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PRESIDENTS PEN:
It's already March!..... |
Greetings!
With the arrival of the Great Alaska Sportsman Show at the end of this month, the anticipation of fly fishing returns. The days get lighter, the list of cleaning and prepping gear gets shorter, the fly bins at the local fly shops are full, and we plan our fishing calendars. The GASS is our first event each year to encourage new members to join the Alaska Fly Fishers by talking about our programs such as the Spring Seminar (or Fly Fishing 101), our annual auction with lots of cool gear and trips to bid on and purchase, our monthly membership meetings, seasonal fly tying clinics, annual picnic and fishing trips. If you've attended any of these, you know how interesting and exciting our club is. Please ask any board member who to contact if you're interested in helping out at any of these events to promote AFF and make our club successful.
I am looking forward to getting back in the rivers and casting to fish (or just casting). My first trip will be lake fishing in eastern Washington in April. There's something about going outside where there's green stuff on the ground and flowers blooming in April that makes it a little easier to come home, knowing that the green will pop here very soon. Some of you diehards actually go fishing when there's ice still on the water and in your guides! We love to see photos of those big fish you catch for your efforts. Share your photos with Jolynne so we can put them in the newsletter. Also, remember the Diehard Kenai Clean-Up on April 28 for those who want early fishing and community service combined.
We have a good schedule of speakers this year at our monthly meetings. Please join us Monday, March 5th at 7:00pm at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel when John Hohl of Alaska Fly Anglers will be presenting video of his fishing experiences.
Jennifer |
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Next Meeting: Fishing Remote Alaska Waters With Dry Flies |
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March 5, 7pm at Millennium Hotel
The topic for our March General Meeting on March 5 is Dry Fly Fishing in Alaska.
John Hohl, owner, guide and pilot at Alaska Fly Anglers, Inc., is our speaker. A fly fisherman since the age of eight, John pursued his fly fishing obsession from an early age. He obtained a degree in fisheries biology to further his knowlege and bought a floatplane to get him on the water. He has followed his angling obsession through more than a dozen nations including New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras. He currently resides in Kodiak.
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WHY FISHERMEN LIE by Dave Ames |
Monday, March 26, 7 pm at Alaska Wild Berry Theater
Tickets will be available on-line - look for an announcement soon.
A special event benefiting Casting for Recovery in Alaska with $10 donations Dave Ames - author and entertainer now residing in Montana
A multi-media show that has been described as both "riveting" and "laugh-out-loud funny" with stories including:
- Fishing the piranha-infested sloughs of Argentina
- Teaching Mayans to be bone-fishing guides
- The healing power of the great outdoors and a diagnosis of cancer
Anglers and their friends and family or those simply seeking an enjoyable and entertaining evening are all invited.
 Dave Ames is a thirty year veteran fly-fishing guide and author with writings featured in Fly Fisherman, Sports Afield, the Big Sky Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and Fine Woodworking - and is best known for his books:
- True Love & the Woolly Bugger
- Dances with Sharks
- A Good Life Wasted, or Twenty Years as a Fishing Guide
- Me, My Cells and I: A Survivor's Guide to the Science of Cancer (with a positive answer to improve the odds)
Dave will also be a guest speaker at two events in Fairbanks:
- Midnight Sun Fly-casters and Trout Unlimited Gala on March 24
- An afternoon presentation on Me, My Cells, and I on March 25
See Henry Garbowski for details about these other dates henry@quartzlake.com. And, Dave will be looking for some angling adventures on the Kenai in the days following his presentations. If Alaska Flyfishers have secrets to share or might like to join the party, let Cheryl Cline know at 223-8885.
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| AFF Annual Fundraising Auction |
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from Mike Zavosky
Attention all you anglers looking for a bargain on gear and goodies. The AFF Annual Fundraising Auction is scheduled for Friday, 13 April 2012, and we're into our final preparation month. We really need two things:
1. Donations
a. Members who can donate used but serviceable gear should contact one of the volunteers listed below, to find out how to get the items to us.
b. Members who have gear that they wish to sell, rather than donate, and want to give AFF members first shot before it goes on Craigslist or eBay, should contact one of the volunteers to determine whether it's a fit for the auction and to make appropriate arrangements.
c. Members who know of someone or some business/organization that might donate something suitable should contact them soon. If it's a business or organization that might have donated in the past, the member should contact one of the volunteers to find out whether that organization has already been solicited. (Don't want to annoy donors by double-tapping them for donations.)
d. We'd like to have all donations identified by 4 April, and delivered by 9 April.
2. Volunteers
We still need additional volunteers to help us during the week of the auction and, especially, during the auction itself. If you are able to help - and/or are able to browbeat someone into helping - please let us know by e-mail, phone, or during the March meeting.
Thanks to all.
Mike Zavosky - zabo496@gmail.com
Mike Harsh - tmike99577@yahoo.com
Martha Peck - cfrmartha@gmail.com
Susan Winton - tootswinton@yahoo.com
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2012 Fly Tying Contest from Frank Stevens |
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Winners Announced March 5  Entry deadline has passed for the 2012 Alaska Fly Fishers Fly Tying Contest. Judges have had their say. Come to the March 5 meeting and cast your vote for People's Choice Fly.
Start planning now for next year's fly tying contest! |
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SPRING SEMINAR from Rich Johnson |
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Begins April 14 at BP Energy Center
The AFF Fly Fishing Seminar will be on April 14th, 23rd, 30th, and May 17th. We promote the seminar at the AFF booth during the Great Alaska Sportsman Show.
Even though the actual function is more that a month away, now is the time to start thinking about promoting this annual event. This year we are trying something new to get the word out. In addition to distributing posters and flyers to all the major fishing shops in Anchorage, Eagle River, and the Valley; we are making the small poster and the pre-registration flyer available online as a PDF that you can download and post anywhere you feel is appropriate.
Simply go to the following links for the Seminar. The small 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.
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AFF Sharing the Art of Fly Tying
from Frank Stevens |
AFF Member Lea Rueter's 4th grade after school class at Russian Jack Elementary was studying salmon and in the discussion the question was what do fish eat? Any 4th grader knows that fish eat bugs! And who knows bugs but fly fishermen!
Thanks to our members we held a tying session the first of February, they had such good time that Lea brought in her vice and held a class for them. They had so much fun (remember how it was when you started tying) Lea asked if we could come back and hold another tying session. Thanks to David Rooker and Mike Scott the session was a great success.
Our winter tying clinics reach out to our youth and beginning tiers stop by the third Saturday of each month where our members pass on their skills and Damond at the beginners table is "Passing On The Art of Fly Tying "!
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Torpedo Tuna and Hot Blood
 This month's Fish Talk from Bill Hauser is all about tuna. Bill and guest author Peter Westley provide vivid descriptions of this fascinating fish.
Read this month's Fish Talk at this link. Bill Hauser is the author of Letters From Alaska, The Inside to the Outside and the NEW book Fishes of the Last Frontier, Life Histories, Biology, Ecology and Management of Alaska Fishes.
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FLY OF THE MONTH by Rich Johnson |
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The Tubular Smolt Fly
Tubular Smolt came from my desire to have a fly that imitated the young fish I grew up seeing in the shallows of lakes. In my younger days we had small Flatfish and Rapalas for our ultra-light spinning rods. Once I started fly fishing I missed that basic minnow shape, and the desire to imitate it never really left the part of my brain that fishes. When I began learning more about bait fish, I kept thinking that there had to be a way to create a pattern that would mimic the head down attitude of a crippled fish. I also reasoned that a pattern that floated head down could be twitched back to horizontal creating an impression of struggling to stay alive. I wasn't so concerned about movement, there are plenty of flies for that, I was mostly focused on size, color, and shape.
Although I had played with a few different patterns over the years, it was the thermometer probe cover that finally got my creative juices flowing. Here was the shell for an underbody. I knew I wanted to use Mylar tubing as an outer cover; all I had to do is figure out a way to get this long, thin walled tube onto a hook. After a few failed attempts at prototypes I became frustrated in that I just could not come up with a way to create a solid enough union to a hook to tie materials onto and over the tube. So the probe covers sat in my material box for almost a year. Then, while looking at some tube fly materials, I noticed cone heads designed for small tubes. "Tube flies" I thought, (mentally smacking myself on the side of the head) that's the answer! I had toyed tying tube flies in the past, but being a bit of a traditionalist, I had failed to think past the shanked hook school of design when working on this baitfish imitation.
It took three attempts to create a tube fly that suspended head down, looked like a small fish, and did not have the disadvantage of an extra-long hook shank. The material sizes listed in the instructional PDF are based on getting the fly to suspend with neutral density. I've since subsisted foam for the head, for a high floating fly, and I've been stuffing the front part of the probe cover with fluorescent glo-bug yarn and/or Everglow fibers. You can alter the length of the body to create a shorter or longer baitfish and color the body to match any local baitfish. It is important that the body (Mylar tubing) be sealed. I've used regular epoxy, rod wrapping epoxy, and am currently playing with a couple different UV cured coatings. All seem to have their pros and cons. I use nail polish, especially ones with sparkle, to add color and extra bling to the body. Once you have the basic pattern, variations are endless.
The pattern's name come from the fact that I now fish areas where salmon smolts are a prime baitfish; and the fly has proven itself on a couple of different river fisheries for rainbows. The interesting point is that I've yet to get the chance to fish one in a lake, where the process started years ago. But then, life is still young!
Recipe and instructions for the Tubular Smolt are at this link.
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In Local News... 
News From Mossy's: Mike Brown at Mossy's Fly Shop has new gear to check out including Kast Steelhead gloves (100% wind & water proof fleece lined). He also has a really cool new display of Protube tube fly tying systems. Look in the display case for Hardy Reels now in stock. 
News From Mike and Keith at World Wide:
1. 2012 Fly Fishing Film Tour, Bear Tooth Theatre, Thursday March 22nd, 7:35pm Doors open at 7:15pm. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday March, 13th at 10:30am at the Beat Tooth Theatre, $12.00. This show sold out 4 days before the event last year so please do not wait until the last minute of you want to see 90 minutes of pure fly fishing entertainment at the Bear Tooth Theatre. Prizes & Giveaways of course! Hosted by World Wide Angler.
2. World Wide Angler wader upgrade program: Bring in any wader, any brand, any model, any condition & receive $50.00 towards the purchase of a Simms G4 Pro or G3 Guide stocking foot wader.
3. World Wide Angler fly line upgrade program. Bring in any fly line, any brand, any condition & receive $15.00 towards the purchase of a new fly line, any brand, any model. *Life is too short, don't spend your hours on the water fishing with a cracked fly line that doesn't float or cast mega far! |
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~ President's Pen
~ Next Meeting: John Hohl and Dry Fly Fishing Alaska
~ Why Fishermen Lie Program
~ AFF Auction News
~ Fly Tying Contest
~ Sharing Art of Fly Tying
~ Fly of the Month: Tubular
~ Fish Talk by Bill Hauser
~ 2012 Membership Renewal
~ Call for GASS Volunteers
~ Report: 2012 Photo Contest Winners
~ Project Healing Waters ~ Casting For Recovery
~ March 17 Fly Tying Clinic:
~ Members' Corner:
News Around Town
Above photo: Reeling Stoner by AFF Member Jerry Balboni.
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| 2012 Alaska Fly Fishers Membership |
Have you renewed your membership yet? Click here for the 2012 membership application. Mail it in, or bring the completed form to our next meeting or fly tying clinic. Be sure to get your membership card - it will save you money on fly tying materials. Details are on the back of the card. |
| Great Alaska SportsmanShow: Volunteers Needed |
The Great Alaska Sportsman Show is March 29 to April 1 this year.
THIS IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT AT THE AFF BOOTH.
Bob Wallick is scheduling chief for this event. Find him at Monday's meeting or sent him an email: wallickinak@gci.net. |
| Results from the 2012 AFF Photo Contest |
The February general meeting was great. Phil Brna made of jealous of his Belize fishing experiences and we found out the winners of the photo contest. Actually, we also voted on a crowd's favorite.
In case you missed the meeting, this link will take you to the winning photos and a report on the awesome prizes. Be sure to thank our donors - and Art Peck for organizing the event again this year.
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Casting For Recovery Participants Needed | |
Do you know a breast cancer survivor who would benefit from a weekend of healing, relaxation, fun and -
of course - fly fishing?
Again this year, CFR-Alaska will host two retreats - one in the Anchorage area and one in Fairbanks.
Deadlines to submit an application are April 2 for Southcentral and April 6 for Fairbanks.
Big thanks goes to the Alaska Fly Fishers for their support along with a special thank-you to Mike Brown at Mossy's Fly Shop, who hosted the Up All Night Tie-In to benefit
CFR-Alaska.
Look for an announcement soon for Mossy's 2012 Up All Night Tie-In Benefit.
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Project Healing Waters Alaska
Needs Volunteers | |
By Laura Orr
Project Healing Waters is looking forward to another fabulous year in 2012. We have many exciting trips planned for the up coming season, but also, we are need of more DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS!
Our weekly tying classes and casting teaches are great ways for NEW VOLUNTEERS to meet and build relationships with soldiers and their families.
We are currently meeting at the VA Clinic at 1201 N. Muldoon Rd., just out side of the JBER Muldoon gate, from 4-6 pm every Thursday.
Make one of your New Years Resolutions VOLUNTEERING in our community !!! Come share your passion for fly fishing and fly tying with "Those Who Serve".
Remember to "like" us on FACEBOOK at Project Healing Waters Alaska for updates and PHW news, and you can contact me, Laura Orr, at PHWAlaska@gmail.com for VOLUNTEER opportunities and more. |
| Fly Tying Clinics at KTUU Building | |
Tying flies for the next season is a winter tradition for fly fishers. Every third Saturday from October to April (and sometimes May), the club hosts fly tying clinics in the KTUU classroom. The clinics run from 10am to 4pm. Expert tyers are on hand with lessons and demonstrations. Bring your own tools and materials or use ours. The building is at 701 East Tudor Road - second floor east end. Follow the signs.
THE NEXT CLINIC IS MARCH 17th.
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| Fly Lines Archive | |
Looking for a back issues of Fly Lines? Electronic copies are available at the link below.
Did you know the Loussac Library has many of the older Fly Lines? |
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