R E E L L I N E S Established 1962 www.azflycasters.org We support catch and release. January 2018 MISSION STATEMENT The Arizona Flycasters Club is a non-profit tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to encourage, support, and educate its members and the community in the sport of fly fishing, the techniques of fly fishing, and the ethics of catch and release which promotes the conservation of fish and their habitats. The organization s activities also encourage friendship, enjoyment, sportsmanship, and safety. President s Lines Happy New Year! Welcome to 2018. My name is Brad Norgaard, and I am AFC s newly-elected president. It is a distinct honor and privilege to serve in this position. I will continue to honor the club s traditions and consider new ideas to make us an even better club. I have been a member of AFC for almost 30 years and served in a number of board positions across the last 25 years. To those of you who I have not yet met, I look forward to meeting you. Brad Norgaard President 602-670-9582 Don Mickus Vice President 602-920-2350 Alan Davis Secretary 925-785-5583 Barney Rouse Treasurer 602-482-8239 As a non-profit organization, we have been teaching fly fishing and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow fly anglers for over 50 years. Are you new to fly fishing or maybe you would like to learn something new about fly fishing? Maybe you ve been out of fly fishing for a number of years and would like to get back into it? Possibly you have recently moved here and want to learn more about Arizona waters? I invite you to come to one of our monthly meetings and see what we re all about. We also host several outings each year to local, in-state, and out-of-state locations. We also hold fly tying and casting classes, with the club providing all fly-tying tools and materials and rods and reels for those in need. All our classes are available at no charge to club members. We love to share our knowledge and experience. Although learning fly fishing might seem challenging, it is great fun. Another rewarding way to make the most of your membership is to jump in and volunteer. When I was a new member, I really got to know the club and its diverse membership by joining the board. Stand up and volunteer, we d love to have your help! If you are considering joining the club, or are relatively new to the club, I urge you to take advantage of everything AFC has to offer. As a longtime AFC member, I have made many lifelong friends and enjoyed countless outings with club members here in the beautiful Southwest. There is nothing that compares to telling fishing stories around the campfire at the end of an exhilarating day of fishing with friends. See you at the January meeting. AFC is affiliated with the International Federation of Fly Fishers, an organization dedicated to the betterment of the sport of fly fishing through conservation, restoration, and education. Brad Norgaard AFC President president@azflycasters.com
SCHEDULE January 1 Membership Dues 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 10:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 11 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 13 9:00 AM PHWFF New Volunteer Orientation (All Saints Lutheran Church) (Contact Norm Johnson 602-993-6524) 18 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 20 9:00 AM Casting Class (Roadrunner Park) 31 7:00 PM First Fly Tying Class (SSCC) February 5, 6, 12, 14, 7:00 PM Fly Tying Classes (SSCC) 20, 21, 26 7, 14, 21, 28 10:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 8 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 15 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 17 9:00 AM Casting Class (Roadrunner Park) March 4 4:00 PM Annual Banquet & Raffle (La Princesa: 4216 W. Bethany Home) 7, 14, 21, 28 10:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 8 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 10 9:00 AM Casting Class (Roadrunner Park) 15 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 20 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC) April 4, 11, 18, 25 10:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 12 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 17 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC) 19 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 21 9:00 AM Casting Class (Roadrunner Park) May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 10 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 15 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC) 17 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) June 14 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 19 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC) 21 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 2
AFC ANNUAL BANQUET & RAFFLE Sunday, March 4, 4:00 PM La Princesa-4216 West Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, Arizona It has been a great year at AFC. It is time to bring together our club members, family members, and guests for fun, food, and raffle prizes. If you are new to the club and have not been to an annual banquet, it is one of our premier events. This year we will be at La Princesa, located at 4216 West Bethany Home Road, on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Doors will open at 4:00. Dinner will be served around 6:00. The success of our annual banquet depends entirely on your donations. It is time to clean out your fly fishing closets. Handcrafted items also are greatly appreciated by your fellow members. Don't forget about gift cards and gift baskets. Remember this is a fundraiser for the club. AFC cannot operate without your support. We need every member to make raffle donations. You can bring your donations to the January and February general meetings. If you need help making donations or cannot make one of the general meetings, contact any board member and they will be glad to assist. We also need every member to dip into their pockets and buy raffle tickets at the banquet. The proceeds support the club s activities and causes such as our Northern Arizona University Scholarship and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, among others. Please register in advance on Eventbrite, which helps us plan and promote the event. Registration on Eventbrite is free. Please register each person attending. https://afc-banquet-2018.eventbrite.com This year we have reduced the ticket price to $40 per person. Children 12 and under are half price. This year's ticket also will include two drinks including beer and wine. You may pay at the January or February general meeting by cash, check, or credit card. See David Mayl, Don Mickus, or Alan Davis at the membership table. Any board member will also accept your payment. A list of board members and their phone numbers is in the newsletter and the website. You also may mail a check to Arizona Flycasters Club, P.O. Box 47357, Phoenix, AZ 85068. If you have questions, contact any board member. Thanks! 3
Chris Taylor "The World s Most Rewarding Trout Fishing Experience, The San Juan River AFC General Meeting January 11, 7:00 PM, Sunnyslope Community Center What is a Fishead? Fishead: title (noun) (fishhed): Person who spends all their time thinking about, dreaming about, or in the pursuit of, fish. The San Juan River Located in picturesque northwest New Mexico, the world-renowned San Juan River provides some of the world s most rewarding trout fishing experiences. The San Juan is a constant producer of rainbow and brown trout, averaging 16 to 18 inches, with many reaching much larger lengths. Recent studies suggest there are more than 15,000 fish per mile in the quality waters of the San Juan! Guest Speaker Chris Taylor Chris father introduced him to fly fishing at age 11 on the waters of New Hampshire. His interest and expertise grew to the point where, during the summers of his college years, he guided clients for trout and salmon in Alaska. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, and not sure which avenue to pursue, Chris received a phone call from a friend in Telluride, Colorado to guide on local waters. After guiding the San Miguel and Dolores Rivers for two years, Chris went south to the San Juan River and started working as a guide for a local outfitter on the world-renowned tailwater. In 2000, Chris started his own guide service, Fisheads, realizing an ambition that was in his mind for years. Fisheads soon became the premier guide service on the river, servicing clients from all over the world. The quality of the Fisheads experience was recognized nationally when Fisheads was named by Orvis as Guide Service of the Year for 2008. In April 2011, Chris opened Fisheads San Juan River Lodge, complete with a restaurant, The Back Cast Café, fly shop, and lodging to complement his guide service. Fisheads is the foremost full-service lodge and outfitter on the San Juan. Chris presentation is certain to increase your knowledge, whet your appetite to fish the San Juan, and entertain you. It is a not to be missed presentation, given in two parts: Chris will first cover the river restoration projects. The river is experiencing lower flows than in the past. Though it is still a top tailwater, concerned fisherman and guides and New Mexico Game & Fish are taking steps to keep it that way. Four separate projects have been completed and others are in the works. The success of the projects already has surpassed everyone s expectations. The areas on the river where work has been done now hold more fish and insects than in the past. The second part of Chris presentation will focus on nymph fishing. Fly selection, rigging, and presentation will be covered. You will look at nymph fishing with a whole new attitude after you see his presentation. Join us on January 11, hear some fun and educational stories, see some great photos, and learn more about the sport of fly fishing and the famous San Juan River. 4
Casting Class Saturday, January 20, 9:00 AM, Roadrunner Park Ron Robinson, Education Chair Our basic casting class will be held at Roadrunner Park, located at Cactus Road and 36th Street, just off State Route 51. We will gather at the northeast corner of the park. Instruction will start at 9:00 AM and finish around 11:00 AM. We will provide basic instruction to all those who are just starting to learn fly casting. In addition, we will cover methods for delivering slack line casts. The club has new equipment obtained using a special grant from Cabela s. They are really fun rods to cast so come on down and give them a try. If you have questions, give Ron a call at 602-867-8820. Fly Tying Classes Return January 31! Ron Robinson, Education Chair Our basic fly tying classes begin on January 31 and continue through the end of February. We will be teaching some old standards tied in a new way, which will include using different materials and techniques. These are always fun classes and free to all club members. We supply the materials and equipment at no cost. Each class is stand alone so you can start at any time. Our crew of instructors will be there to help you if you need it. All classes will be held at the Sunnyslope Community Center from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. See the Schedule section (page 2) of this newsletter or the website for the complete list. If you have questions, give Ron a call at 602-867-8820. Red Hot Chili Pepper Hook: 3XL 9672 Mustad #12 Head: Brass or orange bead Thread: Orange 6/0 or 8/0 Tail: Burnt orange marabou and copper Krystal Flash Body: Copper tinsel chenille Hackle: Brown saddle Collar: Orange thread 1. Place in the vice the debarbed hook with the bead already on it. Attach the thread at the rear of the hook, just before the bend. At this point, tie in a small clump of the marabou, trimming it to the length of the hook shank. Tie in four strands of Krystal Flash on either side of the hook, trimming to the same length as the marabou. 2. Next tie in the chenille in front of the marabou, wrapping the thread back to the base of the tail. At this point, take the saddle hackle and trim off some of the barbs to expose the stem. Tie in at the base of the tail. Now wrap the chenille forward to the bead, forming an even body for the fly. Tie off behind the bead and trim the excess. 3. Wrap the saddle hackle forward towards the bead in a spiral fashion. This should take only about four wraps. Tie off and trim the excess. 4. Finally, wrap a small collar of orange thread behind the bead. This fly is capable of catching many kinds of fish. Like a wooly bugger, it can be fished anywhere, in any conditions, and any way you think of dead drifting, twitching, or fast stripping can produce fish. 5
Board Members Brad Norgaard President 602-670-9582 president@azflycasters.com Don Mickus Vice President 602-920-2350 vp@azflycasters.com Alan Davis Secretary 925-785-5583 secretary@azflycasters.com Barney Rouse Treasurer 602-482-8239 treasurer@azflycasters.com OPEN Comm./Social Media Chair info@azflycasters.com John Doss Programs Chair 623-229-8335 speakers@azflycasters.com Barb and Brian Fayle Hospitality Co-Chairs 602-923-7870 hospitality@azflycasters.com Paul Finell Badges Chair 602-741-6563 badges@ azflycasters.com Chuck Howey Technology Chair 602-866-9495 it@azflycasters.com OPEN Raffle Chair raffle@azflycasters.com Norm Johnson Project Healing Waters 602-993-6524 phxphwff@azflycasters.com OPEN Outings Chair outings@azflycasters.com David Mayl Membership Chair 480-236-6757 membership@azflycasters.com Craig Mernitz Fundraising Chair 602-739-2385 Ron Robinson Education Chair 602-867-8820 education@azflycasters.com Ben Sheridan Special Events Chair and specialevents@azflycasters.com Youth Activities Chair 480-223-7815 youth@azflycasters.com Bob Sickles Librarian 602-953-3761 librarian@azflycasters.com Greg Stock IFFF Representative 623-824-6286 IFFF@azflycasters.com OPEN Conservation Chair conservation@azflycasters.com Toni Wallis Merchandise Chair 623-979-2465 merchandise@azflycasters.com Steve Nemecek Newsletter Editor 602-264-9224 newsletter@azflycasters.com 6
Your Flyfishing Specialists Serving Arizona since 1981 Guide Service Schools Lessons www.azflyfishing.com SPORTING TRADITIONS SINCE 1856 The ORVIS Company 2011 East Camelback Road, Suite C10 Phoenix, Arizona 85016 TEL. 602.626.7558 A Celebration of the Sporting Life Specializing in Flyfishing & Wingshooting 10050 North Scottsdale Rd. Suite 101 Scottsdale, AZ 85253 7
Arizona Flycasters Club P.O. Box 47357 Phoenix, AZ 85068-7357 Arizona Flycasters Club general meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the second Thursday of every month at the Sunnyslope Community Center. The Annual Banquet and Raffle is held in February or March. Watch for further details. The Arizona Flycasters Club newsletter is published by the Arizona Flycasters Club and is distributed to its members and advertisers. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the club. Advertisements are placed as a means of conveying the message of the advertisers. The Arizona Flycasters Club does not necessarily endorse the advertiser s products or services. Arizona Flycasters Club P.O. Box 47357 Phoenix, AZ 85068-7357 http://www.azflycasters.org Next General Meeting: Chris Taylor: The World s Most Rewarding Trout Fishing Experience, The San Juan River Thursday January 11, 2018 7:00 PM This space reserved for your name and address. 8