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PRESIDENT'S PEN:
It is all about to happen....
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Greetings!
Greetings from a warm and sunny Anchorage Alaska: The weather forecast for this week is highs in the mid to upper 60s. This means flowers will start blooming, grass will start to green up and waders, rods and coolers will come out of the crawl space. Summer is about to happen and the fish are starting to make their way into the rivers. It is time to get out and enjoy the magnificent Alaska outdoors.
A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Portland, OR for the Sandy River Spey Clave. This event has been called the Woodstock of spey fishing. Friday was women's day with some eight women spey caster presenting. Under the warm of the sun on Saturday, there were some 200 attendees watching another eight presentations by notable spey casters including, Al Buhr, George Cook and Simon Gaseworth. Fly fishing equipment representatives for all the major rod, reel and line companies had rods and lines available for casting. There was always someone available to answer a question, demonstrate a cast or instruct from the basics to advanced techniques. Most enjoyable for me was connecting with old and new friends who share a passion for fly fishing and spey casting.
Talking about a passion for fly fishing and casting, our next monthly meeting on June 6, 2011 will feature a presentation by Bruce Richards. Bruce has achieved the highest levels in the fly fishing industry. First as the chief fly line designer for 33 years with Scientific Anglers and then as an expert fly caster and fly casting instructor. Bruce has traveled the world fishing and instructing. He has been referred to as one of the top 10 fly caster and fly casting instructors in the world. Come to the June monthly meeting to meet Bruce and listen to his informative and interesting presentation.
Our July 2011 monthly meeting will be pushed back a week to Monday July 11th to accommodate the July 4th weekend. The monthly meetings are suspended for August and September and replaced with the Annual picnic on Monday August 1st and the Kenai River Cleanup to be held on September 10 and 11th this year.
As you are traveling the Alaska roads this summer, please drive responsibly and respectfully to assure your safety and those traveling with you. After a long day on the water and a couple of hours drive home, driving fatigue can become a serious factor. Frequent stops and a nap when needed can go a long ways to make sure that you arrive safely at your destination.
See you at the June meeting and on the water.
Mark
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 Meet Bruce Richards
Bruce Richards is an internationally recognized fly line expert and fly casting instructor. As a fly line designer with Scientific Angler for 33 years, Bruce was responsible for new product development and process improvement, as well as fly-line taper design. He has taught and run fly fishing schools for many years and is a charter member and 2011 chairman of the Board of Governors for the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) casting instruction certification program. Bruce is the author of
Modern Fly Lines (Odysseys Editions, 1994). Bruce is retired and residing in Bozeman, Montana.
Attend the June 6th monthly meeting to hear Bruce's presentation on how fly lines have evolved over time, what fly line when, what differs between salt water, fresh water and specialty fly line, how do different fly lines and fly rods impact your casting and fishing, what makes for efficient fly casts and what's new with the FFF and the FFF Casting Instructor Program.
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2011 AUCTION UPDATE AND REPORT
by Keven Kleweno |
Thank You for Your Attendance and Assistance!
The 2011 AFF Spring Auction was a big success! The Auction Committee wishes to thank all participants. By all accounts, all attendees had fun and the auction revenues increased from last year. Thanks to our volunteers, too! We had a record 310+ hours of volunteer time to make the auction happen. The Auction Committee would especially like to thank Keith Graham of World Wide Anglers for volunteering as our Auctioneer. Keith's knowledge of the Live Auction items was just one of many components that came together to make a successful auction. Once the doors closed at this year's Auction, there was still work to be done. Volunteers had to return items not sold, locate individuals that left early not realizing that they had winning bids in the Silent Auction, complete the final accounting, issue checks to the Millennium Alaska Hotel and to the numerous AFF members who sold items in the Auction, and write thank you letters to our various donors. The 2011 Auction will be my last as Chairperson, since I have accepted a professional opportunity that will consume much of my spare time. The AFF Board will be looking for a new Chairperson for the 2012 Auction. I strongly recommend that you consider this important volunteer opportunity. It's a great way to get to know our members better and make a positive difference for our club. Thank you all for the privilege of working with you. Please click here for more from Keven, and view our sponsors and donors. |
2011 SEMINAR WRAP-UP
by Rich Johnson
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Great Success
 The 37th Annual Spring Seminar looks like it was a great success. There were a total of sixty registrations throughout the four sessions with several attendees signed in as couples, or with children under 16 years old. I think this counts as a great turn out for our program. I'm looking forward to seeing several new faces this coming year at our meetings and functions. Please make sure to extend a warm welcome to all of the new members as you meet them.
Once again, welcome to all of you who join AFF through the Seminar. Thanks to all those that helped make this year's Seminar a success. And remember - it takes all of us working together to be successful caretakers of our precious resources. Click here to read the rest of the article.
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2011 SUMMER SOLSTICE TANGLE LAKES REMINDER by Mike Malone
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The weather is warming up and so is the dry fly fishing for Arctic Grayling. Come join the Alaska Fly Fishers on their annual Summer Solstice - Tangle Lakes fishing and camping trip.
This year's Summer Solstice trip to Tangle Lakes will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 17 - 19, 2011. The Tangle Lakes Campground is located at MP 21.5 of the Denali Highway. The best way to get there is Northeast on the Glen Highway through Palmer to Glenallen. Turn left (North) on the Richardson Highway toward Delta Junction. When you reach Paxton, turn left (West) on the Denali Highway. Travel 21.5 miles to the Tangle Lake Campground turnoff on the right. Follow the gravel road around several sharp corners to the campground.
This summer, the BLM has a contractor upgrading the Tangle Lake Campground. The BLM office in Glennallen has assured me that the contractor will not close all the campsites at once for construction. Additionally, the contractor won't be working on weekends. We can anticipate approximately 10 camp sites being open, but use is on a first-come, first-served basis. For planning purposes, try to arrive early to get a campsite. BLM requests all to register even though there is no camping fee this year. Next year there will be a daily camping fee.
Updated information on the status of the Tangle Lakes Campground can be seen at the BLM website or by emailing Mike Malone at malonem@mtaonline.net.
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YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED ON THE NEW AFF PATTERN BOOK by Art Peck
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"April in Alaska" by Jolynne Howard (2011 photo contest)
We are starting into the new AFF Pattern Book project and need your input on the flies you use. This is not going to be the third edition of the current pattern book, but rather the second volume of the set. There will be no repeats from the current book unless significant changes are made in materials or techniques that change the basic fly. Every fly will be carefully vetted to ensure the flies we use have the correct name. Often the same design pops up in different places and assumes multiple identities. Color variations will not be treated as individual flies, either.
A chart has been suggested to help visitors build a fly box for various parts of Alaska at different times. We need your help there especially to find out what you fish, where, and when; you do not have to be a fly tier to help. We also need the patterns you have designed and found effective. There is a lot of work to be done and if you would like to help, please let us know and you will be notified of meetings and your help will be appreciated.
The best way to contact the committee is through affpatterns@gmail.com a new email address just for book communication. Regular mail to the club PO Box is slower, but reliable:
Alaska Fly Fishers
200 W 34th Ave, #1233
Anchorage, AK 99503
So, please think about the flies you use and let us know what needs to go in the Club's new book. If you wish to submit a fly, please complete this form and mail, email, or hand deliver to a committee member. We will require a hard-copy release before we start the actual design production to ensure we can use every fly we start which gets submitted. Any flies not up to very strict standards will be retied, but we will do all we can to help the originators tie their fly to presentation standards if they want to as we are fishing for book buyers with these flies. It has been proposed to have a number of fly tiers render their personal version of the Alaska Mary Ann and then pass the flies around to various club-member photographers for a group shoot. If this is done the best photo will be used in the book to acknowledge the official AFF fly and perhaps start the streamer category. |
 Alaska blackfish, Dallia pectoralis Many Alaskans, as well as others, have never heard of a fish named the Alaska blackfish. Then, again, many who have heard of this little fish may not know very much about it. Although the Alaska blackfish is extremely abundant in some parts of Alaska, it remains virtually unknown by many Alaskans for two reasons. Most Alaska blackfish live where most Alaskans do not and Alaska blackfish are diminutive in size and easy to overlook. To read the rest of the article and learn more, click here.
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Fly of the Month June 2011
by Riley Peck
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The Beadchain Thunder Creek is a great dolly varden pattern, especially for small streams. Any time of year, anywhere it is used, it is very reliable, but in small creeks, it has almost always out-fished everything else for me. Sparseness seems to help virtually every dolly fly, but Thunder Creeks and Clousers seem especially effective when tied sparse. Not only does the Beadchain Thunder Creek catch a lot of fish, it is also extremely simple and quick to tie. This fly is great for tiers of all skill levels, because it can be infinitely customized to fit the tiers' needs and skill level. Flash can be added, a tinsel body, ribbing, whatever you want. And if you re in a hurry, it really doesn't even need a body to produce results.
Click here for tying instruction for the Beadchain Thunder Creek.
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2011 Kenai River Cleanup Call For Volunteers
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"2am, June 11, Where Were You?"
by Gerry Balboni (2011 photo contest)
The 2011 Kenai River Cleanup will be held on Saturday and Sunday September 10 and 11, 2011 at the Russian River Ferry parking lot in Cooper Landing Alaska. Last year we had approximately 150 folks come out to assist in cleaning up the banks of the river, the highway and pullout. On Saturday evening we had a BBQ followed by on bon fire and live entertainment.
This event requires considerable effort to put together and coordinate so it comes together without a hiccup. Volunteers are needed to help with setup and tear down, registration, food and drinks service, and securing the coveted door prizes. With the exception of the door prizes, most of your time commitment will be in the week leading up to the cleanup itself.
Please contact me, Mark Huber, if you are interested in helping to pull together this awesome event for 2011. You can reach me by email at mhuber@gci.net
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In this Issue:
- President's Pen
- June 6 Meeting: Bruce Richards
- 2011 Auction Report
- 2011 Seminar Report
- Summer Solstice Tangle Lakes Reminder
- New Book: Flies Sought
- Fish Talk by Bill Hauser
- Fly Of The Month: Beadchain Thunder Creek
- Kenai River Cleanup
- Fishing Buddies List
Banner photo "Reeling Stoner" by Gerry Balboni, 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. |
Fishing Buddy List
by Jan Schnorr
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During the May meeting, members had a chance to sign up on the Fishing Buddy List. Currently the list has quite a few names of individuals who want to "go fishing this summer." It includes beginners who want to learn how and where to fish as well as seasoned Alaskan fishers who are eager to help others learn to fish in Alaska. If you want to link up with others who have a passion for fishing, meet with Jan Schnorr at the June meeting to get the latest information about this fishers' network or send Jan an email at Janiceinak@gmail.com to add your name to the list. Please include your phone number, email address, and any special comments - lake fishing, salmon fishing, I'm a beginner, etc. The Fishing Buddies list will be sent to all individuals who want to be included on it. You may contact others who have similar interests. All Fishing Buddies are encouraged to send their photos to Jan and periodically she will send out a newsletter "showcasing" your fish.
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