Across the Stream - July 2004
A Publication of Heart of America Fly
Fishers
HOAFF July Meeting
Monday, July 19, 2004 - 7pm
Member's Social Night
Our program activity
will feature fly tying, rod building,
and an outdoor casting clinic/program. Come early (6pm) and learn a few new
casting strokes and then watch some fly tying inside. The casting program will
focus on accuracy and presentation skills that will help beginning fly fishers
move their casting stroke to the intermediate level. For the advanced caster,
there will be some trick casts and skills to
demonstrate for you as well. The casting program will be INTERACTIVE so bring a
rod to practice. If you want to tie flies we will provide the tables and
chairs. Bring anything else you think you might need.
President's Message
Volunteers are the
heart of HOAFF
by Dave Andrews
Volunteerism is the heart
of any society, including the Heart of America Fly Fishers. Each of us is a
volunteer. We volunteer because we want something to be better. We volunteer
because we know that we have a responsibility to contribute and repay the benefits
we have received from the efforts of others. We volunteer because it gives us
life, skills and relationships. I believe the happiest and most satisfied
members of any organization are those who actively participate.
In the Heart of America Fly
Fishers, we have an abundance of opportunities to participate. Because of our
outreach programs as well as our club outings, we are always in need of members
interested in sharing, sponsoring trips and participating in community
programs. Two opportunities come immediately to mind.
Each year, the FFF, the
Southern Council and our club, respectively, each sponsor various awards. These
awards run the gauntlet from the clubs Golden Strike Indicator award to FFFs Order of the Lapis
Lazuli. Some awards are just fun. Others carry much prestige as well as cash
grants. Your officers and current committees are not able to do justice to the
awards. We have concluded that an awards committee is needed to independently
track awards and nominate members for awards.
Locally, our club manages
an active education program. We have fly tying groups. We deliver library
programs. We plan and conduct the annual spring seminar. We provide fly tying
instruction and merit badge counseling to youth groups. Today, our Education
Committee is focused primarily on the Spring Seminar. Other programs are
handled on an ad-hoc basis. We need to expand our Education Committee and bring
more organization to these important programs.
These are just two of the
opportunities to get more involved in the HOAFF. If you would like to get more
out of the club, I am confident you will multiply your satisfaction by joining
a committee. If you have ever considered the possibility of greater
participation, contact an officer. We will make you feel most welcome, and the
club will be stronger because of your volunteerism.
National Fly Fishing Week
Prairie Center, Olathe, Kansas August 13 &
14, 2004
by Hod McIntosh
HELP, Yes, we need your help on August
13 & 14 for our NFFW program. You do not need to be a fly tying or casting
instructor to contribute to our program.
We need members to help us with the
following tasks:
Parking: we will need help directing the
public to the areas designated for parking
Setting-up and taking down and storing our
equipment each day
Directing people to the instruction areas
for fly tying and casting as well as the fishing lake and public facilities
Arranging for food and drink for those
working on this program. We will need food for both days and people to pick-up
and deliver the food to the Prairie Center.
So if you are not comfortable
instructing fly tying or casting, there are plenty of opportunities to
participate and support the club on this program.
Remember, we need help for both days
beginning with set-up late Friday morning for the program that starts at 1:00
PM and runs until late afternoon and then store our equipment for the night.
And Saturday morning again set-up for a 9:00 AM start and gather-up our
equipment after 5:00 PM.
At this point we only have 16 members
signed-up to work on this program. Three of those who have signed-up will be
with us both Friday and Saturday which gives us 7 volunteers for Friday and 12
for Saturday.
Please consider volunteering for this
program. You will have an opportunity to sign-up at our July club meeting or
just call or e-mail and Ill put you on
the list.
Hod McIntosh - (913) 722-3684 or SingingReels@att.net
2004 Officers
PRESIDENT
David Andrews
davidgandrews@kc.rr.com
Home: (816)
741-8314
PAST PRESIDENT
John Richards
jreyedoc1@aol.com
Home: (816)
781-0545
Office: (816)
781-0500
SECRETARY
Mark Borserine
majborser@aol.com
(913) 381-0722
TREASURER
Paul Bennetts
pbennetts1@comcast.net
913-338-3837
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Tom
James
tom@blackdogsports.com
Office: 816-718-0393
PROGRAMS
Cliff Cain
cliffcain@hotmail.com
Home: (913)
780-3865
Office: (913)
433-5224
John Bell
j.bell@kcc.state.ks.us
Home: (785)
843-1782
Office: (785)
271-3139
OUTINGS
Jim Ohnemus
johnemus@kcp.com
Home: (816)
322-1381
MEMBERSHIP
Cliff Newton
ccnewton@sbcglobal.net
Home: (816)
348 7626
Office: (816)
426 3925 x260
Fred Clark
fclarks@planetkc.com
Home: (913) 831-0305
CONSERVATION
BLUE RIVER
PROJECT
Raymond Zook
rzook@kc.rr.com
Home: (816) 941-2862
LIBRARY
Doug McDonald
mcdoug5148@aol.com
(913) 669-5222
EDUCATION
Dick Martin
rlm@mllfpc.com
Home: (816) 781-9557
Office: (816) 221-1430
Don Grundy
dlgrundy@msn.com
Home 816-781-9019
WEBMASTER
Vicky Newton
svnewton@sbcglobal.net
Home: (816) 348 7626
RAFFLE/AUCTION
Dan
Zimmerman
dzmmrmn@aol.com
(913) 829-4768
HISTORIAN
Bill Brant
flyfish@sky.net
Home: (816) 941-9691
Office: (913) 458-6826
SOUTHERN
COUNCIL LIASON
Hod McIntosh
singingreels@worldnet.att.net
Home: (913) 722-3684
Heart of America Fly Fishers Meetings
Meetings are held at 7pm - 3rd Monday of each month
Johnson County Courthouse Extension, 6000 Lamar, Shawnee Mission,
Kansas-Room C)
Hatch of the Month
Bring a fly or a couple of
flies to add to the Match of the Month collection. During each meeting names
are drawn and the winner receives the collection of flies. This is a great way
to learn new fly patterns and share some of your favorite flies with the rest
of the club. Members can also donate a dollar to enter for the drawing.
Featured Fly Tyer
Fly
Tying Social Night will be the focus of the July Meeting so there will not be
a featured fly tyer. Come join the festivities included fly tying and fly
casting.
If you are interested in being a
featured fly tyer, contact John Richards.
New Rod, Old Reel
by Steve Jenkins
I bought the stick at the
fly shop over a year earlier. The price was right. I wasnt real sure what Id do with a
six-weight fly rod. After all, in the sophistication of modern fly-fishing, no
one uses a six-weight rod.
The trend continues toward
smaller and smaller (lighter weight) fly lines. There was a time when the
six-weight was the only thing for trout. Perhaps it goes back to the dark ages
when line designations were in letters, like HGH. Perhaps it was the advent of
man-made fiberglass for fly rods. If you didnt own an eight-foot, six-weight rig, you
probably just couldnt
fish.
There are situations where
the heavier line would be welcome. My first thought was to the White River. On
that big water, Ive
used an eight-weight system, a seven-weight and, most recently, a five-weight.
In that most of my White River opportunities come in the fall, streamers seem
to work well. The six-weight line would definitely help tossing a weighted
.56%er into the north Arkansas wind.
In spite of all the
justification for buying the stick (you cant have too many toys), it just stood in the
corner for months and months. In fact, a whole season lapsed before beginning
to make the stick into an instrument for fooling trout.
The summer was too hot for
much fishing - a great time to build a fly rod. As I was getting the material
together for the building the rod, it hit me. I would be fishing the Ausable
River in New York in the fall and this six-weight rig would be just the ticket.
That stream courses through
a canyon after leaving the flats
near Lake Placid. In this canyon, there is always a wind. Plus, because of all
the boulders the water falls over, there are many, many tricky currents to deal
with. And, in the fall, the Ausable is the place for big flies, either the
Ausable Wulff dry or big streamers. That was it! The new rod just had to done in time.
Now, Ive probably owned a
half dozen six weight rods, most of them were fiberglass. Over the years, Ive either sold or
given many of them away. But, I never abandoned the reel used on these rods. It
was the first fly reel I bought. The line has been replaced many times, but the
reel remains. Plus, it has two extra spools, one with a weight-forward line and
one with a sinking tip on a shooting head.
This reel - are you ready?
- is a Pfluger Medalist! Yep, it is a
Medalist. And, while some of the black finish has worn off, it still has all
its screws. No, it doesnt
have an adjustable drag - just the clicker-type drag. And it doesnt have a palmable
rim, either. It is just the plain, old-fashioned Medalist, made in Akron, Ohio,
and a veteran of many trout battles. But, in recent years, the Medalist had
been pushed to the back of the shelf.
The new six-weight,
nine-foot rod was finished in August, just in time for a test in Colorado. We
would be meeting old friends for a few days on the Frying Pan River. He was my
fly fishing mentor in New York, especially for the West Branch of the Ausable.
They now live in Phoenix
and travel the west in their RV during the summer to avoid the Phoenix summer
cooker. Then, wasnt
it sad that our nephew was getting married in Denver a week later?
Of course, it just didnt make sense to drive
home after the visit and then drive back for the wedding. It was an easy
decision; we would just stay on the Frying Pan. With these extra days, I could give
it a good test over the Pans numerous and sometimes generously sized fish.
But, early September can be
touchy on the Frying Pan. The green drakes are near their end for the season,
the sulphurs can be problematical, and on a cloudy day, there will be a
blizzard of tiny olives (Baetis)
calling for long, silky leaders and fourteen different fly patterns to see just
which fake the fish might prefer. This could be tough fishing, but a good test
for the new rod.
Just before leaving home,
the Internet connection told me the flow in the Frying Pan had been jumped by
about 50%. It was running about 320 cfs and anything above 250 cfs makes it
difficult to wade. Being a lefty, I like to fish the stream from the opposite
bank and at high flows, crossing spots become harder to find.
We arrived mid-afternoon
the first day and Doug was already in the water. I knew almost exactly where he
would be. As I was getting into my fishing suit, he came out of the stream and
confessed wading was tough. Yet, it didnt seem to change his luck.
The stream had been good to
him. That could be a good sign, but for me, it was bad. Doug is not the kind of
guy you want to follow down - or up - the stream. He is a vacuum-cleaner fisherman. If there
are fish in the creek, Doug normally finds them. And, pocket water like the
Frying Pan, or the Ausable, is his meat.
I rigged up the new rod. If
it was too much for the Pan, I could always switch, but with all the water that
was running, a bigger rod sounded good. Doug told me where he had fished and I
went the opposite direction.
Three trout were caught and
released in about two hours, all on green drake imitations. The next day was
clear and bright. I didnt
think there would be much action, and events proved this to be correct, at
least for me - Doug did better. What fish we caught came again to green drake
imitations.
Doug and his wife had to
leave the next morning, and that was too bad because the weather was definitely
improved - I like clouds. I worked through some fast water in Dougs favorite spot,
using the .56%er, a Muddler Minnow and a Shushan Postmaster.
The rod was a champ with
the streamers over the heavy water. Around noon, the green drakes came again
and over a dozen fish were fooled. Strangely, there were almost no caddis on
the stream, perhaps explaining the poor response to soft hackles, used earlier.
Using the old reel with
this new rod brought back a flood of memories. It was the reel I used for
years. It saw many mistakes and many successes. It helped me learn lots about
fly-fishing, and reminded me often of all I didnt know.
There was the 12-inch brook
trout caught in the Battenkill. Its colors were so brilliant - no artist could
have done so well. The Medalist was there.
I have a photo of an over
20-inch brown caught one fall day on the Ausable. It was in its full spawning
attire, kype and all. The Medalist was there, too. Giving the stream a rest, we
toured dried up Colorado for a day. Water supplies were in trouble, but the
Frying Pan was one of the few streams with abundant water. The next day was
another blue-bird day and the fishing
was punk. However, this was another good test of the new rod and old reel.
I tried over two-dozen fly
patterns, from size 10 to size 20, dries, emergers and nymphs, and it handled
them all. It was beginning to look like there would be no reason to change
rods.
It seemed the tiny olives
knew in advance when clouds were expected. On some days in the morning there
were none of these critters to be seen. As the day wore on, no clouds appeared.
On other days, if there were Baetis
around, even by mid-morning, you could expect the afternoon would be cloudy.
Baetis can be so thick in this stream that even before
you see the duns, a glance into the water shows dozens of the tiny nymphs
swimming by. You can catch them in your hand - they are almost totally black,
but the pheasant tail nymph is still a favorite imitation.
I tried several nymph
patterns, with 6X and 7X leaders, even with a four-foot tippet. Fish are tough
to fool when there are so many naturals available. The new rod worked this
configuration like a champ.
The big fish I dreamed of
to test this new rod never showed. I worked the new rod and old reel
exclusively on this trip, fishing streamers, to size 6 and dries and nymphs to
size 20. I fished it over the faster water, in some of the more still
stretches, in wind and in calm.
The test of this new rod
with the old reel went on over eight days. Well over 150 trout were caught. The
rod passed this phase of the test and honored the old reel - the Ausable would
be next.
The Nature Conservancy
Bennett Spring/Niangua River
Project
by The Nature Conservancy - Missouri
Chapter
The purpose of this project is to
restore, expand and protect one of the last remaining Ozark savanna landscapes
and the high quality river system embedded within it. The Niangua River is at
the core of this critical ecosystem for the western Ozarks Savanna Landscape
Area, and in the next 5-7 years, The Nature Conservancy and its partners will
work to protect it forever.
History and Timeline
The Nature Conservancy has been working
for 20 years at the Bennett Spring Savanna, a nearly 1,000-acre preserve
adjacent to Bennett Spring State Park, to save a globally unique landscape of
hills and valleys, scattered oaks, native grasses and wildflowers.
In partnership with the Department of
Natural Resources (DNR), which operates Bennett Spring State Park, The Nature
Conservancy has developed a vision to restore a 15,000-acre landscape of
rolling uplands and valleys along a 10-mile stretch of the upper Niangua River
near Lebanon, Missouri. The proposed project would also include hiking trails,
campsites and other opportunities for recreation and nature appreciation. The
total time expected to complete the Bennett Spring Project is 5 years.
Goals of the Project
In addition to saving a globally unique
landscape, the project will:
Protect Bennett Spring by conserving
the land that encompasses portions of the springs
recharge area.
Preserve the integrity of the Niangua
River and the rich aquatic life it contains, including the Niangua darter, a
fish found only in this area.
Enhance Bennett Spring State Park as a
tourist destination and revenue producer for the Lebanon community.
Benefits
Funds donated to The Nature Conservancy
in support of this project will bring us one step closer to protecting this
unique landscape and all of its biodiversity.
Although there has been considerable
conservation interest in the Niangua River system, to date there has not been a
unified conservation plan to guide conservation action and identify critical
lands and aquatic areas. The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Department of
Natural Resources have begun this process by completing a preliminary threat
analysis. The analysis revealed that the pace of habitat conversion and
development in the watershed is increasing.
Your private donation, and funds
received by Heart of America Flyfishers will help fulfill an urgent need to
develop a unified conservation plan for the watershed, addressing both the
unique terrestrial landscape and the aquatic resources of the Niangua River
system.
Protection of the Bennett
Spring/Niangua Project is a premier opportunity to save one of the last great
natural places in Missouri. Please consider a donation to help The Nature
Conservancy realize our goals in protecting Bennett Spring forever.
White River Mileage
by
Bob Heine
The wading fly fisher
typically looks for low water. This chart should help the angler anticipate
when rising, generated water will
arrive at a location. Also the chart should help estimate when high water will
flow through and offer low
water
for wade fishing.
The chart below is not
exact. It is less exact the further down stream from the dam. Water flow from
tributaries, backed up water and other factors contribute to this. Usually,
generated water travels at these speeds:
1 to 3units 2.5 MPH
3 to 6 units 3 MPH
6 to 8 units 3.25
MPH
Water falls 2
MPH
To estimate when generated
water will hit an area, divide the distance from generated water by appropriate
water speed.
Example: You call the dam
and find out that 4 generators have been turned on at 8AM. You want to fish Rim
Shoals. Divide Rim Shoals distance from Dam -24 miles by 3MPH. Rising water
will hit Rim Shoals in 8 hours, around 4 P.M.
You call the dam and are
you are told generation ended at twenty two hundred hours (10PM) the night
before. Low water should hit Rim Shoals around 10AM.
Look at the water when you
cross the White via the Hiway 62 bridge
between Cotter and Flippin, Arkansas. If you see low water when crossing the
bridge, you can expect at worse case 2 hours of low water at Rim Shoals. Better
yet, go to Ships Ferry, worse case you can expect about seven hours of low
water. This assumes no water is backed up at Shipps Ferry. It takes about a day
of non generation to bring Shipps Ferry
down to low water.
Bull Shoals Dam Information Phone Number 870-431-5311.
Developing a Hydraulic Strategy
by Tom James
Youve selected the fly
pattern that best matches the flies that are hatching on the water. Youve determined the
most likely section of water that will hold trout. Your next challenge is to
fine tune your presentation by developing a hydraulic strategy.
A hydraulic strategy is
reading the currents of the stream, determining the location and method of
casting to deliver your fly to the trout to avoid drag.
When Gary Borger visited
our club, he commented that drag is the major hurdle that anglers have to face
to catch trout. If your fly does not act like a natural, chances it will not
fool trout.
In long slow pools with
flat water, reading currents may be simple. When you fish a swift run with many
complex currents of varying speeds, you need to think about how to address the
stream flow.
Casts
To minimize drag, you need
to place the fly line above the fly in faster currents or below the fly in slower
currents.
The reach cast is one of
the best methods to positioning line during the cast. As the line straightens
out, reach the line to either side, depending on the current.
The curve cast is also a
good method of redirecting the fly to compensate for drag. You can also combine
the two, the reach curve cast to get the best position on the water.
Mends
As you are fishing out a cast, you need to mend the line so that
it remains in position with the fly to avoid drag.
Lifting the rod tip and
repositioning the line it the easiest method. Roll mends and feeding line our
other techniques to give you longer drag free drifts.
Understanding a streams currents and anticipating how they affect
your presentation is just one of the key techniques to successful fly fishing.
Southern
Council Outreach Update
by
Sheryl Knight, Outreach Chair
Conclave 2004
Our Keynote Speaker will be Wanda
Taylor, a.k.a. Wicked Wanda. Wanda Taylor is a fly fishing
instructor with over twenty years experience.
She specializes in working with groups such as women, young people and couples.
Programs
Wanda will be hosting two casting
clinics Friday and will be presenting a slide show Saturday morning. She will
also be joining at the Outreach Luncheon Saturday
Dorothy Ames will be offering a new
program, Catch the Moment, a
scrapbooking class.
Outreach is also bringing back four
programs due to overwhelming demand.
Mike Clark will present his digital
photography program.
Al and Ouida Wilke and Dennis Slane will be
hosting two Dutch oven cooking classes in this year.
A beginning fly-tying class will be offered
and Sister Carol Ann Corley, Sherry Steele and Diane Blair will again bring
their expertise to the table.
Dr. Michael Lack presents It hurts when I do this, a program on common fishing injuries.
Outreach Inlet
The Outreach Inlet is intended to be a
place where you can sit down for a few minutes and visit with other Outreach
members (and Wanda when we dont have her
otherwise occupied.) A booth raffle will be held and our proposed mission
statements will be displayed at the Inlet.
Outreach Luncheon
The highlight of Outreach each year is
the Outreach Luncheon. Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers will host this years luncheon. The luncheon will be held
at the Senior Center and the Republican Ladies will cater the meal.
Outreach Fly Plate
The Outreach Fly Plates have not only
been beautiful but have raised a lot of money. Mekenzie Hada has supplied the
artwork for this years plate.
For more information on Outreach
activities visit the Southern Council website (www.southerncouncilfff.org).
Upcoming Events &
Programs
July 19, 2004 Member Social
Night
August 13 -
14, 2004 Prairie Center
Event
August 13 -
24, 2004 National Fly
Fishing Week
August 13 -
24, 2004 Dan Ward - Kansas Wildlife Federation
September 20,
2004 Annual Picnic
September 24 -
26, 2004 Fall Outing -
Montauk State Park
October 1 - 3,
2004 Southern Council Conclave
December 3 -
5, 2004 Annual
Banquet/Winter Outing
Bennett
Spring
Visit our Advertisers:
Black
Dog Sports
www.blackdogsports.com
The
Fishing Hole
Ray & Jonell Fincke
(913) 642-5554
3731 W. 95th Overland Park, KS 66206
Rainbow
Fly Shop
4706-D
Shrank Drive
Independence,
MO 64055
816-373-2283
9-5 Tuesday - Saturday
K&K
Flyfishers
Everything for Todays Flyfisherman
Total Equipment Selection
Great How To Schools
Pro Staff for Your Questions
Fishing Trips: Alaska Canada Montana Bahamas
87th & Grant, Overland Park, KS 66212
www.kkflyfishers.com
913-341-8118
Fishing
River Custom Rods
Bill Kreitz
13715 Nation Rd.
Kearney, MO 64060
E-mail: b.kreitz@att.net
816-628-5071
Cell: 816-392-6720
River
Run Outfitters
212
South Commercial
Branson,
MO 65616
417-332-0460
877-699-3474
(toll free)
www.riverrunoutfitters.com
Branson
Lodge
2456 State Highway 165
Branson, MO 65616
1-800-334-3104
www.bransonlodge.com
Sawdust Clay Art
Handmade wood sculptures of your
favorite fish.
PO
Box 575 Liberty, MO 64068
(816)
792-4603 lylesw@mdc.state.mo.us
Loon
Outdoors
www.loonoutdoors.com
Pomeroy
Auction
James J.P.
Rozine
Auctioneer
Kansas City, Kansas
(913) 334-2153
Blue
Ribbon Flies
West Yellowstone, Montana
www.blueribbonflies.com
Lilleys'
Landing
1-800-LILLEYS
367 River Lane
Branson, MO 65616
www.lilleyslanding.com
Dr.
Slick Co.
www.drslick.com
Weaver's
Tackle Store
www.missouritrout.com/weavers
11388 Highway 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-4618
Vogels
Homestead Resort
11451 Hwy 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-4097
Rio
Products
5050
S. Yellowstone Hwy, Idaho Falls, Idaho
83402
USA Tel. 208-524-7760
Fax
208-524-7763
e-mail:
rio@rioproducts.com
website: www.rioproducts.com
Spring
View Fly Shop
Ed & Kay
417-588-2116
11726 Highway 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
Andys
Catch
Phone:
417 - 532-0755
Fax:
417-532-1101
16161
Highway 64
Lebanon,
MO 65536
www.AndysCatch.com
Readings
Fly Shop
11937
Highway 64A
Lebanon,
MO 65536
417-588-4334
Bennett
Spring State Park Concession Shop
26248
Hwy 64 A
Lebanon,
MO 65536
417-532-4307
1-800-334-6946
Gastons
Tackle
Bennett
Springs State Park
11798
Highway 64 - Lot 63
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-9449
Sand
Springs Resort
1996
Hwy 64
Lebanon,
MO 65536
417-532-5857
417-588-3110
fax
www.sandspringsresort.com
Larrys
Sporting Goods
25976
State Highway 64A
Lebanon,
MO 65536
877-456-7243 or
417-532-8678
e-mail:
larrys@bennettspring.com
www.bennettspring.com
Wilkinson
Outdoor Adventures
Clint Wilkinson
272 Wild Cat Shoals Road
Gassville, AR 72635
870-404-2942
CGFlyfish@excite.com
Rileys Station
Miles & Michelle Riley
129 CR 640
Buffalo, AR 72653
whiteriver.net/rileys/
888-533-2151
870-425-4221
Dale
Fultons Blue Ribbon Flies
1343 Hwy. 5 South
Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653
(870) 425-0447
Fax (870) 425-6954
http://www.mtnhome.net/fultons/