WFC 07/08

www.wyflycasters.org

Page 2 OFFICERS John Robitaille, President Joe DeGraw, President-elect Alex Rose, Vice President Tom Grogan, Secretary Ed Rate, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expire in 2009 Spencer Amend Bob Fischer Scott Novotny Richard Soffe Terms expire in 2010 John Fanto Jamie Gibson Joe Meyer Gene Theriault Terms expire in 2011 Steve Burgfechtel, M.D. Darin O’Dell Jim Sparks Bill Wichers The Backcast is the monthly newsletter of the Wyoming Fly Casters, an affiliate club of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy and the Federation of Fly Fishers. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the views of the officers, board or members of the Wyoming Fly Casters.

Annual dues are $20 for an individual, $30 for a family, or $250 for a lifetime individual membership or $450 for a lifetime family membership.

Visit the club website at www.wyflycasters.org.

The deadline for submission of information for each issue is the last Wednesday of the month. Make contributions to the next issue by e-mailing material to the Backcast editor at ChevPU57@aol.com, or call (307) 436-8774.

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By subscribing electronically, you also save the club roughly $17.40 a year in printing and postage expenses.

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

Drag-free drif ts

by John Robitaille, President, WFC ’m usually not one to complain, much. But this year, things are different. It has not been the type of weather year that we've all become accustomed over the past few years. The weather has changed back to what it was years ago. We just got out of February a couple of weeks ago, and now we're in runoff season. This is good on so many levels. The drought we have been experiencing may be lifting its awful head and moving on. The state's reservoirs are filling, and the state engineer tells me that is the first time in nine years. That's good. Runoff is above normal, and if I were irrigating crops, that'd be good.

Snowpack was above normal and is still in the high country, again, good. But what about the fisherman who prefers to fish moving water? What about that poor soul? Well, you could always float the river, right? I have tried that a time or two, but the upper section is the only portion clean enough to fish right now.

That usually means lots and lots of boats and people lining every bank that will hold someone. Ideal if you have blinkers on your boat and a bull horn with you.

(Fishing ethics is something that should be taught to every angler, prior to obtaining a license.)

It seems as though the numbers of fish are down up there this year too.

Besides I don't own a boat, so I usually

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end up paying someone to row me. That can get expensive after a while. The mountain streams I've been frequenting this time of year, for the last several years, are all blown out with runoff. So, where do we go? I thought about going to Montana to see a friend and fish the Big Horn. Nope. The Big Horn is running around 10,000 cfs right now. Yea, 10,000 cfs. I was thinking of going back to a nice piece of water in the Mother County, but that's twice as high as normal right now.

So, what to do? Well, I could go to a lake or pond. A change of scenery is always good, or I could pay someone to run me down the river. I did try to float the upper section with a pontoon boat; it was a good day for catching moss -- caught my limit -- but I wasn't after moss. So, far as I can tell I'm left with a couple of choices. Wait for the water to go down, (that may be in September the way things are going), go fish a stillwater, or pay someone to float me down the river. The last would require additional resources that I don't have because the costs of every day living are going up -- gas and food is not as cheap as it used to be. So, what to do?

Think I'll go ask for a raise … and start irrigating.

Hope to see you with a rod in your hand and a rod in my hand soon!

Tailing loops

by Randy Stalker, Backcast editor s described in the initial column since assuming the editor’s chair of the Backcast, I continue to seek contributions from the membership to make the newsletter more interesting, factual and representing different points of view.

That means the membership should be contributing stories, rather sending

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your humble scribe an email and asking me to pursue them.

Such as: a story idea about the low flows this spring at Grey Reef which reportedly killed this year’s class of eggs. I could get no information on this, although it was supposedly reported at the board meeting.

The editor needs your help. This should be your newsletter, too.

Cover shot: Herb Waterman releases a brookie from Buffalo Creek.

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

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FISHING REPORTS From the membership The following reports were gleaned from information presented at the last meeting, as well as from published sources, and filtered from gossip, boasting, bragging, and other exaggerated claims from reliable but biased secondhand sources.

Rainbows should be plentiful at the Speas-Bessemer Bend outing on July 19.

July’s scheduled outing Only one outing has been scheduled for next month.

On July 19, the Wyoming Fly Casters is to hold a fishing opportunity at the Speas hatchery access, just upstream from the Bessemer Bend public boat ramp, according to Joe DeGraw, the WFC’s president-elect. Effective patterns include red rock worms, halfbacks, hare’s ears, scuds, leeches, pheasant tail nymphs, Barr’s emergers and ridiculously small midge larvae.

At this point, no one has volun-

teered to be the streamkeeper. Likewise, it is not known if a feed is to be offered in the afternoon.

The next scheduled outing is the traditional weekend at Deer Park in the Big Horn Mountains, set for Aug. 15-17. The date has been moved back a week, in order for more people to sign up and attend, according to DeGraw.

Sign up at the next general membership meeting or contact DeGraw at 201675-1517 or email him at joseph_degraw@yahoo.com.

Upcoming programs outlined The program for the July 9 general membership meeting is a conservation presentation by Nelli Williams, state coordinator for Trout Unlimited.

In August, a roundtable of fly tiers are to be fashioning patterns for the Big Horn Mountains, in anticipation of the annual Ten Sleep outing.

For the September meeting, Alex Rose, the club’s vice president and regular Backcast contributor, is to be presenting a program on fly fishing in the Blue Ridge/Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina.

And here a couple of clinics being organized for July: Nymphing clinic by Jim Sparks, July 8. Many fly fishermen would argue that nymphing is much more complex and challenging than dry fly fishing. Small changes in leader length, weight, and drifts can make a significant difference to the successful nymph angler. Club mem-

ber and fishing guide Jim Sparks will host a free nymphing clinic on the North Platte on July 8, at 5:30 p.m. until dark.

The clinic, held at Lusby, is open to 6 to 8 members. Call Marty Robinson at 2351730 for reservations.

Aquatic Entomology for Fishermen,

by Marv Nolte, July 26 - 27. Fly fishing, of course, is all about the bugs. The more we understand local insects and their life cycles, the better anglers we will be. Entomology expert Marv Nolte will host a clinic on July 26 - 27. The clinic is open to 6 - 12 people for classroom training on July 26, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission building.

On July 27, the clinic will be open for 1 to 6 students, and will involve streamside training.

The cost for both clinics is $5. For reservations and more information, contact Marty Robinson at 235-1730.

Flows in the North Platte River have been boosted considerably in the last week (from 500 cfs, to 1500 and probably higher by the time this newsletter hits the readership), but fishing remains outstanding. The water is a little mossy, but flies such as the ubiquitous red worm, leeches and PMD emergers are effective. Try using midge patterns in the morning, and BWO and PMD nymphs in the afternoon. Water temps are about 55 degrees and rising relatively fast with the warmer weather.

Small streams such as Boxelder and Deer Creek have subsided considerly from the runoff in June and are now in dry fly condition. Other streams, particularly in the mountains, are still high and dirty.

Ponds are really productive, as demonstrated by the few members who chose to attend the Walker Jenkins outing. Also, Joe Meyer reports a seven pounder was harvested from his secret pond (it is to be mounted). The most productive flies at Walker Jenkins were red or green size 14 copper Johns or small wooly buggers.

If you want to learn where Joe Meyer catches these whopper rainbows, you’ll have to coax an invite.

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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

FLY

of the month If you’re heading to Yellowstone (and can afford the gas prices), these two flies are all you need to fish Yellowstone Lake from your float tube or pontoon. Fish the nymph about a foot behind the bugger, casting toward shore and quickly stripping the retrieve.

CRACKLIN’ ROSE This is a variation of the old wooly bugger standby. It has a maribou tail, a Canadian blood mohair body and either a head of fluorscent red thread or a fluorescent red cone. Tie it in either size 8 or 10. Expect violent strikes by the cutthroats off the shore of Gull Point or Steamboat Point.

Steve Burgfechtel with one of the many rainbows he landed during the recent outing at Walker Jenkins lake on June 21. A green copper John was Doc’s pattern choice.

Barry Floyd reports on Sand Creek’s mixed fishing results CALLIBAETIS NYMPH This is a Denny Rickards pattern which can represent several insects, including mayfly nymphs or even a scud. This is a deadly fly when trout are feeding on Callibaetis mayflies on or in the surface film. It can be tied with gray dubbing (above) or with peacock herl. I prefer the grey Callibaetis in size 12 or 14 fished with a transparent intermediate line.

This fly has saved the day for me several times on Yellowstone Lake.

Tail: wood duck.

Body: Grey dubbing or peacock herl.

Hackle: Grizzly, tied in by the tip, and palmered to head.

Ribbing: Gold wire wrapped around the body.

Back: Wood duck pulled over the body.

Just a quick update on Sand Creek.

Dorothy and I are living and working at the Devils Tower KOA and we have managed to get over to Sand Creek several times already with mixed results.

But in early June that part of the Black Hills got some great rains which causes Sand Creek to run for several days clear from the top, above ground. This much water plus more local run off have had a scouring effect on the stream bed and moved a lot of silt out of the Ranch A section, deepening some of the holes.

The bad news is that a family of herons have moved in and are really cleaning out the creek in the shallow spots that all used to hold fish.

Last time there we actually fished from the upper parking lot clear up to the diverson dam and caught fish. It has been awhile since we have done this. Then we went down on the state ground and found some bigger fish working to dries.

Elk Hair caddis, #16 and 18 did the trick for me and Dorothy was using "something kinda green". When in doubt, a #14 or 16 SJW drifted through the deeper holes will prevent a SKUNK. Anyway, it is great to be back "home" for the summer and we plan to get the creek many more time. Dorothy even bought some stink bait to use down here on the Belle Fourche around the tower.

Even the creeks in the North Bearlodge were running a lot of water and should help the brooks and 'bows that head up out of Cook Lake. Or down from Cook Lake as the lake ran hugely during the deluge that occurred and turned the lake chocolate.

Call if you head this way. The Dime Horseshoe Bar in Sundance is a great place for that after stream refreshment (once you get out of the Sand Creek Tradin' Post in Beulah).

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

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Activities chairman and banquet ideas are being sought by the club prez We need a chairman for the activities committee. Activities such as tying classes, rod building, net building, and community fly fishing classes or what ever else you might be interested in putting together would be included. If you are interested, please contact John Robitaille.

• The banquet committee is interested in hearing ideas for next year. If you have ideas that you believe would make the banquet better, let us know. You can email ideas to John Robitaille at john@pawyo.org.

Volunteers needed for the G&F’s Expo next September The Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Expo will be the week after Labor Day and will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This is a change from previous Expos that were held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has asked for help with fly tying, casting and a booth. We will be asking for volunteers to help, so please watch for a sign up sheet at the next general meeting.

PRFS goes green!

Recycle old waders into new fishing products Don’t let your old waders go to the landfill; they can now be recycled.

Please drop off your old unwanted breathable waders at the Platte River Fly Shop.

Mark Boname reports the old waders are being refashioned into wallets and chest packs.

M Y F LY B OX Spencer Amend has a preference for stripping streamers, hence the dominant patterns in one of his boxes he shared with the Backcast during the outing on the Bighorn River last April. He has become a disciple (as has Joe Meyer) of the jig patterns originated by Harley Reno (more on these patterns in a future issue).

A Road Less Traveled Sometimes daughters are a lot like a road less traveled…. They start out, meander around like a course laid out by a drunken land surveyor that forgot where he was supposed to go, and then bingo!!. They arrive.... and surprise you with a gift more precious than a Marvin Nolte plate block, ( Wendy, daughter #1, still has the Stamp Series, and matching flies dressed by Marvin, that she purchased a few years ago at the WFC Annual Banquet).

So-hey, you might ask, what could be more precious than a framed plate block…..which she would not consider parting with, well Wendy writes HAIKU’s and this year she wrote the following for my birthday that is a worthy tribute to all of the WFC membership.

For both love and life, Fishing is a metaphor, Catch and release joy!

Enjoy!

Pete Palone

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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

Bamboo rod, made in Japan

by Alex Rose Vice President, WFC loaded my truck with plenty of gear for camping at Pathfinder Reservoir and fishing in Fremont Canyon. I carried the two things you can never take too much of for this sort of adventure: beer and firewood. I also packed three fly boxes stuffed with questionable homemade flies and an antique bamboo fly rod.

When saying goodbye to my wife, she gave me this quirky stare, as if I had a piece of spaghetti hanging off my chin.

“What is it?” I asked her.

“You look entirely too excited to be going on a camping trip by yourself,” she said, flatly. She doesn’t understand my solo camping trips. Every so often, I like to just get away from it all: the job, the news, American Idol, McDonalds, cell phone reception, and everything else that passes for so-called modern civilization.

Since I mailed both of my graphite fly rods back to the manufacturer for repairs, I was left with my only functioning fly rod, a bamboo rod I recently purchased at a local antique store for $25.

The rod had been broken three times, and the repairs looked primitive and highly suspect.

Fifty years ago, when a fisherman broke his bamboo rod, he typically didn’t pay big money to have it restored by a bamboo rod restoration specialist.

Instead, he shrugged, poked around in his garage, and figured out how to fix it.

Although the repair looked shady, and lowered the rod’s “value,” it sure gave the rod some character.

I was reluctant to purchase the rod at all. The logo painted near the handle said, “Toyo.” The model was called, “Valiant,” and the words, “Made in Japan” were painted near the handle. I was eager to hang a bamboo rod on my wall, but I didn’t want everyone to know it was made in Japan.

But then I came to my senses. My old truck is Japanese and a solid workhorse, a fine machine and a brilliant piece of engineering. If this rod was to perform half as good as my Toyota, it was

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Rose said his bamboo fly rod sliced through the air like a Ginsu knife. The antique rod is shown with a patch of Shooting Stars in Fremont Canyon.

worth $25. So I put aside my petty nationalism and bought the thing.

I searched the internet looking for information about my rod, but found absolutely nothing. However, I did discover that following World War II, American servicemen bought hundreds of thousands of Japanese bamboo fly rods, and they are considered lower quality rods. Even if a Japanese bamboo rod is in mint condition, it’s worth only about $75.

I wasn’t sure if it was a four weight or five weight rod; most old rods don’t say. I just brought along my five-weight line and reel and called it good.

I arrived late at Cardwell about thirty minutes before dark. I tied on a couple of rock worms – very large worms, tied on size 10 hooks – and didn’t even get a bump. So at dark, I reeled in, made camp, built a roaring campfire, and drank beer and ate Dinty Moore stew while staring like a zombie into the flickering flames.

The next morning, I entered Fremont Canyon. This gorgeous canyon is rugged and often a dangerous place to

fish. The giant rocks are the size of boulders and as slick as polished marble. The felt soles on my wading boots had all the traction of bowling shoes.

While rock hopping in the canyon, the question isn’t if you are going to fall, but when, and how hard. Since Fremont is so inaccessible, few anglers venture there, so the fishing is often very good.

I tried my double rock worm rig and almost immediately caught and released a spunky little rainbow. Then, in a nearby pool, I hooked into a large fish that began racing downstream. I soon realized that I foul hooked the beast, and was concerned about my old bamboo rod, which was doubled completely over. I towed the 18-inch rainbow into my net, and all concerns about the integrity of my rod vanished.

I continued downstream, working every pool. I found that the key to fishing these small, deep holes was a lot of weight: I used double BB steel split shot, sunk my worms straight to the bottom, and routinely hooked fish. Using a bamboo rod added a bit of grace and dignity to rock worm fishing, which involves

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter large weights and a fat bobber – or, excuse me, a strike indicator.

I only had trouble when hooking big fish. The largest fish I hooked – a fat rainbow about 19 inches in length – swam downstream with fury, wrapped around two large rocks and promptly broke my 4X tippet. The rod lacked backbone, and after hooking fish, I felt more like a professional wrestler than a fisherman. Still, the rod’s slow, wobbly action provided extra excitement when manhandling fish.

My thrice-broken Japanese bamboo rod performed like my Toyota: Old, beat up, but mostly reliable. The shady repairs on my rod remind me of the coat hanger that secures the muffler to the frame. But the truck runs like a well-oiled machine, and the bamboo rod still catches fish. By the end of the day, I landed between 12 and 15 trout, along with one 17-inch rainbow.

I didn’t catch very many large fish on this trip. But to quote a fishing author – I forgot the writer’s name, but the quote sounds much like a Hallmark greeting card – “It’s not the size of the fish; it’s the size of the smile.”

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Financial report from April’s banquet Income: Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,685.00 Live Auction: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,975.00 Silent Auction: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,099.00 Bucket Raffle: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,262.00 50/50 Raffle: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216.97 Bundy's Donation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Total Income: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$16,287.97 Expenses: Ramada: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,848.77 Finishing Touch: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222.60 Joe Meyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.95 Platte River Fly Shop: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,350.04 Kinkos: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.23 Office Depot: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.04 U.S. Postmaster: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.40 Wyo Stationery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.05 Credit Card Fee: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507.17 Total Expenses

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,080.25

Net Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$11,207.72

Membership list is now available; it is to be distributed at the July membership meeting The WFC plans to distribute a membership list to those in attendance at the July meeting.

The list includes the names, addresses, phone numbers of club members.

For those members not attending, other arrangements are to be made.

FOR SALE Special prices for WFC club members! Fly lines, fly reels and fly rods.

Call Don Jelinek 267-7477

THINK SUMMER! It’s not too early to mark your calendar for the most popular outing of the year: Ten Sleep. It is traditionally held on the second weekend of August each year, but this season is has been moved to the third. A couple of years ago, a whopping 72 attended the Saturday BBQ, but last year’s offering only attracted 12 (four members, four wives and four children).

The annual fishing weekend is held in the meadow above the Deer Park campground, west of Buffalo.

The most popular (and most accessible) fishing spot is the middle fork of Ten Sleep Creek, and easy 15 minute walk from the camping area. The majority of the fish are small brookies, but there are some browns.

But for the more hardy individual, better fishing is available at Paint Rock Creek. The fish are pure Yellowstone cutthroats and eligible for the cutt-slam. A trip down the canyon at Paint Rock is planned for the 2008 Ten Sleep gathering so start getting in shape for the steep hike in and out (don’t worry, it’s not as bad as the Miller Trail at the Middle Fork of Powder River).

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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

A course in drift boat fishing The following article is an excerpt from the electronic book, Hunt - Don’t Pray - for Fish, Techniques and Strategies for Fly Fishing from a Drift Boat, written by Harley W. Reno, Ph.D., a friend of the Wyoming Fly Casters and occasional program presentor. The entire content is copyrighted by the author, and is used here with his permission. The CD is available for purchase through the Federation of Fly Fishers, and 80 percent of the $25 cost of each CD is being donated by the author back to the federation for its conservation and education funds.

In the coming months, other chapters of Dr. Reno’s book are to be featured in the Backcast.

The modern drift boat features fiberglass construction and is 15 to 16 feet long.

Chapter 2: What is a drift boat? lmost any boat can be used as a platform for fly fishing in a stream or river-or any body of water for that matter. Obviously, some boats are better suited than others. For example, slow, lazy moving waters lend themselves nicely to either a flat-bottom boat or pirogue propelled by either paddles or a pole. Streams with moderate currents can be navigated with, and fished simultaneously from, a V-bottom boat maneuvered with oars. Big streams with rapids, cascades, and rocks are better assaulted with a double-ended skiff or dory, or, still better, a drift boat-that specialized tool that appeared in the late 1950s for fishing the big, torrential rivers of the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. The drift boat of today is now a common sight on many rivers throughout the United States and Canada.

Any discussion about the genesis of the drift boat instantaneously sparks heated debate between builders and long-time users of the craft. I acknowledge that any such discussion is risky, although I ask: how can a book on fly fishing from a drift boat be complete without including at least some guarded thoughts on how such a wonderful tool came into being? I also acknowledge that discussions regarding technical and evolutionary aspects of the drift boat are better left to professionals like Ray Heater of Portland (Oregon), who builds drift boats for a living and sees the drift boat as having simultaneously evolved from skiffs and dories, or Dan Alsup, who wrote a fascinating book about the drift boat (published by Amato Press of Portland in 2000). Alsup gingerly and gracefully sorts the convoluted history of the drift boat, and he artfully addresses controversies regarding the evolution of the craft. In this chapter, my synopsis is only a generalized abstraction of what I have read and experienced in my long guiding career, as well as what I have discussed with people like Heater, other guides, and

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Indians who have used all kinds of "drift boats" on rivers of California, Oregon, and Washington. The comparisons I make among and between boats are illustrative only and not intended to imply any evolutionary lineage.

The first "drift boats" were wooden, being similar to the "flatiron skiff" and Bank or Swampscott dory of New England.

Some models of skiffs and dories looked and behaved alike, differing only in construction philosophy and methodology.

Skiffs were constructed from whole sheets of wood bent to conform to the frame. Some were finished with transoms wide enough to accommodate an outboard motor and keels to enhance straighter tracking. The skiff is not too different from a flatiron skiff widely used by sport fisherman on the lower reaches of the Klamath River of California in the late 1940s through the 1960s.

Dories were constructed from planks trimmed, shaped, curved, and usually overlapped to fit the frame. The bottom was flat and transom narrow to nonexistent.

Skiffs and dories were generally 12 to 14 feet in length and flat-bottomed. Sometimes a keel was incorporated into the bottom; rarely was a skeg fitted to the keel under the stern. The keel and skeg made the boat track straighter, but these features compromised horizontal and circular maneuverability.

In side view, skiffs and dories were rocker-shaped. The sides of both craft exhibited a good flare amidships and possessed enough freeboard above the waterline (about 6 to 10 inches) to (a) facilitate moving all oars simultaneously fore and aft in a horizontal motion and (b) protect against being swamped in choppy or turbulent water.

In streams and rivers, the flat, rocker-shaped bottom enhanced maneuverability of the boat both up- and downstream, and, to a lesser extent, the flat bottom made it easier to avoid obstacles like rocks and trees. The low sides let the oarsman operate the boat with oars six or even feet in length. The horizontal

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter movement of oars allowed the boat to be maneuvered in tight situations. It is worth noting that the skiff and dories are equipped with two sets of row- and oarlocks, even though each boat is less than 14 feet in total length.

Skiffs and dories were floated downstream stern-first, because the only way to control antics of each craft was to oar upstream continuously. The continuous oaring both slowed the rate of drift downstream and facilitated lateral maneuverability of the craft. The fisherman or fishermen were seated just astern of the oarsman on the next full thwart. Obviously, seating fishermen astern of the oarsman made casting a fly a singular function. In fast, turbulent water, there was always the danger of taking water over the square stern and swamping the boat. Needless to say, that generally shifted attentions of the oarsman and passenger(s) from fishing to surviving.

In the movie A River Runs through It, the boat Brad Pitt and his cinematic brother carried and dragged with the assistance of friends to the Blackfoot River of Montana, and daringly paddled bow-first to destruction over a falls was a flatiron skiff. That boat was equipped with a keel, extending the length of the bottom, but no skeg. The keel suggests the boat was intended for use on a lake or placid stream, where straight tracking was more important than maneuvering, instead of being floated and paddled on a cascading river.

Skiffs and dories used on large, cascading rivers like the Trinity and upper Klamath of California, and perhaps bigger rivers of Oregon, were double-enders. A double-ender suggests a distant relationship to the famous 15- or 16-foot Peapod common along the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington and the 12- to 18-foot Davis Boat evolved in southern Alaska.

The major differences between the double-ender and dories were elimination of the tombstone (transom), making the bow and stern nearly alike, and exaggeration of the rocker shape.

Those modifications lessened concerns about swamping and sharpened maneuverability in turbulent situations.

The transformation of the double-ender into the modern drift boat was both natural and a stroke of genius. Boat craftsmen of the Rogue River valley worked mostly on the double-ended skiff, while craftsmen of the McKenzie River valley modified mostly the double-ended dory. Both sets of craftsmen simultaneously changed the stern end of their respective crafts into a bow and the bow end into a stern (Figure 2.6). Alsup pointed out on page 8 of his book that "…technically, the McKenzie-style drift boats travel downstream stern…first. The oarsman's back is to the bow even though looking at contemporary boats, the casual observer would believe that they [drift boats] are traveling downstream bow first."

Changes to the bow and stern of the drift boat obviously confused and abused nautical nomenclature and led to some rather strong exchanges of unpleasantries between boat builders and the U. S. Coast Guard. Alsup described one situation on page 25 wherein a builder and the U. S. Coast Guard discussed placement of weight placards and hull identification numbers.

The Coast Guard demanded the hull identification placard be placed on the bow and weight placard on the stern, and by being a governmental agency, the Coast Guard "…did not have to regard the right or will of the people and to hell with tradition, history, or even the facts; the pointed end [of the drift boat] has to be the bow."

For example, the bow of the double-ender was narrowed forward amidships and squared off, making the bow resemble the

Page 9

stern end of any other craft. The boat was widened and tapered from the oarsman, aft to stern. Later, the stern was fitted with a deck, making the stern appear like the bow of other boats.

Modifications to the stern and bow, as well as changes in widths of the double-ender, did little to change the lateral profile of the boat from that of its ancestors although the bow and stern ends of the drift boat were lifted higher out of the water. Despite those many changes, the oaring position in the drift boat was changed very little. The oarsman in the double-ender faced downstream and oared upstream. Likewise, the oarsman in the drift boat faced downstream and oared upstream.

Confusion about which end of the drift boat is the bow and which is the stern is avoided in this book by referring to that portion of the drift boat downstream, or in front, of the oarsman as the front, and that portion upstream of, or behind, the oarsman as the back or rear of the drift boat. I suspect fly fishermen enjoying the pleasures of a drift boat really do not care what end is called what, nor do they demand strict adherence to nautical terminology. They just want to cast and catch fish!

That precisely is my philosophy, now that I am retired.

Without arguing or questioning the State of Idaho, I recently put hull identification numbers on the front of my drift boat as required by Idaho State Parks and Recreation, because my drift boat can now be powered mechanically as well as manually. I now have a small outboard motor that can be mounted on the back of the drift boat to help me quickly pass through the many miles of lake-like areas of the Snake River downriver of my home. I am too old and impatient to oar through those long stretches of marginally productive sections. Fly fishing is better and more predictable elsewhere.

The modern drift boat -- a "MacKenzie" to many guides -can float rivers that previously were considered too dangerous for watercraft of more conventional designs. Most are constructed of fiberglass, although aluminum and wooden drift boats are seen regularly on all streams and rivers.

The modern drift boat ranges in length from 14 to 20 feet, with 16 being the common length. It measures 4.5 feet across the bottom at the widest point and is nearly 7 feet at the beam.

Sides vary in height from 19 to 23 or more inches, depending upon model and overall length. Freeboard measured at the rowlocks varies from 10 to 16 or more inches depending upon style and manufacturer. Sixteen-inch "high side" models (that is a measurement of freeboard) have been the choice of many guides floating rivers with lots of cascades and big hydraulics.

Each drift boat is equipped with a pair of oars 9 to 11 feet in length.

In the past 10 or more years, fly fishermen fishing moderately flowing streams inspired an important change to the drift boat.

Some early drift boats were equipped with a rear seat, and a fly fisherman using that seat was forced to remain seated during the float. That put the rear fly fisherman at a disadvantage. However, construction of a platform with a casting yoke (sometimes called a "knee brace") in the rear provided the means whereby the fly fisherman could stand and be assured of moving in accordance with the subtle but sudden motions of the drift boat. That modification really enhanced the versatility of the drift boat. For the first time, both fly fishermen were provided with the means of casting comfortably and safely, and afforded equal opportunities of catching fish. As a result, that innovation has become standard fare for drift boats sold today.

The two-man, fly casting drift boat is the baseline configuration discussed and illustrated throughout this book.

Page 10

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

JULY 2008 MONDAY

SUNDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

1

2

FRIDAY

3

SATURDAY 4

5

Independence Day

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

17

18

19

WFC General Membership Meeting, 7 p.m.

13

14

15 Yellowstone River opens

16 WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

20

21

22

27

28

29

23

30

Outing at the WFC Speas access

Full Moon

24

25

26

31

Deadline for Backcast info

Wyoming Fly Casters Board Meeting June 18th, 2008 The meeting was called to order by the president.

Motion with second and pass was called to accept minutes from the last meeting.

Motion with second and pass was called to accept expense report from last meeting.

Old News: The club will hold its July fly fishing outing at Bessemer Bend. Futher information will be available at the next general meeting.

Our August fly fishing outing will be on Tensleep Creek with Joe DeGraw as stream keeper. Further information on this outing will also be available at the next general meeting.

The Wyoming Game and Fish will be hosting the Wyoming Game and Fish Expo on Thursday, September 4 through Saturday, September 6. Do to the exposure the Wyoming Fly Casters received during previous expos, a motion to donate $1000 to the 2008 expo was second and passed. In addition, the Wyoming Fly Casters is seeking volunteers to help teach fly tying and casting during the three days of the expo with all supplies being furnished. If you are interested please contact president John Robitaille.

New News: On Sept. 20th, several businesses and conservation groups from around the area will be participating in the Platte River Revival. The purpose of this event is to clean up the North Platte River. The Wyoming fly casters would like to have a strong showing, so anyone interested in volunteering should contact a board member for details.

A motion with second and pass for buying a 10' X 10' tent top style shelter for outdoor events. Its immediate use was for NIC fest in June and can be used for future outdoor events.

Vice Presidents Report: A decision was made to combine the Activities committee and Membership committee into one entity. A result of the first meeting under new committee leader Alex Rose is as follows: -A nymphing clinic with be put on by Jim Sparks in July 8th at 5:30 with limited participants available.

-On July 26th and 27th Marv Nolte will be put on an Entomology Clinic.

-General casting lessons will take place late July and August.

-An outing into the Snowy Range is being developed for August.

-A night fly fishing outing is being formulated for early fall.

These minutes have been submitted by T. Grogan.

Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter

Page 11

Treasurer’s Report for May 2008 Income

Description

Amount

Date 5/14/2008 5/19/2008

deposit - Dues - 40.00, 5/14 Raffle - 68.00 deposit - Banquet (Credit Card Charges)

108.00 9,687.83

Total Income

9,795.83

Expenses Check #

Description

Amount

#3886 #3887 #3888 #3889 #3890 #3891 #3892 -

Wells Fargo - Credit Card Fee Izaak Walton League - Rent May 08 Tom Grogan - Meeting Refreshments Fed Ex Kinkos - April Backcast Ugly Bug Fly Shop - Raffle - 5/14/08 East Yellowstone Chptr - TU - Yellowstone Lake Trout Project Don Jelinek - Big Horn Outing Transfer to Money Market Account

(20.00) (75.00) (19.29) (78.12) (88.85) (500.00) (55.47) (12,000.00)

April Bank Charges Total Expenses

(3.00) (12,839.73)

Balance Income Expenses

6,535.96 9,795.83 (12,839.73)

Balance

$3,492.06

Checking Account 5/1/2008

5/31/2008

Money Market Account 5/1/2008 Balance-(WFC Funds) 5/21/2008 Transfer from Checking Acct Balance (PRE Funds) 5/31/2008 Interest Income

18,322.13 12,000.00 1,216.44 33.06

5/31/2008

Balance

$31,571.63

Checking Account Money Market PRE Funds - Reserved

$3,492.06 $30,355.19 $1,216.44

Total

$35,063.69

Recapitulation

5/31/2008

Wyoming Fly Casters P.O. Box 2881 Casper, WY 82602

www.wyflycasters.org

The mission of the Wyoming Fly Casters is to promote and enhance the sport of fly fishing and the conservation of fish and their habitat.