NEWSLETTER wmflyfishing.com

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1 NEWSLETTER wmflyfishing.com Established 1984 P.O. Box 2187, Pinetop, AZ September 2013 WMFFC Mission Statement: The Mission Statement of the White Mountain Fly Fishing Club is: To assist in the development and maintenance of fly fishing opportunities and to promote and participate in fly fishing in its many forms." We support the practice of Catch and Release. We support the use of barbless hooks and harmless netting-and-release practices. Fish should never be held out of water for longer than you can hold your breath. President s Message Bob Henry also has a report on the August Club fishing outing to Reservation Lake so you will have lots of outing information (see page 6). The Club outing at Reservation Lake was set for Saturday and I woke up at 5:00 to the sound of rain running off the roof. I looked outside and it was heavy overcast so I checked the weather radar and there was a big cloud bank a hundred miles wide centered right over Show Low, moving north. So after considering the chance of getting any fishing time I finally decided to head out. When I arrived at Sunrise turnoff I saw patches of blue sky in the Southeast and thought maybe this will be ok after all. Next thing I saw was a woodcutter coming out with a full load of wood. When did he get up? Saw lots of elk in the cienegas and had to stop for a cow elk walking across the road. I turned off on FS 115 (that s 115 washboards per hundred feet) and made my way toward the lake. I saw lots of mushroom and archery hunters out and about. I arrived at the lake and took Reservation Parkway Drive to the west boat launch. Keith Spain and Gloria Mack were already there with the trailer. Others were launching boats or were in various stages of coming in or getting set up. Jerry Myers was already fishing the bay to the west where he caught lots of smaller fish including a mighty 4 incher. I headed for bait fishers cove so I wouldn t have far to go if it started raining, and I wanted to be back before noon to help set up the lunch area. Jerry had kicked around to the cove by then and reported lots of little fish in the bay but not the big brown he had hoped for. We made our way up baiters cove getting lots of hits and catching the occasional 6-10 fish, then Jerry gets one 14 and a quarter. We continue getting lots of strikes and Jerry comments that he just can t get them hooked. I suggested he check his hook, might be bent or something. He does check and shouts that fish broke my hook -- the point and barb were missing. That Jerry is a true sportsman, fishing without the hook point. We headed deeper into the bay and I got the twin to Jerry s 14 incher, right in front of the baiters; I felt kinda bad about that. One shouts out that he is going to get a pontoon. I decided to use my midge rig which I had already set up. I heaved it out and the indicator hits the water and just keeps going down, but I miss. Then I caught another 14 incher and some other typical size ones. I m waiting for another strike when my line takes off, this fish comes flying out the water about three feet high, its tail is finning and buzzing air swimming, it throws my fly in midair and makes its escape. Well, after that show its time to head in for lunch. Gloria brought some round steaks which Keith cooked up and the rest of the potluck appeared and we had a feast. We had eleven people and I heard fish stories so I think most caught some fish. My flies of the day, not that they were the best, just what I had on, were a no-name olive ice-chenille body with brown marabou tail streamer; a no-name hematite BH, peacock herl body, and bunny tail leech; and a black Copper John. Jerry was having good luck on his Lady. Not sure what the others were using. There were a few ominous rain clouds to the SE and SW but we never had any rain. On the way home in the country club area I hit a rain squall and felt like I was in the car wash. My windshield wipers couldn t keep up and it lasted until I got all the way to the house; my yard was flooded. I was happy it waited until I got home. Great time and fun outing. Dennis Jones 1

2 WMFFC Board Members President: Dennis Jones (928) Past-President: Bob Bowers (928) Vice President: Richard Dreyer (928) Secretary: Ellen Hofmann (602) Treasurer: Sparky Snyder (928) Board Member: Steve Hofmann (623) Board Member: Gary Miller (602) Board Member: Jaime DeZubeldia (928) Membership Chairman: Dick Davis (480) Conservation Chairman: Gary Miller (602) Newsletter Chairman: Steve Hofmann (623) Outings Chairman: John Stoner (928) September 18 th Monthly Meeting- at 6:30PM Lakeside Firehouse Agenda: - Social Hour (5:30PM) (Buy your Raffle Tickets!!!) - Call to Order -- (6:30PM) - Introduction of Guests and New Members - Committee Reports - Business & Raffle - Fish Tales - Speaker September Program: Mike Styvaert will talk about trout species in the White Mts, where they live, what they eat, how old and big they get, how to fish for them, equipment to use, and flies that work. Particular attention will be given to brown trout fishing. Upcoming Programs: October: John Marvin. He will speak on the Boulder Mountain Region in Utah for fly fishing opportunities. This region has outstanding lake, creek and river fly fishing. (See the March/April issue of SW Fly Fishing Magazine for a report on the Fremont River. This article should whet your appetite for the talk. November: Steve Hofmann and Dave Buecler will give a presentation on: The Making of a Bamboo Fly Rod. Come on out and see a fascinating presentation and see how a local Pinetop resident builds outstanding custom bamboo fly rods Outings & Meetings Schedule: Date Location Sponsor September 18th Meeting Lakeside Fire Station September 21st Sunrise depending on winds weather Need a Volunteer October 1 Silver Creek Wounded Warriors Fishing Day S.C. Hatchery October 7th-10th Troops First to San Juan Michael Smith & Barry Curseaden October 16th Meeting Lakeside Fire Station October 19th Hawley (Big Browns) or Earl Park Need Volunteer November 20th Meeting Lakeside Fire Station November 23th Silver Creek Steve & Ellen Hofmann December Holiday Party TBA Need Volunteer 2

3 General Monthly Meeting Minutes for August 21.Submitted by Ellen Hofmann The meeting was held at the Lakeside Fire Station and was called to order by the new President Dennis Jones at 6:35 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The minutes from the General Meeting will not be read anymore during the meeting but are posted in the monthly newsletter. There was a motion to accept the last month s minutes as posted, motion was seconded and unanimously agreed upon. Membership Report: Dick Davis announced new/old member Frank Major and two visitors: Bart Wilson and Ginger Donahue. Dick Davis took over as membership chair from Steve Hofmann. Membership dues are due at the latest September 1, 2013 and are still $30. Treasury Report: will only be given at membership meetings. Library Report: Gail Allgood was not present this night. Dennis Jones informed members that the library of books and DVD s is available at Pinetop Sporting Goods. Bob Henry has converted all VHS tapes to DVD s. Casting For Recovery: Gail Allgood was going to speak about the casting for recovery retreat in Greer in October. However, she was absent. Kitty Wiemelt explained that this event was not sponsored by the Arizona Chapter since they all resigned recently. The event is now put on by the National Organization. The board had previously decided to still support the event with a monetary donation. Gail still needs volunteers for the event. Outings Chair: John Stoner, Outings Chairman, not present. Dennis Jones explained that the club decided the August outing will be at Reservation Lake this Saturday. Keith Spain will pull the trailer. Boy Scouts were interested in joining the club at Reservation Lake but it was suggested to them to come to a different outing, maybe even get some fly casting instructions at the casting pond prior to joining the club at an outing. Conservation Chair: Gary Miller thanked all that helped with the clean up on the highway Fly Tying: No fly-tying till October. Rick Tesinsky is still looking for volunteers Bass Pro-Shop will sponsor the WMFFC to acquire new fly-tying vises and tools. Sponsoring will save up to 30% in the total cost Project Healing waters: Ted Lambert gave a report on what went on during the event. He thanked the volunteers that helped him: Bob Henry, Charlie Rosser, Dick Murphy, Gary Miller, Keith Spain, Ed Hurlbut, Jim Natcher, and Dave McDougall. Rich Tesinsky and Garry Miller taught all the fly-tying New Business: An will come soon to all members explaining all the activities that the club is involved in. After the there will be a survey on the website for members to vote on which activities to keep. There also may be another survey to find out how people can volunteer for each activity. Keep checking your and the website Bob Bowers gave an update about the Luna Lake Alliance. Dough Benford, a WMFFC member, is involved in the project and wanted the WMFFC to send a letter of support. The Alliance wants to improve the fishing at Luna Lake Saltry Lake Lodge: Trip is still available for 6 days & 5 nights. The openings are for the first or last week of September. The price for 2 people is just under $5000 for the first week in September. The price for the last week of September is approx. $6500 Troops First: Barry Curseaden presented background information on the upcoming San Juan River trip in October. Trip is Oct Fishing will take place Oct 8 and 9. There are 10 rooms reserved at Fish Heads for $100 per night for the club general membership. Six veterans are signed up and will stay at the Texan s house near the river. Guides and floats are already donated for the warriors. Barry has the sign-up sheet for volunteers or you can call him at for more information. Christmas party: Volunteer needed to head up the planning. Fish Tales: Were told. Members had been in Alaska, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, San Juan River, Falcon s Ledge, Show Low Lake and Reservation Lake Raffle: Was held. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Speaker of the Night: Jerry Myers and Richard Dryer gave a presentation on their trip to Tate Island Lodge on Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan where they fished for Northern Pike, Walleye, Grayling and Lake Trout. 3

4 Reminder.. San Juan River trip for Wounded Warriors/Troup s First. Our fall trip to the San Juan River for the Wounded Warriors and Troops First will be Oct. 7 through the 10th. The gentleman from Texas has donated his home again for the club s use. We hope to take six to eight troops this year. Fishing will be on 10/8 and 10/9. We already have 10 rooms reserved at Fish Heads, which is much more modern than Abe s, for only $10 a night more. We will have non-fishing volunteers and we already have six guide boats set up. There will be one Club member with each Troop and their guide. Sign-ups for this trip will be in September. Mike Smith (602) and Barry Curseaden (623) are organizing this trip. Any questions, please give them a call. Catch and Release BY ALAN PEAK 719fly.com 4

5 Casa and Project Hearing Waters Events.. Pictures by Bob Henry Ken Wolf (Casa lead) and Ted Lambert (Hearing Waters lead) both stated events went off very well. A many thanks for club members who participated in these community service events. A picture is worth a thousand words. Ken and other members with the Casa kids.. Every one enjoying the Picnic Healing waters on the water. Healing waters in the fly tying shop Project Healing Waters report by Ted Lambert We just finished our annual Project Healing Waters training classes and outing. The class this year was smaller than in past years, but it also had a little different look. Taking advice from the people at the local VA clinic, we put emphasis on veterans from OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan vets) and OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraqi vets). The response was good, as all but one vet was from OEF and OIF. We even had a number of responses from the Valley and one OIF vet from the Valley did attend our classes. In our classes, we taught fundamentals of fly fishing, rod assembly and fly lines, rod and line set-up, a variety of basic knots and boat safety and wading safety. We spent a lot of time on teaching them on how to tie different flies. Thanks to Rick Tesinsky and Gary Miller they did a great job as instructors. We had a good number of Club volunteers who worked one on one with each veteran. We had our casting classes at the Mountain Meadows Casting Pond. By this time some of the vets were showing up with their own rod. Some had gone out and bought a rod, while others had in one way or another inherited one. Charles Rosser, Jim Nature, Keith Spain and Ed Hurbut were great working with the vets on their casting. Others who were very valuable working with the vets on a one on one basis were Dick Murphy, Dave McDougell and Bob Henry, who took a lot of pictures to keep a record of the activities for the Club. Thanks to one of our vets who lives out there, our outing was held at White Mountain Lake, a private lake. He was able to get us all passes to the lake for the day. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a good time testing and developing their newly learned skills. As it sometimes is, the fishing was good, but the catching was poor. We only caught a few small crappy. In all, the program was enjoyed by all, Vets and Club members alike. A few of the vets showed a strong interest in continuing on with the classes. Some wanted to get into rod building and rod repair. Others wanted to do more fly tying and of course go fishing. I proposed to the Club that we invite the vets to any future classes we might have and to our outings. 5

6 August Reservation Lake Outing Report. By Bob Henry It rained almost all of the way up to the lake; but the clouds lifted and the rain stopped before we had gotten to the Sunrise turn off. Magically, there was no rain at reservation lake. nice and calm. Bruce Harte and I arrived a little after 7 am; but Jerry Myers had already beaten us there and was already on the water fishing. There were very few people on the lake all morning, other than for our club members. Ten of whom made the trip. We had the lake pretty much to ourselves. We all had a great time, excellent lunch, and fairly good fishing. While the big lunkers stayed down; there were a lot of strikes and most of the members hooked up with six or more smaller fish..the largest being 14 inches. The fishing theory was that the lake had recently been re-stocked for the Labor Day holiday with smaller fish.... In the end, it really doesn't matter how you tally the fish you catch and release; eventually we all realize that it is they who capture us Lloyd Gonzales All fishermen are born honest... but they soon get over it. --- Ed Zern Trolling: Fishing method in which a baited line or lure is trailed through the water from the stern of a moving watercraft in the forlorn hope that its motions will be so enticing to a fish that it will somehow overlook the fact that there is a large boat on the other end." The Angler s Dictionary Birds Nest DESIGNED BY: Cal Bird (modified materials) HOOK: 3 XL Nymph & Wet Fly- like TMC 3761 or Dai-Riki 285 size 6-16 BEADHEAD: optional, if used-copper, size to hook THREAD: Match body, or olive 6/0 TAIL and Legs: Mallard - or teal-flank-feather fibers dyed bronze RIB: Gold or copper wire, small ABDOMEN and THORAX: Brown or gray buggy dubbing like seal dubbing Pick out the dubbing to create a buggy look Google: Tying-the-birds-nest A buggy looking fly that can imitate nymphs, caddis pupa, and baitfish on lakes and streams. 6

7 SHOP AND SUPPORT THESE WMFFC ADVERTISERS If you have an Ad or Article that you would like featured in the next Newsletter, please contact Steve Hofmann at