www.wyflycasters.org
Page 2 OFFICERS Melody Weinhandl, President Will Waterbury, President-elect Andrew Sauter, Vice President Casey Leary, Secretary Matt Stanton, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expire in 2011 Bob Fischer Scott Novotny Alex Rose Bill Wichers Terms expire in 2012 Spencer Amend Neil Ruebush Brent “Smokey” Weinhandl, DDS Vacant Terms expire in 2013 Greg Groves Joe Meyer Herb Waterman Vacant 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 week 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 program available free of charge) documents. Usually, 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 to ChevPU57@aol.com. In addition to receiving each issue of the newsletter earlier than your hard copy peers, e-mail 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 Drifts by Melody Weinhandl, President, WFC brooktrout6671@gmail.com
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ronically, the last species of trout I’ve chosen to research during my tenure as president is also the only species native to Wyoming. In fact, on Feb. 18, 1987 it was chosen as the state fish. The cutthroat trout has several subspecies but perhaps the best known and most widely recognized is the one native to Yellowstone Lake and the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. The common name cutthroat trout, which applies to the species as a whole, was first used for a population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout. In an 1884 issue of American Angler magazine, Charles Hallock, longtime editor of Field and Stream, wrote of a memorable fishing experience he had the previous year on Rosebud Creek, which drains from the Beartooth Mountains to the Yellowstone River in southern Montana, northeast of Yellowstone National Park. According to Robert Behnke’s excellent book Trout and Salmon of North America, Hallock caught trout with "…a slash of intense carmine across each gill cover, as large as my little finger. It was most striking. For lack of a better description we call them ‘cutthroat’ trout." Before 1884, cuts were most commonly referred to as "blackspotted trout," "speckled trout," or "Rocky Mountain trout." Fish culturists continued to use the term speckled trout into the early 1900s. Yellowstone Lake has a surface area of 88,000 acres, an elevation of 7,731 feet and is the home of the world’s greatest population of pure cutthroat trout. The typical maximum is 21–24 " and between 4–6 lbs. In the 1950s and 60s before angling regulations greatly reduced the number of trout killed by anglers, fishermen took more than 300,000 trout in some years. Bears and birds such as eagles, which have a proclivity to eating fish, consumed a roughly equal amount. Fish culturists have been interested in Yellowstone Lake for several decades. From 1899 to 1955, some 818 million
Yellowstone Lake cutthroat eggs were taken, fertilized and shipped to most U.S. states, Canada and several foreign countries. Some years, more than 40 million eggs were redistributed! Lake Trout tend to be a menace as well as there are programs in place to dissipate their numbers. Matt Stanton, treasurer of WFC, gave a very insightful presentation on this issue in January and Dave Sweet of Trout Unlimited will be elaborating on the topic in April. Wyoming boasts five subspecies, or varieties, of cutthroat trout, reportedly more than any other state. They include the Snake River cutthroat, which is heavily spotted, and the Yellowstone River cutthroat, whose spots are fewer but larger. The Colorado River cutthroat is found in the headwaters of the Green and Little Snake rivers. The west-slope cutthroat inhabits the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming's rarest cutthroat is the Bonneville cutthroat trout, also known as the Utah or Bear River cutthroat. In Wyoming, it's found in the upper Bear River watershed. A program designed to encourage anglers to learn more about Wyoming's cutthroat sub-species and develop more appreciation and support of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's cutthroat management program has been developed. It is called the CuttSlam. To participate an angler needs to catch a Colorado River cutthroat, a Bonneville cutthroat, a Snake River cutthroat and a Yellowstone cutthroat. Wyoming Game and Fish will need a completed application (that can be downloaded from their website) submitted to them along with pictures if each subspecies. Once documentation has been received, then Game & Fish will send a color certificate featuring the four subspecies recognizing this accomplishment. The state record for a cutthroat is 15 lbs., 32 inches caught on Native Lake in Sublette County by Alan Dows in 1959. Tim Bayles caught the world (continued on next page)
Cover shot: Alex Rose wades deep at Grey Reef.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter (continued from previous page) record on Pyramid Lake in Nevada in 2005. It weighed 24 lbs., 12 oz. and was 33 inches long. Although I’m not a Wyoming native like the cutthroat, it has been my pleasure to call this state home for the last several years. My husband, Smokey, and I moved here and started Brook Trout Dental, PC from scratch and we have been made to feel welcome by those who did have the privilege of being native to the state. It has also been a pleasure to become better acquainted with those anglers who are members of the Wyoming Fly Casters and in particular to the group of members that served with me on the board. It's an honor to have been trusted with leading the organization as president. I also am pleased to have helped organize presentations and outings for the past two years while in the position as president-elect and while that position was vacant this past year. Thank you all for your suggestions, comments, ideas and active participation in all the events held during my tenure from the club BBQ, to Expo, to Cabin Fever, to the Christmas banquet and currently to the spring banquet. Thanks to all the streamkeepers spearheading the various outings over the last two years. Your willingness to organize and plan these event have resulted in many successful trips. My regards go to the new officers being elected and most especially to the new executive. With this article, I’ll sign off for one last time as president. Best wishes to you all and as always, happy angling ...
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Melody In addition to your fly rod, vest, waders and net, bring a camera on your next fishing trip. The only way your photo gets featured on this page is if YOU submit it.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
WFC MeMber ProFile by Greg B. Groves legatcn@gmail.com
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n Friday Feb. 18, I spoke to Jim Johnson about his past, what he’s doing now, and where he hopes to fish in the future. Jim grew up about 95 miles from Cheyenne in Bridgeport, Nebraska. Though the North Platte River flows through his hometown, fishing took a back seat to duck and goose hunting. When Jim was young, his dad worked for the state as an auditor until building various businesses including an abstraction company, an insurance agency and a premier duck and goose decoy business. Until he left home to attend Colorado State University, his primary interests were hunting waterfowl, playing football and basketball. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Jim told a wonderful story about years of watching Lassie, the long running Emmy winning television series. During the early years Lassie, a beautiful collie dog, lived on a farm with a young man as her master. Over time, the setting of the series changed to portray Lassie helping forestry workers with their rescues and other outdoor adventures. Jim recalled regularly watching Lassie work with the forest rangers while thinking and saying “That’s what I want to be.” During college he pursued his childhood dreams by working seasonal summer jobs with the Forest Service in Centennial, Colorado. After getting his degree in forestry and recreation he started out as a seasonal fire fighter at Mesa Verde National Park. Eventually Jim was hired as a permanent Park Ranger with the National Park Service (NPS). Back then, Park Rangers were designated as either “interpretive” or “law enforcement” rangers and Jim was a law enforcement ranger, which generally meant he protected the resources of park and the people who visited the park. A typical day could
Jim Johnson
require him to fight fires, manage traffic, answer question from visitors, perform rescues and investigate crimes. During ten years with the NPS he worked in Mesa Verde National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Mt. Rainier National Park. After a decade with the NPS, Jim transferred to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), moved to Casper and worked 26 years, mostly managing fires. As the air operations director with BLM’s Incident Management Team, Jim traveled all over the country helping manage big fires. During the 21 years he served on the team, he took great satisfaction in knowing that no one who worked for him ever had a crash or was killed. Though he has been retired for several years, Jim continues part-time work directing fire fighting flight operations from the air. Picture Jim flying over a raging fire while calmly orchestrating the flight paths of helicopters full of fire fighters and air tankers full of fire retardant slurry. The situations Jim worked with would have driven an air traffic controller crazy. After 36 years of service to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Jim retired in
June of 2004, and at that time he was BLM’s district fire management officer. His work as a public servant left little time for fishing. As a kid he fly fished a little and when he retired he knew he wanted to get really good at the sport. When he wrapped up with BLM, the guys at work gave him an 8 weight Sage rod. He joined the Wyoming Fly Casters so he could meet other fly fishers and learn more about the sport. When Jim was asked how many days he fishes a year, he said, “not enough.” When he fishes he prefers his 5 weight Scott and he also has a 5-weight travel rod that carries a Cabela’s label. A Ross is his favorite reel. The fish that got Jim the most excited was caught during the fall of 2010. Somewhere on the North Platte, while fishing a dry, he hooked up with a huge brown. He was alone at the time but managed to land the fish and used his cell phone to snap a pic of the fish. He had no measuring device but the outstretched brown reached from his fingertips to the middle of his bicep. He made an eyeball (continued on next page)
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Jim Johnson
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Tailing Loops
(continued from previous page) estimate that the fish was 24 or more inches long. After releasing the fish and returning to his truck, Jim leaned both his fly rods against a fence. He was so excited that he forgot to collect the fly rods and after getting almost back to Casper, he realized he forgot to put the rods in the truck. He drove back to his former parking spot and both rods were where he had left them. His dream trip would be to the Bristol Bay area of Alaska where he would like to fly fish for trophy rainbows. Jim enjoys woodworking and he plans to donate to the club a wooden fly box he made. It’s his intention that the fly box will be used as an auction or raffle item during the upcoming spring banquet and fundraiser. So, that’s a quick summary of Jim’s life. But there’s one more little tidbit that sets Jim apart from all those other kids who spent Sunday evenings watching Lassie on TV. During his early years as a park ranger in Mesa Verde National Park, Lassie and the producers of the series came to the park to film a show. The story line involved a park ranger who came to the park to meet a friend and for some reason he brought along a Native American boy. As the story progressed the young boy fell off a cliff and of course Lassie and her park ranger companion came to the rescue, aided by ropes. As it turned out, the actor who played the park ranger needed a stunt man to actually do the rope work over the side of the cliff. Guess who that was? For his trouble, the TV folks took a picture of Jim with Lassie, and Jim still has the picture. I encourage everyone to get to know Jim Johnson. He’s the only person I know who ever petted a movie star and has a picture to prove it. Author Greg Groves intends to alternate WFC monthly profiles between veteran members and newcomers. -- Ed.
by Randy Stalker, Backcast editor chevPU57@aol.com “I've never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.” Daniel Boone
T
he calendar pages have been seemingly turning rapidly, so much so that I’ve been slow to realize that the first day of spring is just over three weeks from now (depending when you read this column, of course.) This has been a harsh winter, cold and miserable, and I welcome the approach of a promised warmer, and less blustery season. The days closed so fast I realized the club’s membership dues are two months in arrears. Whoops! I’d better get a check written (maybe two, since I’ve got to get tickets for the banquet, too) to Matt, and drop it at The Bug. Otherwise I risk not receiving the electronic version of the April issue of the newsletter. I’m sure there are others like me who let their dues lapse; to correct the deficiency, mail a check to the WFC, P.O. Box 2881, Casper 82602. Or if you want to save 44 cents, bring it to the club meeting on Mar. 9. If you just emerged from hibernation, or returned from an extended vacation in the tropics, you may not have heard the news: The BuRec is now releasing water from the series of storage reservoirs, in anticipation of a heavy spring runoff. Usually, the releases coincide the beginning of the irrigation season on May 1. The reservoirs are already swollen, and the BuRec hopes to avoid a repeat of last year’s downstream flooding problems precipitated by late spring gusher storms. It was a pretty sight last year, when rising water breached the Pathfinder dam, creating beautiful waterfalls and misty rainbows. The river flow is expected to be raised from 500 cfs to perhaps 2000 cfs. And stay at least that much flow for the spring and summer. That’s good news for the habitat, the fish and the fishermen. Remember the husky trout landed last year on the Platte? Well higher water flows contribute to the well-being of
aquatic wildlife -- fish and fowl. More water translates into more comfortable floats on the river. This means that I can go forward with a planned spring outing on the North Platte west of Glenrock. This is to be a float tube outing -- no drift boats allowed! Stay tuned for details, and as always, its pending on the reports of the weatherman. • The club owes a debt of gratitude to Melody Weinhandl for sitting at the helm of the club for the last year, and anchoring it in a peaceful harbor. Melody, maybe you and Smokey could finally take me up on that long-standing offer of fishing Boxelder Creek this summer. But the club will remain in good hands. Melody is passing the gavel to Will Waterbury, who promises to be as dedicated to the club as his predecessor. Thanks for taking the vacant reins of president-elect and stepping up to the leadership position, Will. And remember, I need a column for you long enough to fill two columns, every month. And a picture to accompany it. • As you know, or should know, the annual club’s fund-raising banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 2. Since it is doubful if next month’s newsletter will be delivered by the postman in time for the banquet, I’ll plug it this month. It is always a most enjoyable evening to socialize, bid on items, and share in the awards members receive. Long-term WFC members may remember the banquet in 2007, when bowls of goldfish decorated each table. Well, Sarah and I took a bowl home, and one of the fish survived. In fact, it still flourishes. My then nine-year old named him Samus after a hero in a video game. She is dark orange, longtailed and happy; but she also has an attitude when we don’t feed her early enough in the morning. And I don’t think she wants to ever attend another WFC banquet. Tight lines,
Scoop
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
The ‘Library Corner’ is reopened By Spencer Amend The Underwater World of Trout – Feeding Lies. By Wendell “Ozzie” Ozefovich. (Don’t worry, I can’t pronounce his last name either.) 63 minutes; undated. This is the second video in the “Underwater World of Trout” series. I don’t think we have the entire series. It deals exclusively with trout in flowing waters. It contains some great footage of trout underwater –Duh! Even though the subject matter wasn’t always what I expected/wanted, it was highly educational and interesting. I was expecting more detail on feeding lies than his simply listing of them: riffles, foam lines, in front of and behind rocks, tail ends of pools, eddies, and fast water in the middle of the water column. I hadn’t previously paid too much attention to the way the water does all the work holding a trout stationary in fairly swift water; similar to the way the wind holds a soaring hawk. In addition to feeding lies, he talked briefly about sheltering lies: deadfalls and undercut banks, as well as white water riffles that protect from avian predators. And he mentioned prime lies as those areas providing both functions. Hatchery trout and juveniles eat all the time and everywhere. Most
Some members, especially those joining WFC recently, may not be aware of the WFC DVD/video library. And I haven’t been too helpful in reminding everyone for several months. Through the efforts of board members Bill Wichers and Bob Fischer, with a bit of help from yours truly, members have available a host of DVD titles sure to expand your knowledge and skills. The library is maintained and videos can be checked out at the Ugly Bug. Please check out only one video at a time, and return them promptly. OK: these videos might not immediately make you able to fish a dry fly like Bill Mixer, catch fish anywhere like Joe Meyer, cast into the wind like Marty Robinson, or sniff out the big ones like Alex Rose, but I’m betting they will add enjoyment to your fishing and put more fish on your lines. Partly as a reminder, and partly to try and stimulate your use of the library, I’ll try and do a better job of reviewing some of the more interesting titles for the next several months than I have in the recent past. I hope it will encourage you to take up systematic pursuit of additional knowledge; I know it will be beneficial for me. Tight lines!
common food items are crayfish, leeches, various nymphs, sculpin, and scuds. Trout sometimes bite in reflex action to a food (or non-food) item coming at them. He deals at some length with trout biomechanics – how trout fins keep them in place, minimizing drag. He says that trout are able to hold in swift water with actually less energy expended than it takes them in slower water. As hinted at above, this video contains a lot of interesting information that I didn’t see connected to feeding lies. For instance, he comes up with the statistic on trout acceleration
Cabin Fever Clinic is Mar. 5 by Alex Rose This year, the club's Cabin Fever Clinic will take place Mar. 5, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m, at the Casper Recreation Center, located on 1801 E. Fourth Street. The clinic is free and open to the public, and a great opportunity to introduce folks to fly fishing. The club provides the rods and all materials. Experienced casters and tiers provide one-on-one instruction on fly tying and casting. Last year, turn out for the clinic was outstanding: Approximately 70 participants took part in the clinic. We had about 10 Fly Casters teaching casting and tying, but we could have used a few more instructors. If you are a good caster or tier, and like to teach, please consider volunteering for this event. We can always use an extra hand. This year's format will be similar to last year: Casting instructors and students
will form a line, taking up most of the gym. The tiers will sit at a row up tables. The only significant difference is that this year, we will be providing an information booth, promoting the club, and actively recruiting new members. The club's resident fly fishing professor, Bill Mixer, said he would participate, and would bring along his "casting analyzer," a high-tech gadget that analyzes every aspect of your cast: Your forward cast, back cast, force used, etc. If you know someone who would like an introduction to casting or tying, this is great opportunity to learn. Rods, reels, hooks and feathers provided. Women and familes are encouraged to attend. If you are handy with a rod or vice, and want to teach, we could use your help! For more information, contact me at 828-467-3789, or alexmrose@hotmail.com.
that trout can go from zero to 22 mph in 1 second (so don’t be afraid to strip your fly rapidly). And the lateral line enables even blind trout to locate food and survive for years. His observations and statements about pecking order (which trout gets the best spots in streams) varied with the size and species and sex of trout. Some of his information on stream hydrology will probably make me fish differently in some circumstances. The worst thing, for me, was the notion that trout feed most typically in quite narrow lanes (maybe from a couple of inches to a foot or so wide), requiring something I may not be quite good enough at: extremely accurate casts. He characterized trout as feeding by sight, but swallowing based on taste, and had some excellent video of trout taking, tasting, and expelling items quickly. Great footage; interesting, varied information; I’m glad I took the time to watch it. I’ll fish some waters differently, and even perhaps more patiently.
2011 annual dues are OVERDUE! In order to continue receiving club benefits, send in your annual dues to WFC P.O. Box 2881 Casper, WY 82602
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
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Planning underway for spring banquet The spring fund-raising banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 2 at the Ramada Plaza Riverside (formerly the Holiday Inn). A no-host cocktail hour and display of auction items will begin at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 each and only 130 tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis. Ticket sales will begin at the club meeting on Wednesday Mar. 9. On Mar. 10, tickets will be sold at the Platte River Fly Shop, the Ugly Bug Fly Shop, and Brook Trout Dental. From Mar. 9 through Mar. 16 tickets will only be sold to members. After Mar. 16, tickets will be sold to both members and the public. Remember that only 130 total tickets will be sold. When the last ticket is sold, ticket sales will be closed. This year's banquet will feature short presentations outlining the past accomplishments of the club and what we hope to do in the future. The raffles, silent and live actions are the highlight of the banquet. The members of the spring banquet planning committee have been working hard to get donations from friends of the WFC and our favorite suppliers of equipment, clothing and outings. Any club member who wishes to donate quality items for auction is encouraged to contact Greg Groves or Bob Fisher, the co-chairmen of the spring banquet planning commitee. Outdoor art items, limited edition fly fishing books and high quality or antique fly rods and reels are always hot auction items. If you have any high quality gear that you are not using, why not put it back into service by donating it for auction or raffle. All funds are spent on conservation, public fishing access and educational projects. Contributions of flies for the club fly plate that will be up for action are needed. Members are also asked to contribute a dozen flies for the bucket raffle. Joe Meyer reports he still needs flies from members of the MacTavish club. Those flies will be included in the MacTavish plate that always gets top dollar at auction. Joe needs those MacTavish flies by the first week of March. All the flies can be dropped off at the Ugly Bug for Joe Meyer.
Jamie Gibson and Jim Degroot were among those attending the February edition of Lyin’ and Tyin’ at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation building. The monthly tying sessions continue through the remainder of the winter on the Saturday following the regular Wednesday club meeting.
Lyin’ and Tyin’ clinics slated The next one is Mar. 12 at 9 a.m.
The Lyin' and Tyin' clinics will again be held at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission building on Three Crowns golf course. For new members not familiar with these clinics, they provide an excellent opportunity for tiers of all skill levels to socialize while tying flies. The sessions are also a great opportunity for beginning fly tiers to learn from the experienced tiers, and to get one-on-one tips and instruction regarding the art of tying. New members or beginning tiers simply show up with a vice and materials, and the pros will show, step-by-step, how to tie bugs.
Our members are very special to us and we want to remember them in times of adversity. If you know of a member or their spouse who is ill or is recently deceased, please contact Donna Diesburg at (307) 234-4278 or e-mail her at faith10@bresnan.net.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
ELECTION BALLOT PRESIDENT-ELECT (Vote for one) __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________
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VICE PRESIDENT (Vote for one) __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ TREASURER (Vote for one) Matt Stanton __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ SECRETARY (Vote for one) Casey Leary __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ BOARD -- 3 year term (Vote for four) Chris McAtee __________________________________ John Dolan __________________________________ Bob Fischer __________________________________ Jim Johnson __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
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INSTRUCTIONS Make a mark through one of the boxes across from the candidate(s) of your choice. Vote for one candidate for officer positions, and as many as four for for the board vacancies. As president-elect, Will Waterbury ascends automatically to the president’s office. In order to be entitled to vote, you must be a WFC member in good standing (dues current). Absentee ballots can be mailed to the club (P.O. Box 2881, Casper, 82602). All other ballots will be marked and collected during the membership meeting on Mar. 10. Nominations from the floor will be accepted before ballots are cast, especially for the position without any announced candidates. • Officers elected in March take office in April. The obligation of an officer or a board member is to attend a general membership meeting and a board meeting, on the second and third Wednesdays of each month, respectively, at 7:00 p.m.
BOARD -- 2 year term (Vote for one)
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BOARD -- 1 year term (Vote for one) __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
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Proposals for conservation projects sought The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming (WHFW) is seeking proposals from not-for-profit organizations for projects that directly benefit Wyoming's Wildlife resource. Specifically, WHFW is looking for projects that benefit wildlife through species conservation and/or habitat improvement for game and non-game species and fisheries. The foundation will give priority to
projects that have received, or will receive significant matching funds from other fund sources and leverage partnerships with for-profit and notfor-profit companies or organizations. Organizations that have questions or wish to receive materials to submit a project for consideration can contact Melodee Marienthal at Melodee.Marienthal@whfw.org or by phone at: (307) 777-4529.
BE INFORMED www.wyflyca ster
Landowners invited to sign up for private lands/public wildlife program The open enrollment and renewal period for landowners wishing to participate in the 2011 Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Private Lands/Public Wildlife (PLPW) program began Jan. 1. All contracts must be approved by 5 p.m. April 29, 2011. The PLPW program provides a monetary incentive to landowners who enroll acreage in any of WGFD's three access programs: Walk-in Hunting, Walk-in Fishing and Hunter Management Areas. The goal of the access program is to enhance and/or maintain public hunting and fishing access on private and landlocked public lands throughout the state. The Game and Fish also provides additional law enforcement in the areas, but more importantly, the management of hunters and anglers. A Hunter Management Area comprises one or more ranches, and hunters are required to obtain a permission slip, map and ranch rules to hunt. "The main benefit to landowners is
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the Game and Fish liaison between themselves and the hunters and anglers. Landowners do not have to deal with requests for access," said Matt Buhler, statewide access coordinator. "Since the department issues hunter management permission slips and supplies walk-in hunting atlases, we coordinate the access to the private property enrolled in the program." Walk-in hunting and fishing areas are typically smaller parcels of property that unless otherwise stated, are only accessible by foot. No permission slip is required to access these areas and each area is open during a specific time and only for species agreed upon by the landowner and the department. Game and Fish installs signs that identify the walk-in area boundary, safety zones and parking areas. Landowners who wish to renew, enroll or who would like more information on any of the access programs can contact Matt Buhler at (800) 233-8544 or (307) 473-3400.
To continue receiving the newsletter, pay your club dues If you do not pay your annual dues, this may be your last Backcast. You will not be able to vote in the upcoming election and you will be removed from the mailing list. Once you have renewed your membership your privileges will be restored. Mail your renewal to P.O. Box 2881, drop it off at one of the fly shops, or, better yet, come to the March meeting. For those of you who receive the newsletter electronically, you, too, may be culled from the subscription list of the monthly newsletter.
www.wyflycasters.org
www.wyflycasters .org
Receive each issue of the Backcast in a timely manner, without relying on the Post Awful to deliver it. Sign up for electronic delivery! Not only do you receive each issue near the end of each month, but it will feature color photographs and graphics. And you can save the club precious money and resources because printing and postage costs and the chore of stapling, stamping and stickering the monochrome hard copy are eliminated. Just drop the editor a line, requesting electronic delivery at chevPU57@aol.com.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter Treasurer’s report ending January 31, 2011
Income: 01/06/11 01/24/11 01/24/11 01/31/11
Deposit - Dues ............................................................................................................................................ $125.00 Deposit - January raffle................................................................................................................................... 88.00 Deposit - Dues .............................................................................................................................................. 250.00 Interest............................................................................................................................................................... .21 Total............................................................................................................................................. 463.21
Expenses: 01/05/11 01/06/11 01/12/11 01/12/11 01/12/11 01/12/11 01/19/11 01/21/11 01/21/11 01/31/11
Online payment - FedEx Office (Dec Backcast) ....................................................................................... $102.59 #4079 Joe DeGraw (overpayment of dues)..................................................................................................... 5.00 #4080 Void (Will Waterbury, wrong amount)..................................................................................................... 0 #4081 Ugly Bug (January raffle) .................................................................................................................. 84.33 #4082 Will Waterbury - Christmas party supplies......................................................................................... 9.58 Ugly Bug (third place Christmas fly gift certificate) ..................................................................................... 10.00 #4084 Joe Meyer - Lyin’ and Tyin’ club kit supplies......................................................................................15.00 #4085 City of Casper - Cabin Fever deposit .............................................................................................. 200.00 #4086 City of Casper - Cabin Fever rent ................................................................................................... 165.00 IWLA January/February rent ...................................................................................................................... 150.00 Total........................................................................................................................................ $1,830.49
MARCH Club Calendar SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY 1
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 2
3
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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5 Cabin Fever clinic
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Regular meeting, 7 p.m.
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15
Daylight Savings Time begins
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Lyin’ and Tyin’, 9 a.m.
16 WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
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18
St. Patrick’s Day
19 Full moon
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Deadline for Backcast info
First day of spring
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9Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
WYOMING FLY CASTERS BOARD MINUTES February 16, 2011 Call to order: 7:04 p.m. Bob Fischer, excused absence. Last month’s secretary’s report corrected to indicate Matt Stanton has not paid the WGFD for the Bolton Creek project. He will pay once all the receipts are received. Last month’s secretary’s report was approved with the correction. Matt Stanton presented the treasurer’s report. He did comment the renewal rate for annual dues was about 50%. The report was filed for audit. Matt presented a letter to the board asking for monetary support from the Wyoming Fly Casters Foundation for the Bolton Creek project. The letter was reviewed by the board and will be sent to the foundation. Matt suggested a group audit the financial records after elections and he has a group of volunteers for the project, the board concurred. Matt related an incident of a TU Chapter having its funds stolen by its treasurer. He recommended that the WFC implement some form of background check on the incoming treasurer. A motion was made and discussion was held. The matter was shelved until further information was gathered. Matt received the renewal on our liability insurance, and is looking into all options. Andrew discussed the WFC Foundation’s role in the liability insurance issue. Smokey Weinhandl reviewed some of the benefits of being affiliated with the Nature Conservancy, such as being eligible for discounted products, and can become involved in local meetings. He reported the FFF affiliate status is no longer offered, but the WFC has been grandfathered in this status. They now offer a “chartered” status. Benefits of the affiliate status include borrowing equipment, apply for grants, offer group insurance and can access possible free legal support. The banquet committee reported the banquet is 45 days away, April 2, 2011. The cost of banquet tickets is $25, with 130 total tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at Platte River Fly Shop, Ugly Bug Fly Shop and Brook Trout Dental, on a first come first served basis. Tickets will be available in March and members will have the first opportunity to purchase the banquet tickets. Auction items are being received and various companies are supportive. Items
include a full day float trip, and men’s and women’s Columbia clothing. Mark Boname donated various items for the banquet auction. The committee discussed having a guest list at the banquet. The Cabin Fever Clinic will be held March 5 at the Casper Recreation Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Alex Rose reported press releases have be issued. He is scheduled to be on television March 3 and 4 fly tying to promote the clinic. Smokey Weinhandl reported approximately 20 people have come into his business praising the quality of the posters that were printed advertising the clinic. We have good volunteer support for this clinic. The Natrona County Weed and Pest requested to meet with WFC member (s) to discuss the Weed Management Area and goals for the future. They are seeking interest, support, questions, oppositions and opinions on the importance of Russian olive and salt cedar control along the North Platte River. Their goal is NOT to eradicate these plants on the North Platte River. Elections are March 9 and board members are to contact people they know who might have an interest in running for positions. Joe Meyer reported that at the last Lying N’ Tying we did not have a key to get in the building. Will Waterbury reported the Audubon room is available for use at $25 as an option for use. Smokey Weinhandl reported on the partnership with the Hook and Hackle Club, in Calgary, Canada. He reported they have two meetings a month and engage in similar activities the WFC promotes. A motion was carried the WFC will write a letter of inquiry to seek interest in a partnership with the Hook and Hackle Club. Will is working on a questionnaire seeking information from members about what they would like the WFC to do, such as programs, flies of the month etc. Scott Novotny reported the Wyoming State Legislature is discussing a bill guaranteeing hunting and fishing. Other conservation groups are in support of this bill. Bill Wichers encouraged individual members to show support of this bill by contacting all house members. Joe reminded the board that he needs flies for the club and MacTavish plates. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
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CLASSIFIEDS
GOOD STUFF FOR SALE (CHEAP!) Patagonia SST jacket, XL, Brand new. $175 (list $315). Scott Novotny 266-3072 • Dan Bailey SL felt sole wading boots , men’s size 5, speed laces, EVA insoles, padded ankle, light weight. $65 new, sale $35. Kaenon UPD sunglasses $169 new, slightly used price $95. Marty Robinson 235-1730
Classifieds are a free service to WFC members. To advertise your item for sale, drop a line to the marketing department at chevPU57@aol.com.
Protect our environment
Inspect - Clean - Dry Take the Clean Angling Pledge www.cleanangling.org
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.