CHICO AREA FLYFISHERS Short Casts January 2017 Meeting at the California Park Pavilion, Chico Wed, Feb 8th, 2017 fly tying 6:30p.m. 7:30p.m. President Line by Pat Sleeper Water we wanted and water we re getting. Soon, we ll be having some exciting fishing! Yeah!! Soon our annual dinner will be here as well: Jan 31st is the last day for the early bird discount when early birds are automatically put into the early bird drawing for $540.00 worth of raffle tickets!!! Thank you for your wonderful donations... Yes, we can still use more; if, you would like to tie some flies for the dinner, we d sure appreciate them! Thank you!! We have some new surprises for the dinner this year: Fishing trips from the past and new ones have been donated!! Fun, fun! And, the Dave Scadden frameless boat...wow! Wait until you see it!! Amazing! As you know, we always sell out; so, get your reservations in early for our usual Crab/shrimp/tortellini dinner. Forms can be picked up at all the local fly shops: Fish First, Sierra Stream and Mountain and Sportsman s Warehouse; Also, on our web page and in this news letter. I hope to see you there!! We can always use help for the dinner during set-up and during the dinner for raffle delivery, etc. If you can help or know of someone who can, please have them contact Pat Sleeper 345-1197. Thank you! Golden zipper award: Dana Miller would love to hear YOUR recommendation and stories at: danamallard@gmail.com; Yearly, we have added new schools to our deliveries providing fish tanks, coolers, pumps, and the complete set-up for classes around our area and nearby for fish in a Class room! We also help the yearly Hooked on Fishing programs for children to fish free for LARGE catfish! Almanor Fisheries has been another area we enjoy helping for their repair of their pens and stocking fish. What a wonderful fishery in our back yard! There are other fisheries we support as well. Without your support it wouldn t be possible. Thank you!! Thank you!! We hope to see you wed, Feb 8th, for our monthly General meeting with Chris talking about Pyramid Lake and Crowley Lake: Meeting at 7:30 and tying at 6:30 at the California Lake Pavilion, same place and time as usual. Again, we hope to see you there! Thanks! Pat Sleeper, president, CAF - 345-1197 Speaker Chris Wharton Our speaker for Feb 11th, 2017 is Chris Wharton. He will be speaking at 7:30 and fly tying at 6:30 at the California Park Pavilion. Chris Wharton is the owner of Stillwater Guide Service in the Reno/Tahoe area and has been fly fishing for 40yrs. Mr. Wharton grew up in the Mammoth Lakes area of Calif. and has been fishing Crowley lake since the early age of 5. Chris has been fly fishing the Reno/Tahoe area for over 30 yrs. and guiding it for the last 19 yrs. A stillwater expert Chris loves to target trophy trout and that is his passion. As he puts it When I get ripped into my backing that is what gets my blood pumping. Chris also hosts group trips to saltwater locations such as Ascension Bay Mx., Christmas Island and the Amazon for Peacock Bass. In his presentations he doesn t show pictures of the trophy fish he and his clients land, he get into the nuts & bolts of techniques and presentations for landing large trophy fish.
CAF General Meeting Speaker List 2016-17 CAF meets 10 months out of the year and presents a variety of exciting fly fishing-related programs throughout the year. The meetings also include monthly fly tying demonstrations, raffle prizes, refreshments, and the very best info and lies about Northern California Fly fishing. Meetings are being held on the second Wednesday of the month at The California Park Pavilion. We look forward to see you at our next meeting and hearing your fishing stories! Fly tying begins at 6:30 p.m.; general meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Location: California Park Pavilion: 2565 California Park Drive Chico. Date Speaker Program Feb 8th March 4th, Sat Chris - Pyramid Lake and Crawley Lake Annual Crab Dinner Fundraiser... April 12th John Squires Wilderness fishing trips in Alaska Floating the Koktuli River in the Bristol Bay watershed that I think your club would enjoy. This special river is about a 40-mile float. We usually spend 8 or 9 nights on the river, camping as we float and fish. We fish for grayling, dolly varden, rainbows, and different species of salmon, depending on the time of year. The Koktuli River is also ground zero in the proposed Pebble Mine controversy. Jpscsr2001@aol.com Baum Lake Fishout Report January 17th, 2017 By Don Sleeper We couldn t have picked a better day for the fishout in between storms at Baum Lake. When we started fishing Tuesday, January 17th at 10:00 AM it had warmed up to 25 degrees, just right. Six club members (Elden, Dan, Bill, Roger, Kevin and myself) showed up. The roads were clear, but a lot of snow in Burney and surrounding areas. By the time we quit the temp was up to 50 degrees and everyone caught fish. I landed a bunch of 12 to 15 inch Rainbows and German Browns. I used seal buggers and small nymphs. The rest of the folks used very small midges and copper johns. The sun was out, no wind during the day and the fish were biting. It couldn t have been better. Kevin Jelich took a great video of us on the lake. Go into this link for a video of our trip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huz4m5-crqk&feature=youtu.be Kevin with a fun catch. The gang getting ready to fish. In the afternoon the fish were rising all over the lake. RAPTOR ROD WORKS-2017 AND BEYOND Dear CAF members, supporters and friends, a brief note to share concerning some upcoming operational changes at Raptor Rod Works (RRW). March 1 will be the last day of pick-up services for rod repair at all RRW Authorized Rod Repair Agent locations with completion and return to occur prior to April 1. May 1 will the first day of what will be much more of a part time, seasonal operation for RRW. As always, shop visits will be best served with pre-arrangement by either voice at (530)894-2062 or email contact at jim@raptorrodworks.com. I will look forward to seeing and visiting with you at the upcoming CAF dinner and thank you very much for all of your past, present and continued support. Sincerely, Jim Clarkson, owner Raptor Rod Works.
Chico Area Flyfisher s Fishout Schedule 2016-17 Future outings that Chico Area Flyfisher s provide to its Membership: These Club Fish-outs are designed to give fly fishers the best opportunity to catch fish and enjoy the outdoors. Our Club has many accomplished anglers who are willing to share their skills with others and you are only limited by willingness to become involved. From selecting promising locations and time, to helping those members new to the sport, we try to make these trips fun, exciting and successful. Tom Rosenow will be our new fish-out leader with Elden Hinkle. If you have one of those favorite spots that you don t mind sharing with others and would like to lead your fellow CAF members for a day of fishing fun, and fellowship please contact Tom Rosenow trosenow.chico@gmail.com or Elden Hinkle ehinkle@aol.com. This schedule may change depending on the fish bite or weather conditions. Date Location Fishout Leader Jan 30th - 4th, 2017 Picachos, Mexico... - Pat Sleeper - full - thank you. March 4th March 11 & 12th April 26th-May 4th April 29th June TBA July TBA Annual Crab Feed Dinner Pyramid Lake Clinic w/rob Anderson & Chris RSVP Elden Hinkle ehinkle@alo.com Breakfast/lunch/ladders $190. pp + $30. box of 12 flies. Rooster Fishing Sea of Cortez La Ventana. Host: Pat Sleeper Questions: psleeper@sbcglobal.net 345-1197 Includes: boat/guide, lodging, food, air (now)..under $2000.pp. Opener - Eric See Lake Almanor - Hex hatch- @ Scott Joyce s thank you! TBD Crawley Lake TBD ehinkle@alo.com July 22-29 Alaska cost about $2300. w/air - Lionel Valley Call Lionel for details: 343-7364 Aug TBA Pingatori bass fishing Sep. 5-12, 2017 Sep. 12-20th, 2017 Dorado fishing La Ventana, Mexico. Pat Sleeper - host 6 days boat fishing/7 lodging w/food. Cost for everything under $2000. Questions: psleeper@sbcglobal.net Dorado fishing La Ventana, Mexico. Pat Sleeper - host 7 days boat fishing/8 lodging w/food. Cost for everything under $2000. Questions: psleeper@sbcglobal.net 345-1197 Oct 1, 2017 Pyramid opener trosenow.chico@gmail.com Tom Rosenow
CAF helps Sponsor: Hooked on fishing Salmon in the classroom RAD - Recreation & Dreams CAL TIP Almanor Fisheries Trinity Fisheries McCloud Fisheries Trout Unlimited N. CA DINNER RESERVATION FORM NAME: NUMBER COST TOTAL Family Membership & One Dinner $85.00 $ ADDRESS: Each Additional Dinner $50.00 $ CITY: Raffle ticket packets $500. $200. $ PHONE: Raffle ticket packets $100. $50. $ ZIP: Table reservations for 8 people $650. $ E-MAIL: TOTAL. $ Visa # ADDITIONAL NAMES: M/C# Signature: Exp. Date & back # PURCHASE YOUR RESERVATIONS BEFORE Jan 31ST MAIL RESERVATION FORMS AND PAYMENT TO: TO BE ENTERED INTO THE EARLY BIRD RAFFLE CAF 1010 Lori Dr., CA 95973 Questions: 530-345-1197 *Early bird dinner discount before Jan 31st *Early bird raffle drawing: $250 ticket packet: value $540.00
Fly of the Month for February 2017 Delektable Lil Red Spanker By: Ray Narbaitz I know this month s fly name sounds like it came out of an S&M magazine, but trust me, it did not. It is the creation of Dan Delekta. I was not familiar with him but he is a very prolific fly designer. On his web site he states that he has designed some 800 different patterns. In looking at the pictures of some of them, many are pretty wild looking. I also suspect they catch fish. The Spanker series is not that wild, but is a basic design that would lend itself to a number of variations on the theme. Dan and his wife Nancy own and run the Beartooth Lodge and Fly Shop in the West Yellowstone area of Montana. He has been guiding for over 30 years. He and his wife met through fishing groups in Montana, and after a while decided to make it permanent and got married. They had a daughter and as she grew, they brought her into the business, so it is a real family affair. Hook: 1X or 2X long Nymph Hook 10 to 16 Bead: Standard or Tungsten to match hook. Bead color can depend on the color of the fly. Usually gold, but could be copper if tying it with PT Abdomen. Thread: 8/0 color to match fly, especially if the thread is used for the Abdomen Tail: Wood Duck Flank Abdomen: Red Ultra Thread. I like Ultra Thread for thread bodies because it is flat. Rib: Silver wire, small Wing case and legs: Pearl Crystal Flash Thorax: Peacock Herl Collar: CDC, Tan or Dun Head: Small amount of dubbing Pinch down barb, insert bead and place hook in the vise. Start your thread at the bead, and lay down a nice base all the way back to the bend. Tie in a good sized clump of Mallard Flank. Make the tail a little shorter than the shank of the hook. Tie in the butt ends almost all the way to the bead to give the body a little bulk. Trim any excess. Tie in the wire. Tie it in starting near the bead, on the near side of the hook. Wrap it back to the tie in point of the tail. Try to make all of your wraps fairly even. If you give your thread a little, counter clockwise spin, it will help flatten it out even more, and you can wrap a nice, smooth body back up to the bead. Spiral wrap your wire up to just short of the bead. Tie it off, and helicopter off the excess. Tie in the Crystal Flash. Use six strands on the larger flies, and four on the smaller flies. Tie it so it rests back over the body of the fly. Wrap your thread back a turn or two over the Abdomen to about the 1/3 point of the shank. Tie in two or three strands of Peacock Herl and wrap a bushy Thorax. Wrap it to the bead. Pull the Crystal Flash straight over the top of the Thorax, and tie it in behind the bead. Separate three strands of the Crystal Flash and tie them on the near side of the hook, and then do the same with the other three strands on the opposite side of the hook to form the legs. Use your thread to make the strands point back. Trim off the legs so they are just a little shorter than the body of the fly. Take a CDC feather by the tip, and sweep back the barbs so you are left with just a little bit of the tip pointing forward. Tie it in by that tip and trim off any excess. Take three or four wraps of the feather, making sure you sweep back the barbs with each wrap. Tie it down, and trim off the excess. Use your thread to make sure the barbs are facing back. Take a small amount of dubbing, the color to compliment the color of the body, and overwrap the thread wraps at the back of the bead to make everything neat at the head. Whip finish and cut off your thread. Notes As I said, the pattern has a large number of variations you can throw in. Delekta says he ties it in Olive, Purple, Black, Brown and Pheasant Tail in addition to Red. The Abdomen can be either thread or dubbing, and the Thorax could be Peacock or Dubbing. I think it would look good with some Peacock Black Ice Dub. You might use the Crystal Flash for the wing case only, and use Rubber Legs that point both back and forward. Create your own changes. That s part of the real fun of fly tying.
Fish First Chico, CA (530) 343-8300 LOCAL GUIDES BOARD MEMBERS President: Pat Sleeper...345-1197 Vice President Larry Willis...520-8556 Sierra Stream & Mountain Chico, CA 530-345-4261 Andy s Embroidery will add the CAF logo and trout to shirts, jackets, pockets...enlarge it if needed for only $12. Ron Leger Custom Fish Carvings 530-343-5191 rlegerfishcarvings@gmail.com David W. McKinney, M.D., M.P.H. Pre-Employment Physicals Expanded Drug Screening Workman s Compensation FAA/DOT Physicals Spirometry/Respiratory Testing Miller & Dean Real Estate Team Coldwell Banker Dufour Realty Dana Miller 530-570-1184 Frankie Dean 530-717-3884 Secretary: Dave McKinney...570-1342 Treasurer: Don Sleeper...345-1197 Board Members: Eric See...899-1918 Scott Joyce...899-8500 Dana Miller...570-1184 Lance Gray...517-2204 Dave Mckinney...570-1342 Youth Group Coordinator: Jessica Wilkerson... Past President: David McKinney...570-1342 Committee Chairpersons: Fish Master Tom Rosenow...520-3053 Fish Master Elden Hinkle...518-4680 Conservation David McKinney..570-1342 Web Master: Don Sleeper and Richard Wilkerson Fly Tying Terry Mich...864-9451 David W. McKinney, California Occupational Medical Professionals M.D., M.P.H....530-534-5135 Newsletter Editor Scott Sleeper...899-9856 Proofreader Ray Narbaitz...894-5220 tytline@sbcglobal.net CAF WEBPAGE http://chicoareaflyfishers.org FISHING REPORTS www.fishfirst.com Past president of Chico Area Flyfishers Change of address? Not receiving newsletter? Contact Don Sleeper...345-1197