january 13, 2010, meeting speaker: craig

Spokane Fly Fishers
www.spokaneflyfishers.com
JANUARY 13, 2010, MEETING
SPEAKER: CRAIG MATHEWS
UNDERFISHED AND OVERLOOKED
WATERS OF YELLOWSTONE
Our speaker for January will be Craig
Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies located in
West Yellowstone.
Craig has authored dozens of articles for
major fly fishing publications on Yellowstone fly fishing, fishing bonefish and
permit, fly patterns, and more. He has authored and co-author 6 important books
on fly-fishing: Fly Patterns of Yellowstone
(1986), Fishing Yellowstone Hatches (1992), The Yellowstone
Fly-Fishing Guide, (1997), Western Fly-Fishing Strategies,
(1998), Fly Fishing the Madison River in 2001 and Volume 2 of
Fly Patterns of Yellowstone in 2008. He has also developed
many Telly Award winning DVD's.
January, 2010
SFF Officers and
Board Members
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Board Position 1
Board Position 2
Board Position 3
Past President
Sgt. At Arms
Mike Melmoth
Bob Hudson
Ray Baker
Gail Bailey
Mike Berube
Kurt Tempel
Tim Reed
Fred Howe
Klaus Rissmann
Contact us at:
P. O. Box 4141
Spokane, WA 99220
Or
sffishers@comcast.net
AROUND THE BEND
January 7, 2010, Intermediate Fly Tying Begins
NBC's Tom Brokaw said, "Craig Mathews is a master fly-fisher,
and his knowledge of Yellowstone is matchless."
January 9, Beginning Fly
Tying Begins
Craig has agreed to teach a fly tying class preceding our meeting on January 13th.
January 13, SFF Meeting
CRAIG MATHEWS FLY TYING CLASS
This is an extraordinary chance for members to learn from a
master. Craig has developed several famous fly patterns like
the Sparkle Dun, X and Iris Caddis, Nature Stone Nymphs,
Pops Bonefish Bitters, TDF Shrimp, Turneffe Crab, and many
others.
The class will be held at the Wildlife Council Building, 6116 N
Market (2 blocks south of Francis). Beginning at 3 o’clock, the
class will run until 5 PM.
The cost of the class is $40 per person. There is only room
for 20 students so call Judy Kauffman at 924-9462 today to
make your reservation, as these spots will go quickly.
7PM, Craig Mathews
January 20, SFF Board
Meeting 6 PM
February 10th, SFF Meeting
7PM, Jim Schollmeyer
February 17, SFF Board
Meeting 6 PM
March 5,6,7 Great West
Sport Fishing Show
March 10, SFF Meeting
7 PM RAFFLE
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Page 2
PREZ SEZ
By Mike Melmoth
WOW!!! Can you believe how great that Christmas dinner was? It’s
mouth watering just thinking about it. Thank you to Carla, Linda, Alli
and Klaus for all your work on the dinner. While I’m at it, how about
those Sweet Adeline’s? What a great entertainment session they put
on for us. I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank Dan and Don for the
slide show on our outing catches for 2009. I also want to thank Stan
Troyer for bringing his musical saw to entertain us with. I, unfortunately, had too much in the program to fit another person in, sorry
Stan.
It looks like 2010 is going to be just as fun filled and busy for most of us. We’re starting right
out with a top notch speaker at the January 13 meeting - Craig Mathews from Blue Ribbon
Flies. A fly tying class with Craig before the meeting, as well as our own beginning and intermediate fly tying classes. January is full this year as usual for the Spokane Fly Fishers.
Unless I forget, we also have two First Aid/CPR classes in January. If you haven’t been contacted and you want to get into a class let someone on the board know. We started off with
two ten person classes to see how the response would be, and will continue if the interest is
out there in the membership. For those of you who are long range planners, we are also looking at having a vastly less costly awards banquet this year with the intent of getting more
folks to show up for it. How does $10.00 sound with perhaps pasta feed instead of prime rib?
Once again let your board members know before we finalize it. If you haven’t guessed, I’m
reminding you that if there is something you want to do or have done YOU have to let THE
BOARD know about it. We would really like to know what we can do to make YOUR club better for you. We sit and guess every month and hope we are meeting your needs, but it sure
would be easier and better if the membership directed the board through suggestions and/or
complaints. We all are available to you any time you have some input for us.
On a lighter note, we have a new outings committee chairman, Don Tietz, and he is open for
suggestions on new outing locations. Some of you have been on our old stand-bye outings
every year and need a change to get you fired up again. I agree and I think the committee will
too, so look for the new outings list soon.
INTERMEDIATE FLY TYING REMINDER
By Judy Kaufman
Intermediate fly tying begins Thursday, January 7th, 7:00 at the Wildlife
Council Building, 6116 N Market (2 blocks south of Francis). The cost
for the 6 sessions is $27, payable the 7th. Material has been purchased
to tie the patterns. Tiers need only bring tying tools, vise, thread and lamp (if needed). There
will be enough material to tie 2 each of the patterns presented. If you think you will be tying
more than 2 of the flies please bring your own additional material. Question: call Judy 9249462
BEGINNING FLY TYING BEGINS ON JANUARY 9TH AT 1812 W. 10TH AVENUE
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Page 3
CONSERVATION CORNER
EGG SUCKING REPORT
By: Mike Keegan
Twenty two folks turned into suckers for the annual
event. We had a great breakfast with biscuits and gravy furnished by Ellen Kassa and donuts by Judy Kaufman. The
job was finished in about 2 hours. Many thanks to all that
participated. Baskets with about 175,000 eggs were processed. These are saved from infections, etc. and will be
stocked in Eastern Washington waters. After, tall tales of
fishing were enjoyed at the no-host lunch at Fat Daddies.
FISHING CAMP
By: Mike Keegan
Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers are sponsoring a Fly Fishing Academy at Hicks Lake in Lacey, WA
(near Olympia). This is for youths from 12 thru 16 years of
age. Any of you who have a child, or grandchild, who would
like to apply, please sign up the sheet at the January meeting and we will provide an application. Our club will underwrite the cost for one or more children. An essay and a recommendation from a science teacher or counselor are part
of the application. The camp lasts a week (June 20 though
26, 2010). Parents must arrange transportation.
MARCH RAFFLE (MARCH 10, 2010)
By: Mike Keegan
The clock is ticking on the raffle. Contributions are needed. There will be a signup sheet for
those who wish to contribute materials, flies, equipment, books, trips, etc. You may buy
these or donate excess items that are in good condition. Local merchants and individuals
have been very generous in the past.
You may get an early start by bringing your donated items to the January or February meeting. The Raffle Committee would appreciate it.
FLY AUCTION THANK YOU NOTES
By: Mike Berube, Auction Chairman
I’d like to thank everyone again for donating flies to the auction in November. We did send
out Thank You notes to everyone but unfortunately one of the notes got eaten by the USPS
equipment. How do we know this? They sent us a one inch strip of envelope and note, the
part with our return address on it. So we have no way of knowing who this was addressed
to. So if you donated and didn’t receive a personal thank you note we are sorry. Again,
thank you for donating.
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Page 4
PROJECT HEALING WATERS
By: Bob Kowal
Attention! During the January Spokane Fly Fishers meeting, members of Project Healing Waters will be selling, at LARGE DISCOUNTS a huge supply of professional grade fly tying materials, as well as rods, reels, lines, nets, vests, waders, professional quality fly tying scissors,
nippers, hemostats, tippet material, etc. The proceeds will benefit disabled veterans who we
are teaching to tie flies, cast and take on fishing trips. There are bamboo rods of varying
condition, 2 classic fiberglass rods, and several quality graphite rods including a Denny Ricarts Stillwater rod and an Orvis. They are 3wt -7 wt rods. There are over 10 reels some
loaded with line. These are quality items and you won't have many chances to get equipment
like this at prices like these.
CASH ONLY, Come early for the best selection.
If you would like to purchase some items before the meeting anytime, contact Bob Kowal at
healingh20water@gmail.com.
Just as important, if you know any disabled veterans who would be interested in learning
how to tie flies and fly fish, please contact Bob Kowal or Tim Reed at a club meeting or timtrout@aol.com. In addition if you know of any avenue through which we can contact disabled veterans let Tim or Bob know.
FLY FISHING SCHOOL
By Fred Howe
Our 28th Annual Fly Fishing School is scheduled to start on
March 18th. Now is the time to sign up before the class is full. It
will be advertised at the Great West Sport Fishing Show and the
Spokesman Review.
The cost for the school this year is $100 or $60 for youth (12 to
16) for non members. This includes a one year membership in
the club. For members, or their family members, the cost is $60
and does not include the one year membership fee.
Tell all your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, etc. about this great opportunity to get
involved in fly-fishing.
To sign up, or for more information, contact the SFF web site at www.spokaneflyfishers.com
or contact Fred Howe at 448-4707.
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Page 5
CHRISTMAS PARTY REPORT
The Christmas Party once again began for Carla
Ferguson and her helpers (Alli Melmoth, Klaus
Rissmann and Linda Howe) at about 9 AM. After
cooking 2 turkeys, a gigantic ham, 25 pounds of
mashed potatoes, gravy, and four salmon sides,
and setting the room up for the party, they were
able to sit down and enjoy the festivities and the wonderful side
dishes and desserts brought by other club members.
Santa again appeared with his reindog and greeted attendees with
candy canes. Thank you George Davis.
Dan Ferguson and Don Tietz provided our entertainment during the
meal with a slide show of the club’s activities through 2009. A special surprise this year was the entertainment provided by the Sweet
Adelines. A lot of talent displayed by four lovely women.
The drawing of tickets for the ornaments prepared by Kurt and Wendi
Lee Tempel was a lot of fun as winners carefully selected the ornament
of their choice. This was the first year for the Tempels' to take on this
chore and they did a beautiful job, producing 48 ornaments.
Carla Ferguson, again, built the gingerbread house and Dan tied the
cute little reinmice pulling Santa’s sleigh.
Thank you to all the people who worked to pull this event together and especially those who
stayed after the party to return the room to normal by boxing the ornaments, dismantling the
tree, moving tables and chairs, putting everything away and helping to load the cars. A special thanks has to be given to Dave Sorg who valiantly volunteered to do KP and stayed until
every pot, pan and utensil was washed, dried, put away and the kitchen was clean.
FEBRUARY 10TH MEETING
Our Speakers Committee this year has once again secured a marvelous
speaker for our February Meeting. Jim Schollmeyer is a professional flyfishing photojournalist from Salem, Oregon. Raised in North Dakota where
he fished for bullhead, yellow perch and pike (one of his favorite fish), he
first picked up a fly rod in the late 60’s and began chasing hatches, tying
flies to match them, and fishing for trout throughout the West.
Jim guided full-time for nearly a decade on Oregon’s Deschutes River where
he refined his skills as an entomologist and fly tier. He sold his first photograph in 1981 and since then his images of rivers, aquatic insects, artificial
flies, and fly-tying instructional sequences have appeared in many dozens
of books and periodicals. Jim is one of fly fishing’s best and best-known photographers
and has authored or coauthored a number of books on insect hatches and fly tying.
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Page 6
TENTATIVE OUTING SCHEDULE FOR 2010
CHAIRMAN: DON TIETZ
DATE
OUTING
HOST
March 20
March 27/28
Coffee Pot
Clark Fork
Fred Howe
Carolyn Sells
April 4
April 17
May 1
May 5
May 8
May 15
May 22
June 6
June 12/13
June 19/20
June 26/27
July 3/4
Amber Lake
Mike Melmoth
McGinnis Lake
Chris & Ellen Kassa
Kids Fishing
Badger Lake
Mike Berube
One Fly/Williams
Kurt Tempel
Fan Lake
Dan Wight
McDowell Lake
NEED HOST
Silver Lake South NEED HOST
Conservation
Mike Keegan
North Fork CDA
Mike Melmoth
Grande Ronde
Carolyn Sells
Clark Fork
NEED HOST
RATING
1 Could be cold/windy
2 Float: Bridge abutments,
small rapids, obstacles
1
1
1
1
1
3 Access
1
2 Wading
4 Float: Rapids, fast water
2 Float: Bridge abutments,
small rapids, obstacles
July 7/9
Georgetown Lake NEED HOST
1
July 17
Spokane River
Tim Reed/Judy Kaufman 3: Float: Rapids, obstacles,
sweepers
3: Wade: Slick
July 24/25
Kelly Creek
NEED HOST
3: Wade: Access, slick
August 7/9
St. Joe
Art Ross
1-3: Wade: depending on where
August 21/22 Deschutes River
NEED HOST
2-4: Wade: depending on where
3-4: Float: depending on where
August 21/22 Lochsa River
Don Tietz
3-4: Wade: access, pools, fast
water
August 25
Amber Lake
Fred Howe
1
Sept. 10/13
Missouri River
Carolyn Sells
2: Float: obstacles
Sept. 13/18
Yellowstone Area Judy Kaufman/Karen Reed (Many locations, many
ratings—contact hosts)
Sept. 18
Spokane River
NEED HOST
3: Float: rapids, obstacles,
sweepers
Sept. 25/26
Kootenai River
Dan Wight
2-3: Float: rapids
Oct. 9/10
Grande Ronde
4: Wade: slick rocks, boulders,
Steelhead Fishing Carolyn Sells
visibility
4: Float: low fast waters,
obstacles
Oct. 9/10
Clark Fork
NEED HOST
2: Float: Bridge abutments,
small rapids, obstacles
Oct. 16
Sprague Lake
Dan Ferguson
1
You’ll notice that the outings for 2010 include ratings. The ratings are explained on the next
page. You may also notice that some outing dates overlap. That was done to accommodate
members who have different fishing preferences.
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Page 7
RATINGS OF OUTINGS
LEVEL
TYPE OF RATING
RATING DESCRIPTIONS
1
Water
Operator
Still water, easy access, may have windy conditions
Rookie to expert, First time pontoon/drift boat owners
should start here. Float Tubes OK here ONLY
2
Water
Still water: limited access/River: Comfortable current,
some obstacles and small rapids, easy wade
Level 1 accomplished, first river outing with experienced
mentor
Operator
3
Water
Operator
4
Water
Operator
5
Still water: difficult access
River: Float: faster water, obstacles, rapids, sweepers
Wade: difficult access, fast, slick rocks
Level 2 accomplished and mastered. Good boat handling
skills, can read water and react
River: Faster water, changing conditions, heavy rapids,
obstacles, braids, strong hydraulics, sweepers
Level 3 accomplished and mastered. Excellent boat
handling skills, can read river quickly and respond
Water
River: Complex water, changing hydraulics and river path.
Complex rapids, falls, scouting recommended
Operator
Expert boat handler with a lot of experience in complex
hydraulic situations. Must be able to read and react
immediately and correctly.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Each time a boat operator enters a new level for the first time they are
required to be with an experienced mentor of that level. Successful
completion of the float in eyes of the mentor will be approval to pursue that level individually and move up to the next.
Remember, this is a work in progress and may be changed.
THE BARBLESS FLYER
Spokane Fly Fishers
P. O. Box 4141
Spokane, WA 99220
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR NAME TAGS TO THE MEETING
NEXT MEETING
JANUARY 13, 2010
7 PM
CRAIG MATHEWS
“UNDERFISHED AND OVERLOOKED
WATERS OF YELLOWSTONE”
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL
1104 W. HEROY
“THE MISSION OF THE SPOKANE FLY FISHERS IS TO PROVIDE A FAMILY FRIENDLY
ORGANIZATION FOR PROMOTING THE SPORT OF FLY FISHING THROUGH
EDUCATION, APPLICATION, AND CONSERVATION.”