Tag: January 2025

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January 2025 Table of Contents

2025 Annual Fundraiser………………
January Monthly Meeting: Fish Stories from our members……………………
January Raffle……………………
My Turn……………………………
Fly Tying……………………
 No Fly Tying Class in January
 Fly of the Month: Quigley Cripple BWO
Conservation Concerns……………
 Profile: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Membership Notes…………………
  Club Activities – January
  Making our Annual Fundraiser the best ever
  2025 Membership renewal is winding down
Gearing Up ……………………
  Fishout Schedule
Fishing Partners…………………
  Project Healing Water 2025 schedule
Cartoon ……………………

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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2025 Annual Fundraiser

Tickets on sale now for the 2025 Annual Dinner & Fundraiser! Dinner is only $40 per person with Incredible raffle and silent auction of fly fishing items and more. Click here for detailed information about the event along with a list current attendees. Over half the tickets have already been sold! Click here to purchase tickets.

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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Fish Stories from our members

Jan 08 6:45 PM at the Aptos Grange
2024 Fish Stories from our members

Zoom Meeting:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89352294939

Let’s start the new year by listening to stories from your fellow club  members.   First fish, biggest fish, funniest story, who knows what we will hear.

For those of you who want to see what people did in 2024, please spend time looking at the pictures and captions on the club’s website: www.santacruzflyfishing.org . Viewing is best done on a full screen computer and when you click on the picture, you get a larger image and the full description. Images are sorted chronologically and hitting the ‘Load More’ button at the bottom of the page will show pictures from earlier in the year. Also, please share your pictures with others by sending them to Jerry at metropolitantrout@gmail.com.



Posted on December 27th, 2024

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January Raffle

As a repeated reminder, the January Fly Club monthly meeting is being held on Wednesday the 8th of January rather than the normal first Wednesday of the month which in this case is New Years Day.  Anyone who shows up on the first, have fun in the parking lot.

On the bright side is we all have an extra week to save up a few more bucks to buy lucky tickets for our great raffle.

Take a look at this Vector 1000 Amp portable jumper with 120 psi compressor.  Deep in the boonies, low tire or dead battery, no problem.  It even will keep your cell phone charged!

How about this 42 0z. Rambler mug from Yeti.  Keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot.  Environment friendly reusable straw.

We will also have up for grabs winners choice of a 6wt, 7wt, or 8wt V-Access 9 foot 4 section Rod with matching reel.
 Includes zipper top courdra covered tube hard case.

And don’t forget, we will have some great door prizes. Everybody gets a free ticket!
Raffle tickets are a dollar each, 20 bucks gets you 25.  Raffle monies help support our conservation efforts and our scholarship program.  Must be present to win.

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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What is your 2025 fly fishing journey?

by Scott Kitayama - President

The holidays zipped by, and here we are in 2025! Before diving into the hustle of the new year, take a moment to think about a few things you’d like to explore on your fly fishing journey this year. I prefer the word “journey” over “goal” because fly fishing offers endless chances to learn new skills and embrace fresh experiences.

For our club, the journey is about fostering fellowship among members through education, promotion, and the enjoyment of fly fishing. We’re kicking things off with an exciting dinner event on February 1—I hope it’s on your calendar! Be sure to grab your tickets soon; we’ve already sold half of them, and they’re going fast. Throughout the year, we’re aiming to adapt and create more events that help members connect, meet new people, and find others with similar interests. These include gatherings at general meetings, fly-tying sessions, or fishing outings. If you have suggestions for ways to encourage socialization, please let us know.

On a personal note, my fly fishing journey this year includes visiting my brother in Hawaii and catching a bonefish. I’ve heard that bonefishing in Hawaii is particularly challenging, so I plan to ease into it. First, I’ll fish for bonefish in a location known for easier success, and before that, I’ll practice sight fishing for carp to sharpen my skills. This step-by-step journey is not just about fishing; it’s about learning, discovering new places, and connecting with other people along the way. I can’t wait to see where it leads.

NOTE: In 2025, the column “President’s Line” is changing to “My Turn” where each month a member of the Board of Directors can share his/her thoughts.

Posted on December 27th, 2024

Date:  None

Time:  Not applicable

Place:  Not applicable

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No fly tying class in January 2025

by Elaine Cook – flying chairman

FLY TYING CLASS MESSAGES :

Sorry folks, we won’t be having a class in January because the first is New Year’s Day.Therefore, the club meeting will be held on the second Wednesday of the month.
Here is a big thank you to all of you who helped with the classes this year. Some of you were instructors and others helped beginners foregoing tying your own fly. Club members truely appreciate your help and guidance.
Looking forward: the class in February will be Gino’s Midge Emerger, as usual on the second Wednesday of the month. In March, we will have our annual popper class on the weekend of the 15th and 16th. Limited space so sign up early.

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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Quigley Cripple BWO

by Elaine Cook – Fly Tying Chairman

The Quiggly represents an emerging mayfly that is dressed in an unusual manner to make the rear end of the tail hang down in the water and the thorax and wing out of the water. Apply saliva to the body and tail, then floatant to the wing and hackle. During a hatch, fish tend to be more eager to take an Emerger than a Dun because they are not ready to fly off.
HOOK: TMC 100, sizes 14 16 18.
THREAD: 8/0 or 12/0 (Preferable for the smaller sized hooks).
TAIL and BODY: gray Marabou (fluffy).
THORAX: dark olive dubbing
WING: deer hair with narrow fibers
HACKLE: grizzly.
1. Crimp barb.
2. Attach thread behind eye, wrap to rear of shank with touching wraps.
3. Select 3 to 5 barbs of marabou, cut from stem, tie in with tips extending hook shank length to rear. Tie down with 2 thread wraps forward, then fold marabou backward and make two thread wraps backward.
4. Make dubbing loop with marabou. Wrap thread forward to 1/3 back on shank.
5. Gently twist dubbing loop into rope. Wrap forward with touching wraps up to hanging thread.
6. Dub a round thorax that surrounds a section of the shank starting 1/4 back and ending 1/2 back..
7. Select small bundle of deer hair. Clean out under fur, stack tips. Lay on top of shank, tips out over eye that measure shank length in front of thorax.
8. Tie in by making first wrap around only hair fibers and second wrap around both fibers and hook shank. Make several snug wraps on top of one another. Make one wrap around base of wing to bundle it, then one more wrap around shank. Cut butt ends so that they just cover thorax.
9. Reposition hook with eye tipped upward.
10. Select hackle with barbs one and a half hook gap. Cut off fuzzy end. Cut 5 to 6 barbs short along base of stem on each side forming a “crew cut“. Holding feather tip to rear, dark shiny side towards you, crew cut both behind I and wing. Tie in crew cut behind wing with two wraps, then two wraps between eye and wing. Position thread between wing and cut butts. Make 3 to 5 hackle wraps in the same place around deer hair and shank. Tie off cut access.
11. Have hitch behind eye.
12. If tail longer than hook shank length, pinch marabou to cut (don’t use scissors).

Posted on December 29th, 2024

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Profile–California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

by Bob Garbarino

California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) is a collection of committed activists with extensive experience and expertise in the trenches of the administrative, and judicial processes affecting fisheries, water rights, and water quality. These are these arenas in which defenders of the public interest and the public trust win or lose the battles to protect the fisheries and water quality of our waterways.
California has many laws protecting fisheries and water quality but a poor track record of enforcing them. CSPA monitors the water rights and water quality processes, and where necessary, enforces laws enacted to protect the aquatic environment. They have developed working relationships with state and federal agencies and legislators, and they closely collaborate with other fishing and environmental organizations. CSPA’s work covers the following important areas affecting California’s fisheries.
Clean Water Law Enforcement—This includes stopping stormwater pollution, wastewater pollution and agricultural pollution.
Balance the Water Budget—Areas of focus are reforming water rights, stopping the Sites Reservoir project, enforcing state doctrines and planning for drought.
Save the Bay-Delta Estuary—Priorities are stopping the Delta Tunnel, restoring the rule of law and completing the Bay-Delta Plan.
Protect Rivers from Hydropower Dams—Key strategies are leveraging hydropower licensing, removing obsolete dams and protecting the Clean Water Act Section 401.
Improve Fisheries Management—CSPA states that 83% of California’s native fisheries are at risk of extinction. To combat the fisheries decline, CSPA is working to increase natural production, modernize hatcheries and promote equitable access.
Through the hard work and commitment of the staff at CSPA, we can know that they are acting on our behalf to help to restore healthy habitats for native fish—including Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Go to  https://calsport.org/  for more in-depth information on CSPA.

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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Club Activities – Jan thru Feb

Date Activity Link DescriptionLocation
Jan 11 10:00 am - 12:00 pmFly Casting Meetup--10:00 AM Start Time

We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques.  I will have practice rods if needed.  Hope to see you there.

Jade Street Park baseball field
Feb 01 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm2025 SCFF Annual Fundraiser - Feb 1st, 5-9 pm

Wild Alaska Salmon will highlight the dinner and we will have many prizes available for the raffle. We are keeping the dinner affordable at $40/person and expect it to sell out early. Click on the article to see who has purchased tickets to the event.

Pajaro Valley Rod and Gun Club
Feb 15 1:00 pm - 3:00 pmFly Casting Meetup

We will be working on FFI skills development course from the Bronze and Silver levels. If you’re not familiar with these exercises, it would be a great time to come out and see what it’s all about. The skills are directed at improving your casting skills, and will improve your overall fly fishing success. This will be a perfect time for those folks who are just getting started, to learn some basic core casting techniques.  I will have practice rods if needed.  Hope to see you there.

Jade Street Park baseball field
Feb 28 10:00 am - 6:00 pmPleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth

The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have a booth at the Pleasanton Fly Show.   We are still looking for volunteers to help fill shifts at the show.  If you are interested, please contact Justin Ice at mobile:  408-690-6143.

Alameda County Fairgrounds
Mar 01 9:00 am - 5:30 pmPleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth

The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have a booth at the Pleasanton Fly Show.   We are still looking for volunteers to help fill shifts at the show.  If you are interested, please contact Justin Ice at mobile:  408-690-6143.

Alameda County Fairgrounds
Mar 02 9:00 am - 4:30 pmPleasanton Fly Fishing Show - SCFF booth

The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club will have a booth at the Pleasanton Fly Show.   We are still looking for volunteers to help fill shifts at the show.  If you are interested, please contact Justin Ice at mobile:  408-690-6143.

Alameda County Fairgrounds

Posted on December 16th, 2024

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Making our Annual Fundraiser the best ever

We want to be sure to have raffle and silent auction  prizes that appeal to everyone and many attendees don’t fly fish.  We would like you go to your favorite businesses and ask for donations for the fundraiser, below is a list of companies that HAVE ALREADY donated to our 2025 fundraiser.   Click here for a  PDF link to a “Request for Donation” letter and a “fill in the blank” gift certificate.    I hope that by filling in the name of the business, signing your name, and writing a short note on the letter, it will help make it easier to ask.  Remember, we are asking for help to fund donations to local environmental organizations and student scholarships.    

We are blessed to be getting gift certificates for the fundraiser and are looking to get more.  Here are some who have already donated:

Bayside Marine
Bookshop Santa Cruz
Cafe Cruz
The Farm Bakery
Cafe Cruz
Riverside Lighting		Stagnaro Charters
H&H Fish
Johnny’s Harborside
Pajaro Valley Golf Course
AdamsBuilt
MasterCleaners		Pacific Golf Center
Trout Spot Fly Shop
Central Coast Fly Shop
TFO
CA Sportfishing Protection

If you do frequent any of these companies, please thank them for their generosity. And finally, you can help by attending the event!  Remember, you can’t win the great prizes unless you are present. 

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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2025 Membership renewal is winding down

by Bob/Membeship

As of Dec 18th we have 160 members who have renewed their 2025 membership with another 50 renewals coming in the next few weeks  We do plan to send out a draft roster and print next years Roster in mid January, so members are encouraged to renew their membership in the next few weeks to be included in 2025 Roster. Members who do no renew will be placed in an inactive file and will not receive the monthly newsletter.

Posted on December 27th, 2024

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Fishout Schedule

The newsletter provides brief fishout info.  For full detail, go to the website menu and select EVENTS -> Fishout Schedule

Date Link (new tab) Description
Mar 14 - Mar 16 Upper Sacramento River / McCloud FishoutThis Fishout’s final date is still TBD and subject to river flows as we get closer to spring. The upper Sac. has excellent access via. Hwy 5 and by walking the railway tracks. Euro/High Stick/Indicator Nymphing is the go to.
Apr 12 6:00 am - 1:00 pmKelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie)Stand by as dates and details to be updated as the days get longer and warmer! Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama Location: Kelly Lake in Watsonville (Private lake limited to 6 people) Species: bass,  crappie, bluegill Duration: 1 day Registration and Cost: No Cost, but you must contact Scott as the number of people fishing is limited.  Contact at scottkitayama@gmail.com. Addtional Details & Confirmation of dates to be updated - Stay tuned Meeting time and place: Scott will directly be in contact with those that are coming on the Fishout. Equipment: Need to have float tube or kayak to fish the lake.  [...]
Apr 18 - Apr 20 Rooster Comb RanchRoostercomb Ranch Private ranch pond fishing, located adjacent to Henry Coe State Park, 22 miles off Hwy 152 from the entrance which is 5 miles from Casa de Fruta Restaurant in Hollister. It is a 3-day fun-filled weekend with fishing bass ponds The ponds are primarily fished from float tubes or from the bank using woolly buggers and poppers. You can also bring conventional spin rods and gear. Lodging and accommodation information will be updated (search Roostercomb in the top right search bar to learn about our past Fishouts here). The terrain is rough, rocky and sometimes steep; therefore all vehicles [...]
Apr 26 - May 03 12:00 amGreen River – UtahGreen River - Utah Currently this trip is at maximum capacity. For wait list options or updates, please contact the Fishmaster  Rick chace rchace@got.net General Information - It is necessary for us to pay upfront to reserve the accommodations. The club's standard approach to this is for each angler to pay his individual portion of the rental fee for sleeping accommodations. Each angler will be responsible for the weekly rate of $300. This is a nonrefundable fee. If an angler decides not to attend, they are responsible to sell their portion to another angler or forfeit their portion of the [...]
Jun 02 - Jun 04 Pyramid Lake FishoutFishmaster: Mike White Greetings fellow Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club Members I have been leading the Pyramid Lake fishing trip for the past ten years. It has always been a remarkable fish out, and one of the best attended too. However the past three years have been very challenging and we have not caught very many fish and people have come away disappointed with the outcome. That leads me to a new discovery about how to fish Pyramid Lake. Jeff Goyertte, a club member and our raffle coordinator took a trip to the lake and fished with Rob Anderson, a [...]
Jun 20 - Jun 22 Burney and AroundDate and description subject to change due to seasonal conditions Please Stay Tuned Fishmaster: Alex Ferber Location: Lakes, rivers and streams of the Burney area Species: Trout Duration: 3 Days Cost: No Cost Meet Up: Date of Fishout TBD and subject to change due seasonal conditions Hat Creek Park off Hy 299 (See the map below). The park is approximately 10 minutes from the highway 299/80 junction. The park is on the left hand side going east on 299. If you google Hat Creek Park, it should show up. This meet up will be a general discussion with your Fishmaster [...]
Jun 22 - Jun 28 12:00 amLake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 22th – 28th 2025The Lake Almanor Fishout is scheduled for the last week of June, 6/22 thru 28th, 2025. This time period is, hopefully, the peak of the annual Hexagenia hatch that begins generally mid-June and runs through mid-July. The most productive fishing takes place early evenings on into past dark between Lake Almanor West to Canyon Dam on the Southwest side of the lake. Most of the fishing is done from float tubes as well as small boats or even from shore. In addition to the evening "Hex" hatch, a multitude of opportunities exist for fishing throughout the day to include Little [...]
Jul 07 12:00 amLoreto Fly Fishing TripLoreto Mexico Details to be finalized and date to be confirmed  The fishing day starts around 6:00 a.m. and we usually get back to the harbor between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. Spend the rest of the afternoon fishing from the beach, having a cool drink in the pool, exploring Loreto, or just sitting around telling some tall fish stories. And, you will have many exciting moments on the Sea of Cortez to talk about. The approximate cost for everything but meals and airfare is: *$995.00 per person, double occupancy; around $460.00 for a non-fishing guest. -  It does not include [...]
Sep 20 - Oct 04 12:00 amMammoth Fishout -Sept. 20-Oct. 4thFall trout fishing in streams and lakes. Trip is for seven days and the participants share a condo in Mammoth Lakes.
Oct 16 - Oct 19 O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout October 17-20thCamping and striped bass fishing at the O'Neil Forebay.
Oct 31 - Nov 02 12:00 amTrinity River FishoutTarget: Steelhead and trout.  Contact Alex Ferber if you are interested in going on the trip, text Alex at (831) 419-0564  or alex.ferber74@gmail.com. 

Posted on December 27th, 2024