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PRESIDENT'S PEN:
Spring is in the air and hopefully your fly boxes are full and rods poised in anticipation of the upcoming season....
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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 are 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). Some of you diehards actually go fishing when there is 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 us, we would love to put them in the newsletter.
We have a good schedule of speakers this year at our monthly meetings. Please join us Monday, March 4th at 7:00pm at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel for our monthly general meeting.
Jennifer
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| MARCH MEETING
March 4, Redington Ballroom - Millennium Hotel
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Josh Hayes
Be sure to join other fly fishing enthusiasts on Monday, March 4, as Josh Hayes from Kenai Fly Fishing Guides adds to our spring fever!
From the Kenai Fly Fishing Guides website: "Kenai Fly Fishing Guides specialize in fly fishing Alaska's Kenai River for trophy Rainbow Trout. The Kenai River Rainbow Trout are in a league of their own and every year the glacial green waters of the Kenai produce more fly caught Rainbow Trout over 30 inches than ANY other river in the world. Many of the larger Kenai River Rainbows will crush the scales at over twenty pounds, providing an extreme challenge for even the most experienced fly angler. In addition to truly gigantic Rainbow Trout the Kenai boasts an overwhelmingly healthy population of Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden - which at the right time of year can produce daily fish numbers of up to 200 fish per person. If you are searching for a river with the largest Rainbow Trout as well as unfathomable numbers of feeding fish, the Kenai River is your fly fishing Mecca. If you are looking for the trip of a lifetime look no further. Make the pilgrimage to Alaska's Kenai River.
"Kenai Fly Fishing Guides is owned and operated by Josh Hayes. Josh is a third generation Alaskan and a year round resident of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. With over 25 years of personal fly fishing experience on the Kenai River you are guaranteed to fish with one of the most experienced and diligent guides on the river. With unequalled attention to detail and trip expectations Kenai Fly Fishing Guides can make your Alaska fly fishing dreams come true. Because fishing "Home Water" is the key to knowing a piece of water intimately Kenai Fly Fishing Guides utilize only local, Alaskan Resident guides. We are a small, locally owned and operated guide service with one goal in mind - Making your trip live up to your highest expectations."
 
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2013 AFF AUCTION
from Denise Tigert |
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Auction Help Needed!
Attention all you anglers looking for a bargain on gear and goodies. The AFF Annual Fundraising Auction is scheduled for Friday, 12 April 2012, and we are 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 would like to have all donations identified by 3 April, and delivered by 8 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.
There will be an auction committee meeting Monday, March 4, at 6:00 PM, just prior to the monthly membership meeting. If you are available and would like to volunteer, please join us!
Denise Tigert alaskagirl49@gmail.com
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PROJECT HEALING WATERS NEWS
from Jan Schnorr |
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February has been a busy month for Project Healing Waters. Damond Blakenship is leading rod-building classes on Tuesdays. Ten participants signed up for the classes, which will continue through March. All rods are provided free of cost by Hook and Hackle through a special national Project Healing Waters program. Upon completion of the rods, participants can submit them to Project Healing Waters as part of a national contest. Winners receive special fishing trips.
Read more...
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FLY TYING CLINIC NEWS
from Frank Stevens
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We are in our third month at our new location at the
William Hernandez Fish Hatchery off of Reeve Blvd.
The next clinic is on March 16th from 10AM to 3:30pm. I would like to welcome the twelve new tiers who have come to tie with us at the clinic.
Around Rich Johnson's table, interested enthusiasts were learning the art of spinning and flaring deer hair and yes, there is a difference! It comes into play when tying the Morris Mouse pattern. The difference was evident in the mouse pattern as the tiers gained confidence in their skills.
Please join us at the March general membership meeting for more updates on tying clinics.
We are always looking for guest tiers to demonstrate a fly pattern or skill helpful to tying flies.
Or call at 907-694-3595.
From the Bench to the River
Frank Stevens
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FLY TYING RETREAT
from Dick Long
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Fly Tying Retreat on April 26-28
The
Eleventh Annual Fly Tiers Retreat will be held nearby at Beach Lake Lodge near Chugiak. The rustic lodge will offer a spacious tying area as well as modern amenities. Additional overnight accommodations include two small, heated cabins. RV parking without hookups is available.
Daily rates per person:
Overnight Room and Board $65
Day rate with meals $45
RV with meals $45
Please contact Dick Long for registration and additional information. 868-8096 or llong@gci.net.
Please make your reservation by April 15.
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SPRING SEMINAR
from Rich Johnson |
The AFF Fly Fishing Seminar
April 8th, 15th, 23rd, and 29th
Though the actual function is more than two months away, now is the time to start thinking about promoting this annual event.
The small poster and the pre-registration flyer are available online as a PDF you can download and post anywhere you feel is appropriate. Simply go to www.akflyfishers.net and follow the 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.
Volunteers Needed for the 2013 Spring Seminar
Monday, April 8th 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.
Monday, April 15th 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.
Monday, April 29th 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.
Casting will be done outside, so plan on dressing warm.
Location:
The first three evenings will be held at the BP Energy Center; the casting clinic on May 14th will be held at the main BP Bldg, Conference Room C.
Mark these dates on your calendar and plan on being at the Seminar 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.
If you are planning to help, contact Rich Johnson at 243-1093 wk/ 243-1043 evenings/ 440-1830 cell, or by Email purnellphoto@gci.net
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Bonefish
Only a few species of fish besides bonefish have a leptocephalus life stage. These, most famously, include the American eel which occur on the eastern coast of North America. The American eel spawns in the Sargasso Sea to the east from Florida. Leptocephali are carried northward along the coast by the Gulf Stream. After they metamorphose into a "glass eel" life stage, they enter rivers and migrate upstream. American eels may grow and mature for as many as 40 years before they migrate back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. This life history strategy is the opposite of anadromous and is called catadromous. Other fishes with a leptocephalus life stage include tarpon, ladyfish, and some other eels.
To read the rest of FishTalk
Do you have a question for FISH TALK?
Bill recently published Fishes of the Last Frontier, Life Histories,Biology, Ecology, and Management of Alaska Fishes and, previously, Letters from Alaska, The Inside to the Outside.
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"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not the fish they are after." -Thoreau
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In this Issue:
- President's Pen
- March 4 Speaker
Josh Hayes - Annual Fundraising Auction
- GASS - Great Alaskan Sportsman's Show
- Fish Talk by Bill Hauser
- Fly Tying Clinics
- News From Project Healing Waters
- 2013 Fly Tying Retreat
- Members' Corner
Banner photo "Reeling Stoner" by Gerry Balboni, 2011 Photo Contest
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2013 Alaska Fly Fishers Membership
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Have you renewed your membership yet? Mail it in, or bring the completed membership form to our next meeting or fly tying clinic. The cost for membership is:
$25 Individual Annual
$30 Family Annual
$250 Lifetime
Be sure to get your membership card and save money on fly tying materials. Discount details printed on the back of your membership 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 Jolynne Howard should get you squared away.
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Fly Fishing
Film Tour
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2013 Fly Fishing Film Tour, Thursday March 21st; Bear Tooth Theatrepub. Two Shows, 5:30pm or 8:30pm. Tickets are $14 and go on sale March 5th, 10:30am at the Bear Tooth box office or online HERE!
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| GASS | |
The Great Alaska Sportsman Show is March 28-31 and AFF needs volunteers to meet and greet people as well as tie flies. If you have time to spend telling the public about the wonderful sport of fly fishing, you are needed in the AFF booth. All volunteers receive free show admission. Please call Bob Wallick 696-9048 or send an email to wallickinak@gci.net
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Casting for Recovery
| Casting for Recovery is offering fly fishing retreats to women who have had breast cancer. Any woman, any stage, any age is encouraged to apply to attend a fun-filled weekend retreat focused on wellness through fly fishing.
near Willow, August 2-4. Please apply before May 26th. For more information, please contact: Heather Wolcoff |
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Sutton Library
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Jolynne and I would like to thank everyone who donated fly fishing books for the Sutton library. There is yet one more opportunity to donate. I will collect books at the March 4th meeting for delivery in early March.
Frank
AFF Tying Clinic Coordinator
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| Members' Corner | |
ads, comments, requests, pictures
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