NEWSLETTER wmflyfishing.com Established 1996 P.O. Box 2187, Pinetop, AZ 85935 March 20155 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. Tight Lines President's Column Trout Dying To Get a Good Photo The following is a short excerpt from an article written by Tony Bishop for Bish and Fish a New Zealand web site called Fly Fishing Stuff. The complete article can be viewed at http://www.bishfish.co.nz/articles/fresh/grip-and-kill.htm. We all should know the rules for releasing a trout with the best chance of survival, but there is one rule that is almost never included in articles about successful releasing. So, you have landed the fish as quickly as possible to limit capture stress and you are about to pick up the fish and a get a few 'grip and grin' shots before release. But, grip and grin, can all too often turn into grip and kill, and it is all down to where and how you grip the trout that can determine its survival. Gripping a fish in the pectoral area using inward force and squeezing pressure will compress the heart and maybe the liver and gills. The outcome for the fish is not going to be good, even if it does manage to swim away on release. A bad grip is very likely to damage the fish's heart and maybe the liver and gills and reduce survival chances. The right way to hold a fish is near the head. The trout is 'cradled' with the fingers parallel to the side of the fish, not clawing in like talons, or squeezing this vulnerable area. I encourage you to read the entire article. Figure 1. A Bad Grip Figure 2. A Correct grip.. Dennis Jones, President...
2013-2014 WMFFC Board Members President: Dennis Jones (928) 367-6124 Past-President: Bob Bowers (928) 367-5579 Vice President: Ted Lambert (928) 537-2115 Secretary: Ellen Hofmann (623) 451-6027 Treasurer: Doris Miller (602) 439-3262 Board Member #1: Steve Hofmann (623) 262-7491 Board Member #2: Gary Miller (602) 478-0883 Board Member #3: Don Gage (602) 973-1886 Membership Chairman: Dick Davis (480) 220-4501 Winter: Mike Styvaert Conservation Chairman: Mike Styvaert (928) 369-0092 Newsletter Chairman: Steve Hofmann (623) 262-7491 Outings Chairman: Keith Spain (520) 235-7206 February Monthly Meeting Minutes; Submitted by Ellen Hofmann Meeting called to order: at 6:35 on February 19 2015 by President Dennis Jones. There were 18 regular members & 5 guests present. Membership Chairman: Mike Styvaert introduced guests: Dean Marble, Larry Agan, Leonard Cook, Don Stevens, and Charlie Brewer. President Announcements: Introduced Mike Lopez of the AZ Fish & Game, who is the guest speaker for the night. Outings chair person is Keith Spain (Keith is still down in the Valley) but is working on the 2015 outing schedule. The 2015 locations will be the same as last year, except for Hawley Lake. April outing will be at Rainbow Lake. Outing for this Month will be informal and be held at Becker Lake. The annual Banquet will be June 5 th this year. Garry and Doris Miller will be coordinating it. They will need your help. If you can help please let them know. Gary Miller (602) 478-0883. The Lees Ferry Fly Fishing trip is slated for April 6-9. There are 14 people going to fish those days. Conservation The Canero Lake Ditch project is progressing with cooperation between White Mountain Lakes Foundation and WMFFC. Both clubs are providing funds to stop ditch leakage. Newsletter: Any articles or pictures send them to Steve Hofmann. Pics of recent fish catches are always welcome. Treasurer: Doris Miller reported clubs net balance to date is $17397.02. (This includes money set aside from members for the Lees Ferry trip). Monthly Outing: A vote was held and an informal outing was voted on for Becker Lake. No ice reported. Library Report: No library report. Conservation Chair report: Mike Styvaert reported that the Hawley lake dam was fully repaired and the lake is filling up. Lots of fish survived. The Lake is expected to be full and open the spring of 2016. The club submitted a plan to rebuild the beaver lodge at Becker Lake. A plan is presently under review at AZ F&G. Raffle: We still need a volunteer to run the program. We are also in need of new items for the raffle. 2
Fly Tying: Fly tying lessons will be held on March 5, 12, 19, and 26 th at the Navajo County Health Dept. Building in Show Low from 6:00 8:00 pm. Take the Deuce of Clubs to 9 Street go north to the Dead End sign at Brady Street, turn left and the NCPH building is at the back of the parking lot. Board Meeting: There was No Board meeting this month. At the Board meeting in January an expense of $600 was approved for a picnic table at Silver Creek. Fish Tales were told and the raffle was conducted. Note: The club is now out of materials for the raffle. Speaker: The meeting was concluded with speaker Antonio Lopez of the AZ Fish and Game Department. The topic was AZ Game and Fish activities that are planned for 2015 and the Introduction of Tiger Trout into four lakes on the rim in 2016. Meeting Adjourned: ~7:50. Announcements The April speaker will be Steve Hofmann. Fly fishing Colorado, Wyoming, & Idaho. May speaker: Duane Redford (Minturn Anglers) Eagle, Colorado will talk about fly fishing the Eagle River area. Richard Dryer volunteered to run the raffle program for the rest of this year. WMFFC is helping AZ Game and fish with Pike removal in Rainbow Lake. We have aided AZGF with volunteers on March 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16-19.The Club worked through Sally Petre, Reservoir Biologist Region I. The March club outing will be at Horseshoe Lake on the 21st. No Board Meeting for March 2015 June 5th will be the annual banquet. Gary Miller is the banquet chairman. Call him if you are willing to help out. Any new member needing casting or general fly fishing lessons give Dennis Jones a call for help. Rainbow lake is scheduled for the club April outing. The March Meeting Speaker was Mike Kaul of 2Rivers Emporium fly shop in Pinedale WY. He talked about fly fishing the waters of south western Wyoming south of the Wind River mountain range. He spoke about fishing the upper reaches of the famous Green River and New Fork River as well as many smaller creeks and streams in the Pinedale area. It was a very informative presentation! Mike donated a 2 for 1 fishing package for the annual banquet.. The Outings Scheduled for 2015 are: Month Designated Lake January NA February NA March Horseshoe Cienega April Rainbow Lake May Christmas Tree 23/24 June (Banquet) Silver Creek July Big Lake August Crescent Lake September Reservation Lake 3
October November San Juan river trip Sunrise Lake Club Activities planned for 2015 are: WMFFC Club Activities for 2015 without monthly meeting/outing Month Dates Activity March 5 Fly Tying Class-1 st in a series of 4 March 12 Fly Tying Class March 19 Fly Tying Class March 26 Fly Tying Class April 6-9 Lees Ferry Fishing Trip April 11 Becker Lake Best Days May 22-23 Christmas Tree Lake Outing June 5 Annual Fund Raising Banquet Oct TBD San Juan River Trip Dec TBD Club Annual Christmas Party TBD Various dates Project Healing Waters No Outing Report for February. There was no formal outing. Fly Tying Class Report. Submitted by Steve Hofmann The first of a series four fly tying classes was conducted on Thursday, March 5 th. Three more are planned for March 12, 19, and 26. The original plan was for Jerry Duval to lead the classes. However, Jerry unexpectedly had to have Open Heart Surgery down in the valley. The latest report on Jerry is that he is doing well. Let s all pray for his speedy recovery. In the meantime, Bob Bowers stepped up and led the first session on March 5 th. Thank you Bob! Ted lambert and Bill Langdon will conduct the next fly tying session. In the first class we had 5 students from outside the club: Barb Baker, Judy Reidenhour, Ken Smith, Jerry Smith, Seth Smith. Club members taking the class were: Bob Bauer and Wade Larson. Club Helpers were: Bud Huth, Ted Lambert, Bill Langdon, Dennis Jones, Mike Styvaert, Doc Dockendorf and Steve Hofmann. Bob started the class with handouts and taught all the tying basics. For a culmination, the class tied their first fly: the classic woolly bugger with Kelly green chenille body. With this body color the fly is also called a KP bugger. Mike Styvaert will lead the 3 rd class and Bud Huth will lead the 4 th class... Fly Fishing Quote of the Month You do not cease to fish because you get old, You get old because you cease to fish. Unknown 4
Fly Fishing Humor 5
Shop and Support These Advertisers PINETOP SPORTING GOODS (928) 367-5050.... If you have an Ad or Article that you would like featured in the next Newsletter, please contact Steve Hofmann at 623-262-7491 or sdieseldoc@cableone.net 6