Across the Stream - August 2004

Across the Stream - August 2004

A Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers

HOAFF August Meeting

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 7pm

Dan Ward

Kansas Wildlife Foundation

President's Message

Logos, Patches & Letterhead

by Dave Andrews

What do these items have in common? Am I referring to toys or maybe a game? No, I am referring to the symbols we use to identify our club.

Since January of this year, the officers of the club have been researching and debating the merits of retaining or changing our existing symbols. We have had multiple variations of fly fishing reel emblems over the last several years. Some have been drawn with a heart. For letterhead, our club currently uses a heart-shaped patch that is different than the club’s banner.

The officer’s agreed that our logo theme should:

• Identify who we are

• Link our identity to our mission

• Flow consistently through patches, letterhead and banners

• Be useable for multiple purposes

• Be easily maintainable by the club with current technology

• Have broad appeal across gender and age groups

We found there was lack of clarity even among the officers as to our current logo. Further, the officers felt the current logo only met one of the above tests. After spending several months designing and debating club logos, the officers have selected a logo incorporating our mission of conservation, restoration and education. Samplings of our members have indicated broad appeal, especially to younger members. With this input, the officers made a nearly unanimous decision to adopt the new logo.

The new logo and letterhead can be found on our website www.hoaff.org. Patches that are suitable for t-shirts, caps and other uses have been designed from the new logo. At our August 13-14 National Fly Fishing Week event, volunteers will receive t-shirts with the new logo patch. Samples of logo items may be obtained from Tom James.

We hope you understand the need for the change and will embrace the new logo theme. This has been a difficult undertaking for the officers. We have an excellent group of officers who represent the men and women and younger and more senior members of our club. It is critical to the long-term success of our club that we adapt and appeal to prospective new members. The officers came together on what the logo should do, the need for the change and the new design. The fact that, in the end, the officers nearly unanimously supported the change makes me believe the best interests of the club have been served.

Missouri Trout News

Summer 2004

by Mike Kruse, Missouri Department of Conservation

New Trout Regulations Proposed

Department of Conservation biologists and hatchery managers conducted a comprehensive review of all trout fisheries earlier this year. As a result, three new categories of trout regulations have been proposed.

Blue Ribbon Trout Areas will be waters with the best habitat quality, or self sustaining populations of trout. Fishing regulations will include an 18-inch minimum length limit, a daily limit of one trout, fishing restricted to flies and artificial lures only and gigging of non-game fish will not be permitted. These restrictive regulations are designed to sustain the maximum density of adult trout and a chance to harvest a trophy.

Red Ribbon Trout Areas are also high quality trout habitat, but there may be some habitat or temperature bottlenecks that limit trout survival or growth. Regulations in these streams will be a 15-inch minimum length limit and a daily limit of two trout. Gigging of non-game fish will be permitted and some areas will be restricted to flies and artificial lures only. These streams will provide good catch-and-release fishing and a chance to harvest quality-size trout.

White Ribbon Trout Areas are coldwater streams that can support trout all year. The new statewide daily limit of four trout and a new statewide minimum length limit of 15 inches on brown trout will apply in these streams. All types of flies, lures and bait and gigging of non-game fish will be permitted. These areas will provide a great opportunity to catch and harvest trout and the occasional chance to harvest a large trout. These changes have been approved by the Department’s Regulations Committee, and will be considered by the Conservation Commission in September. If approved, the new regulations will take effect on March 1, 2005.

Missouri Trout Hatchery System Under Review

The Missouri Department of Conservation has hired FishPro Consultants to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s trout hatchery system. FishPro has extensive experience with such reviews and recently conducted similar analysis of the Pennsylvania trout hatchery system.

The Department instructed FishPro to provide recommendations on how to achieve the 20% increase in hatchery production capacity that is a key objective of the Plan for Missouri Trout Fishing. Preliminary recommendations suggest that a number of technologies are available including dissolved oxygen injection systems, improvements to water supplies, construction of new raceways, predator exclusion screens and other renovations to aging facilities. FishPro’s final report will be completed soon and implementation of top priority improvements will begin immediately.

New Zealand Mudsnail

In recent years the New Zealand mudsnail has been introduced to many trout waters of the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. It is also found in the headwaters of the Missouri River. This very small exotic invertebrate is largely immune to predation and, in a very short time, can alter food webs in trout streams by out-competing our native invertebrates and aquatic insects for food. The mudsnail reproduces asexually, so it only takes one snail to start-up a new population. It can be spread as a result of transport by anglers (attached to pieces of aquatic vegetation, or in mud on boots or other gear). It may also arrive with deliveries of trout from contaminated western trout hatcheries.

Anglers should make sure their personal gear, boat, and trailer are free from mudsnails. Be sure to wash off any mud on waders, boots or boat trailers before moving-on to other waters. Also, remove all vegetation which might be caught on your boat or trailer.

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 of the Month will feature a fly tyer demonstrating new fly patterns. Come early to the member meeting and learn some new tying techniques.

If you are interested in being a featured fly tyer, contact John Richards.

New Approaches to Missouri Trout Management

by Steve Eder, Missouri Department of Conservation

An important part of implementing the Department’s “Plan for Missouri Trout Fishing” is to review management of all trout areas and to review, clarify and simplify trout fishing regulations whenever possible.

In the early part of this year, Fisheries, Protection and Resource Science staff conducted a comprehensive review of the Department’s trout program. Staff reviewed information on trout populations, stocking, hatchery production, public expectations, habitat quality and other factors.

As a result of this review, we are recommending a new approach to the management of Missouri’s trout streams that will classify most of our waters into one of three categories:

Blue Ribbon Waters

Waters in this category are of two main types: 1) large, cold rivers representing the best quality trout habitat in Missouri, or 2) smaller streams capable of supporting naturally-reproducing rainbow trout populations. Our management objective for all Blue Ribbon waters will be to sustain the maximum number of adult trout using restrictive length and daily limits, tackle restrictions and gigging restrictions.

We expect these areas to provide excellent catch-and-release fishing opportunities and the occasional opportunity to harvest a trophy. Portions of the Current River, Eleven Point River and North Fork of the White River are in this category. These large streams will be stocked with either rainbow trout (Eleven Point) or brown trout (Current and North Fork).

Smaller streams in this category will be managed for wild rainbow trout and will not be stocked. This includes portions of Crane Creek, Barren Fork Creek, Blue Springs Creek, Little Piney Creek, Mill Creek and Spring Creek.

Regulations for all Blue Ribbon streams will be an 18-inch minimum length limit on all trout, a daily limit of one (1), fishing restricted to flies and artificial lures only and gigging in these stream sections will be prohibited. All waters formerly classified as Wild Trout Management Areas are in the Blue Ribbon category along with the former Current River Special Trout Management Area.

Red Ribbon Waters

Generally, these are also areas of high quality trout habitat, though they may have thermal or habitat bottlenecks that reduce habitat quality. In these areas, we want to enhance the survival of stocked trout through harvest restrictions and allow them to grow to larger sizes. We also want to allow traditional use of these waters for gigging of nongame fish. We expect these areas will provide good catch-and-release fishing opportunities and a chance to harvest quality-sized trout.

These areas will be stocked primarily with brown trout, but rainbow trout from nearby stocked areas or natural reproduction will be present in the proposed Red Ribbon waters. These areas include portions of the Meramec River, North Fork of the White River and Roubidoux Creek.

A 15-inch minimum length limit will apply to all trout, the daily limit will be two (2) trout and gigging will be allowed. Fishing will be restricted to flies and artificial lures on the Meramec River and Roubidoux Creek.

All types of bait, lures or flies will be allowed in the Red Ribbon area of the North Fork of the White River because there are no trout areas nearby that could accommodate displaced bait anglers.

All three of these areas were formerly classified as Special Trout Management Areas.

White Ribbon Waters

These are coldwater streams capable of supporting trout populations all year. These areas will be regularly stocked with rainbow trout and some areas will receive occasional stockings of brown trout.

We expect these areas to provide great opportunities for anglers to catch and harvest trout and the occasional chance to harvest a large trout using any legal fishing method they wish.

Harvest opportunities will be provided through regular stockings of rainbow trout. The opportunity to occasionally harvest a large trout will be provided through the release of a limited number of surplus rainbow trout broodstock in these areas and the stocking of brown trout in some White Ribbon Waters.

Streams in this category include portions of Capps Creek, Current River, Eleven Point River, Little Piney Creek, Niangua River, Roaring River, Roubidoux Creek and Stone Mill Spring Branch.

There will be no length limits on rainbow trout in these waters, the daily limit will be four trout and all types of flies, lures and bait will be allowed. Gigging of nongame fish will be permitted.

These areas were formerly Trout Management Areas and the Niangua River Special Trout Management Area.

Other Related Proposals

The statewide reduction in the daily limit of trout from 5 to 4 per day, will also be in effect in Missouri’s trout parks, urban winter trout management areas and Lake Taneycomo. No other changes to daily limits, length limits or tackle restrictions at the trout parks or Lake Taneycomo are proposed.

Brown trout are produced in more limited quantities in Missouri’s trout hatchery system than rainbow trout, but because of their lower vulnerability to angling, they are more likely to grow to large sizes in the wild.

Generally, they are stocked in areas where length limits protect them from harvest, but they may move into nearby stream reaches without length limits (i.e. trout parks or Trout Management Areas). As a result, many brown trout are harvested before they can reach larger sizes.

In an effort to enhance the survival of small brown trout wherever they are found, and provide an additional tool for producing large trout in some White Ribbon areas, we are proposing a statewide 15-inch minimum length limit on brown trout in all streams, except tributaries to Lake Taneycomo where a 20-inch minimum length limit still applies.

Initially, brown trout stockings will be restricted to areas where they are currently stocked. Any expansion of brown trout stocking will only be conducted after consultation with management partners.

The trout permit is currently a requirement for possessing trout outside of a trout park and for fishing during the winter catch-and-release season in the trout parks. Recently, the Regulations Committee adopted a rule that will require a trout permit for all anglers fishing during the winter catch-and-release season at Stone Mill Spring Branch.

We are now proposing a similar requirement of all anglers fishing upstream of the U.S. Highway 65 bridge in Lake Taneycomo. Unlike the trout parks and Stone Mill, we are proposing this rule would apply all year in this area. Unlike many other areas where trout are stocked and native sport fish are also caught, angling success in upper Lake Taneycomo is almost entirely dependent upon trout stocking.

During public review of “A Plan for Missouri Trout Fishing,” many anglers supported the concept of requiring a trout permit for fishing in any trout area. Because of this angler acceptance and the need for trout stocking to support the upper Taneycomo fishery, a trout permit should be required for fishing in that area. Such a requirement is philosophically consistent with the tradition of requiring a daily fishing tag for fishing in the trout parks where the fisheries are also dependent upon stocking.

HOAFF Fall Outing visits the Current River

September 24 - 26, 2004

by Tom James

Montauk State Park and the Current River will be the destination for the HOAFF Fall Outing, September 24th through the 26th.

Cabin and campground lodging is available inside Montauk State Park. Rooms are reserved quickly and the park can fill up fast so call the park now to reserve your lodging. Call the Missouri Campground Reservation System at 1-877-422-6766 or for online reservations try www.mostateparks.com. Call Montauk State Park lodging at (573) 548-2434. Reference the HOAFF Outing, September 24-26, 2004.

There are lodging opportunities outside the park at Marlin’s Montauk Cabin Rental. For reservations call (573) 548-2562. Motels are also available at the town of Licking, on US 63, about 12 miles from the park.

The Current River

Just East of Licking, Missouri, Pigeon Creek flows Southeast where the seven springs that makeup Montauk Springs combine to form the Current River.

The river flows 2.5 miles through Montauk State Park where rainbow trout are stocked daily and trout park regulations apply. The park offers fly fishing only waters in the upper stretches and Catch & Release opportunities to chase larger trout. Stream improvements at the lower end of the park near the camp-ground areas have provided greater holding areas for trout.

After leaving the State Park the Current enters the Ozark National Scenic Riverway where it is classified as a Special Trout Management Area. Nice populations of Rainbows and Browns call this section home that extends eight miles to Cedargrove.

At Cedargrove, the Current is classified as a Trout Management area where rainbow trout are periodically stocked in the eight miles of water down to Akers.

The Current is an excellent floating river. With nearly 16 miles outside the park that offers an excellent opportunity for catch trophy sized trout, floating can give a greater chance to access more water and put distance between other anglers.

The internet lists a host of outfits that can provide crafts for your floating pleasure.

Rock Bottom

by Tom James

No bugs fill the sky or ride the waves. There are no dimples on the surface and little activity to show feeding fish. What do we do now? To get to the bottom of this question, we look to nymphs.

The majority of a trout’s diet is made up of subsurface meals—be it mayfly nymphs, caddis and midge larvae or scuds and sowbugs.

Nymphs by there very nature live under, crawl on and cling to rocks on the bottom of the stream. To fish the patterns effectively, you need to imitate the naturals.

Much like dry flies, we match the hatch. Not only do we duplicate the shape, size and color, but also the behavior and presentation. Since the naturals live on the bottom, that’s where the fly needs to be fished to give a natural presentation.

There are several ways to get your fly to the bottom. A sink tip line is designed with weight built in the core to accomplish this very task. However, sink tip lines can be hard to cast. Since most of the line in underwater, it can be difficult to get the line out of the water for the backcast. A roll cast to bring line up before the backcast can help overcome this problem.

Even with a floating line, you can get your flies to the bottom. Using weighted flies like the Copper John, beadhead flies and adding split shot weights to your presentation help to get the flies to the bottom. Like the sink tip lines, weighted flies and lead can be difficult to cast.

In Bob Clouser’s Spring Program, he showed an elliptical cast for casting weighted flies. The fly travels around an arc allowing more control and eliminating the dreaded bounce back that can happen if you cast weight with the normal forward cast.

Once you have the fly on the bottom, it is important to keep it there during the drift.

Rocks and structure on the bottom of the stream create a hydraulic cushion that slows the current at the bottom. In some cases, the current at the surface can be six times faster than at the bottom. Steps need to be taken to accommodate this change in current speed. Mending the line and having the appropriate split shot weight to your presentation help to overcome the current discrepancies.

Large bedrock streambeds do little to block the current so the speed at the bottom is similar to the surface speeds. The key is understanding the environment being fished and adapt to those situations.

Mending line keeps the fly in a fishing position, allowing a greater drag free dead drift. It is important to mend the line to the indictor without moving it. If the indictor moves, it pulls the fly off the bottom, out of a fishing position.

Split shot weights drag along the bottom slowing the progress of the line, reducing drag. When fishing nymphs on the bottom, you will get hung up from time to time. If you’re not getting hung up, you’re not fishing deep enough.

At times preceding a hatch, nymphs rise to the surface to emerge, that is a good time to get off the bottom and fish nymphs throughout the water column.

Getting to the bottom of nymph fishing might be the key to greater fishing success.

Liberty Fly Tyers donate Fishing Chair to Southern Council for HOAFF

by Tom James

The Board and Officers of Heart of America Fly Fishers would like to thank the Liberty Fly Tyers for the generous gift of a work of art created by Willie Lyles of Sawdust Clay Art. The artwork is a fishing chair decorated with wood carved fish.

The chair was purchased by the Liberty Fly Tyers and given to HOAFF to present to the Southern Council for the auction at the Conclave in October.

In addition to the gift of the Fishing Chair, the Liberty Fly Tyers has once again pledged several dozen flies for the Conclave auction.

Restore the Niangua River Watershed

by Dave Andrews

The Nature Conservancy in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and others has agreed to undertake a very large multi-year project to restore the Niangua River Watershed. Information on this project may be obtained from The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org or from any officer of the club.

This project is being funded by foundation grants, large corporate sponsors and donations. The Nature Conservancy has requested a donation of $5,000 from our club. Our board has approved a donation of $1,500. One of our members has agreed to match this amount, leaving a balance of $2,000 to be raised to fulfill TNC’s request.

Any member wishing to donate to this worthwhile cause may write a tax-deductible check to the Nature Conservancy. Officers will talk about this project at upcoming meetings and accept checks. Our goal is to raise the $5,000 by year-end and present it to TNC at that time.

Upcoming Events & Programs

August 13 - 14, 2004 Prairie Center Event

August 13 - 24, 2004 National Fly Fishing Week

August 16, 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

October 18, 2004 Joseph R. Tomelleri

November 15, 2004 Annual Auction & Raffle

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

Andy’s Catch

Phone: 417 - 532-0755

Fax: 417-532-1101

16161 Highway 64

Lebanon, MO 65536

www.AndysCatch.com

Reading’s 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

Gaston’s 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

Larry’s 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

Riley’s Station

Miles & Michelle Riley

129 CR 640

Buffalo, AR 72653

whiteriver.net/rileys/

888-533-2151

870-425-4221

Dale Fulton’s Blue Ribbon Flies

1343 Hwy. 5 South

Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

(870) 425-0447

Fax (870) 425-6954

http://www.mtnhome.net/fultons/

http://www.mtnhome.net/brf/

E-mail: bluflyar@mtnhome.com

Two Rivers Fly Shop

13718 Hwy 5 South • Norfork, AR 72658

870 499-3060 • Fax 870 499-5951

www.tworiversflyshop.com

Wapsi

Ask for Wapsi at Better Fly Shops Everywhere!

Mountain Home, AR 72653

Brass Door Motel

Hwy 62W

Gassville, AR 72635

Motel Phone

(870) 435-2988

Restaurant Phone

(870) 435-2288

(877) 272-7736

The Red Fern Restaurant

203 N. College St.

(1/2 Block off Hwy 62B)

Mountain Home, AR

870-508-6693

White Sands Motel & Restaurant

Highway 62B - Next to Cotter's Rainbow Arch Bridge

870-435-2244

whitesands@mtnhome.com