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President's Pen:
Spring Fishing and AFF Activities |
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Greetings!
Tonight we are going to the Fly Fishing Film Tour's stop in Anchorage. If this year's film tour is anything like previous years, the short movies are sure to stimulate our desire to jump into our waders, put a fly rod in our hand, tie on a fly and hook some fish. This is exactly what I will be doing in early April as we head out to the Naknek River for some spring fishing with Nanci and Heath Lyons of Bear Trail Lodge.
Speaking of Bear Trail Lodge, they have donated a lodge trip which the club will auction off during our annual auction on April 15, 2011. Other trips include, Katmailand, Blueberry Island Lodge, several Kenai River day floats, a halibut day trip, lots of new equipment and clothing. There will also be a silent auction and a cash and carry sale. Returning as our auctioneer this year is Keith Graham of Worldwide Angler. This is always a fun evening and an important fundraiser for the AFF club. Bid early and often to get the items you want and help support the club. For additional details about the auction, please see the article later in this newsletter.
In April we suspend our monthly meeting and have several other club events scheduled. We kick off with the Great Alaska Sportsmen show scheduled from March 31 to April 3rd. Stop by the AFF booth and say hello or drop a note to Mike Harsh and volunteer a few hours to man the booth to talk about the club and answer questions. As mentioned earlier, our Annual Auction will be on Friday April 15th. And our Spring Seminar kicks off on Monday April 11 and continues on April 18, April 25 and the final session is May 9th. Rich Johnson always welcomes help with the seminars. Contact him to volunteer.
Our next monthly meeting will be on Monday May 2, 2011, 7 pm at the Millennium Hotel with a presentation by Samuel Snyder PhD, on Fly Fishing Ethics. Several club members know Sam and suggested this interesting presentation for our club.
You will not want to miss our June 6, 2011 monthly meeting as Bruce Richards, Fly Rod & Reel Magazine 2007 Angler of the Year, will be our featured presenter. Recently retired, Bruce spent 33 years with Scientific Anglers as a fly line designer. Bruce is also recognized as one of the top fly casting instructors in the world. The club will organize several casting workshops with Bruce the weekend of June 3-4 and an evening session a day or two following his presentation. Watch for more detailed information on the fly casting workshops with Bruce Richards to follow.
This is the time of year to renew your AFF membership if you have not already. Membership forms are available on the AFF website and at AFF events. Your membership dues are an important source of funding which allows the AFF club to host our monthly meetings, education events such as the spring seminar and conservation projects such as the Kenai River Cleanup. Now is the time to support AFF with your 2011 membership.
See you on the water.
Mark
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2011 AFF Auction
Coming Soon!
April 15, 2011 is the date for the 2011 Alaska Fly Fishers (AFF) Auction!
The 2011 AFF Auction will be held at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel with registration starting at 4:30 p.m. Cash & Carry and the Silent Auction open at 5:00 p.m., with the Live Auction starting at 7:00 p.m. Over the last several months, members of the Auction Committee have been searching for great reels, rods, trips, and other items geared to make your next fishing trip successful and enjoyable. Come see what we've found! And if all the great fishing-related items whet your appetite, club members can obtain a great dinner for $20 from the Millennium's Bar during the auction.
In order to participate as a "seller" in the Auction, you must be a current AFF member. All "sellers" will be charged a 10% sales fee by AFF to handle the transaction (i.e. 10% of the actual final bid or sales price). If an item goes "unsold", it will be returned to the "seller" soon after the Auction without sales fees or other charges. Details and opportunities to volunteer can be found at this link. Complete rules are available here.
We are asking each club member to donate an item for this year's auction. All proceeds from donations go to the club for operating expenses for the next year. If you donate an item to the AFF, you will be given a tax receipt for your use in next year's taxes. Donation forms will be available on-line (see attachment) through Keven Kleweno 360-9990 (cell), Damond Blankenship 351-6810 (cell), and Mike Harsh 694-4121 (Eagle River). |
by Richard Johnson
The AFF Fly Fishing Seminar is less than a month away, now is the time to start thinking about promoting this annual event. This year a small poster and the pre-registration flyer are available online as a PDF that you can download, print, and share anywhere you feel is appropriate. Simply go to www.akflyfishers.net. Both PDFs should be on the home page. The poster is letter size and will print out in color. The pre-registration form is in a 2-up format so you can share with a friend. We're hoping that this new facet of service will help you as members reach out to new fly fishers.
The Seminar dates are April 11th, 18th, 25th and May 9th.
Make sure to mark your calendar. |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPRING SEMINAR |
It's the end of March and there's still snow on the ground, but now's the time to start thinking about the Spring Seminar. Mark these dates on your calendar and plan on being there to lend a helping hand to someone new to our sport. The fly fishing seminar is a success due to individual club members giving of their time and energy. Seminar attendees tell us every year that it is the interaction with our regular members that they enjoy the most. Please plan on helping educate a new budding fly fisher and contribute back to your club. Contact Rich Johnson at 243-1043 home, 243-1093 work, or email purnellphoto@gci.net Help is needed for the following programs:
April 11th: 7:45 to 8:30PM
KNOTS - The last half of the first session is a hands-on clinic on the knots used in a fly fishing system. The handbook shows a few of the most basic, from the backing to the fly. The club provides string, monofilament, and hooks; you simply demonstrate and teach the knots you use fishing.
April 18th: 6:30 - 8:30PM
FLY TYING - Demonstration and hands-on instruction for tying patterns that catch fish. The seminar handbook shows and discusses 26 general fly patterns but we want you to tie what you fish with. Fly tyers of all skill levels are requested. This is one of the most popular sessions.
May 9th: 6:30 - 8:30PM
FLY CASTING - Again, this is a session that can use all levels of proficiency. The people that attend the seminar need to know that fly casting is an ongoing learning process, and that you can be successful fishing without being a master caster. You will need to bring a balanced outfit including an old leader, the club will provide yarn to represent the fly. Certified casting instructor Mark Huber will do a short demonstration at the start of the program. Casting will be done outside, so plan on dressing warm.
The first three evenings will be held at the BP Energy Center; the casting clinic on May 9th will be held at the main BP Building, Conference Room C. Seminar dates are April 11th, 18th, 25th and May 9th. Be sure to mark your calendar. |
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Name That Fish
I recall one day several years ago, while I was fishing on the Russian River, a guy who was carrying a fishing rod and tackle box and trailed by his wife and a couple small children came around a bend in the trail and poked his head toward the river. He saw me and queried. "What are you fishing for?" "Sockeye salmon," I replied. "What?" He responded in confusion, "I was told that there are only red salmon in this river!" Clearly, not from Alaska. Read the rest of Bill's column here. |
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New Book: Fly Patterns of the Alaska Fly Fishers by Art Peck |
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After many years of talk the book has been officially kicked off. Amato Press will be publishing the book and we have a contract proposal in hand. This will be a lot of work to get it out to the publisher and we could use your help. A lot has changed since the last pattern book left the press and the new materials and flies they allow are very different. We need your favorite, double-extra-secret patterns, please!
If you have a trick, technique, or twist you find meaningful it could go in the book. The new patterns are the important thing coupled with good concise recipes, fishing tips, experiences, and fly histories.
The flies used will require a nearly perfect fly for photographing and we have just the team to do it. If you would rather tie your own fly several top tyers have offered to help you tie your own fly to presentation standards.
If you have a pattern you would like to enter but cannot get to it right away please send a brief email with the basic idea you intend to submit. It will help the committee get a feel for the relative numbers and distribution of entries across the spectrum of styles, types, and intended use.
Email recipes to Art Peck, hapeck@hotmail.com or call 345-1123 to arrange another route for getting the information to the book committee, or if you would like to help in other ways. The next meeting is April 5th and more flies will allow the committee to start the real work of building the book.
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Fly of the Month April 2011 by Riley Peck |
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Many fly tiers are guilty of tying time consuming, intricate flies while guides tie the simplest flies possible for their clients to use. Many every-day fisherman feel pinched for time like guides do, and look for quick, easy, and extremely effective "guide flies" to tie. The string leech, is a perfect guide fly. It catches fish just as well as complex streamers do and can be tied in a variety of sizes. It would make a great smolt pattern, huge leech pattern, or anything in between, depending on the length and width of rabbit strip used. Click here for Riley's recipe and instructions on how to tie the String Leech.
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Fly Tying Contest Results by Frank Stevens |
See the Tying Contest Winners here!
Congratulations to Monty Williams, Winner of the People's Choice Award for his Rogan Royal Grey Ghost Fly!
I would like to thank everyone who entered the contest. We had 56 entries with 18 participants, our youth are showing great promise and future of our sport is in good hands.
Thanks to our judges Peggy Brenner, Larry Arend and Mike McGovney for a job I would not wish to do. Peggy Brenner generously provided many of the prizes in addition to presenting a Supervisor Fly tie-along at the BP Building. Thanks Peggy!
Special thanks to Jolynne Howard our go-to person, Rich Johnson for the photos and Lance Hankins for the slide show at the meeting. Again to our tiers great job and look forward to next year.
Fly Tying Chairman
Frank Stevens |
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Fly Tying Retreat April 29 to May 1 |
Stuff your fly boxes, learn new tying techniques, swap patterns and flies, plan fishing trips, win door prizes and tell stories with some of the best tiers in the world. Ken and Patty of Eagle's Roost Lodge provide gourmet meals, warm and friendly hospitality in a unique Alaskan setting on the Kenai River.. Limited rooms for couples, so reserve early.
Daily rates per person:
Room and Board $75
RV and Meals $45
Camping and Meals $45
Contact Dick Long for additional information. 868-8096 or
llong@gci.net
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In this Issue:
- President's Pen by Mark Huber
- Auction Update and Donation Form
- Spring Seminar News
- Fish Talk by Bill Hauser
- New Book: Fly Patterns of the Alaska Fly Fishers
- Fly Of The Month: String Leech
- Fly Tying Contest Results
- Fly Tying Retreat
- Project Healing Waters
- Casting For Recovery
Banner photo by Lance Hankins, 2011 Photo Contest | |
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2011 Alaska Fly Fishers Membership |
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$25 Individual Annual
$30 Family Annual
$250 Lifetime
Be sure to get your membership card - it will save you money on fly tying materials. Details are on the back of the card.
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| Get Fly Lines Sent to Your Inbox |
We have email addresses for about 80% of our active members. If this email was forwarded to you, kindly help us get your correct email address into the system. A note to jhoward@alaska.net should get you squared away. |
| Coming Events | |
Spring is a busy time for the Alaska Fly Fishers.
The Great Alaska Sportsman Show is coming up March 31 to April 3. Mike Harsh is in charge of the AFF booth.
Volunteers are working on the 2011 Annual Auction scheduled for April 15. Keven Kleweno is chairman of this event. Auction night is always exciting. Plan to come - and bring a friend!
The Annual Spring Seminar kicks off April 11 and meets again April 18, 25 and May 9. More information is in this very newsletter.
Fly Tying Retreat in Soldotna is a great way to prepare for the coming season. The dates are April 29 to May 1 at Eagle's Roost Lodge. |
| Fly Tying Clinics at KTUU Building - Only 1 left before summer break!! |
Our last Saturday clinic for this season is April 23.
Held at KTUU classroom at 701 E. Tudor Road
From 10 am. To 4 pm.
Use East entrance follow signs upstairs to classroom.
Beginners welcome. We have some materials but if you wish to learn a specify fly and have the materials please bring them. Rich Johnson will be demonstrating tube flies and tying techniques. Bring your vice and tools, Rich will show a couple of DYI adaptors for use in your vice. Class space limited come early.
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Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing |
The coming year holds some great opportunities for Project Healing Waters. A calender of scheduled events can be found at this link. Be sure to buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a $5,000 all expense paid fly fishing trip to Rocky River Sportsman's Lodge near Port Graham on the Kenai Peninsula! Tickets will be available at the Sportsmans Show AFF booth. The drawing will be during the AFF Auction on April 15.
We appreciate the continued support of the AFF....THANK YOU!!
"Healing those who serve"
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| Casting For Recovery | |
Mossy's Fly Shop generously sponsored an Up All Night Tie-In Benefit for Casting for Recovery. The goal? Start tying at 9 am and don't go home until 1,000 flies are tied!
Mike Brown and J.J. Pilgreen provided prizes, food and refreshments for the day along with discounts on fly tying material for the busy volunteer tyers. The goal was reached just before 10 pm.
Stop by Mossy's to see the 1,000 flies before CFR puts them to good use! Half the flies will be sold at the April 15 AFF Auction. The other half will no doubt catch beautiful trout and grayling at our healing retreats for breast cancer survivors.
Those wanting to sign up for this year's
Casting For Recovery Anchorage-area retreat have a deadline on April 29. There will be a second retreat in Fairbanks this year thanks in large part to the support of AFF and our community in Alaska. Sign-up for the Fairbanks retreat before
May 8, 2011.
www.castingforrecovery.org |
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