FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER February 2018 Volume XXIII: No. 2 www.wacoflyfishingclub.org NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, February 5, 2018 LOCATION: First United Methodist Church OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR IS NOT ON OUR USUAL MEETING NIGHT OR AT THE WACO WETLANDS - DETAILS BELOW FIRST PROGRAM OF 2018 - COLORADO GUIDE AND AUTHOR PAT DORSEY Fly fishing has the reputation of being extremely difficult. We have been trying to dispel that notion for years by teaching beginners through our Waco Fly Fishing 102 classes. We target Perch when we actually fish during those classes. Perch are about as easy to catch as anything that swims. That helps. Fishing for cold water Trout, on the other hand, can present challenges. Although much that has been written about catching Trout on flies would lead you to believe that they have cognitive abilities that rival or even surpass the smartest humans, their brains are actually about the size of a lima bean. The challenge to catching Trout isn't their smarts it's their habits. When Trout are eating size 24 black midges they are so focused on that food source that nothing else will do. That's why they pass up your mayfly imitations like an Adams. Of
course, Trout can do dumb things, like trying to eat your strike indicator, but to catch them consistently you need to know a little about them. Well, Pat Dorsey knows a great deal about catching trout and will share that knowledge with us at our first meeting of 2018. What you learn about Trout fishing will have applications to fishing for other species. After all, they all swim and eat. Pat Dorsey is a nationally known speaker. He travels the United States sharing his passion for fly fishing at trade shows and private fishing clubs. He is a Celebrity Speaker for the International Sportsmen s Exposition in Denver and is very active in Trout Unlimited and the conservation of cold-water fisheries. He is also a Simms Ambassador, a member of the Sage Elite Pro Team, Fishpond Ambassador, Orvis Pro Team Member, Yeti Pro staff, and Scientific Anglers pro staff. Pat Dorsey is the Southwest Field Editor for Fly Fisherman Magazine. Pat Dorsey has also authored several books on fly fishing which will be available for sale and autographing at the meeting. The meeting and Pat Dorsey's program will be in the Family Life Center of First United Methodist Church, 4901 Cobbs Dr., Waco, Texas. We'll hold to our usual meeting hours, starting informally about 6:00 pm with the Dorsey program starting about 7:00 pm. Chris Johnson of Living Waters Fly Fishing has made the Pat Dorsey program available to us - please remember that when you are looking for a Texas fly fishing guide or need to experience a true fly shop. The new location for Living Waters has it all. Also, this program is a big deal for us so please talk it up with your fly fishing friends. GUESTS ARE WELCOME.. FLY TYING NIGHT - FEBRUARY 22, 2018 If the White Bass run has started, stop by Uncle Dan's after fishing for some tying and BBQ. If the run hasn't started, stop by earlier.
Fly tying night will be Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Uncle Dan's BBQ. We'll get started about 5:30 pm. Remember, guests are welcome to join us at Dan's. MARCH PROGRAM - TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2018 - BACK TO THE WETLANDS We haven't settled on a program yet, but by the time of our March meeting we'll probably be able to start helping each other with fishing reports. You know, where the fish are. March is also when we have the prize drawing for our dues incentive raffle. You know, your chance to win a fly rod or other prize for just paying your dues. APRIL - WEEKEND OUTING Retriever Scout and I are working out the details for a Saturday outing to our duck lease in April. As you can see from the Bass I am holding there are some nice Bass in this lake. We should have the details worked out soon, but tackle details are big flies (something like Redfish crack or Matt Bennett's Lunch $), heavy leader material (I am now using fresh 12#) and a fly rod with the backbone to throw big flies and fight big Bass (I use a TFO seven weight). WACO FLY FISHING 102 - SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2018 It is time to teach fly fishing again. At Waco Fly Fishing 102 we do a little talking, then a little showing and then a lot of fishing. I believe the best way to get somebody involved in fly fishing is to go fly fishing. Having the chance to actually catch a fish or two beats casting to grass burrs. I know I get bored very quickly when fly casting on a lawn. Last year more than a dozen attendees at our classes learned enough about fly fishing to catch their first fish on the fly and usually a few after that. The class is intended for people with little or no experience with fly fishing and will be limited to roughly twelve students. There is a $10.00 fee to cover location costs (a private lake). If you know anybody who might be interested have them contact me as soon as possible. Registration
is "first come, first served." We start about 9:00 am and tear ourselves off the water around lunchtime. If there is enough interest we will schedule another class. DUES ARE DUE - INCENTIVES TO PAY AND RECRUIT We are on a calendar year so your dues are due. The Dorsey program alone is worth your dues, but we are also planning to have more outings in 2018. Outings are usually restricted to club members. Any one outing alone is worth your annual dues which remain only $24.00. As an incentive to get your dues paid, all paid members as of the March meeting will have one chance in a prize drawing. You will automatically be in the drawing if your dues are received at or before the March meeting. If you recruit new members, you will receive another chance in the raffle for each recruit who is paid up by the time of the drawing. A new member is anyone who was not a paid member in 2017. It is the responsibility of the recruiter to confirm his or her new members with our Treasurer. The lead prize is a TFO five weight fly fishing combo that includes rod, reel, line and case. We'll have several other prizes like club logo caps, flies, a fly wallet, tying materials, etc. The way the drawing will work is that the first name drawn will have his/her pick of the available prizes. Second name will have a pick from what is left, and so on until all prizes are gone. SOME HAVE "LAID ASIDE BUSINESS AND GONE A'FISHING" OR IS IT A'DUCKING? It was a good duck season up until the last week when most of the ducks were someplace else. Retriever Scout had a good season. On one hunt when there were a number of ducks that were put down, but not out. Much swimming was involved in catching those ducks. Swimming after ducks is one of Scout's favorite activities.
WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE One of the reasons that Living Waters Fly fishing in Round Rock, Texas is so successful is the number of activities they host. There is something going on every week ranging from Wednesday night fly tying to weekend classes. For more information - livingwatersflyfishing.com. By the way, Living Waters is responsible for bringing Pat Dorsey to Texas and making him available to speak at our February 5, 2018 meeting and at several other Texas clubs. That is one reason why the folks at Living Waters deserve our support. OFFICERS FOR 2018 President & Newsletter Bob Hanley 776-5444, nevilleandhanley@yahoo.com Vice President Pat Vanek FFI Liaison John Maddux 666-9009 Webmasters Loren Decker, Dale Connally Social Media Kris Kahler Facebook Kenley Crowe At Large Billy Whitehead, Robert Cervenka
Dues: Individual $ 24.00 Family $ 36.00 Student $ 16.00 Date: Waco Fly Fishing Club 2018 Membership Application Name(s): Address (Street or P.O. Box and City/Zip Code): Telephone: Home Cell Work E-mail address: How do you prefer your club newsletter to be delivered? Mail Email Mail and Email THE WACO FLY FISHING CLUB HAS MY PERMISSION TO SHARE MY CONTACT INFORMATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS. Signature Payments and this form can be turned in at regular club meetings or by mail to: Bob Hanley P.O. Box 8030 Waco, Texas 76714