February’s speaker will be Dave Ames.
“Dance with Sharks”
Dave Ames is a writer who has spent the last 30 years traveling the world as an itinerant fly-fisherman. Fish have nearly killed him and fish have also saved his life. Dave will be presenting “Dancing with Sharks” a slide show based on a life in the wilderness.
Dave’s first two books, “True Love and the Wooly Bugger” and “A Good Life Wasted, Twenty Years as a Fly Fishing Guide” have become collectors items, selling a ten times their original cost.
Dave’s slide show is meant to entertain as well as inform. There will also be plenty of practical fish catching information on everything from trout to bonefish to piranha and golden dorado. Dave’s compilation of stories, slides and music is guaranteed to appeal to fisherman and non-fishermen alike.
Join us on March 9th, 2006 for a great show!
Upcoming Events
|
SPRING FISH OUT |
5/13/06 |
Saker Medevarapu. (208) 746-7721 |
|
SPRING BANQUET |
4/29/06 |
Zach Funkhouser (208) 743-0435 |
March 9th Meeting at Clarkston Quality Inn
Dinner begins at 6:00 PM
Meeting/Presentation at 7:00 PM
President’s Message…….
February has come and gone in a hurry and it’s startling to see how quickly 2006 is racing by. Before any of us know it trout season will be upon us and we’ll be up on the Lochsa enjoying our first club fish-out. Our 2006 year was started on a high note with exceptional participation at our February Lie-N-Tie. The event featured instructional sessions in knots, leader making, rod care, entomology and fly casting. We recruited several new members and a good time was had by all. I’d like to say thank you to John Claassen for working so hard on putting that day together. If the rest of our functions are as well attend as the Lie-N-Tie we’ll have a fun year.
With the Lie-N-Tie behind us it is a good time to start thinking about what we have planned next. On April 29th we’ll have our annual Spring Banquet. That is always a good time and includes: dinner, live auctions, silent auctions, raffles and a program. This is our only fund raiser of the year so plan to bring some spending money and invite a friend or two. On May 13th we’ll be having our first Kelly Creek Flycaster/Clearwater Fly Caster’s joint lake fish-out. This will be held at Amber Lake and will include fishing and a lunch/dinner provided for everyone who show’s up. It should be a good time and, weather permitting; we’ll catch a few fish. I for one am looking forward to this. It’s time for Saker Medevarapu, Craig Lannigan and Ron Aldrich to back up all that lake fishing talk we’ve heard these many years. They’ve got a lot to live up to so this should be fun to watch! Saker stepped up to volunteer to be the trip leader for this event so if you have questions or organizational suggestions catch him at one of the club meetings prior to our trip.
Our presenter for the March meeting sounds very good and I’m really looking forward to seeing his program. Remember to join us at the Clarkston Quality in this Thursday; I look forward to seeing everyone there. Catch you on the fly…….
Zach Funkhouser
Deep Thoughts…with Saker Medevarapu
A few years back I was able to acquire a bamboo rod from Terry Nab. It is a sweet 7’0” 3wt with a slow relaxed rhythm that casts a smooth loop. Last year on the Owyhee, I had the opportunity to use it for browns’ feeding on Callibeatis duns and it literally felt like there was no rod between the line and the fish. It is a great rod, however, whenever the breeze kicked up I was sorely outgunned and had to switch back to graphite (insert gasp from Bob Clark here). To acquire a bamboo rod with some heavier backbone would have meant that I would somehow have to sweet talk Terry into making me another rod. But since Terry had given up single life spinsterhood, and passed the torch on to Zach, he was no longer planing cane with the same zeal; it meant one of two things.
I either had to fork out several thousand bucks and buy one or I had to take on the task myself and make one. Did I mention that I have three kids? It wasn’t a hard choice to make. I started my project under the tutelage of Bob Clark in January of 2005. Bob is quick to point out that every bamboo rod builder has his or her own way of building and that there is no one “correct way”. Eventually, after maybe 85 hours and three tips (it is a two tip rod…) I completed my project in November of last year and promptly started another one. I do appreciate the instruction Bob gave me and the way in which he was able to teach. It was low stress, hands on, and he is always available to help as you need it. If you have any inclination to take up the task Bob is a great person to help you with your first rod!
Apparently, the popularity of fishing split cane is on the upswing. It is difficult to put into words what makes it a unique experience. Part of it is tradition and homage to the history of what has come before. Part of it is a desire to not be a conformist and separate oneself from all the Sage rods and Simms gear junkies (at which point I’ll spare Zach the transgression of re-writing my column with some humorous anecdote pointing out that “Yes I am one of those people”). Part of it is how different cane feels from graphite. And part of it is the knowledge that I made this fly, this leader, and this rod. I did not merely buy a graphite blank and wrap some guides on it. This rod has my sweat and my blood (Oh YA Baby it can hurt!) blended together with the glue and wood.
All of these things do not make me a better fly fisher but they do change the perception of my experience, when I am out on the water, in some bizarre psychobabblish sort of way. As I grow in my piscatorial pursuits it becomes less and less about the actual fish and more and more about the journey….SM
