September - Fresno Fly Fishers for Conservation

Fly Dope Volume 54 Issue 9
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Gen. Meeting Program
Presidents Message
Sep. Gen. Mtg
Big Fresno Fair
Back of Beyond
Meet The Member
Fishing The East Side of Sierras
To The Net
Fly Fishing The Bitterroot Riv.
ADS
Sep Calendar
Oct Calendar
Quarterly Calendar
Pay Pal Announcement
Our Mission
Web Site Reminder
Membership Renewal
Board of Dir.
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2
3
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
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www.fresnoflyfishers.org
Sep 2015
FIFTY FOUR YEARS AND COUNTING
FRESNO FLY FISHERS FOR
CONSERVATION’S PRESENTS
LANCE GRAY
YUBA RIVER PRESENTATION”
“
FLY TYING
OUR HEARTS
ACHE AS WE WITNESS THE DESTRUCTION OF
OUR BEAUTIFUL
NATIONAL FORESTS.
WE CANNOT
THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS “THAT
RISK THERE LIVES
TO SAVE THEM”
ENOUGH !
THURSDAY SEPT. 3
7 PM
THE UC MERCED-FRESNO BUILDING AT
550 E. SHAW AVE .
FRESNO, CA.
(DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM FASHION FAIR)
1
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Hi All:
It’s nearly the end of August, and half the state appears to be on fire while the
other half is drying up like the raisins that are already being harvested. One of
our favorite destinations, Yucca Point on the Upper Kings, is the center of a
huge fire, and so we’re waiting with some trepidation to see how much silt and
ash will wash into the river and be flushed downstream. These aren’t good
times locally, and yet there are still places to fish. Word is that the Friant
Hatchery just dumped (yep, that’s the word they used) their trout into the high
elevation lakes. I’d bet on Courtwright, Shaver, Huntington, and Wishon being good places to fish
just now. Meanwhile, the High Sierra Lakes in the Dinkey Lakes, Kaiser, Muir, Ansel Adams and
Jenny Lakes wildernesses still have fat and happy trout in them. That last one, the Jenny Lakes, is
closed as this is being written due to smoke from the nearby fire. It will most likely be reopened by
the time you read this letter, but better check first to be sure.
Kudos to Gary and Robin Dill for their generous donation in the names of Roger Miller and Phil
Zemke for the Youth Academy. Without the generosity of members, the club would not be able to
do all it does for the sport of fly fishing.
The Big Fresno Fair is coming up soon, giving members an opportunity to spend a few pleasant
hours tying and talking to the public about the club and all we do. Be sure to read Mits Kozuki’s description in this issue of the Dope.
The club has two outings scheduled for September, one in the Eastern Sierra and the other on the
Upper Kings. Be sure to check them out in this issue as well as on our website. http://
www.fresnoflyfishers.org/
I will miss out on the September meeting due to being out of town, but if you’re in the area, be sure
to come on the first Thursday for yet another outstanding presentation, this time by Lance Gray on
the Yuba River.
See you on the water, at club functions, or perhaps at the fair. Meantime, tight loops and drag free.
John Cameron, President
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SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEETING
LANCE GRAY
Lance and Kirsten have more than 50 years combined experience in fly fishing. Lance started fly fishing with his
father and brother Lincoln at age 7. In his teens, he began tying flies commercially for shops all around Northern
California. At 17, he went to work at Powell's in Chico, working in the fly shop and building rods. He guided
for Powell’s, conducted fly-tying and fly-fishing schools, and traveled.
In 1993, Lance and Kirsten started Saltwater Innovations, a company that manufactured and distributed products for saltwater fly fishing. Lance’s Crystal Popper, Gray’s Billfish Fly, the KO Charlie line and the Raghead
Crabs are all Saltwater Innovations products. Kirsten worked behind the scenes, handling the day-to-day operation running the manufacturing floor of the company.
In 2003 they launched Lance Gray & Company, a full-service outfitter offering guided trips, fly-fishing schools,
workshops and a travel agency. Lance conducts presentations at fly clubs and outdoor shows and supports local
groups like Cub Scouts and 4H. He's a signature tier for Solitude Fly Company, pro staff member for Sage
and Rio and is a featured writer, with articles published in Angling Trade Magazine, California Fly Fisher,
Fly Fishermen, Sierra Fisherman and Northwest Fly Fishing.
Kirsten is a fantastic photographer who's had images published in periodicals and on websites throughout the outdoor industry.
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LANCE GRAY PRESENTATION
Lance Gray from Lance Gray & Company will be joining us for the September general
meeting.
We have had Lance as a presenter in the past and he always does a great job. This presentation is a little different. It’s basically a two part presentation combined with a fish out slated
for February of 2016. This is a very cool an informative method to allow our members to get
great information on a fishery and then hands on experience with Lance and his fellow guides
on the river.
The first half of the presentation will be the presentation at the general meeting. The presentation will be on “The Yuba River”. The power point presentation will introduce you to the lower Yuba and what the river has to offer. Lance will cover locations, seasons, techniques used,
flies and rigging. He will have a detailed handout as always with an online handout with recipes for flies, leaders and what he and fellow guides carry in their gear pack.
The second part of the presentation will be one of Lance’s fly fishing tours designed just for
the club. Jon Baiocchi will join Lance on an all day tour. Lance and Jon will not just show
you the river they will make you fall in love with it. The tour will cover the layout of the land,
river access areas, reading water, entomology class, rigging with handouts.
Lance is also providing a river side hot lunch. Lance’s wife’s homemade chili and chicken
noodle soup with all the fixings.
For the club to do the tour we need to have ten members. Lance is offering the club a special
rate of $85 a person, normal price is $145 a person. This is a great deal!
So come see Lance at the general meeting and see why the Yuba is so awesome!!!
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BIG FRESNO FAIR
THE BIG FRESNO FAIR IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
This year, it's October 7TH thru the 18th. The club annually has a booth at the fair where we
share what the club is all about and tie some flies. It's best to have at least two club member's
manning the booth each day.
We will do two shifts per day. Week days begin at 11 am. Weekends at 10 am. Evenings begin at
5 pm and end at 10 pm or earlier if the crowd has thinned out.
Parking and entrance is free to participants.
Mits Kozuki is our board member in charge of organizing the club's booth and keeping it staffed.
Right now, we're compiling a list of people who would like to make themselves available to tie,
or just represent, the club at the fair. If you can help, please send an e-mail to
[email protected]. Advise Mits what days, and what hours, you are available to staff the
booth. We would be especially grateful to the club's retiree's who might help out in the morning's
and afternoons during the week.
Mits will also need the license plate number of your vehicle so you can park in the secured parking right next to the booth.
It really is easy to volunteer!! You'll probably enjoy it so much, you'll want to do it more than
once!!! You can't eat all of that fair food in one sitting can you??
Once Mits gets a list of volunteers, he'll create a staffing schedule and directions on where to
park and where the booth is. We'll get it out to the club before the start of the fair.
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BACK OF BEYOND
STEPHEN NEAL
"
In Wildness is the Preservation of the World - “Henry David Thoreau"
RIVERS OF THE SOUND
I was standing mid calf deep in the Sound's out going minus tide, Jimmy's lyrics whispered through
my mind. "
Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard you
call, Wanted to sail upon your water since I was
three feet tall. You've seen it all, you've seen it all."
Jimmy Buffet - A pirate looks at forty.
Beneath my booted feet, bright green and rich reddish brown marine algae (seaweed) anchored to the
Sound's floor pulsed with the outgoing tide. Small
crabs scuttled from rock to barnacle seeking safety
from my clunky passage. Vacant clam shells mingled with rocks, barnacles and starfish. Near the tide
line, hidden clams or sea anemone spouted water
fountains; it was like watching the water show at the
Bellagio in Vegas. The light show was provided by
the cloud diffused sunlight reflected off the water
waves, created by passing ships. The music was the
deep rumble of heavy loaded freight trains and the
tremolo of crossing signals, and the slap of the ships
waves striking the pebble strewn beach.
The man made world of commerce around me went
on in its usual less than graceful pace. I let it go; less
than three steps out into the water I found grace
stillness in movement, and movement in stillness. I
was no longer out of step or out of time. This was a more natural rhythm and how wonderful it felt.
The sky was overcast, the warm air of the past month had given way briefly to a soul nourishing coolness, the water was clear, and sculpin
flashed silver as they left the water world for brief air flights. The sun seekers had stayed home and the beach was left to the few today. I did
not have to pay attention to my back-cast with my eyes. I could just let myself feel the rod load and begin my forward cast. The local Bald
Eagle settled into the western hemlock over my left shoulder. We had been introduced to each other on my first visit. I would miss him if he
ever changed venues. For now he was content to hunt the waters of the narrows for his meals and for me this was a great place to learn the in
and outs of Sea-run cutthroat fishing.
I am getting better; I have improved from hooking to actually landing them. They are beautiful, dark with almost black backs and silver white
bellies. They feed in the swift current of the falling or rising tide, where food is concentrated in the waters of the sound. I am still learning.
My first tremulous steps in the mighty Pacific were before I can remember, I'm sure it was with my hand held by mom or dad as they introduced me to the ocean.
Since that small beginning, I have boldly stepped into the Pacific from the shores of Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington and Canada;
swum with sea turtles in the Hawaiian Islands and walked its shores in the Far East with my toes in the water on Hong Kong Island. In visits to
the back waters of San Francisco Bay I have explored the estuaries and sunk into the ooze of salt water saturated flats. I have walked her headland too, been washed by breaking waves under the Golden Gate and suffered hypothermia from the swimming the waters of Morro Bay. Explored Monterey Bay, LA's harbor, San Diego, Santa Cruz and the central coast of
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BACK OF BEYOND, CONT’D FROM PG. 6
California, visited remote coves and hundreds of beaches. I have been knocked down by rogue waves and felt the pull of rip tides with
the sand being pulled out beneath my feet. I have swallowed sea water while grasping for a breath after falling off surf boards in southern Cali. I have wet my feet in the Atlantic from Florida to Rhode Island; stood in the Gulf of Mexico in Texas and Florida. I have
fished buckets where creeks flow into the ocean. And now I have discovered the rivers of the Sound. They are rich with nutrients, and
food. They are fish highways that facilitate migration and life cycles.
I wade in to the current and cast following this river
of life and time. "
Mother, mother ocean, I have
heard you call."Yes I have much to learn and she
will teach me if I am willing to spend the time with
her.
Life is a journey of small everyday miracles, thank
you for letting me share them with you.
"Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after” Henry David Thoreau
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MEET THE MEMBER
EVAN COOK
My name is Evan Cook, I'm 16 years old and am a junior at Bullard high. I grew up in Fresno (still am growing up!). Some of my
other passions other than fishing are golfing and I like to go shooting. I started fishing about 6 years ago with my dad Tim. We
enjoy taking our 14 ft aluminum boat out and trolling in the early morning at our local reservoirs. My mom Lisa is a marketing
director for a retirement community. I have one sibling, Taylor, who is 19 years old and attends Fresno State. I got interested in
fly fishing when I was a student of Bill Bruce at Tenaya. He recommended that I should send in an app for the Youth Academy
and I ended up loving it. Since then I have been on a few trips to Cedar Grove; one with Bill, and the other just a few days back
with Bob Papazian. The highlight of my first trip to Cedar Grove was a nice 12 inch brown, which, thanks to Bill, since I didn't
have sunglasses, I was told I had a fish on. Good thing I kept that cast in the water because initially I thought it was a very poor
cast. I will never forget my sunglasses again( and good thing I remembered them for my next trip, they helped a lot!). This other recent trip I had an excellent day with 28 trout, most between 4 to 7 inches. The other fly fishing trip I have been on was to
Hume Lake with Mark Stephen. Out on the float tubes, I had a lot of fun, even though we didn't catch much, I still had a great
time and I can add float tubing to my "things I'm interested in" list. My thanks go out to you three who took me out fishing, I
appreciate it.
Can't forget my trip to Fish Camp in July. The camp was located at Antelope Creek Lodge, which is just north of Mount Shasta. We got a lot of fishing time each day, about 4 hours, and I landed a few rainbows over 20 inches. On the last day of camp,
we took a drift boat down the Lower Sac. Unfortunately, with the water being nearly 10 degrees warmer than usual, the bite
was off. Luckily within the last hour of fishing time, I landed a solid 13 inch wild rainbow. That fish fought harder than any trout
I have ever had on the end of my line.
Again, my thanks go to the club for sponsoring me to go to camp. The FFFC is a great club and has given me some great opportunities.
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FISHING THE EAST SIDE OF THE SIERRA’S
SCOTT WEST
Scott West’s Great Adventure, “Fishing the East Side of
The Sierra’s”
1. West Walker river looking west back over Sonora Pass
2. Rock Creek trailhead, west of Tom's Place.
3. Sunset over Hot Creek.
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TO THE NET
Evan Cook proudly displays....two of twenty eight
trout he caught & released last Monday near Cedar Grove (no bull, I watched him catch them
all).
FFFC sponsored Evan for the advanced Fish Camp
class, put on by The Fly Shop in Redding this
summer.
Entering his junior year at Bullard High, Evan is a
fine young man with a passion for fly fishing.
Congratulations Evan!
Bob Papazian and Delores DeTeresi as they
man the club booth at the opening of the
new Sportsman's Warehouse.
The members really came through and we
thank everyone very much.
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FLYFISHING THE BITTERROOT RIVER
ROGER MCGRADY
I've spent the last 5 days here in Montana on the Western side, Bitterroot Valley and of course fly fishing hard each
day. The fishing was unusually hard this August as the heat of late June and July forced the early afternoon closures of
the main fork of the Bitterroot River because of water temperatures.
I had an unusual opportunity to meet and visit with a Montana fly fishing legend John Foust. He was the fly fishing
advisor, mentor to Brad Pitt, and creator of props for fly fishing scenes in the movie “A River Runs Through It.” His
home is a fly fishing museum full of decades of antique fly fishing rods, creels, reels, pictures and just plain history
and nostalgia. The highlight of his home is a framed original movie poster of that movie signed by Brad Pitt with the
original fly used in the movie in the scene on the Blackfoot!!
John is considered to be the creator of many flies
now famous!! His most recent is called “Road
Kill” and he gave me one and I did not use it. My
guide Kevin Shulund gave me one of his Road
Kills to use and I had good success with it. !!
fly fishing share!!
A
Hope you've had an opportunity to wet a line this
summer.
Best Regards,
Roger McGrady
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PLEASE SUPPORT THESE GUIDES AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE GOALS
AND MISSION OF OUR CLUB
FLY TYING CLASSES
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PLEASE SUPPORT THESE GUIDES AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE
GOALS AND MISSION OF OUR CLUB
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september
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1.
2.
3. GENERAL
MEETING:
LANCE
GRAY
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14. BOARD
MEETING AT
DENNY’S
@HERNDON
& CLOVIS. 7
PM
15.
16.
17.
18. EAST-
19. EAST-
ERN SIERRA
OUTING
MAMMOTH
LAKES AREA
ERN SIERRA
OUTING
MAMMOTH
LAKES AREA
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
CEDAR
GROVE
OUTING
27.
28.
29.
30.
14
october
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
1. GENERAL
MEETING:
GEORGE
DANIELS
“NYMPHING
EXPERT “ 7
FRI
SAT
2
3
9
10 KINGS
PM
4
5
6
7
8
BIG
FRESNO
FAIR
OPENS
RIVER OUTING BBQ
11
12 BOARD
MEETING
7PM DENNY’S AT
CLOVIS &
HERNDON
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
LAST
DAY OF
BIG
FRESNO
FAIR
25
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2015 QUARTERLY CALENDAR
OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
SEP 3: GENERAL MEETING LANCE GRAY
“YUBA RIVER PRESENTATION” FLY TYING
OCT. 1: GENERAL MEETING , GEORGE DANIELS “NYMPHING EXPERT”
SEP 14: BOARD MEETING AT DENNY’S
(CLOVIS & HERNDON) 7 PM
OCT 7—18: BIG FRESNO FAIR BOOTH
OCT 10: KINGS RIVER OUTING BBQ
SEP 18 & 20: EASTERN SIERRA OUTING;
MAMMOTH LAKES AREA
OCT. 12: BOARD MEETING AT DENNY’S
(CLOVIS & HERNDON) 7 PM
SEP 26: CEDAR GROVE OUTING
OCT. 17—18: UPPER KINGS CAMP 4/12 OUTING
NOVEMBER
DON’T FORGET MIT’S
WILL NEED YOUR HELP
AT THE
BIG FRESNO FAIR
OCT 7 THRU OCT 18
NOV 5: GENERAL MEETING AL SMATSKY—
OWNER KELSEY BASS RANCH—CENTRAL
VALLEY SHAD PRESENTATION
NOV 7: SAN LUIS FOREBAY STRIPER OUTING
NOV 9: BOARD METING AT DENNY’S (CLOVIIS
AND HERNDON) 7 PM
* Dates subject to change - check with a Board
member for more information
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PAY PAL ACCOUNT
Through the persistence of club treasurer Ken Bush, I'm pleased to announce that the
club has created a PayPal account, and will soon be accepting credit cards for club
transactions.
A smartphone card reader will be available at all of the general meetings, and at the
banquet in 2014 to process credit card transactions. We're also working on getting a
PayPal link on the club's web once we get the kinks worked out, we anticipate club
member's being able to pay their membership dues, buy club merchandise, buy raffle
tickets and buy banquet dinner tickets from anywhere that you have internet access.
We've talked to other organizations who have added PayPal, and it's been a success at
each organization site.
Keep an eye out for the link on the website, and also keep it in mind as a payment option at general meetings.
Our website:
http://fresnoflyfishers.com/
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DONATE TO FFFC
Fly Fishers for Conservation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization. This means
you can use your contribution as a tax deduction. The club gets revenue from membership dues and the annual fundraiser dinner. We try to contribute to conservation issues
in the area and to our youth with our Trout in the Classroom program, the No Child Left
Inside program and by holding a Youth Fly-Fishing Academy annually. The club is always in need of funds. Please consider donating. You may send a check to Fly Fishers for
Conservation at 100 E. Sierra, PMB 3310, Fresno, CA 93710. Your donations will be
greatly appreciated and they will help the club fulfill its obligations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLUB, VISIT OUR NEWLY REDESIGNED
WEBSITE:
HTTP://WWW.FRESNOFLYFISHERS.ORG/
THANKS TO WEBMASTER GARY PULLINGS
BE SURE TO LOG IN TO OUR FORUM FOR LOCAL INFO
Our Mission
Fly Fishers for Conservation (FFFC) was organized in 1961 by a group of devoted fly fishers deeply
concerned with the preservation of trout and all game fish, their environment, and the quality of fishing. Our club has maintained two goals since that time:
To foster and promote the sport of angling with artificial flies.
To protect, conserve and increase our angling resources.
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WEBSITE REMINDER
DO YOU KNOW WE NOW HAVE A FORUM
WHERE WE CAN POST QUESTIONS, OPINIONS,
REPORTS AND THE LIKE ABOUT FLY
FISHING?
http://www.fresnoflyfishers.org/forum/index.php
SO CHECK IT OUT. WE NEED MORE PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE THIS A FIRST CLASS PART OF
OUR WEBSITE.
YOU CAN ALSO KEEP UP ON THE CLUBS ACTIVITIES ON OUR NEW FACE BOOK PAGE
Fresno Fly Fishers
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FLY FISHERS
for CONSERVATION, INC.
100 E. Sierra PMB 3310
Fresno, Ca. 93710
2015 FFFC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NAME(s):__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
OCCUPATION/PROFESSION________________________________
______ NEW MEMBER
______RENEWAL
_______ CHECK HERE IF THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE & EMAIL
ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________
CITY:__________________________________________________________________
STATE:___________________________ ZIP:_________________________________
PHONE:________________________________________________________________
E-MAIL:________________________________________________________________
Family/Single Membership……………….……$36.00
(Can include partner & children under 18 years old)
__________
Senior Membership (65 yrs +)……………….…..$24.00
(Can include partner)
__________
Junior Membership (under 18 yrs)……………...$13.00
__________
Life Membership………………………………..$500.00
(Can include partner)
__________
Additional Conservation Donation….………………..
__________
Total Due……………………………………………….
__________
PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: FFFC (Fly Fishers for Conservation)
100 E. Sierra PMB 3310, Fresno CA 93710
MEMBER CLUB, FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERMAN
www.fresnoflyfishers.org
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2015 Board of Directors
Phone
Email
President
John Cameron
903-5138
[email protected]
1st VP
Scott Piggott
790-8492
[email protected]
2nd VP
Bob Papazian
307-4601
[email protected]
Brian Loven
897-4700
[email protected]
Treasurer
Ken Bush
641-5193
[email protected]
Secretary
Jim Clark
322-1685
[email protected]
Communications
Scott West
246-4389
[email protected]
Conservation
Bruce Pope
453-9439
[email protected]
Membership
Leo Labbe
325-7235
[email protected]
Editor
Judy Cameron
903-5123
[email protected]
Trout in the Classroom
Bill Bruce
392-3963
[email protected]
Education
Fred Ramirez
323-5319
[email protected]
Director’s at Large
Kevin Wren
439-0608
[email protected]
Phil Davis
412-7552
[email protected]
Jeff Trafican
260-7974
[email protected]
Bob Papazian
307-4601
[email protected]
Tim Lawrence
779-5338
[email protected]
Outings
Scott West
246-4389
[email protected]
Web Page
Gary Pullings
559-917-7128
[email protected]
Rod Building
Jim Jacobson
999-8912
[email protected]
Fly Tying
Jerry Hopewell
638-5282
[email protected]
Fly Casting
Dan Busby
433-1651
[email protected]
Garth HIrata
492-2885
[email protected]
Social
Jim Horn
271-5448
[email protected]
Fair
Mits Kozuki
646-3020
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[email protected]