2024 Annual Dinner & Fundraiser………………
General Meeting……………………
Lance Gray
December Raffle……………………
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
December Class: Trout Nugget
Fly of the Month: Tying Tips
Conservation Concerns……………
SCFF Volunteers on Little Arthur Creek
Membership Notes…………………
Club Activities – December
2024 membership renewals
Fishout Schedule…………………
Cartoon ……………………
Posted on November 29th, 2023
followed by
557 1/2 LAKEVIEW RD. , WATSONVILLE
ANNUAL. FUND RAISER COORDINATOR: DAVID SOUTH (831)713-5866 (831)234-0196
DINNER TICKETS: Are $40 and have already sold out..
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 Elaine Cook at (831)231-6515 or (831)-251-4741, or coookin@gmail.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 annual raffle coordinator Rick Chace, at (831)234-9200.
RAFFLE TICKETS: Can be purchased online when buying your dinner ticket (which will be issued at the door),or at our 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. Their insurance doesn’t permit us to bring alcohol. However, there is a cash bar where drinks and sodas can be purchased.
SO ALL IN ALL, COME SUPPORT YOUR CLUB, AND DON’T MISS OUT ON THE FUN.
Ticket purchasers : (as of Jan 25, 1:00 pm)
Asterisk means that the person paid by cash or check. Did not purchase through website.
Pajaro Valley Rod & Gun club is located 14 miles south of the Aptos Grange.
Posted on November 29th, 2023
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89352294939
During 2003, Lance and Kirsten Gray launched Lance Gray & Co., a full-service outfitter offering guided trips, fly-fishing schools, workshops and a travel agency. His guide service covers Lake Almanor, Manzanita Lake, and the Yuba, Lower Sac and Feather rivers. Lance is a signature tier for Aqua Flies, pro staff member for Sage and Rio and is a featured writer, with articles published in Angling Trade Magazine, California Fly Fisher, Fly Fishermen, Sierra Fisherman and Northwest Fly Fishing.
Lance and Kirsten together have more than a combined 50 years of experience in fly fishing. Lance started fly fishing with his father and brother Lincoln at age 7. In his teens, he began tying flies commercially for shops all around Northern California. During 1993, Lance and Kirsten started Saltwater Innovations, a manufacturer and distributor products for saltwater fly fishing. Lance’s Crystal Popper, Gray’s Billfish Fly, the KO Charlie line and the Raghead Crabs are all Saltwater Innovations products. Kirsten worked behind the scenes, handling day-to-day operations and running the manufacturing floor.
| Monthly Speaker | Date | Excerpt |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 03 | Club Meeting |
Posted on November 29th, 2023
What is the best way to win your own Christmas present? Buy a bunch of raffle tickets for the drawing at the meeting on Wednesday, December 6th!
Naughty or nice, Santa doesn’t care. Buy a raffle ticket and be a winner!
We just got in a bunch of really nice V-Access rods; 9 ft. 4 piece with hard chrome guides, AA cork handles, and K-carbon tube aluminum reel seats. They each include a hard protective zippered tube case. Each rod is paired with either an AG or Anatono matching reel.
TWO! rod/reel packages will be given away by winners choice. Pick between a 5 wt, 6wt,7wt, or 8wt. rod. There will be 4 different rods to choose from, a total of 2 two rod/reels will be awarded.
Wintertime fishing means Steelhead fishing which also means river wading.
When river wading for Steelhead or other creek and stream inhabitants it is always a good idea to make use of a quality wading staff. From Orvis we have an American-made collapsing wading staff which includes a heavy duty Orvis zinger tether and neoprene belt sheath. A great aid in keeping safe and stable on the water.
Speaking of wintertime fishing or even on a ladder in April at Pyramid, take a look at this quilted Primaloft insulated Gortex Veil Camo hat from Simms. Warm and waterproof with secure earflaps, this headgear will keep you on the fish during the worst weather out there. As is said,”Don’t change your plans, change your clothes “.
Don’t miss out on these great raffle prizes. Tickets are a dollar each, $20 bucks gets you 25. Click on the following link to purchase your lucky raffle tickets:
The online ticket sales office will close at noon on Wednesday the day of the Fly Club meeting. The drawing will take place at the monthly meeting (12/6/23) held at the Aptos Grange. Club membership is not required to participate, need not be present to win.
Participation in the monthly raffle helps support your Fly Club and is greatly appreciated.
Posted on November 29th, 2023
I have been told that the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club has been doing an Annual Dinner and Fundraiser since way back in 1992. Last year’s lunch event was fun, but lacked the opportunity to have a sit down dinner with a lot of members of the club. Your board has been busy preparing for the February 3rd event and I just wanted to share with you some of what we are doing to make it happen and what you can do to help.
Wild Salmon Dinner
Securing a wild-caught salmon dinner has become more challenging due to the closure of the California fishery last year. However, for our upcoming dinner, dedicated members flew to a remote part of Alaska to obtain our salmon.. Below is Sam catching our dinner.
Along with the salmon, we will be serving salad courtesy of California Grill/Lakeside Organic Gardens. The Peixoto run the largest family-owned organic farm in the US and grow most of their vegetables around Watsonville including decades at my family’s farm. Along with the fish and Salmon, Dave South has been busy sourcing the rest of the dinner from local, organic vendors around the county. And Elaine Cook is organizing a team to prepare delightful appetizers for everyone to enjoy while perusing the prizes, purchasing additional raffle tickets, and mingling with fellow attendees.
Raffle Prizes
Oh do we miss John Steele. For many, many years, John, would shop sales, fix equipment and create wonderful art work for the Annual Dinner. John had big shoes to fill, so we so we got a big man, Rick Chace, to step into the role. We are still acquiring prizes, but from what I have seen, there is going to be some nice stuff and a lot of it: at least 16 rods, 4 float tubes, tons of fly tying material, and boxes full of flies. We are hoping to get more non-fishing prizes for the raffle and welcome any donations from the membership. Maybe a gift certificate for a product or service? A piece of art? Bottle of wine? If you have any donation, please contact Rick Chace (rchase@got.net) or (831) 234-9200.
Unlike our monthly raffles, you must be present to win, ensuring that you’re only competing against others in the room. Our goal is for everyone to leave with something.
New Location
For years, the dinner has taken place at a church in Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, post-Covid, that location is no longer practical. After exploring various alternatives, we found a fantastic venue with ample space, full bar service, and a large BBQ pit for cooking the salmon. The only downside is its location at the south end of Santa Cruz county, near the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds (the location and map are available in the article about the dinner).
For those traveling from a distance, consider staying overnight nearby. The new Hampton Inn off Riverside is a suggestion. Other viable options in Watsonville include the Holiday Inn Express on Main St and the Comfort Inn near the Airport. Sunset Beach and KOA offer campsites for RVs or fancy vans. Alternatively, you could collaborate with other members to rent an Airbnb at Pajaro Dunes and enjoy some beach or Salinas River fishing the next day.
Volunteers, Volunteers, Volunteers
“Many hands make light work,” or, in the case of the fundraiser, we need many hands to make it work at all. Elaine Cook has already put in a lot of hours coordinating this event and needs volunteers. She’ll be passing around a sign-up sheet at the December and January meetings. You can also make her task easier by calling Elaine at (831) 234-6515 or email at coookin@gmail.com on how you can help at the fundraiser.
Ticket Sales and Purchase
If you want an easy way to support the fundraiser, consider purchasing your dinner and raffle tickets before the end of the year. Old-timers tell me that half of the tickets are sold a week before the event, meaning we waste time worrying about filling the room or cutting costs. Let us handle the logistics while you focus on making the event as fun and successful as possible! Dinner tickets are $40 and raffle tickets are $1.00 each. You can buy tickets at the December and January general meetings on line at https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/product-category/annual-fundraiser/
And Happy Holidays!
Scott Kitayama
Posted on November 29th, 2023
Dec 13 6:30 PM @ Aptos Grange
|
We welcome beginners and provide them with tools, thread and advice. It’s always helpful to bring magnification and a table lamp. Some lamps are always provided, but not enough to go around usually. Elaine Cook will be teaching. Sign ups are important and can be done at the September club meeting or calling Elaine at 831-234-6515. Please allow at least 24 hours notice ahead. |
Posted on November 29th, 2023
Posted on November 29th, 2023
Volunteers from Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club were out last month getting wet and dirty to help our local Trout Unlimited chapter. Tim Frahm, Central Coast Steelhead Coordinator for Trout Unlimited has been working on a project on Little Arthur Creek—a tributary of the Pajaro River—in an ongoing effort to improve and sustain steelhead habitat. Little Arthur Creek contains the best remaining spawning habitat for native steelhead in the upper Pajaro River system. One of the obstacles to steelhead moving upstream is a dam on the creek that is slated to be removed in 2024. The dam does have a crude retrofitted fish ladder that does not look to be effective. Another problem with the dam is that it collects debris on the upstream side—especially during heavy rain events. These two issues make it very difficult—if not impossible—for migration of steelhead further upstream.
Six of our club members showed up with shovels, picks, saws and other assorted tools to remove all sorts of wooden obstacles—small and large—to open up the flow of the stream for passage of fish beyond the dam prior to its removal. After a few hours of vigorous effort, we were able to accomplish our task. It was rewarding to spend the morning with my fellow fly anglers trying to help in a worthy cause to restore native fish in a local watershed. Thanks to Kevin Murdock, Kevin Morrison, Tommy Polito, Barry Burt and Jerry McKeon from Santa Cruz Fly Fishing. Also, thanks to Tim Frahm and Chris Fischer from Trout Unlimited Steinbeck Chapter for inviting us. I hope we can continue our our involvement in bringing back these iconic native fish. Trout Unlimited is one of the organizations our club supports with contributions thanks to your membership, raffle purchases and fundraiser participation.
Posted on November 29th, 2023
| Date | Activity Link | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18 - Dec 19 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Spey Casting (See new dates) | Spey Casting clinics will be Monday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 19th . Saturday, December 2nd is CANCELLED. Keep an eye out for updates from Alex Ferber on Google Groups messages for times and locations. The Jade St. map is provided in case the class takes place there. Spey Casting is a style of presenting a fly in a down and across manner ( aka Swinging Flies)It utilizes special lines and facilitates casting in tight quarters. It enables one to use sinking lines and throwing larger flies with ease. It’s a technique used in fishing for Salmon, tout and Steelhead. It’ also has been used for Striped Bass and Shad.
| Jade Street Park baseball field |
| Dec 30 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm | Fly Casting Meetup | All are welcome from beginners to experienced casters. This is a good time to continue working on and enjoying your progress with effectively casting your fly-line -whether it’s 25, 35, 40, or 50 feet – 90% of your fishing casting. We will continue to work on this foundation for everyone who wants to successfully and enjoyably pickup their fly rod and cast exactly where you want – time after time. Bring your rod and reel if appropriate, and I will also have the nice club rods we have so you can toss one of those around too. | Jade Street Park baseball field |
Posted on November 29th, 2023
Next years dues for 2024 can be paid online now @ santacruzflyfishing.org/membership. 50% of our members have already renewed online and the response has exceeded last year with online renewals. Along with the renewals, we have had many generous donations included. We are grateful for your continued participation in the club.
Dues can also be paid @ the Dec meetings and also by check mailed to SCFF, PO Box 2008, Santa Cruz, Cal 95063
Posted on November 29th, 2023
The newsletter provides brief fishout info. For full detail, go to the website menu and select EVENTS -> Fishout Schedule
| EVENT NAME | EVENT DATE | SPECIES | FISH MASTER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Fishout Round-Up | Dec 01 - Dec 02 | FISH | Club Members |
| Upper Sacramento River Fishout (Dunsmuir) Date Postponed High Water | Mar 15 - Mar 17 | Trout | Alex Ferber |
| Pyramid Lake Fish-out April 1 – April 7, 2024 – New Info | Apr 01 - Apr 07 | Lahontan Cutthroat Trout | Mike White - (831) 706-5556 |
| Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie) | Apr 20 | Bass, crappie, bluegill | Scott Kitayama |
| Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout | May 04 | Surf Perch / Striped Bass | Lance B. |
| June Surf Fishout – Beer Can Beach | Jun 01 | perch, stripers | Sam Bishop - Fishing; Mike Lovejoy - Breakfast |
| Burney and Around – UPDATED- | Jun 07 - Jun 09 | Trout | Alex Ferber |
| Clarks Fork Stanislaus River – Fishout (Stanislaus Fly Fishing Club) – UPDATED 6/11 – | Jun 14 - Jun 16 | Trout | Gus Link - Stanislaus Fly Fishing Club |
| Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch -June 22nd thru 29th- 2024 -UPDATED- | Jun 22 - Jun 29 | Trout | Tim Loomis |
Posted on November 29th, 2023
This one is for the steelhead fishers, who tell us all the time how much fun they’re having!
Posted on November 30th, 2023
