For October’s meeting we welcome Mike Malekos. Mike is the Founder and Administrator of The Casting A Rise Foundation. Casting A Rise raises money for charitable, educational, and nonprofit organizations through fly fishing. Please take a look at www.castingarise.com and consider supporting this impactful 501(C)(3) organization.
Mike is also a contributing Columnist at California Fly Fisher magazine. His “Snapshot” articles are short, informative pieces discussing how to fly fish various fisheries within our state. Through his commentary Mike shares how to get there, how to fish there, and most importantly, why he fishes each body of water the way he does. The written synopsis of his fly fishing experience is intended to shorten an angler’s learning curve and to serve as a starting point for someone who has never visited the profiled fishery. Among other things, Mike touches on the area, equipment selection, and how he found fish to behave. During his presentation, Mike will share his views regarding float tube safety, selection, essential gear, and profile several still water trout fishing destinations Santa Cruz Fly Fishing members should consider visiting.
Future Speakers. Dates and speakers may change, please go to URL to see the current information.
Monthly Speaker
Date
Excerpt
April Vokey – Spey Casting for Steelhead
Nov 02 6:30 PM
Dame Juliana of Steelhead spey Casting- April Vokey
Gordon Tharrett – fishing the Green river in Utah
Dec 01 6:30 PM
Gordon Tharrett will be sharing with us the remarkable fly-fishing around Utah and the Green River, where what some of the members call “The 20/20 club” – a size 20″ trout on a size 20 fly”
Just in time for the Forebay Fishout we have got a couple of door prize boxes of Striper flies tied by the master of the Forebay; Lee Haskin. These works of art donated by Lee are the gold standard of Forebay striper flies. Each box has two San Luis Smelt patterns and two topwaters gurglers.
“How do I win?” you ask, just show up at the October zoom meeting. Everybody attending the zoom meeting will get a free door prize ticket. Winners must be in attendance at the meeting.
Mark your Calendars!! October, November, December!!! Don’t miss these meetings via Zoom, and hopefully in person – maybe by December if the world starts spinning again.
And some other fun fly-fishing related things we’re doing – outside – for the most part.
Hey – seriously October is going to be that presentation you’d want to hear if you are at all interested in fishing from a float tube. Michael Malekos has been writing for California Fly Fisher magazine the last 25 years. He is a super guy who will have some informative, entertaining stories and tips on Float tubing from the bare basics to that and more. If you don’t subscribe to California Fly Fisher magazine – drop this and sign up for this subscription now!! It’s the very best California (and a bit of the rest of the west) fly fishing rag you’ll ever read.
On TUESDAY November 2nd – yes – Tuesday –via Zoom – since it’s November, it’s what I typically identify as the start of the winter steelhead season AND, this one is going to be a presentation by April Vokey from Anchored Outdoors. April is a world-renowned Steelhead spey fly angler, fly-tier, v-logger, … April has also offered some of her educational memberships as part of our door prize/raffle too. Anchored Outdoors has an extensive library of resources and most especially around some pretty spectacular fly-fishing opportunities. I’m super excited to have her as our November speaker.
December’s meeting is going to feature Gordon Tharrett who runs some fantastic fly-fishing opportunities in Utah and Idaho – most notably the Green River. Get your calendars out for planning your 2022 season and come hear what Gordon will bring to your future fly-fishing options in the West with big rainbow and big browns.
With the year coming to a close, many of you know that for the last forty plus years, we have had an annual dinner and fundraiser event that is the highlight of our year. It is the best time spending a whole day together preparing food, getting the raffle tables ready, hors de overs, setting tables, spending the evening eating, meeting new people, silent auction, installing new board members, some funny awards and some nice awards – like the John Steele/Dame Juliana Award, and the raffle.
While the Annual Dinner/Fundraiser will happen again in our future, we are opting for some smaller and perhaps even more engaging events for the membership as this latest setback from Covid has caused us some pause and is still creating uncertainty around a big 200 person gathering.
Our annual dinner/fundraiser nets the club on average $7,500 every year. Some years more, some less. While our budget is approximately $30,000 a year, these funds all go directly to running the club – facility rent, Conservation budget, High-School Scholarship fund, our speaker programs, raffle prizes for monthly meeting, fly-tying materials and classes, Fish-out needs and more. With so many opportunities to do so many different fundraising activities and with so many fun ideas coming from you and our board, we should be able to continue meeting our goals and creating new opportunities surrounding fly-fishing.
I’m also super excited about so many of you who are coming out of the woodwork with ideas for the club and requests to be more of an active member offering to help. To that I’m excited to say that Tommy Polito is going to be helping us with Programs for 2022. Tommy and his new young family live in Aptos. We met at the BBQ and boom, just like that, I was excited to hear his ideas about programs and the offer to accept this position on the Board. You’ll be hearing more from Tommy and company soon.
And, if that wasn’t surprise enough – Bob Garbarino, who I’ve had the pleasure of fishing with a few times, casting classes and hanging out together came to the board meeting. I thought he was there as a guest which was really nice, but then Steve Rudzinski surprised us by saying that Bob was offering to take on the position of Conservation Chair for 2022, which is going to leave Steve more time to orchestrate Casting clinics, casting practices, outings and even some camping/fishing fun.
I’m really happy with everyone coming forward and please know we need a few more to help us this coming year and into the future. IF you are remotely interested, just come visit a board meeting and you might like it! I do.
Stay tuned. If you haven’t been to a Zoom meeting yet and need help navigating this – PLEASE reach out to me or Scott Kitayama. We’ll set you up – easy!!
Watch your newsletter for some really fun outdoor get togethers over these next several months.
It has been fun meeting all our new members – I’d like to highlight and welcome you so if you come to the meeting, we’d love to hear from you.
See you soon and again on Zoom – we’re going to have fun!!
This dry fly is an attractor pattern for trout. And attract it does. I will challenge you by tying a small fly , size 16, but on the other hand it is a very simple tie. So don’t hesitate to join in. Please set up a good light, manification and prescription glasses if you wear them. The class is always free, materials provided and we welcome beginners. If you have never tied before or haven’t tools or vise, you will need to call me ASAP to get you set up. To the rest of you, I will be out of town from Oct. 6th and return on the 10th. So call me soon if you want material before I leave. Otherwise leave me a message letting me know if you need to borrow black 8/0 thread and I’ll get the bag of materials at my door sometime on Monday the 11th. To sign up call: (831)688-1561 or (831)251-4741 or (831)234-6515. NO text messages please.
Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to URL to see the current information.
Monthly Fly
Date
Excerpt
Bug Eye Nymph
Nov 10 6:30 PM
– bass and trout -Taught by Dan Eaton. Very effective last spring at Los Banos Creek Reservoir for bass.
X-Caddis
Dec 08 6:30 PM
– dry fly for trout – streams and lakes throughout the West – Olive 8/0 thread.
Red Bead Cone Head
Jan 12 6:30 PM
– large trout and bass – appropriate for Pyramid , Los Banos Creek Reservoir, Delta and like waters – black 6/0 thread
Surf Percher
Feb 09 6:30 PM
– surf fish species – local beaches – red 6/0 thread
Poppers
Mar 12 9:00 AM
– bass – top water lakes and ponds, primarily in spring – very strong thread, any color. NOTE: Let Elaine know early if you want to attend. Class is VERY popular.
Green Drake
Apr 13 6:30 PM
– dry fly for trout – spring in the Rocky Mountains and other Western streams and rivers – tan 6/0 thread
Cricket
May 11 6:30 PM
– dry fly for trout – streams and rivers thought the West – black 6/0 thread
Instead of a specific fly to tie this month I’m sharing some tips that ought to help you tie more flies in the future.
1. There are various methods to thread a bodkin. My favorite is using a ” floss threaded” which is a dental item that is sold in most pharmacies. I advise never using the wire tool that is designed for that purpose. It will score the inside and in turn cause thread to fray and break.
2. While trying to tie a particular fly, it helps to prevent materials from being lost in the clutter or blow away in the wind you using a clip or cloths pin. For your hooks, glue a magnet to the base of your vise.
3. Bodkins usually get freshly applied glue out of the hook eye but a feather is really effective.
4. Frustrated with the hole in your glue bottle being glued shut? Try this, after each use quickly wipe with a cloth, re-establish hole with a safety pin or bodkin, then cap right away. If that doesn’t work try a flame heated pin. Also cutting off the tip will often get below the hardened glue.
5. Hardened glue on bodkin or safety pin can easily be scraped off with a razor blade.
Board members sometimes get bored with the same job year after year and realize it’s time to change course which is what happened at our board meeting Wednesday night Sept. 15, as is tradition every Sept we look for someone to replace us which does not happen very often but when it does, a new energy brings freshness to the group.
First of all, our official CastMaster Mark Traugott is stepping down as the active club instructor while instead working with 3 or 4 fishermen at a time on the river and not part of any crowd. I will be stepping down as the Conservation Chair and into Marks waders where I feel more comfortable and enjoy offering a regular monthly or bi monthly casting clinic at Jade St Park for the time being. Sam Bishop who has been the leader of the ‘before meetings’ casting clinic (Now Covid Closed). Between Sam and I, we can help a larger group and with such an experienced membership, we have specialists who can do presentations on spey or switch rods and advanced techniques I have yet to learn.
I want to welcome Bob Garbarino as our new Conservation Chairman, who I first met on a volunteer mission to save fingerling steelhead trout from a rapidly drying up local stream (over 100 fish that day). I asked Bob to help me out sometimes and submit articles for the newsletter which he did and now after a few fishing trips together, I asked him if he could help us/me out. Hooray! This is my last post as California Slim. My last duty I performed was to slash our annual contributions to charitable organizations we all agreed could survive without our $100-$300 donation. (Savings $1900.) Local organizations were funded as usual or cut in half. Thank you all and watch your GoogleGroup email for the next casting clinic and reminders for the fish outs at the ForeBay. Oct 7-9 and Nov 4-7 2021.
CalTrout—one of the organizations that our club supports—reported that the California Legislature has released the final budget language. CalTrout has been actively engaged in the budget process to advocate for the many factors that influence healthy wild fish. In the budget is funding for addressing conservation issues such as:
$105 million to support fish passage and wildlife corridor projects.
$33 million for fisheries and wildlife support.
$323 million to fund water and drought programs.
And notably, $12.5 million for the removal of dams to preserve the federally endangered southern steelhead trout.
Thank you club members for your support that is used to fund groups like CalTrout. For more details, click on the web link.
Here are my notes with some of the fishing photography tips that pro photographer Brian O’Keefe shared at our June 2, 2021 SCFF meeting
He recommends the iPhone 11 or 12 to meet all of our fish pic needs. Specific notes regarding the use of those cameras are at the end of this piece.
For a “Magazine Cover” format, keep the LENS AT FISH EYE LEVEL by the water surface, with the FISH HEAD ANGLED SLIGHTLY TOWARD THE CAMERA .
With TOOTHY FISH, pics especially good with its head angled well toward the camera.
Nice to show the ROD/TACKLE HELD NATURALLY, NOT over your shoulder, in your mouth, etc.
Pics of FLIES are fun.
Try getting UP HIGH. Stop the car for a good shot! Pics from a LOW DOWN angle are also especially good.
Look for pics of CURVES IN THE RIVER, with the FOREGROUND IN FOCUS.
CUT OFF THE PEOPLE, HONOR THE FISH!
To take a pic of your buddy DON’T SAY “WAIT”, SAY “KEEP FISHING!”
BACKLIT SHOTS ARE GREAT, lighting up the net, the fish’s tail, etc.
Avoid the “BORING BULLSEYE” with your subject centered in the photo.
”30 SECOND RULE”: Take a bit of time to move to the spot with the best composition, background, light, etc.
FISHERMAN LOOKING AT THE FISH (rather than at the camera) respects the fish.
Showing MOVING WATER AROUND THE FISH is good.
Showing JUST THE HEAD OF THE FISH is good.
With SUPER SHINY FISH, FIND SHADE to show the scale detail.
EARLY AND LATE LIGHT yield MORE COLOR and beautiful SILHOUETTES.
With RIVER PICS show a VISIBLE ANGLER.
Find INTERESTING COMPOSITION. DON’T CENTER EVERYTHING.
With SILVERY FISH try bending fish at different angles to decrease reflection.
Showing DRIPPING is good!
”THE HONORABLE BLUR” shows a moving fish.
OK to hold BASS a bit out of the water, best just out at the surface, but KEEP YOUR ARM BEHIND.
!! AGAIN !! : TAKE PICS AT LOW, EYE LEVEL TO THE FISH!! WITH ITS HEAD TOWARD THE CAMERA!!
BTW: SHOTS LOOKING DOWN AT THE FISH BY SHORE SHOW all the MUD aroused in the water.
On BRIGHT SUNNY DAY with the fisher’s face in shadow use FILL FLASH.
Tell people to LOOK HAPPY! SHOW THE MOMENT!
THROW IN SOME COLOR: shore foliage, etc.
Show what fish eat!
JUMPING FISH SHOTS: He gets LOW IN THE BOAT.
For SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD (flower shots, bugs, etc) use PORTRAIT MODE.
BIG COLOR is great to capture when present.
CAMERA TIPS
He recommends the iPhone 11 or 12.
Also good is Olympus T6-4 MP Olympus Tough, waterproof with 3” LCD, about $575. Both this and the above iPhones have excellent Macro ability.
Good distance shots however require a pro camera with telephoto lens.
REGARDING iPHONES:
He DOES NOT USE “LIVE” mode, but DOES USE TELEPHOTO AND OTHER function MODES.
The VOLUME button can operate the SHUTTER.
In PANO mode he seldom uses the whole range, often just 1/2 or 2/3 of the range.
3 colored dots in the upper right corner indicate FILTERS. These can be used before or after a shot. Be sure to SAVE THE ORIGINAL before trying various filters.
PORTRAIT MODE blurs out all but the subject. He especially likes STAGE LIGHT MONO setting.
iPHONES DON’T DO CLOSEUPS WELL. He makes a COPY, SAVES, THEN EDITS, usually brightening up BRIGHTNESS & SHARPNESS, then CROPS.
The Forebay fish-out Stosh organized is the second weekend of October, so I have moved our surf fish-out to the first Saturday in October (2nd) so everyone can participate in both.
Sunrise is at 07:04 and we will meet at 0640. High tide (+4.2’) is at 09:17, so we will fish a flood tide. Some people believe this is the best tide as the fish will be coming in to feed on critters untouched in the sand for several hours. I can’t personally say one way or the other, as I have caught fish in the surf at all stages of tide. It seems to be more a case of whether or not they see what I am offering and are they biting it?
I will have flies (free), stripping baskets ($20 to the Club) and brand new wading belts ($10 to repay my cost) available.
Getting there: Take West Beach out of Watsonville all the way towards the ocean until you are mired in the sand. You went just a bit too far, so back up your 4WD about 100 feet and park on the right under the Eucalyptus trees that drip and stain your vehicle when they are wet. (Hint: Wash it off right away when you get home.)
BTW, I like the State Beaches, because when you are done, there is a shower nearby to wash the sand off your waders and salt off your gear before heading home.
This is our last “organized” surf fish-out for 2021. Last month most everyone caught fish or had hook-ups. Let’s do it again!
Last reminder for our annual FishOut at Medeiros Campground, O’Neill ForeBay. (we camp just west of the power lines in a group site with 4 or 5 separate campsites near each other. Look for our club banner and lots of float tubes on the shore or out fishing. Bring all float tube stuff, #7 or #8 wt rods with fast sinking line. Tie a short 6′ leader of 14-17 lb. test fluorocarbon which sinks better than Monofilament lines and has no stretch which makes better hook sets. We hope to have more flies for sale or bring your own clauser minnows with hook sizes #1, 1-0 and 2-0 and pinch the barbs for safety.
This is a remote style camping spot, we have 1 vault style toilet that is kept clean and there is no water available. Campers be sure to bring all the gear you need. There is a store about a mile away to get ice, beer etc. If this is your first time and need more info, call me at 831 462 4532 or email me at ssrudzinski@gmail.com. Anyone wanting to order flies, do this ASAP so I can get an order in, they will be $5. each.
Hope to see you there and lets hope for good weather and especially, good fishing.
Palm State Beach (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Sam Bishop (831) 476-6451
The Forebay fish-out Stosh organized is the second weekend of October, so I have moved our surf fish-out to the first Saturday in October (2nd) so everyone can participate in both.
Sunrise is at 07:04, and we will meet at 0640. High tide (+4.2’) is at 09:17, so we will fish a flood tide. Some people believe this is the best tide to fish as the fish will be coming in to feed on critters untouched in the sand for several hours. I can’t personally say one way or the other, as I have caught fish in the surf at all stages of tide. It seems to be more a case of whether or not they see what I am offering and are they biting it?
I will have flies (free), stripping baskets ($20 to the Club) and brand new wading belts ($10 to repay my cost) available.
Getting there: Take West Beach out of Watsonville all the way towards the ocean until you are mired in the sand. You went just a bit too far, so back up your 4WD about 100 feet and park on the right under the Eucalyptus trees that drip and stain your vehicle when they are wet. (Hint: Wash it off right away when you get home.)
BTW, I like the State Beaches, because when you are done, there is a shower nearby to wash the sand off your waders and salt off your gear before heading home.
This is our last “organized” surf fish-out for 2021. Last month most everyone caught fish or had hook-ups. Let’s do it again!
Oct 07 12:00 AM : O’Neill Forebay – Oct 7 – 10 2021
Islands Oneill Forebay (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Steve Rudzinski ssrudzinski@gmail.com
The annual O’Neill ForeBay Striped Bass FishOut has been scheduled for Oct 7-10 and Nov 4-7 (Thurs-Sunday). I made it during the dark phase of the moon this year.
We will camp at the same place again at Medeiros Campground site #23 I will try to get again, there are 4 sites there and more than one car per site is okay. New people should contact me personally for details. Bring everything to camp bare bones style, only a single vault style toilet which is not too bad compared to the other porta potties throughout the campground. Bring water, and food and cooking gear, there will be a camp stove or two to use or cook over the camp fire.
Gear to use: 7 or 8 wt rod, full sinking line like Rio Outbound Short or Tungsten T-11 shooting head with a good running line. 15 lb test fluorocarbon leader (6′ is long enough so the fly gets down deeper). Lee Haskins or Jim Hall has flies for sale. Both are listed in our club roster and you can make an order directly with them. Float tubes of course or small craft like flat bottom dingy’s and some kayaks work okay except when windy. (It can really BLOW you away there and we hope for good conditions but we have had big rainstorms in years past so prepare for the worst).
One thing we never have enough of is firewood for the evening rap sessions, the size of wood that comes in a box at the grocery store is perfect for our portable fire tubs.
The camp is only 70 miles from Santa Cruz and directions can be easily be found on your GPS system. Call or email me @ 831 462 4532 or ssrudzinski@gmail.com to be on the list so I have a good idea of how many will attend. We always have a good time at this event. See you there, Stosh
Nov 04 12:00 AM : O’Neill Forebay – Nov 4 – 7 2021
Islands Oneill Forebay (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Steve Rudzinski ssrudzinski@gmail.com
Target Species:
Apr 03 12:00 AM : Pyramid Lake Fish-out April 3rd-9th 2022
Pyramid Lake (Click for address and map) Fishmaster: Mike White – (831) 706-5556
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.
Well before the hordes of surfers, dog walkers, runners and “sit on the beachers” arrived, there were 14 members and guests of Santa Cruz Fly Fishers hitting the beach with their fly rods. Turns out the fish were simply not ready to resist this massive, unexpected attack. They gave up quickly to Elaine Cook, with four catches right away, then there was Amy Terra with her band of sisters and brothers from Lodi. She is President of the Delta Fly Fishers and immediately had at least three perch and more later. I think everyone had hook-ups and fish in hand, but with that many folks fishing, they were spread out half a mile, so I couldn’t check everyone.
Here are those who signed in (Note the various towns) : Tommy Polito, Adam Altoff (Castro Valley), Elaine Cook, Jeff Zischke, Amy Terra (plus 3 from Lodi), Randy Saar (Pacific Grove), Dena Mason, Justin Ice, Matt Jockers, Cecilia Stipes, Scott Kitayama, Gene Boylin, Dominic Martinez (Los Banos), and Sam Bishop. For the names that are missing, it is your fault for not signing the attendance sheet:.
I hope we see even more of you next month. See “Gearing Up” for details.
The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) has been in the trenches fighting for fisheries and water quality on multiple fronts during this historic 2021 drought. Here is a link to our website for the most current news https://calsport.org/news
Recent activities include:
Sacramento River: On August 26th, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, AquAlliance and the California Water Impact Network filed a lawsuit in federal District Court against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation over the plans of a group of Sacramento River Settlement Contractors to pump extra groundwater in 2021. Reclamation’s Plan would enable further groundwater pumping from an already depleted groundwater basin during the current drought. It is noteworthy that these water users have enough river water now to sell to south-of-Delta interests. The Court denied an injunction against the additional groundwater extraction, and CSPA and allies are appealing the denial. Meanwhile, the case is pending until later this year and the groundwater extra pumping continues.
Yuba River: CSPA gave a presentation on September 17 on lower Yuba River flows in an important public technical workshop at the State Water Board. The subject of the workshop was the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the FERC relicensing of the Yuba River Development Project. The purpose of the workshop was to review the technical issues raised in petitions for reconsideration of the Certification. Project owner Yuba Water Agency, CDFW, and a coalition of NGO’s, including CSPA, each filed petitions. NGO Petitioners objected to the certification because key conditions related to flows and habitat restoration were vague and kicked the can down the road on controversial issues, including flow. CSPA expects the CA Water Board to make a final decision on the petitions in an upcoming meeting.
California Drought Plan:CSPA has been providing timely and extensive feedback on drought planning responses to the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Water Resources, who “manage” the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Most recently, CSPA appeared before the State Water Board on September 21 to advocate for an immediate halt to water transfers from Sacramento River Settlement Contractors to farmers south of the Delta. Cessation of these transfers would increase end-of-November storage in Shasta Reservoir by over 100,000 acre-feet. CSPA told the Board :
[S]tart now to keep the present condition from getting worse. Specifically, the Board should act now to end the ongoing water transfers that BOR is making on behalf of Sacramento River Settlement Contractors from water sourced in Shasta Reservoir. The Board should not allow it to get worse by allowing BOR to complete these transfers in the balance of September and in October. The August Addendum currently anticipates Shasta storage to be 728 thousand acre-feet. That storage level is reckless.
1. There are various methods to thread a bodkin. My favorite is using a ” floss threaded” which is a dental item that is sold in most pharmacies. I advise never using the wire tool that is designed for that purpose. It will score the inside and in turn cause thread to fray and break.
2. While trying to tie a particular fly, it helps to prevent materials from being lost in the clutter or blow away in the wind you using a clip or cloths pin. For your hooks, glue a magnet to the base of your vise.
3. Bodkins usually get freshly applied glue out of the hook eye but a feather is really effective.
4. Frustrated with the hole in your glue bottle being glued shut? Try this, after each use quickly wipe with a cloth, re-establish hole with a safety pin or bodkin, then cap right away. If that doesn’t work try a flame heated pin. Also cutting off the tip will often get below the hardened glue.
5. Hardened glue on bodkin or safety pin can easily be scraped off with a razor blade.
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 
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. 
