The February 2017 NEWSLETTER Northern Arizona Flycasters An active member club of the world wide organization Federation of Fly Fishers Conservation, Restoration, and Education through Fly Fishing We support active involvement in coldwater fisheries conservation. We work to insure that Arizona s habitat is not degraded and in the development and maintenance of fly fishing opportunities. We support the practice of catch and release, the use of barbless hooks, and quick and harmless release practices. Fish should never be kept out of the water for over 60 seconds. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northern Arizona Flycasters meets the first Wednesday of the month at the Arizona Game and Fish Regional office at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff. Meetings start at 7 PM with a board meeting at 6 PM. The meetings are free and the public is invited. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESIDENT S DRIFT I want to thank our Board members for their service and to all the members that have worked to improve our adopted home waters; I enjoy the ponds south of Williams. Many of us are looking forward to fishing these waters as well as adding Lake Kinnikinick to our treks this spring. Our Board continues this tradition of conservation volunteerism; our Board is taking action to increase membership ranks with the ultimate goal towards engaging the next generation of fly anglers. Steve La Falce and Clark Dierks are actively searching for guest speakers. For the February meeting they have a great speaker available to discuss Forest Restoration and Fish Conservation. You ask what does forest improvement have to do with fly fishing? Good question as Travis Bruner, will discuss how forest restoration in northern Arizona benefits fish as well as wildlife habitat. Travis knows his subject, as he is the Arizona Forests Program Manager with the Grand Canyon Trust (GCT). Travis is a lifelong fly-fishermen and upland bird hunter who invested time leaning the craft in Idaho while fishing the famous Silver Creek in Picabo, Idaho. Also, Travis is interested in working with us to identify common regional goals
and jointly achieving those goals. Please plan on attending and bring friends. Furthermore please share your ideas for future guest speakers with Steve La Falce and Clark Dierks; they are most interested in being responsive to membership at NAF. Have you make arrangements to attend the San Juan trip this March? Currently many members have included their name to the list of attendees; please contact Steve La Falce for details and availability. Also, let Board members know where else you are interested in fishing as a club event, let s get our fishing calendar booked early. Members of the Board, please plan on attending your business meeting. We have a very full agenda and must get started without delay. As requested, we have John Doss, web solutions architect at Dossigan Digital, LLC ready to present an integrated communication strategy using Facebook, Newsletter and internet web site. Plus, our joint partner Trout Unlimited Grand Canyon Chapter also has a business agenda. We have a boat load of information to convey and lot s of business decisions by both NAF and the TU chapter so please arrive early. Announcement At the January meeting, leadership at Northern Arizona Flycasters (NAF) authorized an investigation of social media as a marketing tool and as a method to increase NAF membership. There is a desire to reach the next generation of fly anglers regarding conservation, stewardship, volunteerism and the joy of fly fishing. The media firm of Dossigan Digital has agreed to provide us with the basics of using integrated media tools to achieve these goals. Dossigan Digital s John Doss, an analyst, will be presenting a discussion regarding digital technologies to NAF leadership. John has years of experience assisting non-profit associations with interactive digital technologies. John has done digital interactive marketing strategies for Arizona Flycasters and the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited. Using the tools of Facebook, Newsletter and web page combined with the integrated strategy can help support our current membership and engage the millennial digital generation". Leadership will be learning more about how to effectively use these tools. EDUCATION Water Temperature This is part 3 of a series of articles on the theories of the different factors which produce good and bad fishing conditions. The theories aren't necessarily mine, although I've attempted to provide a thoughtful summary of information I have researched, with some modification based on personal experience. Water Temperature Most fish species are cold blooded, which means they do not and can not control their internal body warmth. As a result, their metabolism is strongly influenced by the temperature of their
surrounding environment. A few species, bluefin tuna as an example, are somewhat warm blooded in that they can control the temperature of some organs by using muscle movement to generate heat. But as far as I know, most sport fish are cold blooded. Given their cold-blooded nature, fish need to move to stay within their temperature comfort zone. Generally they do not need to move too quickly, because water has a high heat capacity, so generally change in temperature happens slowly. Fish then are rarely trapped outside their comfort zone, unless exceptional changes happen, such as a fish being caught in a small landlocked pool on a very hot day, or when there is a large draw-down of a reservoir. Fish generally try and find their thermal optimum, i.e. that temperature which is not too cold or not too hot. The thermal optimum varies for different fish species, and many feel that larger fish in a species have a better cold tolerance, and this may be a factor why larger fish are generally deeper than smaller fish. For migratory species such as Striped Bass, water temperature generating movement of their preferred prey species is the key indicator. However when the predatory fish reaches the final practical limit of it's range, for example in a large tidal estuary, temperature will be a significant factor in the fish moving inland, with larger fish generally being able to move early and leave late, given their supposed greater tolerance for colder water. Many species of fish feed or congregate where there are differences in water temperature. The warmer water accommodates a temporary increase in their metabolic processes, while the colder water is more oxygenated. Certainly the fish can move between zones depending on whether or not they are actively feeding, or are less active. Certainly if their preferred prey species at any given time is higher or lower than optimal, the fish are going to go where the meal is. When the water temperature finally goes below their desired range, a semi hibernation takes effect, and fish activity drops off almost altogether. The following table attempts to summarize the temperature comfort zone and thermal optimum for many sport fish species. Species Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Lower Limit F Thermal Optimum F Most Active F 50 (10) 73 (23) 62-75 (17-24) 85 (29) 58 (14) 68 (20) 58-73 (14-23) 85 (29) Lake Trout 42 (6) 55 (13) 50-57 (10-14) 60 (16) Musky 55 (13) 63 (17) 55-72 (13-22) 72 (22) Pike 55 (13) 66 (19) 55-74 (13-23) 74 (23) Upper Limit F Walleye 50 (10) 67 (19) 55-74 (13-23) 76 (24)
Striped Bass 50 (10) 65 (19) 55-65 (13-23) 75 (24) Draw your own conclusions on the effect of water temperature on fishing activity. However, this is one factor that I'd recommend you use in determining where and how deep to start fishing on a given day. Adjust as needed, but it's a good place to start. ByDavidGirdwood Manager,Thefishingnut www.thefishingnut.com Member Fishing Experiences Blain (Mac) McIlwaine Fishing the Ferry in the days of Old J. Edgar I was transferred to Flagstaff from Denver in March of 1971, and upon arrival, heard some comments about fishing at a newly created "Tailwater Fishery" north of Flagstaff. The Flagstaff FBI office covers an enormous area. My original territory was the eastern part of the Navajo Reservation, but in November of 1971 I inherited most of northern Coconino County, the western portion of the reservation and the Glen Canyon recreation area within Arizona. And a neat little place called Lee's Ferry. Most of my classmates at the FBI Academy at Quantico in Virginia wound up in such exotic locations as Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New York City. A few lucky ones got Pittsburgh and Biloxi. I couldn't believe my luck in winding up at a lovely place like Northern Arizona. One of my first chores with this new assignment was to contact a National Park Service ranger at Lee's Ferry and I combined it with a trip Page to meet the Chief of Police. I hate to admit it, but in those days I was still throwing brass at good trout. I took my 4 piece High Sierra backpacker rod and my Mitchell spinning reel As my first contact was at 10 am and I was going to meet the chief at 4 pm I figured I could use my lunch hour for some brief fishing before I departed for Page.. After my contact with the Ranger he pointed out a spot for me by the" Big Rock" we all know on the river. In those days we were still wearing business suits per Mr. Hoover. I took off my tie and exchanged my black wingtips for some sneakers. and headed to the river. After I arrived opposite the "Big Rock" I cast my red Mepps Spinner up river and let it bang down over the rocks with the current. After the lure flowed past me dome distance I thought I had snagged on a rock. Then the "rock" moved downstream and came out of the water shaking
his head. Where I came from in California a big trout was a 14 incher. This thing was twenty inches plus and was a beautiful rainbow. Lost it downstream as it pulled away. My next fish was at the same spot and was even a bigger one. Well my 45 minutes was up and I had to go to Page. I returned to the Ferry that next Saturday and caught a lunker. My partner took a photo of me with black hair and a huge rainbow of at least 24 inches. I have been "hooked" on the ferry ever since. Membership Contest A long time member badly in need of a decent reel DO NOT FORGET THE MEMBERSHIP CONTEST An excellent reel will be presented to the membership who brings in the most new members by March 31. Be sure to tell the membership chair when you sponsor a new member as her records will determine the winner. If a tie should occur, a drawing will be held to determine the winner. NAF 2017 EVENTS SCHEDULE
See the beautiful background and the old fisherman- THE BIGGEST THREAT TO NAF IS FOR MEMBERS TO DO NOTHING NAF 2017 EVENTS SCHEDULE Feb 1 Travis Bruner-Arizona Forests Program Manager-Grand Canyon Trust will discuss how forest restoration in Northern Arizona benefits fish and wildlife habitat program of vast importance. All members need to become aware of the importance of this program. March 1 Jim Strogen-Entomologist will present a highly informative program on aquatic insects and related topics. Jim has presented to several of the Arizona club and knows his stuff. Don t miss this one. March 23/26 San Juan outing-this Orvis sponsored outing has become a favorite of NAF anglers and members should start planning for a fall trip. April 5 Scott Rogers-Arizona Game and Fish will discuss the AG&F programs and the role of NAF in these programs. NAF has been highly supportive of AG&F over the years as vice versa. Scott has forgotten more about trout than most people know. Items under discussion by board
Orvis annual fishing 101clinic Fishing outing to the Walk In at Lees Ferry Walk fences at the Williams lakes to determine needed repairs Fishing outings to the Williams lakes Fly casting sessions on a regular basis. The Board welcome suggestions from members. There will additional events so watch this space NAF CLUB OFFICERS/COMMITTEE CHAIRS President Jack Shambaugh Vice-President Clark Dierks Secretary Mac McIlwaine Treasurer Denise Dean Northern Arizona Flycasters PO Box 2924 Flagstaff, Arizona 86003 Website- www.nazflycasters.org