Kelly Creek Flycasters

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE    

Saker Medevarapu - Kelly Creek Flycasters President

 

Last month we had our board member elections and Dale Mickelson, Dave Clark, and Jeanie Centenari volunteered to help run the club for the next term.  Please refer to your newsletter for the posting of the officers.  I would like to thank all the board members for their participation as well as the departing board members; John Claussen, and Ginny Foote for their help in the past.  On a sad note Ginny’s mom has succumbed to her illness and the Kelly Creek Flycasters has made a donation to Cancer research in Ginny’s mother’s name.  But on a happy note, we look forward to having Ginny present at our meetings hopefully in the near future.

 

We are also fast approaching our spring fundraiser.  The committee has slightly changed the name of the event to better reflect the breathe and scope that we hope this event to become.  The North Idaho Fly Fishing Expo is slated for February 21^st and things are coming together nicely.  There are several courses through-out the day that culminate with the evening banquet.  This year we really need the membership to get involved in helping to sell banquet tickets.  If every club member is able to get at least one ticket sold (not including your own ticket!) it will go a long way to filling our room this year.  With booking the Whitlocks as our keynote speakers, and reserving the convention center, we plan on selling 200 banquet tickets and we really need everyone to get involved to make this happen.  The committee was also been discussing an incentive to the club member that manages to sell the most tickets.  This will be clarified when we have the tickets available.  Also next meeting I will pass out a sign up sheet the members who are able to donate to the event; flies, gear, and of course baked goods are always appreciated.

 

It is hard to believe but it is Christmas time already!  As always, Fred and Judy have all the tables smartly decorated with holiday cheer and we greatly appreciate their time and effort to make the meeting room look like Christmas.  But of course, what would Christmas be without the spirit of giving?  So in keeping with tradition we always have one extra special gift that we give away to one lucky member in attendance at the Christmas meetings.  In the past we have given away a Ross Reel, a Winston Fly rod, and a pair of Simms G3 waders.  Remember that for gift you HAVE to be at the Christmas meeting; it will be drawn from ONLY those in attendance and you need to be a current 2007-2008 paid member.  Yes just like American Express, membership has its benefits!

 

Look forward to seeing at the meeting.

 

Saker

 

Kelly Creek Flycasters DECEMBER Program

 

Thursday, December 11^th at 7:00PM

China Inn, Lewiston ID

 

Program:  Floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

 

 

 

An entry from my fishing log…..

 

November 10, 2008     Clearwater River

My morning’s work of putting together the budget for the North Idaho Fly Fishing Expo was complete and I had reached a point where paper shuffling had become paramount. That was a strong indicator that I needed to go fishing.  I donned my cold weather wading gear and headed for the Clearwater downstream of Peck.   I marked a couple of runs as I drove up river.  It is always good to have a fall back location just incase my favorite run was occupied.  Sure enough, upon arriving at the run, there was a fly fisherman doing his thing.  However, I could tell by the profile that the angler was Jerry Cebola so I figured he would not mind if I followed him down the run.  He probably needed a little company anyway.  I took a quick inventory of my gear--sweater, vest, rain gear, fingerless gloves, “Elmer Fud” hat, wading staff and single handed rod.  I was ready and so I headed for the river.  Jerry did not see me as he had his back to me.  I slipped into the river and began the methodical casting and swing of the fly that all steelheaders are familiar with.  I was using a 10.5’ Fenwick rod that Jimmy Green made for me back in the 70’s.  A #8 versa-tip line with the #3 head, a 7’ leader tipped at 12 pound test and a #4 Purple Peril completed my outfit.  I made my way down the run for 15 minutes or so.  Jerry still had not noticed me.  I changed to a #4 Beats Me and kept on working down the run.  Jerry finished his sweeps, turned to see me following him, and then he headed up stream toward me.  I stripped in and we visited for a while.  “Snake bit, that's what’s happened to me this year.  I am snake bit,” exclaimed Jerry.  He told me that he had seen several fish roll but none of them had taken is offering. “I’m going home, you can have this run”, Jerry said, and with that he was gone in his stealth like way.  It is hard to keep track of him.  He is a great friend.

 

I decided to tie on a Red Beauty Leech #6 and then I headed back into the run.  I made my way down stream for about twenty minutes when at the end of a long sweep with the line straight below me, I twitched the fly a couple of times and then started my pickup. It was at that moment that a fish smashed my fly and took off. I mean this fish took off and headed for Portland and the rapid that was just down stream.  I am sure this fish was 75 plus yards out when he finally stopped.  I began a slight move toward the shore line where the river was not so deep, winding in line all of the time.  It took about 5, maybe 6 minutes of staggered winding before I had recovered my backing.  I felt like I had some control. Tight on the fish but still at some distance I made another move toward the bank.  The fish took off again and made another very long run. So much for control!  “Holy smoke, this is some fish”, I thought to myself. Again, I fought the fish for several minutes recovering my backing once again and in fact some of my line.  The fish then made a run across the river rather than down stream. He stopped and then came right back at me.  I was winding like a bandit caught in a cross fire and sitting on a cactus.  I held my rod high and tried to catch up with him as he took a hard right and headed up stream.  I was able to stop him but he turned and headed down stream passing between me and the shore line in shallow water. This fish turned me completely around and I am now on this guy nearly 15 minutes.  What control? Finally I was able to get him on a short line—say 25’—now maybe I am in control.  However, he was not done and he turned and made a 40 yard run down and across the river.  I am fishing this torpedo drag less and my right arm and fingers are beginning to burn.  I was able to put the brakes on by slowly applying pressure to the line against the cork grip of the rod.  Finally, I got him stopped and applied some serious pressure that tested the validity of my 12 pound tippet as well as my knots.  He was getting tired and so was I.  Keeping the fish off balance by making him fight the current as well as my applied pressure, I maneuvered him toward the shore line.  Maybe I am winning.  I moved toward the bank and stepped up out of the river.  My mind was telling me that this was either a pretty good sized fish or I had him foul hooked.  I was applying an enormous amount of pressure trying to work the fish into a small cove where there was a sandy beach.  Now I could see the fish and “he” instantly became a “she” and, she was fair hooked.  Worn out but still full of life I brought her to beach and quickly put a tape on her.  Thirty-five inches was the reading.  Wow!  This was some hen and a hatchery hen at that.  She was deep bodied and there was some skin missing from her nose. I took a quick photo of the fish against my rod and then taking hold of her tail with my right hand I eased the barbless Red Beauty Leech from her mouth with my left.  Carrying her just a little ways into the river I pumped her tail to make sure her gills were working.  She had life and I released her.  She stayed put for a few moments and then as if turning her head to say thank you, she eased her way out into the main flow of the river.  And then, she was gone. I stood there, fly in hand, and just took it all in.   Man—does it get any better than that. “This is why I chase steelhead with a fly rod,” I thought to myself.  Wow!  What a rush!  What a great fish.  It was near dark and I debated whether to cast again.  I just stood there for 10 minutes or so and relished the moment and then I climbed out of the river up the trail to my truck.  It was dark when I started for home – the fish was on my mind.

I called Jerry tonight.

                                                                                   

Will Godfrey

 

Board Member

 

A note to the KCF members:

 

Please mark February 20-21, 2009 on your calendars for these are the dates of our North Idaho Fly Fishing Expo to be held at the Quality Inn at Clarkston.  Dave and Emily Whitlock will be our guests.  We stand to learn a lot from them.  We need the support and help of each club member to contribute to our effort and to make this a fun and successful event.  Not only do we need each member to buy a ticket or a family ticket but we need help in providing and gathering gifts for the raffles, silent auction and live auction.  We need your personal effort to talk with and bring your friends and associates to the event.  We will have some great classes and programs for your benefit.  Our sponsors, Traditional Sportsman; Tyler Kelly Motors; Potlatch; Tri-State Outfitters; Lewis & Clark Orthopedic Institute and The Bank of Whitman have generously contributed to our Expo.  Please contact one or more of the committee chairman and volunteer your time and effort to make this Kelly Creek Fly Casters event successful.

 

            Will Godfrey  --  Chairman (marketing)

            Bruce Young  --  Fly Tying Demonstrations

            Saker Medavarapu  --  Whitlocks  --  Programs and Classes

            Laura Gibson  --  Youth Program

            Zach Funkhouser  --  Games, Raffles, Auctions

            Jeanie Centenari  --  Administration and Facility

            Bill Lillibridge  --  IT and records

            Dave Clark  --  Women’s Program

 

KELLY CREEK FLYCASTERS TREASURER’S REPORT

Account Balances through November 2008

 

 

 Kelly Creek Flycasters

2008-2009  EVENT  SCHEDULE

 

December 11, 2008	2nd Thursday, Regular Meeting, China Inn, Lewiston ID       6pm dinner, 7pm meeting & program.  CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 16, 2008	3rd TUES, Board Meeting, 5:30pm at Clarkston Physical Therapy
January 8, 2009	2nd Thursday, Regular Meeting, China Inn, Lewiston ID
January 20, 2009	3rd TUES, Board Meeting, 5:30pm at Clarkston Physical Therapy
February 12, 2009	2nd Thursday, Regular Meeting, China Inn, Lewiston ID
February 17, 2009	3rd TUES, Board Meeting, 5:30pm at Clarkston Physical Therapy
February 21, 2009	North Idaho Fly Fishing Expo
March 12, 2009	2nd Thursday, Regular Meeting, China Inn, Lewiston ID
March 17, 2009	3rd TUES, Board Meeting, 5:30pm at Clarkston Physical Therapy
Sat, April 4, 2009	Amber Lake Fish-Out
Sat, June 20, 2009	KCF Annual Picnic at Chief Timothy
July 18-19, 2009	Lochsa Fish-Out
Aug 15-16, 2009	Kelly Creek Fish-Out
Sep 12-13, 2009	Lochsa Fish-Out

 

Kelly Creek Flycasters Board of Directors

 

KCF Board Member	Positions	Term Exp	E-Mail Address	Phone Number
Saker Medevarapu	President	2011	geeper@cableone.net	(208) 746-7721
Kent Mayer	Vice-President	2010	upacreekk@earthlink.net	(509) 552-1270
Jeanie Centenari	Treasurer	2011	Snake_river_djc@hotmail.com	(208) 791-5474
Dale Mickelson	Secretary	2011	skutch7@msn.com	(208) 743-9649
Will Godfrey	Board Member	2009	wgodfrey@cableone.net	(208) 798-5424
Fred Smith	Board Member	2009		(208) 790-3213
Laura Gifford	Board Member	2010	helga27@cableone.net	(208) 305-3277
Tim Gifford	Board Member	2010	helga27@cableone.net	(208) 791-6078
Dave Clark	Board Member	2011	daveeclark@cableone.net	(509) 751-1266

 

 

 

 

TYING CORNER – FLYING ANT    

Article by Bob Bates, FFF Clubwire

 

 

Gary Barnes, Rigby, ID has been tying this pattern, and using it successfully, for over two years. The fish on the Henry's Fork of the Snake R. love it. This includes fish on Harriman Ranch, and any fly that can catch fish on the Ranch has to be good. It also works on the South Fork of the Snake R., in lakes and all over Montana. He showed us how to tie it at the FFF 40th Anniversary Conclave in Livingston, MT, August 2005. Among other things, Gary ties custom flies. The pictures were taken as he demonstrated tying the fly at the Conclave.

There are times when fish are clearly rising to surface insects, but you can't tell what is happening. First look carefully at the water surface and you might see spent wing ants floating in the surface film. Or you might as I did wait for another clue. I was fishing a lake when fish started rising all over. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I heard a "clunk" on the side of my aluminum boat. There was a black carpenter ant trying to crawl up the side. I put on a black fly of the right size and immediately started catching fish. I always have had wet ant patterns in my fly box, but since then I also have some floating patterns.

It is estimated that there are over 3,000 species of ants. However, imitating all of them is not necessary. Sizes range from the 8 or 10 carpenter ants to miniscule size 24s. Find out what ants are like I your area. Late summer and fall when the ants are flying around is a great time to search for ant eating fish. Try ant patterns in streams even if fish are not rising. Most ants are black but there are cinnamon, reddish and red abdomen colored species. It is not too surprising that fish will key on hapless flying ants that fall helplessly into the water. Also according to some they have tart or spicy taste. (Not from my research.) More information on ants can be found in Jim Abbs' article in the old FFF Fly of the Month Website.

 

Materials & Equipment:

Hook: Mustad 3906, sizes 14-18
Thread: Uni, Iron gray, 8/0
Body: Foam, black, 1mm, razor thin, by 1/8-inch wide
Wing: Hi viz white or tan, can use Antron or Z-lon
Hackle: Whiting saddle, black

 

Step 1: Put thread on about mid-shank, wind to rear, tie on foam a little around the bend and move thread forward to mid-shank. Trim any excess foam

 

Step 2: Pull on foam a little to make a smooth body. Pulling also decreases width. Wrap foam forward to about point of hook, then rearward to bend (above barb) and wrap forward to mid-shank. Secure foam, trim excess, wind thread rearward to a little behind mid-shank and then wind thread forward to about mid-shank.

 

Step 3: Set wing in place so fibers extend to the back of the hook. Hold in V with about half of the fibers on each side of the hook. Wind thread rearward to lock in the V shape.

 

Step 4: Select a black hackle with barbs that are about a gap width long. Pull off or cut some of the barbs so there is some bare shank. Secure to hook with dull side forward just in front of wings. If the feather is not just in front of wings wind thread rearward to make sure it is. Trim and wind thread forward over stem.

Step 5: Wrap hackle three times around shank, secure and trim excess.

 

Step 6: Secure foam in front of hackle, wind thread forward over foam, trim excess and wind thread forward to within one eye width of hook's eye.

 

Step 7: Wrap foam three times around shank, secure and trim excess.

 

Step 8:  Whip finish over front of foam and trim thread.

Just holding this fly in your hand you know that it has to catch fish. I'll tie a bunch of them to keep in the fly box for when the need arises.