temporary Suspension of Raffles
We will be pausing raffles at our monthly meetings. This is a precautionary measure as we work with the State of California to address the club’s tax-exempt status. We have been actively working on this matter for over thirteen months and expect to resolve it well before the end of our fiscal year on January 30, 2026.
Posted on February 27th, 2025
March: Jim Cox – Western River Conservancy
Mar 05 6:45 PM at the Aptos Grange
Jim joined Western Rivers Conservancy as Director of Donor Relations in 2011. He is a past steering committee co-chair of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon and is an active member of the Northwest Planned Giving Roundtable. He is a member of numerous conservation organizations including Trout Unlimited, Flyfishers Club of Oregon, FFI, and the Native Fish Society. Jim holds a Bachelor of Theatre Degree from Willamette University and lives in Portland, Oregon. In his free time, you can find him fly fishing for trout and steelhead on is favorite western streams and occasionally sitting in as guest trumpet soloist with the Latin jazz band The Steelhead Stalkers.
Western Rivers Conservancy has been working for more than 35 years to conserve and protect lands on more than 280 rivers and streams in nine western states, purchasing properties across the West to protect and conserve vital river ecosystems and to provide compatible public use and enjoyment. Jim will be discussing the organization’s recent projects across the west including Dillon Beach in California, McDermitt Creek in Oregon, Terryall Creek Colorado, Racetrack Creek in Montana, the Yakima River in Washington and the Selway River in Idaho among others.
NOTE: Prior to the start of the General Meeting at 5:45 pm, we will be conducting short Introductory Skills to help our those new to the sport. We will also have the same Introductory Skills class at the casting clinic. Please look at the Club Activities article n the Newsletter for more information.
FUTURE SPEAKERS
| Date | Monthly Speaker | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 02 | Rob Anderson - New Pyramid Lake Strategies | Rob Andersen, owner and operator of Bucket List Fishing, join the club to share his expertise on new techniques for fishing Pyramid Lake and Peacock Bass in Brazil. Zoom Recording Link |
| May 07 | Lance Gray - Steelheading on the Feather | We’re excited to welcome Lance Grey, longtime friend of the club and owner/operator of Lance Grey & Company, to speak with us about some of Northern California’s most renowned fisheries, including Lake Almanor and the Feather River. Lance has spent years exploring and guiding in these waters, and his deep knowledge of these rivers and lakes will give us invaluable insights into fishing techniques, seasonal patterns, and how to make the most of your time on these iconic fisheries. |
| Jun 04 | Jesse Collins - Entymology | Our own Jesse Collins is going to give a presentation on stream entomology (study of insects). Not only will this help you understand the insects that are around the streams, but also a discussion of the flies that imitate them and how to fish them. Zoom Recording Link |
Posted on February 27th, 2025
Fin Flutter
Posted on February 16th, 2025
RS 2
The RS 2 is a small delicate pattern that simulates a mayfly or midge insect. It is most commonly used trailing behind a small dry fly as a dropper. It will sink about 1 to 4 inches below the surface. Set up if you see a rise anywhere near the dry fly. This fly works best in a spring creek or tailwater fishery. This is one more you can add to your box if you are going to the Green River next month. This is a very simple fly to tie. The directions are written in detail.
HOOK: TMC 101 sizes 16–20. Crimp barb.
THREAD: Gray 8/0, 12/0 for a small hooks. Attached 1/3 back on shank. Thread wraps to 2/3 back on shank.
TAIL: Muskrat guard hairs Hold tips of approximately 5–8 hairs. Pull fuzzy under fur toward hide. Slip scissors down shaft of guard hairs, then cut near hide. Lay on top of shank, tips extending about hook length beyond shank. Make five touching wraps of thread toward rear of shank. Slowly and carefully using tips of scissors, cut out all but two of the thicker longer guard hairs near shank. If they are uneven, pull the shorter to the rear using pliers, then slowly pull guard hair forward so that the tales equals shank length. Make five more touching thread wraps forward. Raise butt ends and cut near shank. Tie down butt stubs.
BODY: Muskrat under fur. Cut small chunk from very close to hide. Remove any guard hairs. Make dubbing by pulling fibers apart and putting back together many times forming a loose homogeneous fuzzball. Apply very small amount of dubbing to thread. Wrap thread to rear of shank. Dub a narrow tapered body forward to one eye length behind eye. Trim stray hairs close to body.
WING: CDC gray. Select two similar sized feathers, one for size 20 hooks. Lay on top of one another with curves matching. Holding onto tips, stroke, other barbs in opposite direction. Lay on top of shank with tips extending to rear of hook. Tie and place with 4 touching wraps backward. Holding tips upward, pull stem forward until tips are mid shank. DO THIS SLOWLY. Make four more thread wraps to secure. Cut stem close to thread wraps. NOTE: Save feather for more flies.
THORAX AND HEAD: Muskrat under fur. Apply very small amount of dubbing to thread. Make one or two wraps backward onto wing so it ends up 2/5 back on shank. Dub forward in one or two wraps. Remove any extra dubbing. Whip finish forming head. Cut thread. Cut short any stray hair fibers.
Posted on February 16th, 2025
February 2025 Table of Contents
2025 Annual Fundraiser………………
February Monthly Meeting: New Member Orientation and Hangout……………………
My Turn……………………………
Fly Tying……………………
February Fly Tying Class: Gino’s Midge Emerger
Fly of the Month: Copper Top
Conservation Concerns……………
Profile: The Osprey
Membership Notes…………………
Club Activities – February thru March
Membership Renewal
Gearing Up ……………………
Fishout Schedule
Cartoon ……………………
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Ice Fishing
Is ice fishing really worth it?
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Fishout Schedule-Feb
The newsletter provides brief fishout info. For full detail, go to the website menu and select EVENTS -> Fishout Schedule
| Date | Link (new tab) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 12 6:00 am - 1:00 pm | Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie) | Stand by as dates and details to be updated as the days get longer and warmer! Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama Location: Kelly Lake in Watsonville (Private lake limited to 6 people) Species: bass, crappie, bluegill Duration: 1 day Registration and Cost: No Cost, but you must contact Scott as the number of people fishing is limited. Contact at scottkitayama@gmail.com. Addtional Details & Confirmation of dates to be updated - Stay tuned Meeting time and place: Scott will directly be in contact with those that are coming on the Fishout. Equipment: Need to have float tube or kayak to fish the lake. [...] |
| Apr 18 - Apr 20 | Rooster Comb Ranch – UPDATED – | 23rd Annual Bass Fishout at Roostercomb Ranch 3/04/2025 - SOLD OUT - If you are still interested, contact the Fish Master to be added to the wait list (contact information below) This is our club's 23rd annual bass Fishout to the Roostercomb Ranch since year 2000. This sprawling private ranch is located adjacent to Henry Coe State Park, off Hwy 152 entrance in Hollister near Casa de Fruta Restaurant. It's a 22-mile off-road trek through the backcountry from the park entrance. This requires a 3-day weekend commitment. Accommodations are a 1928 ranch house and bunk house with options to tent [...] |
| Apr 26 - May 03 12:00 am | Green River – Utah | Green River - Utah Currently this trip is at maximum capacity. For wait list options or updates, please contact the Fishmaster Rick chace rchace@got.net General Information - It is necessary for us to pay upfront to reserve the accommodations. The club's standard approach to this is for each angler to pay his individual portion of the rental fee for sleeping accommodations. Each angler will be responsible for the weekly rate of $300. This is a nonrefundable fee. If an angler decides not to attend, they are responsible to sell their portion to another angler or forfeit their portion of the [...] |
| May 10 5:45 am - 10:00 am | Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout | First Surf Fishout of 2025! Saturday May 10th 2025 5:45AM Location: Rio Del Mar State Beach |
| May 16 - May 19 | Upper Sacramento River / McCloud Fishout – UPDATED – | This Fishout’s final date is still TBD and subject to river flows as we get closer to spring. The upper Sac. has excellent access via. Hwy 5 and by walking the railway tracks. Euro/High Stick/Indicator Nymphing is the go to. |
| Jun 02 - Jun 04 | Pyramid Lake Fishout | Fishmaster: Mike White Greetings fellow Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club Members I have been leading the Pyramid Lake fishing trip for the past ten years. It has always been a remarkable fish out, and one of the best attended too. However the past three years have been very challenging and we have not caught very many fish and people have come away disappointed with the outcome. That leads me to a new discovery about how to fish Pyramid Lake. Jeff Goyertte, a club member and our raffle coordinator took a trip to the lake and fished with Rob Anderson, a [...] |
| Jun 07 5:15 am - 10:00 am | Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout | Location: Manresa State Beach (Ocean View Drive, La Selva Beach Parking Lot) Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: NO Limit Cali Surf Style Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket making tutorials online) Flies: Clousers, wooly buggers, sand crabs, etc. https://www.lostcoastoutfitters.com/collections/surf-flies What to Expect: Good Times Meet at 5:15AM Sunrise is 5:47AM and [...] |
| Jun 20 - Jun 22 | Burney and Around – UPDATED – | Date and description subject to change due to seasonal conditions Please Stay Tuned Fishmaster: Alex Ferber Location: Lakes, rivers and streams of the Burney area Species: Trout Duration: 3 Days Cost: No Cost Meet Up: Date of Fishout TBD and subject to change due seasonal conditions Hat Creek Park off Hy 299 (See the map below). The park is approximately 10 minutes from the highway 299/80 junction. The park is on the left hand side going east on 299. If you google Hat Creek Park, it should show up. This meet up will be a general discussion with your Fishmaster [...] |
| Jun 22 - Jun 28 12:00 am | Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 22th – 28th 2025 | The Lake Almanor Fishout is scheduled for the last week of June, 6/22 thru 28th, 2025. This time period is, hopefully, the peak of the annual Hexagenia hatch that begins generally mid-June and runs through mid-July. The most productive fishing takes place early evenings on into past dark between Lake Almanor West to Canyon Dam on the Southwest side of the lake. Most of the fishing is done from float tubes as well as small boats or even from shore. In addition to the evening "Hex" hatch, a multitude of opportunities exist for fishing throughout the day to include Little [...] |
| Jul 05 5:20 am - 10:00 am | Beer Can Beach Surf Fishing – UPDATED – | Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 5:20 am. Location: Beer Can Beach (AKA Summer Beach) - Staircase at 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos (no bathrooms) Fish Master: Scott Kitayama / scottkitayama@gmail.com Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Meet at 5:20AM. Sunrise is at 5:53 and we are fishing a 3-foot tidal crest, high tide being 8: 55AM. Breakfast at Mike Lovejoy’s house, 115 Driftwood Ct, Aptos, please RSVP by July 3rd to mikelovejoy94@gmail.com. Coffee at 8:00am and breakfast served 8:30-9:30. Park on the street. Hot water available for hand wash. Hose available for rinsing equipment. |
| Jul 07 6:00 am | Loreto Fly Fishing Trip | Loreto Mexico Details to be finalized and date to be confirmed The fishing day starts around 6:00 a.m. and we usually get back to the harbor between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. Spend the rest of the afternoon fishing from the beach, having a cool drink in the pool, exploring Loreto, or just sitting around telling some tall fish stories. And, you will have many exciting moments on the Sea of Cortez to talk about. The approximate cost for everything but meals and airfare is: *$995.00 per person, double occupancy; around $460.00 for a non-fishing guest. - It does not include [...] |
| Aug 09 5:45 am - 8:30 am | Palm Beach Surf Fishout w/ coffee and snacks afterwards | Fishmaster : Scott Kitayama Contact info: scotttkitayama@gmail.com Location: Palm Beach State Park Date High Tide Low Tide Sun Moon AM ft PM ft AM ft PM ft Rise Set 9 Sat 12:06 PM 4.0 10:53 5.5 5:25 -0.7 4:46 2.4 6:19 8:06 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: NO Limit Cali Surf Style Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many [...] |
| Aug 23 5:45 am - 10:30 am | Palm Beach Surf Fishout – CO Fishout with The Fresno Fly Fishers | Location: Palm Beach State Park (End of Beach Rd. In front of the state park) Location subject to change depending on conditions. Updates to be provided. Stay tuned Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 6:29AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 11:57AM. Fish Master: Justin Ice / justin@schwagerdavis.com / 408-690-6143 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Fresno Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing and all are welcome to join https://flyfishers.clubexpress.com/ Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket [...] |
| Sep 06 6:00 am - 10:00 am | Beer Can Beach Surf Fishing – CO Fishout with The San Jose Fly Fishing Club | Location: Beer Can Beach (AKA Summer Beach) - Staircase at 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos Fish Master:Michael Lovejoy <mikelovejoy94@gmail.com> Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: RSVP For Breakfast by 5:00pm September 3nd Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket making tutorials online) Flies: Clousers, wooly buggers, sand crabs, etc. Steve Adachi Clouser What to Expect: Meet at [...] |
| Sep 20 - Oct 04 12:00 am | Mammoth Fishout -Sept. 20-Oct. 4th | Fall trout fishing in streams and lakes. Trip is for seven days and the participants share a condo in Mammoth Lakes. |
| Oct 04 5:45 am - 10:30 am | Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout – CO Fishout with The Delta Fly Fishers | Location: Manresa State Beach (Ocean View Drive, La Selva Beach Parking Lot) Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 7:04AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 9:28AM. Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Delta Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY [...] |
| Oct 04 5:45 am - 10:30 am | Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout – CO Fishout with The Delta Fly Fishers | Location: Manresa State Beach (236 Ocean View Drive Parking Lot) Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 7:04AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 9:28AM. Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Delta Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket [...] |
| Oct 16 - Oct 20 | O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout October 16-20th | Camping and striped bass fishing at the O'Neil Forebay. |
| Nov 07 - Nov 09 12:00 am | Trinity River Fishout | Target: Steelhead and trout. Contact Alex Ferber if you are interested in going on the trip, text Alex at (831) 419-0564 or alex.ferber74@gmail.com. |
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Membership Renewal is over 200 members and Googlegroups
If you are not on Googlegroups, have not renewed your 2025 membership, or have been placed on the inactive file, please email me at robert6367@aol.com to be updated. As of Jan 23rd we have over 200 members on our Roster. Also, as of January 23, we have 8 tickets left to the Annual Fundraiser Feb 1. Thank you for your renewal, Annual Dinner support, and generous donations.
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Club Activities – Feb thru Mar
| Date | Activity Link | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 01 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm | 2025 SCFF Annual Fundraiser - Feb 1st, 5-9 pm | Wild Alaska Salmon will highlight the dinner and we will have many prizes available for the raffle. We are keeping the dinner affordable at $40/person and expect it to sell out early. Click on the article to see who has purchased tickets to the event. | Pajaro Valley Rod and Gun Club |
| Feb 15 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Fly Casting Meetup | We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques. I will have practice rods if needed. Hope to see you there. | Jade Street Park baseball field |
| Feb 28 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth | The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have booth B6 at the Pleasanton Fly Show. Club members will be staffing the booth and will have our new club signage at the show. | Alameda County Fairgrounds |
| Mar 01 9:00 am - 5:30 pm | Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth | The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have booth B6 at the Pleasanton Fly Show. Club members will be staffing the booth and will have our new club signage at the show. | Alameda County Fairgrounds |
| Mar 02 9:00 am - 4:30 pm | Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth | The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have booth B6 at the Pleasanton Fly Show. Club members will be staffing the booth and will have our new club signage at the show. | Alameda County Fairgrounds |
| Mar 05 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm | Introductory Skills: Basic Fishing Knots |
From the New Member Orientation meeting we had in February, it was obvious that we need to provide some introductory skills and knowledge to members who are just starting out in fly fishing. Instead of building some complicated training program, we are going to start by providing short skills development before the fly casting clinic and the general meetings. The first one, will be about basic fishing knots. | Aptos Grange |
| Mar 15 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Fly Casting Meetup | We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques. I will have practice rods if needed. Hope to see you there. | Jade Street Park baseball field |
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Profile-The Osprey
Last year when the SCFF conservation committee was looking for new ideas for our support, The Osprey caught my attention. First of all, naming your organization after such an amazing bird is a great start. So, other than a cool name, what is it about The Osprey that is a good fit for our club?
The Osprey describes itself: “International Journal of Salmon and Steelhead Conservation is a scientific journal published by a consortium of like-minded conservation organizations: The Conservation Angler, Fly Fishers International, World Salmon Forum, Wild Steelhead Coalition, Steelhead Society of British Columbia, and Skeena Wild.” The journal is published three times a year by a team consisting of an editorial committee and a group of of scientific advisors. The focus of the articles is on Pacific salmon and steelhead science, recovery and management. They are devoted advocates of conserving existing wild steelhead and salmon and recovery of diminishing populations. They identify some primary threats to their survival include climate change, population growth, ill-advised dams and hatchery projects.
By going to the website https://www.ospreysteelhead.org/, you can access their archive of publications. Some of the articles get pretty deep into the science, but it shows they are committed to understanding the fundamental basis for decisions and recommendations involving that benefit to the fish.
Here’s a sample of article titles from the fall 2024 issue:
Rewilding the Lower Snake River
Life history Diversity Emerges in Salmonids Repopulating Tributaries of the Undammed Elwha River
Native Resident Trout Policy: An Opportunity to Properly Acknowledge Gaps in Managing Resident Wild Steelhead in Washington State
Reflections on American Conservation and Economic History in Relation to Wild Salmon and Steelhead
Articles like these demonstrate the authors have a sound understanding of the science and history of the challenges these fish have endured. It also show their commitment to the fish and rivers they care deeply about.
Not only does support for The Osprey help with the journal publication, it also helps to get the journal into the hands of wild fish conservation decision-makers and influencers including scientists, fisheries managers, politicians, and wild fish advocates.
In the fall 2024 issue, the new editor, John McMillian suggests other sources of information about wild steelhead and salmon:
Research and peer-reviewed papers by John McMillan: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John-Mcmillan-8
John McMillan’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/rainforest_steel/
An informative podcast about science, angling and conservation called The Deep Wade Podcast: https://thedeepwadepodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Find Your Tribe
When I joined the club about 4 years ago my intention was to attend the monthly meetings and learn from our guest speakers. All I really wanted back then was to get out the house and learn more about fly fishing. After several meetings I got inspired to fish locally and to do so with other club members but I found it challenging to make those connections. Today I have a handful of friends I’m comfortable calling or texting who I fish with regularly. I consider this group my primary tribe. When I look back on how I became part of this network of fishing buddies, it comes down to two basic factors. Leveraging club resources and putting myself out there socially is how I made my connections.
Club Resources:
Google Groups: This email based form of communication reaches all club members that use this feature. This a good place to start up dialogue around anything fly fishing. It’s fairly common for people to post upcoming trip info to the O’Neill Forebay, Pyramid lake and other fishing destinations.
WhatsApp: A text based app you can put on your smart phone or device to message people within a particular interest group. Currently the club has one WhatsApp group and that is for local surf fishing. Folks ask questions, post invites to hit the beach and sometimes offer fishing reports when they’re finished fishing. If you seek information or fellowship fishing the beach, this a worthwhile app to put on your phone. If you would like to start a page for a different type of fishing, the opportunity is yours.
Club Meetings: A lot of members show up early for club meetings and are willing to engage with fellow anglers. You might have to introduce yourself and kick start the conversation but our members are always welcoming and happy to talk fishing.
Casting Practice: Work on your cast while building your social circle. Check the website for dates and times.
Fly Tying Classes: Every second Wednesday (the Weds after the General Meeting) the club offers free fly tying. After the initial instruction there is plenty of opportunity to strike up conversation and talk fishing while everyone is tying.
Instagram/Facebook: These social media accounts we support are a yet another way to see what’s happening in the club and put some faces to the names of our members. For both mediums just search SantaCruzFlyFishing.
Fish Outs: These club organized fishing trips are probably the most organic way to find your tribe. Not only are you fishing with like minded folks, there are usually post trip opportunities to socialize. Breakfast, campfire hangouts, meeting up for a beer, etc.
Putting yourself out there:
Go fish and let others know.
A great way to find your tribe is to simply plan your own trip and invite others to join. The advantage here is you choose the date, time, place, etc that works for you. A possible disadvantage is you might not get any takers but you will if you keep at it. I’ll add that when you consistently invite others to fish or simply update them with your results, they will often return the favor.
Know your fishing opportunities and improve them. If you’re fairly competent with the fundamentals you’re more likely to find people that will want to fish with you. Sure we have members who will help beginners but not everyone wants to spend their time teaching a novice how to cast or how to tie on a fly. If you can get yourself proficient in the fundamentals you’re more likely to find your tribe. While fishing the surf my first time, it was obvious my double haul needed work. The anglers getting the most hook ups could throw their flies 70-90’ consistently over the waves. I practiced my double haul at the local soccer field for several months until I was satisfied with my distance. When I rejoined the club for a few summer fish outs the fishing was more second nature allowing me to focus more on having fun with other members.
Volunteer!
The club is run entirely on volunteer service. There are lots of opportunities to support your club with your time. In addition to personal satisfaction, volunteering exposes you to a lot of engaged and very knowledgeable members and anglers. My time on the board, working a service project or leading a tying class has expedited my ability to meet members and be included on fishing outings. To learn about club opportunities check the website, newsletter or talk to board member. We’d love to have your help!
Joining an established club with 250 members can make finding your tribe challenging but if you leverage the club’s resources and push yourself socially you should find success. Next time you see me at a club event, say hi. Maybe we can go fishing sometime.
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Fundraiser is here!
Feb 01 5:00 PM at the Pajaro Valley Rod & Gun, Watsonville
ANNUAL DINNER and FUNDRAISER
WILD ALASKAN SALMON BBQ
with HORS D’OEUVRES to spur your appetite
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st
5:00 – 9:00 pm
followed by
Prizes—Prizes—Prizes
PAJARO VALLEY ROD AND GUN CLUB
557 1/2 LAKEVIEW RD. , WATSONVILLE
DINNER TICKETS: Are $40 which can be purchased at the November, December and January club meetings and online at www.santacruzflyfishing.org/product-category/annual-fundraiser/. There is room for 160 people and we are going to sell out so buy your tickets soon.
ALCHOHOL: The facility has a full bar with reasonable prices for wine, beer, liquor and sodas. You may bring wine to the event, however you will pay a corkage fee at the bar to open it and provide wine glasses. The Bar only accepts cash.
VOLUNTEERS: Many long-term club members say that the best part of our event is the time volunteering, and working with others to put the whole event together. Contact Kevin McClish at (831) 338-4513 or kbmcclish@hotmail.com (no text please) to find out how you can best help.
DONATIONS: Our club would be grateful for donations to be used as raffle prizes at our annual fundraiser. Examples: flies you have tied, other handcrafted items, business services, personal services such as fly-tying lessons, casting lessons, etc. If you have such a contribution, please contact our Scott Kitayama, at (650)279-5871.
RAFFLE TICKETS: Can will be sold at the event. Two door prizes of 50 raffle tickets will be awarded, which should increase your chances of winning. There will be silent auction items as well.
ABOUT THE ROD AND GUN CLUB: it’s located in a rural setting overlooking Kelley lake. The parking lot is gravel so not a problem if it’s raining. There is additional parking at lower lots if you go around the left side of the building.
SO ALL IN ALL, COME SUPPORT YOUR CLUB, AND DON’T MISS OUT ON THE FUN.
Ticket purchasers : ( 180 as of Jan 28)
- j. Ainsworth(1)
- J.Alba(2)
- M.Alciata(1)*
- R.Amirsehhi(2)
- G.Billings(1)
- S.Bishop(1)*
- D. Belville (1)
- G.Boero(1)
- E.Bonanno(1)
- J. Brewer (4)
- B.Burt (2)
- R. Chace (2)*
- R. Chace (1)
- B. Ciapponi(1)*
- C.Codiga(1)
- J. Cook (2)
- J.Collins(1)
- P.Coelho(2)*
- M. Converse (2)
- M.Curtis(2)
- G. Cumming(1)*
- N.DeGuzman(1)
- J.Dellamonica(1)
- D. Eaton (2)*
- J. Eichhorn (1)*
- K. Escobar (2)
- G.Estrada(1)
- R. Ethrington (2)*
- F. Farias (2)
- R. Farren (2)
- A.Ferber(2)*
- B.Garbarino(1)
- J. Goyert (1)
- J.Gosciminski(2)
- S.Harris(4)
- H. Hassani (1)
- M. Hermansky (1)*
- M.Honda(1)
- J. Hopkins (4)
- W. Hopkins (2)
- T.Hoyge(3)*
- C.Hughes(2)*
- R.Hughett(2)
- B. Kemp (2)*
- S. Kitayama (2)
- M.Kite(2)
- P. llic (2)
- T.Loomis(2)*
- G. Lund (1)
- E.McCarter(2)
- J.McKeon(1)
- R.Mcpherson(2)
- J. Mello lll (2)
- M..Montero(2)
- K.Morrison(2)
- K. Murdock (5)*
- B. Murphy (1)*
- P. Osman(2)
- B.Palmer(2)
- S. Pappas (2)*
- B. Peterson (1)
- H.Petrakis(1))
- G. Pike jr (2)
- G. Pike (2)*
- T.Polito(1)
- K. Powers (3)*
- A. Presser (2)
- P. Purtscher (1)*
- S.Rawson(2)
- S.Redfield(1)
- S.Rittenhouse(2)
- G.Quail(1)*
- R. Ransdell (1)*
- R. Reed (2)
- J. Register (3)
- J.Rosendale(1)
- W.Rimassa(4)
- B. Seaman (1)*
- C.Severs((2)
- L. Shaw (1)
- M. Sherwood (2)
- P.Shields(3)
- G.Slay(4)
- D. South (2)
- R. Squier (2)
- C. Stipes (2)
- J.Stoik(2)
- W. Taguinod (1)
- W. Taguinod (3)
- R.Thompson(7)
- B.Ticknor(1)
- J. Tolonen (1)
- P. Torie(1)*
- R.Turnquist(2)
- M. Twisselman (2)
- M.Watson(2)
- D. Witmer (4)
- J. Wolfe (2)
- J.Zenner(2)*
Asterisk means that the person paid by cash or check. Did not purchase through website.
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
February Meeting – New Member Orientation and Hangout
Feb 05 6:45 PM at the Aptos Grange
We are not going to have an “official meeting” in February since we have just had the Annual Fundraiser the Saturday before. However, we have already rented the Aptos Grange for Feb 5th and so we are going to open it up for a hang out. There will be a couple of different groups meeting there that night.
New Member Orientation: This is open to anyone, but is primarily meant for people who have joined in the last year. Opportunity to meet other new members, talk about your fishing goals and learn how to get the most out of the club.
Women’s Group Meetup: This is an opportunity for women in the club to be able to meet each other, discuss fishing opportunities and ways to make the club more welcoming to the fastest growing segment of fly fishing.
| Date | Monthly Speaker | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 05 | Jim Cox - Western Rivers Conservancy | Jim Cox joined Western Rivers Conservancy in 2011 and is the Director of Donor Relations. He has more than 40 years of experience working professionally in the nonprofit sector. Jim joining the club to discuss how Western Rivers Conservancy works to restore and protect rivers through the Western US. |
| Apr 02 | Rob Anderson - New Pyramid Lake Strategies | Rob Andersen, owner and operator of Bucket List Fishing, join the club to share his expertise on new techniques for fishing Pyramid Lake and Peacock Bass in Brazil. Zoom Recording Link |
| May 07 | Lance Gray - Steelheading on the Feather | We’re excited to welcome Lance Grey, longtime friend of the club and owner/operator of Lance Grey & Company, to speak with us about some of Northern California’s most renowned fisheries, including Lake Almanor and the Feather River. Lance has spent years exploring and guiding in these waters, and his deep knowledge of these rivers and lakes will give us invaluable insights into fishing techniques, seasonal patterns, and how to make the most of your time on these iconic fisheries. |
| Jun 04 | Jesse Collins - Entymology | Our own Jesse Collins is going to give a presentation on stream entomology (study of insects). Not only will this help you understand the insects that are around the streams, but also a discussion of the flies that imitate them and how to fish them. Zoom Recording Link |
Posted on January 23rd, 2025
Mammoth Fishout – September 20 to September 27 and September 27 to October 4.
DATES: This fish out will take place over two consecutive one week periods. You may sign up for one or both weeks.
LOCATION: The town of Mammoth Lakes is located on the eastern side of the Sierra, 6-7 hour drive from Santa Cruz. there are numerous lakes and streams in the area to fish.
GENERAL: We will be staying in condominiums in the town of Mammoth Lakes. The condo has a lovely hot tub, so bring your suit. Two people per bedroom. Most people bring a sleeping bag to share the queen size bed, or one person a pad and sleeping bag to sleep on the floor.
COST: $500 per week, $1000 for two. This will include room and board.
FOOD PREPARATION: Breakfast and lunch items will be purchased by the fishmaster ahead of time. Each person will be assigned a kitchen day. On that day, tasks will include setting out breakfast and lunch items, store unused food, and prepare the evening meal and clean up afterwards. That person will also purchase the food for the dinner meal which will be reimbursed for the cost.
Posted on January 9th, 2025
Quigley Cripple BWO
The Quiggly represents an emerging mayfly that is dressed in an unusual manner to make the rear end of the tail hang down in the water and the thorax and wing out of the water. Apply saliva to the body and tail, then floatant to the wing and hackle. During a hatch, fish tend to be more eager to take an Emerger than a Dun because they are not ready to fly off.
HOOK: TMC 100, sizes 14 16 18.
THREAD: 8/0 or 12/0 (Preferable for the smaller sized hooks).
TAIL and BODY: gray Marabou (fluffy).
THORAX: dark olive dubbing
WING: deer hair with narrow fibers
HACKLE: grizzly.
1. Crimp barb.
2. Attach thread behind eye, wrap to rear of shank with touching wraps.
3. Select 3 to 5 barbs of marabou, cut from stem, tie in with tips extending hook shank length to rear. Tie down with 2 thread wraps forward, then fold marabou backward and make two thread wraps backward.
4. Make dubbing loop with marabou. Wrap thread forward to 1/3 back on shank.
5. Gently twist dubbing loop into rope. Wrap forward with touching wraps up to hanging thread.
6. Dub a round thorax that surrounds a section of the shank starting 1/4 back and ending 1/2 back..
7. Select small bundle of deer hair. Clean out under fur, stack tips. Lay on top of shank, tips out over eye that measure shank length in front of thorax.
8. Tie in by making first wrap around only hair fibers and second wrap around both fibers and hook shank. Make several snug wraps on top of one another. Make one wrap around base of wing to bundle it, then one more wrap around shank. Cut butt ends so that they just cover thorax.
9. Reposition hook with eye tipped upward.
10. Select hackle with barbs one and a half hook gap. Cut off fuzzy end. Cut 5 to 6 barbs short along base of stem on each side forming a “crew cut“. Holding feather tip to rear, dark shiny side towards you, crew cut both behind I and wing. Tie in crew cut behind wing with two wraps, then two wraps between eye and wing. Position thread between wing and cut butts. Make 3 to 5 hackle wraps in the same place around deer hair and shank. Tie off cut access.
11. Have hitch behind eye.
12. If tail longer than hook shank length, pinch marabou to cut (don’t use scissors).
Posted on December 29th, 2024
Fish Stories from our members
Jan 08 6:45 PM at the Aptos Grange
Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89352294939
Let’s start the new year by listening to stories from your fellow club members. First fish, biggest fish, funniest story, who knows what we will hear.
For those of you who want to see what people did in 2024, please spend time looking at the pictures and captions on the club’s website: www.santacruzflyfishing.org . Viewing is best done on a full screen computer and when you click on the picture, you get a larger image and the full description. Images are sorted chronologically and hitting the ‘Load More’ button at the bottom of the page will show pictures from earlier in the year. Also, please share your pictures with others by sending them to Jerry at metropolitantrout@gmail.com.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
PHW 2025 Activity Calendar – rev 1
NOTE: If the schedule is not displayed, please click link to open it.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
Fishout Schedule
The newsletter provides brief fishout info. For full detail, go to the website menu and select EVENTS -> Fishout Schedule
| Date | Link (new tab) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 12 6:00 am - 1:00 pm | Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie) | Stand by as dates and details to be updated as the days get longer and warmer! Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama Location: Kelly Lake in Watsonville (Private lake limited to 6 people) Species: bass, crappie, bluegill Duration: 1 day Registration and Cost: No Cost, but you must contact Scott as the number of people fishing is limited. Contact at scottkitayama@gmail.com. Addtional Details & Confirmation of dates to be updated - Stay tuned Meeting time and place: Scott will directly be in contact with those that are coming on the Fishout. Equipment: Need to have float tube or kayak to fish the lake. [...] |
| Apr 18 - Apr 20 | Rooster Comb Ranch – UPDATED – | 23rd Annual Bass Fishout at Roostercomb Ranch 3/04/2025 - SOLD OUT - If you are still interested, contact the Fish Master to be added to the wait list (contact information below) This is our club's 23rd annual bass Fishout to the Roostercomb Ranch since year 2000. This sprawling private ranch is located adjacent to Henry Coe State Park, off Hwy 152 entrance in Hollister near Casa de Fruta Restaurant. It's a 22-mile off-road trek through the backcountry from the park entrance. This requires a 3-day weekend commitment. Accommodations are a 1928 ranch house and bunk house with options to tent [...] |
| Apr 26 - May 03 12:00 am | Green River – Utah | Green River - Utah Currently this trip is at maximum capacity. For wait list options or updates, please contact the Fishmaster Rick chace rchace@got.net General Information - It is necessary for us to pay upfront to reserve the accommodations. The club's standard approach to this is for each angler to pay his individual portion of the rental fee for sleeping accommodations. Each angler will be responsible for the weekly rate of $300. This is a nonrefundable fee. If an angler decides not to attend, they are responsible to sell their portion to another angler or forfeit their portion of the [...] |
| May 10 5:45 am - 10:00 am | Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout | First Surf Fishout of 2025! Saturday May 10th 2025 5:45AM Location: Rio Del Mar State Beach |
| May 16 - May 19 | Upper Sacramento River / McCloud Fishout – UPDATED – | This Fishout’s final date is still TBD and subject to river flows as we get closer to spring. The upper Sac. has excellent access via. Hwy 5 and by walking the railway tracks. Euro/High Stick/Indicator Nymphing is the go to. |
| Jun 02 - Jun 04 | Pyramid Lake Fishout | Fishmaster: Mike White Greetings fellow Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club Members I have been leading the Pyramid Lake fishing trip for the past ten years. It has always been a remarkable fish out, and one of the best attended too. However the past three years have been very challenging and we have not caught very many fish and people have come away disappointed with the outcome. That leads me to a new discovery about how to fish Pyramid Lake. Jeff Goyertte, a club member and our raffle coordinator took a trip to the lake and fished with Rob Anderson, a [...] |
| Jun 07 5:15 am - 10:00 am | Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout | Location: Manresa State Beach (Ocean View Drive, La Selva Beach Parking Lot) Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: NO Limit Cali Surf Style Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket making tutorials online) Flies: Clousers, wooly buggers, sand crabs, etc. https://www.lostcoastoutfitters.com/collections/surf-flies What to Expect: Good Times Meet at 5:15AM Sunrise is 5:47AM and [...] |
| Jun 20 - Jun 22 | Burney and Around – UPDATED – | Date and description subject to change due to seasonal conditions Please Stay Tuned Fishmaster: Alex Ferber Location: Lakes, rivers and streams of the Burney area Species: Trout Duration: 3 Days Cost: No Cost Meet Up: Date of Fishout TBD and subject to change due seasonal conditions Hat Creek Park off Hy 299 (See the map below). The park is approximately 10 minutes from the highway 299/80 junction. The park is on the left hand side going east on 299. If you google Hat Creek Park, it should show up. This meet up will be a general discussion with your Fishmaster [...] |
| Jun 22 - Jun 28 12:00 am | Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 22th – 28th 2025 | The Lake Almanor Fishout is scheduled for the last week of June, 6/22 thru 28th, 2025. This time period is, hopefully, the peak of the annual Hexagenia hatch that begins generally mid-June and runs through mid-July. The most productive fishing takes place early evenings on into past dark between Lake Almanor West to Canyon Dam on the Southwest side of the lake. Most of the fishing is done from float tubes as well as small boats or even from shore. In addition to the evening "Hex" hatch, a multitude of opportunities exist for fishing throughout the day to include Little [...] |
| Jul 05 5:20 am - 10:00 am | Beer Can Beach Surf Fishing – UPDATED – | Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 5:20 am. Location: Beer Can Beach (AKA Summer Beach) - Staircase at 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos (no bathrooms) Fish Master: Scott Kitayama / scottkitayama@gmail.com Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Meet at 5:20AM. Sunrise is at 5:53 and we are fishing a 3-foot tidal crest, high tide being 8: 55AM. Breakfast at Mike Lovejoy’s house, 115 Driftwood Ct, Aptos, please RSVP by July 3rd to mikelovejoy94@gmail.com. Coffee at 8:00am and breakfast served 8:30-9:30. Park on the street. Hot water available for hand wash. Hose available for rinsing equipment. |
| Jul 07 6:00 am | Loreto Fly Fishing Trip | Loreto Mexico Details to be finalized and date to be confirmed The fishing day starts around 6:00 a.m. and we usually get back to the harbor between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. Spend the rest of the afternoon fishing from the beach, having a cool drink in the pool, exploring Loreto, or just sitting around telling some tall fish stories. And, you will have many exciting moments on the Sea of Cortez to talk about. The approximate cost for everything but meals and airfare is: *$995.00 per person, double occupancy; around $460.00 for a non-fishing guest. - It does not include [...] |
| Aug 09 5:45 am - 8:30 am | Palm Beach Surf Fishout w/ coffee and snacks afterwards | Fishmaster : Scott Kitayama Contact info: scotttkitayama@gmail.com Location: Palm Beach State Park Date High Tide Low Tide Sun Moon AM ft PM ft AM ft PM ft Rise Set 9 Sat 12:06 PM 4.0 10:53 5.5 5:25 -0.7 4:46 2.4 6:19 8:06 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: NO Limit Cali Surf Style Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many [...] |
| Aug 23 5:45 am - 10:30 am | Palm Beach Surf Fishout – CO Fishout with The Fresno Fly Fishers | Location: Palm Beach State Park (End of Beach Rd. In front of the state park) Location subject to change depending on conditions. Updates to be provided. Stay tuned Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 6:29AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 11:57AM. Fish Master: Justin Ice / justin@schwagerdavis.com / 408-690-6143 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Fresno Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing and all are welcome to join https://flyfishers.clubexpress.com/ Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket [...] |
| Sep 06 6:00 am - 10:00 am | Beer Can Beach Surf Fishing – CO Fishout with The San Jose Fly Fishing Club | Location: Beer Can Beach (AKA Summer Beach) - Staircase at 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos Fish Master:Michael Lovejoy <mikelovejoy94@gmail.com> Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: RSVP For Breakfast by 5:00pm September 3nd Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket making tutorials online) Flies: Clousers, wooly buggers, sand crabs, etc. Steve Adachi Clouser What to Expect: Meet at [...] |
| Sep 20 - Oct 04 12:00 am | Mammoth Fishout -Sept. 20-Oct. 4th | Fall trout fishing in streams and lakes. Trip is for seven days and the participants share a condo in Mammoth Lakes. |
| Oct 04 5:45 am - 10:30 am | Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout – CO Fishout with The Delta Fly Fishers | Location: Manresa State Beach (Ocean View Drive, La Selva Beach Parking Lot) Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 7:04AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 9:28AM. Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Delta Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY [...] |
| Oct 04 5:45 am - 10:30 am | Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout – CO Fishout with The Delta Fly Fishers | Location: Manresa State Beach (236 Ocean View Drive Parking Lot) Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 7:04AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 9:28AM. Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Delta Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket [...] |
| Oct 16 - Oct 20 | O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout October 16-20th | Camping and striped bass fishing at the O'Neil Forebay. |
| Nov 07 - Nov 09 12:00 am | Trinity River Fishout | Target: Steelhead and trout. Contact Alex Ferber if you are interested in going on the trip, text Alex at (831) 419-0564 or alex.ferber74@gmail.com. |
Posted on December 27th, 2024
2025 Membership renewal is winding down
As of Dec 18th we have 160 members who have renewed their 2025 membership with another 50 renewals coming in the next few weeks We do plan to send out a draft roster and print next years Roster in mid January, so members are encouraged to renew their membership in the next few weeks to be included in 2025 Roster. Members who do no renew will be placed in an inactive file and will not receive the monthly newsletter.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
Making our Annual Fundraiser the best ever
We want to be sure to have raffle and silent auction prizes that appeal to everyone and many attendees don’t fly fish. We would like you go to your favorite businesses and ask for donations for the fundraiser, below is a list of companies that HAVE ALREADY donated to our 2025 fundraiser. Click here for a PDF link to a “Request for Donation” letter and a “fill in the blank” gift certificate. I hope that by filling in the name of the business, signing your name, and writing a short note on the letter, it will help make it easier to ask. Remember, we are asking for help to fund donations to local environmental organizations and student scholarships.
We are blessed to be getting gift certificates for the fundraiser and are looking to get more. Here are some who have already donated:
| Bayside Marine Bookshop Santa Cruz Cafe Cruz The Farm Bakery Cafe Cruz Riverside Lighting | Stagnaro Charters H&H Fish Johnny’s Harborside Pajaro Valley Golf Course AdamsBuilt MasterCleaners | Pacific Golf Center Trout Spot Fly Shop Central Coast Fly Shop TFO CA Sportfishing Protection |
If you do frequent any of these companies, please thank them for their generosity. And finally, you can help by attending the event! Remember, you can’t win the great prizes unless you are present.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
Profile–California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) is a collection of committed activists with extensive experience and expertise in the trenches of the administrative, and judicial processes affecting fisheries, water rights, and water quality. These are these arenas in which defenders of the public interest and the public trust win or lose the battles to protect the fisheries and water quality of our waterways.
California has many laws protecting fisheries and water quality but a poor track record of enforcing them. CSPA monitors the water rights and water quality processes, and where necessary, enforces laws enacted to protect the aquatic environment. They have developed working relationships with state and federal agencies and legislators, and they closely collaborate with other fishing and environmental organizations. CSPA’s work covers the following important areas affecting California’s fisheries.
Clean Water Law Enforcement—This includes stopping stormwater pollution, wastewater pollution and agricultural pollution.
Balance the Water Budget—Areas of focus are reforming water rights, stopping the Sites Reservoir project, enforcing state doctrines and planning for drought.
Save the Bay-Delta Estuary—Priorities are stopping the Delta Tunnel, restoring the rule of law and completing the Bay-Delta Plan.
Protect Rivers from Hydropower Dams—Key strategies are leveraging hydropower licensing, removing obsolete dams and protecting the Clean Water Act Section 401.
Improve Fisheries Management—CSPA states that 83% of California’s native fisheries are at risk of extinction. To combat the fisheries decline, CSPA is working to increase natural production, modernize hatcheries and promote equitable access.
Through the hard work and commitment of the staff at CSPA, we can know that they are acting on our behalf to help to restore healthy habitats for native fish—including Chinook salmon and steelhead.
Go to https://calsport.org/ for more in-depth information on CSPA.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
Date: None
Time: Not applicable
Place: Not applicable
Posted onNo fly tying class in January 2025
FLY TYING CLASS MESSAGES :
Sorry folks, we won’t be having a class in January because the first is New Year’s Day.Therefore, the club meeting will be held on the second Wednesday of the month.
Here is a big thank you to all of you who helped with the classes this year. Some of you were instructors and others helped beginners foregoing tying your own fly. Club members truely appreciate your help and guidance.
Looking forward: the class in February will be Gino’s Midge Emerger, as usual on the second Wednesday of the month. In March, we will have our annual popper class on the weekend of the 15th and 16th. Limited space so sign up early.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
What is your 2025 fly fishing journey?
The holidays zipped by, and here we are in 2025! Before diving into the hustle of the new year, take a moment to think about a few things you’d like to explore on your fly fishing journey this year. I prefer the word “journey” over “goal” because fly fishing offers endless chances to learn new skills and embrace fresh experiences.
For our club, the journey is about fostering fellowship among members through education, promotion, and the enjoyment of fly fishing. We’re kicking things off with an exciting dinner event on February 1—I hope it’s on your calendar! Be sure to grab your tickets soon; we’ve already sold half of them, and they’re going fast. Throughout the year, we’re aiming to adapt and create more events that help members connect, meet new people, and find others with similar interests. These include gatherings at general meetings, fly-tying sessions, or fishing outings. If you have suggestions for ways to encourage socialization, please let us know.
On a personal note, my fly fishing journey this year includes visiting my brother in Hawaii and catching a bonefish. I’ve heard that bonefishing in Hawaii is particularly challenging, so I plan to ease into it. First, I’ll fish for bonefish in a location known for easier success, and before that, I’ll practice sight fishing for carp to sharpen my skills. This step-by-step journey is not just about fishing; it’s about learning, discovering new places, and connecting with other people along the way. I can’t wait to see where it leads.
NOTE: In 2025, the column “President’s Line” is changing to “My Turn” where each month a member of the Board of Directors can share his/her thoughts.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
January Raffle
As a repeated reminder, the January Fly Club monthly meeting is being held on Wednesday the 8th of January rather than the normal first Wednesday of the month which in this case is New Years Day. Anyone who shows up on the first, have fun in the parking lot.
On the bright side is we all have an extra week to save up a few more bucks to buy lucky tickets for our great raffle.
Take a look at this Vector 1000 Amp portable jumper with 120 psi compressor. Deep in the boonies, low tire or dead battery, no problem. It even will keep your cell phone charged!
How about this 42 0z. Rambler mug from Yeti. Keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. Environment friendly reusable straw.
We will also have up for grabs winners choice of a 6wt, 7wt, or 8wt V-Access 9 foot 4 section Rod with matching reel.
Includes zipper top courdra covered tube hard case.
And don’t forget, we will have some great door prizes. Everybody gets a free ticket!
Raffle tickets are a dollar each, 20 bucks gets you 25. Raffle monies help support our conservation efforts and our scholarship program. Must be present to win.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
2025 Annual Fundraiser
Tickets on sale now for the 2025 Annual Dinner & Fundraiser! Dinner is only $40 per person with Incredible raffle and silent auction of fly fishing items and more. Click here for detailed information about the event along with a list current attendees. Over half the tickets have already been sold! Click here to purchase tickets.
Posted on December 27th, 2024
January 2025 Table of Contents
2025 Annual Fundraiser………………
January Monthly Meeting: Fish Stories from our members……………………
January Raffle……………………
My Turn……………………………
Fly Tying……………………
No Fly Tying Class in January
Fly of the Month: Quigley Cripple BWO
Conservation Concerns……………
Profile: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Membership Notes…………………
Club Activities – January
Making our Annual Fundraiser the best ever
2025 Membership renewal is winding down
Gearing Up ……………………
Fishout Schedule
Fishing Partners…………………
Project Healing Water 2025 schedule
Cartoon ……………………
Posted on December 27th, 2024
Fin Flutter
Posted on December 26th, 2024