www.wyflycasters.org
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Tailing Loops by RANDY STALKER Backcast editor chevy57stalker@aol.com The towels were so thick at that fishing lodge, I could hardly close my suitcase. - Yogi Berra
T
Three of us took a pre-outing scouting trip to the North Tongue in early August, and found the river higher than normal and the no-kill stretch devoid of many other fishermen. We couldn’t observe hatches, despite being told the green drakes were in full bloom. The temperature was mild and pleasant in the upper 70s to low 80s, with just enough wind to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Some recently hatched hoppers were hiding in the grass, but they were too small to interest the fish. We stopped a passing spin fisherman and asked him to snap a photo of us. The resulting image looked more like an advertisement for Flomax than it was to record the comeraderie of friends on the bank of a favorite stream. We rigged up the rods and tied on stimulators -- usually a tried-and-true method of enticing the Tongue’s cutthroats. The fish were not looking up. It took awhile, but we finally figured out
the fish were keying on caddis emergers. Viola! We tied on simple soft hackles, with an elk hair caddis as a strike indicator. We were regularly into fish. We were unable to stay until dusk during this Sunday trip. Past experience has taught us that when daylight fades, the caddisflies hatch and the fish boil the surface in a feeding frenzy. I can hardly wait until late in September when the club visits the Tongue. It will give me an opportunity to stay on the river after dark to sample dry fly fishing on the ripple stretch, as this is an overnight trip. Ptomaine, Painless and I are signed up to attend. The plumber and the miner are also prospective attendees for streamkeeper Andrew’s annual outing. If anyone else is interested, sign up at the club picnic on Sept. 14. And when you come, be sure you have some size 16 soft hackles in your box. • Regular readers of the Backcast may notice the conspicuous absence of some regular features. Despite waiting four days after the deadline, contributions did not arrive, so this is the result. The deadline for the next issue is Sept. 24, posted here and in the calendar on page 7. Please plan accordingly. The newsletter will be emailed the
evening of the deadline. • The 15 who attended the annual outing at Ten Sleep just a couple of weeks ago were treated to a fun weekend, and Matt Stanton is to be congratulated for organizing the weekend and for preparing fine meal fare. Although most of us caught fish on small beadhead nymphs, Matt fished honest. He used small parachute Adamses on top, and reportedly he slew the fish on the feeder stream above West Ten Sleep Lake. An apology is in order for those who were disappointed by the sorry excuse for peach cobbler following the Saturday dinner. After waiting 45 minutes for the Dutch oven to cook the dessert, the result was, well, terrible. I guess I have earned a new nickname as a result. Tight lines,
Scoop Crusty Cobbler
Cover shot: A standard streamer pattern, the ubiquitous olive wooly bugger, takes a break from dredging the North Platte.
OFFICERS Will Waterbury, President Vacant, President-elect Vacant, Vice President Casey Leary, Secretary Matt Stanton, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expire in 2012 Spencer Amend Scott Novotny Neil Ruebush Brent “Smokey” Weinhandl, DDS Terms expire in 2013 Greg Groves Joe Meyer Alex Rose Herb Waterman Terms expire in 2014 John Dolan Jim Johnson Chris McAtee Andrew Sauter
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. To pay dues or contact the club, write to P.O. Box 2881, Casper, WY 82602. The deadline for submission of information for each issue is a week before the end of the month. Make contributions to the next issue by e-mailing material to the Backcast editor at Chevy57stalker@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
The annual G&F EXPO is Sept. 8-10 Have you ever wanted to learn to shoot a shotgun, cast a fishing pole, or learn more about the Wyoming hunting regulations? If you answered yes to any of these, the 14th annual Wyoming Hunting & Fishing Heritage Expo is for you. The 2011 Expo will be Sept. 8-10 at the Casper Event Center. Hosted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Expo is a free educational event for all ages and experience levels. Novice outdoorsmen can take a trip around the canoe pond, learn about the challenges a fish faces at the fish passage obstacle course, or try shooting archery. If you have more experience, the Expo is a great place to advance your skills or to share your knowledge with the next generation. In addition, to sharing your passion with new outdoor enthusiasts, volunteers are invited to the Expo Awards Banquet, and will receive an Expo hat and shirt. The first two days of the Expo are structured for school groups, with opportunities for the general public to attend. During the day students between the ages
of 10 and 18 can pursue the Youth Shooting Pentathlon by participating in shotgunning, .22 rifle, muzzleloader, pellet gun, and archery. Participants receive a certificate, patch, and prize. On Saturday, the first 1,000 youth completing the aquatic outdoor skills stations will receive a free fishing rod donated by the North Platte Walleyes. The Expo is fun for adults as well. On Sunday, following the Expo, women over the age of 18 are invited to attend the Women's Shotgun Clinic. The clinic, held at the Casper Trap, Skeet, and 5 Stand Club requires no pre-registration. If you have your own shotgun, bring it along to gain tips and techniques to ensure your shotgun is best meeting your needs. If you don't have a firearm, the WGFD will have several shotguns that you can use for the clinic. The Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo has reached more than 155,000 people in the last 13 years.. Make sure you are a part of the fun and excitement. For more information visit the WGFD website at http://gf.state.wy.us or call (888) EXPO - WYO.
Annual Club Picnic Wed., Sept. 14, 6:00 p.m. Isaac Walton League Clubhouse Members and guests welcome Bring a covered dish or dessert to share
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Brag Board
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Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
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BE INFORMED
Tongue River outing set for Sept. 16-18 by Andrew Sauter, streamkeeper How to get there: • Go north on I 25 passed Sheridan. Exit at the Dayton Ranchester turn off (#6 I think) • Pass through Dayton and Ranchester and climb the mountain. • Drive about 20 miles past the pass. Stay right at Burgess Junction. • Drive 5 miles to Tongue River on your right. Where to stay: • Anywhere. Most of the place is national forest and one can camp free on existing sites along existing roads. • Or at any of at least 3 Camp grounds including Prune Creek and North Tongue Campgrounds. • Or there are a couple of hotels offering rooms. Bear Lodge is the only one I remember. What to bring: • Warm clothing! • 3 to 5 weight rod. Dries, nymphs, buggers. Try them all • Warm clothing. (Oh, I already mentioned that.) • Hippers are usually enough. So bring warm hippers! Saturday: lunch at 12:00 noon • Yes. At the picnic area just before the river drops into the canyon. • Drive east to Burgess Junction, keep right. Turn immediately left and drive on paved road past the highway repair facility. Road turns to dirt. Continue about a mile and pass the North Tongue River campground and a bit later the North Tongue River. Turn immediately right and parallel the river for about 1/2 a mile. When you can’t go any further you are there. • I will cook burgers, and dogs, and have buns catsup, mustard, onions chips and not much else. Please bring something to share. I will be at the North Tongue campground Saturday, site number 1, for a while Saturday morning to get anyone orientated. Look up Burgess Junction, WY on Google Earth to familiarize yourself with the area. The Tongue has catch and release and catch and keep areas. All fish well. Moose are prevalent. Dress warm! For more information, call me, 265-3932.
Miracle Mile outing is slated for Oct. 15 by Casey Leary, streamkeeper October is the return of the Robinder outing. We will be fishing the Miracle Mile. The section of North Platter River from Kortes Dam to Pathfinder Reservoir is known as the Miracle Mile. It has been characterized by areas of deep swift water interspersed with numerous islands and associated gravel bars and side channels. Nymph patterns such at pheasant tails sizes 12-18, rusty scuds sizes 1218, bead head hares ears sizes 12-18 and San Juan worms have proven effective in the past. On occasion, fish will take the dry fly so some Adams and Griffith’s gnats in sizes 14-20 can catch a few fish. Waders are recommended as the water will be cold. A staff can also be helpful as the wading can be difficult. To get there, take 220 West from Casper to Alcova, then turn left (south) on County Road 407, turn right on County Road 351 which crosses the North Platte River --Miracle Mile. The outing is in memory of Rod Robinder, a long time member, past president and MacTavish winner, who volunteered many hours for the club and was a generous benefactor to his fellow fly fishers. At the time of his death, he was operating the Ugly Bug Fly Shop. Call the streamkeeper, Casey Leary, 473-2441, if you have any questions.
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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 chevy57stalker@aol.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS
GOOD STUFF FOR SALE (CHEAP!) Patagonia SST jacket, XL, Brand new. $175 (list $315). Scott Novotny 266-3072 • Drift Boat - '97 Hyde (pre dove tail) With all the stuff you would expect AND an extra front seat with storage. $3500.00 Andrew Sauter 307-265-3932 • Three used fly tying vises Two regal vises with pedestal mounts, $50.00 each One Renzetti cam Traveller vise, pedestal mount, $50.00 also, one Regal midge vise head (no mount), $25.00 and 1-Orvis 905-2piece TLS Power Matrix Rod, new. $150 Regular price $325. Art Van Rensselaer 307-262-7655 • Large selection of framed, signed and numbered Vivi Crandall and Terry Redlin prints (contact me for names/prices) Men's Chaco Z/1 sandal. Size 13. "Matrix color. New in box, $45, OBO. Men's Chaco Z/2 sandal. Size 12. Black color. New in box, $45, OBO. Matt Stanton 307-258-9915
Classifieds are a free service to WFC members. To advertise your item for sale, drop a line to chevy57stalker@aol.com.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
Self-checks key to preventing AIS introductions Thousands of AIS inspections have been conducted so far this summer as AIS inspection crews have traveled the state to set up inspections stations at Wyoming's lakes and reservoirs. Obviously, the number of waters and launch points far exceed what inspectors can cover, and not every boater who heads out will encounter an AIS check station. With that being the case, a good deal of the prevention of AIS introduction into Wyoming will be tied to the boaters conducting self checks before they launch their boats in Wyoming waters. "Most of the boats registered in Wyoming present no risk to infecting
Date Income 05/11/11 05/16/11 05/17/11 Expenses 05/04/11 05/11/11 05/12/11 05/16/11 05/18/11
Date Income 06/27/11 06/27/11 06/27/11 06/30/11 Expenses 06/06/11 06/06/11 06/07/11 06/10/11 06/25/11
Date Income 07/19/11 07/31/11 Expenses 07/07/11 07/13/11 07/18/11
Wyoming waters with AIS," said WGFD AIS Coordinator Beth Bear. "The majority of our boaters never take their boat out of state and their boating activities are confined to nearby lakes and reservoirs." But Bear said the danger lies when a boat is used in an out-of-state water where AIS is present and is brought back into Wyoming, or when a boat is purchased from another state. "We have had a number of these instances this summer," said Bear. "And it is very helpful when boaters contact us, telling us where their boats have been and request inspections before they launch."
WFC Treasurer's report month ending May 31, 2011 Vendor/Item
Amount
Ugly Bug, banquet tickets ................................................................................ $200.00 Dues $150, May raffle $65 ................................................................................. 215.00 Dues ...................................................................................................................... 20.00 Interest.................................................................................................................... 0.47 Total ..................................................................................................... $435.47 Banquet credit card fees ................................................................................... $128.20 IWLA rent............................................................................................................ 75.00 Platte River Parkway Trust milemarker ............................................................. 500.00 WGFD Expo sponsorship................................................................................. 1000.00 Reliant FCU, check reorder................................................................................. 12.50 Total .................................................................................................. $1,587.50 WFC Treasurer's report month ending June 30, 2011 Vendor/Item
Amount
Deposit – June raffle........................................................................................... $70.00 Deposit – Dues ..................................................................................................... 60.00 Deposit – 50/50 from Fly Fishing Film Tour (winner donated back $140) ...... 280.00 Interest...................................................................................................................... .42 Total ...................................................................................................$2,037.20 CC processing adjustment to payment ................................................................ $9.87 CC processing interchange fee .............................................................................. 4.68 IWLA rent............................................................................................................ 75.00 FedEx Office, Backcast printing .......................................................................... 79.54 Ugly Bug, June raffle ............................................................................................ 96.57 Total ..................................................................................................... $251.11 WFC Treasurer's report month ending July 31, 2011 Vendor/Item
Amount
Deposit, July raffle $81, Dues $20.................................................................... $101.00 Interest...................................................................................................................... .44 Total .................................................................................................... $101.44 FedEx Office, Backcast printing ........................................................................ $61.83 IWLA rent............................................................................................................ 75.00 Wyoming Secretary of State, corp. fee ................................................................ 25.00 Total ..................................................................................................... $161.83
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) 2344278 or e-mail her at faith10@bresnan.net.
Wyoming Fly Casters Monthly Newsletter
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WYOMING FLY CASTERS BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2011 Meeting called to order by President Will Waterbury at 7 p.m Members Present: Will Waterbury, Matt Stanton, Casey Leary, Spencer Amend, Scott Novotny, Neil Ruebush, Joe Meyer, Herb Waterman, Chris McAtee and Andrew Sauter. Members Absent: John Dolan, Greg Groves, Jim Johnson and Alex Rose Excused. July secretary report corrected, indicating Jim Johnson was excused. The corrected secretary’s report for July was approved. Matt Stanton presented a treasurer’s report and reviewed. Conservation: Will Waterbury reported Colin of WGFD is involved in the Bolton Creek project and is looking for partners. Colin will speak to the board in the future. The BLM is waiting on the title for the Government Bridge-Miles Livestock transfer. Matt Stanton reported the Keep Casper Beautiful Platte River Clean Up is set for Sept. 17, the weekend of the Tongue River outing and the club will try to assist, as the expected turnout for the Tongue River is about ten. Outings: Matt Stanton said 15 people attended the Tensleep outing , with some new members attending. All attendees caught fish. Motion: Moved by Casey Leary that WFC reimburse Matt Stanton for the Tensleep outing meal expenses, motion carried. Andrew Sauter will be streamkeeper
for the Tongue River Outing on Sept. 16-18. Casey Leary will be the streamkeeper for the Robinder Outing at Miracle Mile on Oct. 15. New Business: The annual picnic will be held 6 p.m. on Sept. 14, Casey Leary will cook. Andrew Sauter will purchase food for the annual club picnic and Tongue River outing. A notice was in the Casper Star-Tribune regarding fly tying at the August general meeting and Joe Meyer received a call of interest. Brian Olsen is willing to give a presentation to WFC in future. Casey Leary is looking into a possible program regarding hydrology. Discussion regarding possible changes to board positions was tabled until next month. Old business: Herb Waterman reported the WFC Memorial cannot be installed at Speas until next spring when construction is complete. No additional news on a possible candidate for vice president. Andrew Sauter reported WGFD commissioners license #6, which is for sale via a third organization, who collects 10 percent from the sale, is to be split between WFC and another organization, is still for sale. Andrew indicates the sale of the license might be going slow. Matt reported he has some volunteers signed up to help with the WGFD Expo on Sept. 8-10. He is always looking for more volunteers. Adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
SEPTEMBER Club Calendar SUNDAY
4
MONDAY
5
TUESDAY
6
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
7
12
13
14
2
3
8
9
10
G&F Expo
15
Regular meeting, 6 p.m.
18
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
17 N. Tongue outing
N. Tongue outing
22
G&F Expo
16
23
WFC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
N. Tongue outing
SATURDAY
1
G&F Expo
11
FRIDAY
24 Deadline for Backcast info
29
30
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.