slff apr 2016c - santa lucia fly fishers apr newsletter.pdf · april 30th – fly fishing 101 class...

(1 SLFF NEWSLETTER – April 2016

PRESIDENT’S LETTER – Lew Leichter

April 2016 John Gierach: “Cold science tells us that a trout’s pea sized brain is not capable of anything like reason or emotion. That’s probably true enough, but in the defense of creative thinking, I have a comment and a question. Actions speak louder than words and if they are so dumb how can they be so hard to catch?”

April meeting featuring Ernie Gulley will be on Friday April 15th

at the Odd Fellows Hall 520 Dana Street – SLO

Arrive early - at 5:30pm Ernie will be doing a fly tying demo and showing some stillwater set-ups.

NEW MEMBERS: Let’s welcome our newest members Steve Sanders and John Stoebig. We look forward to getting to know you better and spending time on the water with you. Speaking of new members, we will be repeating our Fly Fishing 101 class on Saturday, April 30 (see below). We would also like to do an introduction to float tubing class at Laguna Lake soon while there is still enough water. We need a couple members to lead this class so if you’re willing please contact Rich or I and we’ll give you some guidance. BANQUET: While the numbers have not been finalized our banquet was a big success. Special thanks to our hard working board members for their efforts. Thanks to all who attended and a special thanks to our generous sponsors and members. Sounds like Skip Morris’ fly tying session on Sunday was well attended and well received. It is not too early to start thinking about a speaker for our 2017 banquet so if you have a suggestion let us know.

http://www.santaluciaflyfishers.com San Luis Obispo, CA Greg & Mary Lugo, Editors

Tight Lines April - 2016


APRIL PROGRAM: Our April program will feature still water guide Ernie Gulley. If you haven’t had the opportunity to fish Crowley with Ernie you’re missing out (see below). PROGRAMS NEEDED: We need programs for our July, October & November meetings. Please contact us with your suggestions. Guides &/or programs of local watershed/ environmental interests are best. MY OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR CLUB PLANNING MEETING:

Thanks to the 20 or so board and club members that set aside Saturday morning to attend. I felt we had a very productive meeting and moved ahead in our planning process. The bottom line message I got was that if we ALL work to improve member experience through getting to know one another better and improve the opportunities for our members to learn our sport through classes and outings, we will go a long way to accomplishing our objectives. Understand we cannot do this by ourselves and need a lot more of you to help and participate. You will be hearing a lot more about this down the road. Photo by David Holmes

SAVE THE DATES

April 2nd - 9AM to noon Special meeting on the future of SLFF April 7th – Fly tying 6:30pm Odd Fellows Hall (see below). April 7th – 9th - Club outing with Confluence outfitters fishing the Lower Sac one day and Eagle Canyon Trophy Trout Lakes the next (SOLD OUT). April 15th – 6:30pm NO BOARD MEETING General meeting with Ernie Gulley. ARRIVE EARLY - At 5:30 pm Ernie will be doing a fly tying demo and showing some of his still water leader setups. Meeting location changed to the Odd Fellows Hall - SLO April 23rd – One Surf Fly contest at Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo followed by the Southwest Council quarterly meeting. Art, Rich and I are going; let us know if you want to join us (see below). April 30th – Fly Fishing 101 class (see below).

Fly Fishing 101 Class – Rich Chubon If you missed our Fly Fishing 101 class, the class will be offered again on Saturday, April 30th from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Odd Fellows Building in San Luis Obispo. The class will cover all the basics of fly fishing including equipment, fly types, basic knots, casting, and much more. Our class will be limited to the first 10 members who register. To register for the class simply send an email to me at [email protected]. If you like, let me know what area(s) of fly fishing you would like to learn more about.


Friday, April 15, 2016 at 6:30pm Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana Street, SLO

ARRIVE EARLY At 5:30pm Ernie will be doing a fly tying demo and showing some of his still water leader setups.

“Trophy Stillwater of the Eastern Sierra” with Ernie Gulley

One of the areas that many fly fishers from southern California go to every year is the Eastern Sierra, which is up the 395 highway, and is a very good destination to visit the many stillwaters she has to offer. We will

be talking more specifically about three different stillwaters, each having their own unique story and history of fantastic fly fishing experiences. These stillwaters, Kirman Lake (the best trophy brook trout fishery in California and in the entire west!), Heenan Lake (lahontan cutthroat brood stock lake for the California fish and wildlife!) and Crowley Lake (hands down the best stillwater in California!) are no strangers to the many clubs in the area that consistently schedule outings every year to these three different stillwater destinations. All three of these stillwaters will give you the opportunity, while fly fishing, to land fish up and into the 30" range. Each are unique in the fact that they are all the best of the best when it comes to the trout they have to offer for our fly fishing anglers in the Eastern Sierra.

We will break down each individual stillwater and show you why you will want to join me on this magnificent journey with the chance to land a fish of a lifetime at each stillwater destination. We will discuss how to get to each stillwater, by using maps, showing where each individual body of water is located. Pictures of each individual lake, how and when you should plan your trips in the future and be better prepared for your journey. We will break down and show pictures of my favorite fly patterns, leader setups and specific techniques that will put you on the fast track to be successful. Knowing the best times of the year to plan your trips will give you the confidence you need to better enjoy your fly fishing experience. Would you like to know the finer nuances of each individual stillwater? If your answer is "yes" to any of the above questions, well then, this is the presentation for you!


Our guide for this knowledge is Ernie Gulley. Ernie was born in southern California and started fishing with his dad as soon as he could walk. At the age of seven Ernie moved to New Orleans where he learned how to fish Lake Pontchartrain for speckled trout. Later he moved back to southern California and began fishing the Eastern Sierra including Crowley, Bridgeport reservoir and many lakes in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. Ernie currently resides in Riverside with his wife Shannon and his two children Logan age twelve and Aidan age eight.

In 1998 curiosity about long rods with thicker lines won out and he tried fly fishing. Well, a love affair was born and he has never looked back. In 2006 Ernie joined Deep Creek Fly Fishers, where he became a principal instructor for fly tying and classes on stillwater tactics. In 2007 he won the prestigious "Double Hall in the Fall" tournament at Crowley, winning both individual and team division and in 2008 and 2009 Ernie placed second in the "Stillwater Classic" at Crowley in the team category. He has served as president and vice president of the Hi-Desert Fly Fishing club in 2008. Ernie is currently a professional guide in southern California and the Eastern Sierra. His home water is Crowley Lake, but is considered one of the premier stillwater guides in the Sierra. You can see why "Ernie" has built a reputation as being a stillwater expert and the man to show us how to be successful in stillwater fly fishing the Eastern Sierra!


SLFF Tying Group - Jim Snodgrass

Pheasant Tail Nymph

The next fly tying session will be held at the Odd Fellows Hall in San Luis Obispo on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30. Jim Snodgrass will demonstrate how to tie Skip Morris’ version of the Pheasant Tail Nymph. The Pheasant Tail is one of the most popular flies around because it is convincing to trout, relatively easy to tie, and its construction is quite ingenious.

Jim Snodgrass’ hand tied Pheasant Tail Nymph

This fly is unusual because pheasant tail fibers are used to create so many parts of the fly…tail, abdomen, wing case, and legs. It is rather surprising to find that these fibers suggest each of the body parts so effectively. Skip Morris does not weight his Pheasant Tail, he states that lead detracts from the tying and appearance of this fly. However, once the basics of tying this fly are learned, fly tiers are always welcome to try the weighted fly. Materials: Thread - Dark Brown 8/0 or 6/0 Hook - Size 12 nymph style hook Tail - Pheasant tail fibers Abdomen - Pheasant tail fibers Rib - Small copper wire Thorax - Peacock herl Wing Case and Legs - Pheasant tail fibers

Commercially tied Pheasant Tail Nymph

All materials will be supplied, but be sure and bring your own thread. Jim recommends dark brown 6/0 or 8/0.

Web Sites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRMWxob305o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAyLMw08qmk

The next fly tying session will be held at the Odd Fellows Hall in San Luis Obispo on

Thursday, April 7th at 6:30pm.


PRIVATE CASTING LESSONS AVAILABLE While our five IFFF certified casting instructors generously put on a series of free casting clinics for our club members each spring we wanted you to know they are available for private casting lessons throughout the year. If interested please contact them directly for additional information. Bernard Pieters Arroyo Grande 489-3085 [email protected] Eric Sherar Atascadero 423-0170 [email protected] Bob Hurd Arroyo Grande 550-9071 [email protected] Todd Tose Grover Beach 904-5288 [email protected] Chad McPartland Paso Robles 441-0744 [email protected] Sally Stoner Halcyon 550-9509 [email protected]

Do you want the SLFF Club logo embroidered on any garment?

Contact R & T Embroidery… current cost $7.75 each.

SLFF MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION An individual regular membership is $35.00 per year

For 12 months (January through December). Enrollment after July 1st is $20.00 for the remainder of the year.

To join, please download the Membership Form from our Website:

http://www.santaluciaflyfishers.com/membership-3 Send completed form with a check for dues to:

Santa Lucia Fly Fishers c/o Secretary P.O. Box 166

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406


2016 CLUB OUTINGS AND EVENT SCHEDULE

APRIL TBD *HUNTER LIGGETT BASS PONDS – Andy Harrison

APRIL 23 ONE SURF FLY EVENT – Dockweiler State Beach

APRIL TBD SANTA MARGARITA – Art Chapman

MAY 9-14 SAN JUAN RIVER, NEW MEXICO - SOARING EAGLE LODGE – Lew Leichter

JUNE 20-25 MANZANITA LAKE – Bernard Pieters

JUNE 26-JULY 1 LAKE ALMANOR – George Protsman

JULY 4 -7 STEWART’S LODGE BRITISH COLUMBIA – George Protsman

JULY 23 AVILA BAY - HALIBUT OUTING - Bernard Pieters

AUGUST TBD ANNUAL BBQ & HALIBUT OUTING – Bernard Pieters

SEPTEMBER TBD SEA JAY SALT WATER TRIP – Andy Malovos

OCTOBER 14-16 FFF FLY FISHING FAIR BISHOP, CA – Rich Chubon

OCT/NOV TBD FRENCHMANS LAKE / PYRAMID LAKE

NOVEMBER TBD O'NEILL FOREBAY STRIPERS - Mark Shelton

NOVEMBER TBD SWC INTER-CLUB TOURNAMENT – KERN RIVER

NOV/DEC TBD STEELHEAD – UPPER KLAMATH RIVER

OTHER POSSIBILITIES & COMMENTS

TBD = DATES TO BE DETERMINED

*HUNTER LIGGETT OUTINGS DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY E-BLAST DEPENDENT ON WATER CONDITIONS & AREAS OPEN TO FISHING

LAGO FIG WILL NOT BE OPEN THIS SEASON

PYRAMID LAKE - FRENCHMEN LAKE DATES TO BE DETERMINED BY FISHING REPORTS – LATE OCTOBER OR MID-NOVEMBER

EASTERN SIERRA OUTING – EAST WALKER, HOT CREEK, OWENS - BOCCA & STAMPEDE RESERVOIR

HUME LAKE AND SEQUOIA CREEK - MAY OR JUNE

KELSY BASS RANCH – MAY


Another Successful SLFF Banquet – March 2016


Support your local Fishing Outfitters

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OFFICERS President Lew Leichter Vice President Art Chapman Secretary Sheri Bryant Treasurer Judy Chubon Directors Bernard Pieters Ron Bryant Rich Chubon Mark Shelton Jim Snodgrass Tom Nickelson Committees Conservation Tom Nickelson Website Art Chapman Ron Bryant Ted Pope Doug Daniels (TIC) Newsletter Greg and Mary Lugo Education David Holmes Programs Rich Chubon Casting Bernard Pieters Mark Shelton Eric Sherar Membership Mark Shelton Fly Tying Jim Snodgrass SECFFF Coordinator Lew Leichter Rod Building Mike Powers Rich Chubon Fresh Water Outings Art Chapman Rich Chubon Salt Water Outings Andy Malovos Library Steve Soenke Lew Leichter Fundraising Bob Bayer Banquet & BBQ Sheri and Ron Bryant Lew Leichter Rich Chubon George Protsman


P.O. Box 166

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

Come wet a line with us! Thank you for supporting those who help support our chapter.

slff apr 2016c - santa lucia fly fishers apr newsletter.pdf · april 30th – fly fishing 101 class...

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