Across
the Stream – January 2008
A
Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers
HOAFF January Meeting
Monday, January 21 - 7:00pm
Kevin Kurz
From K&K Flyfishers
President’s Message
A New President
by Darren Watson
First, I would like to thank Mark Borserine for his commitment to
our club over the past three years serving in the position of president. He has
been very helpful to me as I have transitioned into the position in agreeing to
assist me with the newsletters; he has also been nominated to serve as one of
five Directors for 2008.
The White River outing is on the horizon and looks to be a great
event. Last year was a complete success!
If you haven’t already signed up, please hurry. It’s almost full! If
when you do attempt to sign up you find it is already full, please know that
you can still join us, but will have to make other hotel arrangements.
2008 membership fees are due now. If you have not paid yet, please
send it in or bring a check to our Jan 21st meeting. Please know that our club
uses this money, as well as any that we raise, is used in prudent and
worthwhile ways. Also, many of us may have a fishing buddy that is not a
member. Please consider asking them to join! We will have applications at the
meetings or feel free to go to our website.
Also, we need material for the newsletter. If you have any great
fishing stories, pictures, or any other items that you would like to submit,
please do so. We are happy to review it for our publication.
I look forward to serving as the 2008 president. I expect a
learning curve as I attempt to fill Mark’s shoes, but truly look forward to the
challenge!
HOAFF Logo Lapel Pins
Each current member
who renews in the first 90 days of 2008, by March 31st will receive an enameled
Lapel/Hat/Vest Pin with the HOAFF logo. Every new member who joins in 2008 will
also receive a pin. The pins will be available for sale for $5.00 each.
Bob Jacklin Spring Program
Saturday, February 23, 2008 • 8:00am - 4:00pm
Bob Jacklin has been a fly Fishing Guide and
Outfitter in the Yellowstone region for over 36 years and has a full service
Fly Fishing Shop in West Yellowstone. He is a world-class fly fisherman, fly
tyer, and fly casting instructor.
Bob holds a Masters Certification as a fly
casting instructor, and sits on the FFF’s Board of Governors for fly casting
instructions. He has been tying flies commercially since 1963 and is a past
recipient of the FFF’s Buz Buszek award for his contributions to the art of fly
tying. There are few people in the country with as much in-depth knowledge of
fly fishing, fly casting, and fly tying as Bob Jacklin. He is a charter member
of the Federation of Fly Fishers, on the pro-staff for St, Croix Rods, Ross
Reels, and Cortland Lines. In 2004, at
the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, Bob Jacklin was inducted into the
very prestigious “Fly Fishing Hall of Fame.”
HOAFF
& FFF members: $40.00 • Nonmembers: $50.00
Registration
fee includes a catered lunch
Community of Christ Church • 79th & Mission
Road
2008
Officers
President
Darren Watson
816-805-8761 dwatson@lawingfinancial.com
Past President
Mark Borserine
913-381-0722 majborser@aol.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
Newsletter Assistant
Mark Borserine
913-381-0722 majborser@aol.com
Programs
John Bell
785-843-1782 j.bell@kcc.state.ks.us
Cliff Cain
913-558-5069 cliffcain@hotmail.com
Education
Norm Crisp
913-645-1994 streamsideff@yahoo.com
Outings
Ron Carruthers
816-741-7251 rcarruthers2@kc.rr.com
Jim Bebb
913-721-3397 jbebb@communitynationalbank.net
Membership
Frederick Clark
913-831-0305 fclarks@planetkc.com
Dan Sulit
913-268-3848 kenaisu@aol.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
Bill Brant
816-941-9691 billandkathy@kc.rr.com
Raffle/Auction
Mark Borserine
913-381-0722 majborser@aol.com
Spring Programs
Dick Martin
816-781-9557 rlm@mllfpc.com
Don Grundy
816-781-9019 dgrundy@sbcglobal.net
Event Coordinator
Bill Brant
816-941-9691 billandkathy@kc.rr.com
Southern Council Liaison
Hod McIntosh
913-722-3684 singingreels@kc.rr.com
Supernumerary
David Andrews
816-741-8314 davidgandrews@kc.rr.com
HOAFF Annual Banquet
by Mark Borserine
The Heart of America “Horde” descended on and pillaged Bennett
Spring the First of December . I don’t have a count for the Cookout at the
Spring Shelter but those in attendance at the Annual Banquet on Saturday night
numbered forty-seven; and, most importantly, we finally (Thanks Be To God) had
good weather. Although I don’t have “the numbers” I understand that most
everyone experienced good fishing. He didn’t equal his achievement of a
week earlier but I am told that Darren
Watson (new Pres) caught several ‘bragging’ fish.
My guest, Jon Cerda, probably easily caught 50+ for the weekend.
Jon had a ‘go-to’ fly in a dark green zebra midge with black tungsten head and
black rib that he just couldn’t keep the fish off of. Jon was kind enough to
tie me a couple and then I started catching fish too but not the numbers Jon
did!
The Annual Banquet was held at Ollie’s Bar-B-Que, where the
highlight was watching the MU – OK championship game. The only negative note
the entire evening was MU’s unfortunate loss. So far, there has been nothing
but positive feedback about Ollie’s and
she had the same impression of HOAFF – enthusiastically inviting us back next
year. The food was indeed very good and plentiful and the service was
excellent.
After the last two failed attempts last year, the Good Lord truly
smiled on HOAFF this year!
HOAFF Apparel is here
Hats $15 • T-Shirts $12
Now
you can get a T-shirt or a fishing hat with the new Heart of America Fly
Fishers Logo.
Double Dipping
by
John Berry, www.berrybrothersguides.com
Last fall, I had an old friend, Jim Gilliland, call me about a
fishing trip. He wanted to do something special with his grand sons, Gil and
Alex, and was thinking about a canoe trip on the Buffalo River. I suggested
taking the guys to Dry Run Creek fly fishing for trophy trout. Jim was raised
in East Tennessee with a weekend cabin on Jacks Creek in the Great Smoky
Mountain National Park and was used to fishing for small brook trout on high
mountain streams. Though he has fished in Alaska and Montana, I do not think he
knew what to expect here. I told him about the big trout and beautiful
surroundings and he said he would be here in a couple of days.
He flew his private plane into the Baxter County Regional Airport
and rented a car. He stopped by the White River Grill for lunch and then met me
at River Ridge Inn where they were to spend the night. We donned our waders,
rigged up a couple of rods for the guys and headed to Dry Run Creek. Lori
loaned Jim’s wife, Lucia, a pair of her wading boots that were better suited to
the slick bottom of the creek. When we got there, we had the only cars in the
parking lot. Gil and Alex were on fall break and were able to fish during the
week, thereby avoiding the some what busier conditions of the week end.
We walked the trail beside the hatchery and looked down in the
creek. It was a sunny day and we could see large trout stacked in the water
like a cord of wood. Jim could not believe his eyes. The guys were very excited
with the possibility of catching some of these monsters and picked up the pace.
We arrived at my favorite spot and after a rudimentary casting lesson they
began fishing. Gil hooked a trophy cutthroat on the third cast. A few minutes
later Alex landed a big brown. The whole time Jim was taking picture after
picture of the whole process.
This fisherama went on all afternoon. I have no idea how many fish
were caught but it was a bunch. They were constantly in trout and grand dad was
grinning from ear to ear. It was almost sun set when we stopped. I was pretty
tired from the constant action as were the guys. They returned to River Ridge
Inn and I went home for some well deserved rest.
The next morning I drove over to start the process all over again.
The guys were well rested and ready to go. We decided to try some different
water and went to a bit more remote section. The result was the same.
They caught a whole bunch of big trout and Jim took a whole bunch
of great photos. As they caught more trout, they became better anglers. They
relaxed more and were soon effortless with their casting. They began netting
each others fish.
We started to fish our way down stream. We pretty much caught
trout every where we went. We ended up at the place where we had begun the day
before. The guys knew where the trout were and they began casting in earnest.
Alex hooked up a really nice brown trout that was well over twenty
inches long. I picked up my big boat net and started wading over to where the
struggle was going on. It was a big trout and the fight was going to take a
while. About this time, Gil hooked a big cutthroat of at least twenty five
inches just a few feet away. It was quite a quandary. Which fish to go for
first?
I took a deep breath and watched the two fights going on. I
offered suggestions where I could and waited for one of the fish to come to
surface and be ready to land. The brown came in first and I quickly scooped
him. I looked up and noticed that the cutt was ready. I did not have enough
time to release the brown and revive him. I took the net and scooped the cutt
as quickly as I could. I now had two large trophy trout in my net at the same
time. I had never done this before. There was well over a dozen pounds of trout
in my net and I loved it.
I waded over to the bank and carefully released the trout one at a
time. Jim took several photos. We fished till noon and then they loaded up for
the flight home. It had been a special time for them and I will never forget
double dipping.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter,
Arkansas and has fished the local streams for over twenty five years. John can
be reached at (870) 435-2169 or http://www.berrybrothersguides.com .
California
Heritage Trout Challenge
by
Norm Crisp, www.streamsideadventures.com
California has one of the most diverse group of trout within its
boundaries. No fewer than 11 species or sub-species are native to the state.
These trout are dubbed “Heritage Trout.”
The California Fish and Game Commission established the “California
Heritage Trout Challenge” to honor this diversity. The challenge is to catch,
photograph and release 6 of the species from their native range. When you
submit documentation of your success, the the state provides a certificate of
your accomplishment. In doing our research and planning for an October of 2006
trip Stream Side Adventures associate Duane Brandt and I discovered that with a
bit of luck we could get 3 of the Heritage Trout form the Kern River Drainage
system. Luck was with us and at the end of the trip we were half way to
completing the challenge. This past August Duane and I decided to continue the
quest and not just catch three more species to qualify but to go for all the
species for our life lists.
During the course of our quest we covered nearly 2,500 miles of
California’s back roads as we made the round trip from Los Angeles. As you
would expect, most of the Heritage Trout are located in northern California.
Many, such as the Eagle Lake Redband, Warner Lakes Redband or the Piaute
Cutthroat are native to or now restricted to only one California stream. Most
of the remaining heritage trout are only found in small remote locations that
receive very little fishing pressure.
Our first attempt of this trip for a Heritage Trout was a false
start. A several mile walk down into Slinkard Creek lead to a dry
streambed! The next day, August 23rd I
caught my first Heritage Trout of this trip, a Lahontan Cutthroat caught from a
meadow section of the Upper Truckee River.
The next day our quarry was the Eagle Lake Redband. The Eagle Lake
Redband only occurs in Eagle Lake and the lakes only tributary Pine Creek. Pine
Creek, a small stream, disappears into a lava field near Highway 44. Some time
in the past Brook Trout were introduced into Pine Creek. Endemic species don’t
do well with competition. Both Duane and I fished hard for over 4 hours and I
was fortunate enough to fish the best pool of the creek and catch the only
Eagle Lake Redband of the day. We caught many, many Brook Trout but only that
one Eagle lake Redband from the only stream habitat in their native range. It
is very disconcerting to think that I may have caught the last one.
A long drive took us to Goose Lake,home of the Goose Lake Redband.
After finding a primitiveForest Service campground on the banks of Lassen
Creek, I decide to try for my second
Heritage Trout of the day and third of the trip. About a quarter mile above our
camp site, I had my fish.
This catch, with my three Heritage Trout caught last year,
qualified me as having completed the challenge. Duane had opted to stay in camp
and have a gin and tonic and wait until the next morning. The next morning,
before the dew had dried, Duane had his Goose Lake Redband, and we were off
after our next trout.
A drive up and over one of the most rugged roads and passes I’ve
ever been on took us to Dismal Creek home of the Warner Lakes Redband. Dismal
Creek drains from Dismal Swamp and flow for less than a mile before it sinks
into a lava field. This short section of creek is the only location in
California with the Warner lakes Redband occurs. Within five yards Duane had
his fish and had completed the challenge. I struggled! After covering nearly all the stream without
a fish I quit for lunch. After lunch I changed my tactics and let the howling
wind be my friend rather than my enemy. Don’t cast, let the wind bring my fly
into the narrow opening. That was what it took and before noon we were off for
our next location.
The McCloud River has an almost mystical allure to Missouri trout
fisherman. In 1880 Missouri purchased eggs from the U. S. Fish Commission’s
McCloud River Station. This station is located in the shadow of Mt Shasta and
below three high waterfalls. The McCloud River Redband evolved above these
falls. Over the years rainbow trout from below the falls have been stocked
above the falls. As a result of hybridization, few if any pure McCloud River
Redband are present in the main stem of the river.
Many of the streams that begin as snow melt on Mt. Shasta
disappear into larva fields an re-emerge as springs along the Upper McCloud.
Our challenge was to find access to one of these streams before it entered a
larva field. On our second day we found a location on Trout Creek and shortly
had another Heritage Trout.
Now we only had one more Heritage Trout to catch, the Coastal
Cutthroat. Another twisting and turning back road took us to Little Jones Creek.
On my first cast in the first pool as small but countable Coastal Cutthroat
took my Elk Hair Caddis. With our quest over and having caught all the
catchable Heritage Trout we slowly fished our way back to Los Angeles. This
Trout Bum lifestyle fits me very well.
Copyright 2007 Stream Side Adventures.
www.streamsideadventures.com
Upcoming
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Jan 21, 2008 Kevin
Kurz - K & K Fly Fishers
Feb 23, 2008 Spring
Program - Bob Jacklin
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Lodge - Mountain Home, AR
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