Page 2 OFFICERS Melody Weinhandl, President Diana Holcomb, 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 Neil Ruebush Vacant Vacant Smokey Weinhandl Terms expire in 2013 Greg Groves Joe Meyer Will Waterbury Herb Waterman 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 next to last day 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 Drif ts by Melody Weinhandl, President, WFC powdertrout@gmail.com
A
pril has been a very eventful month starting out with our annual spring banquet on April 3. Bob Fischer, chairman of the banquet committee, organized the event with outstanding success and on behalf of the club I would like to thank him and the many others who dedicated their time and talents to making the banquet as outstanding as it was. Wyoming Fly Casters raised just over $8,200 which was a 25 percent increase over last year. Orvis Rendevous, a conference for the approximately 300 fishing guides throughout the Rockies, was held in Casper this year. The Wyoming Fly Casters was invited to participate by David Sweet, state council chair of Trout Unlimited, and we greatly appreciate the opportunity that we were provided. As a courtesy and because of our affiliation with TU, Orvis donated equipment to the WFC that was then raffled off with the proceeds to be used as the club deemed fit. A total of $2,955 was raised and the board immediately approved gifting $1,000 of that back to the state’s Trout Unlimited. Thanks to Scott Novotny, Matt Stanton, Alex Rose and Steve and Diana Holcomb and their daughters for manning the raffle booths over for the two-day event. Speaking of Diana Holcomb, it is my pleasure to announce that she was approved as our newest president-elect at the April board meeting. Diana has already assisted the club in several capacities, including providing news releases to the Casper Journal and the Star-Tribune. Also approved as a board member is Dr. Brent "Smokey" Weinhandl. Smokey enjoys graphic design and has already put that interest to use in making posters for various WFC events, the most recent being the spring banquet. These two join three others who were recently elected to the board -- Greg Groves, Will Waterbury and Herb Waterman. It will be my pleasure working with them and the existing board
members over the course of the year. As mentioned previously, conservation is something the Wyoming Fly Casters holds dear. In January, Alex Rose wrote letters on behalf of the club to our congressional delegates in Washington, seeking their support of the North Platte River Special Recreation Management Area. This project, supported by the Conservation Fund, the BLM, and Wyoming Game and Fish, would provide permanent, walk-in river access to over one mile of the North Platte, downstream from Government Bridge. At the board meeting in April, board members approved that the Wyoming Fly Casters, as a goal, would raise $40,000 in support of this significant access and conservation project by the spring of 2011. The North Platte River Special Recreation Management Area will have lasting rewards for fishermen for generations to come and is just another example of how WFC fulfills its mission. Although the month has been busy, it is never too busy to fish. Consider joining us for the club sponsored Outing on May 15 at Cardwell. Herb Waterman is streamkeeper and Lloyd Ferguson will assist him. According to Al Condor, Wyoming Game and Fish regional fisheries supervisor, Cardwell is a great stretch to fish so you may want to sign up with Herb for that outing soon! In the meantime . . . Happy angling!
Melody 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 faith1@bresnan.net.
Cover shot: Gene Theriault with a brown trout caught on a pheasant tail nymph.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 3
New initiative to target aquatic invaders The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced a new initiative to hit aquatic invasive species where it counts. In an effort to protect Wyoming's valuable water resources, the state Legislature allocated $1.5 million to the department to implement new programs aimed at preventing the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels to Wyoming waters. Quagga and zebra mussels can ruin fisheries; clog boat motor cooling systems; foul watercraft hulls and equipment; and clog water delivery systems used for power plants, irrigation and domestic water use. Quagga and zebra mussels are not known to occur in Wyoming but are present in three neighboring states. They can be transported on boats and trailers. WGFD Director Steve Ferrell says, "The strong message from Wyoming's Legislature is that they don't want these destructive aquatic invasive species in our waters. We are very fortunate to have the support and backing from our elected officials so we can proactively take aggressive measures to keep Wyoming clean of quagga and zebra mussels." Based on direction from the Legislature, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has implemented emergency regulations to address the aquatic invasive species threat. The legislation gives the commission authority to inspect boats and to prevent the launching of boats suspected of harboring invasive species.
The legislation also directs the commission to establish a new aquatic invasive species watercraft decal program to help fund prevention efforts. Under this program, all watercraft using Wyoming waters will be required to display an annual Aquatic Invasive Species decal (inflatable watercraft 10 feet in length or less are exempt). Costs for the decal under the emergency regulations are $10 for motorized watercraft registered in Wyoming, $30 for motorized watercraft registered in other states, $5 for nonmotorized watercraft owned by Wyoming residents and $15 for non-motorized watercraft owned by nonresidents. Decals went on sale on the WGFD Web site on April 15 and at automated license agents slated for May 17. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will consider permanent rule-making for this program in June, following a series of public meetings. Quagga and zebra mussels originally came from the Black and Caspian seas in Eurasia, and were most likely transported to North America in the bilges of large transport ships. They can be easily spread by recreational boaters when they attach to boat hulls and equipment. "Quagga and zebra mussels colonize in large, dense clusters, and damage water delivery systems. Once established, they are virtually impossible to eradicate, and the cost to maintain water systems is many times greater than prevention efforts," says Ferrell. "By impeding water
delivery systems, we could all end up paying higher costs for the use of water. These mussels have been known to destroy fisheries by removing plankton from the water. If we allow them to infect Wyoming waters, they could remove the primary food source for many of our fish. These mussels caused the lake trout population to decline by 95 percent over the past 10 years in Lake Ontario. If they were capable of crashing the food chain in a major body of water like Lake Ontario, imagine what they could do in Wyoming's waters. We will do everything we can to protect and preserve Wyoming's waters." In addition to hiring temporary personnel to inspect boats at priority waters across Wyoming, the WGFD is using the legislatively appropriated money to buy decontamination equipment to treat boats that are found to be harboring mussels or have a strong possibility of harboring mussels. The department will also conduct surveillance to search for the presence of these organisms in Wyoming's waters. In addition, the department is launching an expanded outreach campaign to further educate boaters about the threat of aquatic invasive species and the new decal requirement. "We are working hard to get this program underway before the boating season starts this spring, and we appreciate the support of the Legislature and the public in helping us protect Wyoming's waters," said Ferrell.
Aquatic invasive species decals available from vendors May 17 Based on direction from Wyoming’s Legislature, boat decals for the newly passed Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Emergency regulation will be available at all automated license agents beginning May 17. Beginning May 17, all watercraft using Wyoming waters will be required to display the Aquatic Invasive Species decal. (Inflatable watercraft 10-feet in length or less are exempt.) Costs are $10 for motorized watercraft registered in Wyoming, $30 for motorized watercraft registered in other states, $5 for non- motorized watercraft owned by Wyoming residents and $15 for non-motorized watercraft owned by nonresidents. All fees collected will be used to help fund the AIS program, which aims to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Aquatic invasive species like quagga mussels and zebra mussels are small organisms that could have huge impacts for Wyoming's waters, boaters and anglers. They can ruin fisheries, clog cooling systems in motorboats, foul hulls and ruin equip-
ment. These organisms have not been found in Wyoming yet, but are present in several bordering states like Utah and Colorado. In an effort to protect Wyoming's valuable water resources, the state Legislature allocated $1.5 million to the department to implement new programs aimed at preventing the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels to Wyoming waters. In addition to hiring temporary personnel to inspect boats at priority waters across Wyoming, the WGFD is using the legislatively appropriated money to buy decontamination equipment to treat boats that are found to be harboring mussels or have a strong possibility of harboring mussels. The department will also conduct surveillance to search for the presence of these organisms in Wyoming's waters. In addition, the department is launching an expanded outreach campaign to further educate boaters about the threat of aquatic invasive species and the new decal requirement.
Page 4
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
FLY
Tailing Loops
of the month
by Randy Stalker, Backcast editor chevPU57@aol.com I try to publish something that will interest everyone in every issue. Therefore, for those of you who only read to find typos, I have included some of those for your benefit.
WD-40 Hook: TMC 2487 #16-24 Thread: Tobacco colored Danville 6/0 Tail: Wood duck flank feather fibers Abdomen: Tying thread Wingcase: Leftover butts of the tail Thorax: Muskrat dubbing, grey The WD-40 is another simple pattern meant to imitate midge pupae and baetis nymphs. It is believed to have originated somewhere in southern Colorado and was popularized on the San Juan River in New Mexico. This pattern is a quick, easy tie that uses just two materials besides thread. This is a great fly to fish with no lead on the leader, just under the surface as well as with more traditional nymphing techniques. Color variations include chocolate brown, grey and black. Start the thread and build a thread base back about halfway down the bend of the hook. Peel a bunch of fibers from a dyed mallard flank feather. Bunch the mallard fibers up in a bundle.Tie in at the back of the thread base witha couple turns of thread. Wrap forward over the butt ends of the mallard fibers to the eighty percent point on the shank (a couple eye lengths back from the hook eye) forming a slightly tapered thread abdomen. Pull the remaining butt ends of the mallard flank back over the top of the abdomen and bind them in place. Dub a rather large, round thorax. Pull the mallard flank forward over the top of the dubbed thorax, making sure to spread it across the top of the thorax. Bind the wingcase down at the back of the index point. Clip the remaining butt ends flush and make a few turns of thread to cover the stubs. Build a smooth thread head and whip finish.
ongratulations are extended to Don Carrier, who received the coveted MacTavish award during the annual fund-raising banquet on April 3. He is a World War II veteran, a charter member of the club, and although most current active members are not familiar with him, he was reportedly instrumental in helping to develop the club in its early years. And, of course, he is a fine fly fisherman. • And now some notes from my fishing journal: Baetis spinners blanketed the moonlit surface of the hot pool at the Fountain of Youth RV Park on a Friday night in early April, when a few WFC members and their families and guests lodged in Thermopolis for a weekend of fishing the Bighorn River. “Great! Fish will be rising tomorrow!” The fisherman were almost salivating at the prospect, while their wives were happy just to sit on the steps and sip their wine, disgusted by the thousands of “icky dead bugs” floating below the accumulating fog. But Friday was chilly and slightly damp, hence the hatch of the small (size 24s) mayflies. Saturday and Sunday were different stories. These days were warm, with a slight breeze wafting down the Wind River canyon. No rising fish were observed the entire weekend. Oh well. After launching the drift boat at Wedding of the Waters on Saturday morning, we watched a guide and his client float toward downstream. Before they hit the highway bridge, the client had hooked up five times. Hooray! We grinned. But the fishing fortunes were not with us. Based on information gleaned two months earlier, I used a rig of sowbugs. Stubbornly, I refused to change tactics.
C
And the fishing was understandably slow. That afternoon, we talked to a Utah fisherman in the RV park, who said he was wade fishing and had a terrific day. He suggested small, dark flies. So on Sunday, we followed his advice. We set up camp just above a bridge, and waded in the knee-deep water. On the first cast, a nice rainbow hammered the flashback pheasant tail nymph. After a few fish, I lost my rig to a snag. I tied on a small rock worm and a thread midge. Both patterns caught fish. Finally, I tied on a beadhead hare’s ear and it resulted in aggressive strikes. We were fishing a small stretch of the Bighorn above the state park, just below some shallow riffles which trickled into a deep trough. Fishing the trough is where were found the fish. The rainbows were not large (by Platte River standards) but they were healthy and strong. No, I didn’t even try a sowbug. This is a terrific river to fish, at least in the spring immediately after the flushing flows and before the releases begin from Boysen Reservoir. It’s just a couple of hours from home, and the hot pools are a welcome relief at the end of a long fishing day. But it has an additional bonus. The wives found they could spend the day shopping and visiting museums while the guys are out on the river. So, breaching the idea of a fishing trip in Thermop again will be easy. The following week I fished the North Platte. For the first time in perhaps five or six years I floated the stretch from Grey Reef to Lusby with two new friends. I usually fish my “home water,” the four mile float from Big Muddy to Rabbit Hill, just ten minutes from my Glenrock home. Acting on advice from Jim Sparks, we all caught fish on rock worms and pine squirrel leeeches. The fish were not as numerous, at least from our experience, but they were large and scrappy. Maybe I’ll be able to sample the upper stretch again in early May. Tight lines,
Scoop
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 5
STREAMSIDE CHEF by Daren Bulow
Blue clay-baked trout
The Cardwell access is the site of the Saturday, May 15 fishing outing of the WFC.
May program to feature ‘trophy fish’ “Fly fishing for trophy trout,” presented by former Colorado fisherman and current Cowboy Drifters guide Todd Anderson, is the slated program to be featured for May’s general membership meeting of the WFC on May 12. The presentation is expected to be a PowerPoint program with narration. If anyone doubts Anderson’s skills, take a gander at the wall of fame in the fishing department of Sportsman’s Warehouse, where he works when not guiding on the North Platte River. Anderson once held the distinction of having caught the Colorado state record for a species of cutthroat. But he now calls the Cowboy State home. • Joe Meyer is to be hosting another session of “Fishin’ with Joe” on May 8. Call him for details or to sign up for the trip to an undisclosed and “secret” spot. On May 15, Herb Waterman, Lloyd Ferguson and crew are hosting the annual spring outing at the Cardwell access. Although the club is picking up the tab for the meal served during the afternoon cookout, members and guests attending are encouraged to bring their own drinks. The gathering is to be headquartered on the road pullout east of the restrooms downstream of the bridge. To get there, take the Alcova highway west. Go past the entrance to Sloan’s, past the Alcova Lake turnoff, and finally turn left on the road to
Pathfinder. Follow the road south. Just as you approach the Pathfinder dam, take a left turn and venture east. The Cardwell access, made possible as a conservation and access project by the Wyoming Fly Casters, is that stretch of river between Pathfinder and Alcova reservoirs. Those attending the outing should be armed with five or six weight rods. Terminal patterns should include the ubiquitous rock worm, baetis emergers, scuds, hare’s ears, flashback beadhead pheasant tail nymphs, and midge larvae and pupa. Be sure to get your name on the signup sheet during the May general membership meeting. • Other outings have been tentatively been scheduled for this summer and fall, including: The annual Ten Sleep outing is slated for the weekend of Aug. 6-8. There will be a nominal $5 per person fee to cover the two dinners and two breakfasts served by streamkeeper Matt Stanton and crew. Details and sign-up sheets will be available at future meetings or newsletters. The annual Rod Robinder outing at Miracle Mile is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16. The streamkeeper is Casey Leary. Again, details will be available at later dates. Ideas for outings throughout the year are always welcome.
I have been doing the Streamside Chef for awhile, but due to changes in my job and my life this will be the last recipe. That, and I am running out of recipes that I actually use. I saved clay-baked trout for last. It was handed down to me by my father. My father grew up in Denmark and learned how to fly fish in 1920s from his uncle and this recipe is passed down from him. Alumium foil was around at this time but not widely used, so clay was the preferred material. The fish were caught and put in the creel. When it was time for lunch, one person made a fire and the other dug clay from the steam bank. The trout were encased in clay and tossed into the coals to bake. Growing up I had the chance to do this with my father several times; he wanted to pass down the tradition to me. It would have been much easier to just use alumium foil but that wasn’t the point: it was the experence and the tradition. Ingredients 2 fresh caught trout Enough clay to cover the two trout Directions Build a fire, and let it burn down to the red coals. Dig the blue clay out of the stream bank or surrounding soil. Take the fresh caught and cleaned fish and cover them with the clay, encasing them. Let them bake for 15 minutes on each side. Pull them out of the coals. Allow them to cool for another 10 minutes. Crack off clay, and enjoy!
New chef needed! Do you have a special recipe for fish that you would like to share? If so, email it to the Backcast editor (chevPU57@aol.com) for inclusion in a future issue of the newsletter.
Page 6
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
BRAG BOARD
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 7
Anglers reminded of fish reg changes With the ice now off of Wyoming’s lower elevation waters, fishing activity is on the increase. With that increase, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminds anglers to be aware of the new fishing regulations in effect. Fishing regulations are set for a two year period -- the new regulations will be in effect for the years 2010-2011. While most of the regulations are the same as the past two years, there are some changes in each drainage area. Changes vary from word clarification to different limit numbers and size limits for various species on several waters. Changes are highlighted in blue throughout the regulations booklet. The regulations booklet is separated into the state’s five drainage areas. Waters where regulations differ from the general statewide regulations are listed in each drainage area under the heading “Exceptions to General Provisions.” If reference to a specific water is not listed under the drainage area, general statewide regulations listed on pages 3-11 apply. Anglers are advised that in addition to specific water exceptions, there are regulations that apply to a broad area within each drainage. Anglers are asked to read the
“Exceptions” section for each drainage area for waters with different regulations from the general statewide provisions. Anglers are reminded that on many waters, and for many species, length limits apply. For trout, the general creel limit allows only one trout greater than 20 inches. Other species such as tiger musky and northern pike also have length limits, and there are bass and walleye waters that require the release of these fish if they fall between certain size ranges. When length limits apply, the whole body shall remain intact (gills and entrails can be removed while in transit or in the field. If length limits do not apply, a piece of skin large enough for field identification (at least one inch square) shall remain on fillets while in transit or in the field. Wyoming also has restrictions on waters where live baitfish can be used. These waters are designated within the regulations for the specific drainage area. Each of Wyoming’s five drainage areas has a listing of regulations that govern the use of live baitfish. While use of baitfish varies depending on the water, anglers are reminded that live baitfish cannot be in an angler’s possession in areas or waters where the use of live baitfish is not permitted. In addition, live baitfish are not to be transported out of the designated use area.
FISHIN’ WITH JOE
Anyone wanting to get on the list to “Fish with Joe” should call 235-1316. New members are especially welcome.
Page 8
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
FISHIN’ WITH JOE II
CONSERVATION CORNER by Matt Stanton, chairman
Photos and story by Tom McGeorge Joe Meyer hosted an invitational trip to a not-sosecret fishing hole (at Cardwell, above the bridge) on Monday, May 19. It was a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree spring day just before a snow storm. Joe invited anyone who wanted to come and fly fish for trout. The fish were rolling, flopping, sipping and generally teasing all of us, except Joe. Yes, we did hook and pull in a few, but nobody outdid Joe. He has n uncanny ability to think like a fish and haul them in. Without a landing net Joe coaxes trout to the bank, swats them ashore and like a bear, wrestles them on all fours until he gets them in a hammer-lock and holds the beast up for a photo. Will Waterbury forged the stream and fished the east side, and extracted some fine rainbows. Jim Johnson did well on our side. Bob Buecker, Bob Stewart, Kathy Knapp and I thrashed about and got sunburned. Go, Joe! Thanks for another great fishing trip. I hope someday to catch fish like you do.
At the April Board meeting Herb Waterman introduced us to a quarterly newsletter available from the Wyoming Water Development Office. The newsletter, aptly titled "Water News," details legislative, water planning and construction projects slated for the upcoming year. There is also a calendar of water-related meetings scheduled for the upcoming quarter. Anyone with a penchant for water related issues should check it out on the web at: http://wwdc.state.wy.us/newsletter.
Thanks, Orvis and Trout Unlimited Editor: On April 14-15, several Fly Casters participated in fundraising efforts at the Orvis Rendezvous, an annual conference that was held, this year, in Casper. A few hundred fly fishing guides from throughout the United States participated in the conference. The Orvis company donated equipment to be raffled off by the local fly fishing club. At the event, we were able to raise $2,955, with no expense to the club. I've written letters to Orvis mangers, and expressed our thanks for allowing us to participate in this event. However, I want to thank the Orvis company, one last time, for donating equipment for the raffle. Orvis has a reputation for creating quality fly fishing products, but this is just one example of how the company supports conservation. I also want to thank Dave Sweet, state council chair of Wyoming Trout Unlimited, for allowing our club to participate in the raffle. He even sold raffle tickets for the WFC at this event. Thanks to Trout Unlimited, we were able to raise a considerable amount of money for conservation, and with very little effort. This is just one example of the benefit of our affiliation with Trout Unlimited. To show our appreciation to TU, on April 21, the board members of the club voted to give $1,000 back to Wyoming Trout Unlimited. Alex Rose
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Tying egg patterns Stolen from the Pikes Peak Fly Fishers Newsletter I was recently asked what favorite pattern I would use to go after spawning fish. Good question, and several years ago I definitely wouldn’t have included egg patterns because I was of the puritanical mind-set that they were nothing more than using “over glorified bait.” I was wrong! I have since come to appreciate the value and importance of egg patterns over the last several years and now include them on any foray after spawning fish…you would be foolish to omit them as well. With the spring season upon us, many changes in the environment have begun to take place, especially in our local rivers and streams. Subtle cues such as water temperature, level and clarity trigger a massive migration of fish to start running up the streams where they were born to repeat the spawning process. It is this spawning process and the returning fish that are of importance to the educated fly angler, seeing as some of the best fishing can come during this time of year. Not just any type of fishing works during this spring run of fish…and we’re talking rainbows, cutthroat and cutt-bows. The lake-run trout and the river residents have a particular interest in eating fresh eggs from their brethren. Presenting egg flies to fish that have ventured up into the rivers can provide a very exciting day of fishing. It might seem so simple but the truth is natural eggs that come from spawning fish make up a more than substantial percentage of the seasonal food base in streams for foraging trout species. Pre-spawn fish are able to set themselves in a downstream position from other spawning fish and forage aggressively on eggs that happen to wash out or be knocked out of the spawning beds. These eggs contain many of the basic nutrients for sustaining life, such as high amounts of protein and carbohydrates that will help to fatten fish quickly. Egg fishing for trout may sound relatively simple but be warned; you should expect to lose large number of flies due to snagging up on the river bottom or foulhooking fish. Often the best presentation requires getting your fly right in the thick of things meaning bouncing off the bottom all the way down the river for long stretches. It can be very frustrating to the beginning fly angler trying to decipher between the current and rocks pulling on your fly and the soft strike of a weary fish. If you always keep in mind the gold-
en rule that the indicator should be downstream of the fly and be fairly tight to the weight and fly then you can start to apply it to different situations. One of the most important aspects to fishing with egg flies is your indicator system. Egg flies, like nymphs, are dead-drifted downstream, so being able to quickly detect strikes from fish will increase your odds of landing good numbers of fish. Ideally, having an indicator made from bright-colored, high-floating foam is what you are looking for but putties and yarn can also be adequate with shallower water conditions. Detecting strikes from fish is a combination of watching the indicator and the behavior of the fish at the same time (given you can see the fish working the bottom). In most instances, takes from large fish will be obvious, with the fish moving off of the bottom to where the fly is drifting and sucking down the indicator aggressively. In other cases the indicator won't move as you pass the fishes position but you visualize the fishes mouth actively eating objects floating downstream or you will simply see a tick or slowing down of the indicator giving you just enough info to set the hook before the fish spits your egg fly. Paying close attention to each drift and how your fly line is drifting will pay off in the long run. The biggest fish seem to always be the ones that suck in egg flies
Page 9 softly barely tipping you off to their presence on your line. The eggs from spawning fish in the river may come in many different sizes and colors. Eggs from spawning rainbow trout are approximately 3/16 inch in size and can be characterized with a translucent yellowish-orange color. Brown trout have eggs that are roughly a 1/4 inch in size and are bright orange like the rest. Imitating these different types of eggs can be very lucrative for fly fisherman like all other fisherman taking into account that the season and weather conditions are correct for the species you are targeting. It is also a good idea to carry egg patterns in an off-white or cream color. When the natural eggs are laid, some do not get fertilized during the spawning procedure and become a murky, whitish color. These dead eggs sometimes can save the day when fish become extremely finicky. Finally, carrying patterns that range from single eggs to egg clusters can also be a good idea. When fishing murky water using an egg cluster patterns has been known to work a little better than single eggs. In turn when you are fishing clearer waters with finicky fish single or double egg patterns will produce the best results. Fishing egg flies might not be exactly what you envisioned when you first thought about getting into fly fishing, but for a short time every year they are some of the most productive flies you can fish. Any seasoned fly angler will attest to these flies productiveness, so why not get out and add another time tested technique to your arsenal? Tie up a couple of these in both 6mm and 4mm in apricot, tangerine and ruby colors. Don’t forget to add the milk veil. • NOTE: One more thing…and this always rubs me when I see it. Stay off of the redds! Every year I see moron’s walk right through the redds, or fish to spawning pairs on redds. When you walk through a redd you are killing scores of unborn trout. When you fish to a spawning pair you are unnecessarily stressing them possibly causing the hen to jet her eggs prematurely resulting in unfertilized eggs. You are definitely not doing the trout or anyone any favors if you do these things. If you witness anyone doing this, don’t stand by idly and do nothing…say something, they may not be aware and you could be in a position to educate them. Then, they in turn could educate someone else…and isn’t that what our club is about? Good luck . . . and tight lines!
Page 10
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Drift boat fishing 101 Chapter 13: Strategies (Part 4) ravel Bar Gravel bars are one of the few places where food is produced in lotic environments. Waters flowing over a gravel bar most often are shallow and warmer than those of the main stream and, at certain times during the daynight cycle, richer in concentrations of oxygen. Microplants are abundant on and between stones. Larval forms of most insects graze on those plants at night and seek shelter under stones during the day. Fish congregate on the upstream side of a gravel bar, provided that surface is steep-sloped. Fish always congregate along the deeper, downstream side of the gravel bar because the gravel bar acts like a dam, obstructing the downstream movement of water and forcing the water to scour a deep hole on the downstream side of the gravel bar. The surface of the water flowing across and downstream of a gravel bar is rippled, looking and acting like a riffle. And a little further downstream there is a deep run, which might contain debris of trees and brush or larger rocks, or some combination of both. Generally, fish immediately downstream of the gravel bar are distributed laterally throughout the horizontal shearing plane. Still further downstream, fish are associated with whatever obstacles lessen the effects of the current. The fly fisherman in the front end of the boat has the advantage when fishing the upstream portion of a gravel bar. The easiest way to fish the upstream face of a gravel bar is to hold the boat stationary upstream of the gravel bar and cast a dry fly like an elk hair caddisfly 45 degrees downstream, letting the current skip the fly across the surface along the face of the gravel bar. Another productive technique, especially on cloudy days during the summer or fall, is casting a sinking fly 45 degrees downstream and letting the current swing the fly into and across the face of the gravel bar. A stonefly nymph, any bead-head nymph in size 16 or 18, or a large streamer like a zonker or Matuka sculpin is a good choice. Believe it or not,
G
The gravel bar depicted in this figure can be fished from upstream or downstream. In addition, holding the boat atop the gravel bar affords each fisherman opportunities to cast into the deep channel along the far bank. Moving the boat towards the near bank lets the anglers cast into the shallow shoal downstream of the gravel bar.
on occasion, some clients have done well fishing a super renegade just that way. The only thing one should remember is that the larger fish are always found in the deepest water upstream, right where the bottom of the stream suddenly contacts the upward slope of the gravel bar. Most strikes are sudden and hard. There is no question about what is happening. A really big fish simply sucks in the fly, stopping all movement of the line altogether. In fact, the line starts feeling gooey. The inexperienced fly fisherman thinks the fly is snagged, even after jerking the line several times with the rod. The best way to fish the shallow top of a gravel bar is by wading and casting small mayfly imitations. If you are fishing streams of the great basin during the summer, I suggest you reread the chapter on wind (chapter 10). No fly fisherman has the advantage when fishing the deep, downstream side of a gravel bar. The oarsman generally controls and moves the boat at right angles to the edge of the gravel bar, with the front drifting over deeper water and the back almost scraping the gravel. The fly fisherman in the front should fish a dry fly, concentrating on making short casts, landing the fly in the fast water a couple of yards off the gravel bar. The fly fisherman in the rear should make longer
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.
casts, concentrating on fishing the deeper water downstream of the edge of the gravel bar with a bead-head nymph, streamer, or some other heavily weighted fly. He or she should land the fly on the gravel bar, letting the fly drift over the gravel and dive into the deeper water through and beneath the horizontal shearing plane. The best strategy for the nymph fisherman is to fish the fly with a floating line, placing a strike indicator about 18 to 36 inches above the fly. The fly should be landed as close to the edge of the gravel bar as possible and allowed to drift outward in the current into the hole. The length of drift should equal the length of the drift boat. The streamer fisherman should use a sink-tip line, landing the fly on the edge of the gravel bar. The weight of the fly and sink-tip portion of the fly line rapidly dives the fly downward through the horizontal shearing plane to the depths of the pool. The mistake some fly fishermen make when fishing the downstream edge of a gravel bar is not starting to cast soon enough in the right direction. Each fly fisherman should start casting at a slight angle downstream before the boat clears the edge of the gravel bar. The fly fisherman cannot wait until the boat clears the edge, because then each cast is upstream or behind the boat. That, of course, is
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter wasted effort and results in missed opportunities. Here is a biological secret. Sculpins in streams of the great basin and mountainous west and, I suspect, darters inhabiting rivers of the mountainous east, are primary food organisms of trout, especially trophy brown trout. Those small, bottom-dwelling fishes live in riffles and fast water, where the fast water runs or cascades into deeper water. Sculpins and probably darters have a habit of quickly diving into deeper water anytime a sudden shadow passes across the surface of the fast water (e.g., shadow of a man, animal, or bird). Somehow or somewhere in the process of becoming a trophy, the large brown trout learns that unusual behavior and capitalizes on the peculiarity. The trophy routinely eases itself up to the gravel lip of the fast water and there waits for the sculpin escaping the danger of a mysterious shadow. Understand, the trophy is not in the horizontal shearing plane. Rather, it is lying on the bottom, a few inches upstream of the horizontal shearing plane. The smart fly fisherman casts a weighted muddler minnow, Doctor's Remedy, or Streamliner parallel to the edge of the gravel, landing the fly on the gravel, and lets the weight of the fly and force of the current move the fly off the gravel and down the face of the gravel bar. The technique is especially effective in the fall and early winter, when stream flows are at a minimum and brown trout are spawning and almost exclusively feeding on sculpins. Downstream of the gravel bar, the fishing is like fishing a steep bank or run. Techniques described for those habitats apply fully here.
not or will not stay in a riffle for any length of time. The astute fly fisherman concentrates on fishing around surface and bottom irregularities in the riffle, just as illustrated for fishing around partially or totally submerged rocks, uprooted trees, or any other convenient obstruction, such as a pile of rocks, logjam, or brush pile. Most often that means fishing a dry fly, such as an elk hair caddisfly, stimulator, or parachute grasshopper in sizes 10 or 12, or, if environmental circumstances are right, small mayfly imitations (see chapter 10 for specific details). If the riffle is long and there are lots of obstructions, a green or green and brown woolly bugger or conehead MWB is effective, especially for larger fishes.
www.wyflyca ster
s.org
s.org
s.org
www.wyflycasters.org
Run A run is like a riffle, only deeper, narrower, and with a smooth, uniform surface. How deep is "deeper?" And how narrow is "narrower?" Answers to those questions are purely subjective. The bottom of a run may be mud, sand, gravel, rocks, or any mixture thereof. The bottom may be partially or totally covered with vegetation or strewn with debris. The best strategy for fishing a run is to focus your casting attentions on the upstream and downstream ends of the run, because those are the two places that naturally concentrate and hold fish. Look for piles of brush, "islets" of submerged vegetation, or any other obstruction that might slow or alter the direction of water elsewhere in the run. Position the drift boat on the side of the run with the least current and cast straight across, letting the water swing the line and fly in an arch down and back across the run. For dry flies, let the current move and skip the fly. But always be ready to mend the line upstream to reduce drag. For subsurface flies, let the current work the fly, but do not worry about mending. For big, heavy flies, cast across the run, strip and p-a-u-s-e, strip and p-a-u-s-e. Each strip causes the fly to struggle or dart upward. Each pause lets the fly hesitate and settle downwards and backwards in a gentle, life-like arch.
Cast across the run; strip, pause, strip and pause...
Riffle A riffle is any stretch of water that is shallow and fast flowing, with a choppy surface. In small streams, a riffle often is punctuated with large rocks. In large streams, a riffle generally is fast, shallow, and short, with the bottom composed of gravel. Fish in riffles expend large amounts of energy just to maintain position. As a result, unless the riffle contains suitable microhabitats where fast-flowing water is sufficiently disrupted, or more food is available for consumption than energy used in maintaining position, a fish can-
BE INFORMED
ster www.wyflyca
ster www.wyflyca
Page 11
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.
Page 12
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
WYOMING FLY CASTERS BOARD MEETING MINUTES -- DRAFT April 21, 2010 The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. Bob Fischer was excused, all other members present. Darlene Benham of Sam’s Club, a guest, was also present. Ed Rate was present to provide a treasurer’s report. Darlene Benham came to the meeting and explained to the board about a partner membership which Sam’s Club is trying to recruit more members. She reported this would be at no cost to the Wyoming Fly Casters and the membership list would not be used by Sam’s Club. In return for this partner membership the WFC would receive a free membership to Sam’s. The board approved to accept the Sam’s Club partner membership. Ed Rate presented a treasurer’s report. Ed reported the club netted approximately $8200 from the banquet. He recommended the WFC pay a dishonesty bond of $187; renew our annual Platte River Parkway dues of $500 for a sign on the Platte River Parkway and affiliate dues for Wyoming Wildlife Federation of $50. The board approved to pay all three requests. The board approved the treasurer’s report. Ed Rate was given a gift from officers and board members as a token of their appreciation for stepping in as treasurer. Matt Stanton reported some signs placed at Miracle Mile by WFC years ago have fallen down and Matt will repair the signs. He reported the club made $3000 from the Orvis Rendezvous. A motion was made to give $1000 back to Wyoming State Trout Unlimited and a letter to them thanking TU and Orvis and the board approved. It was reported that many at the Orvis Rendezvous were impressed with WFC projects. The Government Bridge project was discussed. Alex Rose reported the WFC sent letters to local Wyoming representatives in support of this project. He reported he was contacted by Luke Lynch who received a call from Sen. Mike Enzi’s office requesting an
MONDAY
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
immediate report on what support the WFC could provide for this project. Alex Rose contacted five board members to get their input as to how much financial support the WFC could provide for this project. He averaged the amounts from the five board members, which came to $40,000. He reported this figure to Luke Lynch, with a time frame of one year. No official letter was sent to any party. A motion was made to have a goal for the Wyoming Fly Casters by the spring of 2011 to raise $40,000 for the North Platte River Special Management Recreation Area and was approved by the board. Alex Rose sent letters of thanks to Senators Enzi and Barrasso for their support of this project. Diana Holcomb volunteered for the position of president elect and board approved the nomination. Smokey Weinhandl volunteered to fill the vacant board position and the board approved the nomination. Abe Knapp asked for money from the board for MacTavish tartan and pins. Casey Leary will contact Abe for an estimate of the cost of these items. For many years Donna Diesburg would send cards to ill members or family of the deceased at her own expense. The Board approved that the WFC for the purchase of cards and stamps for these matters. Scott Novotny received some new hats that cost the WFC about $4 a piece. The board approved the club spend up to $300 for new hats for WFC. A discussion was held regarding what items need to be given to new members. Andrew Sauter will come back with a new membership committee recommendation. Scott Novotny asked members to send photos to Randy Stalker for use in the newsletter and Christmas party slideshow. Various board members volunteered to take photos at club activities to send to Randy. It was mentioned Facebook might be a good location to download photos and he (continued on next page)
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY 1
MAY 2
3
4
9
10
11
5
12
6
7
13
14
Regular meeting, 7 p.m.
Mother’s Day
16
17
18
8
15 Cardwell outing
19
20
21
22
27
28
29
WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
23
24
25
26
31 30
Full moon Memorial Day
Deadline for Backcast info
Firehole opening day
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 13
WFC TREASURER'S REPORT PERIOD (ending March 31, 2010) INCOME Date Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 18 EXPENSES Feb 10 Feb 10 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Feb 11 Mar 1 Mar 4 Mar 10 Mar 10 Mar 17 Mar 17 Mar 17 Mar 31 Mar 31
Board Minutes
Vendor/Item Deposit - Raffle - 2/10 -116.00, dues-130.00 Merchandise - 22.50 Deposit dues - 200.00, Banquet Meals - 200.00 Transferred from MM Acct Deposit - Dues TOTAL #4009 - Izaak Walton League - Rent Feb/Mar 2010 #4010 - FedEx Office Jan Backcast - $93.71 Feb Backcast - 104.74 #4011- Tony Martin - Postage Backcast #4012 - Gene Robinson - Overpayment - dues #4013 - Ugly Bug - 2/10 Raffle 83.77, Library - 25.16, Xmas Cert. 225.00 #4014 - Nature Conservancy - Affiliate Dues #4015 - Federation of Fly Fishers - Affiliate Dues #4016 - Platte River Fly Shop - Xmas Cert. #4017 - Postmaster - P.O. Box Rent #4018 - Don Jelinek - Xmas Party Refreshments #4019 - BW Insurance - Liability Ins #4020 #4021 - City of Casper - Cabin Fever Clinic #4022 - Fed Ex Office - March Backcast #4023 - The Reef Fly Shop - Banquet #4024 - Casey Leary - Exp Cabin Fever Clinic #4025 - Melody Weinhandl - Banquet Posters #4026 - Melody Weinhandl - Cabin Fever Clinic #4027 - Marvin Nolte - Banquet Awards #4028 - Merback Awards - Banquet Awards TOTAL
(continued from previous page)
also welcomed any video. Discussion was held on the Bill Ryan drift boat and more information was solicited on this matter and Joe Meyer will report back to the board. Andrew Sauter reported that the names of Gaylord Welch, Betty Carrier, Bill Ryan and John Traut will need to be added to the memorial rock. Andrew Sauter will contact Rick’s Rocks to investigate how the names can be added. Herb Waterman reported a Rick Hafele entomology clinic would cost the club $800 a day plus expenses for a program in the morning and an on the stream class in the afternoon with a maximum of 14 people. Herb will investigate the possibility of club members presenting such a program. Charlie Shedd volunteered to present another learn to cast clinic. Information was presented to the board on the William A. MacTavish award for comment and the board had no comment. A motion was approved by the board thanking Bob Fischer and Marty Robinson and the rest of the banquet committee for their hard work on the very successful banquet. Herb Waterman will be the streamkeeper of the Cardwell outing on May 15. A motion was proposed for the WFC to exempt the Cardwell outing for collecting fees for food expenses from members, provided calls are made prior to the outing to members who are on the sign-up list. The motion was passed with some members opposed. Joe Meyer volunteered to be streamkeeper of “Fishing with Joe” outings again this year. Casey Leary will be streamkeeper of the Rod Robinder outing at the Miracle Mile on Oct. 16. The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Amount $268.50 $400.00 $3,000.00 $70.00 $3,738.50 $150.00 $198.45 $166.00 $30.00 $333.93 $100.00 $100.00 $125.00 $70.00 $77.85 $904.00 VOID $165.00 $80.83 $300.00 $41.95 $141.56 $93.07 $420.00 $ 27.20 $3,524.84
New to the club? Need advice? Call these guys 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.
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.