wenatchee valley flyfishers page 1 fly...

FLY PAPER — March 2006

You may have seen Ed last February atthe Fly Fishing Show at theMeydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Ifnot, never fear. Our intrepid ProgramChairman, Gary Anderson, has enticedEd Engle to travel back from Coloradofor a second time this year, this time atrip just to Wenatchee. His show for uswill center on catching difficult trout.

You may have coveted Ed's books,Fishing Small Flies, Tying Small Flies,or Splitting Cane. You may have readhis columns or heard about his talksfrom friends in other clubs.

Don’t miss this great opportunity.

2006 OFFICERS AND BOARD

President —Bruce Campbell1422 John Street

Wenatchee, WA 98801(509) 663-1020

1st Vice President — Steve DeJong1006 Grenz St.

Wenatchee, WA 98801(509) 662-6194

2nd Vice President — OPEN

Secretary — Dick Nicklas23111 Saddle

Leavenworth, WA 98826(509) 763-4327

Treasurer — Gordi Northrup1212 Malaga Ave.

Wenatchee, WA 98801(509) 662-0769

Ghille — Fred Kunzmann2524 North Astor Court

East Wenatchee, WA 98802(509) 886- 1321

Program — Gary Anderson149 NE 26th

East Wenatchee, WA 98802(509) 884-6886

Newsletter Editor — NancyHoward

1509 Woodhaven PlaceWenatchee, WA 98801

(509) 663-1063

Outings — John Murio618 Daniels Street


Membership — Ralph Jordan225 Ninth Street NE


Conservation Chair — Joe Roy2410 First St. NE

E. Wenatchee, WA 98802(509) 884-2874

The “FLYPAPER” is published monthly by Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers — P. O. Box 3687, Wenatchee, WA 98807-3687Telephone (509) 663-1063 email [email protected] Editor Nancy Howard

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL IS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH OF PUBLICATION.

Wenatchee Valley Flyfishers

FLY PAPERAn Affiliate of the Federation of Fly Fishers

May 2006 Volume 19 No. 82

http://www.wvff.net

Looking Upstream

May 18General Meeting

May 20-21Dry Falls

June 1Board Meeting

June 3Bee Hive for theClass Graduation

June 15General Meeting

June 17-18Chopaka/Blue Lakes

Wet Fly with tying 6:00Dinner 7:00

Program 8:00

GENERAL MEETINGS AT MORGAN’S ON THE RIVERThird Thursday of the month, September through June.

Catching Difficult TroutEd Engle

http://www.anglerscovey.com/engle.htm accessed 6May 2006

FlyPaper May 2006

MONTH DESTINATION HOST EQUIPMENT COMMENTSMay 20-21 Dry Falls Gary Anderson Boat or Float Tube Gary’s class on resident bug and how to

fish them.June 3 Bee Hive

ReservoirGary Anderson &Tom Whiteside

Float Tube/ pontoon “Graduation” for the Fly Fishing Class.Please join Gary and Tom and help outthe new fly fishers

June 17-18 Blue Lake inthe Okanogan

Dry fly rigs campingand cooking

Hexagenia hatch that brings the bigrainbows and browns to the top

WVFF Board Meeting Minutes,May 4, 2006

Attending: Bruce Campbell, Gordi Northrup, SteveDeJong, Joe Roy, Nancy Howard

We did not have a quorum, due to Apple Blossomactivities, so we made no decisions.

Gordi Northrup ‘s treasurer’s report reminded us thatwe have money. We haven’t spent any lately. We stillhave 13 listed members from last year’s roster whohave not yet paid their dues for 2006. Since manymembers are gone for six months during the colderparts of the year, we will wait until June to “clean up”the roster. We list 92 members. Of these, 79 are paidfor 2006.

The outing this month is to Dry Falls. Gary Andersonwill conduct his annual “bug class,” an event not to bemissed.

Nancy Howard is always looking for articles for thenewsletter and want ads for the Catch and Releasecolumn.

Joe Roy will work on the Bill Barnett Conservation Funddocument. The board members had a few suggestionson wording and on narrowing the focus to onlyconservation and only north central Washington. Joewill revise and present to the general membership.

Joe is also looking for suggestions for conservationactivities for the club. These can be for the fund, or aswork parties or as “fun outings” that result in helping afishing site—such as a “catch and keep all you can”sunfish depletion for infected lakes.

Ralph Jordan reminded the board that we are alsolooking for suggestions to create a process and a set ofcriteria for making conservation awards. In the past,the club has honored Bill Barnett and Gary Anderson.Though this is not an annual award, we do want toestablish a formal process and set of criteria.

Compiled to the best of her memory by Nancy Howard,FlyPaper editor.

WVFF General Meeting Minutes,April 20, 2006

Due to Technical Difficulties, we have no minutes from theApril General Meeting.

Those 60+ members in attendance saw a great doublefeature presentation from Craig Jordan, chironomidaficionado and computer expert.

And several of you had an opportunity to take home somedeer hair for summer fly tying.

If you have any items you don’t want to savefor the Banquet (January is a long time fromnow) bring them to a general meeting. Ralph isalways looking for more goodies for themonthly raffles.

Outings Calendar Spring 2006Stay tuned to this space. John Murio will be

providing tantalizing descriptions of theoutings to come.

Call for Board Members

Your Board is looking to filltwo essential positions.

After 10 years of service, Gordi Northrupwill be stepping down as treasurer. If youlove numbers, please consider supportingyour club by volunteering to be our newtreasurer.

We are also looking for a second vicepresident.

The goodies at board meetings are as good asthe fishing talk—and, oh yes, we conductbusiness, too. Please join us.

FlyPaper May 2006

WVFF OUTING to DRY FALLS LAKE May 20-21, 2006

SPECIAL ATTRACTION Gary Anderson will put on his Insect Identification workshop on Saturdaymorning at 10 am at the lake. We will meet at the launch and proceed from there.

DIRECTIONS: From Wenatchee area take Hiway 2 north to Orondo and continue on thru Watervilletraveling approximately 50 miles to Hiway 17 at the edge of Banks Lake. Turn right onto Hiway 17 andproceed about 3 miles, go past the Dry Falls Interpretive Center to a sign that says Sun Lakes StatePark. Turn left and continue down the road to the campsites at Park Lake. After passing the State Parkcampground on the left you will see a sign pointing left to Dry Falls Lake. From there, it is about 2.5miles, most of it rough. We will camp at the State Park campground and plan on having a wet fly andsnacks on Saturday night after fishing.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR ENJOYING THE FISHING ON DRY FALLS LAKE:It is often very sunny and warm there so carry water, a hat, and sunscreen out onto the lake. Lakeaccess is good but parking is not, so come early to get a good space. This is a good place for your boat,canoe, or pontoon craft. It is helpful to be able to travel around the lake to find the type of fishing youprefer to do. You may want to fish until dark but remember that the road into the lake closes at 10pm.You won’t want to miss the story telling or the Wet Fly at the campground.

SETTING UP YOUR RODMost anglers use 4-6 weight rods with floating line and longer leaders of 10-15 feet for dry fly fishing.For Chironomids the leader may get up to 20 feet depending on the depth of the water. Tippets are amatter of choice, anywhere from 4X to 6X depending on your method of fishing. The fish tend to be bigand powerful as well as wary.

FLY SELECTION: SUBSURFACE—Mayfly nymphs, Damsel nymphs on an intermediate sink line.

Woolly Worms, buggers, and leeches near the bottom.

CHIRONOMIDS—They have been doing well lately, be ready to change colors and sizes, 14-20.

DRY FLIES—Adams size 14-18Damsel size 14-18Calibaetis size 14-18Emergers size 14-18Ugly Duckling size 14-18

PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANTYou can fish in water 2 feet deep or 22 feet deep in this lake. Those who fish with Chironomids oftenuse leaders of 20 feet to get down to the fish. Others like to move about and troll nymphs or biggerbugs on sinking lines around the perimeter of the lake. Some will search out “risers” and carefullypresent drys on longer lighter leaders to the feeding fish. There are Rainbow, Brown, and Tiger trout inthe lake.

SIGHT FISHING IS EXCITING ON THE LAKESome good hatches usually come off in the afternoon and bring the fish to the top. You can experiencesome great dry fly action in the back bays and on the flats. Many places around the lake will come aliveduring that time. Keep your eyes open for the signs.

CENTRAL FLY FISHINGThe best source of information is our local fly shop, Central Fly Fishing. Jeremy will gladly set you upwith the best equipment, the hottest flies, or any materials you need to fish the local waters. Pleasedrop by and visit with Jeremy to get acquainted with our most important resource.

FlyPaper May 2006

Blue Lake Chopaka Outing

Steve DeJong

Joe Roy just spentsome quality time

at Corbett Lake, BC

Season Opener

A Lineup on the lake

Fly Tying duringWet Fly is back!

COME WATCH THEACTION.

THURSDAY, MAY 18AT 6:00 PM.

MORGAN’S ON THERIVER

JUST BEFORE OURGENERAL MEETING,

DINNER, ANDED ENGLE’S

PRESENTATION.

FlyPaper May 2006Chironimidus Corpus Delectus

Why do I fish? It is one of the most common andenjoyable themes in fishing literature. I really lovereading about the deep stirrings of philosophy that thisquestion engenders in talented, intelligent people whoreally should have something better to contribute tomankind with their time and brainpower. But since Ican’t answer that question myself, I am another of thehaunted, driven kinds that are unable to stop thinkingabout that next fish.

That question usually occurs to me with a slightlydifferent spin. Too often, the sun peeks over thefrozen hills to spy me paddling out into a favorite lake,sleep deprived from a long on-call night or staying uptoo late with my family. Hands shaking with fatigue,trying to tie on one of those devil-spawned sizetwenties, rubbing the morning blur from my eyes,seems pose the question “Why do I fish?”. What Ireally ask myself at those moments is morelike...”What the hell am I doing here fishing at thistime of the morning?”.

The few lost souls that share the water with me at thattime in the morning could not, like their sanerbrethren, show up at 11:30 am with a can of wormsand a bobber, sit by the lake, enjoying the sun. Godforbid that they not know the name of the species thattheir fly imitates or the lake habitat that fosters it.Blessed is he who doesn’t know he has an annelid onthe hook nor ever…ever has the word “fishing” tumbledfrom his lips with a “g” still on the end of it!

So, in a realm where reason (NOT scientific logic) hasalready been suspended, one is free to experience theuniquely human world of stupid stuff…That’s right: themoment when you realize that several million years ofevolution has led you nowhere but into trouble. AsDave Ramsey says, I was about to pay some stupidtax.

Now literally, stupid tax refers to financial loss. Thistoo can be a byproduct of fishing. To wit: severalweeks ago when a combination of predawn dark, rushto the next hole and four wheel drive bravado foundme high centered on a boulder that the Skagit parksworkers had placed to block off what should have beenan easy turnaround in Sauk County Park. Stupid Tax:the nice Darrington auto shop guy to pull me off therock, $92, the kind disabled Coast Guard crewman whogave me a ride into town $20, the lost three hours offishing…priceless. No, I did not use MasterCard…I useda Visa.

The other loss, one that we seem to constantly arrangefor ourselves, is that of dignity. Fiddling around withyour tangled tippet while the gear guy next to youthrows his third cast into the Methow certainly counts.So too, does looking up to see some hot, young flyfisherman’s pretty girlfriend smirking at you while youhave been walking backwards toward the water in yourfloat tube fins like some spastic duck in the first death

throes of bird flu. These are the common everyday StupidTaxes of Dignity.

But there is a whole ‘nother level that the fly fishermancan achieve. Dignity is a relative attribute and the degreeof gain and loss is very dependent on your starting point.Fishing usually requires a certain degree of humility tostart with. However, bungee jumping from the high towerof new piscatorial achievement into the muck ofhumiliation has been devised by the demons of fishing helland will eventually find you on your favorite waters.

Last week, after years of feeling inferior and intimidated bythe guy in the float tube next to me, pulling fish after fishout of Lenore Lake, I was confirmed in the mystic religionof chironomid fishing. I got on the water late at Dry FallsLake and no one seemed to be catching much. As I trolledby the mouth of the bay, past several other fishermen, myrod almost leapt from the apron in front of me. Afterseveral blistering runs, I landed a beautiful, bright 18-inchrainbow and carefully removed the dragon fly nymph thathad fooled it.

The biologist in me went to work as I gently stomach-pumped the fish, revived, and released it back into theemerald water. I gazed at the pump tube. It was packedwith wriggling chironomid pupae, some blood red, somecream colored. There were even a few darting shrimp andsquirming bloodworms. I wanted to keep these bugs totake home and match at my fly vise but did not have aspecimen bottle. In a fit of inspiration, I chugged down thefirst of two Riptide Rush Gatorades (snatched from myteenage son’s supply on the way out the door) rinsed it outand filled it with water. Into the bottle went the sample;the chironomids reoriented themselves quickly while thescuds did happy loop-the-loops to celebrate the return offreedom. Carefully, I put the bottle back into my pontoonstorage box for safekeeping.

With shaking hands, I tied on what I judged to be the twomost likely imitations of my new pets, set my float 12 feetup the leader and made the graceless cast that only such arig can dictate. I sat there, feeling the euphoria ofnewfound knowledge begin to drain away while the ringsaround the float gradually damped and finally disappeared.Nothing. It was happening again. Then, less than a fullminute later, the float twitched slightly, then popped out ofsight. I raised the rod and lo, a silver streak broke fromthe water and set my reel singing the song I loved. Ilaughed like a madman. The fishermen around me frownedat their indicators, willing them to dip also.

I landed it and within minutes had another on. This wasgreat. I was at the top of my game. The guys around mewere working themselves into a lather, changing flies, floatlevels, everything and still I caught two fish to their one. Iwas the MAN…visions of Rocky Balboa, Lance Armstrong,and Tiger Woods flashed through my brain. I beganhumming a little ditty to myself: “Bobber and worm,bobber and worm hmm hmm hmm”. Magically, I wouldfinish an eight bar phrase and without fail the indicatorwould dunk down.

Continued on page 6

FlyPaper May 2006Cont’d from p. 5

Finally, the pace began to slow. I cast out and left theindicator to sit for a while. I stared at it, daring it toduck under again. I didn’t blink for fear of missing thetake. Tears began to roll down my sunburned face. Mythroat burned with hot breath, my mouth went dry. Ireached for my second Gatorade and screwed off thelid. Without taking my eyes from the indicator, I took aswig from the bottle. Now I am not sure what flavorRiptide Rush is but the previous one I had did not tasteor smell like…mud and mildew.

Time stood still. Suddenly, I was staring down into myspecimen bottle with the little critters franticallyswimming away from the lip. All rationality fled. I heldthe bottle up to the sky and tried to count the bugsthat were left even though I hadn’t counted them tostart with. It is amazing how well the sounds ofretching carry across water. When my vision cleared, Icomposed myself and looked around at the otheranglers. They were all staring at their indicators withthat studious glee reserved for a braggart golf buddythat just blew a birdie by missing two six inch putts.

Composure returned and with deliberate, leisurelymotions, I recapped the bottle. I pretended to fish alittle longer then pulled anchor and rowed back to thetakeout. I put my gear away and got another look atmy specimen bottle. Perhaps it was the warmingwater, perhaps the insect version of adrenaline, butmost of the pupae had hatched and hung drowned inthe surface of the water. I am not sure if insects havereligion but if so, they probably met their maker in astate of maximal repentance after their Jonah-and-the-whale experience (which cruelly occurred twice thatday).

And so, the day ended in a state of Stupid Tax. But asI drove home with an occasional glance at my fewsurviving sea monkeys, I pondered that in fishing as inlife, most joys are not pure and fortunately mostsorrows are not either. Mixed blessings are just that:blessings. Life, in spite of its ups and downs, is still, inmost cases, much better than the alternative. Just askmy chironomids.

So here is my version of the riddle of the Sphinx. I willfish when I can, write when I am old … and sleep whenI’m dead. So here’s to all you tired fish-slaves…bottoms up! —Steve Aguilu

Healing Waters

We all know the great effect Casting for Recoveryhas had for cancer survivors. For more than tenyears, Casting for Recovery has show that motionsof fly casting help breast cancer survivors regain theuse of muscles damaged during surgery. Thepsychological enhancements of a personal invitationto the outdoors and the invigoration of being on alake or in a stream work wonders, too.

Following that same concept, The Federation of FlyFishers and Trout Unlimited, in conjunction withWalter Reed Army Medical Center and BethesdaNaval Medical Center have launched ProjectHealing Waters. This new program offers basic flyfishing, fly casting, and fly tying opportunities forwounded military personnel, beginner to former flyfishers. The goal of the project is to ignite orrekindle appreciation and enthusiasm in woundedmilitary personnel. The hope is that the physicalactivity of fly-casting could produce similar healingand rebuilding results as the casting for Recoveryhas for breast cancer survivors.

The project also hopes that fly tying sessions couldrebuild self-esteem, rework fine motor skills, liftspirits and provide positive activities to woundedpersonnel who are place bound while they undergorecovery and rehabilitation.

The founding of the project concentrates on thecentral east coast, primarily out of the Maryland andVirginia areas. But Trout Unlimited and the FFF arehoping the fly fishing clubs across the country couldorganize opportunities for recovering woundedmilitary personnel in their own areas. The morepersonal the invitation is, the more effective theresults will be.

If you are interested in providing casting, fishing, ortying experiences for wounded military personnel inour area, please contact the national sponsor forideas. Or if you know someone in the arearecovering from wounds, invite her—or him—on anouting.

National contacts:Ed Nicholson (301) 934-0975 [email protected] Colburn (202)545-8776 [email protected]

Your EditorLet Nancy know what sorts of stories you’d like to see.

Call Nancy Howard at 663-1063 or email her [email protected].

FlyPaper May 2006

Fly Paper Catch and Release

Great Gear For Sale

Sage XP590 – Line 5 – 2 piece – case – newin 2005, used once. Cost $590, now $350.

Joe Roy, 884-2874.

Sage 896-4 RPL+ Graphite III – Line 8 –4 piece – case – excellent condition. $125.

Joe Roy, 884-2874.

Nor-Bloc Automatic Bobbin, 3 spools –new. $30.

Joe Roy, 884-2874.

For Sale

Delta Cast Iron Wood Turning Lathe$800.00• 12” Swing• 36” between centers• Face Plate• Can turn over ways or at rear of

spindle with 38” swingTooling:

• 16 Ashman high speed turning tools• tool holder• 1 live center• Ring Mater bowl turning attachment

with videos• 4 tool holder rests• 2 tool holders for rests• Multi-speed lathe head• 220 volt motor

This is an older, very nice machine, wellmade.Contact Gilbert Biles663-2325

Fly Paper Catch and Release

For Sale

2003 Trail Manor travel trailer, model 2619

$11,800 (much less than on a lot!)

This hard-sided fold up/fold down trailer pullslike a dream—only 19 feet yet opens to 26 feetof camping room.

It has air and all the goodies and is clean as awhistle.

Contact Jim Matthews at:682-4653

For Sale

1996 Palomino Colt tent trailer

$1950.00

Stove/Fridge/heaterSleeps 4-6

Contact Fred Kunzmann(509) 886-1321

Trade or Sell

Chuck Moser has a 13’ Alaskan (Smoker Craft)he is finished using.

He is looking for a fly-fishing drift boat.

He is open to a deal. Sell the Alaskan. Tradefor a drift boat. Buy a drift boat. Somecombination of these.

Please call him at:

Chuck Moser509.860.5166

WVFF OUTING to DRY FALLS LAKE May 20-21, 2006

SPECIAL ATTRACTION Gary Anderson will put on his Insect Identification workshop on Saturdaymorning at 10 am at the lake. We will meet at the launch and proceed from there.

DIRECTIONS: From Wenatchee area take Hiway 2 north to Orondo and continue on thru Watervilletraveling approximately 50 miles to Hiway 17 at the edge of Banks Lake. Turn right onto Hiway 17 andproceed about 3 miles, go past the Dry Falls Interpretive Center to a sign that says Sun Lakes StatePark. Turn left and continue down the road to the campsites at Park Lake. After passing the State Parkcampground on the left you will see a sign pointing left to Dry Falls Lake. From there, it is about 2.5miles, most of it rough. We will camp at the State Park campground and plan on having a wet fly andsnacks on Saturday night after fishing.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR ENJOYING THE FISHING ON DRY FALLS LAKE:It is often very sunny and warm there so carry water, a hat, and sunscreen out onto the lake. Lakeaccess is good but parking is not, so come early to get a good space. This is a good place for your boat,canoe, or pontoon craft. It is helpful to be able to travel around the lake to find the type of fishing youprefer to do. You may want to fish until dark but remember that the road into the lake closes at 10pm.You won’t want to miss the story telling or the Wet Fly at the campground.

SETTING UP YOUR RODMost anglers use 4-6 weight rods with floating line and longer leaders of 10-15 feet for dry fly fishing.For Chironomids the leader may get up to 20 feet depending on the depth of the water. Tippets are amatter of choice, anywhere from 4X to 6X depending on your method of fishing. The fish tend to be bigand powerful as well as wary.

FLY SELECTION: SUBSURFACE—Mayfly nymphs, Damsel nymphs on an intermediate sink line.

Woolly Worms, buggers, and leeches near the bottom.

CHIRONOMIDS—They have been doing well lately, be ready to change colors and sizes, 14-20.

DRY FLIES—Adams size 14-18 Damsel size 14-18 Calibaetis size 14-18

Emergers size 14-18 Ugly Duckling size 14-18

PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANTYou can fish in water 2 feet deep or 22 feet deep in this lake. Those who fish with Chironomids oftenuse leaders of 20 feet to get down to the fish. Others like to move about and troll nymphs or biggerbugs on sinking lines around the perimeter of the lake. Some will search out “risers” and carefullypresent drys on longer lighter leaders to the feeding fish. There are Rainbow, Brown, and Tiger trout inthe lake.

SIGHT FISHING IS EXCITING ON THE LAKESome good hatches usually come off in the afternoon and bring the fish to the top. You can experiencesome great dry fly action in the back bays and on the flats. Many places around the lake will come aliveduring that time. Keep your eyes open for the signs.

CENTRAL FLY FISHING

The best source of information is our local fly shop, Central Fly Fishing. Jeremy will gladly set you upwith the best equipment, the hottest flies, or any materials you need to fish the local waters. Pleasedrop by and visit with Jeremy to get acquainted with our most important resource

FlyPaper May 2006

FRED’SGARAGE

P.O. Box 3687Wenatchee, WA 98807-3687An FFF Affiliated Club

“RELEASE ‘EM ALIVE”

Fly Paper Catch and Release Fly Tying Sessions

Please join us for our twice monthlyfly tying sessions at Fred Kunzmann’s.

We meet every second and fourthThursday evenings in

Fred’s garage.

Come any time after 6:00-ish.

This year we plan to “matchthe outing.” Check John

Murio’s great outing sheetsfor the month and comeready to tie what you’ll

need for the next outing.

2524 North Astor CourtEast Wenatchee, WA 98802

(509) 886-1321

Have any interesting items lyingaround lonely? Fishing or non-fishing?

Ralph Jordan is always looking toaugment the raffle prize collection.

Bring your items to the next generalmeeting.

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