Tippets, Tapers & Tales

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Brooke McDonald
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1 RCFF Board President Mike Grinwis Tippets, Tapers & Tales Vice President Bob Bawden Secretary Steven Arnoczky Treasurer Mark Noel Newsletter Editor Terry Greiner Inside this issue: President s message 1,2 Evolution 3 Knot tips & a hot new product New eatery & a tough decision The disappearing west Equal billing President s Message - March 2018 Hey Red Cedars! I don t know if it s a sign of global warming of just Mother Nature playing funnies with my eyeballs. I ve always remembered February as a month of sub -zero temps amidst ice and snow and the only resemblance of green was a stray grass clipping still clinging to a yard tool in the garage. But it s the first of March and I ve seen more green than white in my backyard this past month. Guess it s her way of saying, GET READY FOR OPENING DAY!!!!!!!! Then again, March IS the time when a lot of activities get kicked off. March 3rd is another Quiet Waters Symposium at the MSU Pavilion. Special thanks go to Phil Stevens and Bob Ceru, who put our best foot forward manning the booth there. The weekend after that is the 41st Midwest Fly Fishing Expo at the Macomb community College Sports & Expo Center in Warren! Looking forward to seeing what the latest and greatest is down there. Always fun! Speaking of upcoming events, don t forget to bring in your donations and/or flies for the fly boxes we re selling at the Fly Fishing Garage Sale to the March meeting! Thank you to ALL our members who ve donated their time, talents, and those lesser used items headed for Birch Run toward the end of the month! We APPRECIATE IT!!!...Cont d on page 2 FFI drawing for Hyde skiff Night work & new videos from Rio Partnership & more Quiz for the month Nature s way Cont d Cont d Field notes & Fridge reminders McKenzie Cup Winners The Red Cedar Fly Fishers is a Charter Club of the International Federation of Fly Fishers. It s purpose is to promote fly-fishing through Education, Restoration and Conservation

Just let one of our current Board members know and you ll be on the ballot for our election at the June picnic! Speaking of the June picnic, the Board had a lengthy discussion about this coming one.

2 PAGE 2 Another thing we have to look forward to is our annual Election of Officers. If you d like to really get involved with a GREAT bunch of guys and help make a difference, consider stepping up as an officer or Board member this coming year. Just let one of our current Board members know and you ll be on the ballot for our election at the June picnic! Speaking of the June picnic, the Board had a lengthy discussion about this coming one. Since we moved to the Kestrel pavilion at Hawk Island park, we ve been paying a fee to the City of Lansing to use that facility, not to mention also paying for the burgers, brats, condiments, water, and soft drinks, too. It s not that we re averse to spending money on our club members. We just figure you d rather have us use our funds a little more in line with our club s purpose. So, the Board has proposed that this year, we will charge $5.00 per each adult who attends. This money will go towards covering the costs of those delicious burgers, brats, condiments, etc. We re also going to ask that everyone bring a dish to pass. We have some pretty talented cooks (whether they be club members or family members), and we all heard quite a few compliments on the dishes that were brought last year. We ll have a sign-up sheet starting at the March meeting for you to indicate what you d like to bring. We want to keep the tradition going. Please give it some thought and mark your calendars for June 12th! Tight lines!

3 Page 3 The Evolution of Flyfishing, by Bob Kren, RCFFer, artiste, and sometimes Mr. Flyfisherpersonguy I Want You To Run For An RCFF Board Position

4 PAGE 4 3 Tips For Tying Better Knots.from Gink & Gasoline 1. Leave a Tag I ll start here because it s controversial. Anglers have traditionally clipped the tag ends of their knots flush to their knots. It has long been considered good angling craft to do it this way but it makes no sense. If the fish is not bothered by the nine feet of leader coming from your knot, he s not going to care about the tag end either. I always leave about 1/16th of an inch tag on my knots as an insurance policy. If I have made a mistake, which gets easier as my eyes age, and my knot slips, the tag will catch it. This goes for my blood knots in my leader as well. Anglers are often resistant to this idea because they think the tags on the blood knots will catch their leader as it turns over. If that s happening to you, it s a casting problem, not a knot problem. Forget about your blood knots and read this article on tailing loops. 2. Hold your knot in your mouth as you tighten it. We all know to moisten our knots before tightening them, and most of us do it by popping the knot into our mouths before we tighten it. Leave it there as you pull the knot tight. The purpose of moistening the knot is to reduce friction as it is tightened. That friction builds up heat and it s the heat which weakens the line. Spit doesn t really help that much. Most knots which are damaged by friction are simply pulled tight too quickly. You should always tighten your knots slowly and if you leave them in your mouth, you can actually feel the heat on your tongue. It should feel like a warm day, not hot coffee. 3. Don t be a tippet miser. I get it, tippet costs money, but in the scheme of any fishing trip it s about the cheapest thing we use. Give yourself enough tippet to tie a good knot easily, without fumbling and losing tag ends. You ll tie your knots faster, better and with less frustration. If you clip off an extra couple of inches of tippet, you re really only losing pennies on a spool. New Product on the Market, or what to do with Old Fly Rods So it s late when you get off the stream and you re heading back to your camp. Thirsty..of course, Hungry. you bet, so what better to pull out of your rod case than this ticket from the Japanese manufacturer - Snow Peak. Hot dogs easy, marshmellows no problem, fried chicken not so much!

through a building The owner has plans for this to become the future home of a new bar called.

5 Page 5 This just in from Hawaii..a huge tornado created a rogue tsunami wave that pushed a large great white shark up and through a building The owner has plans for this to become the future home of a new bar called...wait for it... The Landshark. Sharknado 6? What a decision to make.to beer or not to beer that is the question! Not sure if this is Trout Slayer brand or not

6 Page 6 The Disappearing Rivers Project Rivers are the lifeblood of the West. They irrigate crops, provide clean drinking water, serve as habitat for fish and wildlife, and fuel an $887 billion outdoor recreation economy. Rivers are woven into the West s outdoor heritage and our very identity as Americans. But rivers from headwaters to ocean are under immense pressure. Climate change, development, and an ever-changing landscape are placing growing stress on the waterways that are so inextricably tied to the health of Western communities and economies. As documented in The Disappearing West, growing human populations demand more from rivers: more water for cities; more diversions for irrigation and power generation; and more dams to manipulate natural river systems into performing for human needs. This development which includes mining and urban sprawl puts more strain on healthy, functioning river systems. The results defy the conventional wisdom that western rivers flow wild and free. Nearly half of all river miles in the West 49 percent are modified from their natural state. Once known for their dynamic character, 21 percent of rivers in the West no longer flow freely and a total of 140,000 river miles, or a distance long enough to circle the Earth nearly six times, have been altered by human uses. The development of lands adjacent to rivers is a primary cause of river degradation with 42 percent of rivers flowing through flood plains altered by human activity. For more detailed information on not just the rivers but also the land as well in the west, paste the link below in your browser.

7 Equal Billing Page 7 Last month was beer. This month provides various vessels to hold appropriate liquids to share one s celebration when on or leaving the water. Remember, don t drink and row! Designate a friend to share that responsibility.

8 PAGE 8 Support Fly Fishers International & Win! Fly Fishers International is the sponsor of a Sweepstakes giving away a Montana Skiff, manufactured by Hyde Boats. The Hyde Montana Skiff is suited perfectly for those secluded, hard to access areas. This agile boat comfortably floats 3 with plenty of storage on either side of the rower. The long storage trays easily accommodate several 9.5 rods. Tickets are $25 each and the drawing is April 30, To enter the drawing paste this link in your browser: Secrets of Fly Casting by Jim Green Found this video on one of the 647,895 & 1/2 websites I regularly check out. Jim was with Fenwick when this video was made and is using their HMG fiberglass rod. Even though it s dated, he does a very nice job describing his method of casting a single hand rod with closeups that everyone can follow. Who says fiberglass rods can t throw a tight loop.check it out. Fate of the Earth Symposium The club will have a booth at the upcoming event on March 24th at the Kellogg Center on MSU s campus to disseminate information about the Red Cedars to those who stop by our table. If you re available to help for a couple of hours, let Bob Bawden know at goghiti@yahoo.com. Feel free to tie flies, talk about fly fishing opportunities, and let attendees know how our club gets involved in conservation activities around the state. For more information check out: fateoftheearth/2018/index.php

9 PAGE 9 Two Tips for Night Vision & Attaching a Fly to the Tippet 1. Red was widely used by the military in the past, however green lamps are becoming the standard. Low-intensity green lamps better increase your visual acuity, provide better differentiation, and have less negative impact on your night vision. 2. Here s a tip for tying flies in the green or red light that makes threading the eye the biggest challenge: Purchase a set of C & F Design midge threaders (4 for $10). Pre-threading flies is limiting and can lead to lost flies. Instead I drilled a small hole in the grip and threaded some old fly line as a lanyard. Now tying on a new fly in the dark (green light) is quick and easy. Just pass the threader tip through the eye, pass your tippet through the threader wire, and pull! Fly ON! Editor.You can also buy a sewing needle threader that does the same thing. Rio s How To Series Rio Fly Line Manufacturer has introduced a new compilation of tips for the fly fisher. Here s the list so far with more planned in the future. These are very well done and everyone can pick up a couple of ideas to implement. How to make an overhead cast How to setup a trout/spey outfit How to fish a dry fly on a lake How to fish a streamer from the bank How to fish European nymph style How to fish a terrestrial from a boat How to fish a hopper/dropper rig How to fish a nymph & indicator How to tie the Albright knot How to tie the perfect Blood knot How to tie the improved Blood knot How to tie the Pitzen knot How to tie the Turtle knot How to tie the non-slip mono loop the knot to use for streamers How to tie the clinch and improved clinch knot How to weld a loop in T material How to fish a hover and intermediate sinking fly line How to attach a braided loop to your fly line How to choose a trout or spey line How to clean a fly line How to avoid twist in your fly line How to make a great roll cast There s several more in the series. Head over using this link: Click on Browse the Library and choose your selection on the left side of the page.

10 PAGE 10 Partnership: 'You give me half the fish, and I'll tell my mom to let you go.

11 Page 11 March s Fly Fishing Quiz 1. Mickey Finn is: a. A famous casting instructor b. A dry fly c. A classic streamer d. A member of the Rolling Stones Barbless hooks are nice because: a. They can penetrate the jaw of a steelhead b. They make the catch & release easier on the trout c. They make removal of the hook from your ear easier c. All of the above 3. Stoneflies: a. Are found mostly in lakes b. Have wings like a sailboat c. Have wings that lie flat against its back d. Have trouble mating on the surface of the water because they re so heavy 4. Clinger Mayfly nymphs: a. Found mostly in lakes b. Don t want to leave the nest c. Live mostly in the fastest water of rapids and riffles 5. The three major orders of aquatic insects important to trout fishers: a. Grasshoppers, Ants, and Mayflies b. Midges, Mosquitoes, and Dragonflies c. Caddisflies, Mayflies, and Stoneflies 6. A false cast: a. Can be used to gauge distance and direction b. Is one you lied about c. Can be used to dry off dry flies d. A and B 7. The best place to find trout in a large river: a. In the middle b. In very fast moving water c. Along the bank near rocks, downed trees, in shade d. On the other side 8. A switch rod: a. Can be used for either single or two handed casting b. Is a rod at the bottom of your boat that is rigged with Power bait c. Was introduced on the Spey river in the 1800 s 9. A Wooly Bugger: a. Can resemble large nymphs, baitfish, leech, drowning terrestrial insects and crayfish b. Is a common condition among sheepherders c. Is a popular and effective streamer d. A & C 10. Within each of the three major order of aquatic insects, adults of all species have the same shape a. True b. False 11. Five aspects of aquatic insects are of absolute importance to anyone tying and fishing flies. Which is the most important? a. Size & shape b. Color c. Behavior (Presentation) d. Habitat

12 Page 12 Nature s Way of Catching a Meal

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15 Page 15 Field Notes: Check out this website: The owner of the site has taken Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of Iowa and created a listing of the streams/rivers with details on each. Take care of the fish, and the fishing will take care of itself ~ Art Neumann EXCELLENT FILM What s your excuse? ( midcurrent.com/2018/02/05/video-hatch-inspirational-fly-fishing-film/) National dentist s day March 6th Hate to get a cavity while landing your record fish for the year Don t forget to bring anything to the meeting that would make good garage sale items for the end of the month. If you are planning to tie flies at home for the garage sale fly boxes, please bring them in to the next meeting. Here s what we d like to have: Elk hair caddis, Adams, Hair s Ear nymphs, Bocher s, Soft hackle, Griffith s Gnat, Sulphers, Hendrickson s. Refrigerator Reminders March 4th - Club tying night at Piazzano s, 6:00-8:00 10th-11th - Midwest Fly Fishing Show in Warren, MI 13th - Red Cedar meeting, Giltner Hall at MSU. 6:30 Hospitality, 7:00 General Meeting, Program by Dr. Arno on fishing the private trout clubs of northwest Ohio April 7th - National beer day 10th - Red Cedar meeting, Giltner Hall at MSU. 6:30 Hospitality, 7:00 General Meeting 30th - National honesty day..specifically created for fishermen 16th-18th - Great Waters Fly Expo in St. Paul, MN 18th - Club tying night at Piazzano s, 6:00-8:00 Quiz answers: 1- c 2 - d 3 - c 4 - c 5 - c 6 - d 7 - c 8 - a 9 - d 10 - a 11 - c

Tippets, Tapers & Tales

RCFF Board President Tippets, Tapers & Tales Past President Herb Drake President Elect Mike Grinwis February 3, 2015 Secretary Dennis O Brien President s Message Treasurer Bob Bawden Education Chair Banquet