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PRESIDENT'S PEN:
Fall means football, big rainbows and back to our regular meeting schedule.... |
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Greetings!
We were making the final arrangement for the annual Kenai River Clean Up when the flood warning was issued for the upper Kenai River for the same weekend on which Clean Up was planned. In an effort to insure the safety of the Clean Up participants, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2011 Kenai River Clean Up. This is the first time anyone can remember when we have had to cancel the Clean Up. I would like to thank the many volunteers who worked hard to assure that the 2011 Kenai River Clean Up would be a success and also a big thank you to the many businesses in the Anchorage and Cooper Landing area which contributed valuable items for the volunteer door prize drawings.
Given that we cancelled the 2011 Clean Up event, we have rescheduled a "Die Hard Clean up" of the upper Kenai River for 9 AM, April 28th, 2012, gathering at Sportsman Landing in Cooper Landing. See the article later in this newsletter for more details.
On October 3, 2011, AFF will resume our regular 1st Monday of each month meeting schedule at the Millennium Hotel 7 PM. Long time AFF member and supporter, Orlando Gonzales will be our presenter talking about fishing his home waters, the Kenai River. Come out to hear some secrets from a true expert Kenai River Guide. If you have questions on fishing the Kenai River, Orlando is the fellow to talk to.
Also on October 15, 2011, we will kick off the fly tying clinic on the 3rd Saturday of each month. All session will be held starting at 10 AM in the KTUU training room. The training room is located at the KTUU building on Tudor, north east corner and second floor of the building. Use the entrance on the east side of the building and go up the stairs just inside the door.
Tight Lines.
Mark |
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DIE HARD CLEAN UP!!
from Keven Kleweno |
The 2011 Kenai River Clean Up was cancelled due to the Upper Kenai River flooding. It is the end of September and the upper Kenai River is again in flood stage. For a large number of us, the Clean Up signals the end of summer and the transition into fall and winter. We also enjoy the community service provided as we walk along the highway or float the river picking up trash left over the summer fishing and camping season.
Several of us that miss accomplishing the task of cleaning up the well traveled highway, paths, and shoreline have scheduled a spring clean up or as we are calling it the "Die Hard Clean Up". Plans are being made to meet at the Sportsman Landing by 9:00 AM on April 28, 2012. We will spend the day picking up trash as we normally do in the fall. As the name suggests, we know temperatures and weather will be worse than we experienced during the fall clean ups. We are planning on no raffles and bringing our own food. The plan is to combine everything as if we are one big family. So if you are interested, stop by the Fly of the Month Table to talk to Keven Kleweno about joining us in April. |
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SPECIAL RAFFLE: THE DEATHSTAR |
Drawing During December 5 Meeting
Tickets go on sale October 3 for a super exciting special raffle. The prize? A cornucopia of treasure for the two-handed enthusiast:
- Sage TCX 7 Weight Spey Rod - "The Deathstar"
- Galvan Torque T-10 Reel
- Scientific Angler Skagit Extreme Fly Line
- 2 Hours Spey Casting Instruction with Certified Master Casting Instructor and Certified Two Hand Casting Instructor Mark Huber
- Total Value $1,485
The tickets are priced at $10.00 each or six for $50.00. Buy a ticket - support the club - and maybe win one of the hottest spey packages in Alaska! Tickets will be available at the October, November and December meetings. |
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Crescent Gunnel
If you have ever spent much time poking around in tide pools, chances are good that you have seen a crescent gunnel. These are diminutive fish. Gunnels and similar-looking pricklebacks are probably the most common fishes found in tide pools. You may find a sculpin or two and if you are really lucky, you might find a snailfish or a lumpsucker hanging around. And I mean literally just hang-ing around. These small, tadpole shaped fish have specially modified ventral fins that make up a suckerlike disk that they use to attach themselves to rocks or any hard structure that may be in the water.
To read the rest of Fish Talk click here.
Bill Hauser is the author of Letters from Alaska, The Inside to the Outside and the upcoming book Alaska Fishes. |
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Fly of the Month October 2011
by Riley Peck |
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Ptarmigan and Pink
The Ptarmigan and Pink, an "Alaskanized" version of the Partridge family of soft hackles, makes a great all around fly. First developed by Art Peck as a fly given to Casting for Recovery participants, it has proven itself in a variety of situations.
One of the best uses for this fly is for dolly varden in small streams, when they won't seem to bite anything else. Try swinging it through pools full of finicky dollies and you will be pleasantly surprised with the results! Additionally, it is a great pattern to teach new tiers, as it is not only effective, but easy to tie.
Click here for Riley's instructions for the Ptarmigan and Pink fly.
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2011 Fly Tying Clinics by Frank Stevens |
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Time to start retying all those flies you used this summer. The clinics start on October 15, 2011 and run thru April 21, 2012. Clinics are held at KTUU classroom at 701 East Tudor Road. Park at East end of building and follow signs upstairs to classroom. Open tying time from 10AM to 4PM bring your tools and supplies and get started
Mark your calendars for clinics on November 19th and December 17th. Watch your newsletter for dates in the coming year.
In November, Orlando has offered to demonstrate his way of tying leech patterns on plastic tubes. I will have a list of material for you to have on hand if you wish to tie along with him.
Anyone wishing to demonstrate a style or pattern please let me know and we will put you down for a date and time.
Thanks to Monty last year for the continuing lessons on classic streamer patterns.
Contact me at akfrank@mtaonline.net for updates and to get on the fly tying clinic email list.
Remember thread control,
Frank
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Call For 2012 AFF Board of Directors |
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There will be three open seats on the AFF Board of Directors to serve one year terms starting January 1st and ending on December 31st. A Director shall be a member in good standing of the AFF. Directors are elected by the membership at the Annual Business Meeting held each November.
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In this Issue:
- President's Pen
- Die Hard Clean Up
- Special Raffle: The Deathstar
- Fish Talk by Bill Hauser
- Fly Of The Month: Pink and Ptarmigan
- Fly Tying Clinics
- Call for Directors
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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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. |
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