New England Fly Tyers

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1 N E W S L E T T E R May/June 2018 President s Message Its hard to believe, but yet another NEFT year has come and gone. Between hot dog nights we managed to accomplish quite a lot and had a lot of good times along the way. Weekly meetings, tying lessons, rod building lessons, spaghetti supper, pot luck suppers, outdoor shows, favorite fly nights, guest speakers, lots of fly tying, our annual banquet, business meetings and more gave something of interest to every member. But as we move into this next season we really need to step up our game and create an even greater platform for learning, enjoyment and opportunity. As that old saying goes, if you re staying the same, you re going backwards. We have challenges to meet and possibilities to consider. Our biggest challenges are pretty obvious and need to be addressed head on. No one will fill the shoes of Ken Hull but we do need to hand off the Rod Raffle program to a member who is willing to contribute an effort much the same as Ken always did. We also have to generate more interest from members to participate in the two shows this winter. The minimum acceptable goal should be 2 tyers at the table for the entire show. Another challenge we need to address is how do we promote and support our youth outreach program. It s a wonderful program with super instructors and we need to find a way to support their efforts and fill those slots. We have a fantastic, loyal membership base and all we need is for each member to kick in just a little extra to meet our goals. Our possibilities are endless but if we can focus on just a few we ll be over the top. Our biggest possibility is to encourage more women to take advantage of the programs we offer. Female fly fishers are the fastest growing segment of our sport and we need to make sure they are welcomed and encouraged to join the NEFT. Let s also seriously consider bringing in a demonstration tyer at least once a month. Professional tyers have so much to offer and share. Many clubs do fly swaps to stimulate interest, comradery, and put more flies in your fly box. How about each member contributing a dozen flies a year to the auction as a fundraiser? There is so much we can do if membership is willing to kick in just a little. So let s make this the year we move the club forward, meet our challenges and expand our possibilities. See you in September! Joe Simone President 1 NEFT Calendar See you in September Events to plan for: September 10 Opening Night of the Tying Season

2 Late Winter Deerfield River Float Trip March 23, 2018 Tom Nault, NEFT member The following is a brief article on a float trip that I took with my good friend, and fellow NEFT member, Scott Mentzer. We booked the trip with Harrison Anglers who have been guiding trips on the Deerfield and several other Western Mass. rivers for many years. The Harrison brothers (Tom and Dan) book approximately 250 trips each, per year. Their collected knowledge of the rivers and the fish that inhabit them, rainbows, brown, pike, etc., is impressive. I met Scott at 6:30 am for the approximate 90 minute drive to our meeting place with Tom Harrison at Hager s market on Route 2 (Mohawk Trail). Before we arrived I received a call from Tom stating that he would meet us at a cut-off parking area just prior to Zoar road. For those NEFT members who have attended the past Deerfield outings you know exactly where this is. After introductions and a brief chat we got into our waders and drove with Tom up Zoar road to the bridge just above the picnic grounds on the upper Deerfield. As the water level was low, Tom expected water would be released from the dam soon and wanted to drive a little further to see what was happening. Before long we could see that the expected release was happening and returned to the bridge to put in his guide boat. This boat is the inflatable type with an interior metal frame and 3 pedestal swivel seats. There was still a lot of snow along the roadside, which helped Tom get the boat to the Deerfield River river but made an obstacle for us. A short slide down the banking, some of which was under control, and we were ready to get stared. Harrison s use Thomas and Thomas fly rods with floating lines and a 30 foot 250 grain sink tip. The rods are 6 & 7 wt. for streamers and 4 and 5 wt. for nymphing. Streamers are olive sculpins with dumbbell eyes and olive dyed rabbit tails. Not easy to cast, but then again most of our casts were one false cast and a distance of approx Depending on the spot on the river we were fishing, you would either let the sculpin swing thru the hole - then strip, hesitate, and strip to the boat. Once to the boat Tom advised that we let the sculpin swing in the current for a few seconds before casting again. This 2 Tom Harrison holding one of the 16 to 18 rainbows that Scott landed. proved to be an effect tactic on more than one occasion. This was a full day trip and we broke for lunch along the river for a sandwich and a few pictures. We look cold only because we were! At a pool just above the Route 2 bridge (you can see the bridge in the background in the picture below) near Zoar Rd. I made a cast along a ledge that had a deep hole. The sculpin was half way thru the swing when a big brown hit. When the brown hit he rolled and you could easily see in th it To ou an tas ne

3 Late Winter Deerfield River Float Trip, cont. the crystal clear water that it was a big hold over. Tom beached the boat and got out to net the fish. The Thomas and Thomas rod was equal to the task and Tom had the fish in the net in short order! A quick measurement had the brown pushing the 26 mark. A few quick pictures and we released him back to the river. If anyone is wondering why Scott and I made this trip in late winter there are 2 reasons: Tom netting the brown. 1. Harrison has a reduced winter rate that ends the last day in March. Nice Brown Trout. 2. I had an opportunity to speak with Tom at the Marlboro Fish Show when I did a tying stint at the NEFT booth. He told me that they had been having fairly consistent luck in taking fish in late winter. All-in-all we thought it was a good day. The boat doesn t have a lot of extra legroom but it handled the river smoothly. Collectively we landed about a dozen rainbows and that one brown. The rainbows have lateral strips that can be described as neon in color! While I am not endorsing Harrison Anglers, or suggesting you would have similar results I do think that they are a reliable outfitter and work hard to put you in position to catch fish. I would like to thank Tom for taking the time to write this article for the newsletter and encourage any member who has a trip they would like to share, a fishing or tying technique they would like to demonstrate or other item of interest they would like to see published here. It takes a lot of time and thought to pull these together but it s a great way to document your adventures and successes and share them with everyone. 3

4 To Promote Fly Fishing and Tying NEFT Our mailing address is: PO Box 164 Worcester, MA The NEFT meets every Monday evening at 7 PM from the Monday after Labor Day to the Monday before Memorial day. We meet at the Singletary Rod & Gun, 300 Sutton Ave., Oxford Ma. NEFT is a non-profit organization of fly fishers and fly tyers. The purpose of the organization is to foster the art of fly tying, to promote the challenge of fly fishing, to encourage conservation and sportsmanship. NEFT began in Worcester, MA in Our current membership comes from over 50 cities and towns in Worcester County. We believe that the NEFT is one of the most active clubs of its kind. We meet every Monday night from the Monday after Labor Day to the Monday before Memorial day, a total of 36 meetings in 9 months. We re on the Web 4

5 Membership Renewal Form Last Name: First Name: Regular Member: $30.00 Junior Member: $15.00 Life Member: Donation Paid by Cash: Amount: Paid by Check: Check # Amount: Personal Contact Update: Mailing address: Phone # Membership Questionnaire: Please Print all Information so it is legible In an effort to keep NEFT activities current with the interest of membership, please take a minute to fill out the following questionnaire: What species of fish do you primary fish for? What type of flies do you most often tie? Do you travel to fish and if so where? What s your Favorite Fly Shop? What is your Favorite Style of Fishing? Would you be willing to share your fly fishing knowledge with other members of the : What fly fishing or fly tying experience would you like to try that you have not yet to experience or learn: ADDITIONAL CONCERNS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE: As you all know, a club is only as strong as its membership. Please check off any of the following volunteer activities you might be willing to assist in: Board of Directors Club Greeter at Activities Favorite Fly Favorite Fly setup and take down Banquet Committee Banquet Set Up or Take Down Membership Outreach Youth Outreach Program Monday Night Setup or Take Down Coffee Setup and Take Down Newsletter Contributor PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND HAND IT TO US AT OUR MONDAY NIGHT MEETING OR MAIL IT TO THE FOLLOWING CLUB ADDRESS. NEFT P.O. BOX 165 WORCESTER, MA