Across the Stream – August 2008
A Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers
HOAFF July Meeting
Monday, July 21 - 7:00pm
Arkansas Fish & Game Commission
Crooked Creek Chronicles
By John Berry
It has been a high water year. We had some pretty serious flooding early in the spring and flooding elsewhere has prevented the Corps of Engineers from making any headway on decreasing lake levels despite near round the clock generation on both rivers. We have been fishing high water and we have been catching plenty of fish. The problem is that I have missed the wading. There is something about the feeling of being one with the water that appeals to me. The pace is slower and you can really work a given area. We have had a few all too short windows of low water and the fishing during them was truly excellent. It has just not been enough to satisfy my lust for low water.
I have been carefully monitoring the water levels on Crooked Creek, our local Smallmouth Mecca. During the flooding it was running wild. The low water bridge, Kelly slab, washed out. Finally the creek was at the right level. My wife, Lori, my friend Mike and I decided to break out my canoe and float from Kelly Slab to Yellville Park. We dropped Mike’s truck off at Yellville Park and drove over to Kelly Slab. When we got to Kelly Slab we were impressed that the flood damage had been repaired and you could now cross the low water bridge.
The water was a bit lower and clearer than it had been the last time I saw it. It was a sunny day and the water temperature was perfect for wet wading. I wore a pair of long tropical pants and a long sleeved tropical shirt. I put on a pair of wading boots, heavy socks, and a pair of neoprene booties. We carried several bottles of water and some granola bars. I put a camera, a cell phone and our keys in a small dry bag attached to the canoe.
I carried a stiff six weight nine foot rod with a sink tip line. I attached a brown woolly bugger to the line with a three foot 4X tippet. I put a small fly box with a few extra woollies and a few poppers in my shirt pocket along with a spool of 4X tippet. I clipped a pair of forceps (with a pair of nippers attached to it) to the flap of my other pocket.
We loaded into the canoe and headed down stream with Mike in the center of the boat. When we found some good looking water we bailed out of the canoe and carefully worked the area.
I went looking for quick deep runs against the bank particularly in the outside bend of turns of the creek. I would cast as close to the bank as I could and then began stripping my line in. As I worked my way down stream I caught a long eared sunfish. Its colors were incredibly vivid. There were turquoise, metallic gold, bright orange and yellow. It looked more like a tropical fish than something that came from crooked creek. My next fish was an eleven inch smallmouth. It pulled like a much larger fish. I was amazed at just how hard it fought.
When we ran out of fishable water, we hopped in the canoe and paddled downstream until we found fishable water. I kept banging the bank and continued to catch fish. I came upon a nice stump in the middle of the stream. I hooked a long ear sunfish and was retrieving it when the surface of the water erupted in a big splash. A good sized smallmouth had hit the sunfish and had somehow missed it. I worked the area for a while but never got a hook up. Mike and Lori were also doing well. They were catching plenty of smallmouth and sunfish and Mike also caught a warmouth and an Ozark bass.
On our voyage downstream, I happened upon a great looking hole. I took a couple of smallmouth from it and I was working my way through it when I felt a really heavy pull. I set the hook and I watched as an eighteen inch Small mouth leapt from the water and casually spit the hook in my direction. I kept fishing this spot and eventually took four smallies, one warmouth and countless sunfish from its deep waters. I looked at my watch. It was getting late. I checked with my fellow anglers and they had all caught enough fish. I had landed over twenty five fish and Lori and Mike had done about the same. Though we had hooked a few monsters, none of us had brought a big fish to net.
We loaded into the canoe and began paddling out. Though the canoeing had been rather benign up to now, it got a bit more challenging for the last couple of miles. Lori and I are fairly experienced floaters. We opted to walk the boat through a few spots that were too low or too treacherous for us to float. We finally got to the take out. Mike drove me to Kelly slab to pick up my car. We drove back to Yellville Park and loaded the boat and headed home. We were exhausted. This float is not for the casual angler. It is a full day with great fishing and challenging canoeing. It is a great alternative to high water fishing. Lori and I are ready to do it again.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local waters for over twenty five years. John can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or www.berrybrothersguides.com .
Montauk/Current River Outing
by Jim Bebb
The last club sponsored outing of the year, before the annual banquet at Bennett Springs, will be the Montauk/Current River outing on October 10, 11, 12. The Club has reserved three sleeping cabins in the park. Each cabin has two double beds. They rent for $69 a night, double occupancy. To reserve a place on the list please give your name and check for $69 (assumes two to a cabin) to Jim Bebb or Ron Caruthers. Rooms at the lodge may still be available if you want to make your own arrangements. The phone number is 573-548-2434. If you go to the web site for Montauk state park there are links to other venders for lodging.
This should be a great trip. The fall air should be crisp. The caddis are scheduled to hatch and there should still be a little hopper action. I am told the fishing in the park is always good. There should be plenty of water for everyone to fish.
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
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 Family Picnic
by Ron Carruthers
What: HOAFF Annual Family Picnic
Where: Shawnee Mission Park • Shelter #4
When: September 15, 2008 • Starting at 6:30 pm
It is hard to believe but our annual picnic is just around the corner. Can summer have gone by that quickly? Anyway, just an early heads-up that we plan to have our family picnic again this year at Shawnee Mission Park, Shelter #4.
The club will provide the BBQ, bread/buns, utensils and beverages. You should plan to bring a covered dish or dessert to help round out the meal.
We plan to have an honest to goodness casting course for everyone this year so bring your favorite rod. If you forget we plan to have the club rods available. Casting lessons will be given before the start of the July and August monthly meetings so be sure not to miss those.
Directions: From I435 and 87th Street go west on 87th to Renner (1st street west of I 435). Turn north (right) to the Shawnee Mission Park entrance which will be on your left about 1/2 mile. Enter the park and stay to the right. Go around the north side of the lake and look for Shelter #4. Our HOAFF banner will be out front.
See you there!!
Annual HOAFF Auction
by Mark Borserine
The date for the HOAFF Annual Auction and Raffle has changed to November 17th.
We already have some great auction items: A brand new Orvis 9’4pc, 8wt T3 rod donated by Darren Watson; an Old Town Discovery Canoe and Bob Jacklin’s flies and gifts he gave us at the Seminar. However, I’m going to need all of you to help this year!
With the soft economy, I fully expect some difficulty in getting items; persistence and personal contact will be more important than ever!
I ask all of you to really think about who we can approach for donations – think “outside the box”: Camping gear, hunting gear and automotive services can be related to our enjoyment of the outdoors as can grilling, barbecue equipment and others. I can supply you with materials to approach businesses or can do so on your behalf if you’re “shy” about this sort of thing. You may also have met a new guide or outfitting service that is not on the list or a new business!
There are many of you that have relationships with Vendors that already traditionally donate and I would greatly appreciate your help in acting as a go-between. There will be mail-merge letters to do and if any of you have skills in that area, I would also appreciate your help!
Remember that the HOAFF is a 501(c)3 and that any donations are entirely tax deductible. As individual members anything you donate is entirely tax deductible to you; this is how we acquired the Canoe and the Orvis rod!
Based on recent experience, I can attest that those things you may be thinking of putting on eBay may bring more reward as a tax deduction: Bids on eBay are getting pretty thin, probably based on the economy in general and eBay is getting over-subscribed (in my opinion). Consider giving that unwanted item(s) to our Auction instead!
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.
Revenge of the Trout Zombies
By Bruce Cochran
My new book is out. “Revenge Of The Trout Zombies” published by Willow Creek Press. It’s a humorous look at trout fishing. The dedication page says “This book is dedicated to the Heart Of America Trout Fishers” who inadvertently provided at least half the material for it.”
It’s paperback, retails for $9.95, and is available at book stores. If they don’t have it on the shelf, which they may not, it’s in their computers and they can order it. It’s also available on Amazon.com and of course personalized copies are available from me.
Scottish Festival & Games
June 21st 2008
by Mark Borserine
The HOAFF was invited to staff a Fly Casting clinic at the Scottish Festival & Games, June 21st 2008, held at Riverfront Park in Riverside MO.
I want to thank the four other members of theHOAFF that helped out: Bill Lindley, Bill Brant, Gervis Beiriger, and Cliff Cain. We taught for about an hour and a half; although it was billed as a Kids’ Activity in all about 20 people of all ages came for instruction. The pace was very relaxed and gave us time to give everyone one-on-one instruction.
I had a genuine Scotsman who came for some pointers since he goes back to Scotland to visit his mother each year and fishes while he’s there; I’m glad to say he felt that I was able to help him. Most of his questions were about how to deal with wind; we had a good wind that day which added realism to the demonstration. We also got to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Festival (men in skirts? – just kidding)!
Everyone at the Festival was very grateful and gracious to us and we appreciated the opportunity very much.
One Fly for a Nice Mill Creek
by Norm Crisp, www.streamsideadventures.com
Some folks are just not as lucky as me when it comes to being able to go fishing, I can go just about any time I please. For others it is more about what Bob Seager said “dead lines and commitments – what to leave in and what to leave out”. Finding time to take a is trip much more difficult. Choices have to be made. Participate in a club “one fly tournament” or fish just one fly pattern on a wild trout stream. Wild trout always win!
My friend and STREAM SIDE ADVENTURES associate Travis Knight and I made the choice and headed for the Rolla, Missouri area for a day and a half of fishing the Little Piney and Mill Creek. The drive down was uneventful thanks to the fact that we were driving parallel to not through a massive thunder storm well off to our south. It appeared obvious that the I-44 corridor was getting another soaking, and it did. By about 6 pm we had our camp set up at Lane Springs Camp ground and I toke a few minutes to follow the path to the Little Piney to see how the rain had affected the river. Just as you would expect, the river was on the rise. Just before bed another check and it indicated the river was still going up and likely going to get a lot higher. The following morning, with a cup of coffee in my hand, I checked again. The river had fallen back to near the 6 pm level but it was still high, so much for fishing the Little Piney this morning.
Plan B. Reverse our fishing plans and fish Mill Creek on Saturday and fish the Little Piney on Sunday morning, a relatively simple decision to make. Mill Creek has a smaller drainage basin so water levels would recede faster. And, we could fish higher up in the watershed, above more of the tributaries and have lower water levels. Now don’t get the wrong idea about water levels. High is not bad - high, just not too high, is good. The water will be a bit off color and there is a lot food available: two things that make wild trout a little foolish.
We started the day near the upper portion of the newly acquired Bohigian Conservation Area. Having been in private hands for many years it has received very little fishing pressure and Dr. Bohigian had done some habitat improvements. Our one fly pattern for the day was a no brainer. If it is high water and wild rainbow trout – or any trout for that matter – the ONLY fly is an olive Kruse Mohair Leech. On when a leech and off we went fishing.
It wasn’t long before we realized we were back on the Mill Creek of years gone by. If there was good habitat there was a good trout to be tricked by the leech. Over the next several hours we touched, as best we can recall, nine fat and healthy wild rainbows. All but two were in the 10 to 12 inch range. The two outliers were a fish about 7 inches and another about 15 inches. We should have been satisfied with our success. But there was still some time left in the afternoon, we didn’t have anything we needed to get done, and there was still the lower section of the Bohigian section to fish.
It turned out to be a great use of our time. Maybe it was the afternoon let down, we didn’t have the intensity of the earlier part of the day or maybe it was the habitat was not quite as good as in the upper area we had fished. For what ever the reason, we cover a bit of water without any success. Our talk turned from the next trout to looking for a good place to get up on the bank and walking back to the car. Thankfully there was no good place to get out. At the first really “primo” run, my leech found the afternoon’s first fish, another 10 incher. It was a “primo” run that I knew should hold at lest one more fish. And it did! When my indicator stopped dead in the water my initial thought was “snagged”. With more force than needed, up went my rod tip to get my leech loose. And then up went the “snag”; three feet out of the water. I was into one of the hardest fighting fish I had hook in some time. A third yard chase downstream and a few fleeting moments of concern nosed a bragging rights Mill Creek prize into the shallows.
This was my first serious fishing trip to Mill Creek in well over 5 years. I stopped going when the prolonged periods of low flow had reduced our typical success from the expectation of one or two 12 inch plus trout and many 6 inch fish a trip down to just catching any trout on a trip. Thankfully brood stock fish like my catch survived the lean years by finding a spot back in some root wad or in a ground water seepage hole. This winter and spring rains hopefully have recharge the groundwater and the 2008 year class will be just the beginning of more years of Mill Creek like we remember.
Upcoming Events & Programs
July 21 Arkansas Fish & Game Commission
Aug 2 Lenexa Waterfest, Sar-Ko-Par Park, 5PM to 8:30 PM
Aug 18 Sam Potter - Tight Lines Guide Service
Aug 23 Olathe Aquafest, Cedar Lake Park, 11AM to 2PM
Sept 15 Annual Picnic Shawnee Mission Park
Oct 10 - 12 Montauk/Current River Fall Outing
Nov 17 Annual Auction & Raffle
Dec 5-7 Annual Banquet Bennett Spring
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