Across the Stream – March 2009
A Publication of Heart of America Fly Fishers
Monday, March 16 - 7 pm
Charlie Reading - Reading’s Fly Shop
Monday, April 20 - 7 pm
Darren Watson on Wyoming Cutthroat Slam
President’s Message
by Darren Watson
The Spring Program, held last month, was a great success, with Chad Mason giving a detailed presentation on his fly fishing experiences.
Don’t forget to review our outing schedule, which is outlined in our newsletter and on our Web site. We have updated the schedule with many new outings.
Our spring outing to the White River is just around the corner. It’s by far our most well-attended outing. Reservations are just about booked at the lodge, so be sure to sign up sooner than later if you intend to stay there.
As a friendly reminder, you need to pay your annual membership dues by the end of March. You will not receive a newsletter if you have not paid by that date. Also remember to give us your updated contact information, including your e-mail.
The Outings Schedule Update
by Peet Crissey
For all of you who checked out the 2009 Outings Schedule, you may have seen that we were planning a trip to WindRush Farms on May 15-17. That has now changed to a one-day outing on May 16 to the Ronald & Maude Hartell Conservation Area in Clinton County, Missouri.
This conservation area is located in a great secluded spot 5 miles north of Plattsburg, Missouri. Back in 1947 a group of outdoor enthusiasts (called the Clinton County Sportsman’s Club) purchased the land from Mrs. A.C. Hartell. Because of the membership’s strong desire to have close-to-home fishing they created the first two lakes on the property in 1950.
Over the years the area grew in size to nearly 80 acres, including 7 lakes and stream frontage on the Little Platte River (Smith Fork). For over 50 years, this was a popular area for club members to fish, picnic, and camp. Eventually the club membership dwindled and in July of 1999 the club decided to donate the property to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
A few details:
• Meals are on your own.
• HOAFF will provide water and soda.
• Bring your float tubes and kick boats.
• All fishing is catch and release only.
• Only flies, artificial lures and soft plastic baits may be used.
The lakes we’ll fish are:
• Redear Lake - 1.70 acres; managed for trophy bluegill
• Quarry Lake - 3.40 acres; managed for trophy bluegill
• Picnic Lake - 5.10 acres; managed for trophy largemouth bass
• Lunker Lake - 3.20 acres; managed for trophy largemouth bass
Directions:
Take Hwy 169 north through Smithville, Tremble and Grayson
Turn right (east) on Hwy 116 for 7 miles to Plattsburg, MO
On the east side of Plattsburg turn left (north) on Hwy 33
Turn right (east) on 280th Street. Watch for a Hartell Conservation sign
For more information call Hartell Conservation Area directly at 816.271.3100 or feel free to call me (Peet Crissey) at 913.706.7299.
See you there Saturday morning!
Missouri Stream Teams
As most of you know, our flyfishing club has adopted part of the Blue River, as part of the Missouri Steam Team. One of the Stream Team's accomplishments is to teach folks how to monitor water quality in streams and ponds throughout the state. They have a series of classes that start with an introductory level class for volunteers. This class is scheduled to be taught in Kansas City on April 18. It is also offered in different parts of Missouri on other dates.
Pre-registration is required. For more information go to www.mostreamteam.org and click on the water quality monitoring link.
Because of this program, the fish that we pursue and the bugs that we imitate with flies have a better chance of surviving.
Bill Brant
Jim Rogers to Speak
A friend to HOAFF, Jim Rogers, the concessionaire at Bennett Springs, is scheduled to speak about trout fishing options in Missouri State Parks on Tuesday, March 31st, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Central Library at 14 W. 10th St. in Downtown. A 6 p.m. reception will precede Jim’s talk. Admission is free but you should call 816-701-3407 to RSVP. Note that parking is free at the Library’s parking garage located at 10th and Baltimore.
Blue River Clean-up
Saturday, April 4, 2009 – 8:30AM
Spring is nearly here! Let’s get outside, enjoy nature and help improve one of our local streams. Some of you may have read the article last November in the Kansas City Star that reported that the water quality of the Blue River is steadily improving. One of the reasons is projects such as this. As in previous years, we will be coordinating our efforts with the Lakeside Nature Center’s Project Blue River Rescue. This is the 19th year for this project. Last year we enjoyed wonderful weather and had a fun time while helping to make a real impact on this watershed.
We will be picking up trash and maybe cutting honeysuckle along a part of the Blue River that our club has adopted as part of the Missouri Stream Team. The plan is to meet at the soccer fields and then proceed to the clean-up site. The soccer fields are located at 99th and Blue River road. To get there, take I-435 to Holmes (2 miles east of State Line), go south on Holmes 1 mile, turn left (east) on Red Bridge Road and go 1 mile, turn left (north) on Blue River Road. Go about 1 1/2 miles until you reach the soccer field parking lot.
Wear your work clothes, good shoes and bring some work gloves. We will provide the rest. You can sign up for this worthwhile event at the March meeting or by contacting Kevin Carril at 913-362-9379. (You are welcome to attend even if you don’t sign-up ahead of time).
The Wind Blows in Texas….
by Mark B. Borserine
Chuck Schaefer and I drove to Glen Rose, Texas for a Fly Casting Clinic/Workshop hosted by Allen Crise, Master Casting Instructor and Director of Education for the Southern Council. Glen Rose is about an hour SouthWest of Dallas. Al calls his operation the Hawkridge Flycasting School; Al’s “spread” is indeed on top of a ridge and there are hawks in abundance. The weather was cold for Texas and the wind blew across Hawkridge from the NorthWest with a vengeance! The opportunity for casting in the wind was certainly there – I can tell you Chuck and I are now “ready for the Salt!”.
We are both studying for the CCI (Instructor Certification). Chuck will be taking the test for his first time at Sowbug, March 15th and I will be taking the test for my third attempt at the National Conclave in Loveland at the end of August. Saturday was strictly casting and general fishing knowledge; attendees were divided up into beginner, intermediate and advanced. We were in the advanced group. My “lesson learned” was that instruction is invaluable even for those that consider themselves pretty good. I have been plagued for years with my leader hooking to the right on my longer casts; a 15-year old instructor candidate from the Red River Fly Fishers spotted my fault immediately! She saw that I rotate my wrist (hand) out on my longer back casts – Taylor, although only 15 saw it immediately! Al caught me sliding the rod up the line on the back cast instead of making a real haul; just a case of lazy hands. The hauling fault is easily corrected but I’m struggling with the rotating wrist; something in my body mechanics makes it really hard for me not to do it, so I’m going to have to look into changing my style on long casts, which is a very challenging thing to do.
Sunday was dedicated to preparation for the CCI Test and both of us got a lot out of it: tricks of how to make the casts, especially roll casting on grass, which certainly takes special techniques. Then, finally the hardest part of the test, the verbal tasks where you become the instructor. Most candidates study and practice hard for the casting portion but spend very little time on the verbal tasks, which is where the majority fail. The experience was invaluable for both Chuck and I.
If you can attend one of Al’s Clinics at Hawkridge, it is an invaluable experience! Contact: Allen Crise, FFF Master Casting Instructor, Hawk Ridge Flycasting School, Glen Rose TX, 254-897-2045 h, 254-396-1574 c.
2008 Officers
President
Darren Watson
816-805-8761 dwatson@lawingfinancial.com
Vice-President
Jim Bebb
913-721-3397 jbebb@communitynationalbank.net
Past President
Mark Borserine
913-381-0722 majborser@aol.com
Secretary
Jim Jorgensen
913-469-1950 jjorgensen@ci.lenexa.ks.us
Treasurer
Ron Carruthers
816-741-7251 rcarruthers2@kc.rr.com
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
Harold Green
Outings
Ron Carruthers
816-741-7251 rcarruthers2@kc.rr.com
Peet Crissey
Bruce Kessler
Membership
Dan Sulit
913-268-3848 kenaisu@aol.com
Frederick Clark
913-831-0305 fclarks@planetkc.com
Mark Rauth
Conservation Chair
Kevin Carril
913-362-9379 rrac3@sbcglobal.net
Missouri - Mark O'Hara
Arkansas - John Bell
Metro KC - Harold Green
Web Master
Bill Brant
816-941-9691 billandkathy@kc.rr.com
Raffle/Auction
Mark Borserine
913-381-0722 majborser@aol.com
Michael Knight
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
Supernumerary
David Andrews
816-741-8314 davidgandrews@kc.rr.com
2009 Membership Application / Renewal
Annual dues are due by March 31st, 2009. After March 31st, only those who are paid members for 2009 will receive e-mail notices and newsletters and those who are not will have to reinstate their membership to begin receiving information again. Renew before March 31st to stay informed!
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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.
Sunday Afternoon on the Norfork
by John Berry, Berry Brothers Guides
It was a busy year (my busiest ever). The holidays and some very brutal weather have conspired against me. I have been able to catch a day on the White but I had not been able to fish on the Norfork for quite a while. Yesterday I saw my chance. The temperature was in the fifties, there was a light wind from the west and the sun was shining. The river was on the absolute bottom. I knew that all of the out of towners would be leaving the river early in the afternoon.
After lunch, I gathered up my wife, Lori, and my yellow lab, Ellie. We drove over to the Norfork. When I arrived at the Ackerman Access, I noted that the parking lot was full. I noticed there were several anglers wading back to the access to head home. We finally got a spot to park the car. We hopped out and carefully donned our waders, strung our rods and let Ellie out of the car.
We waded far upstream and found some great water to fish. Lori started fishing woolly buggers and had some quick success. I located myself a bit upstream from Lori and started with a worm brown San Juan worm. It took several casts before I landed a trout. The going was slow. I had been watching another angler fishing a favorite spot and saw him walk away. I cranked up my rod and headed up stream. Ellie had seen me put some dog biscuits in my jacket when we were packing up for the trip at home. She followed me with the idea of collecting those treats.
This spot was greatly changed since the flood. It was scoured out and the footing is tough. It still holds some really nice fish. I decided to spend some time there. In my haste to begin fishing, I had left my polarized sun glasses in the car. I was wearing my beloved cowboy hat, which provides a lot of shade from the sun, but doesn’t help much with glare on the water. I could only follow my strike indicator for a few feet before I lost it in the glare. I carefully waded up stream and then across the run. Now I had the sun on my back and could easily watch my strike indicator.
My first fish was a fat sixteen inch rainbow. I released it and continued fishing. It was one of those days when the trout could not decide what they wanted. I caught six more fish on six different flies. I took fish on red San Juan worms, sowbugs, olive scuds, black zebra midges, Y2Ks, and copper johns. I tried a few other flies but they did not produce the desired results.
I decided to walk back to where Lori was fishing. She had taken several trout on the woolly bugger and was now fishing a Dan’s turkey tail emerger. She caught a couple while I was talking to her. I studied the surface of the river for a while and saw a small caddis hatch coming off. I didn’t have an elk hair caddis that small. I searched my fly box and came up with a small partridge and orange soft hackle. I tied on a fresh 5X tippet and the fly. I moved up stream and started working my way down stream. I picked up four or five fish. I had caught enough trout.
I cranked up my line and waded over to the bank. I found a nice clump of grass at the water’s edge and sat down. Ellie came over and sat beside me. I fed her a couple of dog biscuits. We just sat there and watched Lori fish. Ellie hasn’t been out with us much this year because of the high water earlier in the year.
She lost the vision in her right eye. She developed glaucoma but luckily it has now been stabilized. I have the same thing. In fact, we take the same prescriptions. Her vision has slowed her down a bit and she doesn’t terrorize the trout as much as she used to. She still lives for a day on the water and is always ready to go.
As we sat there, I thought what a perfect day it was and how lucky I was to be there. Lori fished for another hour and caught plenty of fish. I was in no hurry to leave and she was content to nail a few more fish. As the sun set, we walked out hand in hand with Ellie leading the way.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years. John can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or http://www.berrybrothersguides.com.
HOAFF Spring Program
by Ron Carruthers
Heart of America Fly Fishers had a chance to become Driftless Area experts on Saturday February 21st. Well, at least Chad Mason’s Spring Seminar gave everyone attending a chance to become an expert, but you had to pay attention.
Chad Mason, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, is an active professional outdoor writer for midwestern fishing and hunting. He is a regular contributor to Fly Rod and Reel Magazine and a contributing writer to Outdoor Life.
Chad’s presentation concentrated on the SE Minnesota and NE Iowa sections of the Driftless Area. The first question asked at the seminar was, “What is the Driftless Area?” We found it’s an area encompassing SE Minnesota, NE Iowa and SW Wisconsin that was not covered by glaciers during the last ice age 10,000 years ago. So it is a patch of rough terrain dissected by tributaries of the Mississippi River. The source of those tributaries is an abundant amount of spring fed limestone streams that today provide a rich environment for brook, rainbow and brown trout.
Chad broke his presentation down by the four seasons, where the trout would be located and what food source they would be keyed in on during those times. He also tied flies to imitate those food sources in order to make sure everyone had a chance to copy what he has stream proven. Like the variety of naturals available his flies ranged from a size #22 Trico spinner to a size #6 or #8 Clouser minnow.
A special thanks to Don Grundy and Dick Martin for all their work putting together another successful spring seminar. Thanks also to Peet Crissey for making sure the continental breakfast came off without a hitch. We all learned a lot and I know many of us are excited about putting that the new knowledge to the test this spring.
Upcoming Events & Programs
March 16 Charlie Reading – Reading’s Fly Shop
March 19-21 Sow Bug - Mountain Home, AR
April 17-19 White River Outing
April 20 Darren Watson on Wyoming Cutthroat Slam
May 15-17 WindRush Farms Outing
May 18 Steve Daly – Mountain View Fly Shop
June 6 One Fly Tournament - Lake of the Forest
June 15 Fly tying / casting / social
July 17-19 Little Red River - Heber Springs, AR
July 20 Dennis Whiteside Ozarks Smallmouth Guide
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Black Dog Sports
Angler's and Archery Outfitters, Inc.
136B Eden Way
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-4655
Back Country Outfitters
2863 South Campbell
Springfield, MO 65807
417-889-6548
Bass Pro Shop - Olathe KS
12051 Bass Pro Drive
Olathe, KS 66061
913-254-5200
Bennett Springs State Park Concession Shop
26248 Hwy 64A
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-4307
Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop
105 Yellowstone Ave
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
(406)646-7336
Brass Door Motel
Highway 62 West
Gassville, AR 72635
870-435-2988
www.whiteriver.net/brassdoor/
Cabela's KCK
10300 Cabela Drive
Kansas City, KS 66111
913-328-0322 x8208
Chartered Waters
1326 Acacia Club Rd.
Hollister, MO 65672
417-334-1005
Dale Fulton's Blue Ribbon Flies
1343 Highway 5 South
Mountain Home, AR 72653
870-425-0447
Diane Christopher-Fulks Wildlife Watercolors
45-N Street
Lake Lotawana, MO 64086
816-578-4615
Dicks Sporting Goods - Leawood KS
11801 Nall Avenue
Leawood, KS 66211
913-661-0200
Feather-Craft Fly Fishing
8307 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63144
Fishing Pole Guiding, Inc.
27 Haddon Road SouthWest
Calgary, Alberta CANADA T2V2X8
403-259-6245
Flats Lander Guide Service
Paul "Sodie" Sodamann
6390 Rockenham Road
St. George, KS 66535
785-456-5654
Gaston's On the White River
11777 River Road
Lakeview, AR 72642
870-431-5202
Gaston's Tackle
11798 Highway 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-9449
Joe Tomelleri - Artist
8436 Meadow Lane
Leawood, KS 66206
913-383-9771
K&K Flyfishers
8643 Grant
Overland Park, KS 66212
913-341-8118
Lilley's Landing
367 River Lane
Branson, MO 65616
417-334-6380
Loon Outdoors
2728 S. Cole Rd. #110
Boise, ID 93709
208-362-4437
Mickey's Surplus
2601 Strong Ave
Kansas City, KS 66106
913-831-1493
Parkview Lodge
5477 State Highway 165
Branson, MO 65616
417-334-4041
Rainbow Fly Shop
4621 S. Shrank Drive
Independence, MO 64055
816-373-2283
Reading Fly Shop
11937 Highway 64A
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-588-4334
Rim Shoals Resort
153 Rims Shoals Camp
Mountain Home, AR 72653
870-435-6144
Rio Products
5050 S. Yellowstone Hwy
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
208-524-7760
River of Life Farm
RT 1 Box 4535
Dora, MO 65637
417-261-7777
River Run Outfitters
2626 State Hwy 165
Branson, MO 65616
417-332-0460
Saltery Lake Lodge
1516 Larch St. #1
Kodiak, AK 99615
907-486-7083
Sand Springs Resort
1996 Hwy 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-5857
Spring View Motel
11726 Highway 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-588-2116
The Fishing Hole
3731 W. 95th St.
Overland Park, KS 66206
913-642-5554
Tightline Guide Service
13361 Christopher Dr.
Rolla, MO 65401
573-364-7633
Two Rivers Fly Shop
13718 AR Highway 5 South
Norfork, AR 72658
870-499-3060
Vogel's Homestead Resort
11451 Highway 64
Lebanon, MO 65536
417-532-4097
Wapsi Fly, Inc.
27 CR 458
Mountain Home, AR 72653
870-425-9500
White River Trout Lodge
752 County Rd 703
Cotter, AR 72626
870-430-5229
White Sands Motel
P.O. Box 340
Cotter, AR 72626
870-435-2244
Wilkinson Outdoor Adventures
Clint Wilkinson
336 Stephanie
Gassville, AR 72635
870-404-2942
Yager's Fly Shop
2311 Wakarusa Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66047
785-842-1239