Across the Stream – July 2006
A Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers
HOAFF July Meeting
Monday, July 17, 2006 - 7pm
Ron & Sheryl Knight
Spinnerbait Flies
President's Message
Streamside Ettiquette
by Mark Borserine
I have now been Club President for 18 months. I confess I’m running out of things to write about in this column each month but life always seems to provide us something. On Monday and Tuesday of this week, my wife and I joined another couple who have been best friends for many years at Rockbridge. I had a chance to witness the worst of streamside etiquette; so I thought a reminder of how we should all act would be a good subject. People were walking in front of us, casting over our lines; one family came down to the water’s edge with their kids tumbling in the water, throwing rocks and they backed their pickup down to the bankside so they could easily reach their supply of beer in the bed!
Now this is not to complain and rant about Rockbridge, despite all this we had a great time and due to the nature of Rockbridge’s business, this sort of thing is very hard or impossible to regulate but I had never seen it quite so bad as this recent experience. I also realized that, with the exception of one individual, these people were truly oblivious of what they were doing and meant no harm at all. To the contrary, they were cheerfully friendly as they trashed everyone else’s fishing! To her great credit, one lady asked our permission to join my friend and I on a pool; she was new to fly fishing and once she cast over my friend’s line and promptly apologized. There is always someone who restores your faith in humanity!
The one fellow who was really incredible walked up to bottom end of the “Mill Pool” and cast straight up toward the waterfall and cranked something large down through all the trout lined up there. He cast across my line and snagged me; as I untangled us I figured out what he was doing! He had a huge flatfish lure about 5 inches long with four treble hooks and he was trying to snag the trout! Happily he didn’t succeed but after a few minutes of what amounted to a submarine attack, the trout stopped any biting at all. Again, due the nature of Rockbridge’s business, I don’t know if this was legal or not but I did report and the folk’s mouths fell open – it may not have been illegal but it was hardly ethical!
All this simply serves to remind us that our own behaviour should be a model to everyone else and a credit to our sport and our club. Our behaviour should include patience and brings to mind one of my favorite prayers: “ Lord, give me the courage to change things I can, to abide those I cannot, and, most importantly, the wisdom to know the difference”.
Casting Clinic - August 12th
On Saturday, August 12th, Capt. Paul “Sodie” Sodaman will come and give us two Casting Clinics. There will be a morning session for those who are working on or are interested in pursuing the FFF Certified Casting Instructor Program.
After lunch there will be an afternoon session for those who are wanting to polish up some techniques or those who are just beginning in Fly Fishing. There will be a $20 charge for each session.
“Sodie” is an FFF Master Certified Instructor: this represents a golden opportunity to learn from a genuine Master! To sign up for either session, contact Mark Borserine: (913) 381-0722 res, (913) 915-1002 cell, MAJBORSER@aol.com e-mail.
2006 Officers
PRESIDENT
Mark Borserine
majborser@aol.com
(913) 381-0722
pAST PRESIDENT/SECRETARY
David Andrews
davidgandrews@kc.rr.com
H (816) 741-8314
tREASURER
Paul Bennetts
pbennetts1@comcast.net
913-338-3837
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Tom James
tom@blackdogsports.com
O (816) 718-0393
PROGRAMS
Cliff Cain John Bell
cliffcain@hotmail.com j.bell@kcc.state.ks.us
H (913) 780-3865 H (785) 843-1782
O (913) 433-5224 O (785) 271-3139
OUTINGS
Jim Jorgensen Bill Lyon
jhjflyfisher@everestkc.net blyon51@yahoo.com
H (913) 469-1950 (816) 525-1243
O (913) 477-7701
MEMBERSHIP
Cliff Newton Fred Clark
ccnewton@sbcglobal.net fclarks@planetkc.com
H (816) 943-8306 H (913) 831-0305
O (816) 426 3925 x260
CONSERVATION/BLUE RIVER PROJECT
Open Position
LIBRARIAN
Doug McDonald
mcdoug5148@sbcglobal.net
(913) 669-5222
EDUCATION/RECOGNITION
Bill Lindley Jim Mattes
wlindleyjr@kc.rr.com jimmattes@mattesappraisal.com
(913) 888-3177 H (913) 268-6161
SPRING PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Dick Martin Don Grundy
rlm@mllfpc.com dgrundy@sbcglobal.net
H (816) 781-9557 H (816)-781-9019
O (816) 221-1430
WEBMASTER
Vicky Newton
svnewton@sbcglobal.net
H (816) 943-8306
AUCTION/RAFFLE Committee
Jim Mattes
jimmattes@mattesappraisal.com
H (913) 268-6161
HISTORIAN
Bill Brant
billandkathy@kc.rr.com
H (816) 941-9691 O (913) 458-6826
SOUTHERN COUNCIL LIAISON
Hod McIntosh
singingreels@sbcglobal.net
Home: (913) 722-3684
BANQUET CHAIR
John Richards
jreyedoc1@aol.com
H (816) 781-0545 O (816) 781-0500
Heart of America Fly Fishers Meetings
Meetings are held at 7pm on the 3rd Monday of each month
Community of Christ Church
79th & Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS
Give Iowa a Try
September Outing
By Mark Borserine
There has been a lots of interest in going to NorthEast Iowa. This will be the weekend of September 9th, leaving Friday evening and returning Sunday evening. I have yet to put the details together but I am working on setting up a block of rooms for us, getting Jene Hughes of Des Moines to “guide” us and estimating expenses (which we will all share). I will put the particulars together by mid-July and get the information to all who’ve showed interest. The next newsletter will have the details. This will be a great outing, so keep it on your calendar!
July 17th Presentation
By Mark Borserine
Be sure to come to our meeting of Monday the 17th. We are honored to have two founding members of the HOAFF return to give us presentations. Sheryl Knight, Southern Council VP of Conservation will give us her thoughts on Conservation and as nominee for FFFSOC President, her thoughts on the Southern Council in general. Her husband, Ron Knight has just published a book on tying Spinnerbaits for flyrods. His book is a tribute to Tom Nixon and based on methods Tom taught him. Ron will demonstrate his tying techniques and his book will be for sale (signed, of course!). Don’t miss this evening!
HOAFF Apparel now available
Now you can get a T-shirt or a fishing hat with the new Heart of America Fly Fishers Logo. Hats $15, T-shirts $12
Fly Fishing Tips
Cast To Ledges
by Mark Borserine
Remember last fall when it took you longer to clean the splattered remains of big bugs off your windshield than it did to fill the gas tank? That was the beginning of terrestrial time on mid-west trout streams. A time to put away your summer fly box and bring out the one with big bushy flies for big hungry trout.
The majority of Missouri’s, and most mid-western trout streams, are not bordered by grass or pastures. They are tree lined. Typical western terrestrial techniques, where hoppers are the common fare, just aren’t that productive. Successful mid-west terrestrial fishing means a modification of both fly and tactics.
The Missouri terrestrials includes everything from beetles to crickets to ants and every thing in between. Such a wide array of “hatches” lead us to a terrestrial hybrid we call the The Madam. As the name implies the The Madam is a variation on the classic Madam X. The Madam combines the features of several different terrestrial insects and patterns into a one fly fits all pattern. The crystal chenille body mimics the metallic sheen of many beetles. The black color represents a cricket. And, the natural brown deer hair wings and the rubber legs work as a generic imitation. For whatever reason it works.
The Madam is most successful fished starting in late summer and keeps catching fish until the first hard killing frost. This is the time that the terrestrials are in the “autumn of their life”. They are at both their biggest and at their weakest. Cool or cold nights slow them down. Breezes, that pick up as cool night turn to warm days, shakes them lose from their grasp on the leaves and branches. With each breeze more terrestrials falls from the trees and splatts down on the water.
We have a saying about how to fish The Madam. Our ditty is, “Cast to the Ledges, the Edges and Up Under the Bushes. Many areas of Missouri’s rivers, such as the upper Current and the North Fork of the White, are lined with limestone bluffs or lower out cropping ledges. These areas are the Ozarks’ under cut banks. An underwater evaluation of these areas would reveal a myriad of nooks and crannies. Add to this that portions of bluffs and ledges are continuously falling into water to provide cover and that there is seepage of cool ground water entering the river and you have the perfect spot for a big trout to lurk. White, are lined with limestone bluffs or lower out cropping ledges.
For most of the year, “Cast to the Edges, means casting to current seams. But, during terrestrial season “Cast to the Edges” means casting to the edge of the stream. Often to within inches of the bank! Fall trout seem to know that the biggest and the best mouthfuls of food originate at the river’s edge. And they are there waiting to gobble them up.
Since we are not talking about the typical terrestrial, a hopper, where do most of them come from? They literally come raining down from tree branches that hang pout over the river. In our ON STREAM STRATEGY Terrestrial class, when our first student catches or raises a fish, we have the entire class wade to the spot where the fish rose. When we tell them to do it, they look at us like we were crazy. But once they get there and we tell them to look up over their head at the tree canopy, they begin to understand what we are trying to teach them.
Casting a big bushy fly like The Madam has both its good points and its bad points. On the plus side, a less than perfect cast and presentation can is often is a good thing. A big beattle falling from an over hanging branch doesn’t land delicately on the water. It lands with a resounding splat and splash. This great news for beginners! That poor cast just became a great on. On the downside, a big wind resistant fly requires a modification to your typical casting stroke. Even further on the downside is the preferred casting locations. Prime places mean more than your share of lost flies.
When you find that location where in one cast you can “Cast to the Ledges, The Edges, and Up Under the Bushes” Your Mid-West terrestrial time will be a season to remember.
Used with permission. Copyright © 2006 STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES. No portions may be used or reprinted with expressed permission.
Norm Crisp is owner and head guide for STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES (www.StreamSideAdventures.com). STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES offers guided fly fishing trips in Missouri and Wyoming. STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES is permitted by the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Medicine Bow National Forest and the Rawlins, Wyoming District of the Bureau of Land Management. STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES is an equal opportunity provider.
“The Pits”
By Mark Borserine
Saturday, the 17th of June was “The Pits”. Members of the HOAFF were invited to fish the Strip Pits leased by Hunting Sports Plus by permission of Daryl Traylor, owner of HSP. Those of us who are members of HSP call the area “The Pits” with humor; in reality, it’s a warmwater fisherperson’s paradise. There are over 30 bodies of water, all of them unique. The area was strip mined for coal in the early 1970’s by the Pittsburg Midway Mining Company, the famous “Big Brutus” was the shovel used. “Big Brutus” is now on display at the Mined Lands Wildlife area near Pittsburg, KS. My cousin was newly married at the time to a Rancher whose land was being mined and I remember Marty taking me to tour the area while it was being mined – I watched Big Brutus create these very pits!
Members enjoyed some great fishing, got a “taste” of the pits along with some great submarine (how appropriate) sandwiches provided by Jim Jorgensen for lunch. Daryl Traylor gave a presentation to the members present on HSP, the costs of membership, the club structure and regulations. This was the first time Daryl had ever allowed a club or any organization such as ours to use the Pits! Daryl and the other HSP members who were out there were very pleased with everyone’s courtesy and conduct – nothing but positive comments on our members!
FFF SOC Embroidered Shirts
Michael Ames of the FFF SOC has light blue embroidered shirts with the FFF SOC logo available for $38. He will be listed on the SOC website: www.southerncouncilfff.org or they will be available (if supplies last) at the Conclave.
Southern Council Conclave
Mountain Home, AR - Baxter County Fairgrounds
October 6,7& 8
Registration will be reduced $10 “across the board”
Featured Presenters:
Charles Jardine – UK
Ian Colin James – BC CANADA
Lori Ann Murphy – “Reel Women” USA
For details; look for the upcoming June issue of Long Casts or, see the FFFSOC website: www.southerncouncilfff.org.
Fly Tying Contest
The Southern Council will hold a Fly Tying contest. The fly to be tied is the Gray Ghost as originally tied by Carrie Stevens of Maine in the 1920s. Two examples of the fly are due by Sept. 1st.
The Gray Ghost is the classic streamer represented on the Southern Council logo. Recipes are available on the internet by searching “Gray Ghost Tying Instructions”.
Complete tying instructions are available in the book: “Tying Classic Freshwater Streamers”, by David Klausmeyer: Mark Borserine has a copy.
Cabela’s offers 5% Discount
Cabela’s will give a 5% Discount to all HOAFF members on 3000-series SKU-numbered items: Fly Fishing items if you will send them your e-mail. Log onto yahoo.com, click on groups, search for the group “cabela”, go through the registration process and you will receive special e-mails about discounts from Cabela’s Fly Shop in Kansas City.
When you present your HOAFF membership card at the register, you’ll receive a 5% discount on 3000-series SKU numbers. Participation is purely voluntary.
Upcoming Events & Programs
July 17, 2006 Ron & Sheryl Knight - Spinnerbait Flies
August 21, 2006 Craig Fuller - Niangua River
Sept 18, 2006 Annual Picnic - Shawnee Mission Park
October 18, 2006 Annual Raffle & Auction
Decebmer 2, 2006 Annual Club Banquet - Bennett Spring
Visit our Advertisers:
Black Dog Sports
The Fishing Hole
Ray & Jonell Fincke
(913) 642-5554
3731 W. 95th • Overland Park, KS 66206
Rainbow Fly Shop
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Independence, MO 64055
816-373-2283
9-5 Tuesday - Saturday
K&K Flyfishers’
Everything for Todays Flyfisherman
• Total Equipment Selection
• Great ”How To” Schools
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• Fishing Trips: Alaska • Canada • Montana • Bahamas
87th & Grant, Overland Park, KS 66212
www.kkflyfishers.com • 913-341-8118
Diane Cristopher-Fulks
Watercolor
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Designs by Diane
(816) 578-4615
Pomeroy Auction
James “J.P.” Rozine
Auctioneer
Kansas City, Kansas
(913) 334-2153
Lilleys' Landing
1-800-LILLEYS
367 River Lane
Branson, MO 65616
Wilkinson Outdoor Adventures
Clint Wilkinson
272 Wild Cat Shoals Road
Gassville, AR 72635
870-404-2942
Saltery Lake Lodge
1516 Larch Street
Kodiak, AK 99615
1-800-770-5037
Fax (907) 486-3188
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
2626 Hwy 165
Branson, MO 65616
417-332-0460
877-699-3474 (toll free)
Branson Lodge
2456 State Highway 165
Branson, MO 65616
1-800-334-3104
Eleven Point Canoe Rental
Fishing Outfitter
Canoe Rental
Guide Service
Camping
417-778-6497
Fishing Pole Guiding
Bow River
Crownsnest River
Southern Alberta
Float Fishing
Walk & Wade
Mountain River Fly Shop
1177 West Main
Cotter, AR 72626
870-435-6166
Gartside’s Secret Stuff
www.jackgartside.com/tying_material.htm
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
Brass Door Motel
Hwy 62W
Gassville, AR 72635
Motel Phone
(870) 435-2988
Restaurant Phone
(870) 435-2288
(877) 272-7736
White Sands Motel & Restaurant
Highway 62B - Next to Cotter's Rainbow Arch Bridge
870-435-2244
Bass Pro Shops
Chapman Creek Fly & Tackle
2701 North Marshall
Chapman, KS 76431
785-922-6630
Rim Shoals Lodge & Fly Shop
River Front Lodging
Guided FIshing Trips
Boat/Motor Rental
Full Service Fly Shop
Gary & Paula Flippin
(870) 435-6144
Anglers and Achery Outfitters
136B Eden Way
Branson, MO 65616
(417) 335-4655
Parkview Lodge
1-888-727-5883
5477 Hwy 165
Branson, MO
Reading’s Fly Shop
Fly Rods • Reels
Nets • Waders
Tying Materials
Over 1200 Book Titles
11937 Highway 64A
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-588-4334
Two Ocean Pass Outfitting
Tightline Guide Service
Vogels Homestead Resort
Bennett Spring State Park - Niangua River
Lodging • Canoe & Raft Rental • RV Park
11451 Hwy 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-4097
Americanfishes.com
More color illustrations of freshwater fish than anyplace on earth
Cabela’s
White River Trout Lodge
752 County Rd 703
Cotter, AR 72626
877-84TROUT
Flats Lander Guide Service
Spring and Fall in Kansas,
Summer in the Florida Keys
Capt. Paul “Sodie” Sodamann
785-456-5654