www.wyflycasters.org
Page 2 OFFICERS John Robitaille, President Joe DeGraw, President-elect Alex Rose, Vice President Tom Grogan, Secretary Ed Rate, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expire in 2009 Spencer Amend Bob Fischer Scott Novotny Richard Soffe Terms expire in 2010 John Fanto Jamie Gibson Joe Meyer Gene Theriault Terms expire in 2011 Darin O’Dell Kim Levine Jim Sparks Bill Wichers The Backcast is the monthly newsletter of the Wyoming Fly Casters, an affiliate club of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy and the Federation of Fly Fishers. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the views of the officers, board or members of the Wyoming Fly Casters. Annual dues are $20 for an individual, $30 for a family, or $250 for a lifetime individual membership or $450 for a lifetime family membership. Visit the club website at www.wyflycasters.org. The deadline for submission of information for each issue is the last Wednesday of the month. Make contributions to the next issue by e-mailing material to the Backcast editor at ChevPU57@aol.com, or call (307) 436-8774. 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 John Robitaille, President, WFC t is time, as is often the case in life, to move on. For if things stay the same too long, ideas freeze, new thoughts become scarce, and often times it is taken for granted that things will continue on the same way they always have in the past. And so, I go. But hope springs eternal and I am confident that our club is in good hands with Joe DeGraw. I have enjoyed my time as president. Although I was not able to attend every function, including several meetings, I knew that others would take my place and fulfill the duties of the office I held. This organization should be proud of the work its board does, has done and will continue to do. This is a strong group with a great deal of insight, knowledge and wisdom. Looking back at my year as president, I am drawn to the memories that will forever be entwined with my duties. I built rods; I fished in three states and a different country – caught fish each time
I
by the way. I made new friends, re-established old friendships and watched with wonder how the people we elected to the board worked out issues and problems. I feel privileged to have served with you all. Thanks for the opportunity and support from you all, it did not go unnoticed. As I look forward to 2009, I do so with great anticipation for the success of this organization. I have nothing but confidence the members and their board will continue to lead the club in the right direction. Thank you everyone and remember your club is only as good as the people who choose to volunteer to help make it better. P.S. Don’t forget about the WFC banquet coming up (April 4) – there are lots of opportunities for you to travel to other places and fish – but be warned, I might be bidding against you.
Tailing Loops by Randy Stalker, Backcast editor loyal and furry friend passed away Monday, Feb. 23. Many WFC members met her during outings at Ten Sleep, Cardwell, Walker Jenkins Lake, the WFC memorial access at Speas, the Glenrock float, and she was in attendance at countless non-club fishing and camping trips. You may remember her as the one making the rounds, begging for treats, her tail forming a swishing pom-pom. Tasha, the Shih Tzu fishing dog, died in her sleep, two months shy of her 14th birthday in her Glenrock home. She will be missed by more than just her family. • In case you haven’t heard, the WFC is in the process of marketing a commissioner’s license for big game hunting. Ronald “Jerry” Galles, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
A
representative from the Casper district area, generously donated this license to the WFC. If you happen to see Jerry during the WFC banquet on April 4, stop by, shake his hand and express your appreciation. The sale of this license is anticicpated to be a big fund-raiser for the club. • I know what you’re thinking, if you’ve already read page 3: Why would I publicize my favorite trout stream, and thereby run the danger of inviting hordes of anglers who may not cherish and respect this precious water equally as I? Because, I suppose, reaching this piece of water is not easy. You don’t just pull off the road, park and start fishing. There is a little bit of a knee-burning hike involved, with some elevation differences. A little exertion and sweat are involved in reaching and returning from (continued on page 12)
Cover shot: Alex Rose roasts a just-caught fish on a convenient campfire.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 3
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.
Ed Rate drifts an attractor dry fly down a slow, meandering stretch of Boxelder Creek on an afternoon last November. A photographic presentation showcasing this small stream is on tap for the Mar. 11 membership meeting of the Wyoming Fly Casters.
Photographic slide show on Boxelder Creek slated A PowerPoint photographic presentation by Randy Stalker on fishing his favorite stream, Boxelder Creek, is scheduled for the Mar. 11 meeting of the Wyoming Fly Casters. Boxelder begins as a trickle at Buck Peak southeast of Glenrock and ultimately flows into the North Platte River, passing through gentle hills, grassy meadows and a rock-lined narrow valley during its perhaps 20 mile length. Most of the creek flows through private land, but there are pieces which are public, including a school section and a county park, the latter which is dominated by a steep canyon. During the slide show, a few members of the WFC are shown fishing this stream from June through November. The show lasts 17 minutes and is set to music without the need for narration. • There are no outings scheduled for the immediate future (at least during the coldest part of winter). Plans are now being made for the annual trip to the Big Horn River out-
side of Ft. Smith, MT, set for April 1012, during the Easter weekend. Lloyd Ferguson and Ed Rate are again the streamkeepers, and Don “Chef Ptomaine” Jelinek has accepted a request that he again organize and help prepare three of the meals. The cost for the trip, including meals (two breakfasts and two dinners) and lodging for two nights, has been targeted at $100 per angler and must be paid by the March general meeting. This does not include lunches, transporation, shuttles, licenses, adult beverages and other costs. The price for a two-day non-resident fishing license in Montana is $15. The club has reserved “the condo” at Cottonwood Camp again for the weekend. Be sure to put your name on the list at the March meeting to reserve your space.The best way to fish the Big Horn is from a drift boat, but some opportunities exist for the wading fisherman. Any questions? Contact Lloyd Ferguson at 234-2234.
Winter’s icy grasp should begin to relax somewhat this month, as the river and lakes begin to show signs of a spring thaw, and fish begin to put on the feed bag. Of course, March and April are two of our wettest months, so be prepared for snow and rain. Fish are cooperating on the river, from Miracle Mile to Cardwell to Grey Reef, and gray scuds, leeches, midge larvae, egg patterns and rock worms are the favored flies. The river’s ice has broken up, finally, below government bridge to Glenrock, although the water is a little off-color from early stream runoff. Many fishermen are reporting healthy catches of trout on Grey Reef and Cardwell, and Spencer Amend even landed a 5 lb. carp at Miracle Mile. Many are starting to float the stretch from Grey Reef to Lusky, before the flows are raised in May for the downstream irrigation season. Those planning to attend the outing on the Bighorn River below Ft. Smith, MT next month should be delighted to learn that the fishery is producing. Nymphs and streamers are the standard this time of year, and San Juan worms, scuds and midge larvae imitations are producing best, according to a blog in Ft. Smith. Of course, in April, the tiny baetis mayflies should start hatching, and the arsenal should also include small pheasant tail nymphs and emergers.
To include your fishing report, send information to the Backcast editor, c/o ChevPU57@aol.com.
Page 4
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
FLY
of the month
EMERGENT SPARKLE PUPA This is one of many flies created by the late Gary LaFontaine -- an author, speaker, humorist, fly pattern innovator, and, of course, fisherman. This pattern represents the pupa stage of an emerging caddis. Fish this pattern behind an elk hair caddis a couple of hours before the afternoon caddis emergence. Hook: dry fly, size to match naturals Thread: 8/0 to match under/overbody Overbody: Antron sparkle yarn Underbody: Antron sparkle yarn cut to 1/8" lengths and blended fur to match overbody Wing: coastal deer hair Head: fur or wrapped marabou fibers (darker than underbody) Separate the four strands of the yarn, the fly will require 2. Flies larger than 10 or 12 need more than two strands. Comb-out the two strands. Tie one strand to the bottom of the hook shank, the other to the top. Dub the underbody in a “touch-dubbing” technique, forward, approx. 2/3 of the hook shank Pull the top bunch of sparkle yarn over the top of the fly and tie-off, repeat with the bottom bunch on the bottom. Using your bodkin, pull the fibers away as shown evenly around the body. Pinch and roll them (if necessary) to distribute them evenly. Trim-off tag ends of the yarn. Snip a few fibers from the tie-in point to create a trailing shuck. Cut and stack a small bunch of fine deer hair and tie in. Dub a head using dark fur (dark brown hare-tron or use wrapped marabou.) Whip finish the head.
During one evening at the Great Rockies Sports Show, Marty Robinson and Alex Rose helped about 15 children catch trout -- using flies. This young girl caught this six-inch rainbow on an egg pattern.
Casper TU chapter explored Desired conservation activism prompts meeting The prospects of establishing a Casper Trout Unlimited chapter appear to be remote, judging from a two-hour meeting on Feb. 9 to explore the idea. Approximately 20 people attended the meeting in the G&F’s Pronghorn room, the vast majority were WFC members and many of these are also TU members. Quite a few Casper TU members are not members of the WFC. Only two of these attended the meeting. The meeting was moderated by Nelli Williams, the state TU coordinator in Lander, and Dave Sweet, the state TU council chair in Cody. The two were invited by the WFC to organize the meeting. The missions of the WFC and TU are parallel; the main differences being TU’s strong commitment to conservation issues. The WFC is currently an affiliate member of TU. In Wyoming, there are currently nine TU chapters, contributing to 1300 members. An affiliate member does not enjoy the resource tools afforded by TU’s national visibility. TU’s strong stance on conservation include such issues as public access, loss to diversions, stream and habitat improvement, in-stream flow and envi-
ronmental concerns. The latter, particularly the proposed dumping of 12,000 acre feet of 93 degree semi-saline water into Seminoe Reservoir from 1250 coalbed methane wells, is an issue the WFC -- and particularly Jim Sparks -- considers environmentally insensitive. The problem is the industry performs its own water quality monitoring, not the state or an unbiased third party. The WFC, as well as TU, consider the North Platte River a “national treasure.” The fishing on the river boasts some of the best opportunities anywhere, and the WFC wants to protect this fishery for future generations to enjoy. If a Casper TU chapter is established, it would be with the consent of the WFC. Three options are available: two separate chapters; a joint chapter; or WFC being dissolved and becoming TU. The latter is the least attractive because it would require all members to pay TU dues. At this point, it appears that a stronger partnership between the two organizations will be pursued, promoting joint goals while maintaining separate identities. A follow-up meeting is tentatively slated for March or April.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 5
Annual banquet set for April 4 The annual fund-raising banquet for the Wyoming Fly Casters is slated for April 4 at the Ramada Inn, formerly the Holiday Inn. Cocktails are are 6:00 p.m. and the buffet-style dinner is to follow around 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the banquet are $30 each, and are available until Mar. 28 from commitee members and the Ugly Bug Fly Shop. Pick up your tickets at the Mar. 11 general membership meeting. The annual banquet is the primary fund-raising project of the WFC for the year. This year’s banquet is to feature live auctions, silent auctions, raffles and special activities. Numerous float trips, both locally and destination are to be sold to the highest bidder. Also to be auctioned are several fly plates, several rod and reel packages, upland hunt packages, women’s packages, framed artwork, and fly-fishing equipment. There are also bucket raffles and door prizes. The banquet is to also feature the presentation of the past president’s award, and a ceremony applauding the MacTavish winner for the year and recognition of the 10-year members.
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.
PRFS goes green! Recycle worn waders into new fishing products Don’t let your old waders go to the landfill; they can now be recycled. Please drop off your old unwanted breathable waders at the Platte River Fly Shop. Mark Boname reports the old waders are being refashioned into wallets and chest packs.
Sydney Amend's first leg of her Cutt Slam - the Bonneville trout. This was last August on the Amend family’s Cutt Slam trip. As Spencer Amend remembers, “After making a nice cast into the pool behind her, Sydney said to me, ‘Grandpa, watch and I'll show you how to catch a fish!’ Then she grabbed the fly rod in both hands and waved it left to right, back and forth, several times. And darned if the Bonneville in the picture didn't grab the hot-headed leech I had put on her rod! “The photograph was snapped on the lower Smith's Fork near Cokeville, on a private ranch I suggest anyone fish if they want to get their Bonneville. I caught a 22" Bonneville out of the hole shown a year ago.”
A job well done The Wyoming Fly Casters’ gross income from the Great Rockies Sport Show was $1,016.00. A check for $120 was mailed to Terry Paddock, in Glenrock, who won the 50-50 raffle. I have not received any expense receipts yet, but the board allowed us $75.00. Don Jenlinek spent $399.06 for three rod and reel combinations. We raffled off one, so we still have two units for next expos or shows or whatever. If we charge all these to the sport show, we're still $s ahead. Don did one hell of a job organizing the raffle boards and his uncanny way of giving a piece of bubble gum away and convincing people to take a chance on the raffle is unreal. He is to be commended. The fly rod and reel was won by Richard Soffe, the binoculars and grill were won by a Logan Husted (I believe from Roset). Ed Rate
Page 6
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
THOUGHTS ON AGING, MORTALITY & FLY FISHING by Alex Rose Vice President, WFC "So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards." -- Edward Abbey
D
uring the winter, if I must choose between fishing the North Platte River at Grey Reef or Fremont Canyon, the choice is simple. I'll fish the canyon, a place where I find solitude, rugged scenery and very large rainbow trout. And this winter in particular, although the downhill skiing has been generally lousy, warm temperatures and little snow have made fishing conditions superb. I'm thankful for having road access to the canyon, and grateful for every fish I land. I've been smitten with Fremont
Alex Rose caught this husky Fremont rainbow on an egg pattern.
Canyon ever since Tom Grogan introduced me to it last year. During this trip, I caught a couple of large trout in full spawning regalia, with bold colors, strikingly beautiful rainbows. The terrain ranges from difficult to treacherous. Many of the large boulders are as smooth as polished marble. In Fremont Canyon, wading boots with felt bottom soles have all the traction of roller skates. I've found that boots featuring rubber cleated soles provide far superior traction when rock hopping and climbing through the rocky canyon. The rough terrain also contributes to the abuse of fishing gear and clothing. I've destroyed boots, waders, a rod, and severely dented a reel after taking a bad fall. Fremont Canyon is where gear goes to die. The trout in the canyon are numerous, hungry, and at times very large. Fly
selection is practically irrelevant. About 90 percent of the fish I've caught in Fremont Canyon have been with what Grogan calls "Italian cuisine:" rock worms and golden foam egg patterns. I'm convinced that proper weight is far more important than fly selection when fishing the canyon. Since the current often moves swiftly through deep holes, getting flies down quickly is crucial to hooking fish. On a recent excursion in the canyon, I scrambled out on a point I've named Reliable Rock. I named this boulder because, when casting from this particular rock, I will often hook a large fish that is approximately 20-inches long. I began casting my worm-egg rig. I made several drifts through the hole, but without success. But after adding another split shot, on my next cast I hooked into a very large fish. After a long fight, net in
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 7
STREAMSIDE CHEF
Tom Grogan fishing a Fremont Canyon pool at sunset.
by Daren Bulow
Campfire Trout
Several members of the Wyoming Fly Casters have been known to actually cook a fish they caught. You have been out fishing all day, you head back to camp and you are hungry. This is something that is sure to make those hunger pains disappear.
hand, I extended my arm and landed a 20-inch slab of rainbow trout, a real "Jenny Craig." Although eggs and worms have been my bread-and-butter flies, I've recently begun experimenting with streamer patterns. My pine squirrel leech pattern with a propeller has worked well. A guide at the Ugly Bug told me that a pine squirrel leech also imitates a molting crawfish. After noticing a large number of crawfish claws scattered throughout the canyon, I'm currently tying molting crawfish patterns, and look forward to trying them on my next outing. There are a number of reasons why I'm drawn to Fremont Canyon. First, as stated earlier, large trout lurk in the canyon's deep pools, and it's a thrill going after them. Fremont, in some ways, reminds me of Outlaw Canyon, but with much larger fish. Even though there are far fewer fish per mile in Fremont than Grey Reef, I am still much more likely to catch a 20-inch fish in Fremont Canyon, compared to the Reef. The large fish are isolated in deep holes, and they see far fewer flies. One can enjoy solitude in the canyon, surrounded by towering walls and large boulders, with occasional sagebrush patches and beautiful spring wildflowers. The only sound is water dancing over rock. Fremont is a wonderful place to sit and contemplate the sharp, angular shadows that slowly spread across towering canyon walls. It's a great place to
recharge the soul. After a long day in the canyon, I tend to ache everywhere. My back hurts from the jarring that takes place from hours of rock hopping, and my knees and ankles are sore from the abuse. I typically leave the canyon spiritually and mentally refreshed, but physically battered. After a full day in the canyon, I sometimes wonder if the benefits of exercise are cancelled out by the jarring of joints. I always recover. But I ponder, at times, the long-term effects of joint abuse. In May, I turn 37 years old. I don't consider myself ancient by any means. But with every birthday, I become more keenly aware of my mortality. With every passing year, I feel a renewed sense of urgency best described by the Latin phrase, carpe diem, to "seize the day." So I climb mountains, hike to remote, backcountry lakes, and explore rugged canyons, while I still can. I know there will come a day when I'm not going to want to scramble around a rocky canyon. Or, more accurately, I'll want to test my physical limits in places like Fremont Canyon, but my body won't allow it. When that day comes, I'll savor the memories like sips of a fine, red wine. Then I'll relish an entirely different part of the North Platte River, this worldclass, blue ribbon fishery -- from a drift boat.
Utensils and Ingredients No-stick tin foil Metal tongs Salt shaker Pepper shaker Plastic lemon dispenser Can of no stick cooking spray Stick of butter of margarine 1 trout 14-18 inches 1 large potato 1 small onion Preparation Pull off 20 inch section of tin foil, and lay it down with the nostick side sticking up. Spray the tinfoil with a no-stick cooking spray like PAM. Peel the potato and cut it in to thin 1/8 in. strips crosswise. Place half of the potato strips in the center of the tinfoil. Cut half of the onion into quarter inch slices and place half of them on top of the potatoes. Apply butter or margarine in quarter inch slabs in front center and back of the onions and potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Gut the trout, removing the head and tail. Place the trout in the center of the potatoes and onions. Drip ten drops of lemon from the lemon dispenser. Then put on the butter, rest of the onions and potatoes. Pull the tinfoil around the crimp it together. Put piece of tinfoil down, no-stick side up and put the seam of the rapped trout down and put the tinfoil around and make a seam. Cook over coals of a fire for 10 minutes, turning every two minutes with the metal tongs. Any type of trout will work, but Yellowstone cutthroats seem to taste the best. Serves one.
Page 8
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter Fishermen on the Bighorn at the Three Mile Access.
Drift boat fishing 101 Chapter 7: Five Fundamentals (Part 2) ometime during a float, the fly fisherman gets lazy, especially when he or she is fishing a dry fly. The fisherman starts holding the line in the free hand rather than with the trigger finger. When that happens, a large fish splashes the fly and is hooked. The client, of course, gets excited and starts pulling on the line with the free hand. However, the amount of line that can be pulled is no greater than the distance the fisherman can reach behind his or her back while extending the rod to the maximum in the opposite direction. At the point of maximum extension, the fly fisherman is in trouble‌and the fish has the advantage. In that situation, the fisherman can do one of several things, none of which is desirable. Generally, he or she lets go of the line momentarily while reaching up the rod for more line. The moment the line goes slack, the fish is lost. The fisherman may try to hook the line over the trigger finger. That is impossible because the free hand is stretched a maximum distance from the body in one direction, and the hand holding the rod is extended a maximum distance in the opposite direction. Any attempt to recover by hooking the line over the trigger finger results in slack in the line.
S
Finally, the fisherman can try holding the line in the mouth between closed jaws. Every big fish ever hooked is exciting. Line held between closed jaws often gets bitten in two. You know what happens then. Regardless of the situation, the memory of that awful predicament is both embarrassing and everlasting. But, the lesson of automatically hooking the line over the trigger finger at the end of the cast is learned once and for all. Twice in 50 years of guiding, I have had fly fishermen try and hold the fly line between closed jaws. Rather than the fly line staying between clinched teeth, the line slipped into the space between teeth at the moment the large fish started a powerful run downstream. You can envision what happened: two teeth from each client were dislodged unceremoniously and lost overboard. I am sure that was painful. Each incident, I remember, was messy. Certainly it was emotionally taxing on the client, especially when explanations were formulated later for friends and the dentist. I cannot recall whether either fish was landed. Pity-they were magnificent specimens too. Once in a great while, a fly fisherman remembers to hook the free line over the trigger finger, but he or she forgets either to control the fish with pressure from the trigger finger or strip slack
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.
out of the line by pulling on the line behind the trigger finger. The fly fisherman who forgets to change pressures on the line with the trigger finger simply welds the line to the handle of the fly rod by clamping both together with one or more-sometimes all-fingers of both hands. No leader can withstand that kind of shock. Obviously, the leader breaks, and the fish is lost. The fly fisherman who forgets to control slack in the line usually grabs the loose line in front of the trigger finger
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter with the free hand and drops the line hooked over the trigger finger. Well, you know what happens then. That "Laurel and Hardy" routine has been explored already. Although such incidents are great teachers of what to do after the fact, the fly fisherman who casts and fishes streamers, jigs, and jig-like flies automatically learns to hook the line over the trigger finger in order to make the fly perform as intended. Fundamentally, that is why I teach beginners how to fish sinking flies first and floating flies second. The Tip of the Fly Rod Is a ToolNo matter how much a fly fisherman has learned or experienced, sooner or later he or she snags an overhanging bush, catches a rock, or tangles the fly in a submerged brush pile or tree. When that happens, the fisherman should not worry, get excited, or frantically start pulling hard on the rod, line, leader, or fly. Instead the fly fisherman should alert the oarsman of the difficulty. The oarsman can move the boat across and into the current with ease. As a result, most flies can be retrieved, provided the fly fisherman strips line as fast as the boat moves toward the stranded fly. Never reel, because the fly line cannot be loaded on the reel as fast as the boat is moving. If the fisherman strips in line that fast and does not pull on the fly, when the tip of the rod touches the fly and the rod is pushed gently at the fly, the fly almost always unhooks. That is the best technique for retrieving a fly (or lure for that matter!). It works 95 times out of 100! Unfortunately novice fly fishermen listen but seldom hear-there are too many other things on which to concentrate-or they do not think the technique works. They may strip in the line, but not nearly fast enough, or they may strip in all but the last few inches of line and leader. As a result, the line either falls into the water and the boat drifts over the line and leader, or the last few inches of leader are jerked. If the boat runs over the line, the fly line and leader become hopelessly entangled in the brush, and, of course, the fly is lost. If some leader is left dangling from the tip of the rod, any jerking on the leader embeds the hook of the fly in the limb. Of course, the fly is lost. I have asked fly fishermen why they jerk or pull on the fly before all the line has been retrieved. Some reply candidly that they were more concerned about damaging the tip of the rod than losing the fly. That concern is understandable,
Page 9 The North Platte below Grey Reef.
but it really is not warranted. If the fisherman strips in all loose fly line, the tip simply plucks the fly from the snag without ever being put in harm's way. When the fly fisherman learns to use the tip of the rod as a tool for retrieving stuck or entangled flies, there are few things more satisfying than beating Neptune out of the taxes he levees on the privilege of fly fishing. The Way In Is the Way OutSometimes an errant cast makes the fly wrap around the limb or branch several times. Generally, the beginning fly fisherman cannot react to that type of entanglement fast enough. However, with a little training and some practice, fishermen generally can retrieve a fly without losing any casting or fishing time. Here is how that is done. As the fly is wrapping around the limb, never let the fly stop moving. Pull back on the rod and line in the exact opposite direction the fly was going when it started wrapping around the limb. The pressure exerted on the fly causes it to start unwrapping and zip clear of the limb. That is a truism! If the fly ever stops moving and settles, the hackles protecting the point of the hook flex, and the point sticks in or around the limb. No amount of pressure applied to the fly by the rod, line, and leader will dislodge it. The only hope of retrieving the fly is to politely ask the oarsman to move the boat and break off the limb holding the fly. However, often the limb is too high to reach, and/or the current too swift to chance oaring the
boat into the bush or tree. The fly is lost; Neptune's taxes are paid. Along that same line, the fisherman who fishes dry flies often lets the fly slide under bushes, thinking that fly can pass cleanly under low hanging limbs. Most often the fly cannot. It is doomed. When the fly fisherman realizes the fly will not float clear of potential entanglement, he or she immediately swings the rod horizontally downstream across his or her chest, somehow rationalizing that a downstream stroke can save the fly. The only way to save the fly is to snap the fly out from under low hanging limbs by retracing the path that first led to the trouble. That means snapping the rod and fly line diagonally upward and upstream away from the brush. The fly often skips over the surface, around the limbs, and away from danger. A word of caution: If you ever get a fly tangled in a bush, stuck in a limb, or snagged on a rock, never try unhooking the fly with your hand while the fly is under spring tension by the fly rod. Yes, the fly can be unhooked with the free hand, but the question is "How do I let go of the fly?" There is no way to let go without getting hooked. As soon as the fly is released, tension in the flexed rod is relieved, embedding the fly in the nearest solid object-a finger or hand. If you insist on retrieving a fly by hand, do so only after all tension in the rod is relaxed and the line hangs limp between guides and away from the tiptop of the rod. Thenand only then-is it safe to unhook the fly with the fingers.
Page 10
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Chef Ptomaine is happiest when he is cooking in the mountains for a fishing weekend.
by Randy Stalker ene Theriault, a past president of the WFC, and I were traveling the highway from Casper to Cody one Saturday, and the conversation turned to fishing as we watched a wading angler nail a trout on the Bighorn River below Wedding of the Waters outside of Thermopolis. The fishing bug bit harder as one of Gene’s wind turbines was raised on a piece of rural property overlooking a horseshoe of the frozen South Fork of the Shoshone River south of Cody. Naturally, the discussion turned to thoughts of spring and the draw of many prospective fishing opportunities, including those in the Big Horn Mountains: Ten Sleep and North Tongue. For many years, the Ten Sleep outing west of Buffalo in early August was a staple of the club -- one of the most popular. Four years ago, over 72 dinners were served in the “swamp” (the meadow across the bridge from the campground) on a Saturday night. Since that time,
G
attendance has waned, probably due to gas prices. The outing is just over three hours from Casper. The campground at Deer Park is far enough away that most fishermen and their families plan on spending the night or two, but close enough that it could be a day trip. Club members, their families and guests, in motor homes, campers, tents and even pads and sleeping bags in pickup beds regularly made the trek. Gene has the idea of resurrecting Ten Sleep into the mecca it once enjoyed. If the club would contribute a budget to allow Chef Ptomaine the resources to shop, prepare and serve two breakfasts and one dinner, perhaps more members and their families could be compelled to attend this August spectacle. For the last two years, only 12 people have attended; four members, their wives and four kids. Quite a contrast to the golden years. The outing in the Big Horn Mountains the second weekend of August every year — dubbed by originator Andrew Sauter as the “Dry Fly Clinic” or “Fish with an Expert” — is
not the only excursion the club enjoys in this mountains. A month earlier, on the July 4 holiday weekend, a number of club members are anticipating making the North Tongue River home, as they have for the last three years. We camp in tents or motor homes, enjoy group breakfasts and dinners, and fish from mid-morning to dusk. This trip, perhaps an hour more distant than Ten Sleep, offers bigger fish (Yellowstone and Snake River cutthroats), solitude, ample streambed, and the occasional run-in with a moose in the willows. All it takes to enjoy these opportunities is to sign up, attend and help in the group campground activities. You don’t have to cast a line like Lefty Kreh, weave a story like Norman Maclean or Gary LaFontaine, sing an Irish song like John Dolan or have the honed camping skills of Finis Mitchell. Everyone is welcome. Choice of dry fly is not critical, as the fish are not fussy. But there are debates. There are some members, accomplished tyers, who favor using new materials and techniques to fabricate clever, intricate imitations to fool the wary trout. They are contrasted by the arguments of a second group who eschew synthetic materials, preferring to use natural hair and rabbit or muskrat dubbings to tie delicately tapered, sparsely hackled duns. They are the types who, when viewing someone using antron for the wings of an attractor, for example, don the condescending frown and tone of the chef at the Paisley Shawl, when Don Jelinek asks for ketchup for his t-bone steak. Then there is a third type. This is the type of guy who goes to an extreme: crafting a prototype nymph, featuring a slim injection-molded polymer body, which contains tiny micro circuitry to control the subtle movement of the electronic imitation. His first effort at this new 21st century nymph was lost when it wrapped around the antenna of a southbound Michigan motor home on the backcast when it was field-tested on the Yellowstone River last July. Club members interested in these, or other, fishing opportunities this summer are encouraged to step forward and support them. Volunteers are always needed; so are streamkeepers to organize, publicize and host fishing outings or weekends. So get your 4 weight rod, a selection of flies, a sleeping bag and tent, and make plans to enjoy the summer of 2009.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 11
M Y F LY B O X E S A single photograph could not do justice to Jim Sparks’ collection. Inside one huge bag are over a dozen individual fly boxes, appropriately labeled for specific hatches; midges, small nymphs, large nymphs, worms, scuds and eggs, streamers and leeches, dries, etc. In all, over 4000 flies are neatly packaged and ready for which water is being fished and during which season.
Page 12
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Mail subscribers: do you have a red dot on your mailing label? If you see a RED DOT on your mailing label this will be your last Backcast unless you renew your membership. You will not be able to vote in the upcoming election and you will be removed from the mailing list unless you renew your membership. Once you have renewed your membership your membership 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 will be notified not by a red dot, but by an e-mail notification.
Exchange trip mulled with USRFF Joe DeGraw, the president-elect of the Wyoming Fly Casters, has entered into a discussion with Jason Hurley from the Upper Snake River Fly Fishers regarding an exchange trip. He had suggested it might be of interest to the members of the Upper Snake River Fly Fishers and the WFC to do two joint club outings. One will be on the Henry's Fork or the Snake River and the other on our own North Platte River. Details are yet to be determined. Anyone willing to partake or act as streamkeeper is encouraged to DeGraw at 258-0177.
Tailing loops (continued from page 2) the stream, not nearly as difficult as the Miller trail to the Middle Fork of Powder River, but it does feature exposure to a cliff face that some may find to be a little unnerving. You won’t find any discarded beer cans or fire rings in this stretch of the public park, mainly because of its perceived inaccessibility. What you will find are wild fish and solitude. You will leave footprints, a respect for wild places and a creel full of happy memories. Sometimes, especially in the early season, the fishing is terrific. But in the late fall, the fish are easily spooked and you get only one shot at a pool. Watch the slide show on Mar. 11 and see if you gain an understanding and appreciation of why I visit this place so often. •
New to the club? Need some advice? 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.
Lyin’ and Tyin’ clinics return The next one is Mar. 14 at 9 a.m.
The Lyin' and Tyin' clinics will be held this year at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The final session for this season is Mar. 14. The clinics will be held between 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Following the tying session, a work party will assemble to clean out the storage sheds. For new members not familiar with these clinics, they provide an excellent opportunity for tiers of all skill levels to socialize while tying flies. For those interested in learning how to tie, this is your chance to learn from some experts. Just buy the materials, show up with a vice, and learn from the pros.
And here’s come late-breaking news, courtesy of Lloyd Ferguson: This has not yet been confirmed, but a fly angler tossing a pattern on the Utah side of Flaming Gorge Reservoir near Anvil Draw supposedly caught a monster rainbow tipping the scales at 43.6 lbs. A world record. Wow! Maybe the WFC should consider an outing on the gorge, with a side trip to fish the Green River... Tight lines,
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 13
ELECTION BALLOT PRESIDENT-ELECT (Vote for one) __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ VICE PRESIDENT (Vote for one) Alex Rose __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ TREASURER (Vote for one) Kim Levine __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________
❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐
SECRETARY (Vote for one) Spencer Amend __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ BOARD -- 3 year term (Vote for four) Andrew Sauter __________________________________ Matt Stanton __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐
❐ ❐ ❐
INSTRUCTIONS Make a mark through one of the boxes across from the candidate(s) of your choice. Only vote for one candidate for officer positions, and as many as four for for the three year board vacancies. 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. 11. 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 two) Bob Fischer __________________________________ Scott Novotny __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐ ❐
Page 14
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
‘Click your way to help our club’ by Scott Novotny Fellow Fly Casters, have you ever wondered how you could help out the club with a minimum of time and effort on your part? I have the answer. First off if you have access to the internet please receive the monthly newsletter electronically. Just by doing that you will save the club approximately $18.00 a year in postage and printing fees to send members the newsletter manually. By doing so you will get your newsletter almost a week sooner than by snail mail, the great photos will be in full vibrant color and you will save the club time by not having to manually send out the newsletter. Another advantage of the electronic newsletter is being able to send it to friends or potential members for free. Another way to earn money for the club is to visit the website http://www.wyflycasters.org and visit the Google ads that are on most of the pages. The ads are either located on the right side or bottom of the pages and all you have to do is click on them and they will automatically take you to a link that deals with
fishing or something that corresponds to the content of the page you are visiting. That's all there is to it. The ads will not track your email address or send someone to knock on your door to visit you trying to hawk their product. You can do this while your watching tv, reading a book or surfing the web. Click through as often as you like and as many times as you like. Each time you visit the site that the ad takes you will earn money for the club. The ads don't change very often but bear with that and remember that each time you click our treasury increases. Let's all make an effort and visit the website as many times as we can and hit every click through as often as we can in the month of March and let's see what happens. What could be easier? By the way, when you visit the website http://www.wyflycasters.org check it out and if you have anything to contribute or comment on send me an email at gscottn@gmail.com There is a lot of great stuff on the page and it will be even better with your contribution's and input. Don't forget to click, click, click away during the month of March.
MARCH 2009 MONDAY
TUESDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
SUNDAY
Daylight Savings Time begins
15
17
23
18
24
25
19
20
21
27
28
Vernal Equinox
26
Deadline for Backcast info
29
30
31
SATURDAY
Lyin’ and Tyin’ 9 a.m.
WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day
22
FRIDAY
Regular meeting, 7 p.m.
Full Moon
16
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 15
Treasurer’s Report for January 2009 Income Description
Amount
Date
1/15/2009 1/30/2009
Deposit - dues - 210.00, 1/14/09 Raffle - 85.00 Deposit - dues - 80.00
295.00 80.00
Total Income
375.00
Expenses Check #
Description
Amount
#3937 #3938 #3939 #3940 #3941 #3942
Izaak Walton - Rent - January 09 Don Jeliinek - Expo/Great Western Sport Show Raffle Items Fed Ex Office- December Backcast Cottonwood Camp Ft. Smith MT - Big Horn Outing Deposit Casper Events Center - Sport Show Booth Accessories Cash - Great Western Sport Show
(75.00) (99.06) (79.48) (150.00) (15.00) (100.00)
Jan Bank Charges Ck Acct ($3.00), Money Mkt Maint Fee (50.00)
(53.00)
Total Expenses
(571.54)
e! n o d l l e W ition go out
cogn Thanks and re his fellow d n a se o R x le to A ir Casters for the ly F g in m o y W s in teaching time and effort art of fly e th g in y la p is and d annual Great t rs fi e th t a g tyin Sport Show. in ta n u o M y k c Ro ie Shedd, who rl a h C to s o d u K offering his also assisted in in casting. e is rt e p x e d e vault as. Well done fell 2010! P.S. See you in e Chef Ptomain
CLASSIFIEDS -- GOOD STUFF FOR SALE (CHEAP!)
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 • USED RODS TFO 7' 6", 6 wt. Lefty Kreh TICR $50 Good boat streamer rod TFO 9', 6 wt. Jim Teeny rod $50 Call Art Van Rensselaer 262-7655
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.