NEW Meeting Hours: Doors to the Aptos Grange will be open at 6:00 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 6:45 pm. Plenty of time to socialize and buy raffle tickets.
Andrew Harris has been guiding in northern California since 1997. He lives in Red Bluff, California with his wife Katie and daughters Mackenzie and Madison. In 2007 Andrew created Confluence Outfitters with help from partners Gino Bernero and Jon Hazlett. Andrew puts the “Outfitter” in Confluence Outfitters, as he is the one who answers the phones and emails. Andrew can help you select the right guide, destination, and time of year for your next fly fishing trip.
Andrew is a USCG-licensed Captain, is a regular on the fly-club speaker circuit, has written countless articles for California Fly Fisher and other magazines, and is the author of the Plumas National Forest Fishing Guide, a fly fishing guidebook to the Feather River Country. Andrew is currently President of the Shasta-Trinity-Cascades chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Andrew also has a career as a software developer. He created LodgeRunner.com, a booking system catered to fishing and hunting lodges and outfitters. LodgeRunner helps Confluence Outfitters and other high-profile fly fishing businesses like Henry’s Fork Anglers, Silver Creek Outfitters, and Westbank Anglers manage their bookings and assign guide trips. Andrew loves working with other outfitters and lodges and has helped dozens of them optimize their booking systems by using LodgeRunner.
Andrew will be joining the club virtually to speak about the Trinity River Watershed. Andrew has guided the Trinity River since 2003 and will cover the entire watershed from the Trinity Alps to the confluence with the Klamath River. Andrew will discuss the small stream fishing above Trinity Lake, stillwater fishing on Trinity Lake and Lewiston Lake, and the several distinct sections of steelhead fishing on the remainder of the river. Andrew’s presentation includes gear and techniques for both single-hand and spey casters.
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Something a little different for our February Fly Club raffle since we have so many prizes and later in the month at the Fundraiser.
We have a great prize to kick off the winter/spring season at Pyramid Lake.
Working with the Reno Fly shop we put together a complete kit of everything needed to be successful at the ‘Lake of the Giants’.
The kit includes:
A 25 yard spool of 12 pound Blue Label Seaguar fluorocarbon.
3 Jaydacator balsa indicators.
2 weighted depth finder clips.
A 12 pound 2 pack of Pyramid Lake dropper leaders.
A Rob Anderson deep water break away indicator system.
Plus a copy of Terry Barron’s classic:
“Guide to Fly Fishing Pyramid Lake” along with the the Trout Creek Outfitters four part guide and Rob Anderson’s beach descriptions.
This is a great prize for both the beginner and veteran of Pyramid Lake along with those who have never gone but always wanted to take a run at the ‘Giants’.
The ticket sales are open and close on Friday before the Fundraiswer (2/17/23).
Tickets are a dollar each, $20 bucks get you 25. The drawing of tickets will take place at the monthly meeting. Club membership is not required to participate, need not be present to win.
L -R: Tim Loomis, Bob Garbarino and Scott Kitayama fishing for steelhead in an undisclosed location
As the new president of the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club, I am excited to have a chance to work with all of you to make this club, stronger and more valuable for all of us. First of all, I want to thank Tom Hogye, who encouraged me to join the board three years ago and promised that the more I put into the club, the more I would get out of it. He was right. Tom’s passion and emphasis while president was in the areas of conservation and education, and he will continue to champion those causes for us as well as the larger NCFFI organization. Thank you, Tom.
My focus in the upcoming year is centered around fellowship. A club like ours provides a great opportunity for us to make new friends, share experiences while teaching and learning from each other along the way. As a part of the SCFF Board of Directors, we are committed to increasing the number of activities and the quality of the events per year. All we ask of you is … participate!
During February and March we have a lot of events for your participation. In the newsletter, we have a new section in the Membership area called “Club Activities” which lists events such as fly casting, volunteer opportunities, dinners, and hang outs. These are separate from the sections of the fly tying and fish outs which describe what is happening in future months. If you want to see everything that is happening, click on EVENTS on the website which has a calendar showing the dates of the events along with sections with detailed info about fishouts, fly tying and club activities.
I want to highlight some of the changes that we are making to provide more opportunities to congregate and socialize. These include:
Feb 18th, Annual Fund Raiser and Installation: After a three-year hiatus, the event will feature a new venue, new hours, new food, a new ticket price, and with your help, more comradery, laughter and fun. The day will include a lunch catered by SAJJ Mediterranean, raffle of great prizes, annual awards, and introduction of the new Board of Directors.
General Meetings (1st Wednesday of the Month): Please attend our General Meetings in person at the Aptos Grange. Doors will open at 6:00 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 6:45 pm. This provides up to 45 minutes to help setup the room, swap fishing stories, buy raffle tickets, and meet new members.
March 8 @ 6:30 pm, Fly Tying Hangout: We are trying out something new by providing a venue for members to come together and tie flies along side others. Its a great excuse to get out of the house, so bring your vise, tools, materials and fish stories.
I hope that you can attend some of these upcoming events and if you have any suggestions on other club activities, let me know: scottkitayama@gmail.com or mobile 650 279 5871.
This fly is designed to catch largemouth bass, large trout and even stripers. As always the class is free and all materials are provided other than thread. Some will be available to borrow. Bring cream 6/0 and brown 6/0 or 8/0. Tools and vises will be available for beginners, who are always welcome and receive much instruction. You can sign up at the club meeting or call Elaine with at least 24 hours notice at 831-688-1561. For safety, well fitting masks will be required by all.
Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to Fly Name to see more information.
March’s fly tying class is going to be a two day event on March 13 and 14th from noon until 3 pm each day at Elaine’s house. If you wish to attend, please sign up no later than March 4th. Call Elaine at 831-688-1561 or 831-234-6515. Allow 4-5 hours each day.
Caddis larva are available to trout year-round. They protect themselves in an interesting way. They surround their bodies with pebbles or twigs and move around with their heads and legs sticking out the front of this tube. This pattern simulates the larva out of its protective casing which occurs when they have outgrown their last one or they are ready to ascend to the surface as a pupa. Some caddis larva are free floating without a case. The PVC in the name of this pattern originated on the lower Owens River when former club member, Walt Robinson, speared one while fishing. We sat down and devise this fly then went out and successfully fished it all week. The type of thread used for the body is very important. Because of its thickness and shinny properties.
HOOK: TMC 200,2312, or 100 sizes 14–18. Crimp barb
THREAD: kevlar, in natural (light cream)or olive color.
Attach thread 1/8 inch behind eye for smaller hooks, 3/16 inch for size 14 hooks.
NOTE: During all thread wraps keep thread flat by spinning counterclockwise.
Touching thread wraps toward rear of shank while holding tag at 45° angle.
Cut tag before end of shank.
Reposition hook with head lowered downward. This will make it easier to apply thread to rear of hook.
Continue rapping partway around bend of hook
BODY: same thread as above.
Keeping thread flat as described above, wrap thread forward to starting position. Then back to within one short of prior thread wraps. Repeat one more time. NOTE: at this time you will have six wraps of thread on the shank that is slightly tapered at the rear.
Repeat one more time if tying size 14 hook.
Now make wraps to mid shank and back again to tie in. NOTE: at this time a tapered body has been formed.
Bring thread onto shank with one wrap.
Whip finish, cut thread.
Apply Zap-A-Gap or similar glue to entire body, let dry.
HEAD: Black 8/0 thread, AND peacock herl.
Attached thread behind eye.
Select one strand of peacock herl for small flies and two for size 14 hooks, that have barbs of moderate length.
Pinch off fragile tip.
Tie in tip back to body.
Advance thread to eye.
Wrap hurl forward using 4 wraps.
Tie off, cut excess, whip finish, cut thread.
Glue to tie off threads.
Posted on December 31st, 2022
Date: March 8th.(Wed.) AND March 11-12 (Sat. And Sun.)
The club has 2 fly tying opportunities coming up in March. Both events are free as always. The first will be social tying drop-in at the Grange Hall Mar. 8th at 6:15 PM, for club members to tie anything they wish. No instruction but lots of great socializing, the opportunity to share fly patterns with one another, and of course to start filling your fly box for
the upcoming months. Bring your own tools, vices, light and materials. And a mask of course to be safe.
The second will be our annual popper class. The flies are designed for largemouth bass and bluegill fishing. Sign ups are required due to limited space at Elaine‘s home. This not a difficult class and beginners should feel comfortable to participate. 2 days are required due to the drying of epoxy and paints. And a one hour class on how to fish with for bass will be included. The class will be held on Saturday, March 11 and Sun. March 12. Each starting at 10 AM and running about five hours each. If you are interested and can commit to attending, it’s best to sign up early for the class often fills up ahead of time. Thread and materials will be provided as well as vice and tools for beginners. If you wish to attend, please sign up no later than March 4th. Call Elaine at 831-688-1561 or 831-234-6515
Is your fly box looking a little thin? Going on a Fishout and need some new patterns? Or maybe you just
love tying and need something to do with all those flies that aren’t getting wet…
Well, the Fly Swap is just what you need!
Fly swap instructions –
– Fly Swap organizer (leader) chooses the theme and lists the parameters of the swap:
Organizer
Theme
Target Species
Fly Type
# Of Participants
Due Date to Organizer
Organizer’s fly pattern
The Swap organizer will be responsible for sending out an announcement of the swap
thru the google group email and coordinating the swap there after (including contact
information and mailing addresses.)
Multiple groups may be running at any given time
(Participants are free to join multiple groups and are only limited to their ability and time
management)
– Number of participants is limited to 6 for each swap group.
– Group members choose any fly pattern meeting the group organizer’s criteria.
– Each participant ties a total of 24 flies of the same size and pattern (4ea. for each of the
group’s members) and then packages the flies for each member separately.
Each package to include the information below:
Pattern name
Pattern recipe
Hook Mfg. / size / style
Bead / dumbbell / size / color
Thread color / size
Tail Material
Etc.
Optional information
General description and significant back story to pattern chosen
– After a predetermined duration the flies are delivered to the group leader.
(Consider 2-4 weeks or to coincide with the clubs monthly meeting. If the flies are to be
delivered by mail, include a self-addressed return envelope and stamp)
– The leader then reorganizes the packages of flies for distribution to each member of the
group by either mail or in person (24 total flies for each participate 4 of each pattern tied
by each participant).
If you want to talk it out, feel free to give me a call or send me a message Justin Ice 408 690 6143 Justin@schwagerdavis.com
One of our club’s most valued local partners, Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project has some opportunities for us to help out and learn about this organization in a hands-on fashion. Please contact Bob Garbarino (rjgarbarino@gmail.com or 831-24-2045) if you want to participate in any of these activities.
1. Hatchery—Come up on weekends for a few hours to feed fish, check intakes, etc.
or help with spawning at least one weekday a week through mid-February. The hatchery is about 18 miles north of Santa Cruz.
2. Fish Trap– Interested in helping out with San Lorenzo River steelhead trapping for data collection? MBSTP and the Santa Cruz Water Dept. are planning on operating the fish trap in Felton. For trapping, it can be a “spur of the moment” kind of thing with flow conditions and inflation of the dam. This is not a set-schedule volunteer event. The trap is run if river conditions are suitable and the dam is inflated, so volunteers have to be pretty flexible. The hope is the window will open mid-January.
3. Coho Release–As we move into spring, there will be a chance to help out with releasing fish (also, potentially an adult release to Pescadero in late January like we had last year). Jerry McKeon, Jeff Gose and I participated last year and it was a really special experience. There will probably be only 2-3 spots available as there were last year.
This month we’ll look at two conservation organizations SCFF supports and current projects they are working on to improve habitat for fish in California
Western Rivers Conservancy “buys land along the West’s finest rivers and streams to conserve habitat for fish and wildlife, protect key sources of cold water and provide public access for all to enjoy”. Their motto is: “Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it”. They look for opportunities to purchase key sections of rivers and convey them to partners with the goal of protecting fish and wildlife while providing public access permanently. One of their projects is to conserve the 4,344 acre Silva Ranch which includes a stretch of the Wheatfield Fork and a series of headwater creeks—all feeding the Gualala River in Sonoma County, California. The cold water in the river and creeks is healthy habitat for winter steelhead and Coho salmon. For more information, go to https://www.westernrivers.org/projects/ca/gualala-river.
Cal Trout engages in numerous projects with the goal of “Ensuring healthy waters and resilient wild fish for a better California”. One of their projects took place in northern Mendocino County last summer. A concrete dam was built on Cedar Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Eel River. The dam was part of an experimental fish hatchery that was decommissioned in 1964. Unfortunately, this eight foot dam impeded migration of native juvenile fish, including steelhead, Chinook and steelhead salmon. The cold water in the upper reaches of Cedar Creek is now available to these fish. Check out the details: https://caltrout.org/news/cold-water-refuge-unlocked-for-south-fork-eel-river-steelhead-and-salmon
Editor’s Note: Dar will be showing examples of these leaders and the materials used before the February General meeting February 1st at Aptos Grange.
A few members of Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club recently asked me about how to make mono rig leaders for tight-line and euro nymphing, as well as other mono rig fly fishing techniques. I was excited to share with my fellow club members some of the leader formulas I use, because fly fishing with a mono rig is one of my favorite ways to catch trout on small to medium size streams. I decided to write this article to share some of this information with other club members who might be interested in these topics. To start out I will give a brief summary of what a mono rig is, and why and how we use it—so folks who aren’t familiar with these techniques have a point of reference. Then I will delve into the focus of this article: Five mono rig leader formulas and their different applications in fly fishing.
A mono rig is a long monofilament leader that is used in place of a fly line. The leader is used for a wide variety of different fly fishing techniques for targeting trout in rivers. Most of the leader is made up of a long level butt section usually between twenty and fifty feet long, followed by a short taper section ranging from two to five feet long. At the end of the taper section of the leader is a short piece of brightly colored supple monofilament called a sighter, which the tippet section gets attached to. When fishing subsurface flies the sighter is used to detect strikes, as well as give the angler feedback about what their flies are doing beneath the water.
The benefit of fly fishing with a mono rig is that it allows an angler to execute most of the same tactics they would use with a fly-line on small to medium streams, in addition to a variety of tactics that are not possible with a standard floating or sinking line. One of the greatest advantages of using a long leader in place of fly line is that it allows an angler to have direct contact with their nymphs or streamers during tight-line nymphing and streamer presentations. More contact with the flies means more strike detection, and for most of us that means more fish in the net.
A mono rig can be used for streamer fishing, indicator nymphing, swinging wet flies, dry dropper, and even casting dry flies at a range of up to thirty or forty feet. These tactics on a mono rig are similar to fishing with a floating line, with a few minor differences in the mechanics of casting and presentation in certain cases. In addition to the tactics that are similar to standard fly-line presentations, there are a number of other unique and highly effective tactics that a mono rig enables us to employ. These tactics are tightline/euro nymphing, tight-line streamer tactics, and tight-line dry dropper.
The first time I attached a mono rig to my reel and tried fishing with it, the thin diameter of the leader felt strange in my hands. I remember thinking to myself, ‘how the hell am I supposed to cast nothing but a leader?’ But I soon learned that the fundamental principles for casting loops with a floating line are the same principles used to cast a mono rig: Swift acceleration with the rod into an abrupt stop, executed back and forth between two points. Whether you use a fly-line or a mono rig, the mechanics of casting a fly rod for the most part are universal, though you cannot roll cast a mono rig—sorry spey anglers. It is important to note that when casting a mono rig with multiple weighted flies, split shot and/or bobbers, it is often necessary to open up your loops during the casting stroke to avoid tangles. Two of the most useful casts for fishing a mono rig are an oval cast, and a tuck cast.
I will cover five different leader formulas in this article, but having all five of these leaders in your arsenal is not necessary for success on the river. Most of the time, it’s best to use one mono rig that is suitable for everything you need to do with your leader in a day of fishing. So, if you’re new to fly fishing with a mono rig, a good place to start is learning to fish with the Leader for Versatility that is detailed further along in the article. I acknowledge that some folks may feel overwhelmed by all of the materials they would need to acquire to make a few of the leaders featured in this article. I’d like to point out that if you buy the materials to make one of these leaders that best suits your needs, the cost will be a fraction of the price tag on a euro nymphing fly-line sold at a fly shop.
The ideal rod length for the techniques discussed in this article is between 10’ and 11’ long. A 9’ rod or even an 8 ½” rod will work as well, but longer rods have more reach which is beneficial when tight-line nymphing. If you are just starting out, use whatever rod you have at first if you like. Then maybe get yourself a specialized rod later down the line if you stick with it. The leader you are using and your ability as an angler are more important than rod type for these tactics, though a specialized rod will have better performance.
To some, all of the information in this article may seem overly technical, but it doesn’t have to be. Think of it like a cookbook—just pick a leader recipe, build it, then go out and fish! To me the greatest quality of the mono rig is the versatility it offers me on almost every trout stream that I fish. I can go from fishing nymphs to fishing streamers or dry flies, all while making very few changes my rig. My favorite part of it all, is tight-line and euro nymphing—tactics that can’t be achieved with a standard fly-line. I hope this article will be useful to folks in the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club who are interested in tight-line nymphing and mono rig tactics. At the end of the article I have included a list of educational resources for folks who would like to learn more about these topics and techniques. Fly fishing with a mono rig is an incredible way of expanding your horizons in the world of trout fishing, so go out and give it a try!
* * *
Five Mono Rig Leader Formulas and Their Applications
Use blood knots for all line to line connections. Tippet rings should be attached using an eye-crosser knot or trilene knot. To connect the leader to a welded loop on a fly line, use a four or five turn clinch knot *except when attaching a micro leader. To attach a micro leader, attach a heavier mono rig leader to your fly line first, and wind it on the reel. Then clinch knot the micro leader to the tippet ring on the spooled heavier leader. Alternatively, you can connect any of these leaders straight to dacron backing with a double uni knot (aka uni-to-uni knot), though I prefer to have fly line on my reel. The reason I prefer attaching the leader to fly line is because I can quickly wrap my mono rig around a foam spool and clip it off my fly-line, making a fast switch over to casting my floating line when the dry fly fishing is spectacular.
The leader materials in the following formulas are chosen for their specific qualities that include: Stiffness, durability, and visibility for the butt section and taper section, and suppleness and visibility for the sighter.
Leader for Versatility, great for beginners
This is a good leader for a beginner to learn to cast and fish with a mono rig. It’s also an excellent leader for a variety of techniques including streamers, indicator nymphing, tight-line/euro nymphing, jigging, dry dropper, and dry fly fishing. The thicker diameter 20 lb butt section of this leader gives it enough mass to cast a wider variety of flies and tackle, making it a more versatile option. This is my favorite mono rig for days when I’m mostly fishing streamers or heavier nymphs, but I also might have the opportunity to fish dry flies at a range of up to about 35—40 ft. Pairs nicely with a 4 or 5 weight rod.
40’—50’ 20 lb (0.017”) Maxima Chameleon
2’ 12 lb (0.013”) Maxima Clear or Maxima hi-viz
1’ 12 lb (0.013”) Suffix Superior monofilament neon fire (neon red)
1’ 10 lb (0.012”) Sunset Amnesia monofilament neon green
Small tippet ring (1.5mm-2mm)
optional (use when tight-line/euro nymphing)
12”—18” 0.010” (1x) or 0.009” (2x) Cortland tri-color indicator mono (sighter) tied to the first tippet ring
small tippet ring (1mm-2mm)
Tight-Line Nymphing Leader
If I had to choose one, this would probably be my favorite mono rig leader for trout. It is just light enough, and sensitive enough for excellent performance as a tight-line/euro nymphing leader, while still offering decent performance for a variety of other techniques. The slightly thinner diameter 12 lb butt section reduces sag in the leader when tight-line nymphing, while still having enough mass to send a tuck cast out 35 feet with a pair of small nymphs. Small to medium trout streamers, dry dropper, and nymphing with a yarn indicator are other useful applications. Casting small dry flies with this leader is also possible with a decent casting stroke, but the effective range is limited to about 25 ft or so. Pairs nicely with a 2 or 3 weight rod.
40’—50’ 12 lb (0.013”) Maxima Chameleon
2’ 8 lb (0.010”) Maxima Clear or Maxima hi-viz
1’ 8 lb (0.010”) Suffix Superior monofilament neon fire (neon red)
1’ 8 lb (0.010”) Sunset Amnesia monofilament neon green
Some of my favorite trout streams flow through landscapes where the background makes it difficult to see where the leader and sighter are at times. This can make it challenging to lead or track the flies through a drift, and detect strikes from the sighter. When visibility is an issue, I like to tie on some variation of hi viz leader. When I go fishing before dawn or around dusk when light levels are low, I also opt for a hi-viz leader. The enhanced visual aid provided by this leader helps me stay focused on the sighter, and execute quality drifts when visibility is low. The taper section of this leader is made from clear monofilament to create a break between the hi-viz butt section and the sighter. This is done to make it easier for the angler to focus on the sighter at the terminal end of the leader, which is where strike detection occurs. Pairs nicely with a 2 or 3 weight rod.
40’—50’ 12 lb (0.013”) Sunset Amnesia monofilament neon green
This is the thinnest diameter leader on the list, and I use it exclusively for tight-line/euro nymphing techniques. The extremely thin diameter of this leader gives an angler more sensitivity and feel when dead drifting light nymphs. Since a thinner leader has less mass, it also reduces the need to add weight to your rig to counteract sag when tight-lining with light nymphs or at distance. This keeps both the angler’s line-hand and the sighter in the leader more in touch with the flies that are at the end of the tippet. A micro leader also makes it easier to achieve dead drifts when casting across seams to make a drift, rather than casting upstream along a single seam to make a drift.
The disadvantage of a very thin micro leader is that it is not as cast-able as the thicker leader formulas I have listed. This is because a micro leader lacks the mass needed to push the rig to turn over in the air the same way a fly line or a thicker leader would. When casting a micro leader you will have less control, and less options of how you can cast your rig. Though it’s possible to cast loops with a micro leader by casting the weight of your flies, it often times is necessary to water load cast for more distance or when casting into tight quarters. Despite the downsides, I often fish this leader when I’m tight-line nymphing with small lightweight nymphs or streamers. Pairs nicely with a 0—2 weight rod.
small tippet ring (1mm-1.5mm), or use blood knot to connect tippet to sighter for less of a hinge point at the connection.
Steelhead and Streamer leader
This leader is made from monofilament that is stiffer and thicker than the other leaders that are detailed in this article. The heavier materials give the leader more mass for pushing heavier flies and rigs to turn over to their target. The downside of a thicker and heavier leader is that it is less sensitive to strike detection in both the sighter and by feel when fishing smaller flies. The heavier leader will also sag much more when tight-lining with lighter flies. Too much sag in the leader during tight-line/euro presentations will reduce both contact with your flies and strike detection. For those reasons, I only use this leader for fishing heavier flies or rigs that weigh enough to counteract excessive sag in the leader. I like to use this leader for steelhead fishing, and for a variety of streamer techniques for trout when bigger flies are necessary. It also performs well with heavier indicator rigs. Pairs nicely with a 4 or 5 weight rod for trout and a 6 or 7 weight rod for steelhead.
Learning to cast a mono rig with a heavier rod like a 6 or 7 weight can be more challenging than learning with a lighter rod that flexes more in the tip. This is because a heavier rod will not load as much as a lighter rod when casting only a leader plus the weight of the flies. Heavier weight rods also have much less feel when casting a mono rig compared to the lighter weight rods, making timing during the casting stroke and casting fundamentals more crucial.
50’ 20 lb (0.018”) Sunset Amnesia monofilament neon green or clear
18” 15 lb (0.015”) Maxima Clear
18” 12 lb (0.013”) Maxima Clear
medium tippet ring (2mm-3mm)
12’’—14” 0.013” or 0.012” Cortland tri-color indicator mono (sighter)
small or medium tippet ring
Rigging of Tippet and Flies for Mono Rig Tactics
Nymph & Streamer rig
– Attach 3’—6’ long section of tippet to the tippet ring. I recommend using a double Davy knot or Pitzen knot.
– 5”—6” up from the terminal end of the tippet that was just tied to the tippet ring, attach a second section of tippet that is 16”—25” long using an Orvis tippet knot or double surgeon’s knot to create a dropper tag: When tying the knot, create a 5”—6” long tag (dropper tag) with the knot’s downward pointing tag-end. Keep the upward pointing tag short while seating the knot then clip it close while leaving the dropper tag intact. The lighter nymph or streamer (dropper fly) is attached to the dropper tag.
-Tie your heavier nymph or streamer (point fly) to the terminal end of the second section tippet, or create a second dropper tag with another 16”—25” piece of tippet that leads to the point fly for a three-fly rig.
Dry Dropper
-To convert the nymph/streamer rig into a dry dropper rig, shorten the upper section of tippet from the end that is attached to the tippet ring. Leave about 3’ of tippet between the tippet ring and you uppermost dropper tag. Then clip off your nymph from the uppermost dropper tag and replace it with a greased dry fly that is buoyant enough to suspend the nymphs below it.
Dry Flies
To fish dry flies, most of the time I just shorten my entire tippet section to around 4 or 5 feet, clip off the nymphs, and add a small dry fly or tandem dry flies to the end of the tippet. To avoid having to switch out to nylon tippet, I grease the fluorocarbon tippet to prevent it from sinking—though nylon does perform better for this task. Building a short taper into the tippet section is another option and will cast better with 6x or 7x tip sections. To build a taper in the tippet section for dry fly fishing with a mono rig, connect the following sections of tippet:
12” 3x tippet
12” 4x tippet
24”—36” 5x—7x tippet
or
-12” 2x tippet
-12” 3x tippet
-24”—36” 3x—5x tippet
Large Articulated Streamers
When you wanna chuck some meat, tie on 4’—6’ of 2x—0x to the tippet ring of the Leader for Versatility, or the steelhead and streamer leader. Attach a streamer to the tippet with a small non-slip loop knot. You can also add a dropper tag 20” above the streamer at the end of the tippet and tie a wet fly or small streamer to the dropper tag. The large streamer behind the smaller fly can simulate a larger baitfish pursuing a smaller baitfish or invertebrate.
Learning Resources for Tight-Line Nymphing and Mono Rig Fly Fishing Techniques
The blog featured on Devin Olsen’s website www.tacticalflyfisher.com/blog/ contains excellent instructional videos on euro nymphing techniques, casting light leaders, as well as a variety of other interesting topics. I also highly recommend his book Tactical Fly Fishing: Lessons Learned from Competition for All Anglers.
If you want to learn how to use a mono rig for techniques other than euro nymphing check out Domenick Swentosky’s blog Troutbitten (www.troutbitten.com). His blog is probably the largest collection of information about fly fishing with a mono rig and tight-line nymphing on the internet. Swentosky has authored thousands of articles about fly fishing for trout that can be accessed for free at troutbitten.com. Troutbitten also features a variety of educational videos and an accompanying podcast series that I highly recommend.
George Daniels is one of the foremost nymphing experts in the world. He has authored two books on nymphing that contain excellent information:
Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World
Nymph Fishing: New Angles, and Techniques
www.howtoflyfish.orvis.comfeatures a twenty-part series of short videos on Euro Nymphing with George Daniels. To Access the video-series click the main menu. Next click the tab for ‘Video Lessons’ in the main menu. Then the ‘Video Lessons’ menu will open. Select ‘Advanced/Intermediate Fly Fishing Lessons’, and another menu will open. Click tab ‘1. Euro Nymphing’ to access the lesson series.
*Note the Orvis videos teach a different leader setup for tight-line nymphing because they want to sell you their brand manufactured euro nymphing fly-lines and leaders. Euro nymphing fly-lines will not perform as well as mono rigs for tight-line tactics and offer less over all versatility. Despite the differences in the leader setup, all of the euro nymphing techniques in the Orvis video-series are applicable to fishing the leaders that I have written about in this article.
Members of Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club are welcome to contact me with questions.
After 3 long years, we are bringing back our annual fundraiser on February 18th from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the Aptos Grange! So many things have changed in the past three years and there was no way we could run the fundraiser “the way we used to”, so here we go. New venue, new hours, new food, new ticket price, new faces and with your help, more comradery, laughter and fun. We will be serving lunch, raffling wonderful prizes, spotlighting deserving members with annual awards, and introducing the 2023 Board of Directors.
There are lots of activities including casting demos/instruction, fly tying demos/instruction, seminars from well-know pros, vendors selling all-things fly fishy. It’s a great opportunity to learn and check out gear before you purchase. Many club members make it an annual event. If you are new to the sport, go and pick up a few tips. Visit the the website for details and how to get tickets. https://flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca/
Thank you for all the 175 paid members for 2023 which included 70 % who renewed on line @ santacruzflyfishing.org. Donations exceeded $3,0 00 and will allow us to continue with local high school scholarships and conservations projects including local rivers damaged by recent storm damage. WE are looking forward to our Annual Fundraising Dinner Sat Feb 18th @ Aptos Grange 2555 MarVista Dr. in Aptos. Meal and Raffle tickets are still available online
santacruzflyfishing.org and @ the Wed Feb 1 st monthly meeting. So far 55 members have paid and reserved tickets. And lastly, any members can request
Nametags with our new logo by sending me an email @robert6367@aol.com and will be available @ the Annual dinner, or if requested @ the Feb monthly meeting, or by mail.
After 3 long years, we are bringing back our annual fundraiser on February 18th from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the Aptos Grange! So many things have changed in the past three years and there was no way we could run the fundraiser “the way we used to”, so here we go. New venue, new hours, new food, new ticket price, new faces and with your help, more comradery, laughter and fun. We will be serving lunch, raffling wonderful prizes, spotlighting deserving members with annual awards, and introducing the 2023 Board of Directors.
Buy your tickets now: Its such a bummer to plan a party when no one tells you they are coming. We know you are thinking about it, so just do it! Tickets are $25/person and we only can sell 150 entrance/meal tickets due to space limitations of the Grange. Tickets are available online here: https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/product-category/annual-fundraiser/
Volunteer: Many long term club members say the best part of our Annual Fundraiser is the time volunteering and working with others to put the whole event together. We still need people to step-up and take an assignment whether it is before, during or after the event. Contact Elaine Cook (coookin@gmail.com) to find out where you can best help.
Lunch:
Fresh, healthy, filling and fun. What’s not to like about Mediterranean food? We are bringing a winner from the Bay Area down to cater our lunch. @Zagat dubbed SAJJ Mediterranean falafel as best in the Bay Area! Guests will have the option to choose between the following three entrees. (All entrees will be served with fries.)
SAJJ Bowl: Your choice of Chicken Shawarma, Steak shawarma or falafel; served over turmeric rice, wild arugula, tomato & cucumber mix, hummus, cabbage, diced pickles, and a drizzle of tahini sauce
SAJJ Wrap: Your choice of Chicken Shawarma, Steak shawarma or falafel; garlic spread, wild arugula, tomato & cucumber mix, sumac onions and diced pickles
SAJJ Pita: Your choice of Chicken Shawarma, Steak shawarma or falafel; with hummus, wild arugula, tomato & cucumber mix, diced pickles
Seating will be available indoor and outdoor all though inside will be cozy depending on the weather. Lunch will be available between 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Water, soda, and coffee will be available as well as a dessert table. We will not be serving or selling alcohol so plan accordingly.
Parking: Everyone needs to buddy-up and comes to the Fundraiser with a fellow member, so that we can fit everyone in the parking lot. Otherwise, over flow will need to park on Mar Vista Drive.
Raffle Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online and can also be purchased at the event. If you purchased online, your tickets will be waiting for you along with your entrance/lunch receipt when you check-in. Raffle boxes will be on the tables for you to decide what you want to win. Keep a portion of your ticket so that you can claim your winnings.
Health Protocol: We hope to have a lot of people attend this event and the Grange is not that big of a building. Masking is encouraged as we want everyone healthy for the upcoming fishing season.
Pyramid Lake Fish-out March 26th – April 1st 2023 – New Info
Mar 26 - Apr 01
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Mike White - (831) 706-5556
BOURDET RANCH ONE DAY FISHOUTS
Apr 15 - Apr 24
Del Valle Fishout – CANCELED
Apr 15 - Apr 16
Stripers, bass, trout
Joshua Wilkens
Los Padres Dam / Reservoir Fishout
Apr 29
Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout
May 06
Los Banos Creek Reservoir
May 08 - May 10
Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout
Jun 03
Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 25 – Jul 1 2023 – New Info
Jun 24 - Jul 01
Trout, Bass
Jeff (Yog) Goyert - Fishmaster (831)234-0033
Palm Beach Surf Fishout
Jul 01
Loreto Fly Fishing Trip July 2023
Jul 16 - Jul 20
Mar 26 : Pyramid Lake Fish-out March 26th – April 1st 2023 – New Info
Pyramid Lake (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Mike White - (831) 706-5556
NEEDS TO BE UPDATED WITH 2023 INFO.
The Pyramid Lake trip is one of the best-attended fishouts the club has, and for a good reason. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout cruise parallel to the shore in easy casting distance from shore. Cost for the week including meals and lodging and is around $300+ per person depending on the number in attendance. You need not fish all six days as there may be openings (usually later in the week.) Contact Mike for more details (831) 706-5556, to check on openings, or be put on a waiting list. First come first served.
You can also make your own arrangements either by bringing your own RV (Pyramid Lake Lodge has hook-ups and sells permits to park on the any of the beaches along the lake) or staying in Reno. Reno is 45 minutes away. Call Pyramid Lake Lodge to inquire about last minute cancellations in their cabins as well (775) 476-0400 and check out their website to see what the cabins look like at www.pyramidlakelodge.com. The General Store in Sutcliff offers meals on selected nights only to those who call in before 2:00 PM. Check at the General Store for details.
Equipment: 6-9 weight rods with hi-speed, hi-D shooting heads or fast sink integrated lines to fish the bottom in 6 to 9 feet of water, and a floating line for indicator fishing. You should bring a stripping basket and a ladder that will accommodate it. A ladder helps to get you up out of the cold water and enable you to cast out to where the fish are. You can still catch fish without one but not with near as much consistency.
Flies: Woolly buggers in black, white, purple, olive, midge, caddis and mayfly nymphs to name a few. If as in years past the Confab in February is offering the opportunity to see how some of the best Pyramid patterns are made plan to attend and bring a vise and tie some yourself. Flies may also available from club member Jim Hall who ties some very good flies specific to Pyramid cutthroat as well as other species at reasonable cost. His number is (831) 713-6835. There is a general store with provisions as well as tackle and an assortment of flies.
How to get there: Take US 80 to Reno-Sparks, take the Pyramid Blvd. off ramp and go north about 35 miles. Crosby Lodge is at Sutcliff, near the Ranger Station.
If you have any questions about equipment or how to get there, check the “Gearing up” columns in the March 2007-2009 archives on our great club website, or call Mike White at (831) 706-5556.
If you are considering going to Pyramid again this year with the club and you have not already done so, please contact the person who is booking the trailer you stayed in last year. Trailer-masters, if your trailer has gaps or cancellations, you can call Mike so he can pass the names of members who don’t have lodging to fill the empty spots.
Fishing, Camping, and New Ladder Regulation:
Fishing and camping permits can be purchased online prior to the fish-out. We would highly recommend doing this. Go to www.plpt.nsn.us to obtain your licenses. There is also an RV Park available at (775) 476-1155.
As with any great fishery there are always a long list of rules and regulations. We would recommend you review them on the website above. Suffice to say those of us who have been going to Pyramid Lake for many years are a good source of information as well. We will help inform and guide all newcomers. 15.6 USE OF LADDERS, ETC. Any ladders, milk crates, boxes or other objects used in the water as a fishing aid must be occupied or closely attended (i.e. remain in the area) by fishermen at all times. Any person who leaves such objects unoccupied in the water for more than one hour will be deemed guilty of littering. 15.6.1 Fishing aids described above must have a permanent tag affixed that has the name, address, and phone number of the owner of the fishing aid. If the permitted angler using the fishing aid is not the owner, the owner will be the responsible party for any infractions by the permitted angler.
This year we have five trailers reserved. (6,7,8,9, and 10) As of September 1st 2021 we have 5 openings available. These openings will fill up quickly, so contact Mike immediately at (831) 706-5556. Last year was an incredible experience with many fish over 15 lbs brought to the net. If you cannot commit early and make it into one of our reserved trailers you can always make your own arrangements by contacting the Pyramid Lake Lodge at (775) 476-0400.
NOTE: Due to insurance regulations, all attendees must be paid up members of Santa Cruz Fly fishermen, so get your membership paid up if you haven’t done so yet.
Apr 15 : BOURDET RANCH ONE DAY FISHOUTS
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
BOURDET RANCH
One-day fishouts: April 15 (Sat), April 19 (Wed), April 24 (Mon)
Location: Bourdet Ranch on Hwy 152 across from Casa de Fruta, Hollister
I have reserved 3 dates at this beautiful ranch in the green rolling hills of Hollister which offers 4 bass and pan fish ponds. Trespass fee is $75/person (fisher or non-fisher) per day, CASH ONLY. Important: 4-WD is REQUIRED but those without 4-WD can buddy up with someone who does. Ponds are primarily fished from float tubes with some limited bank fishing. The ponds fish best if each pond has just 3 fishers at a time. We will meet at the ranch entrance 8:00 a.m. and leave together at about 5:30pm. Be sure to bring lunch and drinks. If you are interested, please call me soon as possible as this is a very popular bass fishing venue and there is a limit to how many people I can take. You can sign up for 1 or all dates as permitted.
My cell: (831) 566-7707 email: flyfishgal3@aol.com
Cecilia Stipes
Apr 15 : Del Valle Fishout – CANCELED
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Joshua Wilkens
**CANCELED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE**
Currently the park has issued a hard closure for camping until May 20th, 2023. Any members who had previously made reservations thru the county website / Reserve America, should have received an email detailing the cancelation and a refund from The East Bay Parks District.
An alternate destination maybe suggested soon, keep an eye out for an e-mail on google groups.
Fish Species: Going for striper, largemouth, small mouth, bluegill, white crappie, rainbow trout, and striper.
Equipment: I’m bringing a 6 wt floating line for everything but stripers and 8 wt full sink for stripers down as far as 25 feet. Fishing out of float tube.
Flies: Clousers and buggers (smelt patterns) should be able to find one if not all species maybe.
Day Fishing Fees: Parking $6.
Watercraft launch fee: $5 for trailered boats; $3 for car-top, inflatable boats and float tubes. $2 for windsurf boards. Boat inspection: $4/cartop; $7/trailered.
Float tube Inspection: Don’t bring kayak if you do make sure super dry and bring float tube just in case, they fail kayaks like 95% of time for me. I learned to just float tube there.
Camping Fees: $43 for tent campsite with reservation fees included, then $8 for additional vehicle, $5 fishing day pass, and #3 inspection. 2 vehicles and 8 people max per site. There is tap water and toilets. There is the potential of a group camp out, keep an eye on Google Groups.
Site Link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=537, https://www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle
Apr 29 : Los Padres Dam / Reservoir Fishout
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
Description: Los Padres Reservoir is located East of Carmel Valley Village. The best route is Carmel Valley Road East about 8 miles to a right turn on Cachagua Road to a right turn into and
through Princess Camp then about .5 miles to the Reservoir parking lot. You have to carry your float tube about .5 miles into the reservoir
and launch from the dam. Lake is about a mile long. Best to arrive before daybreak. Parking lot usually fills up opening day.
DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS VISIBLE WITHIN YOUR VEHICLE OR ON THE SHORE
No signups necessary, anyone wishing to fish should just show up. In general, fish in 10 to 20-foot depths. There are stories of huge brown trout, rainbows up to 24” and a chance to catch
steel-head much bigger.
Fishmaster: No Fishmaster for this Fishout self led
Fish Species: Steel Head Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Equipment: 5 and or 6wts with floating line and full sink or shooting heads. Fishing out of float tube.
Flies: Flies sizes 8 and 10 hooks, types black and brown woolly buggers, Denny Rikards seal buggers (orange, olive and black) and leeches (brown and black), Hale Bopp leeches (black,
brown and wine) and Hornburgs. Balanced flies under an indicator could be a good bet as well. Fishing is very similar to Goodwin Lake: very few hits on the surface.
Day Fishing Fees: No Fees
Fog burning off in the early morning
Carmel Creek with fish ladder to the left center. There is a couple of big fish in there…
May 06 : Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
First Surf Fishout of 2023!
Location: Rio Del Mar 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 2023
Meeting Time (AM)
State Beach
2023
Date
Sunrise
Low tide
High tide
Moon
Tide flow
Fishmaster
MAY
6
Saturday
5:55
Rio Del Mar
6:09
LO 05:48 -0.8
HI 12:28 PM +3.5
Full May 5
Low slack to low Flood
Sam
JUNE
3
Saturday
5:35
Manresa
5:49
LO 04:52 -1.0
HI 11:42 +3.4
Full June 4
Low mid-flood
??
JULY
1
Saturday
5:35
Palm
5:51
LO 03:53 -0.8
HI 10:50 +3.4
Full July 3
Mid-flood
Sam
AUGUST
5
Saturday
6:00
Rio Del Mar
6:16
LO 07:48 -0.1
HI 2:29 PM +4.9
New Aug 16
Mid-flood
Sam
SEPT
2
Saturday
6:25
Manresa
6:39
LO 06:30 +0.3
HI 12:52 PM +5.3
Full Aug 31
Low slack to low Flood
Sam
OCT
7
Saturday
6:50
Palm
7:08
LO 13:17 + 3.3
HI 07:55 AM +4.0
Full Sep 29
High flood to slack
Sam
Meet up times are scheduled 15 – 20 minutes before official sunrise.
Los Banos Creek Reservoir is an oasis in the valley, it has Bass and Bluegill and the option of fishing Stripers and Bass in the O’Neill Forebay 20 miles away.
Camping: Los Banos Campground (209) 826-6393) doesn’t take reservations, has 14 sites with tables with shade and also shade trees, non-potable water, and campfire rings.
Sites are $20.00 per day. Bring firewood and folding chairs.
Food: Bring your own food for breakfast and lunch.
Dinner will be pot-luck; bring your own meat. Also bring plates, cups and silverware.
I will supply stove, BBQ, coffee pot and wash area for dishes.
There is no drinking water available.
Gear: Float tube and fins, kayak etc. lake has 5mph speed limit
Fly line 5-6wt. include floating, intermediate, and fast sinking.
For fly suggestions contact me.
This Fishout is limited to the first 10 members who contact me – Dan Eaton (831) 201-2330.
Jun 03 : Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
Location: Manresa State Beach
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)
Locations/dates/times/Fishmasters might change, but note will go out early on Google group if so.
You may want to use a two fly rig, one smaller for perch and a larger one
for Stripers. When I add flies I often need to use lighter weight
ones than I might with one fly. For example, dumbbell eyes are
heavy, so I tie most Clousers and jig flies using bead-chain or even plastic eyes, knowing I will very likely be
using 2 or 3, so need them to be light enough to cast.
A reminder that the surf is not a place to learn to cast, but it will force you to improve your line control!
Belts are not mandatory but a good idea if you get swept off your feet. Baskets are also not mandatory but darn near.
Cost: Parking? & maybe some lost flies…and the fish of a life time
Meeting Location: In front Manresa Beach Parking Lot on San Andreas Rd.
San Andreas Rd. Lot has limited parking as the beach lot does not open until 8am
Special Considerations / Links: Tides, Wind, Swell, tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/
Lodging / Food: Coffee and donuts at the local hang out
Jun 24 : Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 25 – Jul 1 2023 – New Info
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Jeff (Yog) Goyert - Fishmaster (831)234-0033
The Lake Almanor fishout is scheduled for the last week of June, 6/24 thru 7/1, 2023. 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 Crater Lake, Manzanita Lake, Baum Lake, Eagle Lake, Butt Valley Reservoir, Deer Creek, Clear Creek, Feather River, Yellow Creek, plus many more.
Lodging will be the responsibility of individual attendees. A popular campground operated by PG&E is the Rocky Point Campground, for reservation information call 916-386-5164. Many USFS campgrounds are in the area. Reservations are available through www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Make use of internet resources to acquire the actual campground names. There are also many resorts and rental cabins available in the area. A few examples are Wilson’s Camp/530-259-2267 and Plumas Pines Resort/530-259-4343. Other options are available via online research. Be advised that due to the popularity of fishing at this time of year reservations fill up early.
Sierra Fly and Tackle, stores in Chester and Hamilton Branch, is a great resource for current conditions and reports along with a large invantory flies and equipment. A must stop for all visiting fly fishers if only to get one of their cool tee-shirts. Both first time and veteran “Hex” Anglers could well benefit from the expertise provided by a knowledgeable and experienced guide. Lance Gray (530-517-2204) or Tim Loomis (831-345-8411) both offer instructional packages to help achieve success during the “Hex”.
Jul 01 : Palm Beach Surf Fishout
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
Location: Palm Beach State Park
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)
Locations/dates/times/Fishmasters might change, but a note will go out early on Google group if so.
You may want to use a two fly rig, one smaller for perch and a larger one
for Stripers. When I add flies I often need to use lighter weight
ones than I might with one fly. For example, dumbbell eyes are
heavy, so I tie most Clousers and jig flies using bead-chain or even plastic eyes, knowing I will very likely be
using 2 or 3, so need them to be light enough to cast.
A reminder that the surf is not a place to learn to cast, but it will force you to improve your line control!
Cost: Parking? & maybe some lost flies…and the fish of a life time
Meeting Location: Parking Lot / End of W. Beach St.
Special Considerations / Links: Tides, Wind, Swell, tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/
Lodging / Food: Coffee and donuts at the local hang out after the session
Jul 16 : Loreto Fly Fishing Trip July 2023
(Click for address and map) Fishmaster:
Sign Up Now! Experience a new HIGH! Fish for Dorado, and many other salt-water fish, including Bonito, Roosters, Yellowtail and Sailfish on a fly! Join the group going to Loreto in Baja
Sunday, July 16th through Thursday, July 20th.
This trip includes:
Four nights at the beautiful Hotel La Mission, on the water-front next to the Loreto Harbor.
Three days of fishing on 24-foot Super Pangas, with fly fishing guides.
Ground transfers and fishing licenses.
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: *$900.00 per person,double occupancy; around $460.00 for a non-fishing guest. It does not include meals because there are some nice restaurants (A lot of fresh seafood!) in town or if you prefer, eat at the hotel, where they will also cook your catch to your preference. Interested?
Please contact Rich Hughett, 831-757-5709, for all the details. You will need to book airline flights* as soon as possible.
*No money will be collected in advance. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines from San Jose to Los Angeles and Alaska Airlines to Loreto. Rich will help with your airline reservations.
Gear: The minimum size rod for Dorado is a 10 weight, with a corresponding size reel with plenty of backing. I suggest everyone take floating, intermediate and full sink lines, such as T-14. Most fish down there are not leader shy, so I use about a 5 foot leader with a 20 pound tippet. For Dorado, the main fly is a Sarmulmac. Clousers also work. In fact a variety of flies work for salt water fish, as long as they represent a smaller baitfish.
Notes: Further discussion of dates, gear and preparations to be had as interest develops
Something a little different for our February Fly Club raffle since we have so many prizes and later in the month at the Fundraiser.
You can also make your own arrangements either by bringing your own RV (Pyramid Lake Lodge has hook-ups and sells permits to park on the any of the beaches along the lake) or staying in Reno. Reno is 45 minutes away. Call Pyramid Lake Lodge to inquire about last minute cancellations in their cabins as well (775) 476-0400 and check out their website to see what the cabins look like at 
If you have any questions about equipment or how to get there, check the “Gearing up” columns in the March 2007-2009 archives on our great club website, or call Mike White at (831) 706-5556. 
