Monthly Newsletter January 2010 The Fishingest Club Around Welcomes Graham Owen Upcoming events January 12 General meeting at Apollo Park at 7pm (fly tying at 6pm) January 19 Board Meeting at Mike Jedlick s January 26 Fly tying night at Brian s Deadline for the February newsletter is 1/20/10. Members can email stories to bnmandthegirls@verizon.net or tsuttle@charter.net Outrageously large brown trout, realistic flies that look like they were cloned and breathtaking photography is what we have to open up the New Year with. We are very fortunate to have Graham F. Owen as our first guest speaker of 2010. Graham is a well-recognized natural photographer and artistic fly tyer. He has won international acclaim for his realistic insects, which have appeared in high advertisements and film production. His photos have been featured on the cover of American Angler, Canadian Fly Tyer, Siemens Solar, and various other publications. A more thorough description of Graham s biography can be found on his website http://www.grahamowengallery.com/index.html. Graham also has a website dedicated to his realistic insects for use in different media industries. http://www.filmflies.com/. I first met Graham several years ago at the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach when he was one of the featured fly tyers. The huge brown trout pictures that he displayed were a real eye catcher, but I thought he really had some fish catching flies in his box that were tied by someone who really pays attention to detail. I think it s the little things that add up to be successful in angling. Graham has truly taken detail to the next level and it shows in everything he is involved with. Please join Graham at 6 p.m. as he demonstrates some of his fly patterns.
- 2 - Knots and Rigging: Still-water Nymphing By: Tod Suttle Crowley Lake is a destination that most of us make at least one trip to each season. Now that we are in the offseason and the lake is closed for winter, it seems appropriate that we fill our fly boxes with midges and streamers in preparation for the lake opening in spring. Still water nymphing is a technique that has gained immense amounts of popularity over the last decade. To practice this technique, the angler suspends a small midge pattern a few inches off of the lake bottom; this technique is intended to imitate a midge pupa hatching from the muck and rising to the surface to find a willing partner to mate. When I first tried this technique, my initial thoughts were that it was the most boring form of fly-fishing ever created. I felt like the guy in the lawn chair drinking a Budweiser and waiting for a fish to eat my worm and dunk my bobber. After learning a few helpful tips and establishing some techniques that I felt confident in, I must say that I enjoy still water nymphing as much as walking along a wild trout stream pupa Courtesy of www.theallenbrothers.com One of the techniques that will help increase your chances is fishing a multiple fly rig. There are several thoughts on the best technique for tying tandem flies on your tippet and I will highlight two of them. The first technique involves tying your first fly to your tippet with your standard improved clinch knot and then tying a piece of tippet (12-18 ) to the bend of that hook (also with the improved clinch knot). Next, you simply tie your second fly to the end of that piece if tippet material (once again with the improved clinch knot). The second technique involves tying your piece of tippet (12-18 ) through the eye of the hook of the top fly and then adding your second fly below that. I prefer this technique because it allows your top fly to sit in a more natural position (perpendicular to the lake bottom). http://www.midcurrent.com/images/meck_tandemflies_4.gif The last factor to insure your success is to get your flies at the proper depth. The standard technique is to clip your forceps onto the bottom fly and lower it into the water until you feel it touch the bottom. Then lift your fly up the desired amount (usually 3 18 ) and attach your indicator. I prefer using a yarn indicator like the Sungicator (pictured), but the foam and cork models work as well. Don t let your fly sit in one place too long; watch your indicator closely and if you notice the smallest movement, lift the rod. If you can t wait for Crowley Lake to open, give Laguna Niguel Regional Park a try. They are stocking fish every two weeks and even though you have to pay a fee, it is a close drive and you can fish from your tube. If things seem to be slow, set your rod down and reach for a sandwich; that usually guarantees a bite.
- 3 - The President s Message By: John Barnett I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas. Our Christmas Pot Luck was very well attended. We had a lot of tasty food, and it was nice to be able to visit with our members. We would like to thank all of those who were responsible for setting up the hall, decorating, and organizing the Pot Luck. We were happy to see so many wives in attendance enjoy our annual Christmas event. In the coming year, I am looking forward to doing the fly tying classes: beginning and advanced. Also, we will be planning some fishing outings so that we can do some local and long-range fishing together. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, and look forward to seeing you at the January meeting. John B. What is it? Who is actually reading this newsletter from beginning to end, that is the question? Be the first to correctly identify this item and win 5 free raffle tickets at the January meeting. Good luck and the first to respond wins. Please send answers to the following e-mail address. tsuttle@charter.net Courtesy of http://www.flyfishing joy.com/ Quote of the Month "Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." ~by Chuck Clark~
FLY OF THE MONTH September 2007 Black Tail Bead Head by Bob Bates Courtesy of www.fedflyfishers.org - 4 - Sometimes fairly simple fly patterns catch lots of fish. Joel Popham from Spokane Valley, Washington has been exercising northern Idaho fish for years with this pattern. He showed us how to tie it at the Western Rocky Mountain Council (FFF) Fly Fishing Exposition in West Yellowstone, Montana, June 30, 2007 Lakes are usually best fished from some sort of floating device. That includes everything from a real boat to a float tube with all kinds of pontoon boats in between. Once you have the floating device then you need to think about the presentation. Many times it is a matter of casting as far as you can, letting the fly sink and bringing it back to you. The retrieve can be a slow hand twist, a strip-pause, a short strip or a long strip like you were trying to pull the fly away from the fish. If you don t want to work that hard you can resort to bobber fishing by using a strike indicator. Measure the water depth by clamping forceps onto the fly, lowering them to the bottom or top of weeds and set the strike indicator where it will hold the fly at the proper depth. Oh yes, take the forceps off the fly before you start fishing. Now all you have to do is wait for the bobber to go down so you can strike. Frequently the bobber will sink when you are watching a bird, talking to a friend or pouring a cup of coffee. Consider giving this fly a try as the top fly on your still water nymphing rig. If you give Laguna Niguel or Crowley Lake a try and get tired of staring at your indicator, tie this fly on to your sinking line and troll it around for a while. The Black Tail Bead Head has qualities that make it look like a fish catching machine. Materials Hook: Gamakatsu P10-2LLH 12-16 Thread: Gray, 6/0 Beads: Blue or pink glass Tail: Marabou, black Highlight: Krystal flash, usually a lighter color. Body: First layer is peacock colored Ice Dub. Make the second layer a lighter color. (Color of dubbing optional) Hackle: Any soft feather; partridge, juvenile hen etc. dun or brown Follow this link and click on September 2007 for more detailed tying instructions: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/default.aspx?tabid=4478
- 5 - Club Officers President: John Barnett V. President: Secretary: Treasurer: Mike Jedlick Past President: Carl Laski Board of Directors Clip art courtesy of www.davewhitlock.com Fly Tying Night at Brian s This month s fly tying night will be on Tuesday, January 26th from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm at 4729 Coldbrook Ave in Lakewood. This is for those members or friends that want to get together and tie flies, learn new patterns, get tips and techniques, or just socialize. All members are welcome to come and learn some great new techniques from some well-rounded fly-tyers. Contact Brian at (562) 425-7936 or bnmandthegirls@verizon.net. Hope to see you there. Board Meeting There is a board meeting at Mike Jedlick s house on January 19 th. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm and all club members are welcome. Please come and share your ideas about the club policies and practices. We are always looking for new ideas and helpful volunteers to keep the club going strong. Alan Grosdider Jim Buchannan Mike Jedlick Terry Mattsuura Eric Rasmussen Frank Russick Phil Doc Solomon Conservation and FFF Rep Education Fly Bank Membership Newsletter Outings Potlucks Programs Publicity Chairpersons Raffles Refreshments Trout in the Classroom Video Library Website Carl Laski John Barnett Bob Stuart Don Mulder Jerry Ferrin Tod Suttle Jerry Phan Position Open Zino Nakasuji Ray Sugiyama John Barnett Mike Jedlick Randy Teeple Richard Dekker Fred Roberts Jerry Phan Tod Suttle
- 6 - DFF Supports: -The Apollo Park Senior Center is located on the corner of Rives Avenue and Quill Drive just west of Paramount Boulevard and just north of Imperial Highway. Cal Trout This month s meeting: January 12, 2009 Apollo Park Senior Center 12458 Rives Ave Downey, CA 90242 PO Box 516 Downey, CA 90241