SALINAS VALLEY FLY FISHERS FEBRUARY 2018 PAGE 1 2018 Board Member: Greg Smith : 595-4406 President Dave Gambetta: 970-5065 Vice President Richard Higgins: 750-9132 Secretary Roger Caton: 633-4659 Treasure Lou DeSilva: 262-9068 Member Bill Pshide: 424-3063 Richard Wilson: 758-5313 Chairmen: Rick McCombs: (209)267-8088 Newsletter Editor Bill Pshide Fly Tying Dave Gambetta Webmaster Fly Times President’s Message By: Greg Smith I would like to personally thank everyone who attended this yearʼs Annual Dinner at the Salinas Airportʼs Flying Artichoke. A big shout goes out to Jonathon and his staff for the good food and hospitality we all enjoyed. The raffle and silent auction were a big success, along with the white ticket items. Everyone seemed to go home with a little bounty. For those who like to swim while they fish, Jay Jefferson awarded this yearʼs Mud Hen Award to Jack Clark. Jack tested the temperature of the water at Marina Beach while fishing for perch. This was a banner year for Dave Gambetta who took home the 2017 Sportsman of the Year Award and also snagged a well-deserved Life Membership. Congratulations Dave. The Sportsman Award was shared between Dave and me. As the Sutter Creek boys graced our dinner, a big thank you goes out to Rick McCombs, who in his wisdom, requested more pictures for the newsletter (he wanted to see who reads what he prints). A little red wine and a giving heart resulted in raffle challenge. Lo and behold, so many photos got sent in that Rick ended up having to cough up a Redington Fly Rod as the contest prize. Congratulations to Andy Pomo who was the lucky winner. I need to say THANK YOU to this yearʼs board members, who stepped up for another year. At the start of our first board meeting this year, I was initiated by pranksters Jay and Dave who circulated a photo of a fly that I had tied, (not pretty). Ok, the joke was on me, and the enthusiasm continued while we started planning the events for the year. Club events for February: F e b 1 4 t h : General Meeting. Guest Speaker Tracy Da Silva, who will talk about his self-guided Alaskan fishing trip. Tracy has some great videos to go along with his talk. Feb. 17th-18th : Fish outing to San Luis or Los Banos Creek Reservoir. Call Roger Caton for details, 206-2762 Feb.21st : Fly Tying, Zug Bug, Bill Pshide Feb.23-25th : Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show, Call Greg for details 595-4406 Feb. 28st : Board meeting. Open to all members For 2018 I look forward to FISHING, having FOOD and FUN with the all of the club members. With that said, Fish-on .............................Greg Upcoming EVENTS: Feb 14th Monthly meeting @ the Flying Artichoke Fishing Alaska w/ Tracy da Silva
Transcript
SALINAS VALLEY FLY FISHERS! FEBRUARY 2018
PAGE 1
2018 Board Member:
Greg Smith!: 595-4406 President
Dave Gambetta: 970-5065Vice President
Richard Higgins: 750-9132Secretary
Roger Caton: 633-4659Treasure
Lou DeSilva: 262-9068 Member !Bill Pshide: 424-3063 Richard Wilson: 758-5313 Chairmen:Rick McCombs:
! (209)267-8088Newsletter Editor
Bill PshideFly Tying
Dave GambettaWebmaster
Fly TimesPresident’s Message By: Greg Smith
I would like to personally thank everyone who attended this yearʼs Annual Dinner at the Salinas Airportʼs Flying Artichoke. A big shout goes out to Jonathon and his staff for the good food and hospitality we all enjoyed.
The raff le and s i lent auction were a big success, along with the white ticket items. Everyone seemed to go home with a little bounty. For those who like to swim while they fish, Jay Jefferson awarded this yearʼs Mud Hen Award to Jack Clark. Jack tested the temperature of the water at Marina Beach while fishing for perch. This was a banner year for Dave Gambetta w h o t o o k h o m e t h e 2 0 1 7 Sportsman of the Year Award and also snagged a well-deserved Life Membership. Congratulations Dave. The Sportsman Award was shared between Dave and me. As the Sutter Creek boys graced our dinner, a big thank you goes out to Rick McCombs, who in his wisdom, requested more pictures for the newsletter (he wanted to see who reads what he prints). A little red wine and a giving heart resulted in raffle challenge. Lo and behold, so many photos got sent in that Rick ended up having to cough up a Redington Fly Rod a s t h e c o n t e s t p r i z e .
Congratulations to Andy Pomo who was the lucky winner.
I need to say THANK YOU to this yearʼs board members, who stepped up for another year. At the start of our first board meeting this year, I was initiated by pranksters Jay and Dave who circulated a photo of a fly that I had tied, (not pretty). Ok, the j o k e w a s o n m e , a n d t h e enthusiasm continued while we started planning the events for the year.
Club events for February:F e b 1 4 t h : G e n e r a l
Meeting. Guest Speaker Tracy Da Silva, who will talk about his self-guided Alaskan fishing trip. Tracy has some great videos to go along with his talk.
Feb. 17th-18th: Fish outing to San Luis or Los Banos Creek Reservoir. Call Roger Caton for details, 206-2762
Feb.21st: Fly Tying, Zug Bug, Bill Pshide
Feb.23-25th: Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show, Call Greg for details 595-4406
Feb. 28st: Board meeting. Open to all members
For 2018 I look forward to FISHING, having FOOD and FUN with the all of the club members.
With that said, Fish-on .............................Greg
Cliff Zug designed this fly in West Lawn, PA and it became a popular fly within the Catskills. During the 1940's, it made it's way West to Yellowstone and, subsequently the Sierras, through the accolades of Arnold Gingrich within his publications and articles. Today, like the Prince Nymph, this peacock-bodied nymph continues to be one of the top ten flies on many fly fishermen's lists. Since the Zug Bug imitates cased caddis and caddis larvae, it's important to develop a cigar-shaped body. Utilizing lead-free wire wraps on the middle of the shank helps to promote the proper profile. Unique to this fly is the wing-case which is only tied down at the front and gives the Zug a caddis-type wing appearance. The use of Peacock Herl for the body and Peacock Sword for the tail also gives this fly a great attraction quality. On slow moving streams, fish the fly near the bottom as a dead drift. The Zug also makes a very good stillwater fly, particularly as a dropper behind a leech pattern.
! The Zug Bug was designed as a Case Caddis imitation, but to many the peacock sword tail seems out of place. And, many fly fishers resist using the pattern because of this fact. When compared to the typical mayfly nymph with its fine wispy tail, It just doesn’t look right. But, the Zug Bug tied without the tail or wing case is a worthy copy of the real Case Caddis. Tied in size #6 or even size #4, it bares reasonable resemblance to the large October Caddis found on the Merced River and throughout much of California. Now back to that tail, Zug Bug fans seem to swear to the effectiveness of this pattern as is. So, this is definitely a pattern to include in you fly box. While there is no reliable way of knowing what the trout is “thinking” when she grabs this fly, It may be argued that the tail is simple an attractor that catches the trout’s attention and isn’t “perceived” as a tail at all?? ...ed.
February ActivitiesFebruary Club MeetingWednesday, Feb 14th.
Fishing Alaska, with Tracy Da Silva@ the Flying Artichoke
Fly Tying, Wednesday, Feb 21st.
Fly of the month: Zug BugAirport Board Room
SVFF Board MeetingWednesday, Feb 28th.
6:00 pm @ The Flying Artichoke (all members welcome)
Club OutingFeb. 17-18th.
San Luis Reservoir ForebayCall: Roger (206-27620
Advice from Lefty Kreh from his book: “Fly Fishing Techniques and Tackle”
• Slowly - Fish can feel your presence though their sensory organs, try not to wade into pools but if you must, do it slowly. Spooked fish will alert the others within the pool.
• Quietly - Sound can quickly give you away. Try to wade with felt sole sandals or boots without the metal cleats. Also use a rubber tip on the end of your wading staff rather than a metal one. Try not to get into the water.
• Lowly - Fish can see you from the front and side. They have a parallax vision due to the water surface that they can't see low objects. Try to approach from behind but if you must approach from the front or side, do it with a low profile.
• Darkly - Wear dark clothing, hide highly reflective tools in your pocket. Stay in the shade.• Patiently - Don't rush. Observe and then plan your approach.• Direction - Think about where to make your best presentation. Where do the fish lie with
respect to your approach? If you have a fish on, where is it going to run? How is the wind and the current going to affect the presentation? What are the covers available to you; foliage, rocks? Keep in mind the many different factors that can affect your presentation just by selecting the direction of your approach.
Planting Fish?Planting fish has been on my mind as of late. My almost favorite stillwater lake if Indian Creek
Reservoir on the eastern side of the Sierras near Markleeville. In past years this has been a dynamite fishery with rainbow often in the 5-6 pound class. But, in the last couple years the size
and quantity of fish has dropped off significantly. I recently contacted CDFW about the planting situation and was informed that they have been planting mostly Cutthroat in the lake and that
planting of Rainbow Trout has been reduced significantly because of lawsuits. I know that there has been much effort in recent years to return the native Cutthroat back to the Tahoe basin. I also understand that there has been pressure to eradicate non-native species, (continued page 5)
(planting cont. from page 3) like the rainbow, in the area. Now, as a fisherman, I also know that Cutthroat are pretty skunkie compared to rainbow when it come to the way they fight. At Indian Creek Reservoir, in particular -despite the planting of cutthroat there
seem to be few to be found and those that are appear small and without much spirit. That, I suspect is enough said on my part, but I would be very interested to hear more
information on the subject of the lawsuits and the plans for the reintroduction of the Cutthroat into the Tahoe basis. I’d also like to know what Cal Trout and Trout Unlimited’s positions are on the matter. So, maybe some of you guys who are in the know could fill us
in with more information on the subject. ..ed.! Contact me @ [email protected] Call me @ (209) 267-8088
Native Trout of CaliforniaHere’s a map of the native trout of California an and
