MAY MEETING. Thursday, May 18, Farmhouse Restaurant Wet Fly / Social Gathering: Dinner / General Meeting:

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1 VOLUME 52 MAY 2017 NUMBER 05 MAY MEETING Thursday, May 18, Farmhouse Restaurant Wet Fly / Social Gathering: 6:00PM Dinner / General Meeting: 7:00PM President s Message: By: Ryan Johnson Spring is in full swing and summer is fast approaching. Fishing opportunities including the lowland lakes, the beaches of Puget Sound and some stretches of local rivers are open and available for some fly-fishing action. I hope that you will be able to get out there and enjoy it. May is our last meeting before we take a 3-month break and re-group in September. I ask all of you to take many photos during your fishing adventures this spring, summer and fall and to share those stories with the club at our November meeting. Member presentation night is always educational and a lot of fun when sharing experiences with fellow club members. As you may have noticed, we have had numerous outings to date this year. I d like to give a special thanks to all those who coordinated these events and to all who participated. These events help build a strong club and provide assistance to all who seek to learn additional skills and techniques. We still have several outings coming up. Please refer to the website bulletin board for upcoming events and opportunities with fellow club members. The club will also be participating in the Skagit River Salmon Festival this September. We can always use a little more help with this event. Please sign up to help out when we post this for volunteer assistance. I wish all of you a great spring and summer and look forward to seeing you again in the fall on September 21st when we resume our regular meeting schedule. Tight lines, Ryan Johnson, 2017 President

2 This Months Presentation: Scott Willison By: Tim Cooley Our May monthly speaker is Scott Willison, owner of the Confluence Fly Shop in Bellingham, WA. Join Scott as he shares his experiences on DIY fly fishing for late season coho in the wilds of Southeast Alaska. He'll explore several opportunities along the road system and discuss flies, equipment and tactics to tackle big chrome coho fresh from the salt. The presentation will also feature a short video highlighting the fishing, excitement and camaraderie of some of our recent trips. Prior to the meeting, Scott will tie some of his favorite Alaska patterns. Scott has owned and operated the Confluence Fly Shop in Bellingham for nearly five years. He's a current member of the Fourth Corner Fly Fishers, serves as Treasurer for the North Sound Chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a Native Fish Society River Steward for the Stillaguamish River. He has fished extensively throughout the West, BC, Mexico, Costa Rica, France and the Bahamas. He has an English Degree from Western Washington University and enjoys writing, having articles published in Northwest Fly Fishing, a book contribution for 25 Best National Parks to Fly Fish as well as several forthcoming magazine articles.

3 Fly of the Month: Dali Lama By: Tim Cooley Thread: 140 Denier Ultra Thread to match body Shank: Clipped off #2 Gamakatsu B10S Bead: 3/16" Tungsten Bead Trailing Hook Extension: #50 Power Pro braid Trailing Hook: #2 Owner SSW Tail: Rabbit Zonker Strip (color of choice) with Flashabou (color of choice) Body: Crosscut Rabbit (color of choice) Beard: Short section of Rabbit Zonker Strip to contrast with body color Lateral Flash: 2 strands of Pearl Saltwater Flashabou down each side

4 International Federation of Fly Fishers Rod Raffle: By: Danny Beatty During the first three month of 2017 while the Fidalgo Fly Fishers were reestablishing Membership in the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) the Federation was also going through a major change. The then IFFF Board of Directors hired a company to do some research into how the organization was received and as a result the name was changed to Fly Fishers International (FFI). For long time members as I, it will be difficult to make that transition. The Fidalgo Fly Fishers Executive Board, at its April 6, 2017 meeting, started the process for increasing Fidalgo Club members to join Fly Fishers International. As a result of the club s re-affiliation, FFI Headquarters in Livingston Montana sent the club an 8 ½, five-weight Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) fly rod which the Board and Membership Committee will use as an incentive for club members to join the FFI. The rod will be a raffle prize for those new FFI members who qualify. Club members attending the April 20, 2017 meeting received a Membership Brochure. It is an IFFF brochure and will continue to be used until the supply is gone so please understand the possible confusion. Club members who were not at the April 20, 2017 meeting may either ask for a FFI membership brochure or go online and complete your membership. Click on Membership and complete the form, making sure that you include the Fidalgo Fly Fishers where the form asks if you are an affiliate member. With your FFI membership the club will receive points toward another fly rod for future club use. Some restrictions for receiving points based on previous and lapsed memberships to IFFF/FFI do apply. Fidalgo Fly Fishers members, expand your fly fishing horizons by joining your organization that has been the united voice for fly fishers since Conservation Education Community! All three Fidalgo club Charter Members have believed in this since the beginning of our membership, now forty-two years ago. Please add your name to theirs and others who have joined over the years. Thank you, Danny

5 Proposed 2017 Conservation Grants: By: Richard Raisler The Conservation Grants Committee s recommendation for 2017 grants was approved by the FFF Board and will be brought to the club members for a vote at the general membership meeting May 18th. The organizations and amount of funds are: Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group ($236.00), Skagit Land Trust ($236.00), Northwest Fly Fishing Academy ($236.00), Wild Steelhead Coalition ($236.00) Western Rivers Conservancy ($236.00). The total money is $ , one half of the proceeds from our Christmas Dinner & Auction. Thank you all for participating. For further information about these organizations go to their websites: skagitfisheries.org, skagitlandtrust.org, nwflyfishingacademy.com, wildsteelheadecoalition.org and westernrivers.org Conservation Grants Committee: Richard Raisler, Dennis Wilson, David Snyder, Loren Greenwood, Cathy Schaeffer, Patrick O Hearn

6 New, Returning Members: By: Tim Cooley George Quart, New Member Inducted in March Richard Raisler introduced George Quart, a retired professor who relocated from the East Coast to Bellingham, WA. He is married to Susan Quart. George has been fly fishing more than 50 years and enjoys fishing moving water in both streams, and the ocean tides. Let s give George a warm welcome to our club. Editor's Note: Apologies to George. This was supposed to be in last month's Wahoo. My bad.

7 Roger Saben, Sponsor; Mike Dunagan, New Member Rick Stockmann, New Member; Curtis Hezeau, Sponsor Tom Fulk, Sponsor; Jim Bishop, Returning Member; Don McKeehen, sponsor

8 Joanne Elston, Returning Member; Tim Cooley, Sponsor

9 2017 Marine Fisheries Salmon Season Editor: Thanks to Scott Willison the following information is provided. Please make sure you check up-to-date regulations before fishing as restrictions may change. Though these regulations may change due to the WAC rule process, these are the anticipated seasons. There is no non-tribal commercial pink or coho fishery in 81/8-2, excluding the Tulalip Bubble for coho which is also open for recreational anglers. There are no salmon catch-and-release fisheries within Puget Sound this year as when it is open to salmon, there is some level of harvest permitted (i.e., chum, hatchery coho, pink, etc.). WDFW s projected salmon seasons for Puget Sound are as follows: Marine Area 5: Open July 1 through August 15 for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, Pink, and Sockeye, and open through August 31 for Pink, Sockeye, and hatchery Coho. Open March 16 through April 30 for hatchery Chinook. Marine Area 6: Open July 1 through August 15 for hatchery Chinook (release Chinook in East Area 6), hatchery Coho, Pink, and Sockeye. Open March 1 through April 15 for hatchery Chinook. Marine Area 7: Open July 1-31 for hatchery Chinook, Pink, and Sockeye. Open August 1 through September 30 for Chinook, Pink, and Sockeye. Open January 1 through April 30 for hatchery Chinook. Bellingham Bay is open for Chinook, Coho, and Pink from August 16 through September 30. Marine Area 8-1: Closed May 1 through October 31. Open November 1 through Apr 30 for hatchery Chinook. Marine Area 8-2: Open August 1 through Labor Day (September 4) for hatchery Coho for shore only fishing from Possession Point (MA 8-2 & 9 Boundary) up to Possession Beach Park on Whidbey Island. Closed to boat fishing May 1 through October 31 except within Tulalip Bubble as described. Tulalip Bubble is open for Chinook and Coho during typical Fridays-Sundays and Saturdays-Sundays starting May 26, but is closed June 17. Open November 1 through April 30 for hatchery Chinook. Marine Area 9: Open July 16 through August 15 for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, and Pink. Open August 16 through Labor Day (September 4) for hatchery Coho and Pink salmon from shore only. Open November 1-30 and January 16 through April 15 for hatchery Chinook. Marine Area 10: Open July 1-15 for hatchery Coho, Pink, and Sockeye. Open July 16 through August 15 for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, and Pink. Open August 16

10 through October 31 for hatchery Coho and Pink. Chum opens September 16. Open November 1 through February 28 for hatchery Chinook and hatchery Coho. Marine Area 11: Open June 1 through October 31 for hatchery Chinook, Coho, Chum, and Pink. Open for November 1 through April 30 for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, and Chum. Marine Area 12 North Ayock: Open August 1 through September 30 for Coho and Pink. Open October 1 April 30 for hatchery Chinook and Coho. Chum opens October 16. Marine Area 12 South Ayock: Open July 1 through September 30 for hatchery Chinook, Coho, and Pink. Open October 1 through April 30 for hatchery Chinook and Coho. Chum opens October 16. Marine Area 13: Open year-round for hatchery Chinook, hatchery Coho, Chum, and Pink. One thing to note is there is no bonus Pink salmon limit, however in most areas Pink salmon can be kept as part of the salmon daily limit. These projected seasons should not be used in place of the pamphlet as actual regulations may change due to the rule-making process. A complete list of all Washington State salmon fisheries will be listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules regulation pamphlet. The new regulation pamphlet should be available at all WDFW offices and at over 700 WDFW license vendors throughout the state sometime in early June, 2017.

11 Earth Day 2017: By: Richard Raisler The Fidalgo Fly Fishers education committee and volunteers made community outreach casts during Earth Day at Howard Miller Steelhead Park. Sammy The Salmon, joined the fun! Earth Day at Howard Miller Steelhead Park April 22nd was sponsored by the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. Several conservation organizations, Skagit Land Trust, County, State and Federal Parks, and FFF, joined together to provide educational and fun events. Something looks a little Fishy, and the FFF crew looks a little overworked.

12 Lone Lake Outing: By: Danny Beatty Six members of the Club made the trip down Whidbey Island to attend the outing that was proposed by Terry Abrams. I suppose a person would wonder why an outing would be planned at Lone Lake if you read Lone Lake Requiem last September (2016). Since then fly fishers have organized, clubs got involved along with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the changes were noticeable. Terry invited Curtis Hezeau and me to fish from his drift boat. One of us at each end with Terry in the middle doing the rowing, netting, releasing and guide duties. As we arrived at the launch area I said, Looks like another Fidalgo boat is already on the water. Robin LaRue had arrived a little earlier and was already fishing. Rods and necessary gear were loaded and we were off for the south shore and some trolling toward the west side of the lake. An onshore wind was blowing which required some steady work on the oars. My chartreuse color fly was not attracting fish and Terry suggested we switch to a black Wooly Bugger type fly. Soon we were having hook-ups and releasing nice size fish. I mentioned to the others that my fly had been tied by and given to me by Dave Barcott. Good choice. Fish plants from the jumbos bought by the area clubs and others from F & W plantings were caught. The jumbos had adjusted nicely to the lake and my concerns from two months ago did not materialize. They were also very distinguishable and larger than the normal F & W plants. Bruce Freet had arrived and was chironomid fishing with Robin along the north shore. We moved over that way and had our lunch. An hour or so later we were headed back to the launch. By then Graham Read, the sixth Fidalgo Fly Fisher, was casting from his newly purchased boat. We are happy to report the funds the club spent did make a difference in Lone Lake possibilities. Efforts are still underway to decrease the carp. Hopefully the future for the lake will be positive. A F & W Rainbow, Robin and Bruce in their Prams, Danny guiding in a RB for Terry to net and Graham in his first trip in the new boat. Thanks, Terry, for a good day of fishing! Danny

13 Puget Sound Fly Fishing Fair Puget Sound Fly Fishers is celebrating its 60 years in South Puget Sound by hosting a fly fishing fair July 29, 2017 at Pierce County s Environmental Services Building in Chambers Creek Regional Park. The facility has a spectacular view overlooking Puget Sound with the Olympic Mountains in the background. Our objective is two fold; to introduce non-anglers to the sport of fly fishing, and to enhance the skills and knowledge of current fly anglers. Of particular interest to us is providing particular programs, activities and demonstrations to women, children and families so they can see a way to get engaged in the sport. There are 13 presentations scheduled including techniques for catching tiger muskie presented by Mike Sturza, topwater tactics with Leland Miyawaki, open water cutthroat skills by Bob Triggs, introduction to fly fishing with Rueben Lamphere, fly fishing photography brought to you by Carol Ann Morris, BC steelhead with April Vokey, panfishing for everyone with WDFW s Bruce Bolding, tuna on the fly with Anil Srivistava, stillwater tactics with Skip Morris, smallmouth fly fishing featuring David Paul Wiliams, new and exciting information about Coastal Cutthroat Trout thanks to WDFW s James Losee, and kayak fishing in Puget Sound. Topics are designed to cover all interest and skill levels from fresh brand-new beginner to the seasoned angler. One of the most rewarding elements of fly fishing is that you can always add to your skill set and your reset your game. Ask yourself if there is a species you haven t chased, a technique you need help with, a style of fly fishing you haven t tried yet. Be sure to save July 29, 2017 on your calendar to attend our celebratory event. Like other fairs we will be providing demonstrations, seminars, kids activities, hands-on practice sessions, industry reps, a silent auction, fly tying demonstrations, casting tips and techniques, and resource personnel from both WDFW and USFWS. As a special bonus we will be holding a swap meet where anyone can bring used gear to buy/sell/swap which could be a great way for new anglers to get into the sport without a huge outlay of cash. We will also be providing a selection of personal watercraft so visitors can see the options available to get out on the water - both fresh and salt. Put us on the calendar for July 29, 2017, we hope to see you there.

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15 Upcoming Events: Note: Please check the Outings and Events page on the web site; things get added from time to time. Big Twin Lake. Date May 12th Coordinator: Dan Ballard This is a must event for those who like lake fishing and a good time. refer to: Photos of the Month: April Fools Outing By: Russ Asbury Sheila Tomas with a nice bull trout.

16 Fly Shops: The Confluence Fly Shop 2620 N. Harbor Loop Drive #9 Bellingham, WA (360) Other Retail Outlets: FFF member suggested fly fishing services: The Confluence Fly Shop, Bellingham Holiday Sports, Burlington Cabela's fly shop, Tulalip Pacific Fly Fishers, Mill Creek Orvis, Bellevue North 40 Fly Shop, Omak Carlton General fly shop, Carlton Headhunters fly shop, Craig, MT Please see: If members want to add to the list on the Links, they can contact with their recommendations.