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PRESIDENT'S HOOK
by Bill Huber
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Let It Snow!
I was in Washington, DC in early February where it snowed all week long and delayed my return to Anchorage by four days. Then, to my great surprise, the snow (finally) returned to Alaska and none too soon to restore the outdoor stage we need for Fur Rondy, the Iditarod, and the Tour of Anchorage! But let's not forget about my favorite spectator sport, the Alaska Aces, indoor entertainment to bide time 'til I return to my happy fishing grounds.
Well, the Alaska Fly Fishers organization is shaping up to be no different in our line-up of many activities on the horizon. I wish to thank each of the fly fishers who entered the annual Photo and Fly Tying Contests. You take the time to spotlight your talent, win or lose, as a way of celebrating our sport through art. We are still looking for volunteers to man our tables and assist with seating in support of our upcoming Fly Fishing Film Tour and The Great Alaska Sportsman Show (GASS). Members interested in participating, please be sure to sign up at the next meeting.
As the sunlight increases, so will the opportunities to throw fly line and wiggle flies. But as you make your springtime preparations, please consider donating items in your fly fishing arsenal you have never used or have used gently for the Cash & Carry fundraiser at the annual Fly Fishers Auction in April. You may bring your items to the WJ Hernandez Fish Hatchery April 5th through the 10th. We are still seeking volunteers to support the planning, preparation, and on-site assistance as we again execute an exciting and fun-filled Fly Fishing Auction. Please contact me or a board member to get involved.
One of my priorities as president this year is increasing membership for purposes twofold: first to engage other fly fishers in the education and promotion of the sport ensuring the next generation carries forward our mission; and second, to provide for modest financial sufficiency to deliver educational forums, fly tying workshops, fishery preservation, etc. To hold myself and the club accountable to this priority, Patrick Malone and Jolynne Howard will oversee membership recruitment, retention and member benefits. A sampling of the benefits for members includes outstanding guest speakers, numerous seminars, retreats, and gatherings; electronic newsletters and a membership card which is good for discounts at several, local businesses.
The current membership drive continues through April with the goal to generate a roster of paid members by early June. So my warmest "thanks!" to Patrick and Jolynne for stepping up to this new role and a generous thank you to those members who remitted payments for memberships already-your early renewals are appreciated!
At our March forum, we have The Kenai River Sport Fishing Association talking about the Save Our Kings initiative and the recent Board of Fisheries annual meeting.
Until then, keep those lines clean and fish on!
Bill Huber
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MARCH GENERAL MEETING
Millennium Alaskan Hotel
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March 3rd, 7 p.m.
General Meeting
Millennium Alaskan Hotel - Redington Ballroom
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Ricky Gease
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Alaska Fly Fishers is pleased to have Ricky Gease present at our membership meeting on March 3, 2014. Ricky will speak about the Kenai Rivers Sportfishing Association's Save our Kings initiative and provide an update on the recent Alaska Board of Fish and Game's meeting. Much of the discussion at the Board of Fishing and Game meeting was about protecting King Salmon in upper and lower Cook Inlet. This will be an interesting evening with lots of information on fishing in and around 200 miles of Anchorage.
Ricky Gease is Executive Director of Kenai River Sportfishing Association, a position he has held since 2004. Prior to joining KRSA, Gease worked as the executive director of the Kenai Convention & Visitors Bureau for two years and as the museum manager of the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center for four years. From 1992 to 1997 he was a park ranger at Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward. Gease has served on numerous non-profit and fishery boards and commissions. He holds bachelors and masters degree in Biology from Stanford University, and has a Foraker Certificate in Non-Profit Management.
Please join us Monday, March 3rd. We're looking forward to seeing you.
Monday's meeting begins at 7:00 pm at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel at 4800 Spenard Road.
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AFF is Co-sponsoring the
Fly Fishing Film Tour!
"The original and preeminent exhibition of fly fishing cinema, The F3T is a one of a kind experience. Each year fishy folk of all ages gather at premieres to soak up film from around the world, spin a few yarns amongst friends and dream about casts still unmade. If you've been, you know what we're talking about. If you haven't, we hope to see you soon!
In addition to showcasing world-class fly fishing films, The F3T is dedicated to supporting the local fly shops and conservation groups that form the backbone of our sport's educational and environmental efforts. Discount F3T tickets are available at more than 150 fly shops across the country. A portion of those ticket sales go directly to support fishing and habitat-related conservation groups. In 2013 we raised $250,000 for our conservation partners and have used our voice to bring greater attention and support to groups like Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelhead Coalition, Bonefish Tarpon Trust, Utah Stream Access Coalition and Stop Pebble Mine and many more." from Fly Fishing Film tour website
This year the Alaska Fly Fishers is one of the co-sponsors of the film tour. Showing at the Bear's Tooth Theater on Thursday, March 20, 5:30 and 8:30, look for tickets to go on sale at the Bear's Tooth or online starting March 4th at 10:30 am.
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PHOTO CONTEST NEWS
from Art Peck
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The 2014 Photo Contest Winners Are:
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"Look Into My Eyes" Riley Peck
Winner: Mossy's Choice, Peoples' Choice, Creative
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"River & Stream"
Jolynne Howard
Second Place: Mossy's Choice, Creative
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"Waiting Their Turn"
Colleen Moomey
Winner: Judges' Choice
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"Alaska MaryAnn by Rich Johnson"
Doug Burner
Winner: Spirit of Fly Fishing
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"Winter Drift"
Sue Jeskie
Second Place: Spirit of Fly Fishing
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"Rock Island, Marmot Bay"
Neil Moomey
Winner: Wildlife & Nature
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"Darner's Wing"
Martha Peck
Second Place: Wildlife & Nature
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"Gently"
Martha Peck
Winner: Just the Fish
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"Spawning Colors"
Chad Gage
Second Place: Just the Fish
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Big thanks to our sponsors for this event:
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SPRING SEMINAR
from Rich Johnson
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Fly Fishing Seminar
The Spring Seminar is NEXT MONTH!
Help Rich Johnson Get The Word Out!!
The small poster and the pre-registration flyer are available online as a PDF that 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 2014 Spring Seminar
Monday, April 7th 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 14th 6:30 - 8:30PM
FLY TYING & Knots II - Demonstration and hands-on instruction for tying patterns that catch fish. The seminar handbook shows and discusses 26 general fly patterns but we would like you to tie what you fish with. Fly tyers of all skill levels are requested. This is one of the most popular sessions. We'll also be following up with knots from the previous Monday
Monday, May 12th 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 - Birch Room
The casting clinic on May 12th 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're planning on being there to help, please contact Rich Johnson at 243-1093 wk/ 243-1043 evenings/ 440-1830 cell, or by Email purnellphoto@gci.net
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Fish Talk by Bill Hauser
Around and Around They Go
What happens to salmon smolts after they enter the ocean?
Let's begin with a brief overview of a generalized salmon life cycle beginning with the egg.
Spawning is during summer and eggs incubate until mid-winter when the fish hatch and in spring, become free swimming fry. After some development and growth, they become juveniles called parr or fry until they become smolts that migrate to the ocean. In the ocean, they grow and mature until they migrate back to freshwater to spawn. This sounds easy enough but it is really not that simple.
To read the rest of Bill's article, please click here. 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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AFF HOSTS
APRIL VOKEY
from Ben Rowell
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AFF Hosts April Vokey
- Register Now!
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April Vokey
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After discovering a passion for fly fishing in her teens, April Vokey soon dedicated her life to the pursuit, eventually culminating in her founding Fly Gal Ventures in 2007 at age 24. She has established herself as a respected authority in the sport and has traveled the globe in pursuit of gamefish on a fly rod.
Her writing has appeared in numerous industry leading publications including Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, and Fly Fusion magazines. In July 2012, April became the first female fly angler to be featured in Outside magazine for their "XX-Factor" segment.
Also a popular TV personality, April has been featured on the Outdoor Channel's Buccaneers and Bones series and as a host on Fly Nation TV.
She is an FFF certified casting instructor, a fly-tying instructor, an active conservationist and a traveling speaker.
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FLY TYING OUTREACH
from Chad Gage
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Don't forget, AFF has 10 vises and tool kits available to our members for use to instruct youth.
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FLY TYING CLINIC NEWS
from Chad Gage
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Rich Johnson give instruction at the Theme Table
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The February tying clinic had a sizable turnout
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Our February fly tying clinic was a hit. A big thanks to Mr. Dave Rooker, as he was kept busy with a lot of new faces learning to tie. The club members at Rich Johnson's table were kicking out some nice looking flies as he was demonstrating his favorite smolt patterns. I was kept busy meeting new members as well as collecting entries into the fly tying competition.
Thanks to all of you who submitted flies for this year's tying contest. the winners will be announced at the general meeting on Monday, March 3rd and all of the flies entered will be on display.
Regardless of your experience tying, new or seasoned, come join us at our next tying clinic, March 15th. We meet at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, located at the intersection of Reeve Blvd and Post Road, from 9 am - 3 pm. Park in the visitor parking area and enter the main doors. We will be at the top of the stairs to the left. Rich has offered to run the themed table again, with flesh flies on the menu. As always, there will be plenty of good fishing stories (some may even be true), hot coffee and cookies. I hope to see you there. Drop me a line if you have any questions.
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PROJECT HEALING WATERS NEWS
from Jan Schnorr
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Casting & Float Tubing
Casting and float tubing is a special physical therapy program for PHW participants, teaching participants to cast and use float tubes under the supervision of their physical therapist and PHW volunteers.
All activities take place at the Bartlett Pool on Tuesday afternoons through April. Casting improves shoulder strength and mobility while paddling in float tubes improves leg strength and mobility for individuals who have leg and back issues. We want to thank the staff from the Bartlett Pool for donating the pool time for our use. Please visit our Facebook page to see additional photos of these and other activities.
Rod Building
The National Organization, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, has teamed with Hook and Hackle to sponsor rod building for participants. All rod building kits are provided free of cost to participants.
Tying Clinics
Tying Clinics for Project Healing Waters participants have resumed on Thursdays from at the Soldier Family Assistance Center (SFAC) on JBER, and Wednesdays at the Fisher House. Active injured military service members and disabled veterans receiving treatment at the VA Clinic are welcome to participate in the tying clinics.
Donations
This is a new year and you have an opportunity to help support the Project Healing Waters Anchorage program. A cash donation is always appreciated to help fund our upcoming fishing trips. Take a look at your tying supplies/materials and fishing gear and consider an in-kind donation.
Recognition of PHW Sponsors
PHW would not be possible without the support of the Alaska Fly Fishers!
Thank you for your continued support.
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MEMBERS' CORNER
our members do amazing things!
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AFF Vice President, Mark Huber helps a young angler learn to cast at the recent Valentine Fair on JBER.
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Let us know about any cool things our members do!
This space is reserved for those wonderful things!
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There are only two occasions when Americans respect privacy, especially in Presidents. Those are prayer and fishing.
-Herbert Hoover
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