Spring - Summer 2014 • $3
M AGA Z I N E O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L F E D E R AT I O N O F F LY F I S H E R S fedflyfishers.org
C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
THE EVER-POPULAR
PALE MORNING DUN THE DIRTY DOZEN
IRISH SALMON FLIES ON A MISSION
THE CASE FOR
JACKLIN’S
CROSSOVER
OCTOBER CADDIS
POND FLIES
A PROVEN PATTERN
Conserving, Restoring, Educating, through fly fishing
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The International Federation of Fly Fishers Name:_______________________________________________ Mailing Address:_ ______________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Phone: ________________ E-mail:_ _______________________ m Individuals - $35 m Senior - $25 m Youth - $15 m Family: $45 m Life: $500 m Canadians add $5 for postage m International add $10 for postage Enclose check or provide credit card information: Credit Card #__________________________Exp Date______ Authorized Signature__________________________________ Return to: International Federation of Fly Fishers _ 5237 US Highway 89 South, Suite 11, Livingston, MT 59047 SM
Join by sending in the form above or online at www.fedflyfishers.org 406-222-9369
make a difference at the store
When you make a purchase from the IFFF online_ store, you support the sport you love and the natural resources you cherish. IFFF merchandise not only helps the cause of the IFFF financially, but clothing, decals and patches increase awareness of the organization that serves to conserve, restore and educate for the future of fly fishing. And, of course, YOU benefit from the fabulous book and DVD resources and all the_ items available at the IFFF online store. Make a purchase, make a difference. It’s a win-win situation for all.
www.fedflyfishers.org/store.aspx
fishing Photo courtesy dananthon.com, others courtesy Pat Oglesby
Anywhere fly fishers have an interest, the IFFF can and does play a role. Join others who are dedicated to the betterment of the sport of fly fishing – Join the IFFF.
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The Case for Crossover Pond Flies How to beguile bass and bluegills with the same fly. By Terry and Roxanne Wilson
Jacklin’s October Caddis Fish with a proven pattern for late summer in the West (like Livingston in August). By Bob Jacklin
The Dirty Dozen These Irish salmon flies do the trick in Ireland and across the pond. By Mark Corps
Little Yellow Mayfly Anticipating summer and pale morning duns, something fly fishers and trout dearly love. By Matt Wilhelm
COVER PHOTO: The fly tying angler can use this picture of an early-season, male pale morning dun (PMD) as a natural example of possible patterns they might construct at the vise before venturing on the water. Photo by Verne Lehmberg THIS PAGE: This Yellowstone cutthroat trout is rising to take a mayfly spinner. The life cycle of one important mayfly, the pale morning dun, is featured in "Biology on the Fly," page 32. Photo by Verne Lehmberg
C o n s e r v i nMagazine g, Resto i n gInternational , E d u c a t i n Federation g T h r o u g of h Fly F l yFishers Fishin sm ofr the •gSpring - Summer 2014 Volume 47, No. 1
FEATURES
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DEPARTMENTS
4 6 7
IFFF Directors and Officers Just Fishing I Am a Member Meet Connie Bullock and Mike Stewart
9
Home Waters
31
Focus on the Fly
32
Biology on the Fly
37
At the Vise
39
Fly Box
40
Casting
42
Woman’s Outlook
44
45 46
Fly fishing news and notes Imitating pale morning duns The life cycles and habits of a most important mayfly, pale morning duns Spring Creek PMD Emerger Demonstration tiers’ signature flies Small streams, short fly rods and PMDs The healing way: one woman’s upward spiral
Book Reviews Fly Fishing Humor Tie flies and save money!
Annual Donor Report
C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
IFFF Directors and Officers Board of Directors & Executive Committee SM
International Federation of Conserving, Restoring, Educating Through Fly Fishing
Exec. Comm • Chairman of the Board/ President • Philip Greenlee 530-356-9430 • philipgreenlee@att.net 1911 Bechelli Ln., Redding, CA 96002
David Diaz • 205-444-0921 ddiaz444@bellsouth.net 2504 Chuchura Drive Birmingham, AL 35244
Exec. Comm • First Vice President Frank Johnson • 307-672-5164 bighornjohnsons@gmail.com 11 Spring Creek Lane, Sheridan, WY, 82801
Scott Erickson • 403 752-4801 rserickson@hotmail.com PO Box 1145 Raymond, AB T0K 2S0 Canada
Exec. Comm • Secretary • Herb Kettler 434-977-6703 • herbkettler@att.net 809 Winston Ter. Charlottesville, VA 22903
Conservation Director • Glenn Erikson 917-817-9014 glenn.erikson.phd@gmail.com 5440 State Highway 30, Long Flat, NY, 13756
Exec. Comm • Treasurer • Finance Committee Chair • Ron Winn 321-723-3141 • ronwin@bellsouth.net 2103 Grant Place, Melbourne, FL 32901
Don Gibbs • 303-526-9256 ddgibbs@ecentral.com 108 Chokecherry Rd. Golden, CO 80401
Exec. Comm. • Marvin Cash 704-759-6788 • secfff@marvincash.me 7155 Chameroy Court Charlotte, NC 28270
Soon Lee • 909-731-8361 soons.lee@verizon.net 2380 Sunset Curve Upland, CA 71784
IF F F H e a d q u a r t e r s
International Federation of Fly Fishers 5237 U.S. Highway 89 South, Ste.11 Livingston, MT 59047-9176 (406) 222-9369 • fax (406) 222-5823 www.fedflyfishers.org President/CEO: Philip Greenlee • philipgreenlee@att.net Operations Manager: Rhonda Sellers • rhonda@fedflyfishers.org Education Coordinator (Fair/Clubs & Councils): Jessica Atherton • fair@fedflyfishers.org Administrative Assistant (Donations/Social Media/Guides Assn/Retailers): Judy Snyder • judy@fedflyfishers.org Program Coordinator (Casting/Conservation/Museum): Holly Sandbo • casting@fedflyfishers.org Membership Coordinator: Gay Penney • membership@fedflyfishers.org Receptionist/Merchandise: Nikki Loy • nikki@fedflyfishers.org Bookkeeper: Sharon Cebulla • bookkeeper@fedflyfishers.org Flyfisher
Exec. Comm. • Fly Fishing Fair Steering Committee Chair • Tilda Evans 970-683-8879 • lewtildaevans@gmail.com P.O. Box 344, Collbran, CO 81624
Editor-in-Chief: Bill Toone
Exec. Comm. • Bud Frasca 208-762-2631 • grizzking@aol.com 2699 E Packsaddle Dr. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
Flyfisher is published for the IFFF by: Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. 405 Church Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 263-3573 • fax (208) 263-4045 www.keokee.com•flyfishermag@keokee.com
Exec. Comm. – Government Relations Chair Howard Malpass • 318-780-3739 whmalpass@hotmail.com 5825 Southern Ave., Shreveport, LA 71106
Publisher: Chris Bessler Editors: Al and Gretchen Beatty Art Director/Designer: Jackie Palmer Copy Editor: Billie Jean Gerke Editorial Assistant: Beth Hawkins Advertising Director: Clint Nicholson
Exec. Comm. • Legal Counsel (not a member of the BOD) •Jim Schramm 231-869-5487• jdschramm@oceana.net P.O. Box 828, Pentwater, MI 49449
Magazine of the International Federation of Fly Fishers
Flyfisher is the official publication of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, published two times a year and distributed by mail and online free to members. Send membership inquiries, fees and change of address notices to the IFFF Headquarters in Livingston, Montana, at the address above. Flyfisher is produced for the IFFF by Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. Address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the address above. Contents of Flyfisher copyright © 2014 by the International Federation of Fly Fishers. Written permission required to reprint articles. “IFFF & Reel Design” is a service mark (sm) of the International Federation of Fly Fishers. The next Flyfisher editorial deadline is August 20, 2014. PRINTED IN THE U SA Please remember to recycle this magazine and any other appropriate material.
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
Exec. Comm. • IFFF Foundation President • Mike Stewart 860-653-4203 • tellicofly@yahoo.com 215 Loomis St., North Granby, CT 06060 Exec. Comm • Flyfisher Editor in Chief Bill Toone • 406-556-7241 btoone@3riversdbs.net 198 Game Trail Rd., Bozeman, MT 59715 Exec. Comm. • Senior Conservation Advisor • Rick Williams 208-861-1325 • troutdna@cableone.net 524 West Two Rivers Dr., Eagle, ID 83616 David Barron • 608-585-2239 dbarron@wicw.net 32491 Jaquish S Rd. Richland Center, WI 53581
David Lemke • 713-839-2572 dlemke@sbcglobal.net 4002 Aberdeen Way Houston, TX 77025 Bob Long • 208-520-5055 blong@bvipro.com 1002 Webster St. Clarkston, WA 99403 Kuni Masuda • 360-573-3310 klmasuda@yahoo.com 2115 NW 116th St. Vancouver, WA 98685 Rick Pope • 214-507-8967 rpope@airmail.net 8105 Sovereign Row Dallas, TX 75247 Al Ritt • 303-678-9709 al@alrittflies.com 12492 Wasatch Rd. Longmont, CO 80504 Membership Co-Chair • Carl Ronk 909-560-6041 • flytyer@earthlink.net 8961 Whirlaway Ct. Alta Loma, CA 91737 Museum Committee Chair • Sherry Steele 541-549-2072 • steelefly@msn.com 69077 Chestnut Pl Sisters, OR 97759 Jeff Wagner • 970-481-5887 wagnerflyfish@gmail.com 2446 Coronado Ct Sidney, NE 69162 Membership Co-Chair • Len Zickler 509-720-3228 • lzickler@ahbl.com 328 West Jay Ave. Spokane, WA 99218
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS HAS MEMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES:
Chesapeake: Marty Laksbergs 703-282-0931 • marty-laksbergs@cox.net 6718 Catskill Rd. Lorton, VA 22079
Oregon: Sherry Steele 541-420-5532 • steelefly@msn.com P.O. Box 1438 Sisters, OR 97759
Eastern Rocky Mountain: Pat Oglesby 970-434-3912 • pcoglesby@bresnan.net 3095 Evanston Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81504
South Eastern: Marvin S. Cash 704-759-6788 • secfff@marvincash.me 7155 Chameroy Ct. Charlotte, NC 28270
Florida: Tom Gadacz 727-360-8030 • thomasgadacz@yahoo.com 5353 Gulf Blvd. A-201 St. Petersburg, Florida 33706
Southern: Larry Wegmann 314-623-3933 • lwegmann@sbcglobal.net 5619 S Roanoke Ave. Springfield, MO 65810-2725
Great Lakes: Jim Schramm 231-869-5487 • jdschramm@oceana.net P.O. Box 828 Pentwater, MI 49449
Southwest: Michael Schweit 818-601-9702 • msangler@earthlink.net 7933 Jellico Ave. Northridge, CA 91325
Gulf Coast: Kyle Moppert 225-343-0867 • bowfin47@gmail.com 2170 Terrace Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Texas: Russell Husted 972-567-4155 • russellhusted@sbcglobal.net 3416 Jerry Ln. Arlington, TX 76017
North Eastern: Bob Ford 617-536-6109 • fordrr@hotmail.com 233 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02116
Upper Midwest Council: Todd Heggestad 218-310-9182 • theggestad57@gmail.com 4835 Howard Gnesen Rd., #103 Duluth, MN 55803
Northern California: Ken Brunskill 510-793-7913 • steamntrout@comcast.net 4731 Mildred Dr. Fremont, CA 94536
Washington: Carl Johnson 425-308-6161 • flyfishalso@frontier.com P.O. Box 1206 Monroe, WA 98272
Ohio: Jeff McElravy 513-652-1894 jmcelravysr@cinci.rr.com Cincinnati, OH
Western Rocky Mountain: Michael L. Bantam 208-323-5560 • michaelbantam@gmail.com 11896 Cedarstone St., Boise, ID 83709
Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Belgium Belize Bermuda Canada Chile Croatia Denmark Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Latvia
Lithuania Luxembourg Malaysia Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Poland Romania Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia South Korea South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Ukraine United Kingdom United States
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ME WA VT
ND
MT OR ID
NH
NY
WI
SD
PA IA
NE
NV CO
IL
OH IN WV VA KY
MO
KS
NC
CA
TN OK AZ
NM
SC
AR MS
TX AK
AL
THE IFFF COUNCILS
RI NJ
DE MD
The International Federation of Fly Fishers represents the interests of fly fishers across the United States through its regional councils. Much of the IFFF’s most important work is carried out through its regional councils and the fly fishing clubs in those regions. If you’re a fly fisher, stay in touch with the activities of your council – and get involved!
GA
LA FL
HI
MA CT
MI
WY
UT
MI
MN
Chesapeake (PA-WV-VA-MD-DE) Eastern Rocky Mtn (WY-CO-NM-AZ) Florida Gulf Coast (LA-MS-AL) Great Lakes (MI-IN) Northern California (CA-NV-HI) North East (NY-VT-NH-ME-MA-RI-CT-NJ**) Ohio O
Oregon South East (KY-TN-NC-SC-GA-AL-FL) Southern (NE-IA-KS-MO-IL-OK-AR) Southwest (CA-NV) Texas Upper Midwest (MN-WI-IL) Washington (WA-AK) Western Rocky Mtn (UT-ID-MT-ND-SD*)
*Parts of southwestern Canada included in Western Rocky Mountain Council. **Parts of southeastern Canada included in North East Council.
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C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
Council Presidents
C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
Just Fishing CONSERVATION, PRESERVING THE SPORT OF FLY FISHING OUR CORNERSTONE By Philip Greenlee, Chairman of the Board of Directors
I
f you are a new member in the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF), welcome aboard. If you want to become a fly fisher or polish your existing skills, you have chosen the right organization. I wish all members a successful year while enjoying the many benefits the organization has to offer. After creating the new management structure in 2009, the organization is on a stable, growing course. I think our mission statement succinctly reflects the organization’s goals – conserving, restoring and educating through fly fishing. For 2014 we will remain focused on those established priorities plus increasing our membership and the ever-expanding casting program. The IFFF Certified Casting Program is guided by the 24-member Casting Board of Governors including chairperson, David Diaz. In another part of the organization, the fly tiers have recently organized into the Fly Tying Group, guided by a 21-member Board of Governors headed by Carl Ronk. Conservation remains high on our list of priorities with grants available to the clubs and councils an important part of our focus. Just check our website (www.fedflyfishers.org) for more information regarding that program’s criteria. Recently I attended the Fly Fishing Show (FFS) in Somerset, New Jersey, and also visited the North Eastern Council (NEC) Board of Directors meeting. The FFS featured a three-hour casting seminar for certified instructors hosted by our own Master Casting Instructor Jim Valle and other master casting instructors (MCIs). The seminar included a film on the founding of the IFFF and a double-haul, casting video featuring Bruce Richards (member of the Casting Board of Governors). More than 30 instructors attended the workshop. I offer my congratulations to the Fort Worth Fly Fishers (FWFF) for changing their status to Charter Club. The FWFF has more than 160 members and is an important part of the
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newly formed Texas Council. I also want to thank the Texas Council and all of their clubs for their leadership in making this new council a reality. The other day I received a call from Ray Scott, the founder of Bass Masters. He wanted to thank the IFFF for its catch-and-release idea, a concept his organization practices by releasing 98 percent of the bass caught at their tournaments. In his book about the Bass Masters, he gives the IFFF credit for the catch-and-release concept pioneered by Lee Wulff, a charter member of the IFFF. We hope you’ll join us at the IFFF Fly Fishing Fair in August 2014 in Livingston, Montana, where you can learn about our sport and experience all Montana has to offer. Wednesday night at the fair you’ll enjoy a treat at the Awards Banquet where classical guitarist – and great fly tier – Oscar Feliu will be the featured entertainment. The event will be in the Paradise Valley a few miles from town in a music barn with doors opening to the majestic mountains surrounding the panorama of the open valley. On Thursday evening visit downtown Livingston to absorb the sounds of Rodney Crowell and his band while enjoying fellowship with old or new acquaintances. Take the alpaca workshop Friday morning while visiting the Dancing Elk Alpacas Ranch, then join us at the auction that evening to check out the contra-dancers while supporting the major fundraiser of the year. Lastly, don’t forget to hop on your horse and ride off into that Montana sunset where you’ll find a creek or lake that holds the biggest fish you’ve ever caught. Montana – there is nothing like it, and it’s the home of the IFFF! When the 2014 fair is complete, it’s time to think about next year. Remember, the 2015 show is the 50th anniversary of the IFFF and will be held in Bend, Oregon, the second week in August. More on that show later, but for now I’ll leave you with a thought: The Deschutes River runs through the middle of the River House property, the location of the
2015 Fly Fishing Fair. Sound interesting? I sure think it does! The IFFF is in all 50 U.S. states spread across 16 councils with more 200 clubs. If you want to learn about fly fishing or get involved in any of our stated goals, I recommend you join a local club where you can perfect new casting skills, learn how to tie flies or expand any of fly fishing’s other unique skills. Often people join the IFFF for the social aspects, and that is an enjoyable part of the organization; club outings where you learn new places to go fishing are another benefit of membership. By joining and becoming a Federator (IFFF member), you will be exposed to great geography plus have the opportunity to hone your fly fishing skills. The organization is always looking for talent and volunteers skilled in the many facets of fly fishing. As a member you have the opportunity to get involved in any or all of them. Fly fishing is a great experience for young people because it teaches them about anticipation, patience, the great outdoors, communication, protocol, responsibility and leadership. Many times during the year people tell me they want to learn about the sport. I tell them there is no time like the present to do so, AND the IFFF is ready and willing to help. If you are interested I suggest you call the International Fly Fishing headquarters at 406-222-9369. Give them your address and phone number, so they can put you in contact with one of the clubs in your area. Also you can visit our website at www.fedflyfishers.org for membership information. I would like to leave you with a thought. Some people ask, “What has the IFFF done for me?” I say, “What can you do for the IFFF?” We are looking for people who care about conservation and the preservation of the sport of fly fishing. Join us, you’ll be glad you did!
CONNIE BULLOCK Residence Valencia, California IFFF Council Southwest, Santa Clarita
Home waters
Owens River, Hot Creek, “anything flowing in Montana”
Casting Club
Favorite fish Rainbow trout Memorable fishing experience
Member since 2003, founding member of Santa Clarita Casting Club in 2005
Two actually: Big Horn River drift boating and hooking into a 25-inch rainbow that I got to the boat.
Another favorite time was in West Yellowstone when we found a small feeder creek into the Henry’s Fork River that produced monster after monster, but that’s a secret.
Reason for being a member Great connections, guidance. The IFFF helped a lot when setting up our club, even sending us an entire startup kit, plus instruction, guides, great website with good leads.
What others say Southwest Council President Michael Schweit said: “Connie is the ultimate leader/coordinator and her passion for the sport is only exceeding by her energy and diligence in helping others to effectively organize and support the mission and work of the IFFF locally and regionally. She is past president of the Long Beach Casting Club and the Santa Clarita Casting Club. Currently she is the Mammoth Faire Director for the SWCIFFF show and (in her spare time) is now going after her fly casting instructor certification.”
Letter Old Codgers and Casting In the Casting column in the winter issue of Flyfisher, author Tom Tripi mentioned learning to cast from an “Ol’ Codger.” IFFF member Ni Rogers commented in an e-mail: My definition of an Old Codger is probably the same as yours – ME. In my case, it would be someone who has reached the ripe old age of 72 and does not realize or recognize it. Someone who has “been around the block” a few times and can pontificate about what all these young upstarts should be doing (remembering, of course, that we did exactly the same at their age and took no notice of what our elders had said either). Most of all, one who has come to realize that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, (it just takes a bit longer), despite the fact that he (in my case, I) is a cantankerous old S.O.B. who is nigh on impossible to live with. Bless the wife for still being here after 40 years. Ni Rogers IFFF member, United Kingdom
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C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
I Am a Member
C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
I am a Member MIKE STEWART
Residence
North Granby,
Connecticut
IFFF Council North Eastern Member since 1983 Home waters Farmington River, New Hartford, Connecticut
Favorite fish I don’t believe I really have a favorite fish, but I do enjoy the challenge of brown trout, the power of Atlantic salmon, the doggedness of smallmouth bass and the spunk of bluegills. The long and short of it: I fish for the tug. Memorable fishing experience Catching my first fish, a 10-inch shiner, with my grandfather on the family farm on the Missisquoi River in East Richford, Vermont, as a 6year-old in 1959.
Reason for being a member I am a fly fishing enthusiast. What other organization exists that can elevate my fly tying, casting, fishing, and instructor skills, coupled with con-
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serving the fly fishing experience other than the IFFF through its international exposure and talent? The fly fishing networking opportunities are tremendous.
What others say Dr. Leslie Wrixon, former North Eastern Council president said: “Mike and I have traveled near and far to fish. The most memorable trip was to Chile several years ago. There I saw a true fisherman and sportsman in action. Mike has a quiet way about him, but his angling skills speak volumes. Precise casting and line placement with delicate fly presentation are the order of the day with Mike. He is a wonderful traveling companion and angler.” Does your council or club have an individual you would like to be considered for a future “I Am a Member” Profile? If so, please e-mail Bill Toone, Flyfisher Editor-in-Chief, at btoone@3riversdbs.net with your consideration. Please include a brief bio (25 to 40 words) along with the reason you feel this person exemplifies the best of the Federation of Fly Fishers.
Home Waters To supp o tion, re rt any IFFF con storatio serva n progra m, plea or education se deducti ble con make a tax tributio n to: Int’l Fed e 5237 U ration of Fly F .S is Livings . Hwy. 89 S., hers ton, MT Ste. 11 59047-9 176
CONSERVATION NEWS Atlantic Coast Striped Bass Decline By Bradford Burns
past five years and that the fish he recreational catch they did catch were smaller. of wild striped bass on “Poor fishing means the Atlantic Coast has fewer fishing trips, and the dropped 65 percent in the past socio-economic loss to the U.S. seven years, according to the economy is significant,” Burns National Marine Fishery Service said. “Most of the professional (NMFS), a precipitous decline fishing guides who responded to that is mirrored in the 2013 the survey agreed that the lack membership fishing survey just of fish continues to hurt their tallied by Stripers Forever. business.” “The NMFS numbers, The Atlantic States Marine including stripers caught and Fishery Commission, which kept and those released alive, manages striped bass, finally Significantly lower recreational striped bass catches have caused a show a decline from 26 million agreed last November to seek decline in business for professional fishing guides. fish in 2006 to about 9 million in ways to reduce striper mortality 2013,” said Brad Burns, president coast-wide, but no progress has been made to date. To comof Stripers Forever, a conservapound the problem, Virginia and Maryland have again caved You can help conserve, tion organization that advocates to pressure from commercial interests and plan to increase the restore and protect our sustainable management of Chesapeake Bay striper harvest by 16 percent this year. precious fisheries. Read the stripers on the Atlantic Coast “That decision is based on the fact that the 2011 youngred patch at the top of the by giving them game fish-only of-the-year class of stripers – the one decent year class spawned page to learn how. status. “The great majority of the recently in the Chesapeake Bay – will be 18 inches in length this 1,000-plus angling members from spring and legal to catch,” said Burns. “It’s the same ‘get-themMaine to South Carolina who rewhile-we-can’ maximum yield approach that has greatly reduced, sponded to our 2013 survey – the and in some cases totally ruined, many of our nation’s fisheries most comprehensive look available over the past 50 years.” at how anglers feel about the health To view the full results of the Stripers Forever survey, go to and the management of the striped bass www.stripersforever.org and click “Recent News” on the right resource – said that their striper fishing got side of the home page. progressively “worse” or “much worse” over the For further information, contact Brad Burns at stripers@stripersforever.org. PHOTO COURTESY OF STRIPERSFOREVER.ORG
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Index of Articles Atlantic Coast Striped Bass Decline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Learn From the Best Tiers in the World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Board of Governors Adopts Minimum Skills List . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Casting for Recovery Partners with Sage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 It’s Coch-y-bonddu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Rowland Wins the Cuttcatch Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Vote for Your National Board, Voters Ballot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 IFFF Guides Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
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PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
LEARN FROM THE BEST TIERS IN THE WORLD The Fly Tying Group offers classes, demos and more at the fair By Gene Kaczmarek
A
allen present his “Thread Control” class, and, last but not least, Stephen Johnson will be teaching Enrico Puglisi style flies for saltwater applications. To help people determine if a scheduled class has something of value for them, the FTG has prepared a recommended skills list for students of intermediate fly tying classes. (See next page.) Its purpose is to help students determine if their skills are up to the needs of a class they plan to take. It can be frustrating for the student(s) and the teacher if a beginner enrolls in an intermediate class and keeps the rest of the class from advancing through the lesson plan. The workshop list can be found on the IFFF website, in the E-News or in the Official Registration Guide inserted in this magazine. We also are bringing back, by popular demand, the Fly Tying Video Theater. It is the place where you can observe tiers demonstrate their skills on camera and clearly see every detail, even if your location is on the far side of a crowded room. With the theater
re you coming to this year’s Fly Fishing Fair in Livingston, Montana? If not, you’ll miss a great show. The list of fly tiers in attendance is just incredible. Not only will some of the best in the United States be there when the Exhibit Hall opens August 7-9, but an array of international tiers will be demonstrating their skills as well. This is your chance to learn from some of the best tiers in the world. In addition to the fly tying demonstrations, the Fly Tying Group (FTG) is offering classes from Michael Meyers, Todd Collins, Tom Logan and France’s Phil Geneix. The class topics range from tying effective Yellowstone Country flies, George Grant hair hackle flies, historic wet patterns, French CDC patterns and It-Floats-Like-a-Duck patterns with Frank Johnson. If that’s not enough to get your attention, Henry Hoffman will offer a class focused on new tying tools, while Larry Nicholas and Dutch Baughman will be teaching about Spey and dee flies. Again we are pleased to have Wayne Lu-
operating all day, every day, many classes across a wide range of disciplines, and more than 100 of the best tiers from around the world, this year’s fair is an event you don’t want to miss. We look forward to seeing you there. When you join us, why not wear a Fly Tying Group shirt with logos for the IFFF and the FTG? Yes, you must be a member of the IFFF to join The Fly Tying Group, but it’s an organization very much worth your time and attention. For membership information and to join the group, go to www.fedflyfishers.org/ Tying/Membership.aspx. Gene Kaczmarek is the Fly Tying Group’s Standing Fly Tying Chair and a longtime IFFF member.
Veterans FIrst Fly FIshIng
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• Air Force Marines • Co • y ast av N One “Conservation News” Headline Per G Spread, Article Heads Small Like This • By Verne Lehmberg
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Our Name is Our Mission is a growing group of fly fishers who Statement mel. Mundi omnis exerci eam ei, autem moconduct and/or dolor participate in fly fishing
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Ve
orem ipsum nominavi mei at, dolor sit lestie dissentiunt et vix. Feugiat workshops for our veterans. Hundreds qui id habeo dicant amet, ubique deseruisseToinParTiciPaTe sed. Ornatus vocibus Ken Brunskill, Chairman of disabled veterans, the physically minimum, graecoboth suseripuit in vix, an eum inciderintContact: est no. Harum iudico Veterans First Fly Fishing e disabled andinthose post traumatic i cipiantur ius.with Dictas impetus qualisque ad sit, ei utroque comprehensam ra at steamntrout@comcast.net h s omittam ut cum, in peace and disputationi. Sitn te s eos. stress disorder, are finding F ir st F l y F i exerci ridens accupurto scriptorem, nonumes consulatu. Tosaepe DonaTe rehabilitation with the Veterans First Fly Est an sata has, id sea rebum fugit minim et mea. Vidit justo eum. Nam at sint expliMailcu Check to: IFFF/VFFF Fishing program. verear.Ut nam maioCu nec admodum 5237 U.S. Hwy 89 South, Ste. 11ex sed. An cari gubergren, brute ridens program originated with thepartem blandit Livingston,mandamus MT 59047 rumThemaiestatis, an vidisse conceptam. Ea mel, animal agam aliquam northern CaliforniaphilosoCouncil of the debitis maluisset ne est, cum animal pri modo labore, eu See and LIKe US phia sed. Has an nibh eum graeci oblique legimus admodum in. No vel vidit International Federation of Fly Fishers on FaCeBooK! scripta nostrud, omnis dolorem. Nam idque consequat, ad sonet efficianand is expandingiracundiaVeTeranS FIrST FLy FISHIng exerci eam ei, autem corpora id, rebum tur sit, in cum dicit fuisset. Est id iriur nationwide. join Withsigniferumque Veterans First Fly Fishing,no, utinam molestie dissentiunt et Pleasenumquam utamur periculis ea units are part of their regional IFFF us in our mission to put vix vix. Feugiat deseruqui. Ei sed malorum labitur in. Ius an alii deleniti. Lacouncil’s education component using their isse in sed. Ornatus dolores, natum vidisse The photos have a thick-thin black te pri, eaandnec nemore veterans first. bore gubergren 501(c)(3) status, insurance treasury. border of 4 points. vocibus inciderint est mel at, wisi tota defaeleniti. Labore gubergren te pri, ea no. Harum iudico ad traxit mel ad. nec nemore facilis pertinax. Est id iriure www.nccfff.org/vfff.html sit, ei utroque comprehensam eos. Ex nec tamquam referrentur, vix legimus detracto. Ut nam maiorum maiestatis, senserit consetetur ea, ne ius minim Bio for author. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, an agam aliquam philosophia harum consectetuer. Id nam quis altera ubique eripuit in vix, an eum impetus qualisque. sed. Has an nibh scripta nostrud, reprehendunt, accusata instructior in Cu nec admodum conceptad.
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
BOARD OF GOVERNORS ADOPTS MINIMUM SKILLS LIST Lists recommendations for intermediate students By Tom H. Logan and Gene Barrington
T
he International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) Fly Tying Group (FTG) incorporated a new “purpose” statement into their bylaws at the annual meeting in West Yellowstone in September 2013 and has adopted a list of minimum recommended skills for intermediate fly tying students. The new purpose states: “The FTG is dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and support of the art of fly tying as a historic element of the fly fishing experience.” Formalizing a clear purpose for the group is intended to pro-
the workshops we offer generally fall into an “intermediate” learning category, and these are the arenas where our skilled fly tiers and talented instructors of the future emerge. Therefore, the BOG has developed and formally adopted a list of “Minimum Recommended Skills for Intermediate Fly Tying Students.” Those skills are: • Students should have “general” knowledge of fish biology and the aquatic foods they eat and understand how the various fly types are intended to imitate those natural foods of fish;
Our purpose is to enhance the quality of teaching we provide.
• Be able to make the proper hook selection for the fly being tied and properly mount the hook in a vise; • Understand thread weights (denier versus X/0) and their application; how to apply thread to the hook using the jam knot, reverse jam knot and lay thread in a flat thread base;
• Have the ability to prepare hackles, tie them in by the tip and/or butt and wrap them forward, rearward and/or Palmered; • Understand how to use hook parts (eye, shank length, bend, barb, point) to determine tie-in points and proper fly proportions; and • Have the ability to tie a variety of fly pattern types and explain the materials used and reasons for their selection.
Our intent is to assist students in evaluating their skills prior to taking classes so they can better keep pace with other students, the teacher and the lesson plan. These recommendations will be useful to instructors, too, in preparation for classes. These recommendations should in no way be used to label or classify tiers, students, instructors or classes into arbitrary skill categories. The authors are members of the Fly Tying Group.
• Know when to counter-spin and spin thread and generally understand how to use thread for desired application of selected materials to the hook; PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
vide guidance to its Board of Governors (BOG) regarding activities it pursues on behalf of the membership and the IFFF. Activities of the board include archiving of historic documents in the IFFF museum that pertain to many aspects of fly tying and tiers; development of educational and instructional materials; and teaching of fly tying methods. We consider each of these items fundamental to perpetuating the art of fly tying. We now are evaluating additional actions we can pursue to accomplish more toward our purpose. Clearly, teaching is important; it is in the classroom where those of us who teach share much of what we have learned with students who strive to improve their own fly tying skills. So, it was a natural for the BOG to focus on development of materials to assist and enhance the quality of teaching we provide at local, regional and international IFFF events. We felt that most of
• Possess a full complement of tools necessary for tying a variety of fly patterns and be able to use each of them (vise, thread and bobbin, scissors, needlenose pliers, hackle pliers, bodkin, whipfinishing tool, hair stacker);
• Have a general understanding of materials and their structure that influences proper use (e.g., natural versus artificial; hollow hair that floats and flairs versus hair that does not; hen versus rooster feathers and their characteristics in water; tail, dubbing, hackle and wing options);
• Have a fundamental knowledge of the different natural and artificial materials that are available and how their selection applies to the prey species being imitated; dry versus wet patterns; bottom, emerging, subsurface and surface; streamers, crustaceans, amphibians and mammals, etc.);
Terry and Roxanne
Wilson Authors, speakers available for club events and shows.
The photos have a thick-thin black border of 4 points.
Slide shows, seminars, and tying demonstrations. Warmwater fly fishing. (largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, and other species)
terrywil@windstream.net • 417-777-2467
At the request of many fellow fly tiers, Dena and Jerome Hebert created this book. It contains over 50 different fly tying techniques and step-by-step photos with instructions for tying over a dozen fly patterns. Jerome developed and used these patterns as a fly fishing guide pursuing bass, crappie, and large bluegill, in 1995-2005. Books are available at www.abayourunsthroughit.com 337-356-2991
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
[ 11 ]
IFFF EVENTS
By Holly Calloway
C
asting for Recovery (CfR), a nonprofit organization offering support and educational retreats for women with breast cancer, announces its newest national sponsor, Sage Manufacturing, for 2014. In 2013, Sage committed a portion of sales from the GRACE rod to directly support CfR and its mission in helping women diagnosed with breast cancer attend multiday retreats that teach them to fly fish and assist with the mental and physical challenges of breast cancer – at no cost to them. Both CfR and Sage are excited to deepen the relationship and continue in 2014 with social media engagement, continuation of support through sales of the GRACE rod, and more. “CfR is a wonderful organization that helps women in need learn how to do something they probably never thought they would,” said Sage Marketing Manager Eric Gewiss. “We’re ecstatic to be a part of that and help these women attend CfR retreats in any way we can. They are learning much more than how to fly fish; they are learning how to embrace nature and do something that we all at Sage really enjoy, and that’s getting outside and doing what we love – fly fishing. So we are happy to share that passion with them.” “We’re overjoyed to have such a reputable, industry powerhouse behind us,” said CfR executive director Whitney Milhoan. “It’s exciting that the team at Sage believes in what we do and wants to support us in our efforts to help women with such a tough diagnosis. Nearly everyone has been
PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTING FOR RECOVERY
touched by breast cancer in some way, and having the committed support of companies like Sage really helps us move forward in our plans for 2014.” In 2014, CfR plans on hosting 42 retreats in 34 states and has served more than 6,000 women to date. To learn more about Casting for Recovery or how to help, please visit www.CastingForRecovery.org; to learn more about the GRACE rod and where to purchase with a portion of the sale going straight to CfR, please visit http://sageflyfish. com/fly-rods/specialty/grace-rod/. For more information, contact Holly Calloway at Holly.Calloway@castingfor recovery.org. Casting for Recovery® (CfR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to enhance the quality of life of women with breast cancer by providing free retreats to promote and support mental and physical healing. Casting for Recovery’s program combines counseling, medical information and the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. Many instructors are IFFF members. Retreats are offered at no cost to women at any age and any stage of breast cancer treatment and recovery.
Looking for a great way to promote your club? Put your name on Mill Stream’s American-made, classic boxes! Great for fundraising, membership gifts and donations. Call, email or fax us for a catalog, pricelist and club terms.
Millstream
®
ph 603-647-4003 • fax 603-647-8097 • orders@millstreamproducts.com The photos have a thick-thin black border of Can’t find Mill Stream at a shop nearby? www.flyboxesdirect.com! 4 points.
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
May 2014 Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival. Cullowhee, NC, www.southeastfff.org Fly Casting Instruction Rendezvous. St Paul, MN, contact Lyth Hartz, 651-4916267 or lhartz@comcast.net Atlantic Salmon Fly International. Renton, WA, information at www.asfi-expo.com Chesapeake Council Youth Fly Fishing Camp. Pylesville, MD, contact pete.mc@verizon.net June 2014 Destination Texas Fly Fishing Expo. New Braunfels, TX, information at www.txflyfishexpo.com. GLC Fly Fishing School & Fair. Roscommon, MI, information at www.fffglc.org Red Stick Fly Fishers Grand Isle Fly Fishing Weekend. Grand Isle, LA, www.rsff.blogspot.com or contact rmleonpacr@bellsouth.net August 2014 IFFF Fly Fishing Fair. Livingston, MT, information at www.fedflyfishers.org. Contraband Fly Casters Fly Fishing EXPO. Westlake, LA, contact 1redflytyer@bellsouth.net September 2014 Gulf Coast Council Fly Fair. Oceans Springs, Mississippi, contacts jeffcatfarms1@att.net or kkoffel@cableone.net Southwest Council Fly Fishing Faire. Mammoth Lakes, CA, contact www.southwestcouncilfff.org/faire October 2014 Southern Council Fly Fishing Fair. Mountain Home, AR, contact lwegmann@sbcglobal.net Florida Council IFFF Expo. The Plantation on Crystal River, info at www.ifff-florida.org November 2014 SWC-IFFF Intra-Club Tournament. Kernville, California, www.swc-fff.org December 2014 GLC Fly Tying Expo. Holt, MI, information at www.fffglc.org
16-17 17 17-18 31
Put It There!
[12 ]
C ALENDAR
12-14 13-15 27–29 5-9 23
12-13 19-21 2-4 10-11 8 2-4
Events are subject to change. For the most current information please visit www.fedflyfishers.org.
IFFF CASTING INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION The following events offer IFFF Casting Instructor Certification. Pre-registration is required. Call 406-222-9369 to register. You must be a current IFFF member. May 3-4, 2014. CI, June 13, 2014. CI, MCI, THCI Test #1406, MCI, Test #1407, Ellensburg, WA New Braunfels, TX May 13-14, 2014. Test August 8-9, 2014. CI, #1407, Roscommon, MI MCI, THCI, IFFF Fly May 16-17, 2014. CI, Fishing Fair, Livingston, MCI, THCI, Test #1412, MT Cullowhee, NC September 19-20, May 31-June 1, 2014. 2014. CI, MCI, THCI, Test #0114, CI, MCI, Test #0214, Bellingham Hexham, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, England Malaysia
Schedule subject to change. Get current schedule and testing fees at www.fedflyfishers.org
IFFF CASTING CONTINUING EDUCATION Continuing education classes for certified instructors are available and posted on the IFFF website. For more information about all casting events please visit: www.fedflyfishers.org/Casting/ CalendarofEventsTestingDates.aspx
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
CASTING FOR RECOVERY AND SAGE PARTNER
ARTICLE HEADLINE IT’S COCH-Y-BONDDU, NOT COCH-A-BON-DDU PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
By Verne Lehmberg
PHOTO BY RUSSELL HERSHBARGER
Coch-y-bonddu By Ni Rogers, U.K. IFFF Member
W
ith reference to the article in the Autumn 2013 - Winter 2014 issue of the Flyfisher (page 44), I wrote to you about several of the flies which appear on both sides of the Atlantic – slight differences in variation can be put down to local usage of the flies. The one fly I must correct you on is the Welsh beetle, which has as its accepted spelling Coch-y-bonddu, (pronounced Cock-e-Bonthu because “dd” in Welsh is pronounced “th”); this appar-
ently was spelled as Coch-a-bon-ddu. If this baffles you, just imagine what it does to the English; even the spell check on my computer is having a dicky fit over it. Luckily for me, I have Welsh ancestors. For reference purposes I have in front of me a copy of “Trout and Salmon Flies of Wales” by Moc Morgan, and since this was published in 1996, I will use the dressings from this. The fly itself is said to be influenced by a beetle that once The photos have thick-thinofblack border of frequented the aheather the uplands 4 points. of the hills in Wales. The Latin name is Pyhllopertha horticola (spell check is not having a good day today), and as near as we can get to a translation is “an insect that is red with a black base.” The beetle itself has a reddish brown body with a dark peacock green thorax and red-black legs. Here I quote from Morgan’s text: “Seldom is it correctly spelt because its Welsh ancestry is either forgotten or mistaken for Gaelic. Even Courtney Williams in his estimable Dictionary of Trout Flies, makes a hash of it, and he had less excuse than many.” Originally this fly was a wet fly. At the turn of the 1900s, it was considered that what caught trout on the chalk streams in Southern England would catch them elsewhere in the country – a doctrine that we now know is completely inaccurate. Then, as now, those with the most money and the loudest voices were always considered to be right. Dry flies were not considered to be “sporting” and looked upon as a relative of “float fishing;” today it can be used as either dry or wet – tied on a lighter, “up eye” hook and cock hackles for the dry version, and a heavier down-eyed hook and hen hackles for the wet. The only reason I use the up- and down-eyed
L
orem ipsum dolorpurposes sit amet,in the hooks is for recognition ubique eripuit in vix, an eum fly box. The dressing is: impetus qualisque disputationi. Hook: Standard wet fly, size 12 or 14 Sit te purto scriptorem, fugit minim et (I use Kamasan) mea. Cu nec admodum vidisse concepTyingEa silk:pri Crimson tam. modo labore, eu eum graeci Body: Bronze oblique dolor-peacock herl, 2 strands tied full Nam idque em. Hackle: Coch-y-bonddu tied as a wet-style corpora id, collar (use furnace for a substitute) rebum utamur Butt (tag):ea (Optional) Gold Tinsel periculis qui. Ei sed malorum On the body I use three strands dolores, natum of herl and a dubbing loop twisted in vidisse mel at, as described in the the same fashion wisi tota deFlyfisher, dropping to two strands on traxit ad. I have also heard that smallermel hooks. Ex nec it is quite acceptable to use furnace tamquam hackles for this fly. The At the moment, due photos have a thick-thin referrentur, borderamount of 4 points. to bird flu, we haveblack a certain of vix senserit trouble importing feathers over here. I consetetur ea,one ne ius minimwho harum have read of preacher lived in consectetuer. Id nam quis altera reprethe south of the County of Shropshire hendunt, accusata instructior in mel. who seemed to spend more time casting Mundi dolor nominavi id flies than he did castingmei out at, sin.qui Back habeo dicant minimum, graeco suscipithen he had good reason – the slump of antur in and ius. Dictas omittam ut cum, in the ’20s ’30s and World War II. His exerci ridens accusata has, id sea rebum average catch was between 40 and 60 verear.Ut maiestatis, small troutnam per maiorum outing, most of whichan agam aliquam philosophia sed. Has for ended up feeding his flock. Dressing an nibh scripta nostrud, omnis exerci his variation of this fly entailed black eam autem molestie dissentiunt rabbitei,fur for the body, and, thoughethe vix. Feugiat deseruisse in sed. Ornatus used Coch-y-bonddu for the hackle, it vocibus inciderint est no. Harum iudico fell almost midway down the shank of ad ei utroque comprehensam thesit, hook. Well, you know the old eos. sayUt nam maiorum maiestatis, ing: “If it works, don’t fix it.” an agam aliquam philosophia We thank Ni Rogers for writing to us sed. Ad pro eruditi about this pattern. For consulatu. those interested in Cu melupeius domri looking the fly as it numquam originally appeared in signiferumque no, Has 44 an in nibh the magazine, turn to page the Autumn scripta nostrud, omnis exerci eamauthor 2013 - Winter 2014 issue. We thank ei, autem molestie dissentiunt Tom Logan for doing a great job of tying an et vix. Feugiat“Coch-a-bon-ddu” deseruisse in sed. American-style featured on Ornatus vocibus inciderint est no. that page. Harum iudico ad sit, ei utroque comprehensam eos. MONTANA LIVINGSTON, Iudico causae mea et. Eos case Budget Host audiam habemus in. Ad pro eruditi consulatu. Cu in. Ius an alii deleniti. Labore gubergren te pri, ea nec Surrounded by blue-ribbon water and great inciderint hunting! est no. nemoOrnatus vocibus wireless internet re• In-room facilis coffee pertinax.• High-speed Est id iriure legimus • Pets accepted • Micro/fridge in all rooms detracto. • Grassy BBQ area • Kitchenettes available
PARKWAY MOTEL
• HBO TV • Two-room suites Bio for author. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, • Quieteripuit location Alleum ground floorqualisque. rooms ubique in vix, •an impetus Cu nec admodum conceptam. Ea pri modo labore, 1124 W. Park, Livingston, MT 59047 eu eum graeci oblique dolorem. Nam idque rebum 800-727-7217 utamur periculis ea qui.•Ei406-222-3840 sed malorum dolores, www.budgethostparkway.com natum vidisse mel at, wisi tota detraxit mel ad.
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
[13 ]
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
By Ni Rogers, U.K. IFFF Member Introduction by Gretchen & Al Beatty: We’ve been tying flies collectively for the better part of 100 years. As we learned in the correspondence from our new U.K. friend, we’ve been mispronouncing an old fly pattern for a long time. We recently learned the error of our ways from Ni Rogers in the U.K. Let’s take a look at what he has to tell us about the pattern that originated on his side of the Atlantic. Below are his comments:
Subhead - sometimes needed
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
ROWLAND WINS THE CUTTCATCH AWARD
I
FFF member Patrick Rowland from Medford, Oregon, was recently recognized for catching four species of cutthroat trout as part of the IFFF Cuttcatch Project. What is particularly impressive is Rowland accomplished the feat in just a little over a week. He started his 2013 challenge by catching a Colorado River cutthroat on LaBarge Creek Sept. 4; a Bonneville cutthroat on Hobbie Creek Sept. 5; a Snake River cutthroat on the Gray’s River Sept. 6; and a Yellowstone cutthroat on the Wood River Sept. 13. All bodies of water were in Wyoming. Rowland proved that cutthroat often “look up” for their food by catch-
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROWLAND FAMILY
Pulls off the feat in less than two weeks
ing all four species on dry flies – two on a Parachute Adams and the other two on an Orange Hopper. Rowland is one of the few people to receive the Cuttcatch Award, at least to our knowledge, who pulled off the feat in less than two weeks. We congratulate Patrick Rowland on a job well done!
This is the caption, under the photo. The photos have a thick-thin black border of 4 points.
This information was provided by Patrick Rowland, the award was certified by Rick Williams, and editor Al Beatty assembled this report.
Cuttcatch recipient Patrick Rowland displays the final fish he caught to win the award.
VOTE FOR YOUR NATIONAL BOARD! Members, cut out ballot below or visit FedFlyFishers.org
P
lease vote for your national board by mailing the ballot to: International Federation of Fly Fishers, 5237 U.S. Hwy. 89 S., Ste. 11, Livingston, MT 59047. Don’t want to cut up your magazine? Download a ballot at www. fedflyfishers.org. Votes are due by July 1, 2014.
NEW MEMBER 2014
Michael Schweit
From Northridge, California, Michael Schweit is a lifetime member of the IFFF. He has been fishing for more than 50 years and has been an avid fly fisherman for more than 30 of
those years. He became Southwest Council (SWC) president almost five years ago as a way to bring California water issues to the attention of the clubs and more people in California. He quickly realized that the SWC and the IFFF have the potential to be the congress or assembly for all things fly fishing, and they
Exercise your right – Vote! Re-election to a three-year term D LD VE HE O R H P IT AP W
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
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Re-election to a three-year term D D VE HEL O R H P IT AP W
Tilda Evans
2017
Frank Johnson
2017
Herb Kettler
2017
Mail ballot to: International Federation of Fly Fishers
5237 U.S. Hwy. 89 S., Suite. 11 Livingston, MT 59047
nn nn
have been working toward that goal. The SWC currently has active participation from 22 clubs in council events. Clubs have started working with area retailers to promote the sport through co-op advertising and greater outreach to outdoor enthusiasts. Along with an active board of directors, membership has nearly doubled in the SWC in the last five years. Schweit would be honored to serve on the board of the IFFF and looks forward to working with the other directors in moving our sport and organization forward.
Ballot for the IFFF Board of Directors. Indicate your vote by checking boxes adjacent to each nominee.
New Board Members
Term
D D VE HEL O R H P IT AP W
Kuni Masuda
2017
Mike Stewart
2017
nn
Michael Schweit 2017
Member Name ________________________________________Member #__________ Address ________________________________________________________________ City____________________________ State __________Zip______________________
SM
The photos have a thick-thin black border of 4 points.
[14 ]
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
Email __________________________________Phone ___________________________
T
he use of fly fishing guides literally around the world has been an integral element of the fly fishing experience for many anglers. Visit the IFFF website (www.fedflyfishers.org) to find IFFF Guides Association members in the form of a searchable database.
ARTICLE HEADLINE
Subhead - sometimes needed
ID
N
IO
GU
Spring Hill........................ Capt. Frank Bourgeois...........................info@alwaysfishing.com........352-666-6234 Terra Ceia........................ Ray Markham..................................... ray.markham@gmail.com........941-228-3474 SM By........................................capt-keith@saocf.com. Verne Lehmberg Winter Park...................... Keith Kalbfleisch. .......321-279-1344 Georgia LaGrange......................... Paul Hudson............................................ jobillhud@bellsouth.net. ......706-884-8541 orem ipsum dolor sit .amet, St Simons Isl..................... David Edens....................................blueridgerods@hotmail.com........912-289-1061 ubique eripuit in vix, an eum Idaho Island Park....................... Mike Lawson.................................mike@henrysforkanglers.com. .......208-558-7525 impetus qualisque disputationi. E T S A A Louisiana SSOCI Sit te purto scriptorem, fugit minim et Scan for guide directory Metairie............................ Barrett Brown.............................................captfish@bellsouth.net........504-833-1384 Maine mea. Cu nec admodum vidisse concepARGENTINA Patagonia Bethel................................ Anthony (Tony) Frangipane........... tonyandrocky@hotmail.com........207-824-4118 SSC de Bariloche, Rio Negro...Mauro Ochoa.............info@patagoniadrift.com.ar.......54-9-2944-519220 tam. Ea pri modo labore, eu eum graeci Gardiner........................... Michael May.....................................mike@wildriverangler.com........207-582-6402 CANADA Phippsburg....................... Peter Fallon........................................pfallon@mainestripers.com. .......207-522-9900 oblique dolorSt Johns............................ Clarence Button................................ cebutton@gmail.com.......709-738-1888 Maryland em. Nam idque Stoney Creek................... Rick Whorwood............................whorwood@cogeco.ca.......905-662-8999 Queenstown.................... Sean Crawford............................................sc4472@yahoo.com........410-490-5942 CENTRAL AMERICA corpora id, Massachusetts Belize................................ Julian Cabral.........................bmontgomery4@icloud.com.......011 (501) 610-1068 Byfield.............................. Steve Murphy. ..................................lawnranger2856@aol.com. .......978-462-9263 rebum utamur Michigan DENMARK periculis ea qui. Brownstown Twnsp.......... Brian Meszaros. .................captbrian@greatlakesflyfishing.com. .......734-904-3474 Ebberup............................ Omar Gade....................info@denmarkfishinglodge.com.......+45 28410290 Lake Ann.......................... Chuck Hawkins............................ chuck@hawkinsflyfishing.com........231-228-7135 Ei sed malorum GERMANY The photos have a thick-thinTraverse blackCity.................... border ofTed Kraimer............................................. ted@current-works.com........231-883-8156 Muenchen........................ Frank Mueller...............frank.mueller@pure-flyfishing.com.......4.91761E+12 dolores, natum Minnesota 4 points. Ely..................................... Jim Blauch................................info@moosetrackadventures.com. .......218-365-4106 ITALY vidisse mel at, Menahga......................... Doug Harthan................................... front20outfitters@arvig.net........218-640-3163 Binasco Mi....................... Battistella Mauro....................................info@maxipesca.it.......39 2 905 3636 wisi tota deMinnetrista....................... Troy Anderson. ..................................muskieonthefly@gmail.com. .......952-240-1022 Scheggia.......................... Mauro Barbacci........................info@maurobarbacci.com.......39 3 456 180566 Taylor Falls....................... Dan Brown........................................... traxit mel ad.danbrowntrout@msn.com........651-465-5407 NEW ZEALAND Mississippi Wanaka........................... Ian Cole................................................iancole@xtra.co.nz.......006-403-4437870 Ex nec Columbus......................... Sid Caradine.............................................captsid@cableone.net. .......662-328-5413 UNITED KINGDOM. Montana tamquam Hampshire........................ Paul Eslinger......................................... paul@eslinger.com.......44 (0) 14 8978 9962 photos.......406-842-5884 have a thick-thin Alder................................. Donna McDonald............................................... The uco@3rivers.net. referrentur, W Yellowstone................. Bob Jacklin....................................bjacklin@jacklinsflyshop.com. .......406-646-7336 UNITED STATES black border of 4 points. New Hampshire Alabama vix senserit Lisbon............................... Chris Clark..........................chris@clarksguidingadventures.com........603-838-5175 Foley................................. Jack Teague....................................finaticcharters@bellsouth.net........305-304 -3993 consetetur ea, ne ius minim .harum Madbury.......................... John McKernan. ..........................................grnleech@gmail.com. ......603-749-3080 Gadsden.......................... Frank Roden.............................................rauction@bellsouth.net........256-442-5919 New Mexico consectetuer. Id nam quis altera repreAlaska Arroyo Seco..................... Steve Morris..................................steve@cutthroatflyfishing.com........575-776-5703 Anchorage....................... Cecilia (Pudge) Kleinkauf............pudge@womensflyfishing.net........907-274-7113 hendunt, accusata instructior in mel. Santa Fe........................... Jarrett Sasser........................................flyfishwithjs@hotmail.com. .......505-988-7688 Anchorage....................... Chuck Ash.................................................... briteh2o@alaska.net........907-344-1340 Taos.................................. Dru Phillips........................................................ dru@phils-gfl.com. ......575-758-7021 Mundi dolor nominavi mei .at, qui id Kodiak.............................. Lee Robbins.......... adventure@possibilitiesunlimitedalaska.com........907-486-4093 New York Arizona habeo dicant minimum, graeco suscipiBurlington Flats................ Craig Buckbee....................................easterncaster@gmail.com........607-965-2102 Marble Canyon............... Wendy and Terry Gunn.............................tgunn@leesferry.com........800-962-9755 Lafayette........................... Mike Lane.........................................................weedrift@aol.com. antur in ius. Dictas omittam.......315-558-0888 ut cum, in Peoria............................... Jon Barrett......................................................jonbarretts@cox.net........623-875-1399 Webster............................ Scott Feltrinelli............................................. scott@ontariofly.com........585-694-9328 Arkansas exerci ridens accusata has, id sea rebum North Carolina Bentonville........................ Kenneth (Ken) Richards......................justfishinguides1@cox.net........479-531-5741 Belmont............................ Paul Rose............................................. .......704-616-6662 verear.Ut namcaptpaulrose@gmail.com. maiorum maiestatis, an Cotter................................ Denis Dunderdale.......................................dryfly@infodash.com........870-405-9568 Charlotte.......................... Bryson Stalnaker......................................... Bstalnak@gmail.com........919-889-8336 Cotter................................ John and Lori Berry....................... berrybrothers@infodash.com........870-435-2169 agam aliquam philosophia sed. Has Linville............................... Alexander Dale............................ alexander.b.dale@gmail.com........828-260-5449 California an nibh scripta nostrud, omnis exerci Ohio Carlsbad.......................... Dayle Mazzarella................................ emailmazz@yahoo.com........760-703-0117 Gambier........................... Graham Stokes.................................... .......740-501-3180 Carmel Valley.................. Joseph McCarthy............................ joewmccarthy@comcast.net........831-659-1115 eam ei, autemgrahamstokes@mac.com. molestie dissentiunt et Oklahoma Dunsmuir.......................... Charlie Costner....................................flyfishnvet@sbcglobal.net........541-601-2922 vix. Feugiat deseruisse in sed. Ornatus Broken Arrow................... Gregory Dodds. ................................... gregory@checkurfly.com. .......918-809-4629 El Segundo....................... Capt. Bill Matthews..................bmatthews56@roadrunner.com........310-924-1359 omnis.......760-376-2040 exerci eam ei, autem Oregon molestie Kernville............................ Guy Jeans........................................guy@kernriverflyfishing.com. vocibus inciderint est no. Harum iudico Grants Pass......................in Tony Brauner............................................................................ NA........541-821-6632 Lake Arrowhead.............. Lane Leonard................................................ lane1@earthlink.net. .......909-973-5177 dissentiunt et vix. Feugiat deseruisse ad sit, ei utroque comprehensam eos. Sisters............................... Dan Anthon................................................dan@dananthon.com. .......541-977-7874 Long Beach...................... Joe Libeu.....................................................jlspfa@ix.netcom.com........310-749-6771 sed. Harum sit, ei utroque Mammoth Lks................... Christopher Leonard...................................... chris@kittredge.net. .......818 288iudico -3271 ad Pennsylvania Ut nam maiorum maiestatis, Wayne.............................. Ronald Nimitz........................................... rlnsailor@comcast.net........610-209-5742 Mammoth Lks................... Eric Hein..........................................................eotish@verizon.net. .......760-937-1865eos. comprehensam By Verne Lehmberg an agam aliquam philosophia Rhode Island Mount Shasta.................. Jack Trout........................................................ info@jacktrout.com........530-926-4540 Est an saepe nonumes conNewport. .......................... Capt. Jim Barr. ...........................info@skinnywaterchartersri.com. .......401-465-8751 Mt Shasta......................... Craig Nielsen...........................................craig@shastatrout.com........530-926-5763 sed. Ad pro eruditi consulatu. orem ipsum dolor sit amet, flyfishthesurf@yahoo.com. South Carolina Oxnard............................. Lee Baermann..................................... sulatu........805-486-8226 Vidit justo cu eum. Nam Cu mel eius domri numquam Beaufort............................ Christopher Mattson.... CaptChristopherMattson@hotmail.com........843-694-7422 Rancho Palos Verdes.......eripuit Vaughn Allen. .......310-505-8147 ubique in...................................... vix, an eumthevaughnallen@aol.com. at sint.......800-669-3474 explicari gubergren, brute Ridgeland. ........................ Charlie Beadon. .......charlie@hiltonheadfishingadventures.com. .......843-592-0897 Redding............................ Michael Michalak.....................................mike@theflyshop.com. signiferumque no, Has an nibh impetus qualisque disputationi. Tennessee Redding............................ Todd Le Boeuf........................... tigertsguideservice@charter.net. ridens.......530-222-2728 ex sed. An partem blandit scripta nostrud, omnis exerci eam Bristol. . .............................. Travis Burt.......................................................tburt@chartertn.net. .......423-844-5400 SantatePaula. ..................... Gary Bulla.................................................. .......805 340-6624 Sit purto scriptorem, fugit minim etgary@garybulla.com. mandamus mel, animal debitis Texas Somes Bar........................ Doug Cole...................guestranch@marblemountainranch.com. .......530-469-3322 ei, autem molestie dissentiunt mea. Cu nec admodum vidisse conBellaire............................. Mark Marmon.....................................markmarmon@gmail.com........713-666-8868 Torrance........................... Jeffery Priest..........................................jeffpriest12@yahoo.com. .......310-539-2519 maluisset ne est, cum animal et vix. Feugiatcbroutfitters@yahoo.com. deseruisse in sed. Corpus Christi.................. Cody Roesener.................................... .......916-531-0078 Truckee............................. Heron.................................mheron@destinationhotels.com. .......518-225-6587 ceptam. Ea priMatt modo labore, eu eum legimus admodum in. No vel vidit Corpus Christi. ................. Steve Utley.............................steven@blueheronadventures.com. .......361-334-2336 Westchester..................... Al (Q) Quattrocchi....................................alq@tornadodesign.la. .......310-995-5111 Ornatus vocibus inciderint est no. graeci oblique dolorem. Nam idque ............................. Shannon Drawe....................................... fly@texasflycaster.com........940-380-0408 Colorado iracundia consequat, adDenton. sonet Harum iudico ad sit, ei utroque Gatesville......................... Joepaul Meyers................................ ironhorsejpm@hotmail.com........254-979-5512 Canon City....................... Grant Adkisson....................................... granta912@gmail.com........719-337-1177 corpora id, rebum utamur periculis ea efficiantur sit,-3077 in cum dicit fuisHondo.............................. Tom Callahan. ........................................capt-tom@sbcglobal.net. .......830-741-7151 Littleton............................. Chuck Prather...................................................ffschuck@aol.com. .......303 979 comprehensam eos. qui. EiSprings. sed............. malorum dolores, natum ........................... David Lemke.............................................dlemke@sbcglobal.net........713-839-2572 Manitou Scott Tarrant........................................scott.e.tarrant@gmail.com. .......720-314-1507 set. Est id iriure legimusHouston. detracto. Iudico causae mea et. Eos case Utah Thornton........................... Joseph tota Egry................................................... .......303-960-5998 vidisse mel at, wisi detraxit mel ad.jjegry@comcast.net. Ad pro eruditi consulatu. Ad......................... pro Circleville. Emmett Doane. ................................... emmettdoane@gmail.com. .......435-577-2168 Walden............................ Scott Graham.............................................. stgflyfish@gmail.com. .......303-981-8578 audiam habemus in. Ad pro eruditi Ex nec tamquam referrentur, vix Park eruditi City........................... Brandon Bertagnole......................... bbertagnole@hotmail.com........866-649-3337 Connecticut eruditi consulatu. Ad pro consulatu. Cu in. Ius an alii delVirginia senserit consetetur ea, ne ius minim Killingworth...................... Mark Dysinger........................................fishstalker@comcast.net. .......203-815-8412 consulatu. Bluemont.......................... Dusty Wissmath. ..................................... dwissmath@yahoo.com. .......540-554-2716 eniti. Labore gubergren te pri, ea nec Wallingford...................... William and Lynn Lanzoni Jr................... wlanzoni@yahoo.com........203-506-6600 harum consectetuer. Id nam quis altera L.E. Rhodes.........................ler@hatchmatcherguideservice.com........434-996-5506 Florida Iudico causae meaScottsville......................... et. Eos case aunemoOrnatus vocibus inciderint est no. reprehendunt, accusata instructior captrobgilbert@gmail.com. in Bradenton........................ Robert Gilbert................................... diam ........941-224-4121 habemus in. Ad Washington pro con-Kenny Thornton................................................thorntrout@tds.net. Asotin.eruditi ............................... .......509-243-4268 re facilis pertinax. Est id iriure legimus Islamorada. ...................... Rick Ruoff. ...................................................Cap32Rick@aol.com. ......305-664-2511 mel. Mundi dolor nominavi mei at, Bothell.............................. Grieve.................................chris.nffa@gmail.com........425-359-3137 sulatu........904-497-9736 Cu mel eius domri numquam James (Chris)detracto. Jacksonville...................... Capt. Rich Santos...........................................rich@flyfishjax.com. qui id habeo dicant minimum, graecolwpiper@comcast.net. Carlton............................. Rodney Griffin...................................griffsflyfishing@yahoo.com........509-929-3813 Jacksonville...................... Capt. Lawrence Piper................................ .......904-557-1027 gubergren te pri, ea nec nemoOrnatus Cle Elum........................... Dana Bailey..Bio ...............................cleelumtrouthead@yahoo.com. 630 -7581 Longwood........................ .......321-229-2848 for author. Lorem ipsum dolor .......509 sit amet, suscipiantur in Chris ius.Myers.................................info@floridafishinglessons.com. Dictas omittam ut Seattle. Ryan Smith.................................................ryan@avidangler.com........888-543-4665 vocibus inciderint est no. re.............................. facilis pertiNaples.............................. Tom Shadley....................captshadley@mangroveoutfitters.com. .......239-793-3370 ubique eripuit in vix, an eum impetus qualisque. cum, in exerci ridens accusata has, id Valleyford......................... Tom Loder.................................... info@panhandle-outfitters.com........509-922-8289 North Port........................ Steve Hall...................................................steve@flatspirate.com. .......941-232-2119 nax. Est id iriure legimus detracto. Cu nec admodum conceptam. Ea pri modo labore, Wisconsin Oak Hill. ........................... Capt. Drewnam Cavanaugh. ...................... drcfishmaster@cfl.rr.com........352-223-7897 sea rebum verear.Ut maiorum Richland Center. .............. ..................................................dbarron@wicw.net. .......608-585-2239 Punta Gorda.................... Capt. Michael Manis..........................flatscaptain@comcast.net. . ......941-628-7895 eum graeci oblique dolorem. Nam idque rebum Bio for author. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, o David Barron.eu maiestatis, an agam aliquam philoso- captflyrod@aol.com........239-472-3308 Stevens Pt......................... Daniel Boggs.utamur ............................. dan@blackwaterflyfishing.com. .......715-445-1359 Sanibel Island.................. Michael Rehr. ............................................... periculis ea qui. Ei sed malorum dolores, laboresse mel at, wisi tota detraxit mel ad. Wyoming Sarasota. .......................... Pete nibh Greenan.............................captpete@floridaflyfishing.com. .......941-232-2960 phia sed. Has an scripta nostrud, natum vidisse mel at, wisi tota detraxit mel ad. Pinedale........................... Mike Kaul..............................................mikekaul@wyoming.com. .......307-231-1169 Sarasota........................... Rick Grassett.................................................... snookfin@aol.com........941-923-7799
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ARTICLE HEADLINE
Subhead - sometimes needed
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
IFFF GUIDES ASSOCIATION
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
OBITUARIES Darwin Atkin
T
he International Federation of Fly Fishers lost one of its legends with the passing of Darwin Atkin, at the age of 76. He died peacefully in a Bozeman, Montana, hospital on January 7, 2014. Atkin was born Christmas Eve, 1937, in Porterville, California, to Carl and Myrna Atkin. He attended Porterville High School and Porterville College. While attending Porterville College, he met the love of his life, Anna Bastady. He and Anna were married July 17, 1960, and she served as his strength and inspiration for the remainder of his life. Atkin also attended and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona, California, with a Bachelor of Science degree in fruit production. He worked most of his professional career as a research associate in Citrus Management for the University of California, Riverside. He retired in 1998, and he and Anna moved to Bozeman, Montana, so he could be totally immersed in his love of fly fishing for trout. Throughout his life, Atkin received numerous awards and recognition at the local, regional and national levels. Awards presented by the International Federation of Fly Fishers include: Buz Buszek Memorial Award, 1982; Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award, 1987; Ambassador Award, 1990; Man of the Year Award (now named the Federator of the Year), 1996; and the highest award presented by the Federation, the Order of the Lapis Lazuli Award, 1998. In 2003, he was formally designated as one of the Federation’s Legends of Fly Fishing at the national Fly Fishing Show. Atkin was an innovative and extremely talented fly tier. Some of his better known patterns included sculpins, the Fraud Hopper and Fraud Cricket. One pattern in particular, his California Girl, brought him considerable notoriety. Tied on a gold hook with gold wire and silver and gold Mylar, he fashioned the fly into a pin that could be worn on a shirt or
PHOTO BY XXXXXXXXXX
For anyone who has a natural curiosity about the abundant variety of fish species in the Columbia Basin, fisheries biologist and author Dennis Dauble answers familiar questions and delves into a variety of factors related to 60-plus species in his guidebook, Fishes of the Columbia Basin. If you’re on a quest for fishes and the places they live, Fishes of the Columbia Basin is an indispensable guide.
Information provided by longtime Federator, Steve Jensen.
east of
YELLOWSTONE
Geology of Clarks Fork Valley and the Nearby Beartooth and Absaroka Mountains
Robert J. Carson
Photography by Duane Scroggins Foreword by Don Snow
East of Yellowstone invites the curious into the dramatic geologic beauty of the Clarks Fork Valley just east of the world’s first national park, as guided by geologist and professor Bob Carson. Featuring beautiful images by photographer Duane Scroggins, this book is essential to exploring the geology along roads and trails outside Yellowstone National Park.
Available at www.KeokeeBooks.com
The photos have a thick-thin black border of 4 points.
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blouse. When Atkin and I (Steve Jensen) tied at the same venue, Jensen would try to position himself as close as possible to his table. Darwin always drew large crowds of onlookers, many of whom were attractive women seeking a California Girl. Atkin loved the attention, and Anna tolerated it. Atkin was also a master at designing and framing fly plates. In 1983, he and Larry Duckwall formed a group of innovative fly tiers known as “Phrozen Phantom Phlytiers.” The group contributed flies and Atkin matted and framed them. The finished fly plates were sold as fundraisers to benefit the Federation. That group disbanded in 1990. In 1992, Atkin launched another framing project known as “The International Fly Tyers” fly plate series. Atkin was solely responsible for all phases of that project until 1995 when I became involved to assist him. In 2000, Atkin retired from the fly plate program, and I continued his concepts under a new name: the “Legends of Fly Tying” fly plate project. Between the International Fly Tyers fly plates and the Legends of Fly Tying fly plates, more than $150,000 has been raised for the benefit of the Federation. Atkin suffered a debilitating stroke in 2007, and he spent much of the remainder of his life in the Bridger Healthcare Facility in Bozeman. He is survived by his wife, Anna; a daughter, Suzanne Atkin Landeros; a granddaughter, Katie (Derek) Gauntlette; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn Bastady. At Anna’s request, a memorial life award will be established by the International Federation of Fly Fishers in Darwin Atkin’s name. Contributions to that fund may be sent to the IFFF, 5237 U.S. Highway 89 South, Suite 11, Livingston, Montana 59047-9176. Please indicate that the donation is for the Darwin Atkin Memorial Fund.
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
OBITUARIES Richard Bean
Dennis J. Black
D
ennis J. Black passed away December 4, 2013, after a tough battle with cancer. He was born December 24, 1939, and is survived by his wife, Maew, five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Black started a fly tying products company, Umpqua Feather Merchants, with his brother Bill Black in the early ’70s. The two were the first to import high-quality, professionally tied flies to meet the growing consumer market demand. In addition, Dennis Black was the first to offer a royalty to creative tiers. By so doing he and Umpqua gave fly fishermen the world over access to
some of the best quality patterns and fly designs in the fishing world. Many of the flies were tied in India by Joga Rao, while in Sri Lanka they were tied by the DeMel family and Dunstan Athula’s family. He has left a sizable imprint on the fly fishing industry as we know it today. Besides Bill, who owns Spirit River, Dennis’ two sons, Craig and Jim Black, continue the tradition with their own fly fishing-related business. Dennis Black will long be remembered as a great friend, mentor, businessman, innovator and an exceptional steelhead fly fisher. Information supplied by Bill Black.
Fredrick William Zink
A
longtime reverend, Fredrick William Zink was born February 20, 1925, in Wisconsin, and died October 24, 2013. In 1928, due to a family tragedy, he was adopted by Dr. A.A. Zink and his wife, Martha. Zink was a graduate of Wittenberg University in Ohio and, in 1949, earned his Master of Divinity at Northwest Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minnesota. He was ordained that year. He served Lutheran churches in Waterloo and Kitchener, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He also served as part-time assistant to the bishop and the territories for two years. During his life he served on many boards and committees and was a member of the first board of the Calgary Interfaith
Food Bank and a charter member of Friends of Fish Creek Park also in Calgary. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth; family members Cynthia Hastings, Ché Hastings-Zink, Ashley Wilson (Kevin, sons Connor and Jake) and Haley Hunter-Zink. His daughter Dr. Jenna Zink predeceased him in 2011. He was an ardent fly fisher and a member of the Calgary Hook and Hackle Club, Trout Unlimited and the International Federation of Fly Fishers. A memorial service was held Sunday, November 7, 2013, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. Information provided by Ruth Zink.
A
native of Hemet, California, Richard Bean was born July 13, 1941, and died of heart disease and other natural causes January 23, 2014. He was 72. Bean parlayed his lifelong love of fly fishing and the outdoors into a freelance magazine writing career with credits that included California Fly Fisher, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Fly Fisherman, Fly Fish America, and Southwest Fly Fisher, plus a number of conventional tackle magazines, including Aqua-Field Publications, Bassmaster, Bassin’ Magazine, Bass West, Angler, Game & Fish, Black Bass Journal, and California Game & Fish. He was the warmwater columnist for California Fly Fisher Magazine. While he wrote on a number of subjects including hunting – both big game and upland birds – and all kinds of fishing, he preferred fly fishing for warmwater species. In 2002, his book “Fly Fishing Southern California’s Lakes & Streams” was published by Aguabonita Books; “Fly Fishing for Bass in the West” was selfpublished in 2007. According to his widow, Barbara: “Rick (Richard) and I, Jim and Becky Matthews, Charlie Cole and quite a few other people from the old Tri City Fly Fishers started Deep Creek Fly Fishers. We were tired of not having a fishing club to meet our old friends and get new people involved in fly fishing. Rick also helped start Hi Desert Fly Fishers. He loved fly fishing over all kinds of fishing.” Prior to getting into the outdoor field, he was an automotive magazine editor who wrote about high performance hot rods, racing cars and motorcycles, plus softcover books on automotive and motorcycle tune-up and citizens band radio; he was co-author of a correspondence course on motorcycle maintenance. Bean was a longtime member of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, Hi Desert Fly Fishers and Deep Creek Fly Fishers. His passing will leave emptiness in the hearts of all who knew him. Information from Michael Schweit, Southwest Council president.
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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OBITUARIES Arthur J. Mackey
Robert E. Lay
H
e always said he would go until there was nothing left. On Sunday, March 16, 2014, Bob Lay ran out of life. Born June 25, 1943, in East Cleveland, Ohio, to Charles and Clarisa (Robertson) Lay, he grew up in Ohio until he entered the U.S. Navy in 1962. He was honorably discharged August 29, 1966 as an MM2 (E5) machinist mate.
He then entered into a 35-year career in the telecommunications industry, starting out as a cable splicer in the manholes of New York City. He retired from PTI/CenturyTel in Dolores, Colorado, in 1998, but then reentered the workforce as a superintendent with Wilde Construction Company, responsible for construction of large fiber optic projects. From 2000 until his true retirement in 2004 he was a nationwide construction project manager for Bechtel Construction and Engineering. Lay’s accomplishment that provided him the most pride was his family. In January 1964 he met his wife, Patricia “Pat” Sheridan. They were married October 28, 1967, in New York City and in 1969 moved to Colorado. Subsequently, Suzanne Janet was born January 14, 1971, and James Robert December 25, 1974. Suzanne married Thurston Elfstrom September 4, 1994. All five were together to share Bob Lay’s final moments. Lay enjoyed life to its fullest. Two principles he lived by were to tell the truth at all times and never pass up an
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
opportunity to help somebody. He was active in Kalispell’s Trinity Lodge No. 152 and Algeria Shrine Temple, as well as Helena’s Algeria Shrine Temple. As a Shriner he was involved in helping children with disabilities receive the best care possible. He also served on the Flathead County school board, where he advocated for young adults – particularly those who struggled within the traditional school system. He was a lifetime member of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, where many of his contributions centered on teaching fly tying. In 1994 he chaired the national convention held in Kalispell. In 2008 he was honored with the Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award and the Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award – the highest award the IFFF bestows to a member for excellence in fly tying teaching. Bob and Pat moved to Helena, Montana, in 2006. He then became active with Montana Project Healing Waters, Inc. He was subsequently the recipient of the highest civilian award the National Guard can issue, the Adjutant General’s Distinguished Patriot Medal, for his work with Project Healing Waters. He went on to serve as board member and board president. Lay was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Carolyn Virginia Anderson. He is survived by his brother, Richard (Carol); sister Frederica Irwin (Don); good friend and brother Carl Mucha (Jane); along with his immediate family and close friends in the Masonic and fly fishing communities throughout the nation. A memorial service and celebration will take place at one of Lay’s favorite spots along the Missouri River June 28, 2014. To receive additional details e-mail CelebrationForBob@ yahoo.com. The service is open to anyone who would like to share stories about Bob. If so inclined, contributions can be made to Flathead Shrine Club Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 762, Kalispell, Montana 59903; or Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc., P.O. Box 695, La Plata, Maryland 20646, and earmark your donation for Montana. Information from the Helena Independent Record.
A
rthur J. “Skip” Mackey Jr. died Nov. 19, 2013, at the age of 80 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after a long illness. Mackey studied engineering at Dartmouth College (because it didn’t offer training as a forest ranger, according to his longtime friend, Frank Perkins). He worked for NASA at Cape Canaveral for many years. Most famously, during the 1960s and 1970s, he served as the “Voice of NASA” for countdown broadcasts. Mackey was also a skillful recreational angler. In the 1968 national fishing contest sponsored by Field & Stream magazine, he won first place in the fly division for cobia and dolphin, and then first place in the open division for Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, spotted sea trout and barracuda. Mackey’s wife, M.E., said he requested that his ashes be scattered on the 8-A reef where he spent considerable time fishing. She also noted that her husband asked that anyone wanting to do something in his honor take a child fishing. His survivors include his daughters, Paige Mackey Murray, Jeri Alexander Hall, and Donna Alexander Rosen, as well as his stepchildren, Paul DePalma and Pamela DePalma. Information and photograph provided by M.E. Mackey.
The Case for
P
Crossover Pond Flies Story and photos by Terry and Roxanne Wilson
onds are the most abundant and only constantly expanding fishing resource on the planet. Many of these stillwater habitats are largemouth bass and bluegill factories and are often the exclusive domain of the warmwater enthusiast. On each trip pond fishers are confronted with an important question: Do they target the bass population or focus on the bluegills? Fly fishers intent on encountering tail-walking, largemouth bass use rods designed to cast 7- to 9-weight basstaper lines capable of propelling large, wind-resistant or heavy flies. Leaders designed to turn these bulky flies over typically utilize tippets testing from 8 to 20 pounds.
On the other hand the colorful and pugnacious bluegill provides an equally captivating but much different angling experience. Because even the largest bluegill has a tiny mouth, the flies used in their capture are dominated by the smaller size 10 and 12 patterns, enabling the use of much lighter rods. A 2- to 4-weight rod is often the choice of many anglers since that enhances the fighting qualities this species brings to the experience. While strong, abrasionresistant leaders are needed for larger bass flies, these smaller bluegill patterns require a much lighter 4X or 5X tippet. There is another viable and equally rewarding choice that few anglers consciously consider. It’s simply targeting whichever of the pond dwellers, large or
small, that will strike the fly. Once again, an adaptation of gear is necessary. The 8-weight rod and 1/0 flies used so successfully to entice Ol’ Bucketmouth are as ill suited to bluegill fishing as a 3-weight rod is for bass. To target both species, it’s important to understand that they occupy the same structure, often simultaneously. If flies are selected that are large enough to interest mid-sized bass yet small enough to accommodate the small-sized mouth of bluegills, then both could be targeted at the same time. Flies sized 6 to 8 presented using a 5- or 6-weight rod with 3X to 4X leaders are perfect for the job. Flies of these sizes often appeal to large bluegills and bass up to 15 inches. Big largemouth bass are not particularly interested in flies Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
[19 ]
The Wilson’s Pond Chum, shown at right, is an effective, crossover fly for both bass and bluegills. Bass up to 15 inches gobble up Wilson’s Pond Chum. Crossover flies can also help the angler focus on larger bluegills like the one shown on page 19.
of that size, as these behemoths prefer a gargantuan meal followed by several days in a comfortable lie to digest their feast before hunting again. Certainly it’s possible that the biggest bass in the pond is unable to resist that size 8 fly, but it’s a great deal more likely that a 12- to 15-inch largemouth or an 8-inch-plus bluegill would grab it. A full evening of catching bluegills and bass of those sizes with a medium-weight rod promises an exciting and satisfying experience for even the most jaded angler. Although the difference between size 6 and size 8 hooks seems slight, the actual fishing application for these two, targeted species can provide contrasting results. Fly anglers well understand that small bluegills sometimes grab the largest bass fly in the box while the pond’s biggest bass might take a size 16 dry fly. Both are extreme examples. In practical terms a size 8 fly is near the upper limit of flies used to lure bluegills but near the bottom of fly sizes
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
that appeal to bass. A size 6 fly, on the other hand, is more attractive to midsize bass while only a very large bluegill is routinely able to take it. Our fishing records support this premise that size 8 crossover flies catch more bluegills but fewer and smaller bass, while a size 6 produces fewer bluegills but more bass. Selecting flies proven to be attractive to both of these dissimilar species is often the key to success. Any fly pattern can be tied to sizes that appeal to bass and bluegills; a wide variety of them are capable of catching both. Poppers, sponge spiders and floater/divers in those sizes can attract both species on the water’s surface, but considering that both species feed beneath the surface more than 90 percent of the time, wet flies make a better choice. Woolly Buggers, streamers, frogs and crayfish flies are just some of the patterns that can be effective. Recently we discovered a pattern that has provided us more of these
exciting dual catches than any other. Because those patterns have been equally successful in catching both species, we refer to them as “crossover pond flies.” Any fly capable of capturing two or more species might qualify as a crossover fly, but presentations to bass and bluegills are so different that the moniker seems appropriate. These crossover flies are tied utilizing soft hackle to form the collar and offer enticing action that’s attractive to both species. For trout fishers, soft hackle flies are generally tied on size 14 to 16 hooks and designed to be fished in or near the surface film as emergers. The only similarity between trout soft hackles and our crossover pond flies is the use of soft hackle feathers. Our favorite pattern we call the “Pond Chum” utilizes dyed guinea fowl breast feathers tied in either chartreuse or purple. (See sidebar for the recipe). Fishing Wilson’s Pond Chum or any similar crossover fly depends
WILSON’S POND CHUM (chartreuse or purple)
Hook: Perfect Bend, down eye, 2X long, 2X heavy, size 6, 8 Thread: 70 denier (8/0) Tail: Tuft of red marabou (1/2 hook shank length) Body: Floss, chartreuse or purple Hackle: Palmered blue dun (undersized, stripped on one side)
upon the part of the water column that’s targeted. Varying speeds of the traditional “strip, pause, strip” retrieve are best suited to fishing shallow water near weeds or brush. Probing docks and deadfalls on an intermediate-sink line allows for enough depth control in these mid-depth waters and is best served by a “lift, drop, strip” retrieve to achieve an undulating fly action. Many warmwater pond bottoms are covered with slimy moss that eliminates fishing there, but if moss is not present, a sink-tip or fullsinking line enables crossover flies to be fished in contact with the bottom where long, very slow, 4- to 6-inch strips produce the best results. Often when both species occupy the same structure, one of the species feeds actively, perhaps even competitively, while the other maintains a passive feeding attitude. The species that determines the “pecking order” seems to be decided by the year class (relative size) of the species. For example, if the population is composed of 8-inch bluegills and bass of less than 12 inches, the bluegills will be served first. If the population consists of 5- and 6-inch bluegills and largemouths of 14 to 15 inches, the bass will be the initial meal takers. There are times when anglers will catch a relatively equal number of each species from the same body of water. In this instance neither is likely feeding actively but is willing to grab a morsel opportunistically. On your next visit to a warmwater pond, consciously determine which species you wish to target. If your choice is to fish for the big bluegills and medium-sized bass with a 5- or 6-weight rod and size 6 to 8 flies, give our Pond Chum a try. You will be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Rib: Small gold wire (2/3 hook shank length), counter wrapped Thorax: Peacock Herl, (1/3 hook shank length) Collar (legs): Dyed guinea fowl breast feather (strip one side), color to match the body Head: Gold bead
Terry and Roxanne Wilson of Bolivar, Missouri, are longtime Flyfisher contributors focusing on warmwater fly fishing. For more articles, tips and tricks, or to schedule them to speak at your club, visit their website at www.thebluegillpond.com or e-mail them at terrywil@windstream.net.
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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Jacklin’s October Caddis A proven pattern for late summer in the West
By Bob Jacklin
T
PHOTO BY BOB JACKLIN
Joe Hughes found the October Caddis, a caddisfly soft hackle, drove the cutthroat trout crazy.
he October Caddis (Dicosmoecus) is just one of many local names for a large, orange-body caddisfly that hatches in the fall of the year throughout the West, including the Yellowstone area. These insects hatch sporadically over a long period starting in mid-August and continuing through late October. In the past, I always carried several large, orange caddis dry flies with me when I was on the water in hopes of running into this hatch. Unfortunately, over the years, I have fished the hatch several times but had little success using those dry flies. I never thought about fishing a large, soft hackle as an emerger until last fall. At that time I was guiding an old friend, Dave Macmurray, on the upper Yellowstone River inside park. We noticed several trout in the lower section of the river rising sporadically, leaving a splashy rise form. I also noticed what appeared to be several adult October caddisflies in the air; eventually one landed on me so I could get a closer look. I did, in fact, verify the hatch was on, and the trout were taking the emerging insect. We tried fishing with an orange caddis dry fly with no takers. The fish didn’t even look at our offering.
October Caddis (Soft Hackle)
HOOK: Standard wet fly, size No. 6 to No. 10 THREAD: Burnt orange (6/0 or 70 denier) BODY: Burnt orange wool yarn STEP 1: Pinch the barb on the hook, slip the bead on the shank THORAX: Copper bead and set the hook in the vise. Slide the bead forward almost HACKLE: Partridge, wet-fly style in all the way to the hook eye and front of the copper bead apply a thread base behind the HEAD: Thread bead. Leave room in front of the bead to later add a wet-style hackle collar. PHOTOS BY BT’S PHOTOGRAPHY [22 ] Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014 RIBBING: Copper wire
STEP 2: Attach a section of copper wire and a length of burnt orange yarn to the shank behind the bead. Apply a yarn body and tie off the material behind the bead. Palmer the wire over the yarn body to form the rib. Tie it off behind the bead and trim both materials.
STEP 3: Whip-finish the thread behind the bead, trim it from the hook, select black thread and tie it on the shank in front of the bead. Trim off the waste end of the thread.
PHOTO BY BOB JACKLIN
Then I remembered a box of size 6, soft hackle flies I had with me. I tied one of them on Dave’s line and he started fishing it using a short retrieve and a little wiggling, rod-tip action. On the first cast, bingo! Macmurray hooked and landed a nice cutthroat trout that was well over 22 inches long. As the day unfolded, we caught several more large cutthroat trout using the same fly with the added rod-tip action. As the fall season progressed, I learned the fly also worked great on the upper Madison River and on the lower South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho. My friend Joe Hughes from South Plainfield, New Jersey, fished for a week with my wife, Sharyn, during this time and had great success using it. Farther north my good friend Bud Frasca from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, enjoyed success with it on his area waters. Also, visiting
STEP 4: Select a partridge feather and tie it to the hook by its tip end using several tight thread wraps. Use the edge of your scissor blades or tweezers handle to fold back the feather fibers to prepare them to form a wetstyle collar in the next step.
anglers to the area for the 2013 IFFF Fly Fishing Show found the fly to be quite productive, especially in the upper Yellowstone River in the park. Fish numbers in this upper Yellowstone River are limited in the 10-mile section from Yellowstone Lake to upper Yellowstone Falls. The low fish numbers are due, in part, to predation by an invasive fish species – mackinaw, or lake trout – illegally planted many years ago. Thanks to the efforts of the National Park Service in eradicating this invasive species, cutthroat numbers are improving. An important part of an angler’s experience, besides catching fish, is being able to enjoy a beautiful place – plus have the chance to catch a 20-inch-plus native cutthroat trout. To successfully tie the October Caddis, an important tip is to use an oversized partridge hackle tied in front
STEP 5: Wrap the hackle collar, tie if off and trim the waste end.
A simple fly, the October Caddis is quite productive during the caddisfly hatch from mid-August to October.
PHOTO BY BT’S PHOTOGRAPHY
Dave Macmurray and the author recently discovered the value this pattern brings to the fall fishing experience.
of a copper bead thorax. The bead thorax provides weight and additional support to the soft hackle fibers and gives the fly more action while in the water. I like to fish it wet-fly style with some rodtip action as it drifts down and across the current. This tip action applies a pulsating, intermittent slack in and out of the line and leader, allowing the fly to rise and fall in the water column as it swings across the current. It is easy to tie and a proven fish catcher. Be sure to have a few in your fly box when you visit the IFFF Fly Fishing Fair this summer in Livingston. The week after the show could be a perfect time to give it a thorough test drive as the hatch may be just getting its start for the season. Bob Jacklin is a longtime IFFF member who operates Jacklin’s Fly Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana.
STEP 6: Apply a thread head and a whipfinish. Trim off the thread and apply a coating of cement to complete the fly.
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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CURRY’S RED SHRIMP Tag: Flat or oval silver Tail: Golden pheasant red breast feather Rear body: Red floss or imitation seal fur ribbed with fine oval silver wire Middle hackle: White tipped badger Front body: Black floss or imitation seal fur ribbed with fine oval silver wire
Irish salmon flies that do the trick
A
Front hackle: White tipped badger Head: Red
By Mark Corps
ubiquitous question asked by anglers when planning to fish in Ireland for salmon, after deciding which river or fishery to visit is, “What flies should I use?” – the sister question to “What fly did you get it on?” They, of course, can stick with their own tried-and-tested patterns, but, time after time, visitors find themselves out-fished by those using local patterns. It has also been noted that anglers taking these Irish patterns back to their home waters have success with them. Like a good wine, Irish patterns will travel. As an angling apprentice, I was advised by my father to limit the salmon fly patterns I used to a dozen or so. My boxes now contain a hundred-plus patterns; however, I probably use the same
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
seven or eight patterns the majority of the time – resorting to others only when times are difficult. So taking my father’s advice a little late in the day, I’m offering readers of Flyfisher a dozen salmon patterns that will cover most situations the visiting angler would find themselves in throughout a typical Irish salmon season. Flies used by individual anglers vary due to taste and experience. The Silver Wilkinson Shrimp is one of my top five salmon flies; however, a good friend of mine believes it to be a complete waste of time. If quizzed, the majority of Irish salmon anglers would have most of the following flies and use them at some stage of the season. When looking at Irish salmon flies, one has to start with the Curry’s Red
Shrimp. Designed and tied by Pat Curry of Coleraine in the late 1930s, the Curry’s Red Shrimp can be seen as the birth of the modern, Irish salmon fly. Little did Curry know this fly would create a revolution in Irish salmon fishing. It has been speculated that the shrimp style produced by Curry was simply a development of earlier flies such as the Welsh Usk Grub. Whatever its evolutionary roots, the Curry’s Red Shrimp initially proved successful on the lower River Bann. Its reputation subsequently spread into County Donegal, then to the River Moy and farther on into the western part of Ireland. Over the last 70 years, this fly has become a “must have,” recognized as particularly good for fish fresh from the salt water. Since the inception of the Curry’s
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
The Dirty Dozen
Wings: Jungle cock
PHOTO BY MARK CORPS
BANN SPECIAL SHRIMP Tag: Flat or oval silver Tail: Golden pheasant red breast feather Rear body: Yellow floss or imitation seal fur ribbed with oval silver wire Middle hackle: Hot orange Front body: Black floss or imitation seal fur ribbed with oval silver wire Wings: Split or roofed jungle cock Front hackle: Badger cock
APACHE SHRIMP Red, a plethora of shrimp patterns with variations and refinements have been developed. Varying shrimps have been tied for particular rivers and fisheries, many effective away from their place of birth. From this smorgasbord of successful patterns, I have included five in the list of 12: the Faughan, Bann, Apache, Moy Green Highlander and Silver Wilkinson Shrimp. All are regular fishtakers on both river and lough (lake) throughout the season. When tying or buying Irish shrimps, it is important to remember that lightly dressed, well-proportioned flies work best. The Tara is a modern Irish fly that has taken advantage of new fly tying materials availability. With a subtle green hue to its body, this fly has proven irresistible to grilse as well as autumn fish.
In small sizes and fished as a middle dropper, similar to many other salmon flies, it is also effective for sea trout. Communication is said to be a two-way thing. Developments in fishing tactics and flies have for years leaked both ways across the Irish Sea. As such the last four flies all have a Scottish origin. Probably the best-known, modern salmon fly is the Ally’s Shrimp. Ally Gowan’s original shrimp was introduced to the angling world in 1988 through the pages of Trout & Salmon magazine. The original spawned a number of variations, the Cascade being but one. The original is good but eclipsed by the success of the Cascade. Deemed a good, highwater fly in Scotland, the Cascade is an excellent all-around, popular pattern in Ireland. Many anglers use this pattern to
Tag: Flat or oval silver Tail: Golden pheasant red breast feather Rear body: Golden yellow floss ribbed with oval silver wire Middle hackle: Golden yellow soft cock or hen Front body: Scarlet floss with oval silver wire rib Front hackle: Scarlet soft cock or hen Head: Black
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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PHOTO BY MARK CORPS
Head: Black
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
COLLIE DOG Body: Plastic or aluminum tube Hackle: Red hackle fibers tied in at the throat Wing: Long black goat hair (2- to 4-inches long) or artificial yak Wing accent: Four strands of Crystal Flash (optional) Cheeks: Jungle cock (optional)
CASCADE Tail: Mixed yellow and hot orange bucktail with strands of Crystal Hair Rear Body: Silver Mylar with oval silver wire rib Front body: Black floss with oval silver wire rib PHOTO BY MARK CORPS
Wing: Black squirrel with four strands of pearl Crystal Hair Hackle: Hot orange over yellow cock tied as a collar
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
TARA Body: Peacock UNI Mylar ribbed with medium silver oval wire Hackle: Cambridge blue Wing: Black squirrel Cheeks: Jungle cock Head: Red
Head: Black or red
DELPHI SILVER Tag: Silver tinsel Tail: Two jungle cock eye feathers back to back Body: Flat silver with an oval silver rib Middle hackle: Black cock Front hackle: Long cock hackle Head: Black PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
the exclusion of all others. The Collie Dog also has a Scottish accent. Originally for springers, or early season salmon, on rivers it has proven more versatile. It is now also used for grilse. Cast at 90 degrees to the water’s flow and stripped fast, it causes grilse to chase and, at times, throw themselves at the fly. It is also effective used as a
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
point fly on loughs and has spawned a series of variations with differing-colored wings. The Willie Gunn was designed by Dusty Miller and named after a gillie on the River Brora. Many anglers would use little else than this modern, hair-wing fly in the early season. Finally the most recent import from Scotland is
the Flamethrower. A highly successful, modern fly designed by Duncan Egan, it can be tied in a number of colors with red seen effective for grilse as well as autumn or resident fish. The style of fly has to be varied to match the angling conditions, be they tied on hooks, on tubes or with cone heads. On rivers most anglers would
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
Tag: Flat or oval silver Tail: Golden pheasant red breast feather
FAUGHAN SHRIMP
Rear body: Flat silver tinsel ribbed with fine oval silver wire
Tag: Oval gold tinsel
Middle hackle: Magenta
Tail: Golden pheasant red breast feather Rear body: Orange floss or imitation seal fur ribbed with oval gold wire
Front body: Flat silver tinsel ribbed with fine oval silver wire
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
SILVER WILKINSON SHRIMP
Wings: Jungle cock, roofed
Middle hackle: Burnt orange
Front Hackle: Medium blue cock
Front body: Dark claret floss ribbed with oval gold wire
Head: Black
Wings: Jungle cock Front hackle: Claret Head: Black
RED FLAMETHROWER Rear body: Silver holographic with oval silver rib Middle hackle: Red Wing: Red bucktail plus pearl Crystal Flash Front body: Black floss with oval silver rib Front hackle (rear): Red Front hackle: Yellow Cheeks: Jungle cock Head: Red PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
MOY HIGHLANDER GREEN SHRIMP Tag: Silver oval Tail: Yellow golden pheasant breast Rear body: Yellow floss with oval silver rib Middle hackle: Orange Front body: Highlander green imitation seal fur with an oval silver rib Front hackle: Highlander green Cheeks: Jungle cock
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
use a single fly as large as size 6 early in the season, then reduce it in size to a No. 14 as the summer progresses. On the loughs, salmon flies are usually used as the point fly on a team of three patterns (three-fly cast). Though Irish salmon runs can be prolific, nothing can guarantee success. However, to me having the right fly on
the dangerous end of the rod is a good starting point, and when asked, “What fly did you catch it on?” the mention of one of the above flies carries no surprises at all! Irishman Mark. H.V. Corps from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, works for Inland Fisheries Ireland as an angling adviser. This means he gets to fish at work as well as during his time off, and he takes full advantage of this opportunity.
WILLIE GUNN VARIANT Body: Black floss with oval gold tinsel rib Under wing: Three strands of pearl Crystal Flash Wing: Yellow bucktail under orange bucktail, under black bucktail
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
PHOTO COURTESY OF TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
Head: Black
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Pale Morning Duns Anticipating Summer and
Love Those Little Yellow Mayflies!
By Matt Wilhelm
Fly fishers and trout dearly love this little yellow mayfly
By Matt Wilhelm
I
t was another cold and windy Livingston winter, but the snow I skied upon and endlessly shoveled is melting and nourishing the depleted rivers and creeks, making them ready again for summer fishing. For a fly fisher like me, winter is like a guest who stays a few days too long, even though I do love winter in Montana. It’s great fun to ski, snowshoe, explore Yellowstone Park sans crowds, and maybe, unfortunately, gain a little unwanted weight. It’s a time to tie flies, build rods, fix the boat, patch the raft and dream of days that stay light until 10 p.m. As I prayed for winter’s exodus, I lost myself in thoughts of summer and being knee-deep in a cool river casting a fly. Rivers swollen with snowmelt eventually recede. Hatches of large stoneflies wane and ultimately end, and pale morning duns (PMDs) become a staple trout food. They’re abundant and available to trout in all forms outside of the egg stage. They are easily identifiable and available for a good part of the summer. Depending on geography, PMDs can arrive as early as late May and last well into August. Above all, careful observation is paramount when PMDs are concerned. Flat Creek PMDs are different from those on the Firehole, the Green, the Frying Pan, or to those rivers in the east and Midwest where they are often called sulphurs. PMDs vary in color and size depending on the river, fish predation and the time of the summer in which they emerge. The adults tend to get smaller and lighter yellow in color as the
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
summer goes on. The belly of the PMD is the key. By matching the color on the belly and the size of the insect you will be way ahead of the game. Belly colors include light yellowish olive, to pastel orange, to olive green, to pink. Don’t be fooled by the name pale morning dun. They can hatch in the morning, afternoon or evening. On hot days they tend to hatch earlier in the morning while cool, rainy weather can push the hatch to well after lunch. They are abundant and provide excellent feeding opportunities for trout at all stages of their life cycle. PMD hatches can often be complex with hatches of different subspecies overlapping; a spinner fall can happen during an emergence; or hatches of different subspecies can follow each other. Fish can be very selective during these complex times with some feeding on floating nymphs, some on emergers and cripples, some on duns, and perhaps some on spinners if it all happens at once. Trout feed on nymphs all day. Feeding activity on nymphs increases dramatically an hour or so before the hatch when the nymphs are most active. PMD nymphs make what some call “practice runs” toward the surface. This practice run is probably caused by the buoyancy the mature nymph experiences just prior to emergence. Gases build under the exoskeleton that aid in carrying the nymph upward. The nymphs often will resist this buoyancy and dart downward for the safety of the bottom. This can exhaust the nymphs, leaving them with not enough energy to break through the surface film, the last act of
PMD IMAGE BY VERNE LEHMBERG, BROWN TROUT BY MATT WILHELM
their emergence. Due to this behavior and their wobbly and almost sluggish swimming technique, PMD nymphs are available in great numbers within the water column. The combination of buoyancy, the awkward swimming technique, and swift water can lead to some amazing nymph fishing. One of my favorite flies is a Pheasant Tail Nymph tied on a size 16 hook that has a black foam wing case. The foam will aid in suspending the nymph in the water column or just under the surface. I will also substitute a ball of dubbing in place of the black foam, then dress it with floatant so that it rides near the surface and imitates an exhausted nymph trapped by the surface film. On swift-moving rivers, such as the Yellowstone or Gallatin, a Bead Head Pheasant Tail works well. I also like a Sawyer Nymph tied a little on the robust side to use on the slower waters, impoundments, spring creeks, Missouri River and the Henry’s Fork River where the fish are a little pickier or get a longer and better look at the fly. Many anglers forget the importance of presentation when it comes to nymph fishing. A nymph can drag while under the water, just as a dry fly can drag on top. A strike indicator attached to the leader at the correct depth for the particular fishing situation helps. Not only can subtle strikes be detected, indicators show how the nymph is drifting below the water’s surface. In this light they could also be called a drift indicator if a person were so inclined. The angler may improve their success by using a loose knot like a Duncan Loop. This allows
your nymph to move freely in the water, creating a more realistic, lifelike appearance. Trout will concentrate on both duns and emerging duns during a hatch. Emergence tends to be heaviest in slower riffles, run outs and pools. The emerger does not have the typical, yellowish-orange body you might think. The abdomen is darker and the thorax is yellowish. My favorite PMD emerger is tied on a size 16 emerger hook with a sparse Antron trailing shuck, pheasant tail palmered with copper wire for the abdomen, pale yellow dubbing for the thorax, and a light gray or white hackle tied parachute style around an Antron post. I use Antron because it gets tangled in the trout’s teeth easier, leading to a higher success rate in hooking fish. A floating nymph, soft hackle PMD emerger, or a stuck-in-the-shuck type of emerger can work well here too. It is important to match your PMD dun pattern to the character of the river you are fishing. Slow, glassy waters require a no-hackle or parachute-tied pattern. Choppy, fast waters call for a more heavily hackled, high-riding pattern. Many PMD duns that hatch on hot days exhibit something resembling heat stroke in that they expire on top of the water while shedding their exoskeleton. This is why a Sparkle Dun pattern works so well. On hot days duns tend to appear earlier in the morning and then again later in the day. If you live in the West and encounter a rainy or cool/cloudy day in July, call in sick, take a vacation day or quit your job. Those precious days can be fantastic for fishing a PMD Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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PHOTO BY BT’S PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT WILHELM
Pale morning duns appear in all types of water, but the author prefers the relaxed pace a small stream brings to the equation.
WILHELM’S SELECTION By Al Beatty
The author uses a wide range of PMD patterns, but his go-to flies are listed below and photographed above: top from left, Stub Tail Yellow Sally, Hi-Viz Ant, PMD Spinner; middle, PMD Parachute, PMD Sparkle Dun, PMD Soft Hackle; bottom, Foam Pheasant Tail Nymph, Sawyer’s Pheasant Tail Nymph. These patterns should be in any angler’s fly box for pursuing trout when PMDs are on the water.
STUB TAIL YELLOW SALLY
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Thread: Florescent yellow floss Tag: Florescent yellow floss Tail: Trimmed elk hair Body: Elk hair Rib: Tying thread Wing: Elk hair Head: Folded elk hair
HI-VIZ ANT
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Thread: Black Body: Folded black foam Hackle: Black Hi-Viz Post: Bright pink egg yarn Head: Folded black foam
PMD SPINNER
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Thread: Florescent yellow floss Tail: Pheasant tail fibers Rib: Fine copper wire Body: Florescent yellow floss Wings: Ginger hackle, wrapped & divided Thorax: Hare’s ear dubbing Head: Florescent yellow thread (6/0 or 70 denier)
PMD PARACHUTE
PMD SPARKLE DUN
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Thread: Yellow (6/0 or 70 denier) Tail: Antron fibers Body: Goose biot, wrapped Wing: Elk hair Thorax: Hare’s ear dubbing Head: Thread
PMD SOFT HACKLE
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Thread: Black (6/0 or 70 denier) Tail: Pheasant tail fibers Rib: Fine copper wire Body: Pheasant tail fibers, wrapped Thorax: Hare’s ear dubbing Hackle: Grouse, wet-style collar Head: Thread
FOAM PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Thread: Black (6/0 or 70 denier) Tail: Pheasant tail fibers Rib: Fine copper wire Body: Pheasant tail fibers, wrapped Wing case: Black foam strip, folded over the thorax Thorax: Peacock herl, wrapped Head: Thread
SAWYER’S PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH
Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Hook: Dry fly, size 12 to 18 Tying wire: Fine copper wire Thread: Tan (6/0 or 70 denier) Tail: Pheasant tail fibers Tail: Antron fibers Rib: Fine copper wire Wing Post: Antron fibers Body: Pheasant tail fibers, wrapped Rib: Fine copper wire Body: Pheasant tail fibers, wrapped Wing case: Pheasant tail fibers Thorax: Fine copper wire, wrapped Hackle: Ginger, parachute style Head: Tying wire Head: Thread [30 ] Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
hatch. Duns float on the water for prolonged periods, lengthening the hatch and the surface-feeding behavior of the trout. Parachute-style mayflies tied with Antron posts and Sparkle Duns are my flies of choice. PMD spinner falls can be significant. Fishing a size 16 spinner in choppy water can be a challenge to the naked eye. In order to better see my fly, I often put them on a dropper off the back of a larger, more visible insect imitation that is hatching at the same time and fish them in tandem. I like to use a Little Yellow Sally or a Hi-Viz Ant for this occasion. I also try to get as close to the trout as possible so I can use a shorter cast. Trout occupied in a feeding frenzy are sometimes less sensitive to your presence if you quietly sneak up to them. A Rusty Spinner and a Pale Yellow Spinner are my go-to flies in this case. Spinner falls usually happen midto late morning or late in the evening. I have seen rivers come alive with feeding fish gently sipping PMD spinners just before dark. For reasons unknown, spinners like to deposit their eggs in faster water. Set up shop where riffles slow and slightly deepen into a pool and look carefully for gently feeding fish. Good presentation and stealth are as important as selecting the correct fly. Clumsy wading, shadows on the water, lining a fish, drag, brightly colored clothing or picking up your line before it has drifted well past the fish will thwart most attempts with the perfect fly pattern. If the situation allows, I prefer to present flies across and down to a feeding fish using a downstream, dead-drift approach. A reach cast placed well above a feeding trout with the appropriate mends will allow the fish to see the fly first and not be spooked by the leader or line. Be aware of your shadow on bright, sunny days. Keep in mind that the rod and line also cast a shadow. If a shadow is perceived to be an issue, regarding the false cast, then complete it at an angle away from the fish rather than over it; then change directions to present the fly on the last forward cast. That process sounds tricky but, in fact, is fairly easy if your cast is less than 40 feet in length. Summer seemed distant when we were buried in the dregs of winter. The short, cold days felt never-ending, but the days are lengthening, the shadows have grown shorter, snow is melting and summer is coming again – along with those little yellow mayflies that we fly fishers and trout love so dearly. Think summer, it’s almost here! Matt Wilhelm lives in Livingston, Montana, where he is the owner of Yellowstone Fly Fishing School (www.yellowstoneflyfishingschool.com) and the education director for the Invasive Species Action Network. He develops programs on invasive species, fly fishing and aquatic education for public schools statewide, reaching nearly 10,000 students annually.
By Verne Lehmberg
F
Pheasant Tail Nymph Frank Sawyer Style
Dr. Barr Emerger Dr. John Barr Style
Bison Fur CDC Emerger Verne Lehmberg
lies to imitate pale morning duns run from very general patterns that mimic more than one insect species to those designed to look like an exact life stage of the PMD. They are tied in the size and color to match insects on a particular stream.. Generalist nymphs such as the Hare’s Ear and the Pheasant Tail have their origin in England. Hare mask fibers have made good buggy bodies for nymphs since the early days of fly tying, and are still used for many modern dry flies and nymphs. The Frank Sawyer Pheasant Tail Nymph tied originally as a Baetis nymph for the Avon River, is the most popular PMD nymph today. See Sawyer’s book, “Nymphs and the Trout,” for this English river keeper’s designs. The Pheasant Tail Nymph tied without copper wire makes a good floating nymph imitation, ready to emerge. The Doctor Barr Emerger, Rene Harrop’s CDC Emerger and Bison Fur Emerger all have the two-tone body that imitates the transition from nymph to dun at the water’s surface as the yellow PMD dun is halfway out of its brown nymphal exoskeleton, or shuck. The tails on these represent the trailing shucks. The Rene Harrop’s Last Chance Cripple represents a PMD floating on the surface that cannot emerge from its exoskeleton, so it is very vulnerable to predation. Of the hundreds of PMD dun patterns, the No Hackle and the Quigley Sparkle Stacker stand out as having a great body and wing silhouette. The Sparkle Stacker is made by parachuting the hackle around a monofilament stacking loop and then pulling the loop over the thorax, creating a hackle-fiber wing hackle on top of the thorax. This can be fished as either a dun or a cripple. PMD spinners vary from rusty red to darker yellow and should have a good wing silhouette on the water. Mayfly color varies from stream to stream, so a visit to a local fly shop, including those in Livingston before the 2014 fair, will help match color and catch the selective area trout. Verne Lehmberg from Dayton, Texas, is a longtime Federation member and Flyfisher contributor. See more of his excellent photography on the cover and in “Fly Box,” page 39.
CDC Paraspinner Rene Harrop
PMD CDC Emerger Rene Harrop Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler Livingston, Montana Sparkle Stacker Bob Quigley Style Sweetwater Fly Shop Livingston, Montana
No Hackle Rene Harrop
Porcupine Quill PMD Myles TenBroek Fairbanks, Alaska
Last Chance Cripple Rene Harrop Loop Wing Biot Spinner Verne Lehmberg
PMD Spinner Shane Stalcup Style
Flyfisher Autumn 2011 - Winter 2012
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C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
Focus on the Fly
C o n s e r v i n g , R e s t o r i n g , E d u c a t i n g T h r o u g h F l y F i s h i n g sm
Biology on the Fly THE LIFE CYCLE AND HABITS OF PALE MORNING DUNS Story and photos by Verne Lehmberg
O
ne of the most important mayflies for Western stream fishers is the pale morning dun, Ephemerella dorothea infrequens, formerly known as Ephemerella infrequens. It, along with Ephemerella excrucians, a smaller look-alike that hatches later in the year, are simply abbreviated PMDs. Although Ernest Schweibert characterized this name lumping as “careless streamside vernacular,” the practice is widespread in the fishing community. Schweibert proposed giving E. excrucians the common name “pale morning olive,” but that idea has not caught on. The same species may be a big, yellow mayfly in the far West and a smaller sulfur-colored insect in Rocky Mountain streams. Hatches of both PMD species are greatest in cold, Western, limestone spring creeks and Western alkaline rivers. In the East, the pale evening dun, Ephemerella dorothea dorothea, is a very similar small sulfur-colored mayfly distributed from Midwestern to Eastern states; a hatch much anticipated by Eastern anglers. PMDs are endemic in Western rivers located around IFFF headquarters in Livingston, Montana. Flyfishers find prolific PMD hatches on local spring creeks from mid-June to mid-July. Hatches begin to taper off in August, but still should be fairly good when the International Fly Fishing Fair is held August 4-9. A good bet then may be the Boulder River near Livingston, since late snowmelt sometimes delays its PMD hatch until August. Western streams such as the Missouri River below Holter Dam and Henry’s Fork of the Snake River are fed by
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water from reservoirs, so the water temperature is more stable than free-flowing river temperatures. Those tailwater rivers are very similar to big spring creeks, both of which have fairly predicable PMD hatches. Variable snowmelt and subsequent water flows from year to year make predicting the best PMD hatches difficult on free-flowing western rivers. The Yellowstone River should have PMD Ephemerella infrequens hatches peaking in late June and early July, often extending into August, but they depend on the spring runoff. E. excrucians hatch until fall begins to color the trees but in smaller numbers. As with other mayflies, PMDs’ life cycle consists of four stages: egg, nymph, dun (sub-adult), and spinner or adult. As is true for many species, the fertilized egg – the first stage of the life cycle – is tough. Mayfly nymphs cannot withstand extreme temperatures, but their eggs can. Some mayfly species’ eggs are dormant during hot summer months, requiring a cold period to hatch. Other species have dormant periods up to seven months long, extending over the winter with no nymphs in the stream until spring. Unlike Baetis mayflies that may have multiple generations in a year, the PMDs are asynchronous, with one generation hatching over an extended period. After the eggs hatch, the small nymphs grow until winter slows their development. Warmer spring water accelerates the nymph growth. Spring creeks and stable rivers below reservoirs allow growth even during winter. The PMD nymphs molt about 20 times during the year it takes to reach maturity.
The PMD nymph color can vary from dark to lighter olive brown. Below, PMD spinners have clear wings. The male may be olive brown to rust color.
these flat fanlike gills. The gills absorb oxygen, water and dissolved salts. Mayfly species in slower or warmer water have evolved larger gills, as the dissolved oxygen in those streams is lower. Biologists use invertebrates, including the Ephemerella species, to assess stream quality. Since the mayflies have stringent water quality requirements, their presence indicates high quality water. Depending upon species, they need a pH between 6.5 and 8, and above 5 to 7 parts of oxygen per million parts of water. This number varies with location as well; Ephemerella in warmer Utah waters can take lower dissolved oxygen levels than the same species in Montana.
Mayflies are most sensitive to low pH; in areas with acid rain, they are often the first invertebrates to die. The greatest PMD hatches usually occur in the late morning. The largest hatches are when water temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Well-known guide and IFFF member Mike Lawson reports that on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake, the PMD hatch is usually most abundant in July but also good in June and August, usually starting at 11 a.m. Fly fishers should consult online hatch charts for their destination river and visit area shops for updates. PMD nymphs swim with an undulating motion. When they reach maturity they drift upward as they Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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The PMD nymphs are crawlers. They inhabit slow- to medium-flow rate streams where they hide between the cobbles and gravel, grazing the algae-coated rocks like cows in a pasture. They also hide in the waterweeds rooted in slower river stretches, and feed on organic detritus that drifts to the bottom. Their color varies from olive brown to reddish brown in various shades from light to dark. Those ready to emerge have a much darker wing case, almost black. E. dorothea infrequens, about 8 millimeters long, is usually darker than the smaller 6 mm long E. excrucians. Many mayfly species that hatch later in the season are smaller. For PMDs, the adults match size 14 hooks early in the season and by later in the year may be as small as size 18. Cornell University entomologists studying Colorado Baetis species propose a reason for this change in size as the summer hatching season progresses. In risky environments where trout predation is greatest, nymph development is accelerated, resulting in smaller individuals. In streams with no or low predator fish density, the larvae take longer to mature, resulting in larger adults. Trout select larger prey, so the larger mayfly nymphs are at a disadvantage. It is a tradeoff for the mayflies. Since larger male and female adult mayflies have greater fecundity (greater number of young), if predators are not around they have less risk and can take longer to grow larger. If predators are more active as they are after spring runoff with clearing water and warmer temperatures, and are taking the larger nymphs, then the nymphs accelerate their maturation and emerge smaller in size. For mayflies in trout-infested streams, it is better to mature small and mate, although with lower fecundity, than be eaten. How do the mayflies know when to switch to the rapid maturation option? Chemicals emitted by actively feeding trout stimulate them to pick-up-the-pace as they progress to adulthood. PMD nymphs have gill pairs on each abdominal section. Mayflies generate ventilation currents by beating
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Biology on the Fly
Trout prefer crippled duns during the hatch.
This male PMD dun shows the hind wing with distinctive rounded costal angulation and long front legs used to grasp the female during mating.
Dun PMDs have bluegray wings and the female has smaller eyes than the male.
float downstream. Their gut empties and their midgut fills with air before the nymphs finally reach the water’s surface. Both trout and nymph fishing anglers exploit this nymphal drift. PMDs prefer to emerge in slower stream sections. When the nymphs near or are at the surface, their exoskeleton begins to split, their wings begin to bulge out, and the duns (subadults) emerge. The PMDs pump up their yellow wing veins until they unfurl into light blue-gray sails. The dun’s body may vary in color from shades of yellow to pinkish orange. Floating nymphs are extremely attractive to large trout. Emerging nymphs are sitting ducks, and the trout know it. They often ignore duns when floating nymphs are plentiful. Imitating floating nymphs and the cripples (duns that cannot free themselves of their exoskeleton) are often the most productive ways to fish. The duns float on the surface and dry their wings before flying to streamside weeds and trees. On sunny, dry days they leave the water quickly, but in colder weather this process may take longer and provide the trout with a greater opportunity to pluck them from the surface. The PMDs will evade a rising trout if it can, but these clumsy flights are for only a short distance if the wings are not completely rigid. As soon as the wings dry, they fly to the streamside vegetation to rest a day or two and await sexual maturity. In typical mayfly fashion, their sole ephemeral adult existence is to develop into sexually mature spinners. The adult’s job is only to reproduce. The Greek ephemeros means “lasting but a day.” They do not feed as adults, and don’t even have a digestive system. Tourists will often swat mayflies that land on them in fear of being bitten, but never fear: they have no mouth. Perhaps the Federation could put up some signs along streams: “Harmless adult mayflies just trying to get laid.” Mayflies are the only group of insects that molt once again after their wings develop. Following molting from the dun to spinner (subimago to imago), the males form mating
swarms, flying up and down in rolling waves, frantic to attract females. How a female picks a particular male is not known. Males have two penises and the females have two gonophores or general pores. Mating occurs in the air, with the male usually underneath. The male deposits his sperm, and will stay with the female for a significant time to assure no other male mates with her. The female sometimes flies to the streamside grasses as she rests and readies her eggs for deposition. She usually flies upstream to lay eggs. Consider what would happen if all the females did not fly upstream? The female PMD then hovers above the water and deposits her eggs. E. excrucians lays about 2,000 or 0.2 millimeter oval eggs, a few at a time, or dips her abdomen into the water, and the water’s surface tension helps pull them from her body. The eggs sink to the rocky stream bottom or to submerged vegetation. Mayfly eggs have a variety of attachment methods depending on species. Many species of Ephemeroptera have adhesive knobs on the surface of the chorion (egg membrane) that attach to the gravel and weeds. Some like E. invaria, an eastern sulfur, have long strands that entangle waterweeds to keep the egg
suspended in oxygen-rich water, away from the fine silt that would suffocate them. E. excrucians has none of these filaments but a highly sculptured chorion that adheres to rocks. The spent PMD mayfly female usually falls to the water after laying eggs, and this “spent spinner fall” will bring up feeding trout. The male spinners can live longer and may be part of the mating swarm the next day. On many streams such as Henry’s Fork there is usually a spinner fall in the early morning, followed by a PMD hatch in late morning, and a spent female spinner fall in the evening. Many PMD males don’t make it back to the water, but the ones that do produce a sparse spinner fall the next morning.
Flies to imitate PMDs PMD spinner, dun and nymph patterns have proliferated, with literally thousands of them invented, improved, redesigned and published in fishing literature. The majority of fish feed on nymphs underwater. Guide Tom Travis of Livingston has measured trout stomach content for many years. He finds that trout take 90 percent of their food underwater, including nymphs, scuds and fish. It would make
sense to have a variety of nymphs and scud patterns on hand and learn to fish them properly. Everyone has their favorite PMD nymph patterns, mine being the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and the Pheasant Tail Nymph – flies not originally tied for PMDs but do the job anyway. Not being a patient or very good nymph fisher myself, I would much rather wait until the fish start feeding on emergers and use a floating nymph or emerger pattern. My own epiphany about emergers came when I was fishing the Missouri River in a float tube. The trout were rising. I was casting a PMD dun imitation with only fair results. In a slow section of the river, I put my feet down on the bottom to anchor myself, quit casting, and just watched the insects emerge as they drifted past and the fish that were rising close to me. Since my eyes were only 2 feet from the water, I could easily see the emerging insects. I noted that as the PMDs split their exoskeletons and began to emerge, the color pattern was a distinctive, yellow front half and an olivebrown back half with gray wings unfurling from a wadded ball on the thorax. The trout were selecting these. Back at camp, I tied up an emerger with brown bison underfur Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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PMD male’s distinctive large eyes make them easy to differentiate from the females.
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Biology on the Fly A rainbow cutthroat hybrid caught on the CDC Bison Fur Emerger. Right, the author’s wife takes advantage of a spinner fall. Below right, spinner wings on the water’s surface cast a rounded shadow.
representing the insect half still in the exoskeleton. Yellow dubbing on the front half of the hook looks like the insect poking out of the exoskeleton. A little CDC between the two colors is the budding wings. The trailing shuck is a few strands of Antron. The springy, winter under fur that bison shed seemed the right color for the exoskeleton. Also, the fur was free, plucked from tree bark where shedding bison rubbed it off. The next day this fly worked so well that I thought I had invented the ultimate emerger. The following week when visiting a Livingston fly shop, pride over my innovation was popped when I saw in the fly bins the already-invented Dr. Barr’s brown-and-yellow floating nymph. The current version of that Bison Fur CDC Emerger is still my most successful PMD pattern. It appears in “Focus on the Fly” on page 31, along with the Dr. Barr Emerger and the Rene Harrop Emerger. All imitate the brown-and-yellow PMD halfway out of its shuck, with part of the empty shuck trailing. For crippled mayflies, the Harrop Last Chance Cripple or Craig Matthew’s PMD Cripple are my favorites. The No-Hackles, Comparaduns and the Quigley Sparkle Stacker from Sweetwater Fly Shop in Livingston are
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good dun imitations. Blue Ribbon Flies’ PMD Improved Sparkle Dun is another great emerging dun. My spinner story is one of trial and error on Silver Creek in Idaho. Years ago after fishing the Yellowstone River in the park and successfully catching cutthroat until it was ridiculous to continue, my wife and I went to Silver Creek for the first time and were introduced to trout much smarter than ourselves. On the upper, faster water, we caught a few trout during the hatch, but when testing the slow, lower water during the spinner fall, our luck failed. We were in our float tubes. An oxbow of the creek held some big fish with a minimal current flowing through it. My favorite spinner that worked so well on most Montana rivers was disdained by those astute browns. They would rise up, inspect my fly and slowly sink back until a real one floated by. Again, careful observation paid a dividend. The water was so still, clear and shallow, I could see the shadow of my floating spinner on the bottom and compared it to the real thing. My spinner’s wing outline was all wrong. Back at my vehicle where my fly tying kit was, I tied up a series of flies using Spinnerglass to make rounded wings. My wife was the test pilot for these. I would tie one up, put it in a 35mm
film canister with a little rock for weight, and toss it to her where she was floating in her tube. We repeated this process until the pattern I tied was finally good enough to catch those educated browns. Soon after, I joined her for a successful afternoon fooling those big, educated browns. That Loop Wing Biot Spinner pattern is also shown on the Focus on the Fly page. It is tied with two tail fibers like a Callibaetis, while PMDs should have three shorter ones. I guess those educated fish can’t count. Additional reading:
Caucci, Al and Bob Nastasi. 2004. “Hatches II.” Guilford Conn., The Lyons Press. Edmunds, George F. Jr, Steven L. Jensen and Leis Berner. 1976. “The Mayflies of North and Central America”: St Paul, North Central Publishing Company. Hafele, Rick and David Hughes. 2004. “Western Mayfly Hatches”: Portland, Oregon, Frank Amato. Peckarski, Barbara, et al. 2001. “Variation in Mayfly Size at Metamorphosis as a Developmental Response to Risk of Predation.” Ecology 82(3): pp.740-757. Schwiebert, Ernest G. 2007. “Nymphs Volume I: The Mayflies: The Major Species.” Guilford, Conn., The Lyons Press. Verne Lehmberg from Dayton, Texas, is a longtime Federation member, excellent photographer and writer. He is the Flyfisher team’s “Biology on the Fly” columnist. Give him your feedback at vernelehmberg@yahoo.com.
SPRING CREEK PMD EMERGER
MATERIALS KG’s Spring Creek PMD Emerger HOOK: DaiRiki 125, sizes 16-14 THREAD: UNI-Thread, 8/0, Cahill Yellow TAIL/SHUCK: AZ Simi Seal dubbing, Yukon Orange with 4 pheasant-tail fibers RIB: A 4-inch length of rust-colored 6/0 tying thread ABDOMEN: Cahill yellow thread wrapped abdomen with pheasant-tail barbs pulled over the top and ribbed with rust-colored thread WING CASE/WING: 2 medium-dun CDC puffs THORAX: PMD Superfine dubbing LEGS: 1 PMD-dyed CDC puff
By Kelly G. Glissmeyer
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everal years ago while fishing a favorite spring creek, I was baffled by the pale morning dun (PMD) emergence and the lackluster response to the surface flies I presented to those finicky brown trout. I was regularly catching fish subsurface but longed for better results when fishing to them on top. After careful observation and some experimentation at the vise, I developed the KG’s Spring Creek PMD emerger, and it has consistently fooled trout in one of fly fishing’s toughest settings – spring creeks. PMD mayflies are a consistent and fairly large staple for summertime fly fishers that really get the fish looking to the surface on a daily basis. You can count on strong, daily emergences of these prolific insects from June through September on most Western trout streams. However, as the season wanes, so does the size of the PMDs; what started as a strong size 14 will dwindle down to size 16 and 18 duns. One of the best times for fly anglers to fool fish with their offering is during the time of pre-emergence up to the point when the duns begin appearing at the surface. While trout take nymphs readily throughout the day, a well-presented emerger/nymph-dropper combo is deadly during this pre-emergence time. My preference is to use a visible emerger pattern such as Schollmeyer’s Parasol Emerger or the Parachute Adams trailed by an unweighted, flashback pheasant-tail nymph. As the hatch progresses, I will change to trailing an emerger or cripple pattern in the surface film such as a KG’s Spring Creek PMD Emerger or Mike Lawson’s Cripple Dun. When fishing a dry/dropper combo, I most often trail my dropper nymph on an 18-inch length of 5X fluorocarbon tippet. On the other hand, when presenting an emerger, cripple or spinner pattern in the surface film, I prefer a 30-inch 5X tippet. My emerger is also effective during PMD hatches throughout the Greater Yellowstone area on many of the West’s famed rivers, such as the Madison and Henry’s Fork. This fly has proven itself time and again on selective trout and has earned a trusted place in my fly box; tie some up and discover for yourself how well it works. Kelly Glissmeyer and his wife, Cathy, reside in Rigby, Idaho, where they participate in all things fly fishing. He can be contacted at kggliss@hotmail.com.
1
Step
Attach your tying thread behind the hook eye and wrap back to just past the bend. Tie in the AZ Simi Seal dubbing as a shuck, trim it at an angle, and then top it with 4 pheasant-tail fibers to finish the tail. Tie on a 4-inch length of rust thread to later use as a rib, and then attach 8 more pheasant-tail fibers to form the top part of the abdomen in the next step. Build up a thin abdomen with tying thread covering all materials, evenly stopping about one-fourth of the hook length back from the eye.
2
Step
Pull the pheasant-tail barbs over the top of the abdomen and secure with tying thread about two-thirds up the hook shank. Now rib the abdomen with evenly spaced thread wraps of the rust-colored 6/0 tying thread. Trim any waste materials.
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At the Vise
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At the Vise Continued from previous page
3
Step
Select matching medium dun CDC puffs and tie them in by the stems with the tips sweeping back over the fly.
4
6
Step
Trim the waste remaining from the legs, then pull the CDC wing case over the top of the thorax and legs and bind it down with thread. Pull the wing back over the thorax and build up a thread head in front of these fibers. Whip finish and trim to complete the fly. Use head cement if you wish.
Step
FLY TIPS Easy Parachutes Article and photos by Kelly G. Glissmeyer arachute patterns can sometimes pose a daunting challenge, especially for new fly tiers. Here is an easy solution to tying parachute posts. I prefer to use a material called SAAP Float-Vis in white or light dun for tying posts, but almost any type of polypropylene yarn will work just fine.
P
Dub a compact thorax with the PMD Superfine dubbing – leaving plenty of room to finish the head of the fly.
5
Step
1
Step
Begin by attaching a thread base on your hook. Stop your thread where you want the wing post to be located.
2
Take a small amount of material (one-half the thickness of your finished post) and lay it on top of the hook. While holding the material, make three tight wraps of thread over the center of the material.
Lay the PMD CDC puff for the legs on top of the thorax with the tip facing back and the stem over the hook eye as pictured. Take two loose wraps of thread over the stem just behind the hook eye, leaving enough of the stem available for you to grasp. Slowly pull the stem through the thread wraps until you reach the right length for the legs with the CDC puff tip – about one-half of a hook-shank long. Evenly divide the CDC fibers on either side of the thorax and bind down the CDC puff with several tight thread wraps.
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Pull both ends of the material up and make a thread wrap ahead of and then behind the material. Now wrap the thread up the material in tight, clockwise (from overhead) wraps to achieve your post. Attach your hackle feather as you wrap your thread back down the post, add a drop of cement. Now you can finish the fly, wrap your hackle, and take it fishing.
Step
3
Step Finished
Deerhair Sunfish Michael Huffman Charlie Brooks Memorial Award 2013 Springfield, Missouri
By Verne Lehmberg
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lies made by IFFF demonstration tiers run the gamut from very functional in color and design to ornamental. Darwin Atkin (see the obituary on page 16) was well-known for his deer hair sculpins and crickets, but the fly most in demand was the metal foil California Girl pin that he made and signed for his many female admirers. Sometimes they are both, such as Buszek Award recipient Walt Holman, whose signature Foil Popper flies are framed as often as fished, as are Mike Huffman’s deer hair creations. The late Bob Bates, known for his photography and teaching skills as well as his flies, tied a Callibaetis that looks too delicate to cast but is an effective fly for still waters. Verne Lehmberg from Dayton, Texas, is a longtime Federation member and Flyfisher contributor. See more of his excellent photography on the cover, in “Focus on the Fly” (page 31) and “Biology on the Fly” (page 32).
Foil Popper Walt Holman 2013 Buszek Award Madison, Alabama
California Girl Darwin Atkin 1982 Buszek Award Bozeman, Montana
Possie Buggar Robert Blount Albany, Oregon Thor Will Godfrey Lewiston, Idaho
Yellow Che Mike Stewart North Granby, Connecticut
Royal Wulff Al Ritt Longmont, Colorado
Crazy Caddis Russ Forney Beulah, Wyoming
Apricot Stonefly Randy Buchanan Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Tutti Fruiti Steve Fernandez 2012 Buszek Award Venice, California
Umbrella Callibaetis Bob Bates 2013 Dick Nelson Jungle Stone Fly Tying Teaching Award Bill Heckle 2003 Buszek Award Franklin Park, IllinoisFlyfisher Autumn 2011 - Winter Spokane, 2012 [Washington 39]
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Fly Box
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Casting SMALL STREAMS, SHORT FLY RODS AND PMDS By Tom Tripi
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or me, the pale morning dun (PMD) theme in this issue of Flyfisher conjures up fond memories of times gone by. As I might have mentioned in the past, I’m a “casting junkie.” Well, back in the day, I fished small water and eventually became a “small stream junkie.” Most of those cobbled brooks and creeks were headwaters for larger trout water. They contained beautiful vistas that satisfied the soul just as much as fly fishing did. While cutting my fly fishing teeth along such vistas in the Catskill area, I read many a tale in magazines and a few books about pale morning duns (PMDs) as well as other small mayflies. Older, seasoned authors treated the “folklore” of a Catskill mayfly hatch with fond nostalgia; the younger pursued more up-to-date, current topics such as new patterns or using thennew “modern” synthetic materials. Many classic Catskill hatches occurred on my local waters, the subvarias, blue winged olives (BWOs), and little sulphurs come to mind, but there were a few, smaller mayflies I couldn’t identify. I was trying to figure if they were PMDs. A few locals referred to almost any mayfly they couldn’t identify as PMDs. I did eventually learn that PMDs were predominately a Midwest/Western species. There were only a few scattered hatches in my part of the East and I finally found a good one on a small, unnamed headwater near Kinderhook, New York. By that time, for me the nostalgia of older fly fishing lore was a strong influence and all that reading about hatches plus finding a “secret” creek had me hooked on small water. I soon was tying the classic patterns including PMDs by the dozen – using some, selling others. That “direction” change in fly fishing eventually led me to old classic rods. I noticed that a few of my favorite, but out of financial reach, bamboo rod builders were turning out fine, light rods not only named after streams but also after famous flies, i.e. Midge, Trico, Hendrickson, etc. – but no PMDs or even BWOs. While dabbling in cane rod building and restoration, I decided to make a rod for small streams or at least restore a rod and then rename it. I wanted a rod that somewhat matched the small bright mayflies I fished, so I settled on a light-colored rod: an early 8-foot Goodwin Granger as my base. I took a little off from the ends of the butt and mid-sections, then added transparent tan wraps and cinnamon accents. My own carved maple reel seat with a German silver cap and ring replaced the old seat. The cork grip had to be just long enough to be usable, unlike the longer, 10-inch grips of production builders. My favorite grip had a finely tapered cigar shape about 6 inches long, ala early Leonard or Thomas & Thomas rods. The end product finished out to just under 4 ounces and 7½ feet long. My PMD was perfect for a DT3F (Double Taper 3-weight Floating) line. Most local waters I fished required short casts, so I had to become more proficient in that area. The new rod fit right in; it was just right for 20-foot +/- casts. And an angler definitely had to master tight loops as well. Overhanging branches were always a problem. My rod had a medium to soft action so loop control was easy. During that time I used two casts on small streams. One was a standard forward cast completed
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Introducing slack or “S” curves into a forward cast.
End of a forward cast with introduced slack; note leader is just beginning to flutter onto the water.
Curve cast to the left with introduced slack.
side armed with short, left curves to get around boulders and logs; and the other was a roll cast. My curve casts were completed by using abrupt stops at the end of the forward cast or by applying a sharp, rotating (right or left) snap of the wrist at the end of the cast. My 5X tippet would smoothly curve approximately 2 feet. A good curve cast also makes fishing hydraulic cushions located in the water around obstructions a lot more productive. Due to fine tippets and the rippling water as it rounded those obstructions, drag on a small fly was almost imperceptible. However, to ensure a short, drag-free float, I found I had to complete the curve cast, then introduce a little slack as the line settled on the water. The quickest way
positions helpful on small streams. If you’re practicing on water, try your hand at a dry fly pick-up. I use this technique constantly on small streams, as fly lines always seem to end up on or near rocks, logs or even sandy shoals. If you begin a line pick-up while it’s on one of these obstructions, you will definitely cause wear-andtear on an expensive line. The dry fly pick-up helps alleviate that problem: Just before starting the pick-up, apply a quick wrist snap to the rod, making the tip move quickly in a 90degree plane to the water. This action sends a “mend” down the length of the line. When the “mend” passes over the obstruction, instantly complete the pick-up and backcast thus lifting rather than dragging the line over the obstruction. Last, practice line mends. They’re valuable on any water you fish, fresh or salt. When casting on small streams, try placing yourself so you’re able to cast to more than one location. Try to avoid foot movement while casting, as most wary fish become even more wary when they hear boots clunking on loose gravel. Those wary trout can also detect the vibration of snapping branches or twigs as you “prance” along a wooded bank – so you’ve been warned, be quiet! As I progressed in my fly fishing ability, I actually purchased a couple of cane rods named after flies. One was 6½ feet long and weighed 3 ounces, perfect for a DT3 line. The other was an 8-foot, 3.5-ounce rod that handled a DT4 line. Both are magic wands on small water. My ol’ PMD was nice, but then there are levels of nice. I eventually traded it for a single-tipped, 8-foot Battenkill rod. In fact, that Battenkill didn’t last long either … but that’s another story. Master Casting Instructor Tom Tripi is from Folsom, Louisiana, where he uses a fly rod and canoe to pursue his favorite fish, teaches casting to students of all ages, and studies astronomy in his spare time.
Side-armed roll cast; note leader is still rising from the surface of the water.
Side-armed forward cast with tight loop.
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to add slack is to wiggle the rod tip horizontally a few inches just before the line hits the water. The wiggle introduces a few S curves in the line that often lessen drag on the fly. I mentioned using a roll cast. However, on the type of waters I’ve discussed, a simple roll cast won’t cut it. The following cast is one of my best tools to overcome various difficult stream situations: it’s a side-armed, curved roll cast with introduced slack. First, realize that a standard back cast is difficult to complete on water that’s covered by overhanging brush and trees. So I use a side-armed roll cast. The tricky part is applying a well-timed wrist twist when the cast is almost completed and the fly line is zinging out. Keep in mind that the forward portion of a roll cast is completed the same as a standard forward cast. So just as in a standard forward cast, apply the previously described abrupt stop or twist of the wrist to complete the curve. Then, after those steps, introduce a few “S” wiggles and presto – you have a slacked roll cast with a curve to the left. Once mastered, you will wear this cast out on narrow pocket water streams and even small bushy ponds. A few things to remember: You really need to master a quality short cast with a tight loop. One can practice a short cast almost anywhere, even in tight quarters like a carpeted office; just make sure that your leader is not too long and your boss doesn’t catch you. Slow the casting stroke, making the rod do the work by allowing it to load. Then concentrate on that quick snap of the wrist during the forward cast; it creates the tight, narrow loop you’ll need to penetrate through dense bank-side cover. To practice the curve cast, just remember to apply a twist of the wrist. Soon you’ll be able to curve line around an office chair on every cast. While practicing, try moving the casting plane from vertical to 45 degrees to side armed. You’ll definitely find those
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Woman’s Outlook Program lead for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing in Grand Junction, Colorado, Dawn Gwin found the program to be “the healing way.”
‘THE HEALING WAY’ One Woman’s Upward Spiral Story and photos by Carol Oglesby
F “
irst in – last out” was the objective of the U.S. Navy unit Dawn Gwin served with in the Middle East. In other words, they showed up first to set up the command, were there for the duration, and then tore things down after everyone else left. It’s important for you to know, as this story unfolds, that Gwin is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. A high school and college athlete whose forte was cross-country running, Gwin was in terrific physical and mental condition when she received her Bachelor of Science and decided to join the U.S. Navy. Gwin says, at 21, she was more prepared, less naive, and more cautious than other female enlistees who were 18 and just out of high school. Strong and tough, Gwin trained to become a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman with additional training in cardiology. Requirements for a corpsman include being physically fit, being willing to risk one’s life for all military personnel who depend on them, and be proficient in the field of emergency medicine. A corpsman is the equivalent of a registered nurse with training in lifesaving skills. The colloquial form of address for a hospital corpsman is “doc,” and the term is generally used as a sign of respect. After two years of service, Gwin was deployed to the Middle East. Respect is a difficult thing for women in the military, and she found the experience of serving with men extremely challenging. Gwin remained isolated from men’s groups, never left the compound, didn’t drink, and never went out alone unless accompanied by someone she could trust. Disappointment abounded when she felt let down by the people she thought she could and should have been able to trust. Despite all her precautions, Gwin was no stranger to military sexual abuse. In one incident, against the advice of her fellow personnel, she met the advances of one aggressive brute with the force of a chair leveled at his belly. The incident was not reported, but the bully continued to stalk Gwin in the months
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to come. She slept with a knife under her pillow and endured through the support of a trusted friend who was a sniper. Military life in itself is difficult. No woman, while serving her country, should have the compounded stress of living with the disrespect, innuendos and sexual advances of men. Gwin says she did find men in the U.S. Navy who were supportive, though they were not necessarily men of authority. Luckily, her commanding officers were good men who always looked out for her. Yet, through all her difficulties, Gwin refused to become a victim. When I asked her what defined a victim, she said, “Someone who is inadequately prepared.” Yeah, that’s not Gwin. Her goal of spending a life in the military and becoming an officer was short-lived. While stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital she began experiencing more and more disabling medical events that led to treatment. Regardless of medical conditions and stresses, it was the positive experiences that kept her going. Gwin served in the U.S. Navy from January 1988 to September 1995. From 1995 until 2010, she searched for something that would quell “the noise in her head and make the stresses disappear.” As if the events in the Middle East were not enough, upon returning home she was abandoned by her family, losing everything. As her testimonial for Project Healing Waters states: “I had been continuously searching for help and calmness for 15 years. Since 1995, I had lost my marriage, my twins, my home, and my family abandoned me during my quest to invest in my healing process. I had
moved countless times and had few friends. I lived in complete isolation. However, for me, Project Healing Waters changed all of that.” After getting her MBA in 2002, Gwin moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, to rebuild her life. Her primary care physician at the VA Medical Center recommended that Gwin enter the recreational therapy program for help with post traumatic stress disorder associated with her service in the Middle East. Gwin began with kayaking and eventually moved on to the Project Healing Waters program. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) began in 2005, serving wounded military service members at Walter Reed Medical Center. Since then it has expanded nationwide, establishing a highly successful program. It provides basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes to beginners as well as those with prior experience. PHWFF relies on volunteers from the International Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, and independent fly fishing clubs to conduct the programs. My husband, Pat, and I met Gwin while volunteering with PHWFF. She had a bundle of long, curly tresses highlighted with golden hues. She was a petite, pretty, shy and painfully quiet woman. Introductions were short, handshakes formal, and hugs were out of the question. Making eye contact was impossible yet there was something about her … a spark that you could detect just under the surface of her aloneness. I sat down next to her in a fly tying class to help her hold the bobbin and wrap thread around a hook. Brushing shoulders was a shock, and touching her cold hand required endurance for us both. But gradually we warmed to one another. I could see she had a talent in working with her hands. I soon learned that during her isolation she turned to fabric, thread and quilting for comfort. Her quilts are creative designs of beauty that reflect the love in her heart. Gwin was part of the original
PHOTO BY DAWN GWIN
group of PHWFF formed through the Veterans Administration in conjunction with Grand Valley Anglers in 2010. Classes progressed from fly tying and insect studies to casting classes. After casting practice, the group went to a local pond for fishing classes. I remember it was September and the weather was unusually cold. She was a trooper and we began to share some laughs despite the cold; she caught fish and got hooked through the “healing waters.” In early October 2011, we went on a float trip on Utah’s Green River. I had been there the week before and the weather was fantastic, but not the following week. Gwin and I shared the day together with a guide in his drift boat. When we got to the boat launch early in the morning, it was raining and cold. We waited at the launch while the guide took care of the shuttle arrangements. By the time he returned to launch the boat, the rain had already soaked through my waterproof rain jacket. I was worried about Gwin in the cold, but she seemed to be holding up pretty well under several layers of warm clothes. I changed raincoats before we began drifting the river and thankfully the weather improved for a short time. We began catching fish, our outlooks improved, and we forgot about some of the cold. By the time we stopped for lunch, the snow had begun; I had soaked through another rain jacket, so the guide gave me his coat. The cold kept on, but we kept catching fish, and Gwin had a big smile on her face despite the miserable conditions. The following morning we awoke to a foot of new-fallen snow, but Gwin was up early and still wearing a big smile at the breakfast table. The trip was a huge success; I could see she had a monumental break-through. During the process of tying flies, casting lessons, learning about bugs and catching fish, her healing had begun. Her testimonial to PHW continues: “With the help of Charlie (Hensel,
Below, Gwin holds a rainbow trout caught on the Green River.
the program lead) and Pat and Carol Oglesby, I made it through the 8-week class. Then we began to go fishing. I soon could stand for several hours, and to me it didn’t matter whether I caught a fish or not, it was just being there that made all the noise in my head and stresses disappear. So I kept going, there was something to all this fly fishing. They invited me to go fishing at different places and the more I went the better I would feel. I was becoming a fish junkie.” In October 2013, Dawn Gwin entered some fly patterns in the First Annual Fly Tying Contest for PHWFF. Later she received a certificate in the mail that showed she had won Honorable Mention in the contest. Fast-forward to present day: Dawn Gwin is now the program lead for the group in the Grand Junction area. She is no longer that shy, reserved woman I met in 2010; she is a vibrant, talkative, take-charge woman who continues to heal and move forward. She took over the leadership position at a time
when PHWFF was vulnerable to being brushed aside – and now it is thriving. How did she take over as program lead in a male-dominated group? She implied that if the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program folded, she might too. She said “It’s the healing way.” Then I understood – it saved her life. Her fervent wish is to help other veterans find some of the peace and coping mechanisms that she has learned. She said that the veterans need to build a sense of independence, to continue to heal and to give back to the newcomers. Currently Gwin’s oversight of the program includes a beginning and an advanced fly tying group, casting classes, two rod building classes, fundraising, outings and trip planning. Among others, she credits me as being her mentor. Truth is – she’s mine. Carol Oglesby from Grand Junction, Colorado, is a regular contributor to Flyfisher on female fly fishers’ interests. You may contact her at pcoglesby@bresnan.net.
Note from the editors: We seldom comment on the stories in Flyfisher, but this one left us with a lump in our throats. Project Healing Waters is a very worthwhile program that helps those who lay their lives on the line so we can live the life we do here in the United States. Our thanks to Dawn Gwin and the many veterans who serve. Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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Right, a fish motif quilt created by Dawn Gwin. Quilting was one means of coping and healing.
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Book Reviews 25 Best Most Versatile Flies By Al Ritt Stonefly Press, 2014 9.25" x 11.25", 387 pages, $39.95 ISBN 978-1-939226-08-2
In this tips-and-tricks-filled book, the author takes the reader through a contemporary look at some of the most popular, longstanding and versatile patterns in today’s world of fly tying. The patterns can easily be adapted for any fish species, including bass, bonefish, carp, catfish, salmon, steelhead, trout and many more! Al Ritt is a true ambassador of the sport of fly fishing and tying. We’ve known him for years and found him to be an excellent tier, skilled teacher and superb demonstrator. The book is an extension of the man and his talent. For those of you seeking to advance your tying skills this book will not disappoint. We highly recommend it!
Glory of the Silver King By Hart Stilwell Texas A&M University Press, 2011 6.25" x 9.5", 192 pages, $24.95 ISBN 978-1-603442-67-1
Through a series of chance encounters over several years, fishing guide and journalist Brandon Shuler excavated multiple drafts of a nearly finished manuscript by an almost forgotten Texas sports writer, Hart Stilwell. The manuscript titled “Glory of the Silver King” vividly captures the history of tarpon and snook fishing on the Texas and Mexico Gulf Coast from the 1930s to the end of Stilwell’s life in the early 1970s. The book clearly shows that Stilwell was a seasoned outdoors journalist with a passion for saltwater fishing. With Shuler’s careful research, editing and annotation, the lost manuscript has found new life as an entertaining “fish tale” and a historical snapshot of a region’s natural heritage. Although it is not a fly fishing book, it is a great read for those dedicated to the history of saltwater angling.
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50 Fish to Catch in Your Lifetime
Bluebacks and Silver Brights
By John Bailey
By Norman Safarik with Allan Safarik
Carlton Books, 2011 7.5" x 9.5", 224 pages, $19.95 ISBN 978-1-847327-43-7
ECW Press, 2012 6" x 9", 391 pages, $22.95 ISBN 978-1-770410-41-1
John Bailey from the United Kingdom is an internationally renowned author, photographer and film presenter. As a pioneer tour leader of fishing trips, he has led anglers to some of the most remote parts of the world. This stunningly illustrated book lists and explores 50 of the world’s most amazing and challenging fish. It offers an insight into each species, revealing the skills and techniques required to land them. Although not a dedicated fly fishing book, it reveals excellent information to the angler who might target any or all of the species featured within its pages. Its U.S. distributor is Sterling Publishing Company in New York City. Look up the book at www.sterlingpublishing.com or e-mail mperitt@sterlingpublishing.com.
This is a memoir written by Norman Safarik with his son Allan that tells the story of a man who spent a lifetime working in every corner of the West Coast fishing industry. Norman, now 93, was born in Vancouver and worked in the fish business for more than 65 years, running Vancouver Shellfish & Fish Company on Vancouver Harbor. This is not a fly fishing book, but it provides an interesting look at a part of our food industry seldom seen by those of us who frequent the aisles of our local supermarket. We found it an enjoyable, informative read.
Do It Yourself Bonefishing
Britain’s Freshwater Fishes
By Rod Hamilton with Kirk Deeter
By Mark Everard
This book is one of the better guides written for the do-it-yourself (DIY) angler targeting bonefish on the fly. It is divided into easy-to-reference sections covering the why, where and how-to of self-guided bonefishing. Based on 20 years of experience, the authors describe the allure of matching wits with one of fly fishing’s most elusive targets. It is packed with useful tips to help anglers of all skill levels locate and catch bonefish. Within these informative pages, you will learn stalking strategies, how to spot fish, appropriate fly selection, and where to find fish. Whether you need help deciding where to go or simply desire greater success while on the flats, this DIY book is a great place to start your adventure.
Princeton University Press, 2013 5.0" x 8.25", 144 pages, $27.95 ISBN 978-0-691156-78-1
Britain hosts a diversity of freshwater environments, from torrential hill streams and lowland rivers to lakes, reservoirs, ponds, canals, ditches and upper reaches of estuaries. This interesting book covers the 53 species of freshwater and brackish water fishes that are native or were introduced and have become naturalized. It features high-quality, in-the-water and on-thebank photographs throughout its 144 pages. Written in an accessible style, the book also contains introductory sections on fish biology, fish habitats and how to identify fish. Though not for everyone, this book can prove valuable to the angler visiting British waters.
Derrydale Press, 2014 6.25" x 9.25", 306 pages, $29.95 ISBN 978-1-586671-27-3
TIE FLIES AND SAVE MONEY! By Jason Duncan
ILLUSTRATION BY THE AUTHOR
T
imes are tight all around. Everybody is feeling it. I am certainly feeling it. So … where to cut back? With this in mind, I have an idea. Instead of buying flies, I could tie them! This is sure to save me loads. What a moment of economic brilliance! Just think of all those extra greenbacks in my pocket. It should be noted here that I’ve never tied a fly in my life, never seen it done, never talked about it to anyone who’s done it, never really thought about it one way or the other until recently, never even possessed a particular aptitude for precise and delicate dealings such as fly tying, unless you count my very short and poorly executed turn at arc welding. So … off I go on a trip to my nearest local Manhattan fly fishing outfitter (see: the Orvis retail store in Midtown). It certainly appears easy enough, this endeavor. Attach various items to hooks. Make it look like a bug. Simple! Seems like something a computertaught monkey ought to be proficient at after three or four or possibly even five tries. Wait. First, none of these plumes and feathers and tinselly nonsense looks anything like my trusty Woolly Bugger patterns, and what the hell are Silli Legs? Or a Flashabou? I have a scant notion what a “Scud Dub” might be, although historically I have been very, very wrong about this kind of thing. A Hungarian Partridge Skin sounds to these ignorant ears like something Bilbo Baggins would pack on an extended trip to Middle-earth. And at my local fly shop where I saw these seemingly absurd items, each was naturally accompanied with a tag bearing numbers and a dollar sign. I am certain I could find all this stuff cheaper online, but for better or worse I tend to suffer from the bad habit of trying to shop locally (even if it is Orvis). But still, dollar signs are dollar signs no matter where you find them, and with what it pays these days to be a stay-at-home parent, dollar signs are at a premium around my homestead. Dollar signs were also involved when I
bought that Thomas McGuane book on fly fishing the other day, in which even Good Old Tom posits that tying your own flies to save money might very well be something of a futile enterprise. Does the fact that I have no experience tying flies matter? Absolutely not! I am sure there are sundry books on the subject ($) and I could probably take a class ($$) or I could even conscript a private tutor to teach me how to properly do this thing ($$$!). But somewhat more importantly, do I have any interest in driving my already poor eyesight blind while staring at a size-22 hook gripped tightly in a vise (again, $), while almost certainly vainly attempting to put together a reasonable yellow PMD that even remotely resembles the only storebought PMD that has ever brought me any level of success (see: strikes, not fish in hand)? Alas, unfortunately, I do not. And furthermore, I don’t think my eyesight could handle it. This pastime would likely have the same effect as extended time spent darning stockings by candlelight (if I were a 19th century homesteading house marm) or delicate needlework done on a religious tapestry (if I were a 16th century nun). I already have enough trouble threading my tippet; I certainly don’t want to be that guy wading out there in the middle of the Beaverkill or the Yellowstone
or some stream in New Zealand I’ve never heard of using a magnifying glass to tie a Trilene knot because I stupidly tried to save a few pennies doing something I had no business doing in the first place and thus drove myself blind (and having just watched an animated online demonstration of how to tie a Trilene knot, I am fairly confident that I have been tying it incorrectly for about a year now). So, what’s the best way for this fly fisherman to save money fly fishing? Stop losing flies. How do I stop losing flies? Become a better fly fisherman. And how do I become a better fly fisherman? Well, practice, for one thing, and if that time-tested and often somewhat misguided strategy fails to yield results, then a private lesson with a highly recommended certified casting instructor certainly ought to do the trick ($$$). In all seriousness, the most effective and overall easiest way for this fly fisherman to save money fly fishing would be for this fly fisherman to stop fly fishing altogether. But unfortunately for my bank account and general sense of financial well-being, that is simply not possible. Jason Duncan is a humorist and the owner of a willfully disobedient Welsh terrier. As the stayat-home dad to an incorrigible 2-year-old, he writes picture books during nap time that he tries to sell after bedtime. Duncan lives with his family in New York City.
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Fly Fishing Humor
IFFF ANNUAL DONOR REPORT Each year the International Federation of Fly Fisher’s general revenues depend on the generous support of individuals and organizations to sustain our programs. The board of directors would like to express their sincere appreciation to the contributors noted below who provided that support in 2013. Special Recognition Patagonia Inc. – World Trout Initiative Glenn Biron YOT Full Circle Foundation Employee Matching Gifts Programs Aerojet, Inc. Bank of America Matching Gift Program Chevron Easy Match GE Foundation Matching Gifts Program Grainger Matching Contribution Gift Program John Hancock Merrill Lynch Co. Foundation Standard Insurance Company PRESIDENT’S CLUB Pledges of $5,000+ Honorary Chair Nicklaus, Jack Platinum Moseley, Paul Gold Long, Bob Schramm, Jim and Dorothy Silver Bishop, Don Brown, Richard and Mary Cordes, Ron Great Lakes Council IFFF Grant, Gary Jindra, Tom and Debra Stroh, Bill Trishman, Fred Van Gytenbeek, Peter Bronze Evans, Lew and Tilda Frasca, Bud Gibbs, Larry Greenlee, Philip Groty, Keith James, David Johnson, Carl Kettler, Herb Knight, Ron and Sheryl Lewis, Dean Lovell, Doug Maler, Roger and Tracie Malpass, Howard Michalak, Michael Miller, Sandy Northern California Council IFFF Sadler, Tom Schmitz, Fred Scientific Anglers, Del Kauss Steele, Sherry Stewart, Michael Winn, Ron Patron Chouinard, Yvon
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Gruenberg, Leonard Hoffman, Henry Jensen, Steve Kettler, Herb Schramm, Jim and Dorothy Washington Fly Fishing Club Benefactor Burk, John Gimbel, Don Grant, Gary Heide, Ralph Herritt, John IFFF Great Lakes Council Jindra, Tom and Debra McNae, Bruce Sales, Robert Southwest Council IFFF, Inc Walter, Jonathan Zarelli, Carl Advocate Aserlind, Margot Brandt, Joseph Brown, Richard and Mary Crawford, Michael Eck, Robert Evans, Lew and Matilda Frasca, Bud Gibbs, Larry Greiner, Terry Groty, Keith Harrison, Leslie Hubbard, James J M Huber Corporation Johnson, Carl Johnson, Howard Klaus, Col Edward G Knight, Beverly Knight, Ron and Sheryl Lewis, Dean Maler, Roger and Tracie McCann, Dennis Miller, Sandra Pitts, Greg and Mary Jo Rigler, Sally Sadler, Tom San Pedro Fly Casters Schmidt, Jim Southern Oregon Fly Fishers Inc Steamboaters Steelhead Society of BC Stewart, Michael Sullivan, John The North Umpqua Foundation Supporter Alpine Flyfishers Archer, Jon Armour, V.K. Beatty, Danny Black, Jean Bolling, Timothy Boswell, Harold Broomhall, Peter Brown, Rodger Bulkley, Greg Calleton, Richard Callow, C Eric Cargill, A. S. Cederwall, Mark Cordes, Herman
Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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Bachman, Ken Baker, Anne Baker, Bruce Baker, Kevin Bakke, Bill Ballard, Chuck Barbaro, Louis and Wanda Barker, Clifford Barker, Phil Barnhart, James Barnhart, Ted Beatty, David Beckman, Paul Beckstead, Jay Bennett, Jay Berryman, Jack Best, Brad Bettzig, Robert Biesecker, Ron Billings, William Blake, Jesse Bleakley, Mark Blixt, Nicholas Bloom, Lee Bodine, William Bohigian, George Boley Law Library Bonamarte, Dick Bottenberg, John C Bourgeois, James Bowler, Bert Boyce, Albert Boyce, John Brant, William Braud, Ronald Bright, Jeffery Brindley, Hanes Brown, Barbara Brown, David Brown, Larry Brown, Robert Brumitt, Clint Brumitt, Ruel C. Bucaria, Charles Busby, Dan Capital City Fly Fishers Capuano Jr., Anthony and Charlene Carlson, Arthur Carlson, Gary Carlton, Jeff Carns, Rick Caron, Tom Carter, Fred Cattell, Albert Chamberlain, Edward M Charles, Cindy Chervenak, Louis Cheung, AJ Chmielowiec, Jack Clancy, Mike Clark, Hugh Clark, Robert Claudepierre, Dale Clay, Phillip Cleaves, David Clothier, Doug Coachman, Gordon Cole, Jonnie and Vivian Collins, Dale Collins, David Connolly, Gregory Crissey, Michael Crow, Kenneth
Cummings, Terrence Curran, Chris Curry, Ronald Cyr, Eugene Dahlgren, Duane Damdochax River Lodge David Thomas Joint Trust Davidson, Gene Davis, Gary Dempsey, Thomas Denchfield, Chris Dennis, Scott Depoe, Kenneth Deveney, Gina Devore, Jeff Diener, Terry Dietrich, Alek Dillon, Boyd Dokovna, Aran Duffy, David Dumont, Marcel Duncan, Louis Egge, Steve Egli, Arnie Ehrman, Gordon Elson, Don Elwell, Russell Emerick, Jonathan Emrick, Bill Erickson, Richard Escalona, Frank Ester, Leslie Evenson, William Farrell, James Fauceglia, Ted Fearn, Brian Fechner, Roger Felsen, Oscar Ferber, Arthur Ferguson, Joe Ferroggiaro, Rob Figura, Eric Fisher, Tony Frencer, Dick and Janis Friis, Belinda Fullerton, Clem Gabrion, Michael Gadacz, Thomas Galaher, David Gallagher, Sean M. Garlalnd, John T Garland, Richard Genereux, Marc Gerety, William Gibbs, Larry Giloth, Kirk F. Glemba, Roman Godfrey, Will Goetz, Fred Gonzalez, Mark Good, Larry Goodwin, Paul Gotshall, Jamee Gough, Fran Grady, John Greb, Nicolette Greb, Scott Green, Kevin Greenley, Dale Gregory, Robert Griffin, Joe Grost, Rich Gruhn, Gerry
Gustafson, Gregory Haeck, Jim Hammerstad, Charles Hansen, Bill Hansen, Phil Hanson, Leland Harang, Bruce Haskell, Stephen Hauser, Larry Hedeen, Kurt and Amy Heidel, Ed Henderson, Porter K. Henderson, Tom Henry, J W (Bill) Herbert, Joe Hill, Lawrence Hinman, Nancy Hoberg, Max Hodges, Bill Hofmeister, Ronald Holder, James Holmes, Philip Hoschouer, Jim Hubert, Jeffery Hunter, David Hunter, Jim Jacot, Kenneth James, David Jantz, Elmer Jauquet, Joseph Jellick, Robert Johnson, Ray W. Johnson, David Johnson, Gregory Johnson, Richard Johnson, Richard E. Johnson, Robert M. Johnston, John Johnston, William Jones, Dundee Jones, Jack Jones, James Kabela, Edward Kapolka, Michael (Jay) Kassan, Ronald Kataoka, Keith Kazmark, Eugene Keddie, William Keister, Bill Keller, Chuck Kellogg, Dick Kelly, Luke Kenney, Thomas Kensinger, Robert Kilburn, Guy King, William Kingery, Peg Kirsop, Patrick Kistler, Claude Kleopfer, Lynn Kllingensmith, Kirk Kluczynski, Robert Kneass, Don Koopmans, David Korf, Kit Kozuki, Mits Kress, George Kustich, Rick Kustin, George LaBouy, Bob Labranche, Laura LaBranche, Leo Lacy, Craig Lafley, James Lagoo, Kevin M Laing, Michael Landis, Glenn and Joyce Landt, John
Larson, Allan Latham, Elmer Lawson, David Lawson, Tim Leasure, Robert Lenheim, William Leonard, Craig Lestarjette, Ralph Levinthal, Dick Levit, Peter Lewis, Stephen L’Hommedieu, William Alan Licursi, Sal Lincoln, Sandra L. Lindsay, Kemp Lingren, Art Lombard, William Longanecker, David Lord, Frederick Love, Norris Lovell, Eunice Luedke, Mark Luff, Vance Lukowski, Wallter Lund, John Lundin, John J Lupatkin, William Lynch, Craig Macdiarmid, John Mace, Richard Mackey, Robert J. MacMullan, David Madan, L. E. Madison, Chris Magee, Thomas Mahn, Gene Mahony, Gerald Mahony, Jerry Malfait, Bruce Manson, Marie Mantua, Nathan Marshall, Ed Marvin, John McAfee, Donald McCain, John D. McDaniel, Daniel McDonald, Sylvia McDowell, Paul McGannon, Michael McGlenn, John McIntosh, Hod McLuskie, Tracy McRoberts, James Mead, Robert Mendel, Glen Merker, Tom Meynink, V. Mills, James Milus, Eugene Miner, David Mitchell, Marianne Mittleman, John Mjzzana, Dennis Montag, Jeff Moore, David Moore, Frank Morrison, Brian Moryc, David Mosure, Gary Mulcahy, Briann Murray, Kenneth Myers, Gerald Nakagawa, Allen Nakamura, Paul Narver, David Narver, John Neely, Jack Nelson, Lillian
Neuman, Richard Oaks, Stan Oberhelman, William Ogle, Michael O’Kelly, William Oldham, Dave Olson, Mark Opie, Dave and Zoe Osborne, Brown Page, Dan Pagones, Dennis Panasci, Tony Pasquarelli, Tim Patch, Thomas Paul, Josey Payne, Andy Peacor, Don Pearcy, Bill Pearcy, William Peltier, Alec M. Penobscot Fly Fishers Petersen, Mike Pettine, Eric Pettit, Stephen Peven, Charles Piekarski, Timothy Pijacki, Paul Ploss, Norman Ports, Norman Potter, Frank Potter, George Preston, Ronald Purvis, Tim Puyallup Fisheries Radtke, Philip and Lori Rainey, Jim and Meg Rajeff, Steve Ramsdell, Lew Randolph, Tad Rasmussen, Thomas Rathbone, John Reese, Jeffrey Reinhardt, George Richardson, Gaylord Ricks, Les Robinson, Stephen Rocchio, John Roe, Stephen Rogers, John T. Rogers, Michael Romani, Dan Rosenberg, John Ross, Hank Ross, Henry Roth, Scott Row, Christopher Rowe, Nathaniel Rowe, Thomas Roy, Joseph Rubery, Paul Ruhl, Donald Ruland, William Rupp, Rick Sacks, Yale Sammons, Jerry Sande, Norman
Sandell, Todd Santee, Steve Sauer, Frederick Sawyer, Don Sawyer, Donald Sawyer, James Schanz, Fritz Scherner, John Schleusner, Clifford Schmitz, Jim Schomburg, Dell Schrader, Jeffrey D Schramm, James Schumacher, Thomas Scoggiins, Thomas Scott, Paul G. Scotto, Anthony Seaholm, Malcolm Serunian, John Severn, Doff Shanahan, John Shaw, Robert J Shelton, Donald Shepeluk, Joseph Shivers, Brian Slagle, Ted Slay, James Slough, Jon Slough, Michael J. Smelter, Craig Smith, Blake Smith, Ira Smith, James F Smith, Robert and Frances Smith, Robert G. Smith, Roy Soloway, Irving Souza, Theodore Soverel, Pete Spalding, Kenneth Sparling, Jason Spieske, Doug Spooner, Charles Sprung, Douglas Stamm, Keith Stanton, Jim Staples, Brad Starkin, Donald J. Starr, Michael Steinhorst, Richard Stevens, Joseph Stewart, Robert Stewart, Stew Stjern, Chris Stone, Joseph Stromsness, Chris Stumpf, Jonathan Sullivan, Will Suncoast Fly Fishers Sutton, Barbara Swacina, Paul Swanson, Neil Taylor, Eric Thayer, John The Woodard Family Foundation Thompson, Mary
Thompson, Sam Thyer, David Tichay, Eric Till, John Timberlake, Dale Timberlake, Gregory Tippett, James Titland, John Transue, Frank Traphagen, Dake Tronquet, Pete Trotter, Patrick C Turkett, Bruce Turner, Steve Uber, Alex Utz, Paul J Van Kirk, Robert Vannort, Steven Vaughan, Terry Vettori, James Victorine, Jim Volland, Leonard Wade, Hank Wagner, Richard Walchak, Shelly Walck, Greg and Sheryl Walker, David Wallace, Scott Walrath, Burton Walthour, George Ward, Alexander Warrick, John Wasmund, Thomas Watkins, Lory Wato, Wayne Webb, Doug Webb, Steve Weiner, Andrew Welty, Dwan Weseloh, Tom Wesley, David Whetstone, Daniel White, Phillip White, Robert Wierzbinski, Stephen Wild Salmon Center Wilder, Steve Wilhelm, James Wilkens, Rich Williams, Kenneth Williams, Richard Wills, William Winter, Dick Winzler, John Wofford, Billy Wood, Francis Woodard, Kim Woodward, Becky Wrenn, Gary Wright, Sam Yepko, H J Yotsuuye, Gene Young, Richard Zinky, Dorothy
Thank You! Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2014
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International Federation of Fly Fishers SM
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
5237 U.S. Highway 89 South, Ste. 11 Livingston, MT 59047-9176
PAID
Post Falls, ID Permit No. 32
Congratulations The International Federation of Fly Fishers welcomes the following clubs to the Charter Club category. This club status comes with a commitment on the part of the club and the IFFF. We appreciate the clubs that recently joined this category. Alamo Fly Fishers.................................................................Texas Cane Country Fly Fishers...............................................Louisiana Chickasaw Fly Fishers .......................................................Mississippi Contraband Flycasters ...................................................Louisiana Cowlitz Fly Anglers ..........................................................Washington Downey Fly Fishers ............................................................California Fort Worth Fly Fishers ...................................................Texas Gray Wolf Fly Fishers .......................................................Louisiana Hi-Desert Flyfishers...........................................................California Las Vegas Fly Fishing Club .............................................Nevada New Braunfels Fly Fishers .............................................Texas Pine to Prairie Fly Fishers ..............................................Minnesota Pueblo Tailwater Renegades .........................................Colorado Rio Grande Valley Fly Tiers ..........................................Texas Southern Brother Anglers (SoBroAnglers)......Tennessee
SM
Club’s Commitment
p 100% of the club’s members must belong to the IFFF p Adhere to the organizational rules of the IFFF Federation’s Commitment
p Allow club to become a 501(c)(3) under the IFFF umbrella p Provide the ability to subscribe to the master insurance policy p Plus other benefits including, rod incentive program, youth rod program, social media support, calendar of event postings, website listing on the IFFF website and more!
If your club is interested in these benefits, please contact the International Federation of Fly Fishers headquarters at 406-222-9369 or visit us online at www.fedflyfishers.org/Membership/HowtoBecomeaCharterClub.aspx.
International Federation of Conserving, Restoring, Educating Through Fly Fishing
Photo by brian o’Keefe, www.brianoKeefePhotos.com