February - Truckee River FlyFishers

Newsletter of the Truckee River Flyfishers
February 2014
TRF Mission Statement
We are dedicated to:
improving and promoting the
sport of fly fishing in Nevada.
Promote and encourage the
conservation of game fish,
especially wild trout, through
the betterment of the
streams and lakes
everywhere. Encourage and
assist our youth to become
fly fishers and true
sportspersons.
Inside this issue:
Pres. Message cont.
Youth Fly Tying
Truckee River
Feb Prospects
Membership Form
Upcoming Events:
February
th
16 – Fishout, Hinkson
Slough
th
19 – General MeetingNDOW
March
th
6 – BOD Meeting Mark’s
house
th
8 – Annual Banquet
No general meeting or
Fishout in the month of
March.
April
rd
3 BOD Meeting
rd
23 – General Meeting
p.2
p.3
p.4
p.6
p.7
President’s Message
by Mark Warren
The Wild Sheep Show event this past week at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center
was a huge success. Eight club volunteers each day helped NDOW teach middle
school boys and girls how to tie their first fly. Several hundred children attended the
event which ran from Thursday through Saturday. It’s great to see the look on their
young faces as they complete their first fly. Thanks to all those who participated.
Our January meeting was a huge success with 33 members in attendance. Jim
Kwasny gave an excellent presentation on his fishing adventure in Alaska with his sonin-law. In addition to catching salmon and char, Jim nearly got to rub noses with a
large brown bear. As Jim commented, “Sometimes a little too close for comfort.”
The February’s fishout will be on Sunday February 16 at Hinkson Slough, which is on
the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area. It receives the discharge water from
the hatchery and contains rainbow trout and largemouth bass. The best fishing is
from a float tube or boat, but there is limited angling off the dike that creates the
dam. Copper John’s or midges under an indicator usually do the trick. Lunch will be
served at 1 PM (chicken, corn & potatoes in a can). I will be there with donuts and
coffee at 9 AM. For driving instructions go the NDOW website > angler guides >
fishing for a Hinkson information sheet.
The February general meeting will be on the 19th at NDOW on Valley Road. The US
FWS will be presenting a history of their Pilot Peak stocking program. These are the
fish at Pyramid that are causing all the excitement. It should be very interesting and
informative. I will bring hats, shirts, banquet tickets, rod tickets, cookies, and great
raffle prizes. (Continued on page 2)
“Always catch big fish”
Mark
Quote of the Month
“At the outset, the fact should be
recognized that the community of
fishermen constitutes a separate
class or subclass among the
inhabitants of the earth.”
Grover Cleveland
The Anglers Line
President’s Message (cont)
Page 2
by Mark Warren
Board of Directors
& TRF Officers
Again our 2014 banquet will be at Boomtown on March 8th. Ernie Gulley (fly fishing
guide) is giving a presentation on fishing Crowley Lake. You can buy tickets at
Cabelas, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Orvis and at the general meeting. The cost is $40.
Please pay by check if you pick up a ticket at the local merchants as it makes it easier
to track. You can use cash with the BOD members. Several of you are already tying
boxes of flies and we appreciate it. We have acquired some great prizes already.
Also March is election month for the club. If you’ve always wanted to be the
president, vice-president or Board member, just let us know.
President:
Mark Warren
775-972-5942
[email protected]
Pyramid has still been fishing a little slow. Chris Crookshanks, NDOW biologist
emailed me that he had caught three fish on his last outing. One, a 9-pound fish,
gave him quite a fight (40 minutes) as he had hooked it in the pectoral fin. Board
member Mike Sevon caught a 17-pound fish about a week ago (picture enclosed). He
told me you could hear him scream all the way in Reno.
Secretary:
Tom Smith
775-741-8825
[email protected]
Finally a little snow.
Vice President:
Doug Ouellette
775-722-2267
[email protected]
et
Treasurer:
Cheri Pierce
775-329-7627
[email protected]
Conservation:
Mike Sevon
775-857-9814
[email protected]
m
Web Master:
Curt Kamada
775-376-9453
[email protected]
Biologists on Staff:
Mark W. and Mike S.
Newsletter Editor:
Alex Penney
775-737-1327
[email protected]
Board Member
Mike Hoffman
775-750-6900
[email protected]
Board Member
Wes Ong
775-530-0725
[email protected]
Project Healing Waters:
John Imsdahl
775-662-3076
[email protected]
The Angler’s Line
Youth Fly Tying
Page 3
by Tom Smith
I received this thank you from the Wild Sheep Foundation for the work we did for them in January, and I would like to
personally thank all of the volunteers who came out for the three days to make this a successful event. Many children
went through the fly tying area and at times we were each teaching two or more at a time. Chris Vasey and his crew
were there as well to provide the materials and the equipment and also to give plenty of hands on experience to the
many children that were present. Everywhere in the show you could observe children proudly wearing the flies that
they had tied. I am including pictures of some of activity that was happening. There is not enough room to print all of
the pictures.
My thanks to those club members who participated. Mike Sevon, Loren Schweigert, Mike O’Brien, Easton Dunkelberger,
Ron Reitz, Bud Estrin, Bill Pauley, James Kwasny, Mark Warren, Alex Penney, Marliena Landeros and Tina Smith.
Thanks again, Tom Smith
“Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to help with this year's Youth Wildlife
Conservation Experience last weekend. We ended up having 954 youth participate in our experience over the
three days it was available. Without individuals like you, volunteering time to help, the YWCE would be
impossible. Thanks so much again. Please pass on to your entire organization my thanks, as without all those
volunteers you brought in the fly tying wouldn't work so successfully. In fact, I am trying to do something
similar to what you did here in Reno as a small youth event in Pennsylvania. I have tried for 2 years to get the
local TU chapter to be a part. This year I got one volunteer. He is bringing his one clamp to help kids tie flies. It
will be very different from what you all can produce! I appreciate everyone taking time and helping inspire
future outdoors men, including those who FISH.”
Sincerely,
Ryan Brock. Ph.D
Youth Education Coordinator
www.wildsheepfoundation.org
The Angler’s Line
Truckee River Water Quality Standards Review
Page 4
by Mike Sevon
On January 28, the Nevada Bureau of Water Quality Planning held a public meeting at the Reno NDOW office to provide
information on its process to review water quality standards for the Truckee River. Doug Ouellette and myself were
there to represent the interests of the Truckee River Flyfishers. There were approximately 40 others representing
various state and federal agencies who are involved in water quality on the Truckee River. Randy Paul of the Nevada
Department of Environmental Protection was there as moderator of a power point presentation that summarized the
history of established water rights for the Truckee River.
The Cities of Reno and Sparks (Cities), Washoe County and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) are jointly
leading a third-party effort to review and potentially revise the Truckee River Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for
total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). This effort was initiated in January of 2011. The Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have agreed that a
third-party review of the 1994 TMDL is appropriate to determine whether the assumptions underlying the 1994 TMDL
still remain valid, and to identify new scientific and technical information and/or changes in conditions and river
operations that may warrant a different approach to addressing nutrient issues in the watershed. Further, NDEP and EPA
have agreed to consider any third-party proposed revisions to the nitrogen and phosphorus water quality standards in
an effort to assure that the water quality standards are the most appropriate criteria and that any TMDL revision be
based on best available water quality standards. The water quality standards review will be conducted prior to initiation
of the TMDL review.
The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) represents the confluence where water quality science, regulatory
implementation and oversight, and public interest converge in order to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of surface waters to support “the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and
recreation in and on the water”, as stated in the Clean Water Act of 1972 (as Amended 2002). The Clean Water Act is the
primary federal law that governs and authorizes water quality control activities by EPA, the lead federal agency
responsible for water quality management, and the states including Nevada and California.
Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to adopt water quality standards for all surface waters of the
United States. Water quality standards consist of two elements: (1) designated beneficial uses of the water body in
question (such as drinking, swimming, recreation, fisheries) and (2) water quality criteria that protect the designated
uses. Water quality criteria are required to accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge on the kind and extent of all
effects on health and welfare that may be expected from the presence of pollutants in water. Where multiple uses exist,
water quality standards must protect the most sensitive use. Section 303(d) lists the water bodies and associated
pollutants that exceed water quality criteria.
In Nevada, NDEP has developed this list, and Section 303(d) requires that the state develop a TMDL for each of the listed
pollutants. The TMDL is the maximum amount of pollutant loading that the water body can receive and still be in
compliance with water quality objectives. The TMDL is also a plan to reduce loading of a specific pollutant from various
sources to achieve compliance with water quality objectives. The TMDL requires public meetings and input from all
stakeholders, and must be based on credible science rather than competing ideologies. The TMDL must include an
allocation of allowable loadings to point (such as wastewater treatment plants) and non-point (such as storm water)
sources, with consideration of background or naturally occurring loadings and a margin of safety. The TMDL must also
include an analysis that shows the linkage between loading reductions and the attainment of water quality objectives.
The EPA must either approve a TMDL submitted by the state or disapprove the state’s TMDL and issue its own. The goal
of the TMDL program is the removal of the targeted pollutant from the 303(d) list and of the causes that led to
placement of the pollutant on the list. (Continued on page 5)
The Angler’s Line
Page 5
Calendar of events for Truckee River Water Quality Standards:




March 3: Limnotech, the agency modeling the Truckee River, will have a public workshop to provide the results
of the third party modeling effort. Following that meeting, NDEP will have a month to develop and distribute
their rationale for any possible water quality revisions.
May 31: Comments to these revisions from the public will be due.
June 30: NDEP rational will be presented to the Legislative Council Bureau.
October: The State Environmental Commission will hold a hearing to review the proposed Water Quality
Standard revision.
We will keep you posted:
Mike Sevon,
Conservation Chairman.
Reminder, Annual Banquet is March 8, mark your calendars; don’t miss
this big event! Tickets are available from Board Members or at Cabela’s
fly shop, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Orvis.
The Angler’s Line
Page 6
February 2014 Prospects
by Wes Ong
Pyramid Lake: Generally this is considered a slow month at the lake. I personally like fishing the lake this month. Mid
month will be full moon and the weekend of the Crosby’s tournament. Second half of the month should be better
fishing. Needless to say the lake has produced a lot of by fish and I expect it to slow a bit but not much on the big fish.
When your bugger is picking up slimy muck, I go to fishing two foam flies.
Hinkson Slough: Fish outing on the 16th. Floating line with a sheep bugger, zebra midge, swallow, or a midge of gray
with red wire is a good searching set-up. Also I heard that they have Tiger Trout in there now. Nevada license expires
the end of this month. Release the Grass Carp unharmed, they are there for a reason. Unfortunately the regular carp
are back in there so one of these seasons NDOW will have to drain and poison it again.
North Pond: This could be good if there are no fish biting at Hinkson Slough. It was planted back in December, as was
Hinkson.
American River: Flows are real low and I heard that they have enacted special regs. for a lot of the coastal rivers and
maybe the river below Nimbus Dam. Check with California Fish and Wildlife.
Amador: Pay to fish Foothill Lake near Ione, CA, this is generally a good winter fishery for rainbows that are bigger than
16 inchers.
Truckee River: I hear that you can catch fish on the river any month of the year, just ask Doug O. who has been fishing it
all year. Lower river will see some good dry action this month with the overcast or weather a big help in driving a hatch.
Not all water is productive here you have to search for the areas with good concentrations of fish and hatches.
Little Truckee: This water could be a real sleeper, the days have been cold and the road in could be an issue. A little
overcast will get a small hatch going in the middle of the day, either midge or BWO. Pressure should be little.
Rye Patch Res. According to Jan at Orvis, the end of February through mid April is the time to fish here for the walleye.
Right now the lake appeared to be open with no ice on it but I was going 75 miles an hour when I was looking at the
upper lake, which by the way, is what normally is the middle of the lake. Very low.
East Walker River: This month may be a little early but if we get some days over 50 degrees the bite may be worth the
drive. Lately the flows are the typical 25 cfs that they are required by law to keep in the stream. Good searching pattern
this time of year is a small bright green caddis worm with red wire and a bead; also small PT’s and midges. Stoneflies are
in the water all year so they may also produce but keep them small.
Topaz Lake: I have never caught anything here, but this year I have seen some success of bank fishermen with bait on
nice fish. Nevada license is good here. Fish the inlet (tube needed to do this) with an olive bugger. Rise forms maybe
trout or rough fish.
Ruby Marsh: All the local wisdom is the marsh fishes best for trout in the winter. Most of it was frozen over when I was
there last month. Weather has been more active lately so I do not believe that it will fish good until March. Small
Swallow seems to work best with a small midge will fool most fish at the “Hatchery Hole”.
Others: Pleasant Valley Reservoir near Bishop, Baum Lake, Amador, Yuba River above the Hwy 20 bridge, and the upper
and lower Sac.
Don’t Forget your Nevada License!
The Angler’s Line
Page 7