The Red Letter OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RED STICK FLY FISHERS

Transcription

1 July 2012 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RED STICK FLY FISHERS Next Membership Meeting: Monday, July 9 th, 7:00PM at the Wildlife and Fisheries Building on Quail Drive Sun Rise, Leeville, La. by Sheldon Anderson Next Fly Tying Meeting: Monday, July 23, 7:00PM at Cabela s, Gonzales, La.

2 Above taken at La. National Hunting and Fishing Day, LDWF Education Center A great example of why we volunteer!!! Red Stick Fly Fishers (RSFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of fly fishing, conservation and outdoor ethics. Programs are held the second Monday of each month at Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries located on Quail Dr. at 7:00 pm. Fly tying is held the fourth Monday of each month, except December. The location currently alternates between Orvis, Cabela s in Gonzales and Bass Pro Shop in Denham Springs. These events also begin at 7:00 pm. Dues are $25 for individuals or families, free for students. RSFF is affiliated with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Gulf Coast Council. Submissions to must be received by the Editor no later than the first Monday of each month. Correspondence or club information can be obtained through the club web site, or by (see last page for member contacts), or by regular mail at: RSFF PO Box 3761 Baton Rouge, La RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 1 Baton Rouge, La

3 Red Letter Mailing list This month s newsletter is being sent to all current and past RSFF Red Letter recipients. If you haven t been getting the newsletter, it could be your club dues haven t been paid or no longer a member. If you would like to continue with the Red Letter, contact Ron Braud, Treasurer, , braudrp@eatel.net (keeper of the master member list) to sort it all out. July 9 meeting: Larry Offner Our next meeting will be Monday, July 9, at the Wildlife and Fisheries Building on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge. Time is 7:00pm. Casting lessons outside start at 6:00pm, weather permitting. Our guest speaker for July will be "Uncle Larry" Offner. Larry has been an ambassador for warmwater fly fishing ever since his introduction to the sport, and today maintains the most active forum for folks who pursue bass, bream, crappie, carp, smallmouth, and other warm species on the fly ( Larry is also proprietor of Green Trout Fly Shop in Denham Springs, which sells products from TFO, Teeny, Vedavoo, and others, and carries regionally-tied flies. In addition to being a longtime member of RSFF, he's also a member - and president - of the Pontchartrain Basin Fly Fishers. He's given programs on fishing the New Orleans area, in particular on Rio Grande Perch, and helped organize the Rio Grande Fly Fishing Rodeo, which has been very popular. At our July 9 meeting, Uncle Larry will talk about one of his favorite fishing areas - Highway 51. This stretch of waters between Pontchatoula and Laplace offers great bank and kayak fly fishing year-round, for bass, bream, crappie, and the occasional redfish. The public is invited to this meeting. So mark your calendars! Advanced Fly Tying Workshop: Balsa - July 28 Saturday, July 28, 2012 Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm (lunch break 11:30am-12:30pm) Location: TBA, somewhere in Southeast Louisiana Instructor: Kirk Dietrich Hosted by Red Stick Fly Fishers Cost: FREE for current members of a recognized fly club, $20 otherwise You provide: tying tools and some accessories (TBA) We provide: materials, instruction, lunch, refreshments Pre-registration required. Kirk has agreed to conduct a session covering many of the aspects of balsa-based flies, such as tooling, shaping, painting, eyes, foil wrapping, epoxy, etc. A preliminary detailed course outline will be posted in the next week. This is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the masters of the craft! RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 2 Baton Rouge, La

4 Check out his work: Any current member of any club is welcome to participate. If you're not a member of a club, it's $20 -OR- you can join the club of your choice in advance and we'll take you in free. To register, simply go to or and post a response to the Advanced Tying Workshop thread with your name and name of club. There is NO cost for either class, but pre-registration is required as seats are limited. Upcoming Meetings Info: August 13 - Lt. Commander Joel Stewart. Joel was born and raised in Montana, and started tying flies at age 8. He worked a fly shop full time when he was 12. After graduating from high school in 1985, he enlisted in the Navy. In 2005, he was assigned to the Multi-National Corps in Baghdad. During that tour, he founded the "Baghdad School of Fly Fishing" which made international news. It later was renamed the Baghdad Anglers Club and School of Fly Fishing. Joel is currently stationed in New Orleans, as executive officer of the U.S.S. Anchorage, which will be commissioned to Anchorage next spring. He always has a fly rod in his sea bag, and that is the title of his new book, "A Fly Rod in My Sea Bag", which entails his fishing adventures in Iraq and the wherever in the world his duties take him. September 10 - Movie Night Come early for the September meeting (6:30pm) as we'll discuss club business, then show the hit film, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen". Part romance, part comedy, part satire, and purely inspirational, it s the story of how Dr. Alfred Jones, an uptight, agnostic fisheries expert, discovers faith, love and humanity while helping a wealthy sheik realize his vision of bringing the sport of fly fishing to the desert. Bring a date. We may or may not have popcorn, but we'll have refreshments. RSFF returns to Lake Concordia September By Jack Lithgoe, Warm water Chair Check your schedule and start begging for your yard pass. Sign up with me by to reserve a spot at the Fall Warmwater (literally) trip to beautiful Lake Concordia just an easy 2 hour trip north of Baton Rouge. We are booked in the lodge, but if you want separate accommodations call Lakeview Lodge and book your room. Room #4 has a King Bed if you want to bring your wife, or girlfriend or both. Several rooms have 3 dbls, several have 2 dbls, and one has 4 dbls. Any rooms not booked by September 7 will be made available to the general public on a first come first served basis. RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 3 Baton Rouge, La

5 Let me know if you want a bed in the lodge. Like other RSFF fishing trips, we don't guarantee the fishing, but we always eat well. Lakeview Lodge Jack Lithgoe, jacklithgoe@gmail.com cell From the Fly Tying Bench By Emmitt Simmons, Fly Tying Chair Introduction Grand Isle - We Came -We Saw - We Were Blown Away Last month I was dreaming of fishing the surf at Grand Isle and exploring the marsh in my yak. Reality set in as I drove down to the island. For those brave souls who made it down, the storm in the gulf ensured that surf fishing was not an option. I decided to make the best of the situation. Exploring some new places was definitely an option so I fished in several new places that I had not fished before. I found that the leeward side of the island was fairly calm but there was a lot of water being pushed by the storm. Still not so strong that I couldn t paddle against it. Jack Lithgoe and I found a new place to launch were able to explore some new waters. Wade fishing at the Snake Pit and Lake Laurier roadside fishing yielded a few fish. We even hit the bridge Saturday night and caught a few white trout and specks. Not the best conditions but an excellent opportunity to learn some new spots when the surf is not cooperating. Jack and Suellen Lithgoe Demonstrate Mylar Spoonfly and Dragonfly Patterns RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 4 Baton Rouge, La

6 Jack Lithgoe Demonstrates Tying on the Mylar Body Ingredients: Hook #2 Sheet red mylar (craft and hobby shop) Sheet gold mylar (same) Optional, bead chain eyes, Optional, crystal flash 2 hour, 2 ton epoxy Red 3/0 thread Instructions: Remove backing from each sheet of mylar, and carefully position them evenly then press together Using template, carefully cut out the shape leaving a very small tab on each end Bend hook into slight half moon shape Wrap hook back half way past bend Tie in 5-6 pieces crystal flash just above where you stopped the thread, tie off or use drop of head cement Position the mylar cutout with the read tab just above the tie of point. Tie in the tab, and tie off. Wrap forward to just behind the hook eye Position the front tab of the spoon just behind the hook eye leaving room for bead chain eyes. Tie in bead chain eyes using figure eight wraps. Whip finish and place a drop of head cement on each tie point. When you have tied spoon flies, mix a small amount of 2 hour 2 ton epoxy, and paint the entire spoon and all tie points. Place spoon fly electric fly turner for 2 hours. Leave overnight. Mix another batch of epoxy and repeat. Two coats are needed. RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 5 Baton Rouge, La

7 Suellen Lithgoe Demonstrates Tying on Thread Base Ingredients: Blue or Green Craft Foam, 2mm #6, 3X Long all purpose hook, eye bent down (BPS White River Fly Shop, WR-004) Blue or Green EP Fiber Pearl Krystal Flash Blue or Black 3/0 thread Large black bead chain or glue on eyes Instructions: Cut foam ¼ inch x 3 inch strip Wrap hook just past ½ length of hook Place foam on hook approximately one inch in front of hook eye and wrap tightly to form a cylinder back to tip of hook, then continue to wrap only foam into a cylinder While forming the foam into a cylinder, wrap toward tail in 1/8 inch intervals until ¼ inch from end, then wrap back to middle in 1/8 inch intervals forming a cross hatch pattern, tie in and place drop of head cement Using EP fiber or marabou, dub in the insects abdomen, tie in and place a drop of head cement Cut pieces of krystal flash slightly more than 3 inches and tie in as wings over the dubbed abdomen. Shape the krystal flash into wings with thread and head cement Tie in large black bead chain eyes 1/8 inch behind hook eye Fold back the remaining foam over the top of hook and wings, and form a round head approximately ¼ inch back from hook eye, and again about 5/16 inch to form shell back over wings Snip foam about 3/16 inch behind tie in point Cut a V notch at end of tail Use a black marker to bar wings RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 6 Baton Rouge, La

8 July 23 rd 7:00pm Cabela s Gonzales, LA This month I will be in Idaho and Washington State doing some trout fishing and visiting my brother and his family. But don t worry I will have someone lined up to demonstrate some patterns and will send out an with the particulars. Good Fishing to All, Emmitt Simmons Another Great Multi-Part Series Playing a Fish with Fly Tackle By Bill Brown Part 1 Getting Ready to Play the Fish There are hump-teen hundred books and articles on every aspect of fly-fishing with one exception: how to play a fish, yet this is one of the most difficult things a beginning fly-fisher has to learn along with maybe the cast. If their fishing history includes bass fishing with level wind reels and stiff rods like my history does, successfully playing a fish on fly-casting equipment can be a huge relearning process. I, for one, had been used to both casting and reeling with my right hand. This arrangement fit me perfectly since my left hand is not very coordinated. I learned to grab the rod above the handle with my left hand after each cast, freeing up my right hand to do the task of reeling in the line. I do the same when using flycasting equipment, but I grab the top of the grip with my left hand. At the same time, I clamp the line against the grip using my index finger, leaving my right hand free to either strip in the line or grab the handle of the reel. This can be done successfully by most beginners with little practice. Of course, if you prefer to cast with your right and operate the reel with your left hand, no switching is needed. Lefties need only reverse the thinking here. Why is this important to playing a fish? Whichever hand is left on the rod will be the one that will do the biggest job while playing the fish. Successfully playing a fish involves making several quick decisions, the first of which is: Do I Strip or Reel? Most of the time when you hook a fish you have loop of line that is loose between the reel and the first guide on the rod. It is here that you need to define if you ve hooked a fish that is small enough to bring in by just stripping the line in by hand or is it large enough that you will have to play it using the reel. You need to play big fish on the reel to take advantage of the reel s drag system which is designed to tire the fish while protecting your tippet. You ll have to make the decision based on a limited number of inputs: 1) the resistance you feel as you set the hook, 2) the amount of bend in the rod as you set the hook and 3) the initial pull of the fish. There s no way to help you make that decision, but it will become easier to make with experience. If you make the decision to strip the fish in, hold the rod with the thumb and bottom three fingers of your rod hand (the hand with which you are holding the rod) and clamp the line against the upper grip with the index finger. Grasp the line just below the clamp point with your reel hand (the hand with which you would operate the reel) and pull it down as you let the line slide through the clamp you made with your rod hand index finger. When you stop pulling, re- RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 7 Baton Rouge, La

9 clamp the line against the grip. Keep the rod tip high and the line tight and repeat the above stripping operation until the fish is at your feet or boat. If you decide to play the fish on the reel, there are a couple of ways to proceed. You can allow the first run of the fish to take up the slack the in line, controlling it with the pressure on the line with your index finger, but this allows the fish to run a ways before you re in control. The other alternative is to let the line pull through your clamp slowly as you reel in the slack line. This method gets the fish on the reel faster but you have to pay attention to both the clamp release operation and reeling operation at the same time. Partial release of the clamp can cause a fast moving line to burn your finger so you ll have to determine the possible danger of that happening at the time. In some cases you won t have a chance to determine how to get rid of the slack, the fish will do that for you - they ll just take off and the slack will be gone. The latter can pose a problem if your drag has been set too strong. Going from a slack line to a strong drag quickly can snap a light tippet in an instant, so keep your drag set a little weak. Once the fish is on the reel, adjust the drag stronger by watching the rod during the fish s run. If the rod is fairly straight and the fish seems to be running at will, tighten down the drag until the rod is bent to approximately 90 degrees. If your reel doesn t have an adjustable drag press the palm of your reel hand gently against the rim of the rotating reel spool. The harder you press the harder it will be for the fish to pull out line. It doesn t take a lot of pressure to increase the resistance a lot. And, be careful not get a friction burn or get hit by the handle from a fast rotating reel. If you ve come from the Bass Fishing world, you understand the need for a good hook set. With stiff rods, a harsh rare-back on the rod tip is all that s needed to sink a sharp hook into the bass s mouth. In fly-fishing, because we re after a variety of species using a flexible rod, it s not quite that simple. If you re trying to hook a bream or Sac-au-lait (Crappie) both of which have soft mouths, a brisk rise of the rod tip may do the job. (You should always work your fly with the rod tip low to the water so you ll have ample room to raise the rod tip when setting the hook.) But, if you hook any number of other species with hard mouths, especially saltwater species, a simple rod tip rise may not set the hook. Stu Apt, a famous saltwater fly angler, used multiple hard rod tip rises to set the hook on the large billfish he hooked. Another method is to point the rod tip at the fish with a tight line and pull back on the rod, taking the flexibility of the rod out of play. Here s where a barbless hook can really help. Part 2 next month News Letter Submissions-Publication By Sheldon Anderson In an effort to have the latest news in the newsletter, I ve waited till the last moment to publish; unfortunately that s lead to errors. That s not working.. Therefore, I plan to publish on or about the Wed before our 2 nd Monday meeting. This will give readers time read what s coming up at the meeting and me a wider window to publish.. Now, this means I would like to have your submissions by the 1 st Monday of the month or it may be in the next month s Red Letter. Share what you read If you read an magazine or something on the web that s of interest, share it Here s how Due to copy right laws, I can t publish the article but I can publish a RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 8 Baton Rouge, La

10 your brief summery and state where it can be found. Show the web link or the magazine, article title and issue. Gents I m sorry to say I don t have time to read much these days so I ask for your help to share your sources of information.. You can send these to me at sa.adventures@yahoo.com RSFF Calendar of Events by Catch Cormier, Events Chair What's happening in the weeks and months ahead? Asterisk (*) denotes a RSFFsponsored event. Activities designated with (M) are only for members and their immediate family, or members of other clubs. All other activities are open to the public. For the most up to date list, go to and click "Calendar" page to see what's scheduled. Recurring Activities * Membership Meeting: 7:00 p.m., 2nd Monday of each month, Wildlife and Fisheries building, Quail Drive, Baton Rouge. Casting instruction prior to meeting during Daylight Savings Time. * Fly Tying Sessions: 7:00 p.m., 4th Monday of each month. Meeting locations rotate. For more info, contact the Fly Tying Chair, Emmitt Simmons, at emmitt.simmons@cox.net - January, April, July, October - Cabela s. - February, May, August, November - Bass Pro. - March, June, September, December - Orvis. Fly Tying Clinics by Friends of RSFF - Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs. 4th Saturday of each month except December, 9:30am to 12noon, Conference Room. Bring tools and equipment, materials provided. Call Ron Brooks (225) Events Ongoing thru Labor Day CCA STAR Tournament. FLY DIVISION - Fly East and West Divisions. First place in each Division wins a $1,500 gift card to Academy. Any registered contestant who catches a speckled trout 14 inches or longer on fly rod and qualified fly, can weigh in for a chance in the Bonus Drawing for a TFO BVK fly rod. For more details, go to and click on the CCA STAR forum, or go to July 21 (Sat) 2 nd annual Casting for Kids Rodeo. Bobby Lynn's Marina South, Leeville, LA Entry fee $30 includes registration, t-shirt, meal at weigh-in. KAYAK DIVISION: Categories include slot red, flounder, trout, and leopard red. Food, fun, raffles, and fishing all for a great cause - to help RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 9 Baton Rouge, La

11 raise money for children with a life-limiting illness. All proceeds of the event will go to the Palliative Care Foundation of Baton Rouge. For more information, or to sign up or help sponsor this event, please contact: Michelle at mkpoucher@gmail.com. * July 28 (Sat) Advanced Fly Tying Workshop: Balsa. Location TBA. Time: 8:30am 3:30pm (lunch break). No cost to members of RSFF or other clubs. Non-members $20. Refreshments provided. Instructor Kirk Dietrich will lead a workshop on creating balsa flies such as poppers and divers. Students bring tools, club will provide materials. Seats are limited, pre-registration required. Catch at catch@laflyfish.com to register. August 3-5 (Fri-Sun) 62 nd annual Terrebonne Sportsmans International Fishing Rodeo East Park Ave, Houma, LA. FLY DIVISION. Rodeo starts 12:01am August 3 rd, Scale hours Aug 4 th 12noon -6pm, Aug 5 th 10am -4pm. Fly Division includes speckled trout and redfish.. For info, contact Larry Jordan or Troy August (Fri-Sat) - Ride the Bull III Extreme Kayak Fishing Challenge. Bridgeside Marina, Grand Isle, LA. FLY DIVISION. Presented by CCA and Calmwater Charters. Come join the fun Captains steak dinner on Friday evening. Saturday morning shotgun launch. The format is simple - land a Bull Red from your Kayak or other authorized paddle craft in Caminada Pass. Awards will be given for largest Bull Red landed and weighed (and released) on Rod and Reel and Fly Rod. For rules and info, go to August 25 (Sat) - 8th Contraband Fly Fishing Expo. 9am - 4pm. Moss Bluff United Methodist Church, 735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, Moss Bluff, LA. Sponsored by the Contraband Fly Casters of Lake Charles. Free Admission. Fly Tying, Casting Demos, Lure Exhibits, Auctions / Raffles, Food and Refreshments, Equipment Displays and more! Public invited. For more details, go to or contact Warren Warren Landry (337) September 8 (Sat) - Camp Fly Fishing School. Advanced/Instructors Workshop. Covers techniques such as distance casting, shooting line, mending the cast, performing slack line and other various forms of casts. For those interested in becoming instructors, the required skill sets needed for FFF Certification will be covered. Classes are held at "The Camp" facility in Breaux Bridge, featuring a stocked pond and an air-conditioned classroom. Price of $135 includes one full day of instruction, 8:00am to 5:00pm, lunch, refreshments, and handouts. Instructors are all FFF Master CCIs. For details, go to * September (Fri-Sun) - Fall outing to Lake Concordia. Friday thru Sunday. Our annual spring trip to Lake Concordia offers world-class fly fishing for bass, bream, crappie, other species. Stay is at scenic Lakeview Lodge. Nearby options also include Lake St. John, Old River Vidalia, Bayou Cocodrie. Culminates with Saturday evening fish fry. For more details, check or contact Jack Lithgoe, Warmwater Chair. * September 22 (Sat) National Hunting and Fishing Day, Waddill Outdoors Education Center, 4141 Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge. 9am 3pm. Free admission. Sponsored by LA Wildlife and Fisheries. Activities for the entire family, exhibitors, and wild food tasting. RSFF will again conduct fly tying and fly casting. 6 volunteers needed for our booth, signup at the July and August meetings, or contact Catch Cormier. RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 10 Baton Rouge, La

12 September 29 (Sat) 4 th annual Rio Grande Fly Fishing Rodeo. Lafreniere Park, Metairie. Fishing for Rio Grande Perch. Free and open to all members of fly clubs. Check the New Orleans Fly Fishers forum on for details. October 5-6 (Fri-Sat) - FFF Southern Conclave, Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Arkansas. The Mid-South's premiere fly fishing and fly tying show, sponsored by the Southern Council Federation of Fly Fishers. Features programs, workshops, fly tying demos and instruction, casting instruction and games, vendor exhibits, youth activities, raffles and auctions, much more. Registration available online or by mail. For details, go to November 2-4 (Fri-Sun) Southern Fly Fishers Rendezvous, North Toledo Bend State Park, Zwolle, LA. Sponsored by the Gulf Coast Council FFF. An annual gathering of members of fly fishing clubs from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and beyond. No planned activities but plenty of fly tying, food, fly casting, fishing. Fee includes lodging and meals. Check out the Rendezvous webpage for more details: * November 9-10 (Fri Sat) - RSFF Spring Catch-and-Eat. Annual spring marsh outing for reds, specks, drum and other species. Highway 1 corridor. Culminates with Saturday evening fish fry at Boudreauxs Condeauxs in Golden Meadow or Boudreaux Motel in Leeville. For more info, check the April newsletter or forum at RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 11 Baton Rouge, La

13 A Sampling of Events - Summer, 2012 RSFF Board Position home work/cell address Dan Weber President dweberg@aol.com Don Richardson Past President drichardson33@cox.net Greg Brignac Vice President gbrigna@gmail.com Ron Braud Treasurer braudrp@eatel.net Sheldon Anderson Editor sa.adventures@yahoo.com Mike LaFleur Secretary lafleurmf@aol.com Glen Cormier Events catch@laflyfish.com Jack Dial Coldwater JDial213@aol.com Emmitt Simmons Fly Tying elsimmons@cox.net Randy Leonpacher Saltwater RMLeonpacr@bellsouth.net Bill Brown Membership Bbrownflyfish@yahoo.com Roger del Rio Conservation dri92640@aol.com Dugan Sabins Education/Programs dugansc@bellsouth.net Jack Lithgoe Warm water JackLithgoe@gmail.com Friends of RSFF, Please support our club sponsors! Cabela's - Gonzales, LA All outdoors. St Croix, Sage, Ross, Cabela's own fly rods and reels, fly tying materials, lines and accessories. Green Trout Fly Shop N. Range Ave. Denham Springs, La. (Located in Seldom Seen Antiques). or Specializing in TFO products, Teeny fly lines, warm water flies and accessories. **** A Bayou Runs Thru It - PO Box 1062, Broussard, LA 70518, (337) , Jerome & Dena Hebert - Custom Flies, Wildlife & Game Fish Art. Backpacker Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA, (225) , Camping, canoes, kayaks, outdoor clothing. Bass Pro Shops - Denham Springs, LA 70726, (225) All outdoors. Sage, Bass Pro, Redington, TFO fly rods, reels, fly tying materials, lines and accessories. Free fly tying class every 4th Saturday. Fish With Rich Guide Service - Capt. Rich Waldner, New Orleans, La, (504) , Fly fishing for reds and specks in the Southeast Louisiana Marsh Louisiana Fly Fishing Louisiana's online fly fishing resource since Check the LFF Calendar and Forum for all events related to fly fishing and kayak fishing in Louisiana and the region. RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 12 Baton Rouge, La

14 Louisiana Sportsman Magazine PO Box 1199, Boutte, LA, (504) , Louisiana's premier outdoors magazine and online resource. Temple Fork Outfitters Makers of affordable quality fly fishing products. RSFF, PO Box 3761, Page 13 Baton Rouge, La