July Newsletter 2016

July 2016
Ozark Fly Fishers - General Meeting
Thursday, July 28th 2016 7:00 PM
Greensfelder Complex - Queeny Park
550 Weidman Rd
Ballwin, MO 63011
Gabe Schario
This Month’s speaker is our own Gabe Schario who will be presenting his award winning
school science project on the feeding habits of wild trout vs. hatchery trout.
Come out and show support for the next generation of Ozark Fly Fishers.
Bill Todd.
President's Message:
As members of Ozark, there are several things being offered in addition to the newsletter and a monthly speaker. Before the meetings Bill Armon, a
FFF certified casting instructor, offers tips to help your casting ability or any problems you may have. You can find him in the grassy area before the
parking lot on the left. Inside, Mike Ott, will be showing how to tie his fly of the month. Mike will also answer any questions you may have with
tying technics. On Wednesday evenings, Mike Swederska , has fly tying classes for all skills levels at his place of business in Maplewood, give him
a call to get details.
We have a few outings coming up which include Taneycomo (where, at anytime you could catch a World record fish) and Bennett Springs (our biggest, well attended outing of the year).
If you need more info about any of these events, please check the website. Can’t find what you need? Or want to comment on anything, call me.
314-401-8874
Steve Antonic
Conservation / Missouri Stream Team 31
49th ANNUAL OPERATION CLEAN STREAM
August 27, 2016
8:00 am Byrnes Mill City Park
The Trashmanian Devils, Ozark Fly Fishers and other Stream Teams will again work together on cleaning this stretch of the Big River.
The last few years have seen an enthusiastic volunteer commitment on behalf of Ozark’s members. If pulling tires and debris from the
river does not sound fun, ask your fellow members who have attended. We have a great time.
Donuts, juice and milk will be provided in the morning. Pizza and other food will be provided for lunch along with soda and water. If
you go away hungry it will be your own fault!
As always, after lunch we will have attendance and pay raffles.
Once again this year Leinenkugel Beer made the request to partner with us on our cleanup. Leinenkugel has been involved with promoting clean waterways (Canoes for a Cause) in their home state of Wisconsin for numerous years. Three years they began a push
into the mid west promoting their program with our site being the first in the state of Missouri to partner with them. Leinenkugel has
been quite generous with their donations and trade giveaways by means of the “free” raffle they provide. Note that alcohol will not be
consumed during our cleanup to ensure the safety of our volunteers and to abide by the regulations of the park.
It is recommended that sturdy footwear be worn during this cleanup. Beach wear such as flip flops and sandals are discouraged. Remember your sunscreen and hat. Bring a change of clothes, we get dirty! Work gloves and t-shirts will be provided for our volunteers.
IF ATTENDING PLEASE NOTIFY so that you can be placed on the volunteer list and relay your t-shirt size. If you have any
questions about Operation Clean Stream or Passport to Clean Water, contact Scott Darrough at 314-560-1335 or [email protected]
PASSPORT TO CLEAN WATER 2016
Also on this day and keeping with tradition Ozark Fly Fishers will represent the Missouri Stream Team Program at Green Tree Park on
the day of the cleanup. The Open Space Council will host their “Passport to Clean Water” www.openspacestl.org/events (11:00 am 1:30 pm) for youth ages 5-18 and their families. Over 250 kids attended this event last year. If you do not plan on attending the
cleanup, consider bringing the kids to the PASSPORT.
2016 EVENTS, OUTINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES
AUGUST 27 49TH Annual Operation Clean Stream - Big River (Byrnes Mill City Park)
AUGUST 27 Passport to Clean Water (Green Tree Park)
AUGUST 28 49th Annual Operation Clean Stream - Belews Creek (Hillsboro)
Watch the OFF Newsletter and Calendar for details concerning these events. If you have any questions about these events please contact Scott Darrough at 314-560-1335 or [email protected]
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 2
Outings
by Ed Orlander
TANNEYCOMO OUTING @ LILLEYS’ LANDING - SEPTEMBER 9/15,16,17, 2016
We had 12 units reserved for this outing. Five units are all ready rented; #2, #3, #4, #12, #13. The remaining units
Are as follows, total cost is for a 3 night minimum stay including tax: #5, #6 - $265; #7, #8 - $298; #10 - $232;
#11 - $298; and #22 - $456. To see the unit layouts go www.LilleysLanding.com. See contact and payment
info above. I have had a number request to move the BBQ that Lilleys’ has furnished at noon on Saturday at the
pavilion by the hatchery. We will be hosted Saturday night at Lilleys’ at their pavilion. We will have a guest speaker
either Friday or Saturday night. Any questions contact me.
Finally, as promised I have added a new outing over the first weekend of October, 2016.
ELEVEN POINT RIVER @ ALTON, MO – SEPTEMBER 30, OCTOBER 1, 2 2016
Our hoist is Brian Sloss of Eleven Point Canoe Rental in Alton, MO who will provide our housing in town in
his renovated houses. I have reserved two Cottages for eight singles. Cottages are renovated houses with 2 bed rooms and other sleep
areas, with couples taking the bedrooms we could accommodate up to 12. If I get enough
early interest I can get a third cottage sleeping 4-6. Housing is very limited around Alton. We will have full working
kitchens for evening cookouts Friday and Saturday. Breakfast provided Saturday AM.
Wade Fishing is available above and at the Highway 19 bridge, but to fish the 5 mile Blue Ribbon section you need a canoe, kayak,
belly boat or guide service. I have Brian ready to provide guides for hire for an all day float in the Blue Ribbon section for $350 plus
tip for two includes rods, flies, lunch and drinks. Let me know if you want to fish
with a guide Friday or Sunday. ½ day is $250 plus tip.
Website for Brian is [email protected].
Future plans which I am already working on is a spring or summer outing on the North Fork Of the White River in 2017.
What about a day trip or overnight to Westover Farms, staying at Westover with transportation provide
during midweek.
Edward Olander
Outings Chairman
Bennett Catch and Release Outing
Although it is the middle of summer it is time to give a heads up for our 25th Bennett Springs catch and release outing. It will be November 10 - 11 - 12. Try to keep this weekend open on your calendars. Many people come down on Thursday night to able to fish early Friday morning.
We will again be staying at Sand Springs Resort. The restaurant we have been going to for Sat. nights dinner has closed. Ollie decided
to retire and sell the building. Jack, at Sand Spring has arranged for us to use The Bennett Gathering building located just outside of
park on Highway 64 ( where Gaston’s Store use to be) More info will follow.
New members: This is one of our major outings and is well attended. We meet after dinner and tie and share many ideas and stories.
Make reservations early as the rooms go fast to repeat attenders.
More details and reservation forms will be in the August newsletter.
Steve Antonic 314-401-8874
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 3
Wisconsin Brook Trout on the Plover River
By: Jacob Voss
The Plover River in Birnamwood, WI is about seven hours away from St. Louis. Driving in the dark, in the rain, with one working
headlight, it's more like eight. By the time I had passed Madison, the weather turned nasty. People out on the interstate were driving
like a bunch of hooligans and weirdos, and I was out among them, so what does that say about me? I was staying at my brother-in-law,
Alan’s hunting cabin. He was already at the cabin by the time I rolled in. I fell asleep on his couch below a stuffed black bear, not unlike the bear Alan had captured on his trail cam last summer, not 200 yards from where I slept.
The next morning, we loaded up the canoe and drove to the river. There we found a freshly crushed snapping turtle, about the size of a
1980s Yellow Pages that in life looked like it enjoyed eating brook trout, house cats, and possible small to medium horses. I felt safer
knowing that it no longer haunted the river, but nervous it's older brother might still be out there, ready to take a sizeable bite out of
my waders, foot, and life insurance policy.
The Plover River was fascinating. The flow and volume of water seemed to change at every pass. Straight, deep channels would lead
to wide shallows with hardly any current, perfect for casting dry flies. We hit shallow rapids we couldn’t overpower, and walked our
canoe through the Wisconsin forest. The forest itself was very wide open, with a floor covered in ferns. It gave me solace knowing that
I'd see a bear coming, but at the same time, the bear could just as easily spot me.
Eventually we came to a stretch of the river that was too overgrown with trees and boulders to navigate with the canoe, and the forest
itself had banks too steep to navigate with the boat. We decided to shore the canoe and try our luck wading the river there.
I found the brook trout eager to strike at many flies, but just as quick to spit them. I cannot count the number of times I had a strike,
but the fish had already spit the hook before I could set it. The trip was not in vain, however, and we both were able to land a few decent sized brook trout, approximately 5-7 inches in length. The Plover does hold some good sized browns, but they did not make
themselves known. The brokies, however, were not shy. I found their coloring incredibly striking, with bright orange fins with black
and white tips, and red polka dots scattered along their body. The few I finally did manage to net were caught on my tried-and-true
white floss jig, a fl staple of my fly box and a regular character in all of the stories in which I actually manage to catch fish.
For more details and pictures from this trip, check out http://www.vossfish.com
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 4
Fishing the Missouri and Columbia Rivers – Part I
George Bohigian MD
Fishing two mighty rivers in the month of May
1)
Missouri River near Craig Montana
2)
Columbia River near Castlegar British Columbia
Picture of a double on the Missouri River with Tony Reinhart of Montana Outfitters http://mttroutguides.com
Missouri River
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America. It is part of the the third longest river drainage in the world after the Nile
River and the Amazon Rising in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, the Missouri flows east and south for 2,341 miles before
entering the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri.
Every year a group mainly from Texas and I fly fish the West. Last year the Missoula area-Clarks Fork, Bitter Root, Black Foot and
Rock Creek.
This May we spent four days on the Missouri River with Tony Reinhart who spoke to our club a few years ago. One of the best guides
I ever fished with – he did not need to take any psychotic meds after fishing with me !
The weather in mid May was dicey. Rainbows – lots of 17-20 inch and big browns up to 22”.
One day the wind was howling at 55 mph with white caps and spray foam off the top of the wave crests. Tony knew where the fish
were and best sheltered places to cast. As for what flies? One was a red hook (Brassy) and the second was something called the Green
Fishing Machine. For short I call them “one thing or the other”.
Heck you can have an 18 wheeler hauling a billion flies and the guide will always tell you you don’t have the correct fly!
We flew into Great Falls Montana, rented a large SUV and drove 45 minutes to the lodge http://scenicvalleylodge.com. Outstanding
accommodations and meals.
•
•
•
•
The Missouri River flows CFS = 5000 Cubic Feet per Second
The Missouri at Craig Montana averages 100 yards wide and five feet deep.
Great fishing but soaked through my Gortex jacket. Rain was hard and like pellets from Heaven.
Hint: To refresh and waterproof Gortex (breathable) your jacket use Granger’s 2 in 1 Cleaner & Water
proofer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDEHgQlm-vA
.
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 5
Columbia River
Starts in the Kooteny Mountains part of the Canadian Rockies the headwaters of the Columbia River.
See map : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River
The Columbia River flows west into the Pacific Ocean. Read “Undaunted Courage “by Stephen Ambrose.
This is one of the best books on describing the Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery float down the Columbia River.
The Columbia River is 120 feet deep, a quarter mile wide and flows 100,000 CFS
My daughter and I have fished with Rod Zavaduk, our guide, over the years.
He is an outstanding guide and a great teacher of patience. If you think “Zavaduk” is hard to pronounce then try ”Bohigian”. When I
ask many of my Slavic patients “can you read the first line on the eye chart? They say “I not only can I read them - I know those
guys” e t z o v.
.
Our guide was Rod Zavaduk of Castlegar Sports Centre & Fly Shop. See: http://www.castlegarflyshop.ca
See my previous article on The Columbia River, OFF Newsletter Oct 2014 page 4
See video below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ivwsoio173cl1q/Video%20May%2027%2C%2010%2024%2057%20AM.mov?dl=0
Kootney Lake is home to the GERRARD RAINBOW TROUT the worlds largest Rainbow Trout. That’s not me holding the trout.
My daughter caught this 18 inch Rainbow on a Royal Wolff dry fly.
As a side issue – do large rivers produce larger fish?
No- the fish size depends on the habitat. Consistent food sources and places to hide and feed.
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 6
Communications
Ozark Newsletter
Want to become more involved, have a knack for writing and would like to share information, tips or likewise subjects on fly fishing
with the rest of the club. Another benefit of membership is our monthly newsletter. Newsletter articles are due for consideration on
the 1st Thursday of each month. As space in the newsletter fills up fast. Please limit your proof read articles to 500 words or less in
10 pt Times New Roman.
If interested please contact John Tymony at Cell: (314)303-3012 or submit your article for consideration to:
[email protected]
Yahoo Group
One of the benefits of being a member of the Ozark Fly Fishers is the Ozark Fly Fishers Yahoo group. The Yahoo Group is a direct
line of communication with all who choose to join. Like any other club function, the more members participating the better.
The OFF Yahoo group is reserved for Current Members Only to keep spam and other issues that go hand and hand with the internet
under control. TheYahoo group is a great avenue to receive or post fishing reports, big and little fish pictures or thoughts and ideas on
club functions as well as to seek advice from a vast wealth of knowledge on just about anything fly fishing.
To become an Ozark Fly Fishers Yahoo member is easy.
If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Mike Swederska Cell: (314)-799-1998 Office: (314)-645-5440. Email
[email protected]
A Call for Photos!
Here is an opportunity to share with the group and others, pictures of the big one you put back and to capture that moment of time in
the Ozark Fly Fishing Archives. Please, send any photos/videos you’d like to share to [email protected]. In your email,
please list the date, location, fly, and fish species, or any other information you wish to share (e.g., rod type, guide’s name, tippet size,
etc.). I hope to see a lot of your pictures and videos!
-Jake Voss
O.F.F on the Web
by Mark Thalhammer
Use the following to access the Ozark Fly Fishers website from your phone.
Education
Video Selections of the month:
1.
Deer Hair Sculptures – Mike George. You’ve seen him tie his creations at the Sowbug. Learn how to tie
really tight hair
bugs and divers from the master.
2. Nymphing by the Numbers – Kelly Galloup. Tie rigs that will let you fish deep fast water for big trout.
3. The Tying Bench #0406 – Mark Van Patten. Mark shows you how to tie the Bead Head Soft Hackle Turkey Tail Nymph and
Hendrickson Nymph Emerger
OFF members can borrow two DVD videos at a time at OFF meetings. Return the DVDs and borrow two more.
Ed Heist
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 7
Board of Directors
Officers
Directors
Chairman
President:
Steve Antonic
Communications: John L Tymony
Casting:
Brian Ellis
Vice President:
Bill Todd
Conservation:
Scott Darrough
Fly Tying:
Mike Ott
Treasurer:
David Crawford
Education:
Jim Gera
Stream Team Coordinator:
Scott Darrough
Secretary:
Dan Elhmann
Membership:
Paul Frank
Past President:
Bill Armon
Outings:
Ed Olander
Ways & Means:
Vacant
Stream Team 31
Coordinator / Current River
Scott Darrough
Blue Springs Creek
Glen Bish
Mill Creek
Bill Leslie
Ozark Fly Fishers Objectives
Founded 1971
To promote fly fishing as the most sportsmanlike and enjoyable way of fishing and the method most consistent with the
preservation and wise use of our game fish.
To practice conservation of natural resources and to support efforts for environmental quality and pollutio
n control.To provide advice, education, and assistance to promote the art of fly fishing.
To demonstrate applied techniques in fly fishing, tying, casting and related subjects
Ozark Fly Fishers meet at 7:00 PM on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Queeny Park Rec Center
(Unless noted differently – see Calendar)
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 8
Please support our corporate sponsors
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
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Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc
July 2016
Page 10