GOOD NEWS: Big club fishout at Pyramid Lake the first week in April. ? BAD NEWS: There will be no online raffle Prior to the April meeting.? HOWEVER: There will be a raffle, and door prizes, at the April 6 meeting held at the Aptos Grange starting at 6:30 pm.?
Take a look at these great raffle prizes.
Let’s start with 200 plus pages of beautiful trout artwork by world renounded artist James Prosek. His famous work “Trout of the World” deserves a special spot on any fly fisher’s book shelf.
Next take a look at this custom wood laminated release net. Perfect size for serious trout and Black bass as well as school sized stripers. Low visibility soft vinyl netting is gentle on the catch. Included is a magnetic release and a carbineer clipped tether cord.
Classic is a word that comes to mind when describing this St.Croix “Triumph” rod. It is a 4 weght eight foot medium/fast action 4 piece rod perfect for small stream trout. It is match with a Sougayilang CNC machined aluminum alloy reel for light weight and balance.
Great prizes to win, come to the meeting and buy some tickets; ones dollar each, twenty bucks gets you 25.
If you enjoyed receiving items from Doug’s estate at the January and March club meetings, you will have the opportunity to do that again at both the April club meeting. His desire was that club members would have the opportunity to receive his fishing belongings . Some will be in raffles but those at the club meeting in April will be free for the taking. Donations will be welcomed if you so choose. The pictures show a lot of the items that will be up for grabs . The doors will open at 6 PM at the Grange and the meeting will start at 6:30. Don’t miss out come early to choose what you would like. The meeting will also be via zoom, so if you wish to come for some donated items and then go home to do a zoom meeting, that will be fine.
April showers bring May flowers. What does May flowers bring? Pilgrims.
We can only hope for April showers, given California is once again entering another few years of low water (drought).
Isn’t pilgrim a funny word? Who came up with that one? We never use that word to define someone entering a country anymore. Sound more diffusing, comforting, than the words immigrant or migrant. Writing this caused me to look up the word. I figured it was just because they were people discovering a new country. Turns out, it is “a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons”. As in the English Puritans fleeing religious persecution on the Mayflower and landed here in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.
A person who travels on long journeys – pilgrimage.
I like traveling on long journeys for fly-fishing reasons, which we could all argue are in fact religious. Aren’t they?
Don’t we all meditate, flee reality, think deeply, clear our minds, take deep breaths, sigh a big relief, love friends, love the outdoors, and pray considerably in all manners of the exercise of this sport?
How many times I’ve asked God for just one fish, or for my son, my daughter, my wife, my friend, to catch a fish while we are out. So they know how exciting it really is to cause one of these creatures to take this bundle of fur and feather on a tiny hook, bring it to hand, admire it’s beauty. The enormous power we have over it, but how gently and carefully we act to watch it swim away. That feeling when it has left our hands. A gift it was to us, and a gift we gave back so that it could continue living.
How many times I’ve stopped, looked around, shook my head and sometimes cried because I couldn’t believe how beautiful it is where I am standing, with whom I’m standing, and how fortunate I was to be there. How hard it was to get there and how many times I figured I might not get there. But oh how worth it, it was, and how you couldn’t imagine making another decision, glad you did. If it was easy, everyone would do it, and it just wouldn’t feel the same – would it?
A pilgrimage, perhaps several, is necessary for all of us. Living – I mean really living – requires them. Some of them are small – perhaps a morning, an afternoon, or an evening. Some, you make sacrifices, working hard for several months, several years, perhaps much of your life. You save, plan, organize, and maybe you pray it all works out. You battle, ‘should I go, or should I not go.’ Sometimes over and over again. Sometimes in the middle of the night when work, family, or something else stirs you to thinking you shouldn’t go. You pray it’s the right decision to take the time and go. Some might say it’s just fishing – and aren’t you lucky, or they tell you there are other, more important things you should be doing. But there aren’t. This is it.
You know when you’ve left, when your feet are finally in the water, all of those things you battled before you made the trip, are gone. In a second. They washed away as soon as you stepped in the water. Your first cast makes you take a deep breath, exhale, and you feel an enormous weight lifted; gone. Your focus turns completely to that bundle of fur and feather, ten, thirty, sixty feet away from you, drifting in the column of water. Nothing else comes to mind but that tiny little bundle at the end of that line, in that body of water, on this entire planet. Nothing. You wait, you watch, you listen. You pray.
When I was a kid, my pilgrimages where to my Gram’s Cottage on the weekends, leaving school, my paper-route, and any issues my parents might have, grabbing my Ugly Stick, tackle box and heading for the water. Even those were tough to get to at times. As we “mature”, pilgrimages seem to get larger, a bit more involved, riskier. As they should. But I suppose the more grand the adventure, the more religious, the experience.
I really didn’t mean to write this with pilgrims or pilgrimage in mind. It was the fact it was raining, that we haven’t had any rain, and my hope for April showers, and maybe even some May and June showers, would help us get through another low water year. But I learned a bit more about pilgrims and pilgrimages.
And while it was certainly not a need to flee religious persecution, or flee for any reason, I’m not often given an opportunity to take some time and plant my feet in a big river for a few days. So, at this writing, I’m making a bit of a pilgrimage to the Rogue to fish with Kait and James from Humble Heron Fly-Fishing, casting my thirteen six, eight weight spey rod, swinging big flies for steelhead. Grateful for Rich’s invite, even though he cannot make it, which I will miss a lot. But, I certainly cannot wait to get in the truck with Mike, and get my feet in the water, feel everything wash away, take a deep breath, focus on that bundle of fur and feathers and pray for the opportunity to bring a Steelhead to hand, witness a beauty all its own, and know that feeling of letting it slip out of my hands, back to the water it belongs to. Maybe a few times!
Each one of them changes you. Recharges, renews you. Make a pilgrimage or twelve.
Green drakes are a mayfly that hatches out in June and early July in the western United States. We will be tying the adult version. This is a large mayfly and should work well via zoom. And for you who are new to our fly tying classes, all materials except for thread are provided for the class which is free. 6/0 thread will be used in this class. If you need to borrow tools vise and or thread, that can be made available to you. Beginners are always welcome, but need a little instruction ahead of time via FaceTime. Call to sign up and a packet of materials will be put at my front door for you. 831-688-1561
Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to URL to see the current information.
There are 15 species of callibaetis in the western United States in Canada. They emerge in spring, summer and fall, and are usually larger in the spring and smaller in the fall. Their distinguishing features are two tails, tan under body and modeled wings. They prefer still water but can be found in slow moving water as well. Use a floating line, apply floatant, leave still on water or dead drift. HOOK: TMC 100. Sizes 12-16. Crimp Barb. Crimp Barb. THREAD: Tan 8/0 Apply mid shank. Wrap forward to 1/3 back on shank. Cut thread tag. WING: Hungarian Partridge Using two feathers, pull barbs off base of feather until a narrow fan is formed. Length of fan should equal hook shank length. Attach feather to top of shank tips, forward and stems to rear , at junction of feather and stem. Pull feathers upright and make several wraps in front to hold in place. Tie down 1/8 inch of stems behind wing cut access. Make several thread wraps around base of wing to hold upright. Wrap thread to rear of shank. TAIL: dun microfibetts Make thread ball with 8 to 10 X thread wraps on top of one another. Wrap thread forward 1/3 of shank. Select 6-8 fibers(keep tips lined up). Lay on top of shank, tips extending well to rear. Tie to shank with four touching three thread wraps toward ball. Pull fibetts forward to make tail equal to shank length. Divide fibetts with bodkin. Pull the fibetts on far side away from shank and slightly upward, take one thread wrap toward ball. Grab remaining fibetts, pull them toward you and slightly downward. Take another wrap of thread toward ball. Repeat last two steps a couple more times. Ending at the ball. Cut access. BODY: Tan super fine dubbing Advance thread one wrap. Dub a narrow tapered body up to wing. HACKLE: Grizzly, barbs equal to hook gap Form a crew cut at butt end of feather by cutting 5 to 6 barbs short on each side of stem. Tie crew cut in at base of wing with dark side of feather toward you and tip to rear. THORAX: Tan super find dubbing Dub around base of wing. Taper dubbing forward to one hook eye length behind eye. Spiral hackle forward, two wraps behind wing, to in front of wing. Tie off cut access. Tie thread head. Whip finish, cut thread.
It’s amazing how much plastic is a part of our world. It’s hard to imagine how we could go about our daily lives without the utility and convenience it provides. However, our planet is becoming overwhelmed with plastic—especially in our oceans. Here are some statistics that appeared in a recent article in Fishbio titled “Toxic Soup in the Plastic Age”.
By the year 2050, the amount of plastic in the world’s oceans may outweigh all of the fish combined.
Plastic use will triple in use by 2050
Almost a third of the plastic produced each year is not disposed of, and much of it eventually makes its way to the sea
Plastic is ingested by more than 700 species of marine wildlife including fish, birds, and marine mammals
Once present in the food web, plastic particles can end up in market species such as tuna, and eventually humans
They tiny pieces of plastic that result from degradation can persist for hundreds to thousands of years
Our country disposes of 30 billion plastic bottles a year
This all sounds overwhelming and we are going to drown in our own creation. So, what can we do? Here are ideas from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
After nearly 5 years of serving as President, Tom Hogye, will be stepping down at the end of 2022. I told the board that I would run for the President position in 2023 if we could find someone(s) to take over the newsletter. Please take a look and see if you or someone you know in the club is willing to help.
The Newsletter Editor is an SCFF Board Position that is responsible for acquiring, editing, and laying out the award-winning Santa Cruz Fly Fishing newsletter. The contents of the newsletter comes from other board members responsible for speakers, fly-tying, conservation, fish-outs, membership, as well as contribution from members at-large. The editing takes about 2-4 hours around around the 3rd weekend of the month. The Editor needs to be proficient with computers, email, and web-based word processors. Experience with WordPress is a plus.
The Online Content Publisher can also be a Board Position working closely with the Newsletter Editor to ensure the timely distribution of the monthly newsletter. The Publisher updates SCFF’s WordPress website to ensure the the monthly newsletter is available online. The publisher will also create and distribute the notification email to the membership with pertinent information such as speaker, raffle prizes and fly tying. Publishing is done around the 4th Wednesday of the month after completion of editing and takes 2-3 hours. The Publisher needs to be proficient as the Admin for WordPress or other website-building systems.
If you have any interest in helping, please contact Scott Kitayama at scottkitayama@gmail.com. BTW/ if you have a child or grandchild who is proficient with technologies, this might be a great activity to add to the resume.
The cabins generally roll over annually with returning guests from the previous year. The Hogye’s will be in Cabin 11. Rates range from $115 – 260 per night depending upon the size and number of rooms/beds. These are rustic cabins but have bathroom, shower, kitchen/kitchenettes depending on how big/small the cabin is. Team up!
Campgrounds immediately south of KM (1/2 a mile and 1 mile) are Deadman and Baker. They are recommended for anyone wanting to join us. Usually about $30.00 per site/per night. Some have a “golden pass” which is a sizable discount if you have that. The campgrounds are very nice and are pretty much right on the river. Mona and I have camped here for some 30 years! Yikes.
Beside fishing, the hiking and horse pack trips are available up to the reservoir which is a couple miles and 2,500 feet of elevation gain. KM sits at 6,300 feet in elevation. No internet, no cell signal. Be prepared to “disconnect” and reconnect with nature and peace of mind, completely. The lodge has a great comfort food restaurant, store, and yes, there is a bonified Saloon.
The Upper Meadow at KM is stunning. If you like to hike – the trails up to the Emigrant wilderness junction the PCT when you get ot 10,000 feet and Relief Reservoir is a great fishery at 8,800 feet.
The Middle-Fork of the Stanislaus River flows along highway 108 It is primarily a planted fishery with some “wild” fish. Excellent dry fly and wet fly fishing. Planted fish average10-12 inches, wild fish generally smaller, but pretty. Planted fish range from 12-21 inches.
Weather is generally excellent, chilly Sierra mornings great for coffee and a book, with wet wading afternoons in the 80’s.
We will have meals together, fish together or alone, hang out by the campfire. I just LOVE this place.
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)
Single, double & triple fly rigs
Clousers to sand crabs
Directions: Take RDM Blvd all the way down to the flats (bottom), circle the round-about to the left and exit back along Beach Drive, drive half mile to the State Beach (aka Platform). DO NOT stop up by the round-about, be sure to continue on Beach Drive. Early in the morning the parking lot is closed, but there is plenty of parking outside.
SURF FISHOUTS 2024
Meeting Time (AM)
State Beach
Sunrise
Low tide
High tide
Moon
Tide flow
Fishmaster
MAY
4th
Saturday
5:55
Rio Del Mar
6:10
LO 02:14 +1.1
HI 07:58 AM +4.0
New Jun 7
Hi Flood to High Slack
Lance B
JUNE*
1st
Saturday
5:35
Beercan*
5:50
LO 01:12 +1.3
HI 06:39 +3.4
New Jun 6
High Slack to Ebb
Sam
JULY
6th
Saturday
5:40
Palm
5:56
LO 06:03 -1.1
HI 1:04 PM +3.7
New Jul 5
Low slack to Flood
Lance B
AUGUST
3rd
Saturday
6:00
Rio Del Mar
6:15
LO 05:05 -0.7
HI 11:54 AM +3.8
New Aug 4
Low slack to Flood
Lance B
SEPT
7th
Saturday
6:25
Manresa
6:44
LO 07:04 +1.8
HI 1:26 PM +4.6
New Sep 2
Low slack to low Flood
Sam
OCT
5th
Saturday
6:50
Palm
7:06
LO 05:50 + 2.1
HI Noon +5.0
New Oct 2
Low Flood
Sam
Notes:
Meet up times are scheduled 15 – 20 minutes before official sunrise.
Locations/dates/times/Fishmasters might change, notifications on Google Groups.
June 1st* Mike Lovejoy’s for breakfast after fishing: 115 Driftwood Ct., Aptos
Contacts:
Sam Bishop sambishop@totlcom.com, 831-274-4024
Lance Boling <clboling@gmail.com>
Locations
Rio Del Mar State Beach – Google Map location for “Platform Beach”
Beercan Beach* – Enter 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos. Path & Stairs between Houses (See Notes)
Palm Beach – Pajaro Dunes, end of West Beach St.
Manresa State Beach – Google it, but parking may be on Ocean View Dr, 500 yards down the road
Manresa State Beach (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Tommy Polito, Scott Kitayama
Location: Manresa State Beach
Target Species: Surf Perch and Stripers
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)
Single, double & triple fly rigs
Clousers to sand crabs
Directions: Take RDM Blvd all the way down to the flats (bottom), circle the round-about to the left and exit back along Beach Drive, drive half mile to the State Beach (aka Platform). DO NOT stop up by the round-about, be sure to continue on Beach Drive. Early in the morning the parking lot is closed, but there is plenty of parking outside.
SURF FISHOUTS 2024
Meeting Time (AM)
State Beach
Sunrise
Low tide
High tide
Moon
Tide flow
Fishmaster
MAY
4th
Saturday
5:55
Rio Del Mar
6:10
LO 02:14 +1.1
HI 07:58 AM +4.0
New Jun 7
Hi Flood to High Slack
Lance B
JUNE*
1st
Saturday
5:35
Beercan*
5:50
LO 01:12 +1.3
HI 06:39 +3.4
New Jun 6
High Slack to Ebb
Sam
JULY
6th
Saturday
5:40
Palm
5:56
LO 06:03 -1.1
HI 1:04 PM +3.7
New Jul 5
Low slack to Flood
Lance B
AUGUST
3rd
Saturday
6:00
Rio Del Mar
6:15
LO 05:05 -0.7
HI 11:54 AM +3.8
New Aug 4
Low slack to Flood
Sam
SEPT
7th
Saturday
6:25
Manresa
6:44
LO 07:04 +1.8
HI 1:26 PM +4.6
New Sep 2
Low slack to low Flood
Sam
OCT
5th
Saturday
6:50
Palm
7:06
LO 05:50 + 2.1
HI Noon +5.0
New Oct 2
Low Flood
Sam
Notes:
Meet up times are scheduled 15 – 20 minutes before official sunrise.
Locations/dates/times/Fishmasters might change, notifications on Google Groups.
June 1st* Mike Lovejoy’s for breakfast after fishing: 115 Driftwood Ct., Aptos
Contacts:
Sam Bishop sambishop@totlcom.com, 831-274-4024 Lance Boling <clboling@gmail.com>
Locations
Rio Del Mar State Beach – Google Map location for “Platform Beach”
Beercan Beach* – Enter 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos. Path & Stairs between Houses (See Notes)
Palm Beach – Pajaro Dunes, end of West Beach St.
Manresa State Beach – Google it, but parking may be on Ocean View Dr, 500 yards down the road
Mammoth Lakes (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: John Cook fishmaster-- (831)688-1561 or (831)234-6515
UPDATED – 4/24/2024 – Three spots open first week, second week is full.
Sign Ups: As a reminder, it is important to sign up early or this Fishout. Half of the spots have been filled.
Call John Cook letting him know which week, both or private room. Payment is required to secure our spot we need people to sign up as soon as possible. Should you need to cancel, you can find someone to take your place and get your money back.
Contact Ph # (831) 234-6515
Fishmasters: John & Elaine Cook
Dates: This Fishout will take place over two consecutive one-week periods. You may sign up for one or both weeks. Week 1: Sept 21 – Sept 28 . Week 2: Sept 28 – Oct 5.
Location: The town of Mammoth Lakes is located on the eastern side of the Sierra, 6 or 7 hours drive from Santa Cruz. There are many lakes and streams in the area to fish.
General: We will be staying in condominiums in the town of Mammoth Lakes. Condo has a lovely hot tub, so bring your suit. Two people per bedroom. Most people bring a sleeping bag to share queen size bed or a pad and sleeping bag to sleep on floor. A private room option is possible at an increased fee.
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 preparing the evening meal and clean up afterwards. Each person will be assigned a dinner that you will need to purchase and prepare. You will then be reimbursed for the cost for the dinner.
Oct 01 : O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout (Final Date TBD)
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
Event: O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout
Date: Date to be updated as we get closer to October
(I will be looking for a weekend with a ‘skinny’ moon, less night feeding for the fish)
Target Gamefish: Striped Bass
Location: Medeiros Campground located on the Southern Shoreline of the O’Neill Forebay, access off of Santa Nella Blvd. (Highway 33)
These are primitive campsites so bring your own water. There are tables, sun pavilions, and chemical toilets, or outhouses and fire rings. No open fires are allowed outside of the rings.
Typically we will be camping as close to site 29 as we can get. This is a first come, first serve campground, so no reservations are accepted. Float tubes can be launched near the campsites, but boats must be first inspected, then launched from the
San Luis Creek Boat launch. Boats may not be left on the lake overnight. Boaters would be wise to exit prior to the closing of the entry kiosk. The ranger can place a seal on your trailer, allowing you to bypass the inspection process the next morning.
The rangers at the kiosk by the Medeiros entrance may insist that your float tubes need inspection. make sure they’re clean & dry.
Equipment: 8wt rods with fast sinking lines. Some anglers will occasionally use a floating line with a ‘gurgler’ type fly
Flies: Lee Haskins San Luis smelt, ‘Deceiver’ type patterns in red, white, chartreuse, the aforementioned gurglers and poppers.
Float tubes (may require inspection for quagga mussels)
There will be a signup sheet at our September meeting. We’ll also create a list for those hoping to participate in a pot luck in honor of Steve ‘Stosh’ Rudzinski.
Weather conditions can vary dramatically, so it would behoove members to check prior to departure. You could email me or just get conditions on-line. High winds can cause the lake to be closed to all vessels.
This is one of our nearest Fishouts, with the possible payoff of a double digit fish! Don’t miss out!
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)
Single, double & triple fly rigs
Clousers to sand crabs
Directions: Take RDM Blvd all the way down to the flats (bottom), circle the round-about to the left and exit back along Beach Drive, drive half mile to the State Beach (aka Platform). DO NOT stop up by the round-about, be sure to continue on Beach Drive. Early in the morning the parking lot is closed, but there is plenty of parking outside.
SURF FISHOUTS 2024
Meeting Time (AM)
State Beach
Sunrise
Low tide
High tide
Moon
Tide flow
Fishmaster
MAY
4th
Saturday
5:55
Rio Del Mar
6:10
LO 02:14 +1.1
HI 07:58 AM +4.0
New Jun 7
Hi Flood to High Slack
Lance B
JUNE*
1st
Saturday
5:35
Beercan*
5:50
LO 01:12 +1.3
HI 06:39 +3.4
New Jun 6
High Slack to Ebb
Sam
JULY
6th
Saturday
5:40
Palm
5:56
LO 06:03 -1.1
HI 1:04 PM +3.7
New Jul 5
Low slack to Flood
Lance B
AUGUST
3rd
Saturday
6:00
Rio Del Mar
6:15
LO 05:05 -0.7
HI 11:54 AM +3.8
New Aug 4
Low slack to Flood
Sam
SEPT
7th
Saturday
6:25
Manresa
6:44
LO 07:04 +1.8
HI 1:26 PM +4.6
New Sep 2
Low slack to low Flood
Sam
OCT
5th
Saturday
6:50
Palm
7:06
LO 05:50 + 2.1
HI Noon +5.0
New Oct 2
Low Flood
Sam
Notes:
Meet up times are scheduled 15 – 20 minutes before official sunrise.
Locations/dates/times/Fishmasters might change, notifications on Google Groups.
June 1st* Mike Lovejoy’s for breakfast after fishing: 115 Driftwood Ct., Aptos
Contacts:
Sam Bishop sambishop@totlcom.com, 831-274-4024
Lance Boling <clboling@gmail.com>
Locations
Rio Del Mar State Beach – Google Map location for “Platform Beach”
Beercan Beach* – Enter 1191 Via Palo Alto, Aptos. Path & Stairs between Houses (See Notes)
Palm Beach – Pajaro Dunes, end of West Beach St.
Manresa State Beach – Google it, but parking may be on Ocean View Dr, 500 yards down the road
