1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE FIFTY SEVEN YEARS AND COUNTING

Fly Dope Volume 58 Issue 10 www.fresnoflyfishers.org OCT 2018

Gen. Meeting Program 1

Presidents Message 2

September Outing Report 3 October Speaker 7

Back Of Beyond 8

Supporters 11 Oct. Calendar 15

Nov. Calendar 16

Quarterly Calendar 17 Our Mission 18

Membership Application 19

Board of Directors 20

PAYPAL ALWAYS AVAILABLE

FRESNO FLY FISHERS FOR CONSERVATION

PRESENTS

TIM WADE

OF NORTH FORK ANGLERS

“THE OTHER SIDE OF YELLOWSTONE”

OCT. 4, 2016

DOOR’S OPEN AT 6:30

MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 PM

U C MERCED BUILDING

550 E SHAW

Please check the calendar carefully as the oct. and nov outings

and dates have been switched.

/

2

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

The Fresno Fair starts this week. If you want to volunteer to work our booth, there are only a few spots left. Rob Gong has set up a great

spread sheet in a Google Sheets App to see what days and times are available. Each year we get a few new members, lots of kids interested

in the Youth Academy and a few hundred people that say “Fly fishing…. I’d like to try that.”.

The clubs yearly trip to Crowley Lake and the Eastern Sierras was as popular as ever last month. 14 members came for a long weekend.

Including 4 first timers. The “character” of Tom’s Place never fails to stand out as topic for jokes. From JoJo the bartender to the mice in

cabin 26 bathroom. This just makes for more stories to tell when you

get home. The fishing wasn’t “killer” like previous years, except for

Dana Kahler and Leo Labbe from a boat in the lake. But everyone

couldn’t wait until next year. First timer and 2018 Youth Academy

graduate Madi Ball and her Dad Jarod made the trip too. If I didn’t

catch one fish during the 3 day trip, I would come back just for the scen-

ery. It’s like another world over there.

Elections are coming up in December. There are always ways to get

more involved in the club by helping out on the board. If you’re inter-

ested, please see me or a board member at the meeting next week or

send me an email. I have just 2 more President Messages to sub-

mit….bet you can’t wait.

See you on the river.

Scott Piggott

President FFFC

3

SEPTEMBER OUTING REPORT

Eastside Trip “Tom’s Place Resort”

An eager group of fly fisherman took the long, but very sce-

nic drive through Yosemite National Park to participate in

this year’s Eastside Outing.

Here is a group picture of all attendees:

From left to right: Jim Horn, Ken Bush, Madison (Madi)

Ball, her dad Jared, Larry Odell, Mark Spencer, John Engel-

bert, Egon Albers, Roy Weakly, Gary Pullen, Chuck Golling,

Scott Piggott and me Leo Labbe behind the camera!

We continued our tradition of staying at Tom’s Place where

we enjoyed the food, the ambiance of a lodge that celebrated

its 101 year of operation!

Tom’s Cabin has not changed much over the years.

Here is a shot of one of our cabins and one of a hut that some-

one had built on the lake that we referred to as, “Tom’s Resort

Annex!”

We had a new comer Madi Ball a graduate of the 2018 Youth

Academy joined us with her Dad on her 1st outing!

4

SEP OUTING, CONT’D FROM PG 4

Most of us enjoyed the Saturday evening special of a complete

Prime Rib Dinner, as well as other meals that came in large por-

tions and everyone agreed were pretty good!

The weather was refreshing; we hit a low of 28 degrees at Tom’s

and much colder for those who took the hike to “Little Lakes Val-

ley Trail” located at an elevation of 10,600 FT. The winds were

much stronger than expected making it feel much cooler, but more

importantly difficult to cast!

McGee Creek is always a pleasant surprise. It is a small stream

that produces unusually large fish; look at what I mean! These fish

migrate up from Crowley to spawn and hide in the undercuts of the

bank!

The scenery both along the way and at our destination is spec-

tacular! Here is a picture of the Crowley boat launch and a

view of the mountains from the lake.

Lake Crowley is truly a destination lake. One of my favorite

quotes was made by my Brother, Ray who said,

“Crowley is to fly fishing, what Pebble Beach is to golf!”

And those who fish there agree with him!

Dana and I were dedicated to catching giant trout that eluded

us all weekend. We were not disappointed as we did manage

to land several fish in the 16+”class. We were surprised to

land Browns 3 for 1 over Rainbows and no Cuts!

5

SEP. OUTING, CONT’D FROM PG 5

Here are a few samples of our success:

On Saturday a group enjoyed the hike to “Little Lakes Valley

Trail”. It’s an easy hike that offers many high altitude lakes with

willing fish!

The 1st picture is of Scott, Chuck and John, and the 2nd one is

Larry, Roy and Greg, probably on the way up as they look too

relaxed!

The hike offers outstanding views of lakes, streams

and mountains. Pictures just don’t do them justice!

If you have never experienced the views from this

trail, then the trip to the East Side is definitely worth

the drive!

6

SEP. OUTING, CONT’D FROM PG 6

Here are some of the anglers in action!

This is a sample of the days’ catch!

Everyone had a good time and all agreed that this is

among the best of our club outings!

Our next outing is scheduled for October 20, 2018;

Cedar Grove "Wild Trout"

We will meet at Grizzly Falls Picnic Area for Coffee

and Muffins between 8-9AM.

Another great day on the river, that offers miles of

productive water; most folks will fish above Boyden

Cave, others will try their luck at the end of the road.

Here’s looking at you, until I see you again on the

water!

Tight lines,

Leo Labbe

559 281-2713

lclabbe@comcast.net

7

OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING

Tim Wade

North Fork Anglers, Cody Wyoming

“The Other Side of Yellowstone”

Tim Wade, owner and guide for North Fork Anglers, has been guiding, instructing and assisting fly fishers in the Yellowstone and Cody, Wyoming region for almost 35 years. Tim founded North Fork Anglers in 1984 and still loves to see his guests hook up with a native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, or fight a monster Brown on the Lower Shoshone. He has taught and written extensively about fly fishing, fly tying, fly casting and entomol-ogy, and shared his knowledge of trout behavior in speaking engagements across the country. He is fortunate to have some of the best fly fishing guides in the business working for him…all his guides love to fly fish, love to make their guests better anglers and love the wild trout resource in Wyoming and elsewhere. He specializes in instruction, casting and learning the water infinitely well. He is also an accomplished fly tier and has invented numerous trout and saltwater patterns, including the infamous North Fork Spe-cial and Ho Candy.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 4, 2018

DOORS OPEN 6:30 PM PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00 PM

8

BACK OF BEYOND STEPHEN NEAL

In Wildness is the Preservation of the World - “Henry David Thoreau"

Its moving time, and all that it entails. Between house hunting, buying, personal consolidation, packing and moving.

My time for writing has become crunched. My deadline looms; so, this article and next months will be reprints from

my archive. For those of my readers whom subscribe to the Fly Fishers for Conservation this will be a refreshed read

from a 2008 Fly Dope. For those of you, who subscribe to the Kaweah Fly Fishers and the Alpine Fly Fishers this will

be a fresh read. It is a bit of a trip down memory lane, my grand-daughter is now 18, living in the Midwest attending

nursing school, and my son and his family live with me in Washington. 10 years has brought change.

Dreamtime It is night time on the Pacific Coast. We sit just below an ocean fog bank, near the end of the Cayucos pier. Heavy

ocean waves roll in beneath us, heard and felt more than seen. Across the water to the south, the muted night lights of

Morro Bay glow. Occasional beach camp fires, flicker and wave within the heavy moisture laded marine air. Approx-

imately every thirty minutes we undrape ourselves from our camp chairs to haul hoop crab nets from the ocean floor.

We strain our eyes to catch glimpses of crab movement against the background of dark water and even darker sea-

weed. Seaweed and grasses snagged by the rising net, along with too small crabs are returned to the sea, before lower-

ing the crab net back to the bottom; where fish swim and crabs scuttle.

Crabbing is slow, nothing of any keepable size wishes to dine on the dumpster delicacies we pulled from the trash in

Morro Bay. Crabbing as opposed to fly fishing is bereft of much movement. Most of your time is spent huddled in a

compact mass to preserve body heat in a moist air mass. It is more of a time for slow conversation, contemplation and

observation. Tonight, is wind down time; the week-end was a full-bore work epic cutting and sawing trees, a massive

pruning effort with a full second day grinding all the wood piles into mulch. So, Monday night became our decom-

pression event, sore muscles were allowed to relax and lengthen, while ocean waves rolled unto the shore and crabs

were enticed to feed on skeletal fish remains.

The pier is neither deserted nor crowded; a family group amble’s past, stopping long enough to question our endeav-

ors. What we are doing and what kind of fish are we using as bait? Their questions answered they disappear into the

fog shrouded pumpkin glow of Cayucos. Young and experienced lovers with whispered conversations walk hand in

hand to the end of the pier and pause before treading the heavy creosote embedded timbers back to land. Diehard va-

cationing night fishermen cast into the dark sea and wait for a take. Occasional flashes of struck matches brought to

cigarette ends, highlight upper lips and noses, before returning to darkness, as the ocean breeze carries the flame

away. Teenage boys on bicycles, their approach announced by the rumble of loose timbers vibrating around their

spikes, pass by as they cycle out into the ocean as far as the pier will let them. It is dreamtime and we have slowed.

We have become one with the earth there is nothing to rush for, or too, we become aware of our time and space and it

fills us with ease and relaxation. As I gaze south my mind fills with scenes that have vanished.

The Chevron pier was erased from this view in 1983 a series of El Nino driven storms destroyed it, the waves broke

on top of the pier, their ceaseless pounding turned it into kindling. The oil tankers that used to fill up with the crude

oil pumped from Bakersfield no longer ply the waters of Estero Bay, an inland pipeline ended the maritime transport.

Production cost and relicensing fees have shuttered the old PG&E plant, no more plumes of exhaust gas fill the sky

above Morro Bay. The family cabin in Morro Bay is now a part of my past. My residency has been revoked and I am

now relegated to tourist status. But the beauty of land still endures, and I am content to sit with my son and grand-

daughter as crab nibble at our offerings.

9

Back of Beyond, cont’d from pg. 9

After a deep restful sleep, aided by long rolling ocean waves lapping on a sandy shore. Tuesday morning

found us kneeling in a canoe exploring Morro Bay’s estuary (where fresh water meets the sea and life is born

to support the bounty of our ocean planet). Harbor seals and sea lions sagely ignored us as we initially labor

to find the proper balance and rhythm of paddling a canoe; to arrive at one’s desired destination with the least

amount of effort. Overhead large chevron shaped formation of brown pelicans transport themselves to un-

known destinations with slow deep wing beats. While seagulls’ wheel in erratic flight paths like fighter planes

intercepting bombers.

For most of our travel time the bay

floor was less than paddle length in

depth. Sea grass and clam flats

were easily spotted and then left in

our wake as we paddled around

bird nesting grounds. The air and

water were filled with sound,

movement and motion like an un-

choreographed dance that some-

how finds its own rhythm and then

flows into a beauty unlooked for,

but more than appreciated when

discovered.

We hiked over the ridge of the

sand spit to arrive ocean side, just

south of the Morro Bay Jetty. Mor-

ro Bay has disappeared behind the

substantial sand dunes that we

crossed. It is early enough that no one else

shares the beach with us, beside the Jetty no other signs of man intrude in our world. It is easy to imagine that

this is the way things looked when the Chumash Indians populated the Central Coast. The vista to the south is

open, fresh and undisturbed the shore stretches to Point Buchon.

Like all true beachcombers we pick through the wave deposited detritus, looking for shells, unusual wave

shaped and polished rooks. My granddaughter’s pockets soon overflow into mine and her father’s pockets. We

all carry half clam shells to be given as gifts to all of her important friends and relatives as soap dishes. The

day closes with shared stories around the camp fire.

Wednesday morning finds us at the end of the road in Montana De Oro, we have come here to hike the newly

opened trails that lead to Diablo Canyon and Avila, but alas we arrive on the day that the trail is closed. We

make do with the cliff side hike back toward pirate’s cove. When I was a child the rumors were that this is the

area that rum runners plied their trade during prohibition. Today, rising fog clings to Valencia peak; a low

tide exposes tide pools and sharp rugged cliffs, nary a rum runner in sight. Each ragged finger notched into

terraferma creates its own smugglers cove with ocean ground stones, dried sea weed and aluminum beer cans.

A California king snake, drapes from a cliff side gopher hole absorbing the meager sun light to warm itself.

10

Back of Beyond, cont’d from pg. 10

We while away the hours poking in holes and sifting through rocks, dropping down the sides of sea craved

walls on narrow trails to explore where the ocean meets the land. In the afternoon we drive into San Luis

Obispo to visit the ‘Hole in the Wall’ Fly Shop. Rob Phillips shares his knowledge of surf fishing the central

coast and we promise to return soon to put into practices his advice.

Wednesday afternoon finds us on Atascadero State Beach, with kites in the wind, we try and become one

with the wind, we swoop and dive, cut corners and climb high in the sky, then skim the sand hopefully to

rise once more. We crash and burn and try it all again. Cassie keeps switching from kites to sand shovel al-

ways going higher and deeper and always interrupting her Dad just when he begins to feel the wind. To close

the day, we toast marshmallow and create s’mores and share stories until the sandman fills our eyes.

Thursday morning dawns bright and clear, the fog has disappeared, but high clouds belie a change in the

weather. We are back in the canoe, we find and easy rhythm as we explore the mouth of the bay. The dance

of the brown pelicans and circling seagulls continues. Brown Pelicans perform abrupt plunges from sky born

positions to the bay below to scoop unsuspecting fish into their enlargeable bills. While the seagulls scream

mine, mine, mine. We weave in and out and around the bay moored boats keeping a respectable distance

while dreaming of living on the water and speculating on the cost.

We coast alongside the fishing vessels, most seem to be abandoned as new regulations, low takes and a pore

economy drive more commercial fishermen away from Morro Bay and their primary livelihood. The work-

ing boats are mostly deep-sea rigs designed for sport fisherman.

For a change of view, we climb Black Mountain one of the seven sisters and view the bay from a high van-

tage point. Mosquitoes dog our steps as we climb but a breeze at the top keeps them at bay as we trace our

coming and going for the past few days. Cassie put the binoculars to good use spying out hidden gems and

close up views of barely noticeable details of life on the coast. We return to the bay to witness a mass migra-

tion of cormorants, the air is full, from the sea to the clouds as they stream from behind Morro Rock down to

Ragged Point North of Cayucos. When we round Morro Rock we are surprised and astounded to see the

same migration stretching south to Point Buchon they keep on coming and going even after we leave for our

evening meal.

Friday morning is wet, a heavy fog has settled in, as I begin to pack up camp, muffled thunder begins to fill

the air, soon heavy rain squalls soak us and all of our equipment which is in mid pack. Everything is out of

the tent and spread out to be packed, a frantic few minutes is spent shoving things into the jeep or back into

the tent. I know that I will spend the evening back in Fresno drying everything out. Our time in Morro Bay

has come to an end the road back to Fresno beckons’, our time here has been too short, but we have been

richly rewarded and revitalized, nature has refilled our gas tank.

A few thanks are in order: Dave Grubs thanks for the loan of your canoe, it made our trip very rewarding and

special. A special thanks to my son and granddaughter who share my love of the outdoors. And to my read-

ers I encourage you to get outside, turn off your phones and your TV’s, quite your iPods and hear; nature has

a lot to share and many lessons if you are willing to listen. To each of you I give this special Inuit blessing

“Walk well my brother”

Stephen

“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

“Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after” Henry David Thoreau

11

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE GUIDES AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE

GOALS AND MISSION OF OUR CLUB

12

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE GUIDES AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE GOALS

AND MISSION OF OUR CLUB

FLY TYING CLAS-

SES

13

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE GUIDES AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE

GOALS AND MISSION OF OUR CLUB

14

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE GUIDES AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE

GOALS AND MISSION OF OUR CLUB

15

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1. 2. 3. BFF* 4. BFF GEN MTG: TIM

WADE,THE

OTHER SIDE OF

YELLOWSTONE

5. BFF 6. BFF

7. BFF 8. BFF BOARD MEETING,

7PM AT DENNY’S

CORNER OF

CLOVIS & HERNDON

9. BFF 10 BFF 11. BFF 12. BFF 13. BFF

14. BFF 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. CEDAR GROVETCED

“WILD TROUT”

IM WADE

OF 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

28. 29. 30. 31.

*Big

Fresno

Fair

october

16

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1. LEE HASKINS,

FISHING

FOR SAN

LUIS LAKE

STRIPERS.

2. 3

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. SAN LUIS

FOREBAY

“STRIPERS &

BURGERS”

11. 12. BOARD MEET-

ING, DENNY’S

AT CORNER

OF HERNDON

& CLOVIS. 7

PM

13. 14. 15. 16. 17

18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

NOVEMBER

17

2018 QUARTERLY CALENDAR

* Dates subject to change - check with a Board

member for more information

DECEMBER

DEC 6: GENERAL MEETING, ANNUAL

DESSERT POTLUCK. 7PM UC MERCED

BUILDING. EVERYONE BRINGS THERE

FAVORITE DESSERT.

DEC 10: BOARD MEETING, DENNY’S AT

THE CORNER OF HERNDON AND CLO-

VIS 7PM.

OCTOBER

OCT 3-14: BIG FRESNO FAIR

OCT 4: GENERAL MEETING: TIM

WADE, NORTH FORK ANGLERS IN CO-

DY WY. “THE OTHER SIDE OF YELLOW-

STONE”

OCT 8: BOARD MEETING, DENNY’S AT

THE CORNER OF HERNDON AND CLO-

VIS. 7 PM

OCT 20: CEDAR GROVE “WILD TROUT”

MEET AT GRIZZLY FALLS PICNIC AR-

EA FOR COFFEE & MUFFINS, 8-9AM

NOVEMBER

NOV 1: GENERAL MEETING, LEE

HASKINS, SAN LUIS STRIPERS.

DOOR S OPEN 6:30 PM.

NOV 10 : SAN LUIS FOREBAY “STRIPERS

& BURGERS”. BRING A SIDE DISH OR A

DESSERT.

NOV 12: BOARD MEETING. DENNY’S AT

THE CORNER OF HERNDON AND CLOVIS.

7 PM.

18

Our Mission

Fly Fishers for Conservation (FFFC) was organized in 1961 by a group of devoted fly fishers deeply concerned with the preservation of trout and all game fish, their environment, and the quality of fish-ing. Our club has maintained two goals since that time:

To foster and promote the sport of angling with artificial flies. To protect, conserve and increase our angling resources.

Fly Fishers for Conservation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization. This means

you can use your contribution as a tax deduction. The club gets revenue from member-

ship dues and the annual fundraiser dinner. We try to contribute to conservation issues

in the area and to our youth with our Trout in the Classroom program, and by holding a

Youth Fly-Fishing Academy annually. The club is always in need of funds. Please con-

sider donating. You may send a check to Fly Fishers for Conservation at 100 E. Sierra,

PMB 3310, Fresno, CA 93710. Your donations will be greatly appreciated and they will

help the club fulfill its obligations.

DONATE TO FFFC

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLUB, VISIT OUR NEWLY REDESIGNED

WEBSITE:

HTTP://WWW.FRESNOFLYFISHERS.ORG/

THANKS TO WEBMASTER GARY PULLINGS

BE SURE TO LOG IN TO OUR FORUM FOR LOCAL INFO

19

NN

FLY FISHERS FOR CONSERVATION

2018 FFFC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NAME(s): Please list names as you want them to appear on Membership Badge

1. __________________________________ Primary Member

2. _________________________________ Spouse

3. __________________________________ Relationship ________________ 4.

4. _________________________________ Relationship ________________

Retired: Yes ____ No ______ If NO please List Occupation _____________________

NEW MEMBER Yes ____ No ______

ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________

CITY:_____________________STATE:________ ZIP:________________________

PHONE:_________________________E-MAIL:_________________________________

Please note that all contact information above must be completed

Family/Single Membership……………….……$36.00 __________

(Can include partner & children under 18 years old)

Senior Membership (65 yrs +)……………….…..$24.00 __________

(Can include partner)

Junior Membership (under 18 yrs)……………...$13.00 __________

Life Membership (Can include partner)………..$500.00 __________

Additional Conservation Donation…Optional ……….. __________

Total Due………………………………………………. __________

You can complete membership VIA PAYPAL BY Clicking link

Or if you prefer; by printing form and mailing it along with CHECK PAYABLE TO:

FFFC (Fly Fishers for Conservation)

100 E. Sierra PMB 3310,

Fresno CA 93710

20

2018 Board of Directors

Phone Email

President Scott Piggott 790-8492 scottpiggott23@hotmail.com

1st VP Brian Loven 897-4700 bloven@vanbeurden.com

2nd VP Scott West 246-4389 mandydad01@gmail.com

Treasurer Ken Bush 641-5193 kenpat@sti.net

Secretary Dana Kahler 360-6000 danatkahler@gmail.com

Communications Scott West 246-4389 mandydad01@gmail.com

Conservation Hank Urbach 787-2156 hank.urbach@kingsriverfisheries.org

Membership Dennis McCullough 294-7235 dennis.mccullough@sbcglobal.net

Editor Judy Cameron 903-5123 cam5j@aol.com

Trout in the Classroom Bill Bruce 392-3963 bbruce@cvip.net

Education

Directors at large Kevin Wren 412-7552 kevinw@calwestrain.com

Jeff Trafican 260-7974 jatraf@yahoo.com

Phil Davis 307-4601 softhackel@yahoo.com

John Cameron 903-5138 flyflinger78@yahoo.com

Outings Leo Labbe 325-7235 lclabbe@comcast.net

Web Page Gary Pullings 917-7128 garypullings93720@comcast.net

Rod Building Jim Jacobson 999-8912 jmrjj@comcast.net

Fly Tying Jerry Hopewell 638-5282 fluestang@comcast.net

Fly Casting Garth Hirata 492-2885 garth4president@gmail.com

Social Jim Horn 271-5448 jmh77@cvip.net

Fair Mits Kozuki 646-3020 mitskoz@gmail.com