Page 2 OFFICERS Joe DeGraw, President Melody Weinhandl, President-elect Alex Rose, Vice President Spencer Amend, Secretary Kim Levine, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expire in 2010 John Fanto Jamie Gibson Joe Meyer Gene Theriault Terms expire in 2011 Bob Fischer Scott Novotny Jim Sparks Bill Wichers Terms expire in 2012 Casey Leary Russ Newton Andrew Sauter Matt Stanton 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. The Backcast is available either in electronic format or through USPS snail mail. To receive each newsletter through a monthly e-mail, you must be able to open .pdf (Adobe Acrobat, a software format available free of charge) documents. Generally, each issue is roughly 1 MB in size, some are larger. Your e-mail provider may have limits on the size of attachments. In order to be added to the e-mail list, send a request message to ChevPU57@aol.com. In addition to receiving each issue of the newsletter earlier than your hard copy peers, email subscribers are able to print each copy in vibrant color -- an added plus if the issue is rich in color photographs. 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 Joe DeGraw, President, WFC
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t is with bittersweet emotion that I bear this news. Effective the completion of July 2009 Wyoming Fly Casters board meeting, I resign the position of the president. Recently, I was offered an opportunity to pursue the dual master's program in economics and finance at the University of Wyoming. The program offers the ability to continue my education by pursuing two master’s degrees, seek career advancement, and study with a renowned faculty, such as economics Professor Jason Shogren, a Nobel Laureate. This opportunity comes after a near two year wait. While there are numerous advantages, the program requires my presence on campus to attend classes, meet with faculty, and to take advantage of the resources the University has to offer. In addition, the coarse load requires a vast amount of dedicated work. With this said, I feel that my ability to serve as Wyoming Fly Casters’ president will be greatly hindered. It is not an easy decision as Wyoming Fly Casters is blessed with a great group as its leaders. Each board member and officer brings a unique quality to the table. I could not have imagined a better group of individuals to work with in leading this organization.
I cherish the memories and the friendships I developed with many of you on this board and in the Wyoming Fly Casters. As I have mentioned in the past, I thank all those you have graciously dedicated their time, efforts, thoughts and concerns. While I am stepping down as president, I do intend to continue as a member of Wyoming Fly Casters. I look forward to seeing many of you at outings and the occasional meeting. • The WFC had a recent opportunity for a conservation project with the BLM on June 20. The BLM has an access area downstream of Grey Reef county park at the redds between the cable crossing. The project involved finishing off an approximate one mile stretch of trail. The purpose was to establish a single trail to reduce traffic on other previously establish trails. By doing so, it allows for reduce soil erosion from foot/vehicle traffic, plant regrowth on existing paths, and educational opportunities. The BLM is planning to post signs along the path educating the public about fish reproduction, behavior, and habitat. A special thank you to Lloyd Ferguson, Ed Rate and Dick O'Quinn for assisting in the project despite the short notice. Tight lines, Joseph J. De Graw
Tailing Loops by Randy Stalker, Backcast editor ere is the July issue of the Wyoming Fly Casters newsletter, the Backcast: 18 pages of information, color photos, schedules and juicy tidbits. This may be the largest issue ever, and as usual, it is only made possible by you, the membership, for the timely submission of articles and artwork. • The fishing was pretty slow on Saturday, June 27, as I floated from Big Muddy to Rabbit Hill in my Buck’s Bag Mustang. I managed to hook a single fish,
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a plump 20 incher, on the four mile float. Several other recreational watercraft were on the river, running the gamut from drift boats to rafts to inner tubes to tanks. Tanks? Yes, a stock tank. Apparently it is newest rage. This one was 8 feet in diameter, fitted with welded latticework seats on the inside perimeter, and featured an umbrella anchored in an old truck wheel. As a recovering journalist, my news nose sniffed a story and I had to investigate. I asked the non-fishing family about (continued on page 12)
Cover shot: Bob Fischer changes tactics and flies on a June morning on Boxelder Creek.
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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 and other exaggerated claims from reliable but biased second-hand sources.
Cutthroat trout from the North Tongue River are particularly colorful and feisty. The WFC is hosting an weekend outing to sample this fishery on July 10-12 .
Salmonoid taxonomy is slated for July’s program For the July general membership meeting, Brent Weinhandl, DDS, is to be presenting a program on “Trout and their Allies: Salmonoid Taxonomy.” The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. • An outing on the North Tongue River is currently being organized for the weekend of July 10-12. This could either be a day or a weekend trip, with camping either in the forest or in several nearby improved campgrounds. No details on the outing was provided, although Kim and Molly Levine consented to be the streamkeepers. And in August is the traditional Ten Sleep outing. It is slated for the second weekend at Deer Park. No streamkeeper has yet to step forward and assume the responsibilities for organizing this oncepopular outing in the Big Horns at Deer Park campground. • The Wyoming Fly Casters is holding a casting clinic on Saturday, July 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, at the Natrona
County High football field. The clinic is free and open to families, men, women and children. Equipment will be provided for those not bringing their own. Club member Charlie Shedd is teaching the clinic. He is a certified casting instructor by the FFF (Federation of Fly Fishers), and has been teaching casting to men and women for 15 years. So let non-angling friends know that if they ever wanted to learn how to cast a fly rod, this is their opportunity! The clinic size is limited. To register, call Shedd at 436-8913. Here are the ten most popular reasons for taking lessons: 1. Just bought a different action rod 2. Going on a big fishing trip 3. Realize need to cast farther 4. Tailing loops 5. Learn to double haul 6. Trouble in wind 7. Learn some new types of casts 8. Refresh after years away from sport 9. Brand new to fly fishing and 10. Learn to cast with opposite hand
This is the prime time for fishing in Wyoming; dry flies on small streams, a variety of nymphs in the river, and damselfly and callibaetis imitations in stillwaters. Depending on the time of the day, you could be using midges, PMDs, caddisflies, or streamers and each method will result in success. Although fairly early in the high country season, North Tongue River (located west of Sheridan at Burgess Junction; the site of the July club outing) should be perfect condition. The water may be a little high because of continued mountain runoff, but the fish should cooperate. This is traditionally a dry fly stretch of water, but the fisher dangling a hare’s ear or Prince nymph off the back of his stimulator will double his chances. Lower altitude streams have already adjusted to post-runoff. Attractor and imitative dry flies are usually effective as the fish are not that critical about pattern choice. The North Platte River’s flow was adjusted in late June because of the reduced irrigation demand created by a series of rainstorms. Clarity was also an attendant factor. But by July the river should be in fine shape for the floater or wader. Two supposed bodies of water with names or locations which are strictly whispered (Joe’s Secret Spot or Daren’s Bass Bonanza) are either hot or cold, depending on the day, the fisherman or the patterns tried. Some report terrific luck, while others honestly report they were skunked. Most streams in the Big Horn Mountains will be swollen with runoff until at least mid-July.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
FLY
of the month
RED ROCK WORM Hook: Size 8-22 Dai-Riki 270 or Tiemco 200R (natural bend) Thread: Red, white, brown (color to match) Body: Red, white or cream, brown stretch tubing or d-rib (color to match) The “red crack worm” as it is affectionately known by Norty Platte River guides, is a dynamite fly for the North Platte and Bighorn rivers. Mark Boname explains: “It does not imitate a rock worm, which is a common name for a caddis larva. But, rather it imitates a red aquatic worm or midge larva. Somehow through the years here on the North Platte River it was given the nickname ‘red rock worm’ and the name has stuck ever since. “Not only is red an instinctive fish feeding color but the fact that it represents both red aquatic worms and red midge larva increases its effectiveness. Many aquatic worms look similar to earthworms. In streams, you may also find very long, slender worms (such as horsehair worms), or flatworms, like planaria, which are small, sticky and soft-bodied. Red midge larva (family Chironomidae) are often a distinct red color, though they can also be brown or even whitish in color. The best way to identify these larvae is by their small size and spastic squirming action.” This is an easy pattern to create. Tie in the thread just behind the eye, add some stretch tubing and wrap it toward the bend of the hook. Return the thread to the eye. Palmer the tubing forward to give the worm a segmented look. Tie off just behind the eye and whip finish.
Wyoming Fly Casters attend Bates Creek watershed tour by Spencer Amend On June 24, Joe Meyer and Spencer Amend represented the Wyoming Flycasters on a tour of the Bates Creek watershed, where an interesting project has been ongoing since 2004. The tour included about 70 people from cooperating entities and neighboring ranchers. The project has been funded cooperatively by a long string of cooperators: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ($78K), Mule Deer Foundation ($44K), Bowhunters of Wyoming ($2K), Natural Resources Conservation Service ($81K), National Wild Turkey Federation ($1K), Wyoming Game and Fish Department ($163K), Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition ($95K), Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund ($567K), Bates Hole/Shirley Basin Sage Grouse Local Working Group ($28K), and Bureau of Land Management ($20K); it is all coordinated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. WGFD regional manager Scott Talbott told me that this is the largest habitat project in the state. The project is being carried out on the headwaters of Bates Creek (not too far from a walk-in fishing area), on the Jim Price Ranch. Since 2004, more than a million dollars have been contributed by cooperators, plus another quarter million or so by the landowner. The overall focus of the project is to improve habitat by treating (read “removing”) pines and sagebrush, and simultaneously stimulating aspen, in the upper reaches of the watershed. The expected results, some of which have already been observed, are improved water flows and water quality in Bates Creek. Much of the focus of the June 24 tour was on a research project being carried by a graduate student from UW, and sponsored by UW as well as the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, Colorado. The purpose of this research is to quantify the hydrologic impacts of the vegetative treatments, something that has apparently not been done on this scale. Study results should also enable future projects
to accurately predict outcomes of similar treatments. The methods of treatment were interesting. In addition to the traditional cutting of trees by hand and burning of trees and sagebrush, a heavy duty machine called a “gyro trac” is being used to literally grind entire trees (the largest done so far was a 33” diameter pine) into mulch, which subsequently covers the ground and provides cover for sprouting
Spencer Amend in front of the gyro trac machine, used to mulch entire trees.
aspen as well as holding water. The most pessimistic thing to me about the project was the pace of gyro trac treatments. While thousands of acres have been identified as needing treatment, actual treatments have run from 50 to 150 acres per year. And the gyro trac treatments are expensive: ~$650 per acre, compared to ~$15 per acre for burning. So what does this mean to WFC? A couple of things come to mind. First of all, it means better fishing in Bates Creek on the walk-in area. But to me, the biggest benefit of going on the tour was to meet some of the players that could become potential partners on projects that WFC might want to sponsor and advocate in the future, once we get our club’s conservation agenda more fully developed. A lot of the major players were in attendance. Top managers for G&F and BLM were on the tour and were aware of WFC and many of our past conservation efforts. (They had not, apparently, been notified of our Aug. 15 river clean-up plans, but expressed interest.) All in all, it was a fine day and I appreciate Al Condor’s invitation to join the group.
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Worm drowner catches new record tiger trout Wyoming has its first fish record of the year thanks to Rawlins angler Levi Porter, who reeled in a new state record tiger trout over the Memorial Day weekend from High Savery Reservoir, located approximately 30 miles south of Rawlins. Tiger trout are a sterile cross between brown and brook trout. The record fish weighed 3.74 pounds and eclipsed the old record of 3.33 pounds that has stood since November 2007. Porter, who fishes High Savery often, was on his first fishing trip of the year and had taken his kids fishing for the weekend. He was fishing from the bank and had caught several fish before the record tiger trout took his power bait and worm combination. After showing the fish to other anglers at the reservoir, he thought it might be a record and hurried to town where the fish was weighed and verified. In a bit of an unusual twist, Porter's fish was 21-inches, an inch shorter than the old record which was 22-inches long. But, it is weight that counts, and in the end, Porter's fish was .41 pounds heavier than the existing record. The Wyoming Game and Fish has been expecting a new record tiger trout as High Savery Reservoir is a relatively new reservoir that was first stocked with tiger trout in 2005 and has been stocked with the fish every year since that time.
M Y F LY B OX Andrew Sauter’s Platte River Fly Box was established about 12 years ago as a "theme box." It contained nothing but good stuff for the river. Back then it looked just like DePaemelere's box (Hah! and elephants fly!). The foam is unsticking, the good flies are gone, and the box has a neat contour where it sat in a Jeep on the floor above a catalytic converter a bit too long. Note: not a rock worm in the bunch.
Greenies cited for over-limit harvest G&F law enforcement officers issued 27 citations and 24 warnings for a total of $4,630 in fines for fishing and boating violations at Glendo Reservoir over Memorial Day weekend. The special Law Enforcement Task Force, made up of nine game wardens, was in place to address the large boating crowds at Glendo on holiday weekends. However, cool rainy weather kept boating violations to a minimum and most citations issued were for fishing violations. "The number one violation was for over-the-limit of fish," said Glenrock Game Warden Gary Boyd. "We issued 13 citations and seized 222 walleye from anglers who had too many fish." One group of four anglers from Colorado and Utah had 45 walleye, and another group of six anglers from Colorado had 71. The possession limit for walleye is six fish per angler. "That is six fish
total, not a daily bag limit," Boyd said. "A lot of fish go out of this lake illegally and being greedy is going to ruin this fishery." Wardens also issued two citations for illegal transport of live fish. Wyoming fishing regulations prohibit the transportation of live fish from the water of capture. All fish must be killed before leaving the lake and cannot be kept alive in live wells. Four citations were also issued to anglers fishing without a license. Boating violations included underage operation of watercraft; failure to register boat; and failure to provide enough life jackets. Wyoming watercraft regulations require that boats be properly registered and numbered, contain working lights and flame arresters, have proper ventilation, contain a life jacket for every person on board, have mandatory throwable flotation devices, and working fire extinguishers.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Alex Rose and his 1954 Army rucksack in the Eastern Sierra high country.
Note: Between September, 2005, and May, 2007, I had the pleasure of living in the Eastern Sierra of California, an area of profound beauty, wilderness and exceptional fly fishing opportunities. While living in Bishop, CA, I was the fishing columnist for the Mammoth Times, based in nearby Mammoth Lakes, a wonderful second job. I was paid to pursue trout and write about the experiences, which isn't bad work, if you can find it. The following story, the first of a twopart article, was originally published in the Times. I wrote about fly fishing for large golden trout at an alpine lake. Although the following account of my fly fishing trip in the Eastern Sierra is true, "Lake Sublime" doesn't exist. For this article, I changed the name of the lake to keep the hordes of Southern Californian anglers from ruining this pristine fishery.
by Alex Rose Vice President, WFC
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his fishing season, I have thoroughly enjoyed hikes into the wilderness in pursuit of wild rainbows and brook trout. But I recently came to the realization that I’ve completely neglected California’s state fish, the beautiful golden trout. I asked an old timer and life-long Eastern Sierra backcountry enthusiast where I could hike to find large, golden trout in the wilderness. He considered my question for a moment before excitedly blurting out the name. He said getting to the lake requires a very long hike over a pass, and then travel across steep, rocky terrain.
“To many a city man there comes a time when the great town wearies him. He hates its sights and smells and clangor. Every duty is a task and every caller is a bore. There come visions of green fields and far-rolling hills, of tall forests, and cool, swift-flowing streams. He yearns for the thrill of the chase, for the keen-eyed silent stalking; or, rod in hand, he would seek that mysterious pool where the father of all trout lurks for his lure.” -- Horace Kephart, Camping and Woodcraft, 1917 This sounded like a great opportunity for a backpacking, fly fishing adventure. I loaded up my 1954 green Army rucksack with my sleeping bag, food, tarp, fly fishing gear, along with a few other essentials, like a map and compass. Then just after dawn on a gorgeous, clear morning, I hit the trail. The first few miles on the trail was a pleasant stroll through an aspen forest, with leaves just beginning to turn brilliant shades of yellow. The terrain was so gentle I practically jogged down the trail. Further down the trail, I found three men, college students from southern California, concerned about a broken water filter that could just barely pump water. I asked them where their emergency water tablets were, before realizing I left mine at home, too. Since
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter my filter was fully operational, I pumped two litres of water for them. In return, a young man rolled me two cigarettes and wished me well. Near the top of the pass, I encountered two packers with mules. The packers were carrying food to re-supply a group of backpackers in the wilderness. As I carefully passed the group, a young, skittish mule jumped to the side. The older packer joked, “He just got beat up by a backpacker.” I hiked in front of the team and enjoyed talking with the packers. I asked the older gentleman about fishing in a very remote lake, my destination. The packer, with 30 years of experience in the Eastern Sierra high country, said he once helped a friend haul scuba diving gear to the lake. He said the diver took a camera down to the bottom and filmed “very large, world-class” golden trout. He then told me about a side trail to take to get to the lake. I was grateful to learn about the side trail, because trails to this lake are not mentioned in any hiking guide. We crossed over the pass, which offered endless views of mountains and valleys, into a place Horace Kephart would surely call “the back of beyond.” At the turn off for the side trail, I brought out my map and compass and took a bearing, just to be safe. A strong gust of wind caused my map to flap, which spooked the young mule. A young female packer with blond pig tails quipped, “He just got beat up by a map.” The trail descended through a grassy meadow to a very large lake. While eating lunch, I studied my map, unsure if this particular lake was my des-
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Ed Rate and Scott Novotny ready their rods in an effort to catch their June fish. Actually, they were assisting in the bass transfer project at a pond on 33 Mile Road on June 17
tination. According to the map, the lake was located in a high alpine basin surrounded by glaciers, and the snow banks on the far side of the lake sure didn’t look like glaciers. After lunch, I heard voices in the distance, and two backpackers soon appeared. The stoic, manly part of me resisted asking them where the hell I was. But the wilderness is no place to prove anything. Feeling something like Blanche from Tennessee Williams’ play, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” I depended on “the kindness of strangers” and asked for directions. The young couple didn’t know where my lake was either, but they were
convinced we weren’t standing by it. I knew deep down inside that this wasn’t the right lake either, but I was dreading the alternative: climbing a steep ridge over wide open, rocky terrain to find out if the lake was on the either side. But mystery and discovery are part of what an adventure is all about. So I hoisted my pack and began the grueling climb into the unknown. • Does Rose ever make it to this high alpine lake, and end up catching hefty golden trout? Does a bear maul him, or does he meet a sasquatch? Tune in to the Backcast next month for the exciting conclusion of Golden Trout at Lake Sublime.
CONSERVATION CORNER By Matt Stanton, Chairman, Conservation Committee The coal bed methane project originally slated for development around Seminoe reservoir looks to be finished before the first hole was drilled. According to the Rawlins BLM office, via Cathy Purves of TU, the lease holder requested an extension on the lease in 2008 to raise funds. There has been no word from the lease holder since that time despite attempts by the BLM to make contact. BLM has begun the process of terminating the lease with the lease holder and the issue should be resolved by the end of this September. To avoid conflicting with the Ten Sleep outing on Aug. 8, the date for the river clean-up is officially Aug. 15. We're
hoping to get as many fisherfolks on the water as possible, sans rods ironically, to float various sections collecting debris. We have sincere interest from several of the guide shops wanting to put boats on the water and we are also looking for a sponsor to help feed everyone at the end of the day. There will be a sign up sheet at the next general meeting, so set aside Saturday, Aug. 15 to give something back to the river that brings us so much joy ... or ... frustration as is sometimes the case. Anyone interested in joining the Conservation Committee please email Matt at stantonmatt@msn.com, or call 258-9915.
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Largemouth Fishing 101 by Daren Bulow
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ou don’t think of Iowa as having blue ribbon fly fishing streams, but it does. They aren’t blue ribbon for trout; however, they are blue ribbon smallmouth streams. The local river I grew up on was a blue ribbon smallmouth stream. In the summers growing up we would go down to the Cedar about a mile away from my house and go fishing just about every night. My father and I would go down each evening and cast jitterbugs until it was too dark for us to see, catching smallmouth after smallmouth, night after night. In high school I got my first fly rod and started fly fishing with poppers for smallmouths. That got me hooked on fly fishing, And as the saying goes, the rest is history. There is just something different about catching a smallmouth, or a largemouth, on a popper. It is so much different than a rising trout taking a dry fly on the surface. When a bass hits a popper, he really hits it, many times knocking it out of the water. There are even times when the fish will come clean out of the water, jumping to get the popper. Once they are on they will just about always jump out of
the water. Unlike the trout that slurps up the dry fly, bass hit the popper violently, and the noise they make when hitting is an audible smack and more times than not scares the crap out of you. So what does this have to do with fishing in Wyoming? Well there are a few places in Wyoming to bass fish, and I hope I can pique you interest into giving it a try. Gear Rod: a 7 weight fast action is preferable, but just about any 7 weight will do. Flyline: if you have a weight forward line, it will work. If you get serious, get a bass bug taper. You will be amazed how much better you can cast those big, wind resistant flies. Leader: 8 feet of 8 lb. mono. Or you can buy tapered bass leaders or build them yourself if you like. Poppers There are several different kinds of poppers. They are made out of several different kinds of materials. They all have their positives and negatives. I have used them all. But I have the best luck on large, hard bodied (plastic, cork or wood) with a concave cup on the front Popper/Dropper rig – just like in fly fishing for trout, a popper dropper combo
works wonders. You can tie on at the eye of the hook or at the tail with a six to inches of monofilament. I generally like to use very small weighted jig heads with a twister tail as the dropper. All the extra hair and legs on a popper, is pretty much just for show. Sparse is better. As far as color, well, black tends to work best. It provides the best silhouettes against the late evening or night sky so the fish can find the popper. Getting Started First you must find a place to fish for bass in Wyoming. For largemouth, there are several ponds west and east of the Casper area, and Midwest has a couple. The Renner reservoir north of Ten Sleep is a good place for largemouth. If you prefer river fishing for largemouth, the North Platte below Glendo holds some nice fish. For a largemouth-smallmouth combo, the Tongue River at the Acme turnoff north of Sheridan is good for smallmouth, while the ponds next to the river are good for largemouth bass. Hawk Springs Reservoir has some nice bass, back up in the flooded timber in the spring. You decide to fish with poppers. You arrive at the lake or river so the first
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STREAMSIDE CHEF by Daren Bulow
Deep Fried Bass and Panfish thing you need to do is find water that is generally less than waist deep, but if the water is very clear, it can be up to 6 feet in depth. You make a couple of false casts, double haul and get some line out, and then you allow it to hit the water. Then the waiting begins. You wait, and you wait and you wait. You let your popper just sit on the water for 20 seconds before you even think about moving it. That gives fish which may have observed the popper hit the water, time to come up and investigate. They will swim right up to it, not knowing if it is a meal or something to fear. If you begin to move it right away they don’t get that chance. It is then that I make my first twitch. I don’t pop it on the first movement, I just move it a little, then I do that three or four more times and then I start popping it in. I may do 10 pops and then stop, and wait for 10 seconds and then begin again. And keep repeating this, until you get the popper all the way in. Don’t think that just because you are close to shore or close to you that they won’t still hit it. I have many fish hit the popper right next to you as the pattern nears the shore. As for the popper/dropper rig, I get twice as many fish on it as just using the popper alone. You also have the ability to catch other panfish on the dropper, like rockbass, bluegill and green sunfish, although they are too small to eat the popper. Timing is everything I usually arrive at the lake or pond about and hour before dark. I am just
starting to fish when the other fishermen are packing up to go home. The fish bite best an hour before dark, to just after dark. During a full moon you can fish till about midnight and then they shut down. Bug spray, flashlight and a spare rod are musts. Bug spray for mosquitoes, a flashlight to untangle line, and a spare rod to switch to when tangles are too bad to fix or take too long to fix. Since you are dealing with a small window of time, if you get tangled up, I just switch rods if the tangle is bad. On the second rod I just use a popper, only, since I want to minimize the my chances of getting tangled up. I was out in early June and had just caught a fish, and then my line tangled on the next cast. I quickly switched rods and caught four more fish in six casts and then it was too late and the fish stopped hitting. Wyoming is not known for bass fishing, however, I have spent this summer fishing multiple waters around Wyoming and have caught fish every time. I am averaging 8 fish an hour and the biggest (so far) was 17 inches this year, Fishing for bass is a blast, and I have had the places to enjoy in solitude. Not even another fisherman to observe and applaude when I land a whopper. No one is there but me and a lot of fish. And those are still there because I release them and want them to grow and be even bigger the next time I visit my favorite bass pond.
I thought it fitting that a recipe for bass and panfish be my culinary offering this month, since my article on bass fishing is featured in this issue. My theory is that most people practice catch and release on trout because they don’t like how they taste. That can’t be said for bass and panfish. There is nothing better than fresh caught bass and panfish, fried in oil over a Coleman stove. This recipe is from Shore Lunch brand and is a variant from the big fish recipe, but it is the best way to prepare bass and panfish. You can find it online at http://www.shorelunch.com/ Ingredients 10 bass or 25 panfish or combination Frying Oil Shore Lunch® Original Recipe Breading Mix 1 egg or milk Beer or water Lemon and tartar sauce Preparation Cut bass fillets in half so they are half the thickness, panfish are thin enough already. Pour ½ to ¾ inch Frying Oil in frying pan and heat to 375° F. Mix 1 cup Original Recipe Breading Mix with water or beer until batter is the consistency of cream. Place dry breading mix in shallow bowl. Moisten fillets with beaten egg, milk or water. Dredge in dry mix. Shake off excess breading and dip fillets into batter, forming a light, even coating. Immediately (and carefully!) place fillets in hot oil and fry for approximately 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels before serving. Serve with lemon and tartar sauce.
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Drift boat fishing 101 Chapter 9: Two Flies for All Reasons, Two Flies for All Seasons (Part 2) he Fly-rod Jig Fifty years ago, jigs were available in two styles. One style was made with bucktail. Those hair jigs were durable, lifelike in shape, and effective-working especially well on estuarine fishes like Striped Bass and Starry Flounder. But, hair jigs were lifeless. They exhibited no swimming motion when pulled through the water. The other style of jigs was tied with marabou-feathers then plucked from an exotic stork. Those jigs "swam" as if alive. Unfortunately, one or two strikes from any kind of fish destroyed the maraboukilling all action in the jig. I fished tiny versions of each style with success during my youth (each 1/16-ounce or less). But, usually, I opted for the hair jig, because it was cheaper and more durable. When I finally started tying my own jigs, I asked a question: Why not equip the jig with a core of hair and around the core tie a layer of marabou? Bingo! Instant success! Doctor's Remedy was born. No matter how beat up the jig became, remnants of the marabou still made the jig look alive. The core of hair maintained the fish-like shape of the jig. Incidentally, marabou sold today is dyed feathers of domesticated white turkeys. Marabou storks are endangered and protected by international agreements. The species of fish caught on Doctor's Remedy include, but are not limited to, steelhead, silver and chinook salmon, large- and small-mouthed black
T
bass, white and black crappie, other species of sunfishes, several species of flounder, striped and white bass, Dolly Varden, brown trout, cutthroat rrout, channel catfish, freshwater drum, carp, moon and golden eyes, many species of unidentified cichlids in Mexico (i.e., cichlids are sunfish-like fishes), and coastal marine species like snook, spotted and sand sea trout, and redfish to name a few. Heck, I even hooked, but never turned, tarpon at the mouth of the Rio Soto la Marina of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Each tarpon ripped the fly line and backing off my reel without hesitation. As far as I know, those tarpon are probably still swimming and dragging my lines in the intercoastal waterway somewhere south of Brownsville (Texas). For fly fishing, I cast three sizes of jigs: a 1/64-ounce with a size 8 Aberdeen bronze hook; a 1/32-ounce with a size 2 or 4 Aberdeen bronze hook; and a 1/16ounce with a size 4 or size 2 O'Shaughnessy forged hook. The only provider of 1/32-ounce jig heads with a size 2 or 4 hook that I have found is Neal's Custom Fishing Rods and Guide Service of Scottsdale (Arizona) (e-Mail address killrrod@ix.netcom.com; web address www.nealsfishingtackle.com). Perhaps 90 percent of my fishing is done with the 1/32-ounce jig tied to four feet of leader (usually 6-pound), attached to a 10-foot sink-tip line. That combination works well since most streams and
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.
rivers are not very fast or deep. The jig sinks quickly and bounces effortlessly over the bottom. In small streams, the 1/64-ounce jig is ideal, behaving just like its larger brother. In big, fast rivers like the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho, I sometimes use a 1/16-ounce jig, but most of the time, a 1/32-ounce jig weighted with a 6-inch piece of lead-core line looped in the leader is perfect. In lakes and bays, both the 1/32- or 1/16ounce jig works well. The choice is yours. The jig is an easy fly to cast and fish. But, it is not forgiving. For the fly fisherman with reasonable casting skills, the
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter 1/32-ounce jig is no more trouble to cast than a heavily weighted stonefly nymph or Clouser minnow. A heavier jig, however, is a bit more challenging. The following axiom certainly has credibility: It is easier to teach a novice how to cast big and/or heavy, wind-resistant flies first and smaller flies later than it is to teach the same individual how to cast small flies first and larger flies later. In the first instance, the individual learns how to load and power the casting system with the thumb out of self defense; whereas, in the latter instance, the individual seldom learns more than how to wave the casting equipment. If casting skills of the fisherman are marginal, a jig shows no mercy. There can be pain, especially when the fly hits the back of the fisherman's head. That is not the fault of the fly. Rather, it generally is indicative of flaws in casting technique. The fly fisherman must either correct the flaws or abandon use of the fly. Few fly fishermen admit to the former; instead, they opt for the latter. Once proper casting techniques are learned, a fly fisherman can effortlessly cast a jig or any kind of fly, for that matter, in almost any environmental circumstance on any stream, lake, or bay, anywhere. That is a fact and is one reason why the Doctor's Remedy and Streamliner are flies for all seasons and for all reasons. I hasten to add-for all species of fish too. Technique Here is the secret to fishing the jig on a fly rod. The setup should include a 10-foot sink-tip line and 4 feet of leader as noted earlier. Cast the jig towards the bank or structure, such as brush, roots of a tree, or deep edge of a drop-off. Hook the free line behind the trigger finger of the hand holding the rod. Keep the tip of the rod about 12 inches above the water and pointed at the jig. Strip in the slack line, but never let the line drop free of the trigger finger. Let the jig sink and drift downstream. The rate of sink varies, depending on the rate of flow of the stream. In fast water, the jig may sink at a rate of about 6 inches per second. In quiet water the rate is about 1 foot per second. In deep water, the rate of sink decreases as a function of depth, because there is a tendency for the jig and sink-tip section of the line to drag under a portion of the floating line as well. For a right-handed person: After casting the jig hold the rod straight out from the left hip and start working the jig
with long, sharp strips across the left hip. Each strip should be about 2 feet long. A 2-foot strip collects about 18 inches of slack in the line and snaps the jig upwards in a darting motion about 6 inches. Pause at the end of the strip, holding the line both with the trigger finger on the rod and left fingers resting on the left hip. The pause lets the jig tip over at the zenith and begin parachuting downward, with marabou "swimming" and bright red of the throat visible. The strike occurs during the parachute downward. After eliminating the slack on the water, strip the jig four times. Then recast. Strikes usually happen at the end of the second or third strip. Four strips assure the jig is worked effectively through the second and third strips. A strike from a small fish is a gentle tap. The strike from a large fish, however, feels like the fly is stuck in a bucket of goo, honey, or molasses. In either case, come straight up with the right forearm, hand, fly rod, and fly line hooked behind the trigger finger. The novice seldom recognizes the strike. That is why holding the line with fingers of both hands is so important. When fishing a jig, keep this in mind: In fast water, work the jig faster, with shorter pauses between each strip. In deep water, let the jig sink and increase the length of the pause between strips. Notice, the strip is always the same; only the time between strips changes. In fast water, the fly runs more horizontally, with sudden up-and-down flutters. In deep water, the fly runs vertically, with minimal travel horizontallyperhaps two feet at most. Learn the technique, and soon you automatically will make rhythmic changes in the movement of the fly when habitat and depth of water change. Therein lies the key to fishing the jig successfully. Fly fishermen ask why Doctor's Remedy and Streamliner are such effective flies. Perhaps the answer is some combination of the following reasons. First, the action of the fly is up and down instead of sideways. That motion is unusual and rarely seen in nature. Second, the hair-core of each fly makes the fly look fish-like during upward movements. The marabou puffs out, pulsates, and flashes red as the fly sinks. The change in silhouette, body shape, behavior, and color is sudden and dramatic. And lastly, the fact that the fly falls slower than it darts upward during stripping is exactly the same behavior exhibited by a struggling, injured, or dying fish.
Page 11
BRAG BOARD From the membership
Spencer Amend with a 14 in. brook trout, caught near his cabin in the Snowy Range.
Dick DePaemelere snapped this photo with his cell phone of a 15 in. rainbow at Walker Jenkins Lake.
Joe Meyer with a bass he caught during the bass transfer project on 33 Mile Road on June 17.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
BRAG BOARD
Try for the cutt-slam this summer
From the membership
As Wyoming's Cutt-Slam program enters its 14th year, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has recognized 567 anglers for fulfilling the requirements for Cutt-Slam certification. In 2008, 89 anglers completed the requirements including a program milestone when the 500th Cutt-Slam certificate was issued. So far in 2009, five anglers have received their Cutt-Slam certification. Anglers who complete the CuttSlam are recognized for catching Wyoming's four subspecies of cutthroat trout in their native range in Wyoming. The four subspecies are the Yellowstone, Snake River, Bonneville and Colorado River cutthroat trout. Successful anglers receive a certificate listing the name of the angler, color artwork of the four subspecies and notation on the date and location of each catch. The Cutt-Slam program has been featured in fly fishing magazines and on several television programs. The Cutt-Slam was the idea of the late Pinedale area fisheries supervisor Ron Remmick who wanted to draw attention to the management efforts being done on behalf of the cutthroat. He looked at Wyoming's four cutthroat subspecies and the Cutt-Slam was born. One of the key components of the Cutt-Slam is that each of the fish must be caught in its native range in Wyoming. Over the years, several of the cutthroat subspecies have been stocked in waters
Fishing for Colorado cutts and tiger trout at High Savery; who do you think is more intense, Spencer Amend or his pooch, Nugget?”
Alex Rose and Tom Grogan caught the same fish, at the same time, while fishing in Fremont Canyon.
outside of their native drainages. Cutthroat caught in these waters do not qualify for the Cutt-Slam native range requirement. A map showing the native ranges where the four subspecies can be found is on the Game and Fish web site . Click on "Fish and Fishing" then scroll down to the Cutt-Slam program. In addition to the map, the different drainages where these fish can be found are also listed along with phone numbers of the regional Game and Fish offices responsible for fisheries management in each drainage. Anglers can also view the Cutt-Slam certificate and obtain applications on the Game and Fish web site. Anglers completing the slam come from most states and several foreign countries. To qualify, an angler needs to provide a photograph of each fish and information on the date of catch and water where it was caught. There is no minimum size requirement. WGFD encourages releasing fish and this may be required depending on the regulations for different waters. Wyoming's cutthroat management efforts are ongoing. Some of the more notable efforts include the reclamation of LaBarge Creek and waters in the Little Snake River drainage for Colorado River cutthroat. Other planned reclamation efforts in the near future include several waters in the Bighorn Mountains and Dead Indian Creek in Sunlight Basin to benefit Yellowstone cutthroat.
New to the club? Need some advice? Joe Meyer releases a 5 lb. rainbow, caught at his “secret spot.”
Most people join our club to learn where to fish and to improve their fishing technique. If we are to keep members active, experienced members of the club need to be available to give lessons on technique or fishing location information. To that end, Joe Meyer and Daren Bulow
would like you to know that they are available to help and they are encouraging other members to add their names to this list so that new members can call someone for help, offer ideas on fishing spots, or maybe even take them fishing. Call Joe at 235-1316 or Daren at 247-2578.
Digital reminders are available for programs
Taken in front of Spencer’s cabin in the Snowies, another resident of the beaver ponds.
Do you have trouble remembering when there are WFC functions? Have you ever forgotten a function and then remembered about it when it was over? Scott Novotny is undertaking a reminder program for club activities, etc. He requests that members send him an e-
mail so that he can have your e-mail address and then he will send out a timely reminder by e-mail of any activities. He promised that your e-mail address would only be used for the purpose of sending the reminder. Send your e-mail to Scott Novotny at gscottn@gmail.com.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 13
TREASURER’S REPORT FROM APRIL THROUGH JUNE, 2009 Income Date Number 5/20/2009 5/31/2009 6/11/2009 6/11/2009 Income - Total
Description Banquet Ticket Sales, Banquet Auction, Big Horn Monthy Interest Earned - May 2009 Raffle - May Raffle - June $1,578.10
Amount $1,382.00 $1.10 $95.00 $100.00
Expenses Date Num 5/1/2009 3976 5/1/2009 3977 5/1/2009 3978 5/12/2009 3979 5/12/2009 3980 5/20/2009 3981 5/20/2009 3982 5/20/2009 3983 5/29/2009 6/1/2009 3984 6/10/2009 3985 6/17/2009 3986 6/17/2009 3987 Expenses - Total
Description Ugly Bug Fly Shop - Raffle Items void Dick DePaemelere - Postage The Finishing Touch - Framing (Banquet) void Scott Novotny - Cardwell Outing Joe DeGraw - TU State Council Meeting (Travel) Don Jelinek - Refreshments Monthly Service Fee Marvin Nolte - Presidents Fly and Mactavish Award FedEx - March Backcast and Other Izaak Walton League Don Jelinek - Folding Tables ($1,181.53)
Amount ($106.62) $0.00 ($4.24) ($126.00) $0.00 ($115.09) ($63.00) ($9.00) ($3.00) ($262.50) ($238.40) ($150.00) ($103.68)
Net Income for Period
Tailing Loops
$396.57
(continued from page 2)
their watercraft. They explained “tanking” is highly popular in their native Nebraska. An eight foot galvanized stock tank (which they said was a small one; some of them are 12 feet in diameter, and are carried on the back of a flatbed trailer) costs perhaps $200. Sure, they said it leaks a little bit along the seams, but it is an inexpensive and comfortable way to float the river. On board portable oars can be used to straighten the craft on its downward journey. To reduce glare, the inside of the tank was painted blue. They said the tank is very stable, and draws only a few inches of water. And, it is light enough that two adults can comfortably lift it (exclusive of gear, of course). I was surprised. The only other times I have associated the word “tanking” with fishing or water, it usually involves bottles of Guinness at T.J.’s following adjournment of regular club meetings or “board meetings” around the campfire at Ten Sleep or North Tongue. It is only a matter of time before a horse tank will be observed floating down the North Platte at Grey Reef. I’m just curious how a fly rod could be cast under the umbrella ... • This month’s article on bass fishing was enticing, so I
followed Daren Bulow on a trip to his favorite bass pond (which like Joe Meyer’s fishing holes, is a “secret spot”). It was at this pond that I shot the photos that accompany the article. I rigged my 6 wt. rod with a $7 deer hair popper from the Bug, with a vanilla bugger trailer and followed Daren’s advise on presentation. Despite my efforts, the only fish I enticed was a 6 in. largemouth on the dropper (the same one used earlier on the river). Nothing on the popper/diver. Not so with Bulow. He scored over 20 fish, and he would giggle like a schoolgirl every time he hooked another one. He fishes only at dusk, and usually stays until nearly midnight. And no, he doesn’t give them a smooch like Jimmy Houston does on TV. I went home humbled, which is an all-familiar experience when I go fishing. Scoop
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
WYOMING FLY CASTERS MEMBERSHIP LIST FOR 2009 SPENCER AMEND JOE ARNOLD DENNIS BIENVENU MARK BONAME MICHAEL BRALEY STEVE BURGFECHTEL DON & BETTY CARRIER KEN CHRISTIANSON GARY DART MARUICE DAUBIN JOSEPH J. DEGRAW JIM DEGROOT DAN DELANEY MARC DELGADILLO JORY DELINGER DICK DEPAEMELERE DICK DIESBURG DON DOBBY JOHN DOLAN PAUL DOLAN RON DUTTON REX EGGLESTON JOHN L. FANTO LLOYD FERGUSON MICK FINN BOB FISCHER JAMES GIBSON DR. LARRY R. GOOD GREG GRIMES GREG GROVES TYLER HALLOCK NEIL HAUGLAND NEAL HIBSCHWEILER JIM HOAG DWIGHT HURICH ED HUSON, JR DON JELINEK MARK JINDRICK DALLEN JUELFS BOB KISKEN ABE & KATHY KNAPP STEVE KURTZ MATT LANFORD CASEY & TIFFANY LEARY KIM & MOLLY LEVINE KORY LIEBERG NEAL MAGELSSEN TONY MARTIN THOMAS E. MCGEORGE B. JOE MEYER BILL MIXER MIKE MOELLER
1466 N. BUCK CREEK RD. 411 WALNUT STREET #3622 399 INDIAN PAINT BRUSH 211 SUNFLOWER 3960 JANEL DR. 4400 S. POPLAR #311 1931 SO JEFFERSON 3842 E. 15TH APT.431 2673 BONNIE BRAE 2362 BRECK 2044 WESTWOOD HILL #2 458 TRIGOOD DR 1436 CUSTER AVE 2020 TROJAN P.O. BOX 90 2019 AMHERST 87 MAGNOLIA RD 2620 SO POPLAR 3811 SO OAK 3647 HEMPSTEAD STREET 6700 ROTARY PARK ROAD 1442 COUNTRY CLUB RD 501 TRIGOOD DR 3855 PLACID DR 6010 Highview Ct. 1008 SURREY CT. 4166 DARTFORD CT 3005 HALL ST P.O. BOX 194 718 E. 4TH STREET 24 BEGONIA 2011 EAST 21st ST 1020 FARNUM 5308 EAST 22nd ST 603 S. Gillette Ave. 402 WEST 1st ST 2013 RUSTIC DR 6616 VILLAGE P.O. BOX 2990 P.O. BOX 2185 5530 SO OAK P.O. BOX 307 P.O. BOX 363 4820 SO ASH 4981 YESNESS CT. 1705 FENWAY ST. 2231 KINGSBORO RD. 6835 ROTARY PARK RD. 1016 S. BEECH 390 INDIAN PAINTBRUSH 7205 RIVERSIDE DR 1810 SYMONS ST.
CASPER WY GREEN COVE SPRINGS CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER, WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY EVANSVILLE WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY CASPER WY CASPER, WY ST. CHARLES, MO CASPER, WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY CHEYENNE, WY CASPER WY CASPER, WY HAYS, KS TROUTVILLE, VA CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY GILLETTE WY GILLETTE, WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY MILLS WY GLENROCK WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY KAYCEE WY CASPER, WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER WY CASPER, WY CASPER, WY LARAMIE WY
82604 577-4868 FL 32043 82604 265-0464 82604 267-7320 82604 473-5771 82601 265-3166 82601 234-6190 82609 797-4477 82601 472-5813 82609 307-265-1099 82604 307-258-0177 82609 266-4944 82604 237-8197 82609 234-7293 82636 259-2297 82601 234-2594 82604 234-4278 82601 266-2848 82601 265-3427 63301 947-4568 82601 265-6062 82609 235-2180 82609 234-6512 82604 234-2234 82009 433-0740 82609 472-5715 82609 266-3432 67601 625-6012 24175 966-3681 82601 247-1599 82604 307-251-0795 82601 266-3082 82601 265-9053 82609 265-2254 82716 682-1659 82716 682-7404 82609 267-7477 82604 472-4590 82644 82637 267-1150 82601 577-7703 82602 237-9384 82639 307-217-1951 82601 473-2441 82604 247-0080 82609 701-741-3988 82604 265-1756 82601 235-1177 82601 307-333-4665 82604 235-1316 82604 234-0647 82070 745-3177
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter MIKE MONTERASTELLI 4060 ARROYO DR FRANK NEVILLE 1535 SO CENTER RUSS NEWTON P.O. BOX 474 DAVE NICHOLS P.O. BOX 106 CASEY, TRISHA, CODY NIX 1685 CHAMBERLAIN RD, MARVIN NOLTE 4355 TRAILS END G. SCOTT, CONNOR NOVOTNY 2001 VALCARO ROAD DICK O'QUINN 113 S. LINCOLN W L "PETE" PALONE 9029 Tate Ave. JIM PARKINSON P.O. Box 817 MICHAEL J. PIPAS P.O. BOX 91 ED RATE 3662 GARDEN CREEK HTS. PETER ROHDE 15 CADDIS LANE JAMES H. ROBERTSON 780 LANDMARK DR. APT. G-611 GENE & MARTY ROBINSON 3801 WEST ORMSBY RD JOHN ROBITAILLE 4112 W. 39th ALEX ROSE 1116 W. 15TH ST. GARY ROSS P.O. BOX 762 NEAL RUEBUSH 1824 FREMONT AVE BILL RYAN 91 RIVERBEND ROAD JOEL SCHENFISCH 1615 MARIPOSA PETER SCHMOTZER 2818 CHEROKEE LN. CHARLES SHEDD P.O. BOX 1150 BILL SHIPMAN, Jr. 606 HERSCHLER AVE PHILLIP SMITH 2653 GARDEN CREEK RD. DON & LAREE SOFFE 6743 SHARROCK ROAD RICHARD SOFFE 6421 WESTLAND RD JIM SPARKS 4041 GRIZZLY RANDALL STALKER P.O. BOX 428 MATT STANTON 3125 GARDEN CREEK RD. BOB STEWART 2022 LUKER DR DAVE SWEET 42 SUNRISE RD ARNIE SYBRANT 3505 ROBERTSON RD JIM TAYLOR 2311 SO FRANKLIN ST RODGER TESELLE 951 WERNER CT. GENE THERIAULT 7230 ROCKING R RD ROB & SUSAN THOMPSON 11255 HENRIE RD CLARKE TURNER 9325 RED CREEK RD. ART VAN RENSSELAER 1914 RUSTIC DRIVE RICHARD VINE 10 HILLSIDE LANE MIKE WARD 4205 FORT CASPAR ROAD HERB WATERMAN 1220 PAYNE CHUCK WENDTLAND 789 E. TIMBERLINE DR. SMOKEY & MELODY WEINHANDL 7486 W. RIVERSIDE DR. BILL & DONNAWICHERS 4211 DEER RUN CHUCK WILLIAMS 6500 INDIAN WELLS DR JOHN YOST 3034 NOB HILL DR. MARK ZAHN 2925 MORENO AVE BARRY FLOYD/DOROTHY GREENWOOD 602 S. MAIN ST. # 298 DARRYL MIYAMOTA/EVELYN SHARAKI 12517 ROSY CIRCLE ANDREW SAUTER/VIRGINIA HAZEN 5458 COATES RD
CASPER, CASPER, CASPER GRANGER, CASPER BAR NUNN, CASPER CASPER KELLER GLENROCK, ALCOVA CASPER, CODY, CASPER CASPER, CASPER, CASPER GLENROCK CASPER CASPER, CASPER CASPER GLENROCK, EVANSTON, CASPER, CASPER CASPER, CASPER, GLENROCK, CASPER CASPER CODY CASPER, DENVER CASPER CASPER, EVANSVILLE, CASPER CASPER, SHERIDAN CASPER CASPER, SHERIDAN CASPER CASPER CASPER, CASPER PLEASANTON, CRESTVIEW LOS ANGLES, CASPER,
Page 15 WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY TX WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY CO WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY WY CA FL CA WY
82604 82601 82602 82934 82604 82601 82604 82601 76248 82637 82620 82601 82414 82609 82601 82604 82604 82637 82604 82604 82604 82604 82637 82930 82601 82604 82604 82604 82637 82601 82609 82414 82604 80210 82601 82604 82636 82601 82609 82801 82604 82609 82801 82601 82604 82604 82601 94588 32536 90066 82604
266-6206 265-6592 307-315-2240 875-3520 258-7201 577-1238 266-3072 472-1117 944-7329 436-9838 258-6993 237-9667 527-4353 307-333-4077 235-1730 234-5333 828-467-3789 797-2757 544-6914 473-1348 234-3834 307-237-0788 436-8913 789-4707 234-2945 577-4063 265-5229 265-3575 436-8774 258-9915 235-5287 307-527-9959 235-8926 733-6401 307-472-3211 235-3355 266-0232 235-5263 265-9287 673-4324 235-5638 673-7360 307-333-2929 577-4942 473-2414 307-247-1463 925-600-7875 472-6546 822-6121 265-3932
If your name is not listed above, you have not paid your dues for 2009. Contact the club treasurer.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
WYOMING FLY CASTERS BOARD MEETING MINUTES -- DRAFT June 17, 2009 The meeting was called to order by President Joe Degraw at 7:05 pm. All board members were present except for Jamie Gibson [excused absence], John Fanto [unexcused absence], Jim Sparks [excused absence], Bob Fisher [excused absence], and Russ Newton [unexcused absence]. Secretary’s note: At the board’s request, I include a list of absent members in each month’s report. A list of board members can be found in each month’s Backcast. Unless otherwise noted, all Board decisions – being done according to proper procedure – are by unanimous vote. Any positive suggestions for improvement in subsequent meeting reports will be carefully considered. Minutes from the previous meeting and the treasurer’s report were approved. The Conservation Committee [Matt Stanton] reported that according to Cathy Purvis, the BLM is in the process of withdrawing the lease for the Seminoe coal bed methane project that has troubled several WFC members in the past; apparently this project will shortly be dead. The WFC River Clean-up below Gray Reef will take place on Aug. 15. The clean-up will be followed by a barbeque and by discussion with local guides on their views about concerns/problems/opportunities on our river. Matt emphasized that there are sources of funds available from a variety of sources for good projects. By this fall, the Conservation Committee should have a good list of suggested projects for board consideration. Vice President’s report: Alex Rose reported, as requested by President DeGraw, on two items. On the topic of membership fees relative to Backcast costs, he identified three options: (1) raise all dues, (2) make a 2-tiered dues structure where those who receive the Backcast electronically are offered a lower dues rate, and (3) modify the Backcast size to lower printing and postage costs. A board member suggested taking ads in the Backcast as one way to increase income. Alex will provide more detailed information at the July Board meeting. On the topic of suggested criteria for deceased members being remembered on the club’s Speas Memorial Stone, three suggestions: (1) must be a member for 5 years, (2) can have a 2-year lapse, and (3) the board can deal with exceptions on a case by case basis. The board felt that we need a formal process to assist these decisions. A vote will be taken at the next board meeting. Andrew Sauter will assist with drafting appropriate language. The casting clinic will be held at the Natrona County High School football field on July 11 from 10am-1pm. Charlie Shedd, assisted by Joe Meyer, Marty Robinson, and others as needed. Charlie will be asked to try and handle as many attendees as possible [attendees need to contact Charlie to register]. President-elect’s report: The July program will be provided by Dr. Weinhandl. The August program will be provided by Alex Rose. Kim Levine will be streamkeeper for the Tongue River outing July 10-12. The streamkeeper has not been finalized for the 10-Sleep outing the weekend of August 8.
Old Business: 2010 Banquet [April?]: Having asked for member input as to the type of banquet that most would favor, the board discussed and decided on the type of banquet we would like the banquet committee to provide. After listening to several board members reiterate points of consideration, the board voted to ask the banquet committee to provide an event similar to those of the last several years [and not to try and expand the banquet to a large event similar to those of Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, etc. at this time]. Compelling rationale seemed to boil down to (a) in those years that WFC had attempted a much larger banquet, the net proceeds were about the same as for the lower-key events, and (b) fund raising is best done when it is clear what funds will be used for. As one board member succinctly put it, “We can’t even get a stream keeper for 10-Sleep; how can we get a dozen people to work their tails off for a big banquet?” A clear statement defining the need is the poster child for good fund raising. Perhaps once WFC comes up with some good projects/needs, fund-raising [including considering a larger banquet] will follow. It was suggested that the banquet committee proceed now to get the banquet date confirmed with the event host. Kim presented the rationale from FFF for their having billed WFC for a larger amount of “dues” than what we have been giving them. Their formula is $2.00 per WFC member plus a base fee of $100.00. The board voted to limit our contribution to FFF [and similarly to TU] to $100.00 each. There were 2 dissenting votes on this decision. New business: Gene Theriault asked the board to help out with a Project Healing Waters event July 26-29 for 10 wounded veterans. This is a group that uses fly fishing to help wounded veterans understand the appreciation the rest of us have for what they have done for us and for the country. The board voted to ask Joe DeGraw to offer $300.00 for the July event, possibly for sponsorship of a barbeque on the 28th, following one of their days on the river, but ultimately for however it can best be used. Andrew Sauter asked for a volunteer to work with him in September on the seeking of another commissioner’s license. Gene Theriault volunteered to work with Andrew. Sec’s note: I might have missed this one; it was getting late. But I think the board decided to invite anyone who felt they were missed by the 10-year Catch a Fish a Month awarding at the last banquet to let Bob Fisher know. You will be awarded the same award as previously provided, the same criteria being applied. The final item was the notice of the pending resignation of President DeGraw. Joe has been offered a “too good to pass up” deal of education/career enhancement that will necessitate his moving to Laramie. His final event will be the July Board meeting. Joe: You will be missed, but we wish you all the best! The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm. Respectfully Submitted: Spencer Amend, Secretary, June 18, 2009
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
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4 Independence Day
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11 Casting Clinic, NCHS; outing at N.Tongue
Regular meeting, 7 p.m.
Full moon
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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 1
JULY
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WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
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Deadline for Backcast info
Know anyone who’s under the weather? Do you know of a WFC member who is recovering from an illness or surgery or a death in the family? If you do, please contact Joe DeGraw at 258-0177. He will make the arrangements to send a get well card, a book or a sympathy card to that person to let them know that we're thinking of them.
New state record kokanee caught in Gorge Flaming Gorge has yielded yet another trophy fish, with the latest being a new state kokanee salmon record eclipsing the previous record, also from Flaming Gorge, that has stood since 2002. The new record fish weighed 6.26 pounds besting the old record of 6.04 pounds and was caught by Evans, Colo., angler Brian Ekx. Ekx was fishing specifically for kokanee using a small spoon called the Sockeye Slammer. He was fishing Flaming Gorge as part of a team for the 15th annual Buckboard Marina Fishing Classic. Ekx did not know he had a record until the fish was weighed on certified scales at Buckboard Marina as part of the fishing contest entry. At that time marina personnel informed him his fish could qualify as the new state record. Other measurements of the record kokanee include a length of 24.75 inches and a girth of 14.75 inches. The previous record was 24 inches in length with a 15-inch girth. Ekx plans on having his fish mounted. Over the years, Flaming Gorge has produced numerous records that have been broken time and again. In addition to the kokanee record, other current Wyoming state record fish from Flaming Gorge include a 25-pound 13-ounce brown trout, a 50-pound lake trout, a 5.96-pound smallmouth bass and a 27.99-pound channel catfish.
FOR SALE Fleece fingerless fishing gloves. Coleman two-burner stove, like new. Call Don Jelinek 267-7477 • Patagonia SST jacket, XL, Brand new. $240 (list $315). Call Scott Novotny 266-3072
WANTED I have a young friend starting up in fly fishing who has a Cortland fly rod but no fly reel. She is looking for a VERY inexpensive reel for a 5/6 weight rod. If you have one to sell cheap, please call Marty Robinson at 235-1730 and leave a message.
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.