Short Casts April 2021 CHICO AREA FLYFISHERS Next General Meeting To Be Determined Sometimes fishing gets in the way of business...That’s the case here...For the first time, I’m sending out the April news letter in May. We’ve been fishing in Montana and you can read an excellent report with pictures in this news letter by Elden. The club has started having fish outs so be sure to read the list. And, let the person in charge know if you’re interested in coming. They can answer any questions as well. Our local fly shops have the latest information on what lakes and rivers are fishing the best. The Mexico trips are on and filling fast. There are 3 weeks going for Dorado in September now. With openings in week three any maybe one or two in week two. Take care. Sincerely, Pat Sleeper April 17th we had a wonderfully attended fish out and it was greatly appreci- ated by all who attended at Luk Lake, Rolling Hills. Those who attended were: Pete Wiik, Larry Willis, Don and Pat Sleeper, Fred Richelieu, Lionel Valley, Chrystal Chalmers and Ed Magalie and Tom Rosenow put this ½ day morning fish out together. By late morning the trout were amazingly active and most were catching these large jumping trout! Thank you Brad Hinman and The Fly Shop for your help. Spring Fishing in Montana Don & Pat Sleeper, Pete Wilk, and myself left Chico @ 6:00 am for Montana to Fish the Missouri River out of Helena for 3 days; then, drive to Browning, Mt to fish on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation for 4 days. We Stopped in Elko to pick up Steve Mclean, load his and Pete’s things in my car and leave their cars at a friend’s house and the 5 of us headed on to spend the night in Idaho Falls. When we get to Helena, Montana, we are meeting up with Pat’s cousin, Chris and Krystal Lewis who are driving from Troy, Idaho, and Jeff Bennett that lives in Ojai, Ca. and flying into Helena. April 21 The Chico group drove to Idaho Falls about 770 miles and spent the night. We had dinner at Milner’s Gate Brewery. Good dinner and some good beer. April 22 We left Idaho Falls @ 6:00 am and arrive in Helena and got checked into our rooms; Helena is Montana’s Capitol and I think one of the nicest towns in Montana. Steve and I spend 3 or 4 days every year in the fall fishing here, there are good restaurants and a brewery all within walking distance of the Hotel. We decided to walk to the Charley Russell Museum in the afternoon. The walk was fairly cold, windy and some snow (sign of things to come) Had a few beers at one of the Brewery’s and a great dinner and called it a night. The whole group is together and ready to fish in the morning April 23 It’s a half hour drive out to “The Gates of the Moun- tains”, or little Holter Lake, or “Land of the Giants”. So many names to this place I con- tinue to be confused, but this morning the roads are icy and it is snowing so we are a little behind schedule. We all get suited up and meet our guides and get in the boat for a brisk ride across the lake and up the river. The weather conditions were a little tough. You were continually cleaning the ice out of your guides. We were fishing in a beautiful canyon up to the Dam that had blown out sometime ago; I think in the 30’s (I am definitely not sure of the year) and there are large pieces of steel and concrete in the river. Most of the fish were in 18 - 20-inch range with some 24 to 25 inches with everyone catching good numbers of fish. It was a great day of fishing for sure. Luk Lake Fish Out
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Lincoln Gray This month saw a return to the beautiful fall colors, cold mornings and steelhead fishing, trout fishing on local streams and lakes. Please do remember that this time of year is a exceptional time of year for fishing all your local waters. Feather River, Lower Sacramento River, Butte Creek, Big Chico Creek, De Sabla Reservoir and many others and it is also the time of year that Baum Lake really gets going. This year the dinner date is March 6th, mark your calendars early. If any of you would like to be involved in the dinner committee please drop me an email and I will get you on the list. ([email protected]) Our first dinner committee meeting will be on December 4th at 5:30pm at Don & Pat Sleeper’s house. Do not forget that the general meeting in December is the Anchovy Feed at Round Table Pizza. That is Thursday night the 11th. Also, if you get your reservations for the dinner in before the end of the year, you will be eligible for the Early Bird raffle. Like always, I hope all of you have a great Holiday Season. I look forward to seeing ALL of you at the Anchovy Feed.
short casts December 2008
General Meeting: Annual Anchovy feed at the Round Table Pizza in the Almond
Orchard Shopping Mall Starts @ 6:30 pm
Come Hungry, see you there!
SECRETARIES SECRETS By
Pat Sleeper
Meeting called to order: Lincoln Gray, President; @ Don and
Pat Sleeper’s home – 5:30. Attending: Joe Garza, Eric See, Dennis Boyd, Gonzo Gonzales, Don Sleeper, Pat Sleeper, Lincoln Gray, Scott Joyce & Scott Hood. Minutes of Sept, 2008 M/S/P Dennis/Eric.
M/S/P Joe/Pat Meetings will now be held on first and second Thursdays – General meeting being second Thursday of each month starting with the Anchovy feed in Dec.
Hack Vance is now in charge of fly-tying swap. Gonzo will now be in charge of the library and
to purchase DVD’s, etc. The annual dinner to be held March 6th this year
at the Masonic Temple and Frank Spitari catering as usual…yum!
Eric reported on the Big Chico Creek fishout for Nov. 16th, Sun. Jeff Mott hosting.
December advisory meeting will focus mainly on the March 6th Dinner planning @ Don and Pat’s anyone wishing to help is welcome.
Special thanks to Rickey Mitchell for coming and speaking at our General Meeting on the diverse opportunities that come from combining the two arts of fly fishing and kayaking.
Pat Sleeper
Our youth program is in need of prizes for the Annual Dinner on March 6, 2009. Flies, hats, leaders, tippets, rods reels, chest packs, tools, tying kits, $, take a child and parent on a fishout, teach a fly tying class. Anything that can be donated will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Joe Garza at (530) 897-0978 if you are able to make a donation or if you know someone that can help with a donation. Thanks.
Spring Fishing in Montana Don&PatSleeper,PeteWilk,andmyselfleftChico@6:00amforMontanatoFishtheMissouriRiveroutofHelenafor3days;then,drivetoBrowning,MttofishontheBlackfeetIndianReservationfor4days.WeStoppedinElkotopickupSteveMclean,loadhisandPete’sthingsinmycarandleavetheircarsatafriend’shouseandthe5ofusheadedontospendthenightinIdahoFalls.WhenwegettoHelena,Montana,wearemeetingupwithPat’scousin,ChrisandKrystalLewiswhoaredrivingfromTroy,Idaho,andJeffBennettthatlivesinOjai,Ca.andflyingintoHelena.
April 21 TheChicogroupdrovetoIdahoFallsabout770milesandspentthenight.WehaddinneratMilner’sGateBrewery.Gooddinnerandsomegoodbeer.
April 22 WeleftIdahoFalls@6:00amandarriveinHelenaandgotcheckedintoourrooms;HelenaisMontana’sCapitolandIthinkoneofthenicesttownsinMontana.SteveandIspend3or4dayseveryyearinthefallfishinghere,therearegoodrestaurantsandabreweryallwithinwalkingdistanceoftheHotel.WedecidedtowalktotheCharleyRussellMuseumintheafternoon.Thewalkwasfairlycold,windyandsomesnow(signofthingstocome)HadafewbeersatoneoftheBrewery’sandagreatdinnerandcalleditanight.Thewholegroupistogetherandreadytofishinthemorning
April 23 It’sahalfhourdriveoutto“TheGatesoftheMoun-tains”,orlittleHolterLake,or“LandoftheGiants”.SomanynamestothisplaceIcon-tinuetobeconfused,butthismorningtheroadsareicyanditissnowingsowearealittlebehindschedule.Weallgetsuitedupandmeetourguidesandgetintheboatforabriskrideacrossthelakeanduptheriver.Theweatherconditionswerealittletough.Youwerecontinuallycleaningtheiceoutofyourguides.WewerefishinginabeautifulcanyonuptotheDamthathadblownoutsometimeago;Ithinkinthe30’s(Iamdefinitelynotsureoftheyear)andtherearelargepiecesofsteelandconcreteintheriver.Mostofthefishwerein18-20-inchrangewithsome24to25incheswitheveryonecatchinggoodnumbersoffish.Itwasagreatdayoffishingforsure.
Luk Lake Fish Out
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April 24 & 25 Mybestdayoffishingwasthefirstday,butbynomeanswerethenexttwodaysslow,IthinkChrisandKrystalhadoneoftheirbestandbiggestfishdaysonthelastday.Allthreedayswereverygoodfishing.Wehadbeachlunchesandafirethatfeltverygoodeverydayandforthemostparttheweatherwasmanage-able,notextremelycold.Wehadwindthatattimeswasverytrying.Fishedwith6wtrods,floatinglinesandindicatorsthewholetime. Ourdinnersconsistedofeatingatasportsbarthefirstnight,Greekrestaurant,anItalianrestaurant,andthelastnightwestoppedonthewayinfromfishingattheGrubSteak.Allmealsweregoodandfilledwithlotsofgreatfishingstories.
April 26 WeallhadbreakfastattheHotel.StevehadtakenJefftotheAirportearlytoheadhomeandChrisandKrystalareheadingbacktoIdaho.Don,Pat,Steve,Peteandmyselfheadtothegrocerystoretopurchasegroceriesforour5daystayinBabb,Montana.Itwasa3½hourdrivetothehousewhichisonDuckLake.DuckLake,also,hassomegoodfishingwithlotsofbigfish;but,forsomereasonthefishingisdown.Theweatheriscoldandverywindywhileweunloadourthingsintothehouse.
April 27 Thefirstfishingday,wedriveintoBrowningwhichisabout30minutesfromthehousetomeetourguideDavidParsonwhoisaBlackfeetIndian,whoaretheonlyguidesallowedonthereservation.WearegoingtofishMissionLakewhichisanhourdrivefromBrowning.Theroadstothelakeswefishedarenotpavedandyouhavetopayattentionwhiledrivingalongthelevees;especiallyinmyHondawherethegroundclearanceisnotgreat,henceremovingtheplasticshroudfromthefrontbottomofit. MissionLakeisalargehighdesertlake.Notreesforasfarasyoucansee!Thefisharecruisingalongtheshoreinspawningmode,verymuchlikePyramidLake.Wefishedwith6-7wtrodsandfloatinglineswithindicators;and,mostlyeggpatterns,andleachpatterns.Letmetellyou,thewindcanberelentless!Itseemstoblow15-40everydayand“mostofthetime”allday!Itwasnotthatterriblycold,justwindy.Thefishingwasslow,butallofuscaughtatleastonefishadayandthefisharelarge. IntheafternoonwedrovetoKippLakewhichisasmallerlake.Stillwindybut,youcouldseethefishcruisingtheshore.Youcouldactuallycastoutandwaitforagrouptocruisebyanddragyourindicatorwiththeegginfrontofthemandtheywouldtake.Youneededasmallindi-cator,aclearoneworkedgoodforme,aswell.Petedidnotuseanindicatorandjuststrippedaleachandeggonafloatinglineanddidreallywell.Inmyopinionthefishweresmallerhere,moreinthe18”class.
April 28 Todaywearegoingto4HornLake.AnotherHighDesertLake.Notatreeinsight!Thefishinthislakearesup-posedtobefewerandbigger.Icanconfirmthefishwerefeweranddon’tknowaboutbeingbigger.Don’tknowifanyofuslandedafish,butitwaswindy.Thinkitwasover20mph.So,webaggeditandheadedtoGreenLake. GreenLakewaslocatednearthetownofHeartButteandthecountrysideactuallyhadtreesandwasverypretty.RightupagainsttheRocky’s,nearGlacierPark.HereyoucouldalsoseethefishcruisingtheshorelineEveryonecaughtfishhereprettymuchwiththesamegear,fishwere18-20inch.
April 29 Insteadofthe8:00ammeettime,wedecidedweneededtobethefirsttothislocationonMissionLake,wherewehadseenseveralotherfishermenbeatinguponthefishprettywellthedaybeforeyesterday.So,wemovedourmeettimeupanhour,PatandPeteareveryhappy(not)7aminBrowningandheadedouttotheLake.Thewindisblowing15andgusting25mph.Cannotfishthespot.Windisrightinourface.So,westarttravelingalongthelaketofindafishablelocation.WedrivetothislocationwhereDaveWalburn(owneroftheRockhousewestayedin)hadfishedanddonewell.Welltoolate!Guyswerealreadythereandtheyarekillingthem.So…wedroveallthewayaroundthelakebecausethewatercrossingatthewestendofthelakewouldhave“floated”myHondaaway.Fishedafewspotswithnoluckandwestoppedontheveryeastendofthelakeandcaughtacoupleverynicefishthere. So….wehaveanothergreatplanfortomorrow.Getupanotherhourearliertogettothe“Hot”location. Onthereservationyoucannothavefeltsolesandyouhavetohaveyourequipmentinspected:Waders,bootsandifyouhaveafloattube,orboat.Theinspectionisonlygoodfor3dayssowedecidedtoleaveearlyandgetourstuffinspectedandbereadyfortomorrow.Nofee,justtimeconsuming.
April 30 Hereweare,6:00am“inBrowning”headingtoMissionLake.Lovethisdrive;but,notasmuchasPat&Don.Formyselfwe’llseeifIcantearsomemorestuffoffmycar.Goodnews:Wegettoourspotandnocardamageorwind.Don’tgetit,thewindwasblowing30atthehouse.Samefishingsetup:Floatingline,smallindicator,eggs,anmaybealeach,orgreenegg.“Smallisbetter”.Startedslowbutgotbetter.Everyonecaughtsomebigfishandagoodnumberofthem.Ithinksomeofthemwere25-27inches.Theywerebig.Yeah,andthewinddidcomeback! ThefishingwasnotasgoodasthefishinginHelenabutIwillcomeback.ThedinnersthatSteve&PatcookedwerebetterthantherestaurantweateatinHelena,andtimespentwithDon,Pat,Pete,Steve,Jeff,Chris&Krystalwasfarbetterthanthetimespentfishing.Thishasbeenoneofmybesttripssofarandhopetherearemoretocome.Elden
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Chico Area Flyfisher’s Fishout Schedule 2021-22 FutureoutingsthatChicoAreaFlyfisher’sprovidetoitsMembership:TheseClubFish-outsaredesignedtogiveflyfishersthebestopportunitytocatchfishandenjoytheoutdoors.OurClubhasmanyaccomplishedanglerswhoarewillingtosharetheirskillswithothersandyouareonlylimitedbywillingnesstobecomeinvolved.Fromselectingpromisinglocationsandtime,tohelpingthosemem-bersnewtothesport,wetrytomakethesetripsfun,excitingandsuccessful. EldenHinkleandTomRosenowareourfish-outleaders.Ifyouhaveoneofthosefavoritespotsthatyoudon’tmindsharingwithothersandwouldliketoleadourfellowCAFmembersforadayoffishing,andfellowshipcontactEldenHinkleehinkle@aaproduction.comorTomRosenowtrosenow.chico@gmail.comThisschedulemaychangedependingonthefishbiteorweatherconditionsandCOVID19VIRUSstatus!!!. Date Location Fishout Leader May15 Pingatori’sbassfishing..Sat,..RSVP:[email protected]
CAF General Meeting “Speakers” 2021Wetrulylookforwardtoseeingyouatournextmeeting;and,hearing“your”flyfishingstories!Yourexcitementisours!CAFmeets9monthsoutoftheyear;and,presentsavarietyofexcitingflyfishing-relatedprogramsthroughouteachyear.Eachmeetingincludes:monthlyfly-tyingdemonstrations;varietyofraffleprizes;refreshments;and,theverybeststoriesaboutNorthernCaliforniaFlyfishingfromourmembers.MeetingsareheldonthesecondWednesdayofthemonth;location:“TheCaliforniaParkPavilion”onCali-forniaParkDr,Chico,CA.LiveFly-tyingpresentations:6:30p.m.@GeneralMeeting7:30p.m.
Date Speaker ProgramJune9 TBD
July-Sep NoMeetings–havefunfishing!!!
Oct13 TBD
Nov10 TBD
Dec8 Pizzafeed
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Fly of the Month, April, 2021 Chernobyl AntBy:RayNarbaitzIhadalwayswonderedwhytheChernobylAntwascalledthat.Itlooksnothinglikeanant,andifitdid,itwouldbetheGodzillaofallants.Turnsout,itactuallystartedasaflytryingtoimitateanant,andsortofmutatedintotheflyweknowtoday.Theflycameaboutin1990whenagroupofguidesontheGreenRiverwouldmeetforafewlibationsaftercomingoffthewaterandbegantoworkonanantpatternthatwouldbeeasytosee.Atfirstitusedmostlynaturalmaterials,butastimewenton,foamcameintomorewidespreaduse,andthatbecamethemainingredient.RaineyRider,awomanwhocameupwithalotoffoambodiedfliesandoncehadathrivingbusinesssellingfoamforflytyingprovidedmaterialsandsomeadvice.Theguideswouldworkonthedesign,tiesome,takethemoutonthewaterandcomebackandtinkerfurther.Atthattime,asitgrewinsize,itwastiedprettymuchinblackwithonelayeroffoam.AguidenamedAllenWoolleyaddedthefinaltouchbyputtingtherubberlegsonit.Whenaskedwhathecalledit,heopineditdidn’tneedafancyname,“It’sjustadamnedant.”YeahrepliedguideMarkBennion,“Butit’sa(expletivedeleted)ChernobylAnt.”Thenamestuck.Inthe30yearssincethen,theflyhasseencountlessvariationsonthetheme.It’stiedindifferentsizes,oneortwolayersoffoam,manydifferentcolorcombinations,withwings,withoutwings,thickerfoam,thinnerfoam,foamsightersforwingsandmanydifferentmaterialsforthelegs.IthasbeencalledaStoneflyimitationandaTerrestrial.Throughallofthat,acoupleofthingsaboutithaveremainedconstant.Forreasonsthatarenotalwayscleartous,fishregularlyeatit,anditmakesagreatflyforadryanddroppercombo.ItalsohasshownitselftobemorethanjustaTroutfly.Basswilltakeitreadily,eitherjerkedacrossthesurfaceortakeninwithlongpullsleavingaVwakeacrossthewater.Insmallersizes,it’salsoahitwithfishlikeBlueGillsandSunFish.Whiletherearemanywaystotiethefly,I’mgoingtoshowyouhowtotieaprettybasicChernobyl.Youcandoyourownresearchoruseyourowncreativityfromthere.MostofthisflyIstole……uh……borrowedfromavideobyoneofmyall-timefavoritetyers,CharlieCraven.Hook:Itcallsfora3XlonghookliketheTMC5263,butIfindthatthehookgapgetsprettynarrowinthesmallersizes.Iprefera2Xlonghooklikethe5262from4to12.
Board Members:Eric See ........................................899-1918Scott Joyce ..................................899-8500Dana Miller ...................................570-1184Dave Mckinney ............................570-1342Jerry Stevenson ............................345-7389
Past President:David McKinney ..........................570-1342
Committee Chairpersons:Membership Director Jerry StevensonFish Master Tom Rosenow ........520-3053Fish Master Elden Hinkle ...........518-4680Conservation Pat Hallin ...............518-5031Web Master: ...........................Don Sleeper
David W. McKinney, California Occupational Medical Professionals M.D., M.P.H. ...........................530-534-5135
Project Healing Waters Pete Wiik...............................530-520-9495