DFF Yard Sale
DFF has held a successful yard sale over the past few years with proceeds going to our various activities. We need a new location this year. Any member willing to offer a yard sale site for a yard sale in the months of June or July, please advise a board member or club officer so we can arrange for donations to the sale.
The Orvis Guide to Best Trout Flies
 A new book was released on May 1, 2009. The Orvis Guide to Best Trout Flies: Orvis-Endorsed Guides Pick their Favorite Flies, and Tell How to Fish Them (Hardcover) promises to be an invaluable book on selecting and using flies.
"Too many anglers find themselves taking expensive trips to gorgeous waters, and arriving with the wrong flies, partially because the flies featured in magazines and touted in guidebooks aren't always the best flies for that region. But guides know which ones work. They have to."
About the Author
TOM ROSENBAUER has been with the Orvis Company for twenty-seven years, and while there, has been a fishing school instructor, copywriter, public relations director, merchandise manager, and editor of The Orvis News for ten years.
The book can be preordered through Amazon for just $13.57. Click here for preorder details.
The Three Essentials
by Rick Hafele
Fly fishing requires many different skills for an angler to be really successful. Because of this it is easy to get lost in a mire of details and end up missing the forest for the trees. Tippet size, line weights, rod length, pattern styles? The list goes on and on. How much of this is really important and how much isn't? To help you through this mine field of fly fishing info, here are three essentials that are worth spending time on. Hopefully they will help keep you on track and sort through all the details. Read the full article
Fly Fishing Blogs & Bulletin Boards
Angler Wannabe — A Utah-based fly fishing blog.
Bish on Fish — New Zealand guide Tony Bishop's fishing blog.
DanBlanton.com — Includes a very popular bulletin board.
Dragfree — A blog devoted to fly fishing for native species.
FishingJones — One of the most actively updated blogs, covers all kinds of fishing.
FishSpawn — Usually with some good photos and sometimes video produced by Angling Exploration Group.
FlyFishRadio.com — The first "Podcast" site for fly fishers.
TheFlyFishingRabbi —Musings about trout, God and all things Jewish.
Fly Times "Old Timey" Fishing Blog —A not-so-behind-the-times blog with a variety of interesting commentary.
Gillraker — Blog of excellent fishing writing started by author Andrew Steketee.
Long Rodding in Garden City, Singapore — The title says it all.
Mike's Euro Fly Fishing and Travel Blog — A U.S. expatriot's photoblog and journal about fly fishing in several European countries.
Moldy Chum — A sometimes irreverent and always entertaining blog by an industry insider.
The Outdoor Weblog — J. R. Absher's hunting, fishing and general outdoors blog.
Ozarks Fly Anglers — Blog by Ken Morrow, who writes about fly fishing in Missouri, Arkansas, Eastern Oklahoma.
The Southern Fly Fisher — Mark Rumph's blog about fly fishing in the southern U.S.
Tales from the Far Bank — Journalist Karl Moffatt's blog about fly fishing in New Mexico and the U.S. west.
TroutUnderground — Tom Chandler's blog about all things trout, written from his home base on California's upper Sacramento.
Urban Fly Fisher — By long-time blogger Alistair Stewart, mostly about his experiences fishing Scotland's River Kelvin.
Warm Fly — Web site and forums for fly fishers interested in bass, bluegill, crappie and other warmwater fish.
WayUpStream — Personal blog of Steve Stracqualursi, fly fishing product line director for Patagonia.
Wayward Fly Fishing — Toney Sisk's interesting blog and fly fishing article collection.
WickedOutdoorsy — Blog of the Pale Morning Media outdoors PR firm.
Fly Fishing at its Best
Fly Casting Can Get You Arrested
By Marshall Bissett – Taken from the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers Newsletter
Not so long ago if you were seen in public gesticulating wildly and yelling out the details of your private life to an invisible companion, your family would be contacted and you would wind up in a mental institution. Now all you have to do is insert a blue metallic cockroach size thing in you left ear for this behavior to become acceptable. This geek bling, as I like to call it, can be attached to another flashing unit at belt level so the user seems to be shouting instructions to his navel. Now it is unnecessary to buy a book or magazine in an airport. The streams of disconnected yet intense chatter provide more insight into the lives of strangers than literature ever could.
Now SPFF has created another embarrassing public spectacle called casting practice between
lessons. The family are just as worried as they catch glimpses of their hitherto normal spouse at the dinner table with fork in hand, elbow raised, finger pointing upward, muttering
“stop...two..three..forward...” It doesn’t stop there. At work, instead of wasting time on the Internet, they have the pencil in a death grip and are quickly raising and lowering the right elbow, lost in the mire of self diagnosis. When you see this, don’t call your supervisor or HR, just wait till it stops. Interrupting the rhythm of an entranced student can inflict permanent damage. SPFF is to blame for all this and has even issued short lengths of white PVC pipe in case a fork or pencil is not at hand. Practicing in freeway traffic, pipe in hand, can be misinterpreted in certain neighborhoods and might invoke a sobriety test. When a group of two or three students form a huddle, only seconds pass before they start raising their elbows, wrists locked and fingers pointing to Heaven like demented evangelists. Sociologists
could mistake this for the vestigial traces of an ancient mating ritual. If restless leg can have its own syndrome with a Latin name then the involuntary raising and lowering of the right elbow should be extended some courtesy. There is of course a precedent for all this seen on the basketball court. After a good play, it is not uncommon to create a right angle at the elbow, raise both fists in the air and yell “Yeah” as you bring your elbows straight down in the perfect fly fishing motion. You might want to try this with a fly rod in each hand as the first step to ambidexterity. The shouting is not encouraged unless you are in a Pro Bass Tournament on TV.
Our students, like the ancient Romans, have created new Gods in new temples. They are Lefty, Mel and Joan. Their words ring in your deaf ear as you learn to hate them for the lazy ease with which they pull off the double haul, the pile cast, the reach mend and the steeple cast. You flail away like a person trying to whip a donkey with a springy stick while they cast majestic loops into the sunset.
Visualization is the key to a good casting stroke and, I’m told, a good golf swing. If you can create a mental picture of your rod stopping sharply at ear level, and the line unfolding back in a perfect arrow head pattern directly behind you, then you are part of the way to doing it with a real fly rod. If you can think your rod into a straight path on the forward stroke, then just maybe it will happen.
So if you can bear the ridicule of friends and family and use that PVC pipe to create a fluid casting stroke that will make young ladies on the water say “Wow — check out that narly backcast!” then perhaps in a year or twenty you too will be able to wear the dorky red hat and cast words of wisdom into the green waters of the Reseda pond. [Another literary masterpiece!]
Underwater Trout Photography: Pat Clayton
Pat Clayton's underwater photos of native and non-native trout do a terrific job of capturing color, so much so that many of them look like paintings. If you've ever wondered what a sea-run cutthroat in California's Smith River or a Greenback from the glacier-fed streams of Colorado looks like, this is the place to go.
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Without Comment: A Fly Fishing Guide’s Email About Poachers
by Tom Chandler on April 26, 2009
Think the satisfaction of doing the right thing isn’t motivation enough to turn in poachers? This fly fishing guide - in an email to The The Underground - didn’t:
“I am tired of this crap on our rivers and I am offering 2 free guide days to whoever turns in the most poachers during the 2009 trout season. Police reports or newspaper arrest records will suffice for evidence. You have your choice of fishing venues Trinity, Fall River, Pit, Klamath, Lower Sacramento. I will supply flies and lunch.”
“This is a serious offer. Hopefully it will motivate anglers to act rather than ignore this growing problem.”
Any takers?
See you on the river (license in hand),
Tom Chandler.
EASTERN SIERRA FOCUS - Thanks C.J.
We want to recognize the valuable East Sierra Focus fishing report provided to us regularly by C.J. Webb. This report is always up to date, filled with great tips, stream and lake conditions, and interesting news on the great waters along CA 395. We all look forward to an annual outing in September in the Bridgeport area and many of us enjoy additional travel to that “Trout Mecca”. C.J. and her husband, John, own and operate the Virginia Lakes Lodge which provides lodging, good food, and fine fly fishing experiences. Stop by and say hello when you’re near there next season and give a personal thanks to C.J. for her articles that help make our newsletter a great monthly read. Thanks again, C.J.
Click here to read C,J.'s report.
New Benefit for FFF Members
Personal Insurance Discounts are now available from Kemper to members of the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF).
We are pleased to offer special reduced rates from Kemper, a
UniTrin Business, to FFF members on their personal auto and
home insurance. These rates are not available to the general
public. Why not take advantage of this benefit now?
- Special discounted rates
- Quality products
- 24/7 claims service -
one of the best in the country
- Open enrollment
If you are in Colorado, call 1-303-450-0225 or check it out online:www.eKemper.com/knp/fff
If you are in any other state, check it out online: www.eKemper. com/knp/FederationOfFlyfishers
TAKE THE ANGLERS LEGACY PLEDGE TODAY
The Federation of Fly Fishers launched a national Pledge drive to promote Anglers’ Legacy, a program from the Recreational Boating &
Fishing Foundation (RBFF). The promotion will encourage anglers to share their love of boating and fishing and introduce newcomers
to the sport.
“We are thrilled that the Federation of Fly Fishers will be encouraging anglers to share the legacy of the sport with newcomers,” said
RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “Through their councils, affiliate clubs and events nationwide, the Federation will spread the
Anglers’ Legacy message throughout the fly fishing community. This will bring us closer to our goal of 85,000 new Ambassadors this year
and help us increase participation in boating and fishing.”
The Federation of Fly Fishers will offer a half-price membership ($15) with every Pledge, to all new Ambassadors (who are not currently
FFF members) and also the newcomers they take fishing.
Take the pledge today: http://www.takemefishing.org/community/anglers-legacy/take-the-pledge/promo/FEDFLY08
Catch Magazine Announcement
Check out the Premier Issue of Catch Magazine. Catch Magazine is the Journal of Fly Fishing Photography, Video and Film. Fantastic fly fishing photography, displayed
in a modern, colorful and dynamic format make Catch Magazine a “coffee table book” and a film festival, in every issue. Catch Magazine is not going to perform very well on older computers, dial-up or on tiny monitors.
It is best to see/watch Catch Magazine with a high speed Internet
connection and a big monitor. Wait a few seconds for the page to load and then sit back and watch the world’s best fly fishing
photographers do their thing. There is a navigation link on the front page that will help you learn how to move through the magazine. Catch is an on-line magazine only. Catch Magazine
Drowned iPhone 3G Reincarnated as Beautiful Fishing Lure
Click here for the full story
Master the Hatch
The recipe for catching trout during a hatch is one part timing, one part preparation, and a healthy dose of luck. Read more...
New Fly Fishing Products for 2009
Click here to read the Annual Review of New Fly Fishing Products for 2009
The Move Towards Felt-Free Soles
THE NEWS dominating the Fly Fishing Retailer's (FFR) show floor this year was unquestionably the move toward felt-free soles. The attention given aquatic nuisance species (ANS) by national and state wildlife agencies, biologists, and Trout Unlimited and other conservation groups tipped the balance for designers. In 2009 there are at least four companies planning "sticky rubber" soles for their wading boots and shoes, and expect felt soles to be virtually gone from the marketplace in a couple of years. Read about '09 boots and waders...
 DO YOU PODCAST?
A podcast is like a radio show with each show consisting of a series of individual episodes. You can listen to each episode when you want - on your PC, your iPod or MP3 player, or with a web browser.
Podcasts can be found for most any topic - food, politics, comedy, sports, movies, speeches, books, etc. You name the topic and you'll probably find it. Podcasts are usually found in the MP3 audio format and are available for download from the Apple iTunes Store and from many websites.
The following podcasts are available free from the itunes store (iTunes program and account required). Just click the link and then you can download an episode or subscribe to the podcast.
The Itinerant Angler Podcast iTunes link
Shooting Aspirin and Pulling Stumps with Lefty Kreh iTunes link
Shooting Aspirin and Pulling Stumps with Lefty Kreh Web link
Fly Fish Radio iTunes link
NEW PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATING LIFETIME MEMBER
An ad hoc committee was recently formed consisting of Al Smatsky, Leo Guterres, Bruce Rollans, Bob Souza and Ron Petitt. The committee met and decided it best the Board should review any nominees for the Lifetime Membership award as this is the most prestigious award given by the club. In the past it has been up to the president to randomly select a person for the award, but the Board felt it was best if they elected a nominee. The ad hoc committee has set out six criteria for nomination as a Lifetime member as follows:
- The nominee must have a minimum of 15 years of continuous membership with DFF.
- The nominee should have served no less than two full terms in two different offices such as president, vice president, secretary or treasurer. This service need not be consecutive and cannot be concurrent.
- The nominee should also have served no less than four full terms as a Board member, which cannot be served concurrent to any other office.
- The nominee should also have served no less than three full terms as a committee chairperson, one of which must have included Outings, Raffle, Programs, Fish Derby, Membership or Newsletter editor.
- Beyond the above noted, the nominee must have organized and directed no less than one activity which furthers the mission of DFF; e.g., a conservation project.
- Finally, the nominee must have demonstrated through leadership and/or participation a commitment to the art of fly-fishing and resource conservation.
Nomination for DFF Life Membership must be made by a DFF member. A DFF member may not nominate himself or herself.
- There is no limit to the number of times a DFF member can be nominated for Life membership as long as the nominating member acts in good faith under the belief all criteria have been satisfied.
- Nominations for lifetime membership will be considered and acted upon to either accept or reject the nomination by the DFF Board of Directors once any one or more nominations have been presented to that body.
- The DFF Board of Directors will act upon no nominee for Life membership if that selection will result in Life Members, as a body, exceeds 10% of the total membership. Where more than one member has been nominated for DFF Life Membership at the same time and selection of all nominees would exceed the 10% rule, the Board of Directors must judge one nominee against another based upon the criteria listed herein in order to make selections without violating the 10% rule.
- To be selected a DFF Life Member, the nominee(s) must receive a favorable vote of a simple majority of the total number of existing Directors. This is not to be construed to mean a simple majority of Directors present for the vote.
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CONSERVATION
June 2009 by Ron Forbes
Several weeks ago Mark Rockwell, V.P. Conservation for NCCFFF, sent
members of the Board of Directors two short e-mails with videos. They are
both excellent. The first is a report on water use in the state. The report is
from KTVU and it’s about farmers selling public water that they get free
or at a reduced price and making huge profits at our expense. Sometimes
they make more on the water than they do on their crops.
Click here to read the full article...
Trout Stocking Eastern Sierra 2009
By CJ Webb
The hatchery status and stocking objectives for Hot Creek, Fish Springs and Black Rock Hatcheries will continue to operate
and meet goals for Mono County waters with production similar to 2008 and stocking frequency on a weekly schedule depending on the status of stocking equipment. There is a general maintenance concern with the aging fleet of vehicles of some equipment and the Eastern Sierra is still in need of a 33,000 lb. GVW capacity stocking truck.
Click here to read the full article...
WEDNESDAY EVENING CASTING & FLY CASTING
The weekly Wednesday evening fly casting sessions will continue through the Spring, Summer and Fall. Meet at the Nature Center, in the Oak Grove Park, at 6:30. The exception is the 2nd Wednesday night when DFF has its monthly meeting. Whether you are a novice and want tips on how to cast or an expert that wants an excuse to get out of the house, then come out for the camaraderie of other members. This is an excellent chance improve your fly Casting and/or BS abilities. For more information contact Jim Rich at 209-477-6404. There also will be opportunities for fly tying. For more information contact Joe Balderston at 209-474-8515 or Jim Rich at 209-477-6404.
You now need a DFF parking permit to display on your dash as the county sheriff's office will be writing tickets for non DFF members on Wednesday nights. Jim is going to print up placards or permits, so see Jim to get one. For additional information: jcrich1@sbcglobal.net
jcrich1@sbcglobal.net
MAP to Nature Center at Oak Grove Park
MAP to John R. Williams School
CATCH AND RELEASE
I'm certain some of you have had your wives ask why do we go through all this trouble to buy all this expensive fly fishing gear and license, drive to faraway places or whatever to catch that fish of a lifetime only to put it back in the water? Well, I read in fly fishing magazines their answer is for the preservation of our fisheries. Our grandkids would like to have a fishery like we are enjoying now, and this is one way to ensure they have that opportunity. Even my wife complains we don't eat as much trout as we used to, and there's two reasons for that:
Read the full article here...
KNOT SO EASY
Need help tieing a fishing knot? Check out this website of "Animated Knots by Grog™".
FISHING BUDDY PROGRAM
by Ron Petitt
A program to unite club members who possess certain fly fishing skills with other club members who desire to receive information has been approved by the Board of Directors AND NOW started.
Known as the "Fishing Buddy Program" its objectives are to encourage others to participate in fly fishing, increase the members proficiency to make fishing more pleasurable and productive, and generate enthusiasm and interaction among club members. The program, available to any member in good standing with Delta Fly Fishers, is strictly voluntary for both the mentor and the student and one's duration. This can be for a single contact or over a period of time.
Fishing Buddies will be club members who can offer their expertise in one or more areas of fly fishing, which includes the art of fly fishing, fly tying, rod building, float tubing, pontoon boating, stream and lake fishing and attending outings. Buddies will also be available to teach about fishing for the many species of trout, bass, steelhead and salt water fly fishing. Club experts who are frequent travelers to exotic destinations will be available with lots of information on where to go and how to get there.
Club members are being encouraged to apply for a Fishing Buddy at general membership meetings. Applications will be available at the meetings, in our newsletter and are available here for buddy and here for mentor.
A Fishing Buddy Committee has been appointed by the President and they will recruit members to serve as a "Fishing Buddy" to match up requests from members who desire to receive instruction. Once a request is submitted it will be reviewed by the Fishing Buddy Committee and a Fishing Buddy will be selected to meet with the member.
For further information, contact Ron Petitt, Committee Chairman at 209-931-2997 or Grady Lee at 209-951-3623.
ROCK SNOT
The Federation of Fly Fishers is disseminating information about a
new threat to our waterways called “Rock Snot.” It looks just like
what comes out of your nose. The FFF is leading an international effort
to reduce the spread of this disease called Didymosphenia geminata.
This alga is native to many cold water streams in the northern
latitudes where it usually presents no problem. However, biologists
in recent years have discovered the alga has become an aggressive
invader. It is spreading around the world and is forming impenetrable
mats that can be up to two feet thick and covers the entire bottom of
the stream and makes it impossible to fish. It is already having biological
impacts and the science community has yet to discover all of the
damage that it causes. At this time it has and is spreading to Arkansas,
West Virginia, North & South Carolina, Texas, Missouri and almost
every western mountain state. It is a national bio-hazard and threat in
New Zealand and has also spread to the UK and much of Europe.
FFF is one of the leaders in educating the public regarding these issues
and implementing programs that will serve to protect and restore our
aquatic resources. It is recommended at this time that we take the following
steps to prevent spreading this invasive alga. They are:
1 - Make sure to wash your gear before you leave a stream.
2 - Inspect your gear to make sure you are not transporting mud, vegetation
or any other visible material.
3 - Dry your equipment thoroughly before you use it on another water.
4 - Never transport live fish or other organisms from one water to
another.
Take The Clean Angling Pledge Today
Our Fisheries are threatened by invasive creatures that damage habitat. Simple steps can be taken to
reduce the spread and introduction of harmful invaders. Please join the FFF and countless dedicated anglers
in the fight against invasive creatures by taking the clean angling pledge today http://www.cleanangling.org
OUR MISSION
Delta Fly Fishers is a community organization whose members are dedicated to the furtherance of the art of fly fishing. To accomplish this, we actively participate in educational programs to teach anglers the techniques of fly fishing, fly tying, fishing ethics and the practice of "catch and release".
We place great emphasis on conservation issues as they relate to streams and lakes with a focus on protection, preservation and restoration. We have assumed the responsibility to monitor local waters and bring to the attention of the public and governmental agencies issues which threaten conservation. We encourage families and anglers of all ages to participate in the club's activities.
OFFICIAL DFF MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
Help support our club and show your DFF pride at the same time by purchasing official DFF merchandise.
Polo Shirt w/club logo $26.00
Ball Cap $11.50
Club Patch $5.00
Lapel Pin $7.00
License Plate Frames $3.00
Official coffee mug $5.00
Also the club has a video library
Videotape Rentals $2.00 Per Video
See or call Jim Grimes for info on merchandise 209-367-4663.
Check out..
..these Fly Fishing sites!
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