Across
the Stream – April 2007
A
Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers
HOAFF April Meeting
Monday, April 16, 2007 - 7pm
Brent Frazee
Outdoor
Columnist for the Kansas City Star
President's Message
by Mark Borserine
After nearly two and a half years as Club President, I find
‘writer’s block’ being more and more of a problem every month! What to write about? The answer – Time-Honored subjects –
Membership & Volunteerism
Membership: In both HOAFF and the FFF; never forget that your membership
dues go a long way to furthering the goals of both organizations which are one
and the same: Education, Conservation
and Restoration; Preservation
and Expansion of our Sport!
What is returned to you is information
that keeps you up to date on our sport and access to all sorts of
educational material and opportunities via websites, magazines and newsletters.
If you are coming to meetings but do not belong to HOAFF, please join us and if
you belong to HOAFF but not yet to the Federation, complete the package!
Volunteerism:
Is the lifeblood of any organization. All too
typically a few do for the many and a few things get done (often done well),
but, if the many would do just one thing each, much
would get done (well). If you can help out with just one event a year, even one
small aspect of that event, your participation is invaluable. Mother Teresa’s
most famous saying was “We cannot do great things, but we can do small things
in great ways!” – a lesson for all aspects of our lives.
Mother Teresa got many people to do small things and much was
accomplished! I am very happy and
gratified that we have just recently had an influx of new blood into our
Officer ‘ranks’: Travis Knight -
Membership; Darren Watson & Ron Carruthers – Outings;
Kevin Carril – Conservation and Jim Jorgensen -
Secretary. I cannot say how much I appreciate their contributions,
in just a very short time they are making a genuine difference! Please consider
helping them!
Very
few people are contributing to the Newsletter. If you have a good trip, a good
experience, a good seminar or just plain catch a nice big fish – give us an
article and a photo – even if it’s just to say “I caught this nice fish on a
trip to so and so and had a great time!”. Don’t be shy
if you are not good at spelling and grammar, you are among friends! Send me your articles if you’re concerned;
I’m a good speller and my wife’s an excellent grammarian – we’ll be happy to
assist without losing your original intent. By doing this one simple thing you
can help indeed!
Arkansas Tailwaters
Update
by John Bell
Here
are some selected highlights on what the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
(through its Trout Program personnel) has been doing lately. All of the information was gleaned from the
Coldwater Resources Newsletter at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
website at http://www.agfc.com/data-facts-maps/publications/agfc-newsletters/coldwater_newsletter.aspx Check it
out!
Beaver Tailwater:
Improvements
to the Parker Bend Angler Access were completed in fall 2006. The project helps to eliminate eroding stream
bank and allow for increased angler access.
Bull Shoals Tailwater:
The
Cotter Access area (and boat ramp) was completely redeveloped and rededicated
in November 2006.
The
Rim Shoals Habitat Improvement Project began in December 2006. This project will improve aquatic habitat in
the 1.8 miles of the White that is above the current Rim Shoals “Catch &
Release” area. The project extends from
the Armstrong Hole to Jenkins Creek.
Larry Rider is the Chief of Habitat Improvement for the Trout
Program.
An
improvement project is being developed at the Ranchette
Access Area. The project will provide
increased angler access and habitat improvement in the river.
Norfork Tailwater:
The Norfork Tailwater has some
disturbing news surrounding it. First,
in spring of 2006 a developer cleared a large parcel of land on the east ridge top overlooking Norfork
Dam and Tailwater.
The development is called “Overlook Estates”. Apparently the developer did not acquire and
follow stormwater runoff permitting requirements from
the Arkansas Dept of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). As a consequence each time when it rains,
runoff from the development carries excessive sediments via tributaries into Norfork Tailwater causing very
muddy water and sediment accumulation in the streambed. ADEQ and Arkansas Trout Unlimited have filed
lawsuits against the developer. Trout
Program personnel ran several studies to determine the impact now, and to
predict the extent of the impact if excessive sediments keep flowing into the tailwater. Recently
a report summarizing their findings was submitted to the Commission.
Another
perennial Norfork problem is the annual decrease in
dissolved oxygen (D.O.) levels during summer, fall, and early winter. This year (2006) was no different and a trout
die-off was documented in November 2006 as a result. The tailwater
experienced D.O. less than 3ppm during 2006 and it is well documented that
trout become stressed at levels below 6ppm and will die at levels less than
3ppm. While Trout Program personnel are
certain they are losing trout to this problem, it is difficult to document as
the dead fish get scattered by the hydropower generation. This situation also exists on the White below
Bull Shoals Dam but was not a serious issue in 2006.
Trout Health Assessment:
During
the fall of each year Trout Program personnel perform a trout health assessment
study, sampling trout below both of the dams.
An integral part of the study is the “relative weight” test. Relative weight is a measure of the average
weight of trout in a population compared to what a normal or healthy trout
should weigh for a given size.
Disturbingly, the relative weight of trout below Norfolk dam has been
declining for the past three years. The
only bright side to this is that the decline has been from above average size
to average size. So, for the most part,
trout below Norfork dam (when not stressed from low
oxygen levels) are of average size and health.
The picture is less bright over at Bull Shoals dam as you will read
below.
Didymo:
The
relative weight of brown trout below Bull Shoals dam in November 2006 was the
lowest that has ever been recorded.
Relative weight for both brown and rainbow trout have been falling in
Bull Shoals tailwater since 2004, which coincides with
the appearance of the invasive algae, didymo. This decrease in relative weight has been
documented in other trout waters around the world where didymo
has occurred. It is believed that blooms
of didymo in upper Bull Shoals tailwater
have had the predicted detrimental effect on trout forage and trout
foraging. Didymo
carpets the bottom of the river and makes it impossible for native macro
invertebrates to colonize or survive.
Further, trout cannot forage efficiently in didymo
and get no nutritional value from ingesting it.
Learn more about didymo at the FFF website at
http://www.fedflyfishers.org/conDidymo.php
Personnel Changes:
Darrell
Bowman Chief Trout Biologist and Director of the Trout Management Program has left AGFC to pursue a position in the private sector at
Bella Vista in northwest Arkansas. The
Trout Program is Darrell’s legacy to his tenure at AGFC and while he will be
truly missed, we wish him the very best in his new endeavor. Jeff Williams is Interim Chief until
Darrell’s replacement is named.
One Fly Tournament
June 9th, 2007 • 9:00am - 2:00pm
Lake of the Forest is a private lake, known for great bass and
crappie fishing. Bring your float tube /
drift boat. We will have a contest with
prizes for the total length and the number of fish caught using just 1 fly.
Lunch will be provided if you RSVP by e-mail to dwatson@lawingfinancial.com before June 6th.
Directions
– Exit going west on Kansas 32 from 435. (Bonner Springs exit). Go 2.2 miles.
The entrance is on the right side of the road. The entrance is easy to miss, so look
closely. Follow the signs.
Blue River Cleanup
By
Kevin Carril
Although
the weather forecast was not encouraging, a small but energetic contingent from
Heart of America Fly Fishers joined with the Lakeside Nature Center’s Project
Blue River Rescue on March 31 to help with the cleaning of the riparian zone of
the Blue River. As it turned out, it never rained a drop and the sun was out by
late morning. With the warm weather and with the dogwoods and redbuds in bloom,
it was a nice morning to be outdoors.
Our
group, with the assistance of some volunteers from Honeywell, concentrated on
removing litter from the area below the I-435 bridge.
The view of the river and the surrounding area was markedly improved by the end
of the morning.
I
think everyone had a good time and felt good about doing something tangible to
improve the habitat of a fishable stream that is located right in the
metropolitan area. Many stretches of the Blue River are quit beautiful. A
special thanks to Ron Carruthers, Bill Brant and
Kathy LaFrensen, for their assistance.
2007 Officers
President
Mark Borserine
913-381-0722 majborser@aol.com
Past President
David Andrews
816-741-8314 davidgandrews@kc.rr.com
Secretary
Jim Jorgenson
913-469-1950 jjorgensen@ci.lenexa.ks.us
Treasurer
Paul Bennetts
913-338-3837 pbennetts1@comcast.net
Newsletter
Tom James
816-718-0393 tom@blackdogsports.com
Programs
John Bell
785-843-1782 j.bell@kcc.state.ks.us
Cliff Cain
913-558-5069 cliffcain@hotmail.com
Education/Recognition
Bill Lindley
913-888-3177
Norm Crisp
913-645-1994 streamsideff@yahoo.com
Outings
Darren
Watson dwatson@lawingfinancial.com
Ron Carruthers
816-741-7251 rcarruthers2@kc.rr.com
Membership
Travis Knight
816-246-4168 tdk883@yahoo.com
Frederick Clark
913-831-0305 fclarks@planetkc.com
Conservation Team
Kevin Carril
913-362-9379 rrac3@sbcglobal.net
John Bell
785-843-1782 j.bell@kcc.state.ks.us
Library
Doug McDonald
913-764-6678 mcdoug5148@sbcglobal.net
Web Master
Vicky Newton
816-943-8306 svnewton@sbcglobal.net
Raffle/Auction
Jim Mattes
913-268-6161 jimmattes@mattesappraisal.com
Spring Programs
Dick Martin
816-781-9557 rlm@mllfpc.com
Don Grundy
816-781-9019 dgrundy@sbcglobal.net
Historian
Bill Brant
816-941-9691 billandkathy@kc.rr.com
Southern Council
Liaison
Hod McIntosh
913-722-3684 singingreels@kc.rr.com
Supernumerary
Ray Zook
816-941-2862 rzook@kc.rr.com
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
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
Refund for Annual Banguet
Members
who paid $15 each for the Annual Banquet can request a refund from now until
the April member meeting. After that the funds will go towards the Mill Creek
purchase. Contact Paul Bennetts, Treasurer.
Hogback Cabin Silent
Auction
by Mark Borserine
A
friend of Norm Crisp’s who was with us in September for our Iowa Outing has
made a very generous donation to the Club. In Norm’s own words:
“Duane
Brandt won the Hogback Cabin Lottery. Duane has the cabin on the nights of
August 27th, 28th, and 29th of this year. This is a restored
homesteader’s cabin on world famous Rock Creek near Missoula, Montana. Fishing
is so good my son Dan missed two flights home from Missoula because the Skwala hatch or the hoppers were fishing so well! The cabin sleeps eight. I’ve fished Rock
Creek several times and stayed in the cabin three times.
Duane
is offering HOAFF three spaces in the cabin. Three others are going to the
Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited and Duane and I each get one. Duane’s only
restriction is that the space has to be used as a fund raiser. Auction or
Raffle doesn’t matter as long as it brings in some money. All one has to do is
get to Missoula. We will even do airport pick up. Meals are on Duane and I. Not a guided trip since Streamside
Adventures does not have a permit for Lolo National Forest but we are
happy to let participants fish with us – as long as we get first shot at prime
water from time to time.”
HOAFF
will auction these three precious ‘spots’ off during the May 21st member meeting by silent auction.
Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity for a wonderful trip and to give
some money to your club!
Mill Creek – A Special Opportunity
by Norm Crisp, Stream Side Adventures
In
last month’s newsletter there was an excellent story reprinted from the
Columbia Tribune about Mill Creek and the history of its special trout. We are
fortunate that the Missouri Department of Conservation was able to purchase the
Bohigian tract and add another mile of trout water to
public access.
The
purchase could only be made by leveraging Department funds with a pledge of
$100K from other sources. The Coldwater Fund committed $50k of the $100k.
Mid-Missouri TU and the Ozark Council of TU have contributed $30K. That still
left $20K to be raised. I’m happy to say that HOAFF has pledged $1,000. Our donation
is being matched by the Southern Council. My math still has Mill Creek’s Trout
about $18K short.
I
love Mill Creek and its beautiful trout. But don’t take my word for what this
means to those of us who value wild trout. The two strongest champions of
Missouri’s wild trout Curt Morgret, Chairperson of
Coldwater Fund and President of Mid-Missouri TU, and Mike Kruse, the driving
force of the Department of Conservation’s Trout Plan, will be at our April
meeting to tell you how important this acquisition is and to answer any
questions you may have. I hope you will all listen to what Curt and Mike will
have to say and be encouraged to support this rare opportunity.
March Educational Events
by Norm Crisp, Stream Side Adventures
March
was a busy month. At the request of the Federation of Fly Fishers, HOAFF
spearheaded a series of fly fishing program at Cabela’s
on March 3rd, 4th, and 10th. On each day we made three
presentations and hand out membership information for both HOAFF and FFF.
On
March 8th
we presented a program in cooperation with the Missouri Department of
Conservation at the Discovery Center titled “Alternatives to the Trout Parks”.
Over 20 people attended this seminar. Most of those attending were not HOAFF members.
All those attending were given a HOAFF membership application.
On
March 31st
we conducted a fly tying class for WOW (Woman in the Outdoor World).
Our
next planned seminar in cooperation with the Department of Conservation will be
held on September 13th. This seminar will deal with nymph fishing and cover
information on typical nymphs found in trout streams, flies to match them, and
nymph fishing techniques.
If
there are any topics you would like to see HOAFF present or if there is a class
you would like to teach please let me know by e-mailing streamsideff@yahoo.com.
Lewis Creek
by Steve Jenkins
I
was very reluctant to even get my feet wet in Lewis Creek. I had been there before. It wasn’t pleasant. The creek frequently smelled like the Vermont
farmyards that bordered its headwaters.
In the slower stretches, it seemed like much of the silt on the stream
bottom also came from a barnyard. On my
first trip there, I had caught two scrawny rainbows. Today I was looking for something more
promising.
The
winter drought in the Northeast had been broken by about ten days of nearly
continuous rain and warm temperatures.
The timing of the trip to visit our daughter and family couldn’t have
been worse, at least from the fisherman’s point of view. But now, temperatures had nose-dived and the
rain had finally at least slowed down.
It was reported that the streams were dropping. After settling in over the weekend, I took a
couple of hours on Monday for a scouting trip.
The remaining snow (it was mid May) on the mountains was now slowing its
melt since temperatures had dropped.
But, still, the volume of water coming out of the mountains kept most
all of the streams roaring. Except for
Lewis Creek, more of a meadow stream, all the other nearby
streams were still way too full to wade.
On
the scouting trip, I visited with a fisherman who was getting into the water on
Lewis Creek, downstream from the spot of my previous trip. He was a student at the university and
reported participating in a shocking survey that had turned up some very nice
rainbows in the area he was preparing to fish.
Since the lower reaches of Lewis Creek support a healthy supply of
smallmouth bass and sunfish, I had just dismissed this area as a transition
zone, at best. But, his report seemed to
show me up as a skeptic.
So,
I got clearance for a shot at the creek on Tuesday. The weather was beginning to improve. There had been little rain over the weekend
and just a dab on Monday, but Tuesday’s prediction was light rain showers. So what?
I had rain gear and clouds were generally helpful — I was going,
anyway. I dropped one grandson at school,
came home and made a lunch and headed for the creek. The thermometer read 47 degrees and it was
very, very cloudy. In about 45 minutes,
I was in the water. It was up, but not
like the other (mountain fed) streams.
The color was good and the water temperature was 49 degrees.
Heading
upstream, I really didn’t have high expectations. Last year’s trip had tainted me. I expected this to be a “just great to be
out” kind of day. Lewis Creek flows
almost due west from its headwaters south of Burlington and empties into Lake
Champlain. It isn’t a long,
or large stream — it’s just a creek.
With the proximity to Burlington and moderately easy access, I guessed
it gets heavy pressure. The state stocks
rainbows, and there are also some brookies, but they
run even smaller than the rainbows. I
wasn’t looking for a trophy — I wanted action.
At this spot, the stream makes a moderate “S” curve, made necessary by
several large outcroppings of red slate.
At the upstream part of the “S”, there was nice pool. Faster water entered centrally at the top of
the pool, flowed against the far bank and was turned to the right by one of the
outcroppings. Above the fast water was
another nice looking pool, but as I moved upstream, I could see that this pool
was already occupied. A change in plans
was needed.
Frequently,
my first fly these days, if I’m fishing downstream, is
the .56%er. With that guy already in the
next pool, I would have to fish downstream from where I stood. Swimming the fly down the pool was a familiar
drill. I worked it close at first,
lengthening casts thereafter. Moving
downstream about two steps, the drill was repeated. Practicing this drill for about five minutes
produced a strike. I was unprepared and
that fish escaped from the business end of the hook. Continuing the drill, I was ready for the
next strike and landed an eight-inch rainbow.
For all the commotion it created, that fish should have been eighteen
inches. It hit the fly hard and
immediately bolted upstream, right toward me.
As I scrambled to recover line, it turned and began leaping and leaping,
downstream. Seeing its size clearly now,
I relaxed and let it play out. When I
released the fish, inspection showed no hatchery marks and apparently it had
never been caught, previously. For its
size, that little rainbow was a real fighter.
I
continued the drill toward the far end of the pool with no more action. A splash in the middle of the pool was almost
hidden in the current. But, it surely
was a splash. Then, a
second and a third. What was
this? Lewis Creek and
rising fish? Then, I saw the
bugs. I guess I had been just too intent
with the .56%er drill. These were
definitely mayflies, and they appeared to be Hendricksons,
based on size and color. I rummaged
around in my vast armada of flies and picked out a possible imitation — a
Hendrickson dry in size 12. Off came the
.56er and the 3X leader and on went a longer, dry fly leader, size 5X and the
fly. It took several minutes to make the
switch and to grease the fly, but the fish were still rising.
To
get the right casting position, I had to move up the pool about five
yards. After about a half dozen casts, I
was into another fish. It rose to the
fly with authority — a nine-inch rainbow.
Fish continued to rise, but now there were some caddis flies beginning
to buzz the surface. Another
strike and another fish. Say,
this Lewis Creek was looking up, but where were the “nice rainbows” the guy
mentioned yesterday? The second rainbow
was a copy of the first, but it really mangled the dry fly. I took a few minutes to clean, straighten and
dry the fly before regreasing it. Returning to casting the fly now found no
more takers. I worked the Hendrickson
pattern through the current tongues, into the still water beyond the current
and through the tail of the pool. The
rises continued, but with noticeable diminished intensity. Yet, the caddis were
still buzzing, and the mayflies seemed gone.
I
tied on a small deer hair caddis dry fly.
The bugs on the water seemed to be the “cinnamon” caddis in about size
18. After I had worked the fly for about
ten minutes, and with the fish showing no interest, I really wondered what I
had done. Did I run them off, or had
they lost interest? Still, this was
Lewis Creek and I shouldn’t have been expecting much, anyway. But, there were still those pesky rises. With the caddis still buzzing around, I
speculated they were taking emerging caddis just under the surface.
Soft-hackle
flies have been a recent addition to my arsenal. I now carry several dozen in assorted colors
and sizes. In other situations, I’ve
found them useful when caddis are emerging. I moved upstream in the pool, to where the
main thrust of the current entered. Here
the water was probably too fast for good action of the soft feathers used in
these patterns. But, the current speed
dropped as the pool widened and deepened.
It was in this current tongue that the majority of the rises were
seen. I tied on a tannish
fly with pheasant tail body, size 14.
Casting across and down gave the fly the proper swing.
In
the area where the current began to noticeably slow, I had the first strike,
but no hook-up. Two casts later, feeling
a slight tug on the line, I set the hook into another small rainbow. It worked!
Soft hackles seemed to be fooling even these urbane Vermont trout. I really believe the soft hackle action and
downstream presentation make a great simulation of emerging caddis – great
enough to fool these rainbows.
As
the day ended, I had added several more small rainbows to the count. But, nowhere were the reported “nice
rainbows” to be found, at least by me. Still, Lewis Creek has come up several notches
in my book. I’ll go back again, too.
Mike George donated fly
A
very special Hatch of the Month will occur the night of our member meeting
April 16th. Mike George has donated the beautiful Bass
fly, his version of a Dying Sunfish, shown in this photo to the drawing. Bring your best flies or crispest dollars!
Upcoming Events &
Programs
April16,
2007 Brent Frazee
April 21,
2007 EarthFest
- Shawnee Mission Park - 10am - 2pm
For More info
contact Bill Brant
May 21,
2007 Norm Crisp: Traveling
& Trout Fishing
June 9,
2007 One Fly Tournament, Lake
of the Forest, Bonner Springs, KS
Sept 17,
2007 Annual Picnic
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Yager’s Flies
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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
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1516
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Kodiak,
AK 99615
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13715
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MO 64060
E-mail:
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816-628-5071
Cell:
816-392-6720
River
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2626 Hwy
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417-332-0460
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Walk
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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
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Lebanon,
MO 65536
417-532-5857
417-588-3110
fax
Brass
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Hwy 62W
Gassville, AR 72635
Motel
Phone
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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