Flyfisher Fall 2012-Winter 2013 by Fly Fishers International

Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013 • $3

fedflyfishers.org

Conserving, Restoring & Educating Through Fly Fishing

THE

NEXT GENERATION SPECIAL YOUTH EDITION

DR. HENSHALL’S

BASS CLASSICS ALL ABOUT

BLUE-WINGED

OLIVES

Pass on the Legacy

Give the Gift of an IFFF Membership

Conserving Restoring Educating Donor Name

__________________________________________________ IFFF Member # ____________

Donor Phone

__________________________________________________

Recipient Name

__________________________________________________________________________

Recipient Street

__________________________________________________________________________

Recipient State, Cityy,, Zip _____________________________________________________________________ Recipient Telephone Recipient E-mail

_______________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

P Individuals - $35 P Senior - $25 P Youth - $15 P Family: $45 P Life: P Canadians add $5.00 for postage P International add $10.00 for postage

$500

Enclose check or provide credit card information: Credit Card #________________________________________Exp Date_______ Authorized Signature_______________________________________________ Return to: IFFF, 5237 US Highway 89 South, Suite 11, Livingston, MT 59047

Give the Gift & Receive One for Yourself Compliments of the IFFF Not Already a Member? Join by sending in the form above or visit us online at www.fedflyfishers.org

DEPARTMENTS Officers and Directors

The Federation gets more and more international. By Philip Greenlee.

26 32 8

20 22

Just Fishing I Am a Member Meet Matt Wilhelm.

Home Waters Fly fishing news and notes.

IFFF Fly Fishing Fair Awards recap for 2012.

Biology on the Fly All about blue-winged olives. By Verne Lehmberg

FEATURES 20

Dr. Henshall’s Bass Classics

Imitating blue-winged olives. By Verne Lehmberg 38

The Next Generation

Fishing Blue-winged Olives

Fly Tips Trim shucks on emerger patterns at an angle. By Kelly G. Glissmeyer

An interview with Connor Murphy, an 18-year-old casting champion. By Bill Toone. Plus: A compilation of youth outreach activities, page 26. 32

At the Vise KG’s EPF Emerger. By Kelly G. Glissmeyer

How four flies from the 19th century fared in today’s world. By Terry and Roxanne Wilson 22

Focus on the Fly

Fly Box Flies from tiers as teachers. By Verne Lehmberg

Education A quick system for airbrushing flies. By Sam Matalone

The two seasons of hatches and how to fish them in every stage of development. By Bill Toone. 42

Woman’s Outlook On donning wet waders and other gear. By Carol Oglesby

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 Office Manager: Rhonda Sellers • rhonda@fedflyfishers.org Fly Fishing Fair Coordinator: Jessica Atherton • jessica@fedflyfishers.org

Casting Certification/Clubs/Councils: Barbara Wuebber • fffoffice@fedflyfishers.org Bookkeeper: Marissa Hoffman • bookkeeper@fedflyfishers.org Guides Association/Education/Social Media: Judy Snyder • judy@fedflyfishers.org Museum/Library/Donations: Holly Sandbo • holly@fedflyfishers.org Receptionist/Membership/Merchandise: Gay Penney • membership@fedflyfishers.org

Flyfisher: Magazine of the International Federation of Fly Fishers

Editor-in-Chief: Bill Toone Flyfisher is published for the IFFF by: Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 722, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 263-3573 • fax (208) 263-4045 www.keokee.com•flyfishermag@keokee.com Publisher: Chris Bessler Editors: Al and Gretchen Beatty Art Director/Designer: Jackie Oldfield Copy Editor: Billie Jean Gerke Editorial Assistant: Beth Hawkins Advertising Director: Clint Nicholson

PRINTED IN THE USA

Flyfisher is the official publication of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, published two times a year and distributed by mail 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 at left. Contents of Flyfisher copyright © 2012 by the Federation of Fly Fishers. Written permission required to reprint articles. “FFF,” “FFF & Reel Design” and “FFF & Fish Design” are registered marks of the Federation of Fly Fishers. The next Flyfisher editorial deadline is March 15, 2013.

Please remember to recycle this magazine and any other appropriate material.

Casting Of gems and cold, clear creeks. By Tom Tripi

Photo Contest Winners from the 2012 Fly Fishing Fair

COVER PHOTO: Connor Murphy shows off a beautiful Greenback trout while camping at Coney Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. Read an interview with this young casting champion on page 22, and read on for a look at youth outreach by IFFF councils and clubs. Photo by Adam Hamilton. FEATURE PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, LEFT: Teenagers (including cover subject Connor Murphy) pose during Bighorn Youth Fly Fishing Adventure Days, one of many recent IFFF youth outreach efforts. Photo courtesy of Frank Johnson. The blue-winged olive in the spinner stage. Photo by Bill Toone. Connor Murphy, shown with a brown trout, believes fly fishing is a way of life. Photo by JD Murphy. The Polka was the most “killing fly” for largemouth bass in an experiment by the Wilsons. Photo by Terry and Roxanne Wilson.

C o n s e r v i nMagazine g, Resto i n gInternational a n d E d u c aFederation t i n g T h rof o uFly g h Fishers F l y F i•s hAutumn ing ofr the 2012 - Winter 2013 Volume 45, No. 2

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Meet the IFFF’s Officers and Directors Council Presidents Eastern Rocky Mountain: Pat Oglesby 970-434-3912 • pcoglesby@bresnan.net 3095 Evanston Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81504

Ohio: Jim Stone 419-347-1826 • jstone003@neo.rr.com 116 West Park Drive, Shelby, OH 44875

Florida: Bill Gunn 321-960-0082 • wtgunnjr@aol.com 101 Marion Street, Indian Harbor Beach, FL 32937

Oregon: Sherry Steele 541-420-5532 • steelefly@msn.com P.O. Box 1438, Sisters, OR 97759

Great Lakes: Jim Schramm 231-869-5487 • jdschramm@oceana.net P.O. Box 828, Pentwater, MI 49449

South Eastern: Marvin S. Cash 704-759-6788 • secfff@marvincash.me 7155 Chameroy Court, Charlotte, NC 28270

Gulf Coast: Kyle Moppert 225-343-0867 • bowfin47@gmail.com 2170 Terrace Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Southern: Michael E. Ames 870-243-2637 • aflycaster@sbcglobal.net 303 J D Drive, Harrisburg, AR 72432

Mid-Atlantic: Open Contact IFFF National Office Rhonda@fedflyfishers.org

Southwest: Michael Schweit 818-601-9702 • msangler@earthlink.net 7933 Jellico Avenue, Northridge, CA 91325

North Eastern: Leslie Wrixon 508-733-8535 • lesliewrixon@ityeflies.com 22 A Elm St., Manchester, MA 01944

Upper Midwest Council: Todd Heggestad 218-310-9182 • theggestad57@gmail.com 209 Snively Road, Duluth, MN 55803

Northern California: Gene Kaczmarek 510-673-7162 • flyingties@aol.com 5432 Borgia Road, Fremont, CA 94538

Washington: Carl Johnson 425-308-6161 • flyfishalso@frontier.com P.O. Box 1206, Monroe, WA 98272 Western Rocky Mountain: Lee Davison 208-538-1462 • lee@snakeriveroutfitters.com 238 N. 4700 E., Rigby, ID 83442

THE IFFF COUNCILS 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! Western Rocky Mtn Washington Upper Midwest Southwest Southern South East Oregon Ohio

[4]

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

North East Northern California Mid Atlantic Great Lakes Gulf Coast Florida Eastern Rocky Mtn

Exec. Comm • Chairman of the Board/ President • Philip Greenlee: 530-356-9430 • philipgreenlee@att.net 1911 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA 96002

Exec. Comm. • Vice Chairman • Finance Committee Co-Chair • Carl Zarelli: 253-460-7752 • carlzarelli@comcast.net 4630 Memory Lane West, University Place, WA 98466

Exec. Comm • Secretary Herb Kettler: 434-977-6703 herbkettler@att.net 809 Winston Terrace, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Don Gibbs: 303-526-9256 ddgibbs@ecentral.com 108 Chokecherry Road, Golden, CO 80401

Exec. Comm • Treasurer • Finance Committee Co-Chair • Ron Winn: 321-723-3141(work) 321-777-3341• ronwin@bellsouth.net 315 Eutau Court, Indian Harbor, FL 32937

Larry Gibbs: 253-863-4910 flytier015@q.com 18112 South Tapps Drive, Lake Tapps, WA 98391

Exec. Comm. • Fly Fishing Fair Steering Committee Chair • Tilda Evans: 970-683-8879 • lewtildaevans@gmail.com 3602 “G” Road, Palisade, CO 81526

David Lemke: 713-502-1809 dlemke@sbcglobal.net 4002 Aberdeen Way, Houston, TX 77025

Exec. Comm. • Bud Frasca: 208-762-2631 • grizzking@aol.com 2699 E Packsaddle Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815

Bob Long: 208-520-5055 blong@spcpro.com 1002 Webster Street, Clarkston, WA 99403

Exec. Comm. – Membership Chair – Government Relations Chair • Howard Malpass: 318-780-3739 • whmalpass@hotmail.com 5825 Southern Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71106

Education Chair • Roger Miller: 559-226-4351 • rogfly1@hotmail.com 1107 E. Fedora, Fresno, CA 93704

Exec. Comm • IFFF Foundation President Earl Rettig: 541-330-9670 • herettig@msn.com 19928 Antler Point Drive, Bend, OR 97702

Rick Pope: 214-507-8967 rpope@airmail.net 8105 Sovereign Row, Dallas, TX 75247

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

Carl Ronk: 909-987-4051 flytyer@earthlink.net 8961 Whirlaway Court, Alta Loma, CA 91737

Exec. Comm • Flyfisher Editor in Chief Bill Toone: 406-556-7241 • btoone@3riversdbs.net 198 Game Trail Road, Bozeman, MT 59715

Communications Committee Chair Museum Committee Chair • Sherry Steele: 541-420-5532 • steelefly@msn.com P.O. Box 1438, Sisters, OR 97759

Exec. Comm. • Conservation Comm. Chair Rick Williams: 208-938-9004 troutdna@cableone.net 524 West Two Rivers Drive, Eagle, ID 83616

Mike Stewart: 860-653-4203 tellicofly@yahoo.com 215 Loomis Street, North Granby, CT 06060

THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS HAS MEMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES: 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

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[5]

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Board of Directors & Executive Committee

Thanks! thank you, to the generous sponsors of the IFFF International Fly Fishing Fair!

Major Sponsors As the world’s foremost outfitter, Cabela’s carries a huge diversity of quality outdoor products for shooting, boating, camping and more, with retail centers across the nation. But did you know this giant’s roots are firmly in fly fishing? Cabela’s was born in 1961 when Dick Cabela came up with a plan to sell fishing flies he purchased while at a furniture show in Chicago. Upon returning home Dick ran a classified ad in the Casper, Wyo., newspaper reading: “12 hand-tied flies for $1.” It generated one response. Undaunted, Dick rewrote the ad to read “FREE Introductory offer! 5 hand tied Flies....25c Postage.... Handling” and placed it in national outdoor magazines. Orders soon began arriving from around the country. Today, Cabela’s ranks as the No. 1 retailer of outdoor goods and maintains a complete fly fishing department carrying private label gear as well as equipment from all the foremost fly gear makers. Visit www.cabelas.com

Inland Empire Fly Fishers

Frank Amato Publications proudly sponsored the International Fly Fishing Fair July 12-14 in Spokane, Washington, and exhibited with three conjoining booths facing the flytiers and the entrance doors. The representatives from Frank Amato Publications enjoyed watching the tiers construct immaculate flies and loved seeing how anyone and everyone could walk up and watch them tie and ask as many questions as they liked. They also loved the fact that a group of young kids had the experience of enjoying the show as part of a camp. The venue was perfect for such a show – by far the best choice for a fly fishing show with the beautiful Spokane River flowing right behind the convention center. Frank Amato Publications thanks the International Federation of Fly Fishers for the opportunity and recommends visiting any IFFC Fly Fishing Fair. Look up www.AmatoBooks.com.

MORE AND MORE INTERNATIONAL By Philip Greenlee, Chairman of the Board of Directors

his past year we completed the goal to revamp the IFFF website using the latest technology. The new design brings us up-to-date so we stay competitive and can offer new programs. The other main goal was to finish cataloging our items in the IFFF museum. Today the IFFF office is light years ahead of where it was in the past, due to three years of hard work, a dedicated staff, and members contributing time to the organization. I want to extend a special recognition for the hard work of the IFFF Casting Board of Governors and the certified instructors from abroad who have made a huge difference in our foreign casting programs. Last April, I visited the Experience World Fly Fishing (EWF) event in Munich, Germany. This event is the largest in Europe and is put on by Robert Stroh and his wife, Michaela. In attendance were 28 IFFF certified instructors (see photo below) representing 12 countries and a group of world-class flytiers. The event was two days with 3,500 visitors in attendance. While at that show I learned that our own life member Ed

IFFF), and I personally Berg is the only American paid for my round-trip airtier asked to participate in fare. The IFFF did not pay the annual fly-tying contest my airfare. The black-tie held in Paris. With his help, dinner was held in the we are putting together a Philip Greenlee, same dining room used in European and United States Chairman of the the movie “Out of Africa.” fly-tying blog. It will give Board of Directors The tables were laden our tiers more exposure so with roses and candelabras. After the we can be on the world stage of fly dinner, I talked about the IFFF, the tying. state of our fisheries, and our educaYou may have heard the exprestion programs including fly tying and sion “what goes around comes fly casting. I felt like I was with a band around.” Last summer I was flying of brothers, and they indicated the from Bozeman to Denver, and a same to me in a personal thank-you woman and her husband sitting next letter I received from Chris Harrison, to me on the flight had just visited the president of the club. Montana from Africa to fish with a For some reason, I loved their guide. During the course of our conBritish formality with no fishing shirts versation, they learned of my associaand no denim clothing allowed at the tion with the IFFF, and, in turn, I function. I think once in a while forlearned the husband, Colin Church, mality is good for our soul because it was a past president of the Kenya Fly honors tradition and respect. It was an Fishing Club started in 1919. As we honor for me to sit at the main dining were saying good-bye in Denver, Colin table next to Harrison. He told me Church asked if I would be interested that Kenya has 1,500 miles of trout in coming to Nairobi to be the feastreams supported by two hatcheries tured speaker at their 92nd annual dinstarted in 1900 through donated ner (see photo, page 8). Over the next rainbow trout eggs from Scotland. couple months we worked out an Currently, we (the IFFF) are consideragreement: they paid my costs (not the ing ways to work with the Kenya Fly Fishing Club. Other than becoming an IFFF club, there is a possibility of providing them guidance with a fishery study on the trout population in their country. On another front, with Ken Brunskill’s and the Northern California Council’s (NCC) help, we have created a new program teaching disabled veterans about fly fishing. Veterans First Fly Fishing (VFFF) was formed in October 2010, and in June 2011 became a committee under the leadership of the NCC vice president of education. In July 2012, the IFFF approved this program to be nationwide. The VFFF is a 100 percent volunteer organization with the barest of administrative overhead (postal and printing costs), allowing more of the funds to be applied to materials and tools for the workshops

Casting instructors from 12 countries attended the Experience World Fly Fishing event.

Continues on next page

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[7]

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Just Fishing

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

I Am a Member 1

MATT WILHELM Residence Livingston, Montana IFFF Council Western Rocky Mountain Council

Member since 2000 Home waters Yellowstone River and its tributaries

Favorite fish

Brook trout

Memorable fishing experience Wet-wading the Upper Manistee River on hot summer days when I was 12 years old. Casting hoppers and ants to eager brookies, learning how to fish with a fly, and daydreaming about how to make a life out of fishing.

Reason for being a member Sharing with others my love of fish (and fishing), and protecting the wonderful world fish live in.

What others say Bill Toone, Flyfisher editor-in-chief said: I have had the privilege of knowing Matt for a number of years, fishing and teaching alongside him for most

Letters

of them. He is an excellent fisherman and caster, an outstanding ambassador for the Federation, an IFFF master casting instructor and an extremely talented teacher. His tireless work teaching youth about fly fishing throughout the state of Montana has brought much credit to the IFFF by his efforts. The IFFF is lucky to have Matt as one of its members. 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 International Federation of Fly Fishers.

JUST FISHING Continued from page 7

I’m sitting here reading my Flyfisher (Spring-Summer 2012) that just arrived in the mail today. I just noticed an error in the “At The Vise” article by John Johnson on the Full Motion Crayfish pattern (great pattern, by the way), or rather who he credited the pattern to. The article states that it’s “Jim” May, where it should read: “Steve” May. Steve is a friend of mine and a fine flytier. He’s a member of the Hamilton Area Fly Fishing and Tiers Club here in southern Ontario. Steve’s website is www.hafft.ca/stevemayflies.html. Deb Freele, London, Ontario, Canada

Also contacting us on the same mistake: The originator of the Full Motion Crayfish is Steve (not Jim) May and this year, at the 18th Annual Fly-Tying Symposium conducted by the Winter Hatches Fly Fishing Club (www.winterhatches.org), I had the pleasure of having him attend one of the classes I taught (rotary techniques). When I told Steve I would respond to John’s article, he said, “One thing to mention is that to ease the tying process, I wrap a Zonker strip and then work it (the material) forward with tying thread before pulling over the wing case and ribbing the abdomen (back to the eye) with thread.” His crayfish fly is available for non-tiers through Orvis.

Greg Herring, Winter Hatches Fly Fishing Club President, Toronto, Canada

shared it with Gene Kaczmarck, the Fly Tying Chair for the IFFF who immediately started using it to work with Project and trips, where volunteers pay their share of the trip costs. Healing Waters veterans in the San Francisco area through In 2006, Jesse Scott from the Evergreen Fly Fishing his home club, the Mission Peak Fly Anglers. Ed Huff, a talClub in Everett, Washington, developed a one-handed flyented wood and metal craftsman, looked at the idea and tying tool and named it the Evergreen Hand. In 2008, he built the first of many production Evergreen Hands. Today, thanks to Washington Council member Dean Childs, additional Evergreen Hands are in production for use by veterans’ organizations across the country. The Evergreen Hand isn’t the only tool developed by Scott and Childs. Other new tools of interest are the Cast Extender, the One Line Handler, the Hair Grabber and the Hair Stacker. The last two provide a one-handed person the capability of handling and tying with deer, moose or elk hair. For more information, please visit the Facebook page for Veterans First Fly Fishing. “Like” and “friend” them to obtain the drawings for all the tools mentioned in this information, along with videos on how to use them. Next year on September 23-28, 2013, the International Fly Fishing Fair will be in West Yellowstone, Montana, in the Union Pacific Building and the Holiday Inn. It will be a fun Philip Greenlee addresses the members of the Kenya Fly Fishing Club at their 92nd show, and the fishing should be great in and annual banquet. around Yellowstone National Park.

[8]

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

Home Waters To supp or tion, re t any IFFF con storatio servan progra m, plea or education se mak deducti e a tax b le c o n Int'l Fed tr eration ibution to: 5237 U of Fly F .S. ish Livingsto Hwy. 89 S., S ers te. n, MT 5 9047-9 11 176

CONSERVATION NEWS Wisconsin Native Brook Trout in Glacial Spring Ponds By Bob Tabbert Photo courtesy Bob Tabbert

cold to support more than a he last glacier that covered marginal food supply like midges, northern Wisconsin was scuds and terrestrials, so a 12- to over one mile thick. As it 14-inch brook trout is considered melted, the rivers of melting a trophy. runoff water deposited a thick Willow Springs in Price cover of glacial rock debris. When County, Wisconsin, is one such the rivers eroded down through pond located in a remote cedar the glacial rock deposits and interswamp, currently accessible only sected the water table, a spring by a long hike. It has spawning pond was developed. gravels, cold water temperatures, Other spring ponds were dissolved oxygen and a reproducformed from large blocks of ice ing population of brook trout. that Most importantly, there are no calved This lovely spring pond may very well hold a stock of You can help conserve, records of Willow Springs being off the relic brook trout. restore and protect our stocked with hatchery fish. glacier precious fisheries. Read the Unfortunately in the late 1970s, the Wisconsin and were buried in the glacial red patch at the top of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) dredged many of river’s rock deposits. This page to read how. the other Price County spring ponds and subsequently unsorted thick deposit of rocks, stocked them with hatchery brook trout. Today many of sands, gravels, cobbles, large rocks, Wisconsin’s glacial spring ponds contain a diverse mixture of along with blocks of ice, formed a hatchery and native brook trout. However, I think a few permafrost zone. As the climate remote ponds could still contain a population of relic brook warmed, this permafrost melted trout, descendants from the original ice age native brook and the disappearing ice block left trout. DNA studies could shed some light on this question. a depression in the glacial deposit. If The International Federation of Fly Fishers’ Cold Water this depression was deep enough to Committee, through a cooperative effort with Wisconsin’s intersect the groundwater, again a spring DNR and the University of Wisconsin, plan to investigate this pond was formed. exciting possibility with the hope of finding a strain of Scattered over the upper third of Wisconsin are Wisconsin native brook trout. We’ll let you know the results numerous small ponds that are glacial relics from 11,000 as the story unfolds over the next several years. years ago. Many of these ponds contain populations of 7- to 9-inch native brook trout. The water temperatures are too Bob Tabbert is the chair of the IFFF’s Cold Water Committee.

Index of Articles Wisconsin Native Brook Trout in Glacial Spring Ponds . . . . . . .9 Call to Protect a Precious Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Fly Tying Group Elects a New Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Club of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

IFFF Events and Casting Certification Calendars . . . . . . . . . . . .11 A New IFFF Logo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Reel Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[9]

Call to Protect a Precious Legacy By Will Atlas

n a mountain valley perched a thousand feet above sea level, a river snakes toward the sea. The water is as clear as a bottle of blue sapphire gin, splashing through steep riffles and sliding over boulder-covered tailouts. Despite the dramatic beauty of the mountain setting, this stream looks like it could be one of many mountain rivers around the West – except for one thing. Sprinkled through the tailout, floating as though they are in thin air, are five ghostly gray creatures: summer run steelhead. These fish, which return from the sea each year during snowmelt in June and July when warming water temperatures and high flows facilitate migration, have climbed more than 1,000 feet from sea level in only a few miles. Honed through thousands of years of natural selection, these fish complete a rugged migration, ascending falls more than 10 feet high to reach the upper river where they will wait nine months before spawning next spring. Each fall I have the chance to

encounter a few of them, tempting them to rise through the crystalline waters of the little river and eat a dry fly. Numbering only a few hundred at best, these fish are among the many pieces of unique and miraculous diversity that makes up their species. Their beauty Each fall the author has the chance to tempt beauties like and astonishing determinathis to rise through the crystalline waters and eat a dry fly. tion is matched only by their tance of this diversity is difficult to fragility. Many populations of summergrasp. As our society struggles to adapt run steelhead in the Pacific Northwest to the challenges of our changing are severely depressed; others have planet in the 21st century, we must been wiped out by the onslaught of draw a line as a community of anglers industrial activities that plague waterand conservationists, doing whatever sheds throughout the region. Sadly, we can to protect the precious shortsighted thinking continues to pose evolutionary legacy of our region’s a threat to the few remaining stronganadromous fish. holds of wild salmon and steelhead. Each of these smaller pieces adds Will Atlas is co-chair of the IFFF Steelhead to a sum-of-the-whole that can never be Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aquatic and fisheries science from the replaced, no matter how much money University of Washington and is working is spent on restoration, mitigation or toward a master’s in biology from Simon hatchery supplementation. For a sociFraser University. ety addicted to abundance, the impor-

FLY TYING GROUP ELECTS A NEW LEADER Photo by Pat Oglesby

im Ferguson of Salem, Oregon, was elected chairman of the board of the Fly Tying Group (FTG) at the Annual Meeting held during the International Fly Fishing Fair in Spokane, Washington. Other officers elected are: Carl Ronk, vice chairman; Al Ritt, secretary; and Steve Jensen

LIVINGSTON, MONTANA Budget Host

PARKWAY MOTEL Surrounded by blue-ribbon water and great hunting!

• In-room coffee • Pets accepted • Grassy BBQ area • HBO TV • Quiet location

• High-speed wireless internet • Micro/fridge in all rooms • Kitchenettes available • Two-room suites • All ground floor rooms

1124 W. Park, Livingston, MT 59047

800-727-7217 • 406-222-3840

www.budgethostparkway.com

[10]

continues as treasurer. Four newly elected board members were seated: Tom Logan of Tallahassee, Florida; Gene Barrington of Cumming, Georgia; Jim Crislip of St. Helens, Oregon; and Dave Roberts of Eagle Point, Oregon. Their fresh insights will help the organization grow and prosper. Fly Tying Group Membership Chairman Mike Stewart reported an increase of 57 percent since June 2011. Several new members also joined the group at the Spokane Fly Fishing Fair. Over the past year, the FTG has worked hard toward the implementation of the Strategic Plan that was adopted in 2011. The group is much nearer to the publication of a Directory of Fly Tying Instructors and Demonstration Tiers. The end result will be a network of instructors and demo tiers nationally and internationally. This project, along with the ever-growing Fly Tying Instructor’s Resource project and site, will help the Fly Tying Group become a leader in fly-tying education. The Tiers and Liars BBQ was a

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

highlight of the Fair for the Fly Tying Group members and demonstration tiers. The venue was outstanding, the food excellent, and the raffle and auction items were extensive and plentiful. Best of all was the fellowship we shared. Come join us at the 2013 BBQ in West Yellowstone, Montana, where there will be plenty of feathers, fur and fun. If you are a flytier and are interested in fly tying and fly-tying education, the FTG invites you to become a member. You can join on the International Federation of Fly Fishers website: www.fedflyfishers.org/Tying/ Membership.aspx. If you are a fly-tying instructor and have not received our questionnaire, please send your contact information to Frank Johnson at bighornjohnsons@gmail.com. FTG would like to learn from you, know about your teaching activities, and include you in the Directory of Fly Tying Instructors. FTG looks forward to hearing from you.

Photo courtesy Will Atlas

CONSERVATION NEWS

C ALENDAR CLUB OF THE YEAR

IFFF EVENTS

A Washington Council Club Receives Honors

December 2012 Photo courtesy of Tim Gavin

By Tim Gavin

embers of the Yakima Fly Fishers Association were surprised and honored to be named “Organization of the Year” for 2012 by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). In a statement released May 22, 2012, the WDFW noted: “The Yakima Fly Pictured, left to right, at the recognition ceremony are Phil Anderson, director of the WDFW, and Yakima Fly Fishers Association won the Fishers board members Tim Gavin, Gary Fairbanks, award for sponsoring and raising Todd Smith and Donna Broers. funds for a local kids’ fishing event, teaching young people fly the members of the Yakima Fly Fishers tying and fly fishing, and educating the Association, we are very pleased and public about the need to protect bull honored to have been selected as trout in the region.” Organization of the Year for 2012. We The Yakima Fly Fishers Association have worked hard over the last several is an Affiliated Member Club of the years to develop an organization that International Federation of Fly Fishers contributes positively to environmental with a 120-person membership includprogress through educational and ing TU, IFFF and “At Large” members. recreational projects. It is our hope that The association has existed in Yakima this recognition will help us do even for more than 40 years. While no single more by attracting more interest in our club activity stands out above the othactivities and even greater participation ers, the group has had a positive impact by our members.” on multiple areas related to environThe club members are grateful to mental education and recreational flythe DWFW for its ongoing support fishing opportunities. and assistance with their activities. The award was officially presented They look forward to continuing a to the Yakima Fly Fishers board memconstructive relationship, believing bers at a regional meeting of the their future success depends on findWDFW in Yakima July 10, 2012. The ing the right balance between educafollowing statement was made by Tim tion and having fun fishing. This Gavin, Immediate Past President, upon award is recognition that they are receipt of the award: “On behalf of all headed in the right direction.

A NEW IFFF LOGO? By Ron Winn

t the recent International Federation of Fly Fishers Fair in Spokane, a discussion about possibly modernizing our logo was held at the Council Presidents’ meeting. Our trademarked reel logo has been with us since the early days of the Federation and is recognized worldwide as our symbol. It is likely that we are all proud to be a part of the Federation and we should be very careful about any sweeping changes to our identifiable logo. However, perhaps it is time to update it and use it in addition to our traditional logo currently used. With that in mind we have decided

8th Annual Trout Day. Russell View Park, 1McKaughan, Russellville, Arkansas. Contact Jerry jmck1951@yahoo.com. www.caddisflyfishers.org/trout_day.html 13th Annual Great Lakes Council Fly Tying Expo. Holt, Michigan, www.fffglc.org

January 2013 Idaho Fly Fishing Expo 11-12 Western Boise, Idaho, www.bvffexpo.com 11th Annual Northern Ohio Fly Tying 12 Expo. Kirtland, Ohio. Contact Mark Hickman, (440) 338-8991, www.ncff.net

March 2013 Fly Tyer and Fly Fishing Expo 8-9 NW Albany, Oregon. www.nwexpo.com

April 2013 Western Colorado Fly Fishing Exposition 6Contact Doubletree Hotel, Grand Junction, Colorado. Pat Oglesby, pcoglesby@bresnan.net., www.grand-valley-angler.com

May 2013 Washington Fly Fishing Fair. Kittitas 3-4 Event Center, Ellensburg, Washington, www.washingtoncouncilfff.org Fly Fishing Festival Hosted by the 16-18 South East Council at Western Carolina University, Dillsboro, North Carolina, www.fffsec.org

September 2013 IFFF International Fly Fishing Fair 24-28 West Yellowstone, Montana, www.fedflyfishers.org

2012-2013 IFFF C ASTING INSTRUCTOR CERTIFIC ATION The following events offer IFFF Casting Instructor Certification. Pre-registration is required. Call 406-222-9369 to register. There is a $100 fee for Certified Instructor (CI) Testing plus a $50 fee if you pass; $175 fee for Master Instructor (MA) Testing plus $50 pass fee; $175 for Two-Handed Casting Instructor (THCI) Testing plus $50 pass fee. You must also be a current IFFF member.

December 8-9 CI, MCI, THCI, Test #1219, Long Beach, CA January 17-20 CI, MCI, Test #1301, Denver, CO

to ask for members’ input on this. Please let us know your thoughts or, better yet, should you have an idea in mind perhaps sketching a sample of what you are thinking. I, for one, would like to retain the spirit of the existing simple-yet-definitive logo, but perhaps update the reel to include some of today’s features such as a wide arbor and stylish design. Even the font style for the three “Fs” could be considered for an update. One council president suggested a modern skeletal design for the reel. Try to incorporate the fact that we are the International Federation of Fly Fishers into your design. Once we have some suggestions,

January 18-19 CI, MCI, Test #1302, Marlborough, MA

January 25-26 CI, MCI, Test #1303, Somerset, NJ March 14-17 CI, Test #1304, Salt Lake City, UT Schedule subject to change; get current schedule at www.fedflyfishers.org

the Board of Directors will consider going forward on the project – or not. To register a trademark is quite laborious and can be costly as well, so we would like to have a number of designs/thoughts to review before a decision is reached. Please forward any thoughts or designs to our office in Livingston at logo@fedflyfishers.org or mail to: Int’l Federation of Fly Fishers, Logo Update, 5237 U.S. Hwy 89 South, Suite 11, Livingston, MT 59047. Ron Winn is from Indian Harbor, Florida, and is the IFFF Treasurer.

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[11]

REEL RECOVERY

OBITUARIES

Fly-fishing Retreats For Men with Cancer

Dwight Caron

By Robert L Bernard

he Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association and the Central Iowa Fly Fisher, plus other International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) councils and clubs throughout the United States, support a unique organization called Reel Recovery by promoting its goals, recruiting participants, donating (money, time or materials), and by volunteering as Fishing Buddies. Founded in 2003, Reel Recovery is a national nonprofit organization devoted to helping men deal with the emotional shock of cancer and improve the quality of their lives. They offer three-day, completely free retreats at various extraordinary fly-fishing destinations throughout the Lower 48. Essentially, there are two main components to a retreat: The most obvious is fly fishing described as being “the hook to draw them in” or the reason for attending the function; the other equally important component is called Courageous Conversation, where participants help each other cope with the aftermath of cancer. When the two components are combined, the astounding power of the total process happens. When men come together in a group to participate in sharing, they feel less isolated and are inspired by being a member of a group of men with like concerns. At the retreats, it’s a safe and supportive environment to talk; they can take a few risks and open up about their concerns. The men support each other, and feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. It’s a comfortable place to be. The Courageous Conversation is not a psychotherapeutic method; however, it has an astounding therapeutic effect. The IFFC encourages its members to become involved in Reel Recovery. To learn more, apply to be a retreat participant or Fishing Buddy, make a donation, or offer to help, visit www.reelrecovery.org or call 800-699-4490. There were 22 retreats being held in 17 states during the 2012 season, with even more planned in 2013.

[12]

wight J. Caron, 82, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2012, surrounded by family in his home, after a short battle with cancer. Born October 23, 1929, in Shelton, Wash., to Joseph and Marguerite Caron, Dwight was known for his ability to tell a story, robust laugh and love of fishing. He was proud to serve in the Korean War in the Military Police. This experience led him to pursue a career in law enforcement, where he first served the Grays Harbor Sheriff's Department at Westport. While there, he was a member of the first team of police to be trained as scuba divers. He moved to California to work for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, where he organized and trained a diving team to aid in victim recovery. While in California, he went on to serve the Department of Forestry. He then took the opportunity to move back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family and spent time at the Ocean Shores Police Department. He finished his law

enforcement career at the Thurston County Sheriff's Department and retired as an undersheriff. In his retirement he was committed to the work of Project Healing Waters, where he helped rehabilitate disabled veterans by engaging them in fly-fishing outings and fly-tying education. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy Caron; daughters Rebecca Caron (Gordon Rennie) and Jani Iverson (Mick Desserault); sons Mike (Patty) Caron, Robert (Bonnie) Caron and Todd Iverson; brothers Milton and James (Sheila) Caron; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Dwight was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Mark Iverson. Donations can be made in Dwight's memory to Project Healing Waters in Lakewood, Wash. (www.projecthealingwaters.org). Information courtesy of the Olympian newspaper (www.theolympian.com) and Mike Clancy.

Chuck Echer

huck Echer passed away at home in Pollock Pines, Calif., on June 12, 2012. Chuck is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Davina Echer, daughter Andrea Coakley and grandson Tyler Coakley. Chuck was born May 31, 1941 and began his fly-tying career at the age of seven in 1948. He has been actively teaching fly-fishing and fly-tying classes and seminars since 1978 in the San Francisco Bay area, Sacramento and Northern California. In three decades, he has literally taught thousands of students the art of fly tying and fly fishing. During his 30-plus years of public appearances, he has demonstrated his tying skills at both international and domestic venues, appearing as a keynote speaker at many prestigious club events from coast to coast. Chuck was the 1993 recipient of the IFFF Buz Buszek Fly Tying Award. He was inducted into the Northern California Council’s Fly Fishing Hall of Fame in February 2009 for his lifetime contributions. Chuck also set two IGFA fly rod line class world records in 1990

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

and 1991. Chuck had fly-fished Alaska, New England, Canada, the western United States, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and England. He was a fly-tying veteran for freshwater as well as saltwater. He predominately tied trout flies but enjoyed tying everything from midges to sailfish flies. Chuck graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1963 and started his metallurgical science career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on to Columbus, Ohio, then to Livermore, California in 1968. He finished his 34year career at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as an analytical electron microscopist. A celebration of Chuck’s life was held Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at Chapel of the Pines Funeral Home in Placerville, California. Contributions in Chuck’s name may be made to the Northern California Council, International Federation of Fly Fishers. Information from the Chapel of the Pines Funeral Home.

Mark J. Romero

Gardner L. Grant

ark J. Romero passed away March 18, 2012, felled by lung cancer. He was retired from the music industry as a sound engineer and a road/stage manager with many famous musicians and their bands. In an online biography, Mark wrote: “My first experiences with fly fishing started in 1989 on my wife’s birthday. A friend of ours took us to the Beaverkill in upstate New York and the rest is history.” Soon after taking up the art of fly tying, Romero demonstrated tying at fly-fishing events all across the country. Mark Romero was a life member of Trout Unlimited, the International Federation of Fly Fishers and the Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers. He devoted a large portion of his time to issues related to conservation and flyfishing education. He also was a dedicated member of Catskill Fly Tyers Guild and Fly Fishing Center and Museum. He served on the Conservation Committee of Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers from 1994 to 2008 and worked with Project Access for the Handicapped and the Trout in the Classroom Committee. He also served on his TU chapter’s Conservation Committee. He was involved with tributary openings for the passage of spawning trout and with planting trees in riparian areas to improve habitat. Romero retired to Lakeview, Arkansas, with his wife Misako Ishimura in 2006. In a final message to the 2012 TU banquet Mark wrote: “Just please know that all my love is being sent your way, and that I thank you for all your kindness. I’m nothing more than a messenger who cares for all of you, and the fact that you all care so much for the rivers and the fish.” A Memory Fund for Mark Romero was established at Bank of America to support fly-fishing conservation and education activities. If you would like to contribute, mail a personal check to the Memory Fund for Mark Romero to Misako Ishimura, P.O. Box 54, Lakeview, AR 72642 or e-mail misakoflyfish@gmail.com for additional information. This edited obituary was written by Bud Bynack and originally published in Catskill Fly Tyers Guild Newsletter, Gazette, April 2012.

ardner L. Grant of Purchase, New York, and Jupiter, Florida, passed away March 28, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. He was 85 years old. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Gardner spent his early years in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Business School, and led a family-owned company in the invention and development of equipment for the automatic collection of tolls on tunnels, bridges and turnpikes. Following the sale of the company to a publicly held corporation, he moved his family to Scarsdale, New York, and continued to serve as president of that company for over a decade. Later, Gardner became active in real estate development and management. A lifelong fly fisher, Grant was a Life Member of the IFFF where he was president from 1976 to 1978, served as a senior adviser, and received the orga-

nization’s highest award – the Lapis Lazuli – in 1984. He also served as president of New York’s Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers and the American Museum of Fly Fishing; and a board member of Trout Unlimited, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research, and Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. Gardner is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Ellen, his daughter Laurie Zimmerman, son Gardner L. Grant Jr., son-in-law Dr. Franklin Zimmerman, daughter-in-law Sulu Hegde Grant, and grandchildren Stacey, Ricky, Sean and Shakira. The family requests that any donations in Grant’s memory be made to the American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vermont. Information provided by IFFF member and former President Gary Grant.

Jerry H. Simpson

IFFF

Life Member Jerry H. Simpson of Highland, Illinois, died Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born January 9, 1933, in Alton, Illinois, the son of Perry and Marie Simpson. Jerry married on September 19, 1953, to Barbara Ann Olson. After his marriage, he and his wife lived north of Peoria where he ran a dairy farm. Later he sold insurance for 12 years, mostly for Mutual of Omaha. In 1973, he opened Jerry’s Bait and Tackle Shop in Highland; it is still in operation today as Jerry’s Tackle and Guns. Mr. Simpson was a member of the First Baptist Church in Highland, Illinois. He was also a Life Member of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, VFW Post 5694 (Highland) and Single Action Shooting Society, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Fishing Tackle Dealers Association and Fly Tackle Dealer Association. He was a former member of the Ozark Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, Highland Pistol and Rifle Club, Highland Chamber of Commerce, Quail Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Boy Scouts Leader and

Toastmaster. He is survived by Barbara A Simpson, son Michael J. Simpson and daughter Mary Ann Simpson as well as his brother and sister, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Highland, Illinois. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers should be directed to the First Baptist Church in Highland at the family’s request. Information courtesy of Spengel Boulanger Funeral Home.

Terry and Roxanne

Wilson Authors, speakers available for club events and shows. Slide shows, seminars, and tying demonstrations. Warmwater fly fishing. (largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, and other species)

terrywil@windstream.net • 417-777-2467

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[13]

The 2012 IFFF International Fly Fishing Fair Recap International Federation of Fly Fishers 2012 Awards Award

Recipient

Buszek Memorial Award Steven Fernandez Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award

Jim Ferguson

IFFF Conservation Award

Robert Tabbert

Leopold Conservation Award Dr. Robert Gresswell Federator of the Year

Bud Frasca

Lee Wulff Award McKenzie Cup McKenzie Cup

Kern River Fly Shop (Guy Jeans) Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette

Lew Jewett Award

Ann Miller

Roderick Haig-Brown Award Harger Award

Darrel Martin Robert Tabbert

Council Awards of Excellence Eastern Rocky Mountain Florida Gulf Coast Great Lakes North East

Bruce Williams Tracie Maler Sidney Smith Mike Matuszewski Glenn Erikson

Northern California

Bobbie Armor and Vicki Fenner

Oregon

Carol LaBranche and Kim DeVries

Southern

Dennis Reed

South East

Mike Arnold

South West Upper Midwest Washington

Carl Laski Art Mazzier Len Zickler

Western Rocky Mountain Dave Londeree, Duane Marler and Harley Reno Casting Board of Governors Awards Governor’s Pins

Jeff Wagner, Hutch Hutchison and Carl McNeil

Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Award Gordy Hill and Floyd Franke Lapis Lazuli Award

Ron Cordes

Pat Oglesby from Grand Junctions, Colorado, is a longtime IFFF member, the official fair photographer and the author of the awards profiles. In his spare time, Pat and his lovely wife, Carol, operate and judge the yearly IFFF Photo Contest (see pages 46-47).

Order of the Lapis Lazuli Award

he Order of the Lapis Lazuli Award is the highest honor in the International Federation of Fly Fishers and is not necessarily awarded each year. The award is for exemplary and individual achievement, and the selection is by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Committee. The recipient receives a one-of-a-kind, specially designed gold ring with a lapis stone and the IFFF logo. Lapis lazuli is regarded as the stone of friendship and truth. The deep azure stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and aid its wearer in authenticity and the ability to display his or her opinion openly. An IFFF member for 46 year, Ron Cordes has been recognized for his extraordinary contributions and service to the IFFF and has been inducted into the Order as the 2012 recipient. He grew up in northwest Wisconsin where fishing opportunities were abundant. His father was an avid general tackle angler, but he did own a fly rod. It wasn’t until Ron was in graduate school that he became interested in fly fishing. He found a job with a fishing lodge in Wisconsin while in high school and college. Order of the Lapis Lazuli Ron’s formal education earned him a doctorate Award recipient Ron Cordes, in chemical engineering and a juris doctorate in law from the University of California, Berkeley. His lengthy left, with Phil Greenlee. resume includes teaching experience at the University of Idaho in Idaho Falls, Idaho, academic honors, publications and community activities. After getting out of college, he wanted to travel and launched his expedition, “chasing summer around the world.” His travels around the globe were partially financed by doing fly-fishing presentations for Bristol Bay Lodge of Alaska. Also during this time he started writing. By this time he felt he should get a “real job.” In 1972-1973 he was the scientific adviser for the government of Iran’s Department of Environmental Conservation in Tehran, Iran. After returning to the United States, he practiced law in California until 1978. In 1979 he began a career at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in Idaho where he worked until 2007. Not only did Ron get a job in the mountains, he also fell in love there. Betty was living part-time on the Madison River when Ron met her and, within 20 minutes, he was in love and knew that she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They were married the following year and have been together for 32 years. Their home is near the South Fork of the Snake River and the Henrys Fork. Ron has been published around the world. His publishing resume includes editor for both Fly Fisherman Magazine and Fly Fishing Heritage. He authored “Lake Fishing With a Fly,” “Fly Fishing For Backpackers,” “Cordes/LaFontaine Pocket Guides” (27 volumes) and numerous articles on fly fishing. He is also the creator of the Federation of Fly Fishers’ “Fly Fishing Instructor’s Handbook.” Although Ron had been an IFFF member for many years, he really hadn’t been active with his club, the Snake River Cutthroats, other than to attend club functions. While at a gathering with some of his coworkers and friends, all IFFF members, he was asked to help with the planning of the 2003 Conclave to be held in his hometown of Idaho Falls. He agreed and served as marketing and advertising chairman. At that Conclave he was asked to serve on the Board of Directors, which he did until 2009. He held the position of chairman of the Board of Directors from 2006-2009. During these years he also served as the vice president of education. Ron is overwhelmed to be among other Lapis recipients and cherishes the honor. Being the recipient has special meaning because it is acknowledgement of his pursuit to better the organization. He always strives to do high-quality work in whatever he pursues.

Articles and photos by Pat Oglesby

Casting Board of Governors Awards Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Awards

his Master Study Group. According to fellow caster Al Burr: “Gordy’s lasting The Lifetime Achievement Award commitment to mentoring instructors is given by the Board of Governors of of all levels is very deserving of the the IFFF Casting Instructor Program Lifetime Achievement Award. His in recognition of those who have made personal commitment to the Master significant contributions to the art of fly Study Group has brought new meaning casting instruction. The recipients for to volunteerism.” With Gordy’s 2012 are Gordy Hill and Floyd Franke. moderation, the Masters Study Group has flourished with 340 fly casting Gordy Hill instructors in 17 countries. Dr. Gordon (Gordy) Hill of Big Gordy is active both locally and Pine Key, Florida, first picked up a fly nationally with the many committees, rod in the 1930s at the urging of his testing and workshops, and contributing fly-fishing grandfather and fished the to the Loop. Catskills for trout back when silk lines We are fortunate he continued his were what you used. love for casting and His grandfather fishing as he has cultured Gordy’s been invaluable in lifelong love for the casting program. fly fishing, but his David Lambert says: father was also a fly “Gordy Hill brought fisher who further to our sport the stimulated his passion intellect and curiosity for the fly rod. His of a scientist, the grandfather and observational and father were among diagnostic skills of the first saltwater a surgeon, and the fly fishers. Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Award enthusiasm and Gordy has been recipient Gordy Hill, left, with David Diaz. honesty of a kid fishing for more than with his first fly 70 years. He lives in rod.” Few people can claim a lifetime the Florida Keys where he specializes in of achievement in fly casting and fly fishing the flats for tarpon, bonefish and casting instruction more completely than permit. His fishing experiences include flyGordy Hill. fishing destinations around the world. Gordy is a certified fly casting instructor, master certified casting instructor and sits on the Casting Board of Governors. Many casters feel one of Gordy’s most noted achievements is

Floyd Franke Floyd Franke is a Life Member of the IFFF and a master certified casting instructor residing in Roscoe, New York. Floyd’s passion for teaching fly

casting spans many decades. He became an instructor at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing in 1989 and later replaced Joan Wulff as the head instructor of the school. He is more than just a casting instructor; he encourages students to become instructors themselves. Floyd chaired the Casting Board of Governors for a five-year term, and during his leadership he earned the respect of all board members as well as fly casting instructors everywhere. Even many that know Floyd have no idea that he is an award-winning flytier. His beetles appear in C. Boyd Pfeiffer’s book, “Bug Making.” He holds a guide license for the famous river he lives on, the Beaverkill, as well as others such as the Delaware and Esopus. Floyd is also the author of “Fish On! A Guide to Playing and Landing Big Fish on a Fly.” In the book he explores a segment of fishing seldom discussed and often learned the hard way. Floyd is reported to have stated, “A master instructor must be both a student of casting and a student of teaching; this is where the truly great instructors are born.” Floyd has displayed this level of dedication to teaching and mentoring.

Governors’ Pins Governors’ Pins are awarded in recognition of continued support for the Casting Program in areas of administration, committee involvement or program implementation. Recipients of the pins for 2012 are Hutch Hutchison, Carl McNeil and Jeff Wagner.

The Roderick Haig-Brown Award The Roderick Haig-Brown Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to angling literature. Darrel Martin of Tacoma, Washington, certainly meets the criteria for the Roderick Haig-Brown Award, in particular his respect for the ethics and traditions of fly fishing. Darrel is a noted historian of fly fishing and enjoys sharing his antique angling knowledge by conducting classes on such topics as hook making, where he takes a piece of soft wire, creates a barb, adds a point and tempers the hook so it is no longer pliable. Darrel has authored four books; “Fly-Tying Methods” (1987), “Micropatterns: Tying and Fishing the Small Fly” (1999), “The Fly-Fishers Illustrated Dictionary” (2004), and “The Fly-Fisher’s Craft: The Art and History” (2006). In addition to writing books, Darrel is a contributing editor to Fly Rod and Reel magazine. Martin is a regular presenter at fly-fishing shows, including

the International Fly Fishing Fair. He shares his talents as a demonstration flytier, conducts workshops on making antique fly-fishing gear, and as a certified casting instructor conducts a class called “The Fundamentals of Fly Casting.” Darrel always seems to find a new angle, a new approach, or some interesting research Roderick Haig-Brown Award recipient to offer his readers. His effort Darrel Martin, left, with Phil Greenlee. to pass forward the historical aspect of fly fishing embodies the philosophy and spirit of this prestigious award.

Flyfisher Autum 2012 - Winter 2013

[15 ]

The 2012 IFFF International Fly Fishing Fair Recap Federator of the Year

he Federator of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated unusual devotion to the IFFF and, through outstanding contributions, has benefited the Federation as an organization. This award is bestowed upon an individual for achievements wide in scope and not limited to local or regional activities. The criteria require devotion and contributions to the IFFF consistent with its objectives. The 2012 recipient, Bud Frasca, grew up in New Your City and joined the Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers club in 1963 at the age of 18. He was the first youth to ever hold membership in the organization. In 1965, the Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers was one of the organizing clubs of the Federation of Fly Fishers and Bud became a charter member of the new IFFF organization. He continued to hold membership, but wasn’t very active for a few years during the time he was going to college and serving in the military. During his youth, Bud was fortunate to be mentored by many well-known names in Eastern fly fishing. He mentions anglers with whom we are all familiar such as Ernest Schwiebert, Charles Fox, Vincent Marinaro, Arnold Gingrich, A. J. McClane and Lee and Joan Wulff. In 1969 he and his father, also an IFFF member, attended their first Conclave in Snowmass, Colorado, as a vendor displaying their books for Freshet Press. Their publishing company focused on printing out-of-print fishing books. In 1978, Bud moved to California and joined the Golden Gate Anglers and Diablo Valley Fly Fishers, both IFFF clubs where he became involved on the local level. In 1990, he started demonstrating his fly-tying skills at the national Conclave and continued being a tier until 1997 when he assumed the responsibilities of Conclave Exhibitor Chairperson, a role he held through 2011. Bud was very effective in filling the Conclave exhibitor hall each year due to his contacts from the publishing industry and his business, Northwest Classic Tackle. In 1998, Bud was elected president of North Idaho Fly Casters and, as a

[16 ]

result, served on the Western Rocky Mountain Council Board of Directors. He Federator of the Year Award recipient served as Bud Frasca, left, with Phil Greenlee. the council secretary for five years before becoming president of the council where he served for another six years. He was first seated on the IFFF National Board of Directors in 2008 and continues to serve in that capacity. There he has served on the Finance Committee and the Membership Committee. He is a trustee for the IFFF Foundation and served on the Conclave Steering Committee for two years. Bud has a long history of being a strong financial supporter of the IFFF. As a member of the President’s Club, he is also a Life Member. He is a generous supporter of fundraising and can always be counted on to donate to raffles and auctions where he frequently can be found making purchases. If you were to visit his home or business, you would be in awe of the merchandise he has purchased over the years at IFFF fundraisers. Bud is a gentle person with a deep regard for the IFFF. Bud Frasca has been an IFFF member since 1965, or 47 years. He has not only been a member but is an activist in promoting and furthering the mission and goals of the organization. Bud has received awards from various councils, but this is the first award at the national level and he is humbled. To him it is a very prestigious award, and he is honored to be associated with prior recipients. Many are close friends, and that in itself has special meaning. Bud reports he loves the fly rod he received as part of the award and has been quite successful with it!

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

Lew Jewett Memorial Life Award The Lew Jewett Memorial Award is presented annually to an individual who has promoted the sport of fly fishing through distinguished efforts to draw more people into fly fishing and/or enhance the knowledge and ability of the fly fisher. This year’s recipient, Ann Miller of Stevensville, Michigan, has been fishing her entire life, half of that time as a fly fisher. Ann joined the Federation in 1986 and immediately became involved with the Great Lakes Council (GLC), serving as a director and as editor of the GLC newsletter. Ann, along with Dorothy Schramm, cofounded Flygirls of Michigan, an IFFF charter club with 300 members whose purpose is to help women get into fly fishing. The club welcomes women from beginner to expert skill level. Flygirls regularly schedules fly-fishing outings throughout the year along with fly-casting workshops, fly-tying classes, knot and rigging instruction, rod-building classes and entomology workshops. Ann loves to instruct and not only helps with the annual schools, but volunteers for the ongoing workshops. Jim Schramm, president of GLC, says: “Ann has been tireless in her efforts to draw more people into fly fishing and more importantly, into Lew Jewett the IFFF. Ann is one Memorial Life of those invaluable Award recipient people who steps Ann Miller. forward and takes on tasks that need to get done. Her expertise in fundraising and her ability to multi-task has made major contributions to the IFFF and GLC.” Ann’s most recent project stemmed from her love of fly fishing and teaching. While teaching beginning and intermediate flyfishing schools, she became frustrated with the lack of comprehensive Midwest information on insect hatches, taxonomy, behavior and flies to match them. As an aquatic biologist, she decided to create a publication as a teaching aid for her instructional classes. Her first book, “Hatch Guide for Upper Midwest Streams,” was released by Frank Amato Publications in February 2012 and has already gone into the second printing.

Articles and photos by Pat Oglesby

Lee Wulff Award

Photo Courtesy Guy Jeans

he Lee Wulff Award is presented to recognize the business side of fly fishing. The recipients have shown outstanding industry innovation and stewardship for water and fisheries resources. 2012 recipient Guy Jeans, along with his wife Raquel and daughters Brooke and Elli, own the Kern River Fly Shop in Kernville, California. Guy is the guide and instructor for the shop and is an IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor with more than 30 years of angling experience. He spends more than 200 days each year guiding clients in such wonderful locations as the Sequoia National Forest, Golden Trout Wilderness, South Sierra Wilderness and the Southern Sierras, to name a few. He guides his clients to large and Lee Wulff Award recipient Guy smallmouth bass, trout and Jeans, owner of the Kern River even carp. Fly Shop. Professionally, Guy is a Simms Guide Ambassador and a contract fly designer for Solitude Fly Company. He is especially proud of his Kern River Emerger, a fly he developed that is sold internationally. One of the special services he offers is a fiveday guided pack trip into the legendary Golden Trout Wilderness. Here his clients have an opportunity to catch three of California’s wild-heritage trout. His Kern River Fly Fishing School is dedicated to teaching students the elements of fly fishing. The school presents all aspects of fly fishing and offers a variety of classes aimed at a multitude of skill levels. All classes are taught by IFFF certified casting instructors on his staff. Guy was the founding president of the Southern Sierra Fly Fishing Club in the Kern River Valley. During the past seven years, under his guidance, the club has grown to 140 members. Guy has worked closely with the Kern River Fish Hatchery and the California Department of Fish and Game regarding the Kern River Rainbow Project. The Kern River rainbow is classified as a Class 2 species of special concern and the project provides protection. The Southern Sierra Fly Fishers were successful in securing a grant for the funding of water-well drilling to enhance the hatchery water delivery system. Guy has also donated time and effort to the restoration of the California golden trout in the South Fork of the Kern River. This award recognizes his hard work on both the business and ecological sides of fly fishing.

Buz Buszek Memorial Award

he Buz Buszek Memorial Award is presented annually to that person who has made significant contributions to the art of fly tying. The recipient may be either an amateur or professional who displays tying skills, creativity, innovation and shares knowledge by teaching or publication. The 2012 recipient, Steven Fernandez from Venice, California, started his lifelong love for the sport as a youngster while on family camping trips with his grandfather. When he was 12, Steve was in a tackle store and saw flies displayed for sale. He had no idea what they were, but he was interested. He bought two of them for 9 cents each to more closely examine them. He found it fascinating that those hooks, with nothing more than a bit of feather, floss and yarn, would catch fish. With that interest he launched his fly-tying career after finding duck feathers at a local pond and raiding his mother’s sewing kit for yarn and thread. In time, his grandfather presented him with a Ned Grey fly-tying kit. Soon, Steve secured employment in a store that sold fishing supplies, and he started learning more about fly tying. At age 14, he actually visited Ned Grey’s fly shop and discovered all the materials he had only read and heard about. Being self-taught, Steven credits the books by Jack Dennis, “Western Trout Fly Tying Manual,” and J. Edson Leonard, “Flies,” for improving his fly-tying skills. Steven joined the Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers club in 1974. He started attending the club’s meetings and was soon mentored by some of the club members. He became proficient at tying, and Ned Grey offered him a job of tying 40 dozen flies each week. Steven performed this task while making the dean’s list at a junior college where he was studying architecture. He met fellow Californians Wayne and Donna Luallen, and they instantly became friends. Steven credits the Luallens for significantly advancing his skills and getting him to join the IFFF in 1975. Later that year, Fernandez was invited to demonstrate fly tying at the Southwest Council Conclave. Two years later he attended his first national Conclave in West Yellowstone, Montana, where he judged the fly-tying contest. Here he also met some of his idols in the flytying world such as Gary Borger, Dave Whitlock and Darwin Atkins. That same year Field and Stream ran a feature story on 16-year-old Steve titled, “Boy Wonder of Fly Tying.” He tied commercially for several years and has demonstrated his fly-tying skill around the world in Holland, England, Norway and Denmark. Judith Buz Buszek Memorial Award Dunham included Steven and his signature, wing-style Recipient Steven Fernandez. Pompador in her book, “The Atlantic Salmon Fly: The Fly Tiers and Their Art.” His Catskill-style dry flies and salmon flies are works of art. He developed a unique art that fascinates many observers when he started tying flies on straightened-out hooks using atypical materials and techniques. Steven’s peers claim he is an incredibly talented flytier who freely gives his time to promote the art while teaching and sharing with others. In addition, he is an instructor who loves to help others. Steven says, “The IFFF Buszek Award is the most prestigious award in fly tying, and I am humbled to be the recipient. What makes it extra special is that my peers feel I am deserving. The award is about giving and sharing and I hope to help with the resurgence of fly tying. It is about helping others enjoy and improve the art we love.” Flyfisher Autum 2012 - Winter 2013

[17 ]

The 2012 IFFF International Fly Fishing Fair Recap The McKenzie Cup

he McKenzie Cup Award is given annually to the IFFF Club that has made an outstanding contribution on behalf of the IFFF. This year the honor is shared between two clubs – the Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers and the Acadiana Fly Rodders.

Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers The Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers (STFF) is an IFFF affiliate club in Redding, California, dedicated to the art and science of fly fishing. They put efforts into preservation of the local world-class fisheries and watersheds by participating in habitat restoration projects. STFF provides its members and the local community with the opportunity to learn and improve their fly-fishing skills through educational opportunities, regular fly-fishing outings, and opportunities to develop friendships among other passionate fly fishers. Some of the club projects are Project Healing Waters, Kids Camp, conservation and Trout in the Classroom. The club is proud of its efforts to get youth involved in fly fishing and conservation. The club holds an annual Fly Fishing Fair as a fundraiser that provides fly-tying demonstrations, fly-tying classes, fly casting, spey casting demonstrations, etc. Last year STFF was successful in establishing a dedicated clubhouse/ classroom facility for its activities. It functions well with video and projection equipment, a full complement of fly-tying tools and materials, and an expansive fly-fishing library.

Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette is a 25-year-old IFFF club located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and is one of the most active clubs in the South. It holds an annual conclave each year with free admission and encourages the public to attend fly-tying, casting and lecture presentations. For the past three years, club members have held free casting lessons at one of the local coffeehouses. They also hold free casting lessons through their local national parks. Club members provide casting instruction to students in their local middle and high schools. Other youth education includes participation with the Boy Scouts of America in their Fly Fishing Merit Badge program. The club teaches Fly Fishing 101 to youth from the local Wild Turkey Federation each year at its annual event. The club benefits from having three certified and two master certified casting instructors as active members. In 2011, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the club sponsored an event for Reel Recovery by hosting 12 cancer survivors on a fly-fishing outing. The members are active in the Gulf Coast Council and hold seats on various committees including the Conservation Committee.

Left, McKenzie Cup Award recipient Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette, left to right: Bob Tabbert, Rusty Dunn, Carl Johnson and Phil Greenlee. Right, McKenzie Cup Award recipient Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers’ Art Agnew, left, with Phil Greenlee.

[18 ]

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

Leopold Conservation Award The IFFF Leopold Award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to fisheries and land ecology. The person should have followed in his/her career an adherence to the land ethic espoused by the Leopolds. Robert Gresswell, Ph.D., is the research biologist for the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center in Bozeman, Montana. His education includes a doctorate in fisheries science, a master’s in wildlife science, and a bachelor’s in biology. His expertise is in salmonid habitat relationships, effects of fire on aquatic ecosystems, ecology of high mountain lakes, probilistic sampling, and assessing spatial pattern in stream networks. Bob has been studying cutthroat trout for more than 30 years, with a particular interest IFFF Leopold Award recipiin Yellowstone cutthroat trout. He is the ent Robert Gresswell, left, with Rick Williams. principal investigator and lead scientist on the high-profile telemetry study of lake trout within Yellowstone Lake using biotelemetry techniques. This is part of a long-term effort to reduce threats to cutthroats within Yellowstone National Park and to restore their population. Some of Bob’s other research projects include: distribution, abundance and movement of native cutthroat trout in the Snake River below Jackson Lake; evaluation of habitat restoration for fluvial Arctic grayling in the Big Hole River, Montana; recolonization of Silver Bow Creek by westslope cutthroat trout; and the effects of wildfire on Colorado River cutthroat in the headwaters of the Colorado River. After 17 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Yellowstone Park, Bob joined the U.S. Geologic Service at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Corvallis, Oregon. Then his career took him to Bozeman, Montana. Bob shows a deep commitment to the environment and a passion for conservation of all wildlife in both his professional and personal life. Like other IFFF Leopold recipients, he is acutely aware of the connections of human life and species biodiversity. His dedication to management and conservation of wild things in wild places, along with his willingness to act as a conservation advocate, make him a worthy recipient of the coveted Leopold Award.

Articles and photos by Pat Oglesby

Save the Date! 2013 International Fly Fishing Fair September 24-28, 2013 West Yellowstone, Montana

IFFF Conservation Award

Photo Courtesy ROBERT Tabbert

he IFFF Conservation Award is made to individuals, groups or organizations (CSG) program into a dynamic club-level that have made extraordinary contriconservation program that reflects the heart butions to the conservation of our fisheries and soul of IFFF conservation efforts and resources. Also, the Don Harger Memorial philosophy. In the 2010-2011 time period, the Life Award is given each year to an individCSG program placed 21 small conservation ual who is actively engaged in, or has been projects into action with activities ranging actively engaged in, or is closely related to, from improving passage and access for native some aspect or area of fly fishing, either as trout to spawning areas, removal of invasive a vocation or avocation. This individual has crayfish in native steelhead and trout habitat, made some noteworthy contribution either as and several habitat improvement projects an educator, writer, environmental conservaIFFF Conservation Award and on local fisheries. The new CSG program tionist, photographer, flytier or proponent of Don Harger Memorial Life Award has been enthusiastically embraced by many fishing rights. This year Robert Tabbert from recipient Robert Tabbert. IFFF councils and clubs. Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, is the recipient Finally, Bob gives generously of his time to IFFF regional of both awards. and national events where he helps with conservation projRobert (Bob) Tabbert, an IFFF Life Member and certiects and casting instruction. During the summer months, he fied casting instructor, has served the organization tirelessly for is a tireless advocate for conservation of northern Wisconsin decades as one of our most prominent and dedicated conserspring-pond brook trout and the famous Lake Superior brook vation advocates. Bob has served as chair of the Conservation trout “coasters.” Committee’s Coldwater Committee for nearly 10 years. More He summers in his northern Wisconsin cabin where he recently he volunteered to serve for a period of 2½ years in an looks after his brook trout and spends winters in southern unpaid capacity as IFFF’s national conservation coordinator. Louisiana with the Acadiana Fly Rodders where he teaches During this time, he provided generous, cheerful and relicasting and chases redfish with a fly rod. able leadership. Bob’s willingness to step into this position for Bob is extremely deserving of recognition by IFFF for his IFFF’s Conservation Program, when the director left, was nothoutstanding long-term contributions to IFFF’s Conservation ing short of heroic and kept the program alive and well. Program and for his willingness to serve as the IFFF’s conserIn 2010, Bob and Rick Williams (IFFF Board of Divation coordinator for the last several years. rectors), revitalized the IFFF’s Conservation Small Grants

Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award

he Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award is presented to an individual who excels in teaching the art of fly tying to all skill levels. The 2012 recipient, Jim Ferguson of Salem, Oregon, first became interested in fly tying while observing a woman in a department store commercially tying flies with a sewing machine that had been converted into a rotary vise. Soon after he received a fly-tying kit as a gift and taught himself to tie based on what he had observed in the department store. In time, Ferguson’s skills grew to the point that he was a sought-out instructor. As his résumé grew, he developed a classic salmon fly instructional manual to hand out to the students that included historical references along with the tying steps. He eventually published 13 documents containing more than 200 pages of fly-tying instruction using a step-bystep format that is easy to read and follow. It is a comprehensive document he finds valuable for teaching fly tying. In 2006, he was the recipient of the Oregon Council’s Fly Tyer of the Year Award in recognition for his skills in teaching and his innovation in the art of fly tying. He continues work in his home council as fly-tying chairperson for the two-day Northwest Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Exposition that features nearly 200 flytiers. At the national level, Jim is chairperson of the Fly Tyers

Group and holds a seat on the Board of Governors. He has developed a fly-tying instructor’s resource guide to provide fly-tying instructors with a free online resource for developing, preparing and presenting quality flyDick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching tying courses to students. Award recipient Jim Ferguson, left, Jim has learned to con- with Phil Greenlee. struct presentation frames of museum quality with the goal of preserving and displaying flies. Many of these displays containing his Atlantic salmon flies have been donated for fundraising efforts. He has been appointed to the IFFF Museum Committee, and as a life member is active in the IFFF at all levels. He is executive director of the Oregon Council of Federation of Fly Fishers, life member and chairman of the Fly Tying Group, member of Santiam Fly Casters (his local club), North West Atlantic Salmon Fly Guild and the Santiam Spey Casters. Jim has the attributes of a quality fly-tying instructor and enthusiastically shares his knowledge learned over a lifetime. His tying skills and his passion for instructing are the main reasons he received this award. Flyfisher Autum 2012 - Winter 2013

[19 ]

Tying and Fishing Dr. Henshall’s Favorite Flies

Story and photos by Terry and Roxanne Wilson

he most iconic figure in the uniquely American sport of bass fishing is Dr. James A. Henshall. A physician and author of the “Book of the Black Bass” (1881) and other works, the good doctor abandoned his medical practice at the age of 49 to pursue his passion for the piscatorial sciences. All modern practitioners are in his debt for that decision and his promotion of our sport. In a fishing career that pre-dated the Civil War and continued until his death in 1925, Henshall’s enormous contributions defined and popularized bass angling, including their pursuit with a fly rod. He describes fly fishing as “… the most legitimate, scientific and gentlemanly mode of angling and is to be greatly preferred to all other ways and means of capturing the finny tribe.” Perhaps it’s natural for us to endeavor to connect with those who share our love of long rods and the antics of “the gamest fish that swims,” but maybe too many seasons separate us to wonder at something as mundane as the contents of his fly book. Or might it be that only the lunatic fringe of modern fly casters contemplates such minutia. If so, count us among them as we have long speculated about his bass fly choices and whether they might yet be effective. After consulting the classic writings of J. Edson Leonard (“Flies,” 1950), Mary Orvis Marbury (“Favorite Flies and Their Histories,” 1892) and, of course, Dr. Henshall’s own words, we originally focused our attention on 11 flies. Henshall’s top four flies were chosen because he viewed them as “the best general flies.” They include Montreal, Polka, King of Waters and Abbey. The next four choices were Professor, Oconomowoc, Grizzly King and Oriole, “. . . which are nearly as good, especially on shady streams.” Under darkened conditions, the doctor’s selections included Coachman, Henshall, Oriole (a repeat), and White Miller, which “are not to be excelled, I think.” This information was interesting, of course, but we didn’t have the 70 years Dr. Henshall devoted to determining which of these flies were best under a wide variety of circumstances. So we reduced his unwieldy number of favorites to four patterns. We chose them because they are all original to the “apostle of the black bass.” The flies we selected were Polka, Oconomowoc, Henshall and Oriole. Next, we needed to understand how flies used nearly 150 years ago were tied. Hooks from this period had “blind eyes,” that is to say they had no hook eye. To create eyes, tiers added loops of twisted gut to the ends of the hook shanks to form the eyes. The hooks themselves were available in a variety of hook

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

bends. Of them, Henshall said, “I am partial to sproat hooks size No. 2 to No. 4 for black bass, except in Florida No. 1 and No. 2.” In his day, Henshall likely used a hook that had a wide gap, a straight shank, and indentations at the blind eye end. The indentations were intended to help keep the gut from slipping off the hook shank. For hooks we substituted the Mustad 3366, size 4, and disregarded the hook-eye issue so we could begin our fishing experiments right away. For those wishing to tie classic bass patterns to exacting standards, many of the specialized items can be purchased online. For handmade “blind eye” hooks with “marked” hook shanks, visit www.ronnlucassr.com. The hooks are pricey but superbly crafted. To obtain gut for forming the hook eye and silk threads, visit www.Feathersmc.com. The supply is so limited that owner John McLain is now raising his own silk worms. By adhering to Henshall’s recipes, we tied these four flies:

Henshall Wing: light drab (dove) Hackle: white Body: peacock herl, gold tip Tail: peacock sword Tying Note: Leonard’s recipe called for a “pale blue body feather.” We were able to secure dove and used it.

Polka Wing: guinea Hackle: scarlet Body: scarlet floss, gold rib Tail: brown and white fibers (goose wing)

Oconomowoc Wing: cinnamon woodcock Hackle: white Body: cream floss, gold rib Tail: brown deer tail Tying Note: Leonard lists brown hen in his recipe. We used Whiting’s Brahma Hen.

Oriole Wing: yellow goose Hackle: black Body: black floss, gold rib and tip Tail: black and white

Authors Terry and Roxanne Wilson took to the waters to test claims from more than 100 years ago that these fly patterns were, “the best general flies.” The flies in the experiment were, left to right, Oconomowoc, Henshall, Oriole and, below, Polka.

After tying several of each pattern, we spent a year fishing them in every season – from early spring through late fall – and kept a diary to record the results. We did not confine our fishing to these experimental trips, of course, but we did fish them exclusively on 24 occasions on the lakes, ponds and streams we frequent. We recognized immediately that our efforts could in no way duplicate Dr. Henshall’s experiences, but our purpose was not to prove these flies to be either more or less effective than modern flies but to increase our own understanding and appreciation. On that account, mission accomplished. In the vernacular of the 19th century, the most “killing fly” overall was Polka (Note: We released all of our catches). It accounted for the most largemouth bass in both ponds and lakes in all seasons. Clearly Polka deserves its status as a top “general fly” as the doctor proclaimed. It also accounted for the largest fish, a 17-inch, pond-caught largemouth. Other species, such as green sunfish and crappie, were caught on the flies, but these were not counted toward our total. If the largemouths were decisive in their preference for one fly, the smallmouths were not. In the spring they had a slight preference for Henshall followed by Oriole and Polka. Oconomowoc (named for the Wisconsin community

where Dr. Henshall served as its first mayor) rose to the top of the list in summer, again by a narrow margin. In total we made eight stream trips that produced 48 smallmouth bass (including four spotted bass) and each of the four flies accounted for 12 bass. The largest smallmouth was an energetic 15-incher taken in the early summer on an Oriole drifted through pocket water. We might well have a very different result in the same waters if the water clarity, volume, light penetration and other variables had been different. And if these flies were fished on other waters in different areas of the country, the results could be very different. We relished reading the opinions of Henshall and his contemporaries concerning these and other flies. We enjoyed the time spent at the vise trying to replicate the flies used long ago and were certainly delighted with fishing them and the feeling of kinship that came with each success. If you would like to try tying and/or fishing these or other similar classic bass flies, we highly recommend the three books mentioned in this article. All are available online at Amazon.com at modest prices. To get “Flies,” enter the author’s name: J. Edson Leonard. For the others, just enter the book titles. Further information, including pictures of the flies, is available by searching “classic bass flies” and investigating the various sites displayed. If you decide to try fishing classic bass flies, we would love to know your results. Please share your experiences by contacting us through our website. 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.

The Next

Generation

A profile of 18-year-old casting champion, Connor Murphy Interview by Flyfisher Editor-in-Chief, Bill Toone

Connor Murphy casts on Pear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

[22]

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

PHOTO BY ADAM HAMILTON

What was it about fly fishing that attracted you to the sport? I think the initial attraction for me was the excitement of hooking a beautiful creature and the thrill of the hunt, as well as the companionship of fishing with my dad. It was also the people I interacted with while fishing and the incredible beauty of my surroundings that were major attracting factors. I also loved all the different nuances and styles of fly fishing that were out there for me to master, and the fact that it wasn’t a competition – no scoreboard, no refs, it’s just you and the water. How old were you when you first started fly fishing and who got you involved? I was 9 when I first started fly fishing. My dad was and continues to be the major influence in my fishing. He was the one who took me out into the backyard and taught me how to cast and the person who put my first Mel Kreiger videotape into the VCR. I’d also have to give some credit to local legend and friend Bob McIntosh. Without his input, encouragement and pointers I don’t know what I’d be doing right now.

Recently I conducted an interview with an accomplished youth who is making his mark in the fly-fishing world, and more specifically in fly-casting competition. I think with young people like Connor Murphy, 18, our sport has an excellent future. A senior in high school, Murphy lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, and attended the International Fly Fishing Fair in Spokane, Washington.

You have a pretty impressive resume of competition fly casting. What is it about the casting competition that made you want to compete? It’s hard for me to pinpoint what made me want to compete. I’ve never been the most competitive person in the family. That award goes to my brother Seth. It was that specific lack of competitiveness that drove me, in part, to the sport in the first place. But I’ve never been an incredibly athletic person. I can’t sing; I can’t shoot a hockey puck; I can’t throw a baseball better than most people. But if you give me a rod, something just “clicks.” Before I cast in a competition I always remind myself, “If there’s one thing I can do, it’s cast a fly rod.” I guess it’s that inherent human nature to show off a little that made me want to compete, or maybe it’s me trying to prove that I can stack up against the adults in these things. I don’t really know, but there’s something about it that’s really addicting on a primal level. How old were you when you competed in your first competition? I think I was 11 or 12.

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

[23]

How much time do you devote to your casting competition and fly fishing? I try and cast 30 minutes to an hour every day; school unfortunately throws the kibosh on that a lot. I fish two or three days a week after school (depending on the season) and usually one day a weekend. If you want to file fly tying, reading, working at the shop, perusing the Internet for fishing-related stuff and watching movies about fly fishing under “fly fishing” as well, then I probably spend six hours or more every day on fly fishing.

PHOTOS BY JD MURPHY

Between actually fly fishing and the fly casting competition, which of the two do you enjoy the most and why? I undoubtedly enjoy fly fishing the most. Fly casting is really fun, but the whole reason I cast is so that I can ultimately catch a fish. Fly fishing, unlike casting competitions, is constantly changing. One day fish may be slamming dries with total abandon and I’ll catch 40 fish and the next I’ll get skunked. You are also presented with an almost endless number of fish and different casts and methods to catch those fish (spey, single hand, dries, nymphs, streamers, poppers, etc.). It’s this variability that will always make me take fishing over casting. It never gets old. Fly fishing also takes you to some of the coolest and most untamed places in the world. Casting competitions tend to take you to the inside of convention centers. Keeping in mind that fly fishing and casting competitions are sports, do you think there is anything you have taken from them that is helping to shape who you are? If so, how and why? I’d say that the most obvious thing that I have taken from both fly fishing and fly casting comps is how to lose gracefully. Whether I hook a fish and lose him, or screw up a cast and wind up doing lousy at a comp, it’s the same humbling effect in either case. At this point in your life, do you have any interest in pursuing a career involving some aspect of fly fishing or casting? Definitely! I think that I’m too invested to really turn back now. I am definitely concerned about the future of this sport and the viability of waters. At this time, I am interested in pursuing a degree in wildlife fisheries biology in hopes of learning as much as I can about how to preserve and protect the wild, untamed, beautiful places that might become endangered areas soon. How many of your friends and classmates fly fish? Somewhere between 10 and 15, I think.

Top left, Connor Murphy ties flies to use on the Bighorn River at the Bighorn Youth Fly Fishing Adventure Days in Fort Smith, Montana, June 2012. At the event 14 teenagers from various states floated with volunteer guides for four days, fishing and learning about the river and preservation efforts. Today Connor is designing and tying competition flies for several of the members of the 2012 U.S. Fly Fishing Team that will be competing in the World Championship in Norway in fall of 2013. Left, Connor Murphy takes a nice brown trout in tournament fly fishing on Frying Pan River, Basalt, Colorado (also pictured at right) where he competed on Fly Fishing Team USA and was a Rocky Mountain Regional Qualifier in May 2012, taking him to competition in the National Fly Fishing Championship in Bend, Oregon, September 2012.

PHOTO BY JD MURPHY

For those who don’t, what if anything do you do to get them interested in the sport? Most of my classmates wind up being subject to a presentation or essay or speech of some kind regarding fly fishing. For instance, my last essay of the year in English was hatchery versus wild steelhead, and my major instructional speech in speech class was how to cast a fly rod. I’d like to think that those are pretty persuasive, but I try and take as many people fishing as possible. Once people get exposed to the sport they seem to really respond. Two years ago I started a fly fishing club in my high school which is growing in popularity. I also help the Trout Unlimited club with their fishing camps for young kids in the summer, which hopefully get them “hooked” at a young age. How can fly fishing and more specifically the International Federation of Fly Fishers attract more youth to the sport? I think that it’s really important to maintain an open mind when considering how to attract youth to the sport. It’s obvious that fly fishing has evolved a lot over the past 100 years or so from being a gentlemanly pastime, which it still is in many respects, to something of an extreme sport/lifestyle. Just today, in fact, I had a discussion in the shop over how fly names have evolved (case in point: the “Butt Munch Beetle” as opposed to flies like the “Bishop” and the “Alexandria”). In order to attract youth to the sport, I think we need to deemphasize the communion with nature and solitude that fly fishing offers, and focus more on the adrenal, exciting aspects of the sport. A lot of the older generation abhors competitive fly fishing and “extreme” fly fishing, but it’s these very things that so captivate younger generations. Things like skateboarding, surfing, rock climbing, etc., are popular among young people because of these very things. Another significant part of increasing youth involvement, I believe, is the viewing of fly fishing as a way of life. It’s not just something you do on weekends or on vacation, but some-

thing that is all-encompassing, something that takes you to the ends of the earth and gives you some of the coolest experiences that a person can ever hope to experience. When we view it as that, instead of “Let’s go catch a fish,” it sounds appealing to a lot of people, particularly kids who aren’t decided on what they want to commit their life to. If you were tasked with the responsibility of building youth involvement for the IFFF how would you do it? I would market fly fishing as an exciting, exotic sport/way of life via ads in certain fly fishing magazines and youth outreach programs, specifically in high schools and junior highs. I think that specifically a correlation could be made between surfing culture and fly fishing. Both share unique styles of clothing, an intimate relationship with water and the outdoors. Both are, for many, a way of life. While surfing is, in my belief, the best example, one could also use skiing or skateboarding to fill this role. What has been your most enjoyable moment or favorite memory of your fly fishing or casting competition experience so far? I have a pond behind my house that’s got some big grass carp (grassies) in it, and as long as I can remember I’ve seen them out there, just these massive dark leviathans cruising around eating moss and whatnot. When I started fly fishing, my major goal was to catch one of them. I did all my research and spent countless hours plodding around the pond trying in vain to hook one. I did hook a few but they always threw the hook or bent it or just broke off. Finally one day I coaxed one into eating a meat whistle and wound up landing it. I called a bunch of people while I was playing it to tell them to come down to the lake and see the fish. I finally landed it. It was probably 10 pounds or so, not huge but the grin plastered across my face was a mile wide. I’ve never felt such a sense of accomplishment, before or since. Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

[25]

The Next

Generation

A compilation of IFFF youth outreach Across the nation, IFFF clubs are bringing youth to fly fishing

QUICK TIPS FOR TEACHING KIDS TO CAST By Matt Wilhelm Youth fly fishing and aquatic education programs have always been near and dear to me. I believe that if you can get a kid hooked on fishing, you will also get them hooked on conservation and protection of our aquatic resources for the long run. What follows are a few techniques that will help a youth casting program run smoothly. Casting Field: Have your casting field and rods set up well in advance of your program. Be sure the rods are strung up with leaders that are straightened and have yarn flies attached. I prefer to situate the casting stations so that the targets are in the middle and the kids cast toward one another. This allows the instructor to see everyone easily. I will sometimes place a cone or marker where the student should stand so there is no confusion. For larger groups, pair the kids up. It is difficult to effectively instruct when there are 20 rods waving in the air. Lastly, have enough volunteers to assure quality instruction and attention. Instruction: Fly casting instruction/topics for kids should be brief, easy to understand, and most of all fun. Explain the cast as simply as possible, and get fly rods in the kids’ hands as soon as you can. You will lose their attention if you talk about rod loading, concave and convex rod tip path, rod acceleration, etc. It is amazing how well the mantra of “toss it up … wait … throw it forward” works with kids. Demonstrate grip, anchoring the line, the backcast, the pause, and the forward cast. Also cover common casting mistakes (lazy pick up, too far back, no pause, etc.) in your demonstration and have the kids try to pick out the faults. More casting instruction can be given after the kids have started casting when volunteers can circulate. Remember to always make it fun and be liberal with praise. We want these kids to have fun, while learning and to come back for more.

[26]

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

Safety: Be sure all participants have safety glasses. Make certain that when paired up, the person not casting stands on the non-casting side of the person casting. Also be aware of any special health needs. Make it Fun: Instead of a hula hoop target, construct a tic-tac-toe game using brightly colored rope, and make the squares about 24 to 30 inches on a side. Place the target Matt Wilhelm gives a casting lesson to a group of attentive young anglers.

about 25 feet away. Students get to place an “X” or “O” in the square where their yarn fly lands. It is amazing how this simple game will sharpen a young person’s focus on being accurate through good casting techniques. Something to Consider: School programs, city recreation programs and other youth organizations are great venues to share fly fishing with kids. This not only helps to propel the IFFF mission, but it always shines a positive light on our organization and gives people a reason to belong. Matt Wilhelm is the education director of the Invasive Species Action Network based in Livingston, Montana. His fly fishing/aquatic education programs reach more than 7,000 kids annually.

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

KIDS ACADEMY

Benefits Idaho’s Silver Creek

By Chris Chamberlain

PHOTOS BY RICK WILLIAMS

By Rick Williams Chris Williams, an Eagle Scout with Boise, Idaho’s Troop 94, was awarded the prestigious Hornaday Conservation Badge at the Ore-Ida Council’s Annual Awards Banquet in February 2012 for his Eagle project on southern Idaho’s famed spring-fed Silver Creek. The William T. Hornaday Conservation awards are among the rarest awards in Scouting and are presented for distinguished service in natural resource conservation. Williams’ Hornaday Badge was the first awarded in the Ore-Ida Council in more than 20 years. To be eligible for the Hornaday Badge, a Scout must earn a series of conservation and natural resourcerelated merit badges and then plan, organize and supervise a significant project in natural resource conservation under the guidance of a professional adviser. Dr. William Platts, a well-known stream and fisheries ecologist, was Williams’ adviser. Williams also had to show that his project had demonstrable conservation benefits. Williams conducted his Eagle project in the fall of 2010 on the Nature Conservancy’s preserve at Silver Creek, Idaho, where angler access through a small side channel was breaking down streambanks and inputting sediment into Silver Creek. Dayna Gross, manager of the Silver Creek Preserve, identified this project as the Preserve’s highest conservation priority for 2010. The project location, where Grove and Stalker creeks join to form Silver Creek proper, is a favorite spot for anglers. Anglers often waded through the side channel and crossed a small

island to reach Silver Creek. Wading had widened the channel from about 12 feet to more than 20 feet and had broken down the streambanks. The side channel included good trout spawning and rearing habitat if the sediment input could be controlled and streamside vegetation regenerated. To address these problems, Williams designed and built a boardwalk and bridge system that carried anglers through a small wetland and over the side channel to access one of the favorite angling sections on Silver Creek. Williams’ project generated nearly 300 hours of volunteer work by him and field assistants on the project day. Volunteers included Scouts and adult leaders from Troop 94, as well as volunteers from the local Wood River Trout Unlimited chapter. To show that the project was successful in achieving some of its conservation objectives, Williams measured about 40 ecological parameters in 2010 when the project was completed. Measurements included stream channel width and the shape of many erosion fingers. One year later, 75 percent of the variables showed improvement with eroded areas stabilizing and filling in. Williams also observed juvenile trout using the side channel and hiding in the luxurious, newly grown aquatic vegetation. Chris is the son of Rick and Shauna Williams of Eagle, Idaho, and has attended several IFFF Conclaves. He has participated in the IFFF Youth Program twice under the guidance of Matt Wilhelm, earning both the Fly Fishing and Fishing merit badges. He also earned the Fish and Below, completed September 2010, a boardwalk was moved 15 feet Wildlife Management, upstream and included a bridge. Below right, Chris Williams, Eagle the Soil and Water Scout, Hornaday Conservation Badge, Troop 94, Boise, Idaho. Conservation, and Environmental Sciences Merit badges. Dr. Rick Williams is from Eagle, Idaho, where he serves on the IFFF Board of Directors, the Casting Board of Governors, and is a coowner of the Idaho Angler, a premier fly shop in the Boise area.

Every year, the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers Club (SSFFC), based out of Kernville, California, hosts more than a dozen children to teach them the art of fly fishing during its annual Kids Academy. Over the five-year span that the club has hosted this event, 77 kids have learned how to cast, identify bugs, tie flies to match those bugs, and how to protect our natural resources for future generations. They are also given an opportunity to put their new skills to the test and catch fish with rods donated to them by the SSFFC. This year, over the weekend of June 9-10, 2012, 17 students graduated from the Kids PHOTO BY SCOTT KOPP Academy. The students, along with dozens of volunteers, gathered in Kernville to teach a new generation the passion we have for our sport. The students were Student Mark Ramsey learns the divided into finer points of fly tying from groups where instructor Bill Hammons. they moved from station to station. Stations included entomology, conservation, fly tying, knots and casting. While students were hopping between stations, volunteers were cooking up a huge lunch for all of the participants. Later the kids were presented with rods, fly boxes and all the necessary gear to catch their own fish – and catch fish, they did. “Every year, this event is our chance to cultivate a new generation of fly fishers,” SSFFC President Bill Darbee said. “Over the years, this event has grown into something that any club would be proud to have. We have club members who donate thousands of dollars, volunteer countless hours, and pour their hearts and souls into making this event special.” Previous students returned this year as teachers – youth teaching youth. We think the program is a success. For more information on the event, please visit the club website at www.ssffclub.org. Chris Chamberlain from Bakersfield, California, is the SSFFC outings director.

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

[27]

GEORGIA WOMEN’S FLY FISHING CLUB Helps the Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia formed a partnership with the Armstrong Atlantic State University to host a National Camporee and celebrate its 100th anniversary. The Camporee held a wide range of educational experiences and skill-building activities for girls, as well as opportunities to experience the traditional activities that Girl Scouts have honed and enjoyed for nearly 100 years. Again this year, the Georgia Women’s Fly Fishing Club (GWFFC) in Atlanta – with tying equipment from the International Federation of Fly Fishers and fly rods from Orvis Atlanta – provided the instruction for Girl Scouts to learn the basics of casting, fly tying and stream entomology. Five volunteers arrived at the Juliette Lowe Girl Scout Campground near Savannah June 26, 2012, to get ready for the two days to follow. “We had the opportunity to introduce our sport to 500-plus Girl Scouts at the camp,” writes Diane Minick teaches an entomology workshop to Rob Stroupe. “We a group of Girl Scouts. had a fabulous time sharing our passion for fly fishing through some instruction in entomology, fly tying and casting. Out of the 500 attendees, we worked with about 300 girls and their leaders. There were girls from Michigan, California, Pittsburgh, Mississippi, Oregon … there were Scouts even from across the pond.” The housing arrangements at Armstrong State University for volunteers and the Girl Scouts were great. Thanks go to Cherie Fox for doing a great job as organizer and thanks to the rest of the volunteers: Ginny Marchant, Rob Stroupe, Diane Minick and Deb Bowen. Rob Stroupe is the club gillie who helped Cherie Fox (coordinator), Ginny Marchant (fly tying), Diane Minick (entomology) and Deb Bowen (IFFF certified casting instructor), assisted by Eunice Lovell. Stroupe also guides in Georgia (www.robstroupeflyfishing.com).

[28]

By Frank Johnson Once again the Big Horn River Alliance and the angling community of Fort Smith, Montana, came together and provided a world-class fly-fishing opportunity for 12 young people from all across the United States. From border to border and coast to coast, the lucky fly anglers who attended were: Anne Hays of St. Petersburg, Florida; Travis Leonard of Rowlett, Texas; Hamilton Wise of Columbus, Georgia; Connor Murphy of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Logan Route of Washburn, Wisconsin; Gary Runnells of San Pedro, California; Taila Oulton of Gunnison, Colorado; Brendan Tippen of Dallas, Texas; Johnathan Brosnahan of Heber City, Utah; Maddy Longshore of Ashland, Oregon; Demi Sheng Xiong of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Vinne Mitidieri of Kentwood, Michigan. Within a few short hours after arriving at the river, all were gathered for a community picnic to get acquainted, have some casting practice, meet the guides, and prepare for four days of fly fishing the Bighorn River with full-time, professional guides. Each day started with breakfast followed by two hours of fly tying to prepare the flies for the day’s adventure. Following the tying session, the young people met their guides for the day. Each day the youth fished with a different guide and a different boat mate. Each guide provided a different learning experience and different angling techniques. The day concluded with a quick dinner followed by casting competitions, driftboat races and even an impromptu football game. In all, the little town on the Bighorn River donated nearly $20,000 worth of goods and services in order to make this event possible. All lodging, meals, guiding, shuttles, tying materials and airport transportation is donated. The only expense for the youth attending the event was transportation to Fort Smith. The alliance had travel assistance grants available for those who needed travel assistance and often the participant’s home IFFF club helped with travel expenses. The experience was the trip of a lifetime for all of the young people attending. What did the event mean to

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

them? It is best summarized by Demi Xiong from Charlotte, North Carolina: Brendan Tippen, Youth Adventurer “Going to from Dallas, Texas, with one of his Montana first Bighorn rainbow trout. this summer was truly an experience of a lifetime. I didn’t know what to expect, but when I got there, it was mind-blowing. I have never seen such a beautiful place, and fishing for four days straight was heaven. I have learned so many new things during this trip. I’ve learned to tie flies better and also cast A LOT better. Fly fishing is a challenge, but it was not fishing we did on this trip, but catching. The weather was great, fish were plentiful, and with beautiful scenery, I couldn’t have asked for more. Every day we fished with different guides, and I couldn’t be more thankful that I was chosen to be on this trip. I finally caught my biggest fish on this trip. It was an 18.5-inch rainbow. As a matter of fact, I caught two. Montana is so beautiful, and words cannot describe my experience there. This AMAZING trip has opened my eyes to keep on pursuing in this sport and to have fun. I have made many memories and laughed so hard during this trip. It was a fishing paradise for me. I can tell you all about it, but this is a trip you must experience with your own eyes and, of course, with your fly rod.” This event is sponsored each year by the Big Horn River Alliance and the International Federation of Fly Fishers. Applications for the 2013 Big Horn River Youth Adventure will be available in December. Anyone wishing to receive an application can simply e-mail a request to Frank Johnson at bighornjohnsons@gmail.com. The applications will be sent via e-mail when they become available. The event is held during the second half of June each year and will be announced in the IFFF Club Wire and e-Newsletter.

PHOTO COURTESY FRANK JOHNSON

PHOTO BY EUNICE LOVELL AND DEB BOWEN

By Rob Stroupe

BIG HORN RIVER YOUTH ADVENTURE

A DREAM COME TRUE By Joan Rosner “Founding Father” of the Lake Erie Chapter of the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF), Ray Markiewicz, was able to realize a vision he had for the chapter. His plan included teaching young people the art of fly fishing, so that in the years to come they might become stewards of our streams and lakes. Founded in 2007, the chapter’s goal was to promote the sport of fly fishing through education and conservation. The club’s first Kids Day program occurred in August 2011 and taught 30 youngsters, ages 8 to 15 years old, how to tie flies, cast and stream entomology. In July 2012, the second Kids Day program was held – again with 30 young participants. The IFFF assisted by loaning vises and fly rods and supplying all participants with certificates of achievement, as well as magazines and informational material. The chapter put together goodie bags that included maps of fishing New York lakes and streams, materials from Fish and Wildlife services, “I Love Fishing” bumper stickers, sunglasses and much more! Under the watchful eye of volunteers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the University of Buffalo biology department, the boys and girls learned about stream entomology. The volunteers retrieved water samples, and the youngsters learned about invertebrates and the aquatic life of the pond. Master Caster Gary Krell taught the art of fly casting, and flytier Ron Ziarnowski organized the tying instruction. After completing their flies, the participants used them to catch fish.

PHOTO BY DAVID ROSNER

Marie from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife teaches an on-the-water entomology point to Erin and Cole Urbanski.

Nick Pionessa from Oak Orchard Fly Shoppe and independent guide Brian Slawinski assisted with casting instruction and fly-tying demonstrations. Local merchants donated money and food to help defray the cost. Attendees were treated to lunch. The chapter supplied a fly rod and reel kit to each boy and girl, thanks to the tremendous efforts of the fundraising committee. Under the auspices of President David Rosner, along with the member volunteers, the Lake Erie Chapter is making dreams come true! For more information about the club and this project, go to www.lake-erie-fff.org. Joan and David Rosner live in West Seneca, New York, where they enjoy working with other club members to bring to reality Ray Markiewicz’s vision for youth.

CONTACT Ken Brunskill, Chairman Veterans First Fly Fishing at steamntrout@comcast.net SEE AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! VETERANS FIRST FLY FISHING

AV Y M AR N I Y

Mail Check to: FFF/VFFF 5237 US Hwy 89 So. #11 Livingston, MT 59047

TO DONATE

VETERANS FIRST FLY FISHING

With Veterans First Fly Fishing: Mfalk Yj] hYjl g^ l`]aj J]_agfYd >>> ;gmf[ad k Education component using their 501 (c)(3) status, insurance and treasury.

E C OAST

Our Name is Our Mission Statement

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

[29]

FLORIDA YOUTH AND FLY FISHING By Ron Winn The sport of fly fishing continues to mature with the latest surveys revealing the average fly fisher’s age to be in their late 50s. In spite of all the distractions available to the youth today, there is interest from the younger crowd in our sport. When children are young enough, they have a natural curiosity to participate in the activities of their parents. When our club, the Backcountry Fly Fishing Association of Brevard County in Melbourne, Florida, first started 25 years ago, many of the active members had younger children, and some of those children shared their parents’ interest in the sport. As we matured, that youth participation seemed to wane and many of the younger crowd dropped out of sight as their interests changed and other demands entered their lives. But those younger members did get exposure to fly fishing, and I expect them to return to fly fishing one day.

We, as stewards of the sport, introduced them to the natural wonders of the outdoors and fly fishing. It’s our job to plant the seed of interest, so to speak. With that thought in mind, my club has done any number of things to get younger people involved. Recently we had a special one-day seminar by Steve Huff, a highly respected guide from Chokoloskee. One of the provisions of his presentation was that we take his fee and apply it to the continued exposure of youth to our sport. With Huff’s generosity, we were able to hold a youth seminar and provide the attendees with new Cortland travel rods and reels, flies tied by the members, hats, memberships, etc. Many of the kids now attend our monthly meetings, and some are hooked for sure. Huff is not the only fly-fishing celebrity to contribute to the youth program. IFFF supporter Jon Cave and several product manufacturers have done so,

as well. To help generate youth interest here in Florida, our club has partnered with the local 4-H. We recently participated with a group of club volunteers and assisted the 4-H with a five-month program for 17 youth. We provided casting, tying and fishing trips as well as memberships into our fly club. The industry helped by providing deep discounts on any items we needed. All of this does require effort on our part. I had an elderly member of our club, who has since passed on, provide me with a valuable bit of wisdom. He told me: “If you really want to teach a kid how to fish, be sure to leave your own rod at home.” Giving them your undivided attention can leave a lasting impression. What do you think? Was that good advice? Ron Winn is from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, where he is a CPA. He is a Life Member of both the IFFF and the Fly Tying Group. He also serves as the treasurer of the IFFF.

TEAM UP FOR KIDS By the Mid-South Fly Fishers

[30]

ing from some of the best instructors, including Captain Sid Caradine, an International Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructor and a member of the Federation’s Guides Association. Caradine explains that fly fishing is not like basketball, where over time you lose your ability to play. In fly fishing, you only get better with experience. Why drive from Memphis, Tennessee, to Columbus, Mississippi, to teach children? As club member Victoria Johnson said, “We want to let the kids get outdoors and teach them how to fly fish. It’s our chance to give back to the community.” The Palmer Home for Children opened in 1895 and is named for Dr. Benjamin Morgan Palmer. Palmer’s

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

founding vision – to provide a privately supported, loving Christian home for children who have no place else to turn – remains flourishing and intact. Palmer’s alumni have gone on to lead productive family lives, providing leadership and service in their varied professional, church and community activities. To learn more about the Palmer Home for Children, go to www.palmerhome.org. The Mid-South Fly Fishers is a club of 300 members headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

PHOTO COURTESY COMMERCIAL DISPATCH

Every year for the last five years, members of the Mid-South Fly Fishers Club from Memphis, Tennessee, have met in Columbus, Mississippi, with Captain Sid Caradine to teach fly fishing to children. On April 28, 2012, they again met in Columbus for the sixth annual outing to teach fly fishing to children from the Palmer Home for Children. The club members set up camp around two private, largemouth bass lakes – one owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Imes and a second owned by Frank Imes. This program gives the children an opportunity to experience fly fishing at its best. In the past five years, groups as large as 23 or as small as five have attended the fly-fishing youth clinic. One of the organizers, Mel Waxman, describes his passion for fly fishing as his full-time hobby – a hobby that can become addictive because once you start catching fish, you just don’t want to stop. The students learn the ins and outs of fly fish-

A Program to Teach Fly Fishing to Young People By Matt Casado Fly Kids Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing inner-city middle school students to the outdoors through fly fishing, camping and hiking. Fly Kids Inc. has teamed with educators, the business community and national organizations such as the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF). Fly Kids Inc. guides groups of middle school students on a one-week outdoor adventure into California’s eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Students are introduced to the thrills of fly fishing, including the handling of rod and reel, proper casting, stream entomology and, of course, the fun and excitement of catching fish. Students also learn how to construct a tent, build a proper fire, and are

involved in the preparation and cooking of all camp meals. Fly Kids Inc. believes strongly in physical exercise for young people. Students partake in day hikes where they visit backcountry lakes, view an abundance of wildlife, and learn valuable trail hiking skills such as trail maintenance and first aid. Fly Kids Inc. partnered with professional fishing guide Joe Contaldi of Mammoth Lakes, California. As owner and chief guide for Performance Anglers, Contaldi has guided fishermen throughout California’s eastern Sierras for more than 25 years. One of his specialties is teaching kids to fish. He believes the future of fly fishing lies with our youth. Fly Kids Inc. has also partnered with California’s Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Southwest Council of the IFFF to help bring the

COUNCIL FOCUSES ON YOUTH ACTIVITIES By Mike Benbow

Johnson, council president. “They get to tie a fly, learn how to cast, and maybe catch a fish.” To put fly rods in as many young hands as possible, the council also cosponsors the North West Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy each year. “It’s been a struggle to get it going,” Herdt said of the education program. “The educational effort is tough, especially in these times when the poor economy leaves school districts and parents with little money for travel.” So Herdt has taken her show on the road, visiting some of the smaller community fairs each summer to talk about fishing. Her message is often simple and practical, like the importance of picking up scraps of line and other trash instead of leaving it on the river. She believes showing kids how to tie flies is probably the most popular thing she does. “The tying really grabs them,” she said. She tries to involve parents whenever she can because she often finds that they want to do it as a family activity. Johnson said his travels around the state show him that many clubs and individual fly fishers are involved in programs aimed at introducing kids to

Matt Casado is the youth director for the Southwest Council and president/founder of Fly Kids Inc. For more information about the program, contact Casado at mattcasa@hotmail.com.

Ryder Nollan learns how to tie flies with Pat Herdt, the Washington State Council’s vice president of education.

fly fishing. Some schools like the Easton School District near Ellensburg have fly fishing or tying clubs as part of the physical education program. Johnson would like the Federation to become a resource clearinghouse in the council for information about teaching kids to fly fish. “If a school district in Walla Walla is interested, I’d like them to contact us so that people don’t have to invent the wheel every time,” he said. Herdt plans to continue bringing education to people who can’t come to it. “I’ll keep reaching out to people who don’t have the gas money or the time to go to Seattle,” she said. For more information about the WSC visit www.washingcouncilfff.org or contact Pat Herdt at 509-923-2525 (herdtp2@gmail.com). Mike Benbow is a member of the Evergreen Fly Fishing Club and lives in Tulip, Washington.

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

[31]

PHOTO COURTESY MIKE BENBOW

Teaching kids about the sport of fly fishing has become an important part of the Washington State Council’s (WSC) annual Fly Fishing Fair in Ellensburg. On the first day of the event each year, buses roll up with 45 to 50 children from local schools for classes in fly tying, casting and entomology, typically with bugs fresh from the state’s blue-ribbon trout stream, the Yakima River. “We want to educate them about the environment and get them outside,” said Pat Herdt, the council’s vice president for education. The young people are also welcome to watch scores of the region’s best flytiers at the event. And this year, thanks to help from local fly shop Troutwater Outfitters as well as Echo Fly Rods, students completing the program received a rod, reel and line for only $20. About 20 of them did so. The council participates in a similar event with one of its clubs, the Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers, at the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. It typically draws more than 200 young people each year. “At this event we put a fly rod in their hands,” said Carl

Trout in the Classroom project to schools in the Los Angeles area. Trout in the Classroom supplies schools with aquariums and trout eggs. Students receive a hands-on science course in trout fertilization and reproduction. The students observe firsthand the eggs hatching into fingerlings and assist the DFG in planting the new-born trout into local lakes and streams. Fly Kids Inc. is honored to be a part of this nationwide educational project.

PHOTO BY MATT CASADO

SOUTHWEST COUNCIL’S FLY KIDS

Longtime Mammoth Lakes fishing guide Joe Contaldi holds a fish for Fly Kid Toribio Benitez.

PHOTO BY BILL TOONE

Fishing Blue-winged Olives A Tale of Two Seasons

By Bill Toone

lue-winged olives (BWOs) or Baetis are an important mayfly group to trout and trout fishermen. Belonging to the Baetidae family, BWOs are a multihatch aquatic insect having two distinct seasons of activity. They hatch in the spring and then again in the fall, so for many fly fishers they signal the beginning and end of trout season. This all-across-America, two-season hatch gives both trout and fishers plenty of opportunity to take advantage of them. Therefore they are a must-have imitation for any fly fisherman to learn and use. While quite small (size 18 to 24), don’t let their diminutive stature fool you. Fishing a BWO hatch properly can produce spectacular results.

Nymph Stage

PHOTO BY VERNE LEHMBERG

Since blue-winged olives are a multi-hatch insect, nymphs are available to trout throughout the year. To catch fish on the nymph, I find a drag-free presentation using an indicator a great way to attract feeding fish. I often follow up at the end of the drift with a swing across the current, then allowing the fly to hang for a few seconds straight downstream before I make another cast. The cross-current swing

[32]

causes my submerged fly to rise up in the water column just as an emerging insect would. Indicator to fly depth should be about one to two times the depth of the water, depending on current speed. Although there are a number of patterns that resemble a BWO nymph, I like a size 18 to 20 bead head Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail or Bubbleback (flash accented, bead-thorax Pheasant Tail) as my go-to patterns. I find the BWOs are a bit larger during the spring (size 18) and tend to be smaller during the fall (size 20). In order to get these small flies below the surface, I like to connect them via a 12- to 16-inch dropper to a larger (size 12) nymph such as a bead head Prince Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail or even a larger Golden Stone pattern. This will ensure the nymph gets well below the surface and also gives the trout another larger morsel to go after if it is so inclined. Another method I use during the late summer is to attach my size 20 nymph as a dropper off a larger dry fly such as an Adams, Purple Haze or Stimulator. It’s the same idea as the two nymph set-up mentioned above, only I use 20 to 36 inches of tippet A heavy BWO for the dropper.

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

Emerger Stage When the nymphs transition to the winged, immature adult stage known as a dun, they must first get to the surface and struggle out of their nymphal shell. They do this by filling their shell with gas, sort of like a balloon so they can float and swim to the surface. Once on the surface they must then free themselves from the nymphal shell and emerge as a winged dun. This process leaves them vulnerable to trout and the most productive stage to fish, although not necessarily the easiest. Frequently, fishermen see swirls, splashy rises or fins breaking the surface and mistakenly assume trout are taking duns, but end up catching very few fish. Instead, these telltale signs of trout activity are indicators the fish are feeding on emergers. Unless you are using emerger imitations, floating-type nymphs or cripple patterns, you are going to miss out on the fun. When trout are feeding on the emerger stage they are so keyed into it they will typically ignore a more conventional dry-fly pattern. Most fly shops have a number of generic patterns falling in the Baetis or BWO emerger category, so there are no specific named ties that I recommend. But since trout can be selective during this stage, I suggest hatch can you have more than one style

produce many shucks that stack up in the shallows along the river bank. PHOTO BY BILL TOONE

Feeding behavior during this stage is delicate with flies often just being sipped from the water’s surface. The best way to tell if trout are feeding on duns is again by observing the rise form. If you see fish heads popping up above the water line, it is a fairly sure bet they are taking duns. Fishing during this stage can be more like hunting for feeding fish rather than just blind casting. I can’t stress this enough: Take your time and observe the water. Many fishermen have walked by a pod of feeding trout because they failed to observe the water and notice the subtle feeding-fish signs. Finally, be sure to stop and closely observe any foam pockets or back eddies. Insects often become trapped in the foam and the fish will line up under them, steadily feeding. Once again, the feeding activity will be delicate so you need to be observant. There are a number of different patterns imitating this stage, and like the emergers it is helpful to have a variety of flies in case the fish are super selective. I personally like cripple, parachute or sparkle-dun type patterns the best, as they can work during both the emerger and dun feeding stages. Fly size is always

Left, this male Baetis dun has large divided eyes. The female often has smaller less distinctive eyes. Right, although small in size the Baetis is an important food source in many freshwater environments. They are found in slow to fast water but seldom find still water to their liking.

Dun Stage The dun stage offers classic dry-fly fishing. Once a BWO has emerged, it floats on the surface – often for an extended period of time – drying its wings before flying off to on-shore vegetation. They are extremely vulnerable to trout predation as they drift helplessly on the surface.

After the duns have transitioned into sexually mature adults known as spinners, they go through their mating dance with the females. Once mating is complete, the males soon die, falling on the water while females enter the water to lay their eggs after which they too die. During the spring this hatch is usually too late in the day to be a good stage to fish. However, in the summer it can be productive as the temperatures are still warm enough for widespread trout feeding activity while it is light enough to see. When the spent males fall to the water or the females get stuck there, they take on a “dead man’s float” appearance with wings spread out 90 degrees from their thorax. An appropriate size, spread-wing spinner pattern presented with a drag-free drift is perfect to imitate this stage. Pay attention as often a small ring or dimple in the water is the only indication a fish has eaten your pattern. Whether it marks the beginning or end of another season or is just part of your yearround fly fishing, a Baetis hatch is a great time to be on the water. If you are not already using the techniques above, add them to your bag of tricks. You may see your success noticeably increase. But remember, the best skill you can develop and use during this time is the power of observation and the willingness to switch flies and tippet size often until you find the magic combination. Seeing the fish and understanding which stage they are feeding on can provide many fun hours on the water. PHOTOS BY BILL TOONE

Top left, this Madison River rainbow was almost too big to fit in the net.

stream of the actual fish’s position. The short depth keeps your fly high in the water column and looks like a nymph trying to emerge. Strikes can be quite aggressive.

Spinner Stage

important and should be your first consideration when matching the hatch. There is nothing fancy about the presentation, but you will need a good drag-free drift through the feeding lanes. When casting to a feeding fish be sure to make your presentation upstream of the rise because it appears downstream from the fish’s actual location. How much downstream is dependent on depth, type and speed of the water, but I find a presentation that is 2to 4-feet upstream of the rise form a good starting point.

Bill Toone is this publication’s editor-in-chief and lives with his wife, Arletta, in Bozeman, Montana where he telecommutes to his day job as director of purchasing for the Hylton Group in northern Virginia. He is also an instructor and guide for the Yellowstone Fly Fishing School and an IFFF master casting instructor.

Flyfisher Autumn 201 2 - Winter 2013

[33]

PHOTO BY VERNE LEHMBERG

of pattern in a range of sizes. I have often tried five or six different pattern and size combinations, looking for that special fly, before discovering the “one hot pattern” for the day. It also helps to have a blackpost parachute fly since Baetis hatches often occur during cloudy weather. Many anglers don’t realize that black actually shows up better in difficult lighting than a bright color. Additionally, I find olive body colors more successful in the spring and slate better in the fall. You will want to fish emerger patterns in the surface film, making them really difficult to see. To help keep track of the emerger I like to put it on a 12- to 14-inch dropper of 5X tippet behind an easier-to-see dry fly. The lead dry fly acts as a placeholder for the trailing fly and can often produce a fish itself. When fishing this combination, if you see a swirl close to your dry fly, then set the hook. Another fish-the-emerger option is to place a small bead-head Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear or Bubbleback nymph pattern a short distance behind an indicator, then dead-drift it through the feeding lanes. Be sure to cast well upstream from any feeding fish because the rise form is almost always down-

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Biology on the Fly BIOLOGY ON THE FLY: BLUE-WINGED OLIVES Story and photos by Verne Lehmberg question wrapped in an enigma interspersed with a paradox: What is a bluewinged olive? Ask a tyro trout fisher, and you get the answer that they are those little mayflies, a little bigger than a little midge, the ones that emerge on blustery cold days. A more experienced fly fisher, after examining the fly through his bifocals, will definitively declare the mayfly to be Baetis tricaudatus or perhaps Pseudocloeon carolina. An entomologist will look pensively at the same insect, shake his head and grab a microscope. The family Baetidae consists of many mayflies that fishers find on their trout streams. Of the 25 or so genera, about 10 are important to fishers. Of

these, the genus Callibaetis and genus Baetis are often imitated with artificial flies, along with the tiny blue-winged olives. Eight of these genera are the tiny blue-winged olives, 3- to 5-millimeters long. One of the more important tiny blue-winged olive genera to fishers were formerly genus Pseudocloeon, which are now renamed Acentrella. At the other end of the Baetidae family size spectrum are the speckle-winged Callibaetis, the speckled duns. These gray mayflies can be as long as 12 millimeters, and inhabit still waters. The mayflies most anglers prefer to call blue-winged olives usually fall between these size extremes and into the genera Diphetor, Baetis and similar genera, with Baetis being the more common genus of these Baetidae. Trying to figure out which mayflies are in a stream is a challenging but interesting pastime. The nymphs, or naiads, can be seined from the trout stream with homemade equipment. (Consider learning to use the term “naiad” around the bifocal fly fisher to impress him: A biological term, it comes from the mythological Greek water nymphs – beautiful creatures that presided over streams and springs. Think of Ulysses, or perhaps the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?”

This Baetidae dun was photographed in the middle of July on a 93-degree day, not exactly what is usually considered blue-winged olive weather.

when the Sirens, or naiads, almost turned Pete Hogwallop into a frog). Fly fishers can make insect nets out of a 2-foot square piece of screen wire stretched between two one-inch dowels. Poke the dowel ends into the stream bottom, shuffle your feet and kick the rocks and underwater vegetation above the wire trap, allowing the water to sweep nymphs into the screen. The nymphs are classified into the broad groupings of swimmers, burrowers, clingers or crawlers. The clingers often inhabit the fastest, most turbulent streams, while burrowers and crawlers prefer slower water. Blue-winged olives are in the swimmer nymph classification. Ease one of them from the screen net into a pail of water, and its undulating swimming motion looks like Michael Phelps swimming the butterfly stroke underwater. Finding Baetis with mature dark wing pads in the morning may mean a hatch later in the day. They hatch in late morning to early afternoon during cool weather, but may emerge early morning or late afternoon on warmer days. Baetis are found in most trout streams in fast to slow water. They constitute one of the most prolific mayfly hatches in Western trout streams. Baetis are not frequently found in lakes, as is its cousin the Callibaetis. Identifying the Baetis nymph is a bit chancy for the average fisher. Baetis nymphs and adults both are probably the most misidentified mayflies around. Some Baetis nymphs have two tails but many have three, with the center tail being shorter than the outer tails. In their “Western Mayfly Hatches” book, Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes list Baetis nymph characteristics: “They are olive brown to dark brown, streamlined for swimming, with a slender tapered abdomen, long antennae, twice or more longer than the head, small oval-shaped gill plates on abdominal segments 1-7 or 2-7, minute hind-wing pads, and small, 1 ⁄8-inch to 1⁄2-inch long.” Often it is hard to identify the nymph, and the average fly fisher looking at one may simply resort to concluding it probably is a member of

Left, a tiny blue-winged olive male spinner on the tip of a pocketknife.

the Baetidae family. Keep in mind that trained entomologists need to examine microscopic parts, dissecting the reproductive organs to help identify these mayflies. Entomologists often change Baetis taxonomy based on newer research, and most fishers (including myself) must simply be satisfied with a probable identification to family with a guess at which genus. Reference sources useful to fly fishers include “Western Mayfly Hatches,” “Mayflies: An Angler’s Study of Trout Water Ephemeroptera” by Malcolm Knopp and Robert Cormier, “The Mayflies of North and Central America” by George Edmunds, Steven Jensen and Lewis Berner, and the following websites: www.troutnut.com, www.entm.purdue.edu/mayfly/index.php and www.flyfishingentomology.com. Since the Baetis swimming nymph sometimes jets from place to place in the rocks as it seeks shelter and new algae patches to graze, trout are alert for their movement. When the nymph’s final instar reaches maturity, it rises or swims to the surface and the dun emerges from its nymphal form, often trailing its exuvia (remains of an exoskeleton). Sometimes the nymphs have difficulty breaking the surface tension, so fishing a Blue-winged Olive nymph in the water’s surface film is very productive. Rim Chung’s RS2 or Rainy’s Baetis nymph work well. If the emerging mayfly has trouble shedding this exoskeleton, it may remain on the water for a considerable time – prime trout prey. The longer the mayfly stays on the water, the

more attractive they are to the fish. In colder weather, Baetis may float many yards before becoming airborne. The duns are poorer fliers than the spinners, and usually fly just far enough to land on surrounding vegetation to await their transformation to the sexually mature spinner stage. The subadult, dun blue-winged olives are small, 1⁄8- to 3⁄8-inch long, olive to brown, have two tails, very small hind wings (or absent), and short, paired veins along the forewing edge. The subadult dun stage has dull wings with tiny cilia (hair-like projections) along the wing edge. The males of both the Baetis dun and spinner stages have large, divided eyes. The upper part of each eye on the male is turbinate, or top shaped, often very red and distinctive. After eight or so hours, they transform from duns to sexually mature spinners (subimagoes to imagoes). Sometimes this change occurs after more than a day. The mayfly duns and spinners do not feed, as they have non-functioning mouths. The males gather together in mating swarms, and may stay alive for three or four days. They swarm in an up-and-down, figure-eight pattern, and then grab any female that flies close. In cooler weather, the mayflies often mate from midday to early afternoon, the warmer part of the day. Mating occurs in the air or while perched on vegetation. After a minute or so, the pair separates. The female often chooses a protruding rock or stick in a stream, lands there or at streamside, folds her wings to trap air

and enters the water to lay her eggs. This underwater egg laying is different from most mayfly species that drop their eggs into the water or lay them on the surface. Baetis females deposit eggs deep enough to prevent drying as the stream level drops with the progressing season. Sometimes the female crawls out of the water after laying its eggs, but usually she just floats downstream. That drift can be matched with a good wet fly or soft hackle fly. Sylvester Nemes’ Starling and Pheasant Soft Hackle, Han Weilenmann’s Diving Baetis, or the 19th century Waterhen Bloa that Nemes recommends are good pattern selections. For some unknown reason, many males follow the female into the water. The exhausted male and female Baetis, with air still trapped between their wings, drift through the water. If the trout miss them, they end up hanging just below the stream’s surface. Baetis spinners don’t look like usual mayfly spinners. Most mayfly spinners fall from the sky with outstretched wings, a cross shape, and are caught on top. Baetis that rise up from the stream bottom with wings folded look as if they have only one wing. Floating under the surface, they are hard for the fisher to see. Baetis spinners may be imitated with a single-wing dry fly trimmed so that it floats under the surface like a diving Baetis Z-wing spinner, or a sparse singlewing CDC spinner that catches the light, looking like trapped air bubbles. Eggs hatch in two weeks to a month, depending on water temperatures. The nymphs grow rapidly,

Bottom view of a clinger mayfly. Clingers have wider bodies than the swimmers, and an abdomen that sticks to the rocks like a suction cup. Far right, a swimming nymph, probably a Baetis, but with its tails broken off. Situations like this are common, leading to identification difficulties. For a definitive answer as to what nymph this is, ask the fisher with bifocals who knows everything.

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Far left, this 3⁄8-inch Baetis nymph has a shorter middle tail, streamlined body for undulating swimming and antennae several times longer than the head.

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Biology on the Fly The male Baetis eye is divided with the upper portion turbinate, as shown here. The female has smaller eyes. Both male and female often have the olive brown color that gives genus members their name, blue-winged olives.

This female Baetis dun, the pre-adult subimagon stage, will soon molt into the sexually mature spinner stage or imago.

undergoing many molts as they increase in size. For streams that are rich in food, oxygen and are not too cold, three generations of Baetis may be produced in a single year. Fishers associate blue-winged olive hatches with cold days in the early spring or late fall that are overcast, misty or with snow flurries around their ears, but as usual with the Baetidae family there are lots of exceptions. On some Western rivers, there are big hatches on the hottest summer day, dense enough that the fish really respond well. Friends tell me their best Bighorn River fishing days using Baetis emergers were during July, a fact unknown to many anglers, including myself. The Baetidae family has a tendency

This female Baetis is having difficulty freeing her wings as she molts into the imago stage.

to confuse not only the new fisher but the gray-headed bifocal one as well, as to identification and emerging time. The tremendous color variation and size means that a fisher needs to keep a good color selection of blue-winged olive nymphs, emergers, duns and diving spinners on hand in a range of sizes from No. 16 to No. 22.

VA VAN AN NIISH VANISH at at AQUADESIGN.com AQUADESIGN.com

Cattcch More More By Catch Melting Into Into to Nature Nature Melting AQUA SKY

Camouflage Fishing Clothing

For sunny to partly sunny skies

GREEN BAYOU

PACIFIC SAND

Blends with trees Earth tones that and shoreline conceal in sandy, vegetation rocky areas

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

MISTY SKY

Compatible colors for an overcast sky

888-359-5644

Although they will hatch throughout the year, it is the cold and miserable wintry days when nothing else much is emerging that makes bluewinged olive hatches memorable. The blue-winged olive hatch that sticks in my mind was many years ago on Nelson’s Spring Creek, a dark March day. The morning was overcast and the wind was blowing and no fish for the morning’s effort. In the afternoon the wind stopped, not even a wisp of air moving, and snow began to fall. As I watched the big snowflakes slowly drift down, it seemed the stream was producing insects rising up at the same number and rate as the snowflakes that were falling. The stream was dimpled all over with rising trout, but very close to me was the big one, languidly plucking olive duns from the surface. I floated my perfectly tied dun that I had tied the night before in a perfect line with that trout, in the middle of his feeding lane, no drag, fly positioned before leader. My most vivid fishing memory was of that big brown rising beneath my perfect, impeccably presented fly. The trout hesitated for a moment, then shoved my fly away with its snout as it took the real insect floating behind. That just goes to show that the best plan does not always turn out as expected. Verne Lehmberg from Dayton, Texas, is a longtime IFFF member, an excellent photographer and writer. He is the Flyfisher team’s “Biology on the Fly” columnist. Give him your feedback at vernelehmberg@yahoo.com.

Photo essay by Verne Lehmberg

BWO Short-Winged Emerger Renee Harrop Last Chance, Idaho

hese BWO flies represent some of the best to imitate the various mayfly stages. The Baetis nymphs work well fished under a dun pattern used as an indicator. A Harrop BWO Short-Winged emerger, one like Rainey’s BWO Nymph fished in the film, or a cripple pattern is often preferred during a hatch. The Biot Sparkle Duns, Comparaduns and traditionally hackled flies like Cody Fisher’s Crow Creek Blue-winged Olive Dun are durable flies that can be easily dried and refreshed after taking fish with them. The spinner patterns that work best are similar to the old, single-wing Blue Quill wet fly, or soft hackle flies such as the Bloa or Hans Weilenmann’s Diving Baetis. These flies represent the spent female Baetis after she has crawled underwater and deposited her eggs. They float back up through the water column and suspend just under the surface. The fly can be fished with a Leisenring Lift, or with a bit of flotant on it and dead-drifted in the surface film. To tie your own Diving Baetis, see Weilenmann’s video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b73ZBd5D1zM. Also see Lehmberg's "Fly Box" on page 40.

Baetis Nymph Idylwilde Portland, Oregon

Baetis Drake Nymph George Anderson Livingston, Montana

Sparkle Stacker Idylwilde Portland, Oregon

BWO Nymph Rainy’s Logan, Utah

Crow Creek Blue-winged Olive Dun Cody Fisher, IFFF Tier Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Blue-winged Olive Sparkle Dun Terry McLoughlin, IFFF Tier Toledo, Ohio

Baetis Biot Sparkle Dun Renee Harrop Last Chance, Idaho

BWO Baetis Dun Ray Chang, Solitude Flies Alhambra, California

Waterhen Bloa Al Beatty IFFF Tier Boise, Idaho

Diving Baetis Soft Hackle Designed by IFFF Tier Hans Weilenmann, Amstelveen, the Netherlands

Baetis CDC Biot Cripple Renee Harrop Last Chance, Idaho

BWO No-Hackle Ray Chang, Solitude Flies Alhambra, California

BWO Comparadun Umpqua Louisville, Colorado

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Focus on the Fly

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

At the Vise KG’S EPF EMERGER Story and photos by Kelly G. Glissmeyer aetis mayflies, more commonly known as blue-winged olives (BWOs), are the first significant mayflies to emerge each spring in my part of the world. Also, they often continue to hatch on into winter. Hence, they are a likely choice of winter-addled dry-fly anglers as they begin their forays to their favorite springtime haunts. Imitating Baetis mayflies has produced numerous effective patterns over the years such as Frank Sawyer’s popular Pheasant-tail Nymph, along with the Parachute Adams and the Thorax Dun patterns made popular by Mike Lawson. I developed this pattern series in order to fool the finicky trout present in my favorite spring creek. Although the fish are oftentimes suckers for a well presented mayfly nymph or scud subsurface, when they feed on top they

exhibit their doctoral attributes. Correct presentation of this pattern gives fussy trout a look at something new and lifelike. With this fly as tied here, I was finally able to “crack the code” in fishing dry flies to the spring creek’s surface feeding trout. The pattern presented here I tie with a unique foam material, similar to what Scott Sanchez used for his Caulk Midge as described in the “At the Vise” column in the Autumn 2010-Winter 2011 issue of Flyfisher. The difference being the material used here is electronics packing foam (EPF) that comes wrapped around electronic devices such as cell phones, DVD players, etc., to protect them during shipping. Since you probably will not find similar foam in fly shops, you may want to check with

MATERIAL S

Step

Hook: Sizes 18-20, Dai-Riki 125 emerger Thread: UTC 70-denier, brown-olive Tail: Amber Simi-seal dubbing tied in as a shuck Abdomen: Olive/gray goose biot Thorax: Olive/gray dry-fly dubbing Wingcase: Electronics packing foam – 1/16-inch wide Wing/Legs: Medium dun CDC puff

Start your thread base and advance to the bend. Tie on a small clump of amber dubbing at the bend of the hook and trim it at an angle to represent the shuck. Attach the goose biot.

Step

Dub a thin thorax (as shown) with olive/gray dubbing

[38]

electronics retailers to secure a supply – it is usually free. Optimum foam is at or near 1/16-inch thick; I think that thickness is critical to the pattern’s success. Don’t worry about color, as almost all of this material is white. Besides, when tied in over the back of the fly as a wing case it is usually not visible to the fish when they are positioned below the fly. If desired, the foam could be colored with permanent markers. Because these flies float so low in

Step

Attach a medium dun CDC puff to the shank with two loose thread-wraps just behind the hook eye.

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

Step

Cement the hook shank, and wrap the biot over the rear two-thirds of the hook shank. Tie it off and then trim the excess.

Step

Slowly pull the stem of the CDC feather under the thread wraps until the fibers appear long enough to represent the legs of the emerging insect. Divide the CDC fibers into equal amounts on either side of the thorax, then pull

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

FLY TIPS Bugs Don’t Have Square Butts By Kelly G. Glissmeyer the film and are quite small, it is usually prudent to trail them as a dropper from a more visible dry fly offering such as a Parachute Adams or a Parasol Emerger. I will usually attach them with a small diameter tippet, no larger than 5X, and around 24 to 30 inches long. In addition, I routinely use a loop-type tippet knot such as a non-slip mono loop to allow the fly to float freely in the film. I fish these flies dead-drift as you would any other dryfly presentation. This fly is only a small example of the multiple uses you can find for this material in your fly tying; experiment with what it can do for you. Kelly Glissmeyer lives with wife Cathy in Rigby, Idaho, where he enjoys spending his spare time as a demonstration flytier, presenter, lecturer, author and photographer of all things related to fly fishing.

Step

hen imitating emerging aquatic insects, I have struggled with the common practice of trimming the shuck material used in those patterns by cutting at a right angle. I do not think there are many square features, if any at all, on the bugs we imitate.

While demo tying at a Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave event in West Yellowstone, Montana, I found myself making the following statement as I trimmed the shuck material on a pattern I had just tied: “Bugs don’t have square butts, so why trim them square?” My tip today is for you to try trimming the shucks on your emerger patterns at an angle to better represent the natural insects. As the insect slides out of its exoskeleton during emergence, that “shuck” represents the actual body of the nymph. A tapered cut on your imitation will more accurately reflect the natural body shape, which is thinner at the back and larger toward the head. Pull your shuck material parallel to the hook shank, and lay your scissors across the back of the hook. Cutting at a slightly downward angle, make sure to hold the material tightly with your opposite hand as you make the cut.

Put It There! Bind a 2-inch piece length of foam directly in front of the goose-biot application and allow it to lie back over the hook.

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 Can’t find Mill Stream at a shop nearby? www.flyboxesdirect.com!

ALTERNATE INSTRUCTIONS

the foam over the thorax and CDC legs and secure it with thread wraps behind the hook eye. Trim the foam and CDC stem, then wrap a small thread head and whip-finish to complete the fly.

Tie in the foam strip at the hook bend after tying in and trimming the shuck material. Use the tying thread to form a sparse abdomen, rib with wire, and then dub the thorax with olive/gray or black dubbing. Pull the foam over the entire back of the fly and tie it off behind the hook eye, trimming the excess material and finishing with a small thread head. Pick out the thorax dubbing to represent legs, trim them and you’re done. Substitute appropriate colors of tying materials to represent other mayflies and midges.

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[39]

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Fly Box Photo essay by Verne Lehmberg Grasshopper Dr. Fred Hannie Lake Charles, Louisiana

he International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) flytiers teach the rest of us about the methods used to tie and fish their creations. The IFFF Fly Tying Group’s motto is “Tying is Teaching.” Some flies are meant just to be framed and admired; I doubt anyone would risk casting that delicate spider of Lora Martinez or Steven Fernandez’s McGinty for a fish to maul. Contrasting each other are the grasshopper flies, Fred Hannie’s very realistic one and Ellen Clark’s Stimulator, originally a stonefly imitation. Ellen’s fly is the color of a grasshopper. During the hopper season on Western rivers, this durable fly takes the trout. Two flies that share a wiggle are the BP Muskie Fly and the Wilson’s Trout Fly. Both have a water-catching scoop like the old bass plug, the Clark Water Scout. Wilson’s Trout Fly wiggles in the water because the teal wing is tied concave side up. A Utah man with only one arm originated it. Teaching is an important service IFFF tiers offer, including teaching injured service people how to tie flies and fish, part of the Project Healing Waters and Wounded Warriors programs.

McGinty Steven Fernandez 2012 Buszek Award Venice, California

Verne Lehmberg from Dayton, Texas, is a longtime Federation member and an excellent photographer. Also see his “Biology on the Fly” on page 34.

Aztec Bill Nelson Los Gatos, California Tarpon Toad Dr. Steve Jensen Springfield, Missouri Wilson’s Trout Fly Richard Powell Bloomington, Indiana

BP Muskie Fly Bill Sherer Boulder Junction, Wisconsin

Dandelion Midge Ray Chang Alhambra, California

[40]

Stimulator Ellen Clark Ft. Washakie, Wyoming

Spider Lora Martinez Vancouver, British Columbia

Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2012

Parachute Ant Bob Trowbridge Providence, Utah

A QUICK SYSTEM For Airbrushing Flies Story and photos by Sam Matalone

s with any hobby that can be all-consuming, flytiers are always trying to adapt or improve the flies they tie. We all steal shamelessly from each other and then pass along what we have learned. This article is no different. Recently, I was demonstrating how to carve balsa wood poppers at the Washington State IFFF Fly Fishing Fair in Ellensburg. I thought this would be something unique and would draw some attention. To my surprise, in steelhead and salmon country, there was in fact some interest in learning to carve a popper. However, there was a lot of interest in the method I used to paint those poppers. Basically, I was painting with an airbrush that uses felt-tip markers as the color source, as demonstrated on a YouTube video by Curtis Fry. Since discovering the system, I have used a number of different types of markers to paint poppers, touch-up/enhance saltwater flies, nymphs, dry flies and color feathers when I could not readily find the material I needed. The miracle system I use is a Copic Air Brush System. It is available in hobby stores or online (www.copicmarker.com/products/ airbrush-system). It is extremely flexible, fast drying, requires no cleanup, and it is a rapid-change system taking about 10 seconds to switch colors. It is super simple to use. Just connect the airbrush to an air source, put a marker in the holder and spray. To change the color, change the marker. It truly is that easy. The potential uses of this type of system are only limited by the creativity of the user. I think it’s important to use permanent markers to reduce color fade over time. On occasions when I know I will be applying an epoxytype finish, I use water-soluble markers because I think the colors blend better. Another point to consider is where you will get your air pressure.

When I am at the different fly-tying fairs, I use a can of compressed air. This option can be expensive and the pressure gradually diminishes as you use the can of air. Typically at home I use an air compressor with a regulator. Each air compressor is slightly different, so test yours to determine what the best operation pressure will be. I find a pressure between 20 and 60 pounds per square inch works well for me. Now let’s get to the fun part! You can use the system to paint poppers, whether they are a smooth or a rough surface; you can use it to apply the final touches on the head of a larger streamer or saltwater fly; you can even use it to dye feathers a special color or add barring/mottling to the feathers before applying them to a hook. Just be sure to use permanent markers if you plan to fish with the fly. I find this technique for dying feathers particularly useful when I need a special color for tying Atlantic salmon flies. If I need a darker color I can apply a second coat of spray. For the best results, I find it’s important to thoroughly allow the feather to dry between color applications. Let’s talk about painting poppers. In a few minutes, you can spray your popper with several different colors in a pattern that is appealing to you and it will look great. You can improve the appearance of your popper by using stencils to add a pattern. Create your own stencil, place it where you want a pattern, then spray. The final step is to brush on a hard finish if you wish; I like to use from one to three coats. The Coptic Air Brush System has really changed my fly tying in a positive direction, and it may affect yours as well. Like many things in life, the boundaries of what you do with the system are only limited by your creativity. Sam Matalone, a displaced steelhead fisherman coping in Texas, is an IFFF Life Member who enjoys tying flies, photography and fishing. This is his first article for Flyfisher.

Copic airbrush system with compressor connection.

Mallard flank feathers dyed with a copic system.

Goose shoulders dyed with permanent ink.

Deceiver type streamers, before and after.

Commercially bought bodies base coat painted.

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[41]

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Education

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Woman’s Outlook YOU KNOW YOU’RE LIVIN’ RIGHT WHEN … Story and photo by Carol Oglesby

etirement is great! Several days in a row for the last year, since departing a 20-year stint with the government, I’ve awakened early and poured my weary body into a pair of wet waders and boots, and gratefully sighed, “You know you’re livin’ right when you’re putting on wet waders.” Once a week I go fishing with some female friends. On a recent trip I mentioned having an article due and was uncertain of the topic. We batted around a few ideas and the conversation meandered to other matters, one of which was wading boots. I grumbled once again about my incessant search for the perfect boot. I recently bought a pair of the new environmentally friendly, rubber-soled boots. Unfortunately they’re too big, which I can deal with by adding another pair of heavy socks, but without studs, the soles are so slick I spend more time clutching my wading staff than I do casting a fly. I am grateful I did not throw away my old, ragged, felt-soled wading boots that have shrunk a size and must be plunged in water to be pliable enough to wrangle onto my feet. Putting on wet boots brought me around to the “you-know-you’re-livin’right …” topic and the idea of the gear and accoutrements we acquire as part of this fly-fishing passion. Thus, I thought it would be enlightening and amusing to ponder the things that fly fishing lends to livin’ right – a reason to be grateful for the myriad blessings and entrapments that occupy my life and time as a result of an involvement in “fishing with an

The old boots fit really well but must be dunked in the water to soften them up enough to slip on.

angle,” to quote a bit from Dame Juliana’s infamous book written around 1421. After a number of years, many anglers manage to acquire all the necessities to thoroughly enjoy a day on the water. But in our travels, few of us can drive by a fly shop without stopping and shopping. I am mesmerized and sucked in by all of the gadgets offered with fish and water motifs. Walking into a new fly shop puts me on sensory overload with the neon colors, wild and wavy patterns, the techy wading staffs, iPhone and iPad covers, mouse pads, T-shirts that cry “buyte” me, vests, day packs and purses in dazzling patterns and colors. Last Christmas, I begged Santa for that new trendy fishing vest and the wading staff that doubled as a monopod for my camera. He lovingly obliged.

Much of this merchandise is designed and manufactured for the female angler. What, are we stupid? Apparently I am. I wore the new trendy vest for three months and really, really tried to love it – until I had my fishing license checked by a ranger. With the umpteen teensy, weensy pockets (a couple were even big enough for fly boxes) to sort through, when I finally did find my license the pocket was so tight I could not get the little folded paper out! I’m sure the ranger thought I was performing some evasive tactic and had no license. I have had less frustration untangling my fly line wrapped in a thorny Russian olive tree on the river bank! And when I used my new wading staff the first time, there was no way to attach it to my wading belt. I overcame that with a jerry rig and a

www.flytyingtools.com

Heirloom Quality Q y Tools

[42]

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

hate waiting for delivery to discover whether the items fit and have a practical application for female anglers. Are we too picky? Fit seems to be a more important factor for women than for men. Are we more influenced by gimmicky items than men? Obviously I can be! With the new cross-over clothing items, it’s now fairly easy to go from the river to casual dining without having to change your wardrobe. I know the manufacturers have done their research and solicited the advice of many smart and influential women in the industry. It will be interesting to see what comes of this latest fishing-female-market surge. As one woman from the IFTD panel discussion put it, “Let’s hope they don’t ‘pink-it’ and ‘shrink-it’ again.” Meanwhile, we should all remain grateful for being women who love the outdoors and fly fishing and for the many incredible people we have met through the sport. We women do have

a lot to be thankful for in the industry. IFFF clubs warmly welcome female members and champion their involvement as officers and board members. Across the country, countless womenonly fly-fishing clubs have formed, making it easy for women to get involved in the sport. No one has more fun than a group of women on a fly-fishing trip. Let’s see … tomorrow I plan to go to a really cool fly shop that sells those designer nippers in trout graphics. I don’t know if I like the brown or rainbow trout motif better. I should be able to pick them up with a nice, unobtrusive-black lanyard for around $150. Yikes, maybe I should wait and ask Santa! You know you’re livin’ right when you’re wearing a pair of designer nippers that can double as evening bling! 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.

Montana

TROUT FISHING ONLY 2 Days Beaverhead & 2 Days Bitterroot

Rainbows Browns Cutthroat Brook Dolly Varden

$ Includes: 5 Nights Lodging, One 2,400 Angol r Two Guided and Boat Daily, ers Streamside Lunch, Airport Shuttle www.AbbotsMontanaFishing.com Bill Abbot ~ 800-363-2408

32 Years Experience - Montana Guide #76

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[43]

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

smile on my face. Then, the first day I took it out, I stepped on the end and broke off the tip. I never even got to try out the monopod! Geez, I am gullible. Santa, I promise to be more practical this Christmas! For novice fly fishers, being on the river for the first time must be a frightening experience. Since the creation of sun gloves and Buffs, many of us look like water bandits waving pointy sticks. Not to worry, it’s just the fishing “in-crowd” disguised in designer sun-masks and gloves resembling brown trout or some other flyfishing related item. Oh, the things that discretionary money buys! My husband and I recently attended the International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) show in Reno, Nevada. During the event there was a panel discussion on women and fly fishing; the topic of clothing and gear came up. Some manufacturers are making a new and solid effort to develop clothing and gear for the female angler. I remarked that women are a tough market for retailers. However, I have to commend the manufacturers of the last two decades for producing waders and boots in sizes designed for women. That was a huge step in acknowledging that women are serious about fly fishing. The trouble is, I know of only a few specialty fly shops that can afford to carry a full line of women’s gear. My hope is that we can find, on the shelf, reasonably priced and “useful” equipment for women, eliminating the need to shop by catalog. I’m not opposed to shopping by catalog, but I

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Casting OF GEMS AND COLD, CLEAR CREEKS Story and photos by Tom Tripi

any of the smaller streams and creeks of the Catskills and Adirondacks typify the fisheries where I honed my early flyfishing skills. Those waters emanated from old beaver dams, sloughs, or from deep, canopied woodlands, always trickling cold and sometimes tannin-stained. Although most waters were less than knee deep and no wider than a fly rod, they teemed with bright little gems; and a big fish was eight inches, not eight pounds. In many remote areas, from Yellowstone to the East Coast where I fished, my footprints were the only ones I saw all season. When daydreaming about those cold “skinny” waters on a hot Southern afternoon, I always remember wanting to grab a light rod and stalk their banks, casting a line now and then while prospecting for gems. A serious pastime of mine in earlier years was rock collecting, later maturing into rough gem collecting, cutting and polishing. One of my fonder memories was of a small

Top rated guide service with largest selection of rivers

Washington Idaho Montana Say “Fish’Sposa “Fish’Sposal” and get a trip discount! www.fishsposal.com

www.panhandle-outfitters.com [44]

“pocket water” creek emanating from a deep hemlock woods before it joined the Poestenkill Creek in Upstate New York. It’s where I began collecting gems of a different sort. The “Upper” Poestenkill is about 4 feet wide and its cold water only a foot deep. Of course it was crystal clear, but seeing the trout was difficult because they were hidden along its many undercut banks. That creek was one of a few in the area rumored to contain tiger trout (cross of brookies and browns). I gained knowledge of the creek from a crusty old “rod swapper” friend who lived nearby and knew that I released the fish I caught. Access to good fishing was by crawling on hands and knees over soft hemlock needles along its rock-strewn banks to a suitable casting area. I spotted a few fish now and then, not sure of the species. I eventually found an area where I was able to cast to good spots that were only 10 to 15 feet away. It was sneaky, leader-only casting using flies that mimicked the ants and moths floating by. The first hits came from chubs, and then a small brookie flipped his tail at the fly. But none took the fly. I sat for a moment and recast. A small brookie hit; this time hooking itself. It was only 6 inches long, but it had nearly every hue of the rainbow on its sides. What a stunning gem! A quick flick of my hemostat on the barbless hook and the brookie was swimming away, untouched. I waited a minute, then recast to the same spot and a large shadow came under the fly. There were only glints of sunlight but it was enough to see the pronounced vermiculations on its back and sides – a tiger! It came up, slapped at the fly and then quickly disappeared. So did all of the other fish in the area. That tiger was a bulky 10 or 12 inches long. It was stationed near an undercut bank and probably was the top predator in that area of the creek. I did catch a few more small brookies but never saw another tiger. Casting that day required a very short, flexible rod and a

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

The results of a quiet approach and careful casting: This colorful little cutthroat is waiting for a quick release.

short casting stroke. The casts had to be actual casts, with narrow loops, not just “waves” of the rod bringing a backcast forward and laying it on the water. This is where proper leader taper and material stiffness is critical. I like the butt section to be as stiff as the line, the midsection taper somewhat softer, and the final taper to the fine tippet very limber. I often cheat on the leader diameter/hook size relationship in favor of a slightly larger hook size than otherwise suitable. A very slow, gentle cast somewhat negates the expected fly propellering. Since we’re discussing narrow, canopied streams, rod length is important. Leave your 9-foot, 4-weight rod at home. Close quarters require short rods. An ideal rod would be a limber 5- or 6-footer. My favorite rods are an old, limber bamboo and an early, fullflex fiberglass. Both have leisurely, for-

The author’s favorite gem! The brook trout.

Little Tchefuncte River. (It’s one of Louisiana’s answers to a northern “pocket water” stream). After I finish this project, I’ll need a quick “stream fix.” The Little Tchefuncte, only a halfmile from the house, is a classic cold water-like stream – only it’s located in a warm environment. A short, soft action rod is perfect for this water, as I usually will be casting under a dense canopy. My prey is not a bright northern gem but instead a colorful little sunfish. These aggressive little creatures are not picky about drag-free floats; however, this is great practice water for the specialized casts that you need for those cold critics up north. If you have similar, nearby waters, take the time to use them to your benefit as a teaching aid. Why waste quality fishing and travel time to a first-class

stream just to practice? See you on the water. 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.

Heirloom Quality Tools

www.flytyingtools.com w www.fly ww.ffly t yingtools ww yingto tools. o .com G Guaranteed uaranteed ffor foor yyour our llifetime ifetime

Flyfisher Autumn 2012 - Winter 2013

[45]

Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing

Photo by BT’s

giving actions. Cast with a slight wrist snap and slow enough to allow the light leader to flutter to the water’s surface. Practicing your “short game” will pay dividends later. A different approach is required when casting along narrow, slow-moving streams or beaver creeks. The crisp action of a classic, 7-foot, dry-fly rod is just the prescription. Trout are usually tucked along an undercut bank waiting to dart out and grab a snack and return to cover. Aim a tight, narrow loop to locations near undercuts. This is where a longer, light tippet and a drag-free float are critical. Although these narrow, clear waters are typically slower moving, flies still drag across the surface if you’re not careful. A sure method to add seconds to a drag-free float is to finish a forward cast with a few serpentine loops from a wiggle cast. Just after completing the “stop” during the forward cast and while the line is extending, “jiggle” the rod tip a few inches side to side. A small horizontal loop forms with each “jiggle” and only two or three are generally required. The quicker you “jiggle,” the closer the loops are to the fly and vice versa. Again practice this cast and try to master using the lightest touch possible. As in almost all casts, make the very tip of your rod do the work. I’m planning a quick trip to the

Clockwise from below, an ideal situation for shorter rods and short casts, as well as a properly tuned leader! A 3-foot wide “cut” between two wider creeks, it contained many small brownies willing to take floating terrestrials in its quick-moving 10-inch deep water. Note its deep undercut bank is an ideal trout hideout. This Adirondack beaver meadow had a small stream that was full of wary brookies. Longer, precise casting was definitely required here.

The IFFF International Fly Fishing Fair

2012 Photo Contest Winners By Pat Oglesby

FLY ANGLERS IN THEIR ELEMENT 1st: “Morning on the White” by Jerry McKaughan, Pottsville, Arkansas Location: Bull Shoals, Arkansas 2nd: “Barbed Wire and Debarbed Hooks” by Joey Guzman, Glendale, California Location: Upper Owens River in the Eastern Sierras, California

“Classic Tackle” by Rockwell Hammond Jr.

“Morning on the White” by Jerry McKaughan

“Barbed Wire and Debarbed Hooks” by Joey Guzman

3rd: “Netting a Native Trout on Grand Mesa, Colorado” by John Trammell Location: Grand Mesa, Colorado NATIVE FISH OF NORTH AMERICA 1st: “Two Spawning Colorado River Cutthroat Trout” by John Trammell Location: Young’s Creek on

Grand Mesa, Colorado 2nd: “Colorado River Cutthroat Trout” by John Trammell Location: Young’s Creek on Grand Mesa, Colorado 3rd: “Autumn on the Kispiox” by Rockwell Hammond Jr. Location: Kispiox River, Washington

NATURALS AND THEIR IMITATIONS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

1st: “Classic Tackle” by Rockwell Hammond Jr., Fall City, Washington

“Last Cast” by Rockwell Hammond Jr. Location: Kispiox River, Washington. Featuring Harry Lemire, aka River Sage

2nd: “Fly Shadow” by Rockwell Hammond Jr., Fall City, Washington 3rd: “A Well Dressed Wet Fly” by Rockwell Hammond Jr., Fall City, Washington

GRAND PRIZE JUDGE’S CHOICE “Two Spawning Colorado River Cutthroat Trout” by John Trammell Location: Young’s Creek on Grand Mesa, Colorado

“Two Spawning Colorado River Cutthroat Trout” by John Trammell

“Last Cast” by Rockwell Hammond Jr.

“Colorado River Cutthroat Trout” by John Trammell

“Fly Shadow” by Rockwell Hammond Jr.

International Federation of Fly Fishers 5237 U.S. Highway 89 South, Ste. 11 Livingston, MT 59047-9176

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

Post Falls, ID Permit No. 32