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 ctober has come and gone. I got to fish twice. Work is cutting into my fishing time, and that ain't right. The board heard from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at the last meeting regarding the Lusby situation. There has been a lawsuit filed, regarding where exactly the easement that was granted to the G&F might actually be in regards to the high water mark. Although signs are posted, suggesting to fisherman and hunters that the availability of the easement is no longer allowed, the G&F suggested to us that we are to go about our business as if the easement was not in question. If you choose to go out to Lusby to fish or if you are using it as a
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take out, and if there is any kind of confrontation, the G&F would like to know about it. You may call either the local office or the state office to report if something unpleasant happened to you during your outing. As I currently understand it, the shuttle services are continuing to use the landing if you choose to float that section. I also understand the fishing is good, a bit mossy, but good if you choose to go out there to fish. I'm going back to work, hopefully I'll have some fish stories to tell next month. Hope to see you with a rod in your hand and a rod in my hand soon!
Tailing Loops by Randy Stalker, Backcast editor anted: Someone to organize, publicize and host an outing at Miracle Mile this month. The traditional outing at the club hole on the Mile has been named in honor of Rod Robinder, a late member, past president and MacTavish winner of the club. If anyone volunteers to don the streamkeeper cap for this outing, announce it at the club meeting on Nov. 12. This used to be a popular outing, but it has not been held for at least three years due to lack of interest. • If you’re like me and have difficulty learning and then tying proper knots, perhaps these two instructional animated web pages will be of help. They were provided by a tip from Spencer Amend. Click on either one. They offer easyto-follow directions. www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php ww.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/inde x.html • This late-breaking notice was pro-
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vided by Alex Rose: The Lyin' and Tyin' clinics will be held this year at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Mark your calendars for the following dates: Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 17, Feb. 14, and March 14. The clinics will be held between 9:00 a.m. -- 11:30 a.m. 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. For more information, call Rose on his cell phone at 828/467-3789 or e-mail him at alexmrose@hotmail.com. • The WFC banquet committee is starting to plan the annual banquet in April. If you are interested in becoming a member of this committee, or any other committee for that matter, please let John Robitaille (john@pawyo.org) know as soon as possible.
Cover shot: John Dolan casts his spey rod on the North Platte River.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
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FISHING REPORTS From the membership
Cutthroats from Yellowstone Lake, like this one, are in jeopardy due to predation by the unlawfully introduced lake trout. This is the subject of a program slated for the next general membership meeting on Nov. 12.
Flows on the river are to remain at 550 cfs for the winter. But despite the moss, the river continues to produce, with streamer, midges and rock worms the main patterns proven effective. As long as we enjoy a mild autumn without the long snaps of freezing, small streams (Tongue, Middle Fork, Ten Sleep, Boxelder) are expected to retain their dry fly quality into December. And stillwaters should be gearing up, as Alcova is terrific streamer fishery in December and January.
Upcoming programs and club outings outlined The general membership meeting of the WFC on Wednesday, Nov. 12 is slated to feature a special program on the Yellowstone cutthroat. Richard Crystal remembers when Yellowstone Lake was a world-class angling destination, when an angler could catch 60 large cutthroat trout with 60 casts from a fishing rod. Now, an angler will often struggle for hours before catching a single fish. Crystal, a former park ranger and guide in Yellowstone National Park, is to present his 45-minute program at the beginning, rather than the end, of the meeting. Crystal, 71, has fished at Yellowstone Lake for approximately four decades. Between 1957 and 1960, he was a college student, and worked his summers as a fishing guide. Following college, he worked four years as a seasonal park ranger for Yellowstone National Park. Crystal fished at Yellowstone Lake every summer between 1972 and 2003, until the cutthroat trout became so scarce he stopping going. The primary threat to cutthroat trout was the introduction of lake trout, an exotic species, which have decimated
cutthroat trout populations. Crystal said that one lake trout could eat 50 cutthroat trout per year. During the program, Crystal will discuss how conservation groups and scientists are researching lake trout in Yellowstone, and how they are combating the problem. • There are no outings currently scheduled for November or December by the club. No streamkeeper has yet to volunteer to host the traditional Rod Robinder outing at Miracle Mile. Join us for the Polar Bear Outing scheduled for New Year’s Day. This outing is one of our traditional and most successful outings and will be our first of 2009. Those who wish to join this outing are encouraged to fish at or around the Grey Reef. Likewise, they are invited to meet at the Sunset Bar and Grill (near Grey Reef) for lunch and their choice of libation. The approximate time of lunch is 12:00 noon. Please do not forget to have your 2009 fishing licenses. Contact Joe DeGraw at 258-0177 or via email joseph_degraw@yahoo.com or sign up at the November or December general membership meetings.
Spencer Amend with a 4-1/2 lb., 21 in. long rainbow from the “secret pond.” So many club members are visiting the fishery, it may not be a secret for much longer.
The stretch from Lusby to goverment bridge continues to produce, and Joe Meyer shows the rainbow he hooked in October.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
FLY
of the month
HALFBACK This has been a favorite pattern on the Platte River for years. That is appropriate, since this is where it originated. It appears to imitate a stonefly or dragonfly nymph, but it is so impressionistic, it can represent most immature aquatic insects if used in the proper sizes. It is often tied with a beadhead. It is productive throughout the year. Hook: TMC 5262 or Dai-Riki 060 or 270, sizes 4-12. Thread: 8/0 olivebrown. Weight with lead wire, sized to hook, and pushed into the gap of the bead to keep it in position. Tie in the tail with natural ringneck pheasant tail fibers, either in natural color or dyed (Joe Meyer ties his halfbacks with red pheasant tail, with good results). Wrap peacock herl around the shank, to the halfway point, twisting it with the thread to form a rope. Pull the remaining pheasant tail fibers over the back. Continue with peacock herl for the balance of the pattern. Palmer a brown rooster saddle hackle around the front section of peacock (most patterns palmer hackle over the entire fly, but I prefer mine with just the upper half hackled). Use hackle that is relatively soft, but still long enough to palmer over the body. On smaller flies you can even get away with a good quality hen neck. Rib with fine gold wire. Whip finish the head. This is a good pattern to use as the lead nymph in a two-fly dropper system. With enough weight on the fly, it eliminates the need for split shot. The pattern can also be tied with the backstrap pulled entirely over the body; it’s name is, appropriately, the “fullback.”
Christmas party planned Yep, it’s that time again. It’s time to start thinking about the annual WFC Christmas Party with all the great food and fun that we’ve come to expect. The party will be on Dec. 10 at the Isaac Walton League clubhouse beginning at 6:00 p.m. One change this year will be with our caterer. The Herbadashery will be the caterer instead of Rick’s Rack Shack. The menu will be nearly the same but the price will be different. We’re asking that members and their guests pay $8.00 to help defray the cost of the meal. I realize that’s more than last year and that we are to be going through some tough economic times but $8.00 is still a bargain for a great meal. So… sign up at the November meeting and pay for your meal at that time. If you can’t make the meeting please call Dick DePaemelere at 234-2594 or, during the month of November, Bob Fisher at 472-5715. The deadline is Dec. 5. We have to let the caterer know how much food to prepare. It would be great if you brought Christmas goodies for the party. See you there.
Felt soles to be discontinued on Simms fishing footwear Simms® president K.C. Walsh announced that Simms would stop using felt as a material for soles on its wading boots effective with the launch of the 2010 line. Walsh made the announcement at a news conference held at the Flyfishing Retailer Expo. He said Simms’ decision to do away with felt is a result of the material being implicated in the spread of aquatic nuisance species and fish-killing disease. Walsh noted that anglers have always been among the nation’s first wave of conservationists, and with options to felt now on the market, anglers had a responsibility to both the resource and the tradition of angling to cease their use of felt. “We know felt is not the only material that has spread invasive species and disease,” Walsh said, “but felt is surely part of the problem. At Simms, we’ve decided to be part of the solution.” Late last week, national conservation leader Trout Unlimited asked at its annual meeting that wading boot manufacturers phase out felt by 2011. Simms is eager to lead the charge. Walsh’s announcement comes as Simms unveils the world’s first fishing-specific Vibram-soled wading boots. For 2009, Simms will offer six boot models, a wading sandal and a wading shoe with
soles featuring Vibram® Streamtread™ soles. Additionally, Simms boots and waders are designed with “CleanStream™ technology,” a design philosophy that uses materials and production techniques making it more difficult for microorganisms to attach and makes wading gear easier to properly clean. Simms and Vibram have worked together to produce an ultra-grippy, super-sticky rubber sole that works as well as felt in virtually all wet and aquatic conditions. The partnership between Vibram and Simms has resulted in a boot that combines the best performance features of felt with the environmental benefits of rubber. The new soles have been field tested extensively and will perform far, far better than any rubber soled fishing footwear currently on the market. New Zealand has placed a ban on felt boots for the upcoming 2008 season. A number of U.S. states where aquatic nuisance species are found have reportedly discussed the possibility of outlawing felt-soles. Additionally, Simms has agreed to work with conservation organizations and other companies within the fishing industry to develop a certification process to highlight gear designed to help prevent the spread of ANS and disease.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
S S E CC TO A C I N L E B P U S O P R E L Y L L B I G T S N S A LU S I D N A A E R S A R E T HUN
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s Acces ublic P y b s ning the Lu pertai tsmen s r t o n p e s m arn re e docu led signs w d.” o assu ers. h t t s r t e n l v a insta ute o l hunt ent w ate lan partm d waterfow a legal disp er recently rk on priv partment e D h a n s e n i is w ater m and F there Fish D glers a lando Game open to an ivided and eighboring the high w Game and ublic use. g n i d. Wyom below .An ming is still n for p n subd – The atte River cently bee since 1964 are closed . The Wyo indeed ope rs year roun lic R E P l d b g e e e S r s e l u P n c i i g s P a w A t l h a a n C p a h d rt llo re un by he No und Lusby has been in aterfowl h s are not a he access a ins open to ng the Lus well marke t n o g i t w s s a o i b u n d d m y e n n e r n Area e area aro ent that y ca e sa da sm ar he ga em Th fishin easement assure sport access are undaries w . The boun ccess Area ctful to s a , e p c m i e bo publ s to d the n the oat ra River e Lusby A to be respe to the rtsmen: “B y erected o s and want sby area an to know th rth Platte l p of th n o o u tsmen t n g ing sp signs recen of these si 4 for the L d be certai long the N iver. A ma minds spor r a . e n Other install any pened Oct eck maps a easements ddle of the ment also r t o i t c h o r i c n l m a n o b ep he did eas d to other pu The D ds to t fowl s e urge Water ortsmen ar y of the 30 d and exten ss/lusby.asp nts by Sp cce lan r an eme rea, o sh signs on /accessto/A f these eas up your s, A s s e s Fi .u ing on ll o Acc e and //gf.state.wy wners on a areas, pick ed regulati m a G t : g o s p n d o by t i t p n k par te la at: h g all found d and priva designated ads, obeyin ess e c Acc n o i h r a l t l b d e u n e i h P . h t ontrol g only Lusby stablis (307) parkin taying on e ogs under c t using the artment at FD TIP. s d u p trash, eping your ronted abo nd Fish De at 877 WG f e e a n k m e o i c d t m y an are an Ga If you notify the ss hours or usine please Area 00 during b 4 473-3
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Nighttime fishing at Grey Reef Campfire, camaraderie and a few big fish A husky rainbow caught by the author at the Oct. 25 candlelight outing at Grey Reef. He caught it on a pine squirrel leech.
by Alex Rose Vice President, WFC he outing idea seemed simple enough. Just show up at Grey Reef, and bring firewood, refreshments and a headlamp. Camping gear optional. About the only thing that could complicate the outing was some freakish, early winter snowstorm, an arctic blast slicing through central Wyoming, dropping temperatures along with a half-foot of snow. And that’s exactly what happened. So I rescheduled the outing two weeks later, come “hell, high water or snow.” But fortunately, the weather was mild, where a total of nine folks and guests attended the night fishing outing, the last club outing of the year, an outing filled with good food, bad jokes and mild
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liver abuse. I arrived at the dam shortly before dark, and found Don Jelinek’s camper parked at the best site in the campground. I hastily strung my rod and rock hopped toward the base of the dam, and began casting a new fly I created. I named this streamer “Duffy’s Special,” in honor of my 90-year-old grandfather, T. Harold Rose, who used to answer the telephone by saying, in a thick, southern drawl, “Duffy’s Tavern?” Now, a little about this fly. It’s a variation of a pine squirrel leech, with the exception that I left off the collar, added a large gold bead, several wraps of red thread behind the bead, and a secret weapon: a propeller, placed with enough wiggle room between the eye and the bead. I got the idea of using propellers from a fly called the Pistol Pete, first tied in 1972 down south, in Colorado. The
tier eventually created his own business, and he markets his flies on the internet. According to the website, “As the fly moves through the water, the propeller spins, creating an action and sound that excites fish into striking even when they are not in a feeding period.” I mean, how could you not want to use this fly? Now, the added propeller might be a little controversial in some fly fishing circles. When I wandered into the Ugly Bug and asked Bob Fischer if he had any propellers, he sort of looked at me with a slight mocking, disapproving smile. You would have thought I asked him to direct me to his Power Bait isle. I didn’t know propellers were politically incorrect hardware. Since the Ugly Bug doesn’t carry propellers, I bought mine at Sportsman’s Warehouse, where the fly tying section is well stocked with two different sizes of shiny, nickel propellers.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
I suppose a propeller streamer resembles a lure more than a fly. But I submit that the primary difference between a lure and a streamer is that you cast a lure with a spinning rod, and a streamer with a fly rod. And that’s about it. Anyhow, I tied on 3X tippet and began casting and retrieving my Duffy’s Special. Soon, the fading sunlight yielded to darkness, and I was the last man standing at the dam, methodically casting and twitching my streamer. And then unexpectedly – and it’s always a pleasant surprise – I felt a familiar tugging and jerking at the end of my line. I soon landed a 21-inch rainbow, and ran to camp, where Randy Stalker snapped a few photos before I returned the trout back to the water. After catching my big fish, I sipped a beer and enjoyed the warmth of a crackling campfire, well tended by Randy and Don. Soon, we were joined by Kim Levine and his wife Molly, along with Tom Grogan, Joe De Graw, and his father. Don, a veteran camp cook, laid the brats out on a sizzling steel griddle. Tom, eager to get his line wet, headed for the dam. After enjoying a fine meal by the campfire, I joined Tom at the dam for some more fishing. Tom then told me a bizarre tale. (Note: I informed the club members at the outing that anything they said “can and will be used against you in my column. That goes for you, too, Randy, Mr. Backcast editor and member of the ‘media elite.’”) It was a dark night at the Reef, no moon, and Tom waded into ink-black water above his waist. Suddenly, a boil erupted, directly in front of him, and a large fish swam swiftly toward his crotch, smacking him directly into his – well, since this is a family publication – I’ll just call it his “junk.” The next morning, Randy said the fish was probably feeding on eggs. I considered this poetic justice, and called it a “trout’s revenge.” Although about half the club members left that evening, five of us stayed and camped at the Reef. Beers were handed out, the whiskey flowed, but everyone stayed reasonably sober. The next morning, Don and his assistant, Kim, treated us to a first-class breakfast of hash browns, sausage, eggs, and homegrown, red, ripe tomatoes, fresh from Don’s garden. The following is Don’s critique of
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M Y F LY B OX Fall is the time for stripping streamers; hence, this month, we feature Gummy Bear’s (better known as this month’s cover model, John Dolan) streamer box -- his favorite among the many he regularly carries and uses with both his one-handed trout rods as well as his two-handed spey rod.
Kim’s cooking: “Well, your sausage patties are adequate, but just barely. The slices are about average. They are cooked about right. And the coffee is perfect, but that’s because I made it.” Speaking of coffee, Don brought out a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, which we liberally poured into our coffee. Bailey’s doesn’t hurt coffee one bit. Eventually, I ditched my coffee all together and poured Bailey’s in my cup. Before leaving Grey Reef, I thanked Don for his warm, camp hospitality. The club is fortunate to have a member dedicated to feeding hungry members at outings, and with style. I learned that at an outing, if you go hungry around Don, that’s your own fault. Although sparely attended, the outing was a success, because everyone
appeared to have a good time. Sure, we didn’t catch many fish. But the outing gave us all an excuse to get outside under a glorious blanket of stars and enjoy good food, friendship, and a few beers around the warmth of a glowing campfire. We also enjoyed an unexpected, brilliant display of shooting stars that streaked across the sky, leaving behind bright, orange tails that seamed to linger before fading into black. A few words about the fishing. I was the only one who caught fish, four large rainbows. The vain part of me enjoys being the only angler to have caught fish. The better part of me wishes everyone landed fish. But I’m not going to attribute my success to any angling skill on my part. I owe it all to the propeller.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
A course in drift boat fishing While the line is flying towards the target on the left bank, the line can be mended upstream by twirling the tip of the rod clockwise. The twirling motion sends a rolling loop down the line, landing the line upstream of the fly.
Chapter 4: Casting System (Part 2) his is a good place to offer several pieces of advice regarding casting and casting technique: (1) Guard against using the index finger in casting. When the first, or index, finger is used to cast, most energy imparted to the rod, line, leader, and fly during the back and forward casts is through the hinge action of the wrist, because the wrist is forced to rotate atop the handle by placement of the index finger in the casting position. Movement of the wrist causes the tip of the fly rod to move in an arc, throwing the fly line downward, behind the caster during the back cast, and short of the target during the forward cast. Inadvertent motion in the wrist forces the fly fisherman to develop some compensatory movements in order to keep the fly line aloft. None of those movements is natural or fluid. (2) Some fly fishermen do not differentiate between casting to a target on the water and casting to a spot above the water. In other words, to those individuals, the target and spot are synonymous. If the fly fisherman is looking at and casting to a target on the water thinking that is the spot, the fly line and fly may go near the target, but routinely the line, leader, and fly crash on the surface a few feet short of the target. On occasion, the line, leader, and fly sail way beyond the presumed target landing as a tangle in
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overhanging trees or brush. Obviously, landing short of or sailing beyond the target is undesirable, because landing short can scare the fish, and overshooting sees the fly being sacrificed to Neptune. The accomplished fly fisherman, however, always throws a flat line all the way to a hypothetical spot about three or four feet above the target. The result is the fly alights on or splashes in the water, depending on size and weight of the fly, at or near the target. The difference between general fly fishermen and an accomplished fly fisherman is that the latter subconsciously knows that the target and spot occupy different points in time and space; therefore, casting to the spot above the water results in the fly landing on the target on the water. What the accomplished fly fisherman knows, and general fly fisherman should learn, is that the conscious mind selects the target, but the subconscious mind makes the cast to the aerial spot. The fly fisherman must train the subconscious mind to make the cast. The training is simple: the tip of the rod is never dropped below the horizontal. Instead, in the forward cast, the tip automatically stops above the horizontal, thus causing the line to sail in a flat and natural plane. As soon as the line reaches its limit, the line, leader, and fly straighten out at the point of the spot. The fly is snapped
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.
downward, hitting on or near the target of the conscious mind milliseconds before the leader and line settle on the water. (3) For some reason, the right-handed fly fisherman in the front of the boat always wants to cast over his or her left shoulder when fishing the right bank of a stream. Likewise, the right-handed fly fisherman in the rear of the boat always wants to cast over his or her left shoulder when fishing the left bank of the stream. Each fly fisherman probably is concerned about hitting the oarsman or tangling with the companion. He or she does not realize that when the line is brought over the opposite shoulder, the fly occasionally snaps around, sometimes passing across the oarsman. That motion has hooked me more times than any other errant action. Every fly fisherman stepping into my drift boat is told that so long as he or she is using a fly rod 8.5 or 9 feet in length, so long as the torso and shoulders are being turned through the whole casting motion, and so long as the fly rod passes over the casting shoulder each and every time, there is no reason to be concerned about hitting anyone or becoming tangled with the companion or oarsman. The fly line, leader, and fly must move through the air 7 to 9 or more feet over the fisherman’s head. Fortunately, the fly fisherman generally listens to that explanation and starts practicing what is suggested. (4) A word of caution: Be aware of a tendency to swing the fly rod around the
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter body instead of bringing the rod up and over the shoulder. A sidearm cast can be dangerous, especially if the rod is propelled by wrist action only. What happens is this: the line, leader, and fly following the arc made by the tip of the rod ultimately pass near or across the face of either the oarsman or fellow fly fisherman. A broad-brimmed hat is no defense in that situation. Remember, safety in a drift boat is always the first order of business. (5) Once the caster has started the fly line moving towards the target, the line cannot nor will not move off course. That means there is time before the fly descends to the water to maneuver the line while it still is in the air. Yes, indeed! The fly fisherman has time to put a draw- or slice-bend in the line and leader before landing the fly slightly upstream of the target or behind an interceding object. There also is time to put a series of “Ss” in the line and leader, just in case the fly fisherman wants to cast to a target straight downstream or upstream of a stationary drift boat. Perhaps each of those casts should be discussed a little more in detail. Just remember, the direction of the line cannot be changed once it is committed to fly towards the target. Moreover, the distance to the target is lengthened to accommodate added horizontal bends in the line. So an extra few feet of line are needed to make the cast. The easiest cast for a right-handed fly fisherman to make is one in which the water is moving from right to left. If the target is slightly downstream of the caster, and if power is delivered to the rod during the forward cast—no “rod waving” allowed—the whip-like action of the line and tapered leader automatically snaps the fly (weighted or unweighted) around, landing it downstream of the line. For the fly fisherman who has yet to learn the mechanics of loading the fly rod at the beginning of the back cast, a draw-bend can be put in the line by rolling the tip of the rod upstream as the line and leader are flying toward the target. The rolling motion of the tip sends a wave down the line towards the leader, effectively mending the line and sometimes part of the leader upstream. As a result, the fly lands upstream of the target, but downstream of the “mended” line. If the fly fisherman waits to mend after the line, leader, and fly land on the water, the motion of mending often drags the fly unnaturally. The cast is wasted.
The hardest cast for the right-handed fly fisherman to make is one in which the water flows from left to right. That cast can be made easily if the fly fisherman rolls the tip of the rod upstream as the line, leader, and fly are flying toward the target. Obviously, that technique presupposes that the forward cast is delivered with power—again, no “rod waving” allowed! The rolling or mending motion upstream sends a secondary rolling wave down the line, which makes the line and leader land upstream of the fly. Some fly fishermen wait until the fly hits the water before starting to mend the line upstream. That practice is illadvised because it causes the fly to drag, thereby wasting the cast. “Ss” are put in the line by wriggling the rod tip horizontally as the line is traveling towards the target. The wriggling action simply builds horizontal slack into the line without changing direction of the line. Slack is exactly what is needed to run a fly upon the face of a boulder or root mass of tree or to let a dry fly ride naturally in the quiet water downstream of a log jam or tangle of trees. Managing intended slack, of course, is another matter, one that is addressed in Chapter 14 and briefly mentioned elsewhere in the book. The ability to throw a hook, slice, series of “Ss,” or any combination thereof in the line is ideal for fishing behind rocks, under limbs, or between roots. Few casting techniques are more gratifying, especially if one hooks—and most often loses!—a large fish in an impossible casting situation. That is the kind of situation that makes fond memories and everlasting stories because the fish always has the advantage. (6) Perhaps the hardest casts for beginner and novice fly fishermen to make are those across or directly into the wind. There are several ways to cast across or into the wind. One is technical, two are mechanical, and one is a learned skill. All are elementary to the art of casting a fly. The simplest technical solution is equipping the reel with either a weight-forward floating or 10-foot sinktip line that is one weight heavier than the fly line prescribed for the rod. Either fly line is easy to cast in any situation and especially effective when casting across or into the wind. The simplest mechanical solutions are (1) pushing hard with the casting thumb when powering into the forward cast, and (2) stopping the tip of the rod momentarily just above the horizontal.
Page 9 The thumb is the mechanical device that accelerates the fly line during the forward cast. Stopping the tip of the rod above the horizontal makes a small, tight loop in the line as the line is propelled towards the target, and the tighter the loop, the less the wind resistance. Less wind resistance means greater sustained velocity and momentum in the line, leader, and fly, resulting in a longer cast. The simplest learned skill is remembering to grasp the line with the free hand as the line nears the end of the back cast, letting both hand and line move up the rod toward the stripping guide. Once the line is straight behind, and the free hand is holding the line near the stripping guide, a combined forceful thrust of the thumb into the handle of the fly rod and a gentle, but sharp, pull on the line by the free hand increases the velocity of the fly line towards the target. The additional velocity makes casting into the wind easier. Yes, the technique seems complicated, but it can be mastered with a little practice. The best place to practice and learn is at home on your lawn. Do not try learning the process on the river in the wind. If you do, you might want to abandon fly fishing altogether. Once you have mastered the technique, you will have learned half of the double-haul cast. The other half of the double-haul involves learning to do exactly the same thing at the beginning of the back cast, as well as at the end. (7) One last thought about casting. Over the years, the majority of the fly fishermen that I have guided or fished with have one thing in common: they never correlated misbehaviors of the fly line with flaws in casting techniques. Instead, they simply picked up the fly line and recast without ever asking, “What happened?” or “What caused that?” Miscues were passed over as though they never happened. Those individuals probably did not realize that their casting efficiencies were being compromised. What is more, they probably did not really care, so long as they managed to catch a fish now and then. Remember: the important thing to ask is, “Why did the fly line misbehave at the end of the cast, or why did the rod and line swish or whistle over my head during the cast?” If questions can be asked, explaining the misbehavior, formulating a solution, and instituting corrective action are easy. The best way to improve your casting technique is being honest with and critical of yourself.
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
NOVEMBER 2008 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY 1
2
3
4
9
10
11
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
20
21
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27
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29
WFC General Membership Meeting, 7 p.m.
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19 WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
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24 30
If ya done it, it ain’t braggin.’ -- Yogi Berra
Bring your camera along on your next fishing trip, and use it to document your catch and release fish. Then send the digital image to the WFC newsletter editor for consideration of inclusion in the next issue. Contributions are always welcome. Who knows ... maybe your photo will be the next month’s cover.
25
26
Deadline for Backcast info
Wyoming Fly Casters Board Meeting Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 The President Called the meeting to order. *MSC to approve the minutes of the September board meeting as printed in the Backcast. *MSC to approve the treasurer's report as printed in the Backcast. Ed Rate presented the quarter budget comparison as required by the ByLaws. There were questions and discussion. MSC to not publish the recapitulation part of the monthly treasurer's report on the WFC web page. *Al Conder informed the board of the situation at the Lusby Public Access Area. He distributed a WGFD Press Release pertaining to that area. *Kim Levine presented and idea to purchase a griddle, coffee pot, and a new gas grill for club to use at outings and events using he proceeds of fly line sales. The fly lines would be purchased from D. Jelinek. MSC to allow up to $400.00 for the purchase of the griddle, grill, and coffee pot. D. Jelinek and others to make the necessary purchases. *MSC to purchase gift certificates for the Christmas Party activities as follows: $200.00 for the Second Chance Raffle $100.00 for the Attendance Raffle $25.00 for 1st place in the Christmas Fly tying contest. $15.00 for 2nd place in the Christmas Fly tying contest. $10.00 for 3rd place in the Christmas Fly tying contest. * A discussion regarding the contract from the WG&F regarding the spawning bed work WFC agreed to do at Cardwell. A few questions remain and will be addressed soon. *DePaemelere voiced some concerns regarding membership and asked that the Membership Committee review the situation and make a recommendation to the Board. Copies of his concerns will be given to J. Robitaille and A. Rose.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Page 11
Treasurer’s Report for September 2008 Income
Description
Amount
Date 9/8/2008
deposit - dues - 65.00
65.00
9/15/2008
deposit - Cash Return (Ck # 3908) Expo - 559.00, dues 30.00
689.00
9/30/2008
Interest Income
37.07
Total Income
791.07
Expenses Check #
Description
Amount
#3906 #3907 #3908 #3909 #3910 #3911 #3912 #3913 #3914 #3915 #3916 -
Lloyd Ferguson - Reimbursement - Poster Lamination Izaak Walton - Rent - Sept. Cash - Expo Raffle Richard Soffe - Reimbursement Picnic Don Jelinek - Remibursement - Picnic U.S. Postmaster - Additional Postage - Backcast Kinkos - August Backcast Don Jelinek Expo Promotional Expense Ugly Bug Fly Shop - Fly Rod Raffle Expo Gene Theriault - Reimbursement Picnic Super 8 Motel - Exchange Float Trip -Banquet expense Bank Service Charge
(31.50) (75.00) (100.00) (14.45) (6.70) (11.22) (97.65) (72.61) (294.00) (191.35) (92.35) (3.00)
Total Expenses
(989.83)
CLASSIFIEDS -- GOOD STUFF FOR SALE (CHEAP!) FOR SALE USED RODS TFO RODS---$50 each Jim Teeny 9ft. 6wt. 4 piece Jim Teeny 9ft. 5wt. 4 piece Lefty Kreh-Signature Series 9ft. 5wt 4 pieces Lefty Kreh-TICR-X 7ft 6wt. 4 piece Lefty Kreh-Professional Series-9ft. 6wt. 4 piece Orvis Rods-$75 each Trident TL 9ft. 5wt. 2 piece mid-flex Trident TL 9ft. 5wt. 2 piece tip flex T-3 9ft. 5wt. 2 piece moid flex Call Art Van Rensselaer 262-7655
FOR SALE Special prices for WFC club members! Fly lines, fly reels and fly rods. Call Don Jelinek 267-7477 • Patagonia SST jacket, XL. Brand new. $240 (list $315). Call Scott Novotny 266-3072 • Float tube-$50. Call Kathy Knapp 577-7703
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.