Guest Speaker Line Up for 2009-2010
DATE Oct 21, 2009 Nov 18, 2009 SPEAKER Lance Wilt Ed Engle TOPIC “In Search of the Perfect Waters” “Fishing the Front Range of Colorado” “How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life” “Fishing for Steelhead with Tube Flies and How to Tie Them”
~ Club Officers ~
President : George Klein , gkleingillie@aol.com Vice President : Andy Kirkpatrick, akirkpatrick@wrlc.cc Secretary : John Bergfeld, bergfej@ccf.org Treasurer : Phil Murphy, philip.murphy@ubs.com
Dec 16, 2009
Landon Mayer
Publicity : Mark Graf, markgg@roadrunner.com Amos Crowley, amos@crowleymedia.us.com Newsletter : Richard Bobby, earthsong@sbcglobal.net Jock Thompson, jockthompsontbi@aol.com
July 2009 Newsletter
The Angler’s Creel
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club
Volume 8 Issue 7
~ Advisory ~
Amos Crowley amos@crowleymedia.us.com Denny Gant ddgant@gmail.com Evan Morse evanrand@aol.com Bob Nolan rjpnolan@yahoo.com Mark Sudduth m.sudduth@sbcglobal.net Greg Voss greg.voss@sbcglobal.net Peter Wykoff pcwyk@aol.com
Feb 17, 2010
Greg Senyo
From The President’s Desk
~ Administration ~ Did You Know
The Griffith's Gnat pattern was developed by TU founder, George A. Griffith In fact, it just might be the perfect fly. Incredibly effective, versatile and easy to tie, the Griffith’s Gnat was designed to imitate a cluster of midges, and can be used as a searching pattern or when sight casting to selective trout. Simple to tie and deadly to fish, the Griffith’s Gnat belongs in every angler’s fly box. So the next time you’re faced with a selective trout, tie on a Griffith’s Gnat. You’ll thank George Karen Menn kmenn@cmnh.org
PRIVATE ONLINE
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~ Committees ~
Banquet : Jon Grimm, jgrimm@knotice.com Andy Kirkpatrick, akirkpatrick@wrlc.cc Outings : George Vosmik, vosflyty@sbcglobal.net Program : George Klein , gkleingillie@aol.com Tom Mortimer, jtm3@case.edu Social : Richard, Donna Wilkison, Rowilki@aol.com Jim Negrelli & Ann Jackson, james.negrelli@ubs.com Membership: Mike & Angie Rowan, Michael.rowan@oh.rr.com Contributions : Ham Biggar , hbiggar @drakeconstructionco.com Jon Grimm, jgrimm@knotice.com Conservation: Peter Krembs, pkrembs@hcsattys.com Education : Ara Hamamjian , arahamamjian@sbcglobal.net
SCHEDULED FOR JULY 20-30
One week fly fishing stay for two at Cinco Rios Lodge in Coyhaique Chile.
Everything is included except gratuities and round-trip air fare.
~ Past Presidents ~
Sibley Hoobler Joseph Gladysz Peter Wellman John Wheeler Norm Hyams Robert Colson Evan Morse Dennis Gant Ted Schurdell Jake Raga Ham Biggar Mark Sudduth Austin Morrow Matt Van De Motter Peter Krembs Jock Thompson
~ PATTERN ~
Hook: Thread: Body: Rib: Hackle: Tiemco TMC 100 #16-22 Uni-thread 8/0 Peacock herl Extra Fine Copper Wire or Pearl Krystal Flash Grizzly, palmered
Starting Bid: $3,700 (Compare at $3,675 for just one person.) Value good through April 30, 2010.
Step 1: Place the hook in the vise, start the thread and wind to the bend of the hook. Tie in the rib so that it is extending from the rear of the fly. Step 2: Tie in two to three strands of peacock herl on top of the rib tie-in point and wind the thread towards the hook eye. Wrap the peacock herl forward so that 4/5ths of the shank is now covered with a peacock herl body. Secure and trim the remaining strands of peacock herl. Step 3: Select a Grizzly hackle and tie by the butt of the feather on top of the peacock herl tie-off point. Step 4: Palmer the Grizzly hackle towards the rear of the fly using care not to wrap the hackle too close together. Step 5: Once the Grizzly hackle has been wrapped to the bend of the hook, take the ribbing material and carefully counter wrap the palmered Grizzly hackle towards the hook eye. Use care not to bind down the Grizzly hackle fibers with the ribbing material. Step 6: Once the ribbing material is just behind the hook eye, secure the ribbing material with thread wraps, trim and whip finish. A drop of head cement on the thread wraps right behind the hook eye is optional.
~ Angler’s Creel ~
The Angler’s Creel newsletter is published monthly, from October through April, under the auspices of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club. Deadline for submissions is the second Wednesday of each month. 1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106-1767 Tel: 216-231-4600, ext:3278 http:.//www.cmnhtc.org Richard Bobby, Editor; Jock Thompson, Contributing Editor; Karen Menn, Coordinating Liaison.
The fishing season at Cinco Rios Chile runs from the first week of November through the first week of May.
he auction is to begin at 12 noon on Monday, July 20 and will run to 12 noon, Thursday, July 30, 2009. Members will be notified by email with a link for registration one hour prior to the start of the auction . Only Trout Club members, family, and friends are eligible. All participants must be registered. Once registered and logged in, participants will be able to view the current list of bids and enter their bid. When a new bid is entered, all registrants will be immediately notified by email of the bid update. Final bidder will be notified within eight hours of the auction close. Cinco Rios Chile offers a truly exciting fly fishing experience because of its diversity. It combines the best of Chilean fisheries; from the meandering spring creeks of the Patagonian Pampas, to the crystal clear waters of the western rainforest. When areas of North America are wrapped in a mantle of cold and snow, Chilean Patagonia basks in the warmth and beauty of its spring and summer . Chile is one of the safest, most friendly, yet isolated and hauntingly beautiful regions of the world. Coyhaique, (coy-ay-kay) the capital of the Chilean Patagonia region, is easily reachable. Air travel from Cleveland to Santiago Chile takes about 14 hours which is followed by a three hour flight south to the Balmaceda airport. From there guests are escorted to the Cinco Rios Lodge by car. At Cinco Rios Lodge guests will not only enjoy Chilean culture, but also world-class fly fishing amidst the Patagonian Andes. While at Cinco Rios Lodge guests can fish for wild brown and rainbow trout, as well as King and Coho salmon. The lodge is proud of everything it has to offer—fascinating landscapes; a world class fishery; luxurious accommodations; gourmet Chilean food; a fine selection of Chilean wines; and professionally experienced, bilingual guides. ...George Klein
Promoting knowledge of cold water fisheries, fish habitat, conservation, and stream ecology.
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ANNIVERSARY BASH
C e l e b r a t i n g 5 0 Ye a r s
of Cold, Clean, Fishable Waters
Massachusetts Stripers
PLUM ISLAND BLITZ
orthern Massachusetts, Friday, June 05, 2009—Bob Nolan reported that he had the most special day of my life fishing for striped bass. Dave Pollack and he were fishing with Captain Barry Clemson in northern Massachusetts. They were in the sound off Plum Island when a striper blitz hit. For those not familiar with a blitz, it is frenzied event where predator fish drive bait fish to the surface to feed. The blitz lasted a long time. The guide believed that the bass were feeding on shrimp. Bob and Dave caught many nice sized fish. It took Bob about 20 minutes to bring one fish to the boat. It was a 24 pound, 44 plus inch striper. “It was by far the largest striped bass have ever caught.”, said Bob. He caught it on a chartreuse and white Clouser minnow using a nine weight. Sage rod, a Bauer reel and a sink tip 300 grain Rio line.
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oin the celebration. On August 17 to 24, 2009 Trout Unlimited will host its 50th anniversary celebration and annual meeting at the Grand Traverse Resort and Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan. A week-long schedule of events will mark the celebration. From hosted fishing trips, visits with fly fishing notables, casting contests and much more, the event promises to be a memorable celebration. You can register online at www.tu50.org/ eventregistration.
From the Desk of Chris Wood
[Courtesy of www.tu.org]
Bob Nolan
Dear Friends: Throughout this year we'll be celebrating Trout Unlimited's (TU's) 50 years of conservation, kicking things off at the Grand Traverse Resort and Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan, the week of August 17. Not far from Traverse City is the Au Sable River where a group of Michigan anglers founded TU in 1959. One year later, one of its founding members, Art Neumann, an extraordinary local rod-maker, spoke before the state legislature. Neumann said few people "believe that [Trout Unlimited members] are seriously interested in anything other than trout." Neumann explained that basic soil and water conservation benefit farmers and logging companies, and how fighting pollution protects drinking water supplies. He concluded, "Therefore," TU advocates "the principles of basic conservation in the firm conviction…it is essential not only to the perpetuation of trout fishing but to the preservation of our way of life as well." One of the distinguishing features of TU at 50 is that we've never lost sight of Neumann's belief that at its root conservation is about people—people, not land, or water, or even trout. The founding members of TU recognized that only by educating, organizing, and mobilizing people to care about clean water and healthy landscapes could we ever hope to maintain abundant wild and native fish in our homewaters. So, look at your calendar, talk with your spouse and friends, and plan on joining us in Traverse City to celebrate the wonderful legacy of Art Neumann and his visionary colleagues. Come and celebrate the outstanding work of 50 years, and be a part of helping us chart the course for the next 50. Log into www.tu50.org to register and set your accommodations. And while you are on the website, buy one of only 125 raffle tickets for a sweet ClackaCraft drift boat valued at over $9,500. Go to the award section of the site and recommend an outstanding chapter or volunteer for an award. And, check the site regularly for updates on activites and raffles. It would be wonderful if every TU chapter could send at least one representative to the celebration in Traverse City. You are the people who have made TU a conservation powerhouse. Take a few days to celebrate your great work. I'm bringing my family, and hope to see you there. Thanks for all you do for TU, and please stay in touch. Chris Wood, Trout Unlimited, Chief Operating Officer cwood@tu.org | direct line: 70-3-284-9403
Conneaut Creek Steelhead
APRIL 2009: CASHING IN ON HOT STEELHEAD ACTION
onneaut Creek, April 09, 2009—George Klein and Juerg Schmid had a banner day catching some very nice April steelhead. Karl Weixlmann was their guide.
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George Klein
Conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
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Juerg Schmid & Karl Weixlmann
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Feature Article
Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass on Lake Erie
By John Rathbun
any of us enjoy fishing for Smallmouth Bass on the local rivers. Smallmouth bass are truly an enjoyable game fish to pursue. Their explosive nature when attacking surface poppers rivals any freshwater fish. Pound for pound, their fight is tremendous. I have grown to appreciate fishing for Micropterus dolomieui, and enjoy doing so after the ice breaks and I have put my Steelhead gear away.
However, for those interested, fishing for “smallies” with a fly rod is also enjoyable on Lake Erie. This past year a buddy and I went out several times on his bass boat from Gordon Park to fish the break walls along the shores of downtown Cleveland. My buddy is a classic bass angler and wouldn’t consider using a fly rod for any bass, large or small. I’m the opposite. I enjoy fishing exclusively with my fly rods (bass are no exception) and with me it’s all catch and release. My bass rod is an Orvis Impregnated bamboo 9 foot 7 weight. It’s origin goes back to 1967 when it was made for local angler and past member of the Trout Club, George Eaton. The rod is perfect for tossing large patterns in the wind and weighted crayfish patterns in the rivers. The best success that I’ve had so far on Lake Erie is fishing along the break walls with large floating frog patterns. We let the boat drift along the wall about 15 to 20 feet out and cast right to the edge of the rocks, with the frog pattern sometimes landing on the rocks. This permits a nice natural entry into the water. Stripping, pausing, and popping the patterns then take place with the hope that one of the bronze backs will strike. The biggest lesson I’ve learned about fishing for “smallies” in Lake Erie was my tendency to be too light on the leader. I’ve lost several nice fish (not to mention the patterns) because they were able to either break the leader on the strike or break it underwater on a sharp rock or obstacle. Now I lean toward bulking up on the leader with at least a #10 to #12 test tippet, and I have even gone to the shock absorbing leaders to help in those initial moments during a strike. This last addition may not be a requirement but rather an over-reaction on my part in order not to lose any more fish. So far it has worked. If you measure success by the number of fish and the size of the fish, then my buddy has been more successful. He tends to use plastic tubes with his spinning rods and goes deep to the base of the break walls. A bit of a quiet rivalry always exists when we go out. It’s about who will catch more, and sometimes the bamboo-casted surface poppers win. From my perspective as an addicted fly fishing angler, whether it is a delicate small brook trout or an aggressive smallmouth bass, there is nothing better than to have a fish take a surface fly, and I am always willing to trade numbers for witnessing that kind of strike. Targeting Lake Erie smallmouth bass with surface poppers makes for a great day and many more that I look forward to in the coming months.
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SMART WADING
Begins with common sense.
[ Story excerpt from July 2009 Midcurrent article by Dick Galland ]
W-A-D-E-R: Wear a wader belt. Anticipate problems. Develop a plan. Execute the plan. Retreat if necessary.
now your limits—When the water reaches your knees, wading becomes more difficult. If you have limited wading skills, don't go in above your knees in fast water. The deeper the water, the more buoyant you become and the less traction you have. There is a point of no return, when you are at the mercy of the current, even if your feet are still touching the bottom. Learn to anticipate that point and to stop before you reach it.
Don't wade unnecessarily—Wading is not appropriate in all waters. The fish are much less likely to be alerted to your presence if you stay out of the water. The pressure wave you create as you wade spooks fish, especially in slower pools. Wade with respect for the fish and other anglers—Every step you take disturbs the aquatic ecosystem. Avoid weedbeds; they are the condos for the bugs. Avoid wading through spawning redds. Be mindful of how your wading affects nearby anglers. Your wading can stir up the bottom and impact the fishing downstream. In big water—Wade with a buddy. Have the strongest wader take the upstream side. Tuck your rod into your waders or vest. Lock arms, or, better yet, grab the collars of one another's vests with your inside hands and plant your staves with your outside hands. Talk to one another as you progress across the river. Take appropriate safety precautions—A wader belt is as important as a seatbelt. Buckle up every time you go out and cinch it high on your chest in deeper water to trap as much air as possible and prevent water from coming in. Wear footwear that increases traction. Use a wading staff—In rocky freestone water, with varying depths and current velocity, the angler with a staff will outfish the wader without a staff every time and will swim less. Lean into the current—Always plant your staff upstream of your body, leaning into the current. Should you begin to lose your balance, the current will push you upright rather than downstream. Keep your body sideways to the current—Facing directly upstream or down exposes you to the full force of the water and makes it difficult to maintain your balance. Shuffle—Move your feet along the bottom as though you are blind. Use your staff to check ahead for changes of depth or obstacles. Keep a wide stance. Feel along with each foot and find a secure spot before you commit your weight to it. Conserve energy—Cross on a slight downstream angle wherever possible. When fishing upstream, walk the bank or in the slow currents along the side and use the eddies created by rocks in the current to ease your passage. Move from eddy to eddy in a bouldery river. Those little pockets of still water below rocks give you a moment's rest. Go around boulders, rather than up and over them. The less climbing the better. Plan your route—Look downstream for obstacles and hazards you will have to deal with if you lose your footing. If there is particularly hazardous water below, consider crossing or wading elsewhere. Think about what you'll do if you're swept away. Look for the places where you might get into an eddy. Look for obstacles that might trap or injure you. Visualize the worst. Don't die for your tackle—If you are swept off your feet, you might be able to tuck your rod butt down into the front of your waders or throw it to shore, but don't risk your life for a rod. Your recovery will be considerably easier with both hands free. Practice swimming with your waders on—In a river or swimming pool. This helps to mentally prepare you in case you fall in. Have a friend nearby for safety. Learn to self-rescue—If you fall in fast water, turn on your back and imagine that you're a drift boat: Your feet become the bow, your head the stern, and your arms the oars. Scan the water downstream, pointing your feet at the obstacles you want to avoid and backstroke into the current with your arms. Position your body at 45 degrees into the current and stroke toward the shore. Backstroking will move you away from any obstacle downstream and toward the shore in a relatively straight line. Wait until you are in slow water before you try to stand. Get out of the cold water as fast as possible. EDITOR’S NOTE: At all times carry a police whistle and a reliable flashlight to use should you be swept downstream at dusk or at night. A pocket walkie-talkie or cell phone will also prove helpful.
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Wade to Live
Partnership Event
Chagrin River Outfitters
First Annual Steelhead Workshop
Saturday, October 10, 2009, 9 am to 4 pm
AGENDA
• Spey and switch rod casting demos and pres• • • • • • How to Read ASAG River Flow Data for bet• • • • •
entations by Matt Hynes and Will Turek Many great door prizes, sales, and giveaways for all who attend Tube flies by Jerry Darkes and Greg Senyo Choosing the proper hooks, threads, and materials for tying steelhead flies Go to nymph, minnow, and egg patterns by Dan Pribanic and Brett McCrea Rigging for steelhead: Fly selection, tippet choices, split shot placement, and choosing the right indicator Dan Pribanic, Host Chagrin River Outiffters 100 N. Main Street Chagrin Falls OH 44022 Ph 440-247-7110
floatandflygear.com
ter steelheading success Adapting to the ever changing water conditions on steelhead alley Introduction to steelheading seminars Single hand casting seminar and free casting lessons River access maps for Lake Erie tributaries Reading the water seminar
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Beverages, hot dogs, and chips will be served for lunch. 11:30 to 1:30
chagrinriveroutfitters.com