Across the Stream – May 2008
A Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers
HOAFF May Meeting
Monday, May 21 - 7:00pm
Curt Elder – Cane Rod Builder
President’s Message
Spring Fishing
by Darren Watson
This is the time of year that many are planning our fishing trips. It’s one of my favorite times of year to fish and enjoy Mother Nature. We have 3 outings scheduled for April, May, and June. Our WindRush Farm trout Stream trip is a first time outing. The Eleven Point was one of the most requested from our club survey earlier this year. Our Annual One-Fly Tournament is at the same location as last year. One of our club members, Steve Nelson is allowing our club to fish at this neighborhood lake for the day. I have fished there many times and the Bass fishing can be great.
We have had above average rain the last few weeks so everyone should use caution with the above average water levels. We should continue to keep in our thoughts and prayers the many people who have been affected by the flooding just south of us. The club has many friends that have had their lives disrupted personally and economically. At the time I am writing this Taneycomo is so flooded, the water is in the parking lot at outlet #2. It’s going to take a couple of months for the water to be back to normal.
Blue River Clean-up
Making a Difference
By Kevin Carril
We had great weather and a fun time the morning of Saturday, April 5th, when the Heart of America Fly Fishers participated in the Blue River Rescue clean up. As many of you know, this annual conservation effort is sponsored by Friends of the Lakeside Nature Center and is coordinated by Vickie Richmond, the daughter of club member Gervis Beiriger. Over 700 volunteers participated this year.
Although the club turnout was small, we made a significant impact on the area we concentrated on. We began by picking up over 20 bags of trash, tires and assorted pieces of metal in a wooded area between the road and an old oxbow of the Blue River. We finished the morning by cutting some of the invasive Asiatic Honeysuckle that is crowding out some of the native plants.
By 11:30 we were hungry and running low on energy. We joined other volunteers at the Lakeside Nature Center for lunch and fellowship. Although we were a bit tired, we had a feeling of satisfaction that we had made a difference. Thanks to everyone who gave up their Saturday morning to help.
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
One Fly Tournament
Lake of the Forest, Bonner Springs, KS
June 7, 2008 • 9am - 3pm
By Ron Carruthers
They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice. For those of you that remember last years One Fly outing that is a good enough reason to attend this years One Fly Tournament at Lake of the Forest in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
Knock the cob webs off your float tube or kick boat and make sure your flippers fit over that new pair of wading boots. As the tournament name implies we will have two prizes, one for the largest fish (length in inches) and one for the most fish caught using just one fly. Fly fisherman’s honor.
A shore lunch will be provided by the club. Please RSVP by email if you plan to attend to rcarruthers2@kc.rr.com before June 5th.
Directions: Exit 435 going west on Kansas 32 (Bonner Springs exit). Go exactly 2.2 miles. Watch closely for the Lake of the Forest entrance on the right side of the road. The entrance is easy to miss so don’t go by too fast. We will plan to have the HOAFF sign out front.
For any HOAFF member that is well connected we would appreciate a warm, dry day, with just a little overcast to keep the bright sunlight off the water. Your efforts in this area are sincerely appreciated.
HOAFF Logo Lapel Pins
We now have enameled Lapel/Hat/Vest Pins with the HOAFF logo. Every new member who joins in 2008 will receive a pin. The pins will be available for sale for $5.00 each.
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.
Eleven Point River Smallmouth Bass
by Jim Bebb
Mark your calendars for a trip to the Eleven Point River, May 2 - 4. The club has reserved a house in Alton, MO. It sleeps eight and rents for $100 a night. There is also a motel in town (417-778-6208) that has good rates, $35 for a single and $50 for a double. Accommodations are limited so early registration is important. The first eight paid reservations of $25 will get the house. After the house is full you will need to make your own reservations.
The Eleven Point Canoe Rental (417-778-6497) will take your reservations and provide drop off and pickup services for those who want to float the river. I believe you can also make arrangements with them if you wish to “float your own boat” and just want shuttle service. There are access points at Thomasville, Cane Bluff, and Greer Crossing which are all an easy drive from Alton.
The smallmouth trip to the Eleven Points River on May 2-4 is rapidly approaching. A lodge in Alton has been reserved. It will sleep eight and has a kitchen. The rate of $100 a night is very reasonable and will be shared by all staying there. A deposit of $25 will get you on the list and reserve a bed.
I am new to fly fishing for smallmouth, but it seems to be quite the growing sport fish according to several articles on the Internet. An article on Minnesota’s DNR web site says smallmouth are pound for pound the hardest fighting freshwater fish. Other articles have given some helpful hints I will share. Dark lures work well in clear water and bright colors work well in murky water. A major food source for smallmouth is crayfish. Any pattern suggesting a crayfish is good. Reddish brown woolybuggers or zonkers are good patterns. Bright fluorescent green Woolybuggers are good. Minnows are another great food source. Just about any clouser pattern will draw strikes.
One article suggested the some following patterns as good selections.
Stonefly Bugger - size 6
Clouser Deep Minnow - Size 6
Gaines’ Sneaky Pete - size 4
Crayfish - size 8
Popper size 4 - 6
Bead Head Woolly Bugger size 4-6
Dragonfly size 4-6
Sculpin size 8
Woolly Grubber Size 6 - The Wooly Grubber is a Woolly Bugger with a twister tail.
A 5 to 7 weight rod is suggested as a range of rod weights for fishing smallmouth. Personally, I think a 7 weight might be a little large on a smaller river like the Eleven Points. One particularly new piece of information was that smallmouth are not leader shy. Six-pound line is recommended. Just be careful not to break a rod dislodging a hook from a submerged log. I want everyone to feel free to bring a spinning rod along. We will only make fun of you until you start pulling fish out of the river.
Simple Flies for Fishing Lies
STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES’ Generic Nymph
by Norm Crisp, Stream Side Adventiures
We are always looking for simple but effective flies and this is one of them. This simple one does the trick as either a caddis larva or a mayfly nymph. I first was acquainted with it in New Zealand. They add a fine copper wire rib. We leave of the wire since that adds a third material and an extra tying step!
Recipe:
Hook: Cabala’s Model 21 or equivalent size 16
Bead: Brass size 1/8 inch
Thread: Olive
Tail: Sparse clump yearling elk
Body: Olive hare’s mask.
© 2008 STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES Used with permission
Dear Friends:
Several of you (who shall remain nameless and live vicariously through my fishing exploits) have inquired as to why I haven’t shared a fish pic lately. So...Here’s a pic of a very fresh run steelhead and the color shows beautifully! This 7lb hen is, by Michigan standards, a little on the small size, but the silver bullet appearance makes up for it.
When these fish first enter the river (from Lake Michigan) they are completely silver all over. Within a week or two they begin to assume the more typical rainbow trout colors. Some of you fisheries guys probably know how and why this happens. If you do, let me know.
We fished for three days on the Muskegon and Manistee Rivers in Michigan, and landed fish that were similar in appearance each day. It was cold with rain and snow every day! Don’t think it got above 40 the entire time we were there. Of course, the day we left the temps returned to the more normal 50’s. Go figure! I guess that’s what you get when you plan trips 6 months in advance. My friend Blair Shaw of Shaw Outfitter’s in Hersey, Michigan was the guide. If you would like to try this, I highly recommend him.
He provides a package that includes private rooms in his river front guest house on the Muskegon, guided fishing each day, all tackle and flies. Just bring your waders and go fishing! If you would like to know how to contact Blair, let me know. For you deadbeats that don’t go fishing enough and continue to live thru my exploits, here’s the program for the next few months: Florida in May, Montana in June, then divorce in July!
tight lines,
-john bell
HOAFF Auction Preview “Treasure Trove”
by Mark Borserine
Bob Jacklin was unbelieveably generous to our Club Auction at our Spring Seminar! Look at the Treasure Trove he left for us! Clockwise from left: Three copies of his Fly Tying DVD; a Certificate for one day’s fishing in Yellowstone Park with Bob himself ($500 value); underneath this is the box of flies he tied at the Spring Seminar; to the right are three copies of his book (signed) on fishing the Yellowstone in the Park and bottom center is a box of flies also tied by Bob personally - see the smaller picture for the details of the treasures in this fly box! The Auction will be the third Monday in October (20th) and these gifts from Bob will be a part of what’s available that night - also we have an Old Town Discovery 146 (14’6”) canoe in excellent condition, complete with paddles donated by Sheryl Knight’s parents.
Mary’s Midge
by Mark Borserine
Steve Jenkins “collared” me at the January meeting and chided me for not including tying instructions for the fly Jon Cerda was having so much success with at our Winter Outing. This last Saturday, Jan. 19th, Jon and another friend, Mark Allen and I went to Bennett Spring for the afternoon and I had another opportunity to witness Jon’s phenomenal success with this fly and very simple technique. He outfished everyone on the water again!
He very generously shares Mary’s Midge with us here!
Hot Midges
by Jon Cerda
I do not claim to have invented this midge; only that I accidentally altered it, and the way I fish it, a little, to meet my own fishing styles and locations.
If you want to give it a name you can call it “Mary’s midge” since it was adapted specifically so that my wife, the sometimes reluctant fishing partner, could catch more fish than me. And you know what I mean.
Materials list:
Hook: Tiemco- TMC 2499SP-BL size 18(if you can find them) Dry fly and nymph, straight eye, 2x heavy, 3x wide, 2x short curved shank, forged, SPR point, Barbless, Bronze . These hooks are very hard to find, and if anyone knows where they can be bought, I would like to know.
Hook substitute: TMC 2488 size 18 Shrimp and Caddis pupae, straight eye, 3x wide, 2x short curved shank, Fine wire, bronze. This hook works well, but there is always that little seed of irrational doubt in my mind that tells me I am not fishing with the best available.
Black Tungsten bomb Bead: size 5/64ths or 2mm
Thread: Sheer, primrose, 14/0 (used for tying the Primrose pearl) Used on cloudy days or evening. Do not wait for a cloudy day; however. Fish this one anytime.
Or Danville’s 70 denier fly master 6/0, waxed, in Golden Olive. Used on sunny days or in the morning; and again late in the evening.
UTC ultra wire small – black
Slide the bead head on the hook so that the larger open end is facing away from the eye of the hook.
Tie a small “wad” of thread behind the bead so that it will not slide backwards over the hook.
Wind the thread carefully, with no gaps, toward the bend using only one layer of thread.
Lay one end of the 2 inch piece of black wire, so that only about 1/16th of an inch is laying on the top of the hook, over the bend, and tie it in. Place the tag end of the wire in the material keeper spring, or clip, to make sure that it stays out of the way. (The reason I start at the back of the hook with the wire is because the thread is almost translucent when it gets wet, and the black wire line will show through the thread.)
In order to cover up the black wire you would need to wrap with several layers of thread, and the goal is to only wrap the hook with two layers of thread.
Wrap the thread tightly and evenly towards the eye; and use a half hitch; or other; to keep the line from unwinding.
Place the bobbin in your bobbin cradle to keep it out of the way while you run the wire up the hook.
Carefully wind the wire towards the front of the hook, leaving small spaces, so that you get from four to five turns only. Make sure that the spaces are gapped evenly. (I use hackle pliers to assist in the winding of the wire.)
Wind some of the excess wire directly behind the bead a few turns, and then snip off the extra wire, and press the tag end down flat on the hook.
Drop your bobbin cradle; and whip finish about 6 turns behind the bead head.
Coat the entire body with head cement. This will change the color slightly; but this is normal. It will also change color slightly when it is wet. Do not use Flex cement.
The result should be a very thin midge.
Tip: if the bead head is not black (some are more charcoal) use a black magic marker to cover the entire bead head.
Fishing this midge has produced “shamefully - embarrassing” amounts of fish; when other favorites would not. If you have ever watched a newbie stare enviously at you while you bring in fish after fish, you know why I say embarrassing. Sometimes you can’t even let your loose line hang in the water after catching a fish without having another hook itself while you were not paying attention. I usually give them one of the midges when I am done fishing and ready to leave. I also like to turn around and watch them after I have left; to see how fast their luck has changed.
The best depth to fish this is between 18 to 24 inches regardless of whether the water is deep or not.
Be prepared for some vicious strikes that will strip your entire rig.
I like to use 7x Frog hair on sunny days; or when the water is a little cloudy.
I use Seagaur 7 x on clear days and clear water.
Tip: I use a small section of leader, and a large section of tippet material, probably from 6 to 9 feet. It is expensive; but so is gas when you are not catching fish.
Very important... Make sure that your fly rides horizontally; and does not collect any moss. Check this often. Dead drift right over rocks, weeds, and dark areas even though you do not see fish lurking. It is best to watch this fly in clear, knee deep water, and see how the tame fish (that like to hang around your feet) react to this midge, until you get familiar with it. If you see the fish open its mouth, and it is close to the fly, set the hook. You will get many more strikes than you can imagine, so it’s best to fish with one eye on the fly, and one eye on the strike indicator, to see how little the indicator moves when the fish take the fly. Once you are familiar with the indicator movement you can fish longer distance and deeper water. Setting the hook is the most difficult; until you learn to read the indicator. The best plan is to drink several cups of coffee or tea at breakfast; to help your reaction time. Of course then you will want to fish close to the privy.
Expect a strike on every drift, and like a good Boy Scout, be prepared.
Upcoming Events & Programs
April 21 Curt Elder, Cane rod builder
May 2 - 4 Eleven Point River Smallmouth Bass Trip, Alton, MO
June 17 One Fly Tounament - Lake of the Forest, Bonner Springs, KS
Sept 15 Annual Picnic Shawnee Mission Park
Oct Montauk/Current River Fall Outing -
Nov 17 Annual Auction
Dec 5-7 Annual Banquet Bennett Spring
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