pff may june 2009

PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

JOURNAL

May / June 2009


Vol. 06 Number 03, 2009

May / June 2009, Edition

Penticton Flyfishers

Box 354, 113-437 Martin St., Penticton, B.C., V2A 5L1

Editor

Bruce Turnbull

Home Ph:250-493-7386 Work Ph:250-487-2000

Fax 250-487-2049 Email: [email protected] (or)

[email protected]

President Angus Cameron

250-762-4719 [email protected]

Vice President

Phil Rogers 250-493-8832

[email protected]

Treasurer Ken Baker

[email protected]

Secretary

Dennis Currie 496-5499

Membership Director

Tom Knight [email protected]

The Penticton Flyfishers are members of

BC Federation of Fly Fishers (BCFFF)

BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF)

Federation of Fly Fishers

(International FFF)

Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA)

Page 3— Presidents Report Page 4 & 5— Equipment Review—Wading Boots Page 6 & 7— Headwater Lake Page 8 & 9— Annual Club Awards Page 10— Ripley and Madden Lakes Info Page 11, 12 & 13— Kettle River Water Diversion Page 14 – Fish Out dates Page 15– Chinook Salmon Page 16— Picture Gallery Page 17— Classifieds and Calendar of Events Page 18— Tying and Fishing Techniques

Contents

Herb Murray (Shit Disturber) at Stoney Lake—by Bruce Turnbull

Penticton Flyfishers New Website is

www.pentictonflyfishers.ca


Presidents Report by Angus Cameron

ANGUS

2009 appears to be rehearsing a follow-up play of mother nature's act of 2008. By this I mean that we all know what happened to the start of the 2008 fishing season. In a nutshell the 2008 year start was extremely "late" in opening the bountiful reservoirs of rivers and lakes we enjoy in this province. Most lakes and rivers did not shed their ice fields until sometime in early May making for a vast group of fisherman to stand pat and try to be patient with the "weathergods"in their re-view of the time frames suited to getting the fishing season underway. As I sit here trying to assess the situa-tion we presently see unfolding before our eyes - a repeat of the enactment of 2008.Yes, there are a couple of lower level lakes that are open, Shannon Lake being one of them and perhaps the old reliable one such as RoseValley Dam lake. This day I took a trip into the Rose Valley to assess the "ice situation" and from my observation I

concluded that it could be fished in the next few days. But beyond these two above named lakes are all that are available at this juncture. It should be further noted that from my observa-tions Rose Valley is at the present time lacking in water(run-offs have not began as yet). Shannon Lake is an-other story, it is from my own experience to regretfully point out that there is very few fish left as a direct result of the mass rape by ice fisherman during the recent months of January, February and March. While this in itself is truly a sad situation it is best left for another day. This is one situation that will not be repeated in 2009-- the onetime discovery of a great fishery in 2008 on this lake is no more. On a more positive note the Club has

started 2009 in fine fashion what with the great Dinner/Auction event in early March and the follow-up program of bringing Phil Rowly into the valley in late March. It can be concluded that both events went over well and thus hopefully boding well that the re-mainder of 2009 can bring us all more opti-mism for the remainder of the year. Being a realist, let's look forward and let the remain-ing tracks fade into the past. Again, with thanks,

President Angus

Cameron

Vice Pres Phil Rogers

Treasurer Ken Baker Secretary

Dennis Currie

Your 2009 Executive


Equipment Review- by Bruce Turnbull

Wading Boots

( Rubber Soles )

with less exposed stitching and

fewer ridges and pockets that could

potentially hide stowaways. For

2009, Simms is again the industry’s

environmental leader by announc-

ing that they will phase out the use

of felt, with only StreamTread

Traction soled boots to be avail-

able in 2010. Simms President K.C.

Walsh says, "We know felt is not

the only material that has spread

invasive species and disease, but felt is

surely part of the problem. At Simms,

we've decided to be part of the solu-

tion." The use of felt soles is already

discouraged in New Zealand and will

be banned there starting with the

2009/2010 season. Many other countries,

and states, are currently considering bans

on felt soles, as well.

“The Solution” for fly fishermen is the

remarkable StreamTread Traction Sole.

Simms has teamed up with Vibram, the

unquestionable world leader in outdoor

sole design and manufacturing, to bring

you a radical new compound that grips

better than anything before it. Vibram

IdroGrip Technology uses a proprietary

rubber formulation in combination with

innovative and patented 360° lugs, spe-

cifically designed for use in wet, mossy

wading environments. This multi-level

sole pattern grips in all directions and,

essentially, sheds dirt and sand as you

wade. These lugs are able to penetrate

aquatic vegetation in a manner similar to

Yes, Simms has done it again! The new

Simms StreamTread™ Wading Boot

Sole is the biggest advance in wading

boot traction in nearly a decade, with

greater durability, easier cleaning, and

greatly improved performance over other

aquatic rubber compounds so that you

can wade with confidence.

For over a hundred years, fly fisher-

men have relied on felt soles, both natu-

ral and more recently, synthetic, as the

traditional wading boot sole material.

Felt’s fibrous, soft composition effec-

tively conforms to and grips slippery

streambed rocks, even those coated with

slimy algae. However, a recent and seri-

ous problem related to felt soles is the

growing spread of aquatic nuisance spe-

cies (ANS), such as Didymo algae and

New Zealand Mud Snails, and other fish

-killers like Whirling Disease. The slow

drying and porous nature of felt can pro-

vide refuge for these micro-organisms

and allow them to be unknowingly trans-

ported by the boot owner from one river

system to another. Simms has been an

industry leader with their

"CleanStream” design initiative, aimed

at stopping the spread of these invasive

species by building their wading boots


felt, and much more effectively than

other “sticky” rubber sole pat-

terns currently available. These soles

have undergone years of scientific devel-

opment and extensive testing by hun-

dreds of outdoor professionals and the

results are impressive. Testers claim that

the Simms StreamTread sole is, at

minimum, 15 to 20% “grippier” than

other rubber compounds, with some test-

ers feeling that is was twice as effective,

approaching or exceeding that of felt

soles. The IdroGrip compound works

well in a wide range of tempera-

ture conditions and, additionally,

has very good traction on dry rock. An-

other significant advantage of the

StreamTread outsole is the molded built-

in receptacles that accept the optional

Simms HardBite Studs. This takes the

guesswork out of the exact location to

place the studs and provides a firmer

foundation at the stud base. These steel

screw studs have a welded surface of

super-hard tungsten carbide beads that

are incredibly durable; they literally dig

in to all but the hardest rock to provide

ultimate control. Since they’re so hard,

they also reduce sole wear, potentially

doubling the life of your wading shoes.

If you wade mainly in fast slippery cur-

rents like I do, I’d strongly recommend

adding these studs to your wading shoes.

You can replace the studs when they

wear out, or temporarily remove them

for, say, waltzing around on the floor of

your friend’s wooden drift boat.

The Bottom Line? The new Simms

StreamTread Traction Sole is easy to

dry and clean. It's design directly and

responsibly addresses the growing

threat of Invasive Species in our

aquatic environments, something we

fly fishermen simply can’t afford to

ignore. At the same time, this new sole

material improves wading performance

over other rubber soles and can equal

that of felt in many fishing situations.

The StreamTread lug pattern also of-

fers greater stability and durability

over felt when trail hiking in your wad-

ers. And, when you torque a set of

HardBites into the StreamTread sole,

you’ve got yourself the longest lasting,

highest performance wading boot bot-

toms known to man. What could be

better? At a cost of about $30 extra

over comparable felt models, it’s a

wise investment by my reckoning. The

new StreamTread Traction outsole, for

2009, will be available on six of the

eight Simms Wading Boot models,

including the G4, Guide, Rivershed,

Headwaters, Women’s Headwaters,

and the entry level Freestone.

To learn more about how you can

take responsibility for preserving our

precious fisheries, take a moment to

visit the Center for Aquatic Nuisance

Species on the web and take the

“Clean Angling Pledge”. You’ll find

out how to thoroughly clean your gear,

so that you don’t become part of the

problem. Then, get out there and wade!

LL Bean

ORVIS

PATAGONIA

Source: Internet Trout Unlimited USA


Fishing Report: Headwater 1 is one lake in a chain of 4 lakes. They are called Headwater 1, 2, 3 and 4. Headwater 1 is the largest lake in the chain and supports a fine Eastern Brook trout fishery, caught either by fly fishing or trolling, often reaching 3 lbs. or better. Rainbow trout are also found in the chain and stocking is used to maintain a quality fishery with good numbers of trout. Less than 30 minutes above Peachland, the very affordable rustic outdoor experience of Headwaters - with its peaceful mountain lakes and cab-ins - awaits you and your family. Nestled in the wilderness, are ten pioneer style cabins - sleeping up to six. These charming lakefront log cabins are cozy, clean, well kept and welcoming. For those wanting a more rustic 'mother nature experience', we also provide designated, spacious and wooded campsites. From fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, hiking, playground and paddleboats for the kids in the summer - to snowshoeing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter - to a quiet weekend getaway - all at easy afford-able rates - we invite you to leave the pace of a busy life and come re-engage your spirit with mother nature Please note: Headwaters offers a rustic experience - just like the old days. All cabins are very clean and cozy, however, clean bathroom facilities with hot showers are outdoors and there is no electricity. (Grampa T says...no need for hair dryers up here). Call us on the mountain radio phone 1-250-470-9612

Checkin:2:00p.m. Check-out: 12:00 noon 5 Large Cabins (sleeps up to 6) $70.00 for four people 5 Small Cabins (sleeps up to 4) $55.00 for two people Additional Charges (cabins)$5.00 each additional person $2.50 each addi-tional child 14 Campsites (2 people) $20.00 daily For each additional adult/child: $2.00/$1.00 daily Equipment Rentals: Per Hour Daily Rowboat/Canoe $12.00 $27.00 Motor Boats $20.00 $55.00 Boat Launch (Guests only)

HEADWATER LAKE



2008 AWARDS

LIFE TIME MEMBER AWARD TO TOM DELLAMATER FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CLUB AS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE, PAST NEWSLETTER EDI-TOR, LEADERSHIP AND OVERALL CON-TRIBUTOR TO MANY CLUB PROJECTS

MOST ACTIVE NEW MEMBER AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO NICK PACE. NICK HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF NEW IDEAS TO THE CLUB AS WELL AS A LOT OF NEW MEM-BERS. WE LOOK FORWARDS TO NICK’S PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE.

THE HARRY FEHILING VOLUNTEER SER-VICE AWARD WAS AWARDED POSTHU-MOUSLY TO LONG TIME MEMBER JOHN WATTS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CLUBS MANY PROJECTS AND FUNCTIONS OVER THE YEARS. BARB WATTS RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF JOHN

MOST IMPROVED FLY TYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WENT TO PHIL ROGERS FOR HIS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN FLY TYING AND HIS ASSISTANCE AT HELPING FELLOW MEMBERS LEARN THE SKILLS PHIL IS STARTING TO MASTER


The Gordon Marchant Memorial Award was not presented this past year. The Award is presented to a member who over the past year best exemplified the purposes and the goals of the club with considera-tion to conservation work under the guidance of the membership.

The President’s Award this year went to non member Howard Grantham who for many years has helped our club and the Penticton Shooting Sports Club, with our work on Penticton Creek. Howard has been a staunch supporter of these ef-forts for a number of years and we thank him.

This Years Golden Throne Award goes to Doug Collins, the club bar keep, who for some un-known reason brought only a 6 pack of beer to a club meeting thinking it would sufficient. Of course the 6 pack lasted just two minutes leav-ing the balance of members thirsty.

The Big Blooper Award this year went to Angus Cameron our Pres., for his error in buying a fishing license this year and paying full fair when as a Senior he was entitled to a much lower fee. The award proved to be a huge benefit to Angus as it got him out of a speeding ticket on the way home. Its now resides on his mantle.

PENTICTON FLYFISHERS PAGE 10 PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Ripley Lake : There are Forestry Rec Sites at the east and West ends of the lake. Shoal all around the lake with marl bottom. Early season fishing best with chironomids or trolling leech patterns. Trout have been getting bigger over the past few years as stalking program im-proves. Expect trout up to 16 inches. Target some of the deadfall in the lake as well work a nymph around the few small points jutting out into the lake. Road Ac-cess from Oliver/Cawston back road.

Madden Lake: There is one good Forestry Rec site and as the lake is situ-ated in a bit of a bowl access is limited. Early season fishing using mostly leech patterns while trolling but some chironomid fishing can be successful along the drop off running down the east side of the lake and at the south end. Road Access from Oliver/Cawston back road and can be a bit rough but campers, trailers, and fifth wheels get in providing you are willing to take your time.

BIG WHITE— KETTLE RIVER WATER DIVERSION

PAGE 11 PENTICTON FLYFISHERS

Big White’s original application Nov 2007 was for total 398 million gallons; of which 87% is for residential use, 13% for snowmaking. Despite the above, Big White’s Micheal J. Ballingall is subsequently on record as saying “We don’t need that water right now. In order to make snow in future years, 20 to 30 years down the line.....with global warm-ing...we have visions of doubling in size in next 30 years” As is evident in figures below, Big White could grow 258% without need-ing additional water. Having the new application as a reserve supply to “protect against global warming” goes against the MOE established practice which requires that licence holders make “beneficial use” of water licences and it also is poor optics if some users are granted permits for possible future use when other users are given no similar offer. In order to have it appear that the new licence is in fact related to development needs, Big White, (although it has years left in its existing Master Plan which is good to 2039) has recently submitted a new Draft Master Plan to Ministry of Tourism Culture and Arts, (MTCA, for-merly Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Arts, MTSA) in an attempt to justify the current application. It is likely that BW were encouraged to submit this new Draft Master Plan in an attempt to justify the application. We are now being told by Water-Stewardship Branch and by Waste Man-agement that we need to bring our con-

cerns to MTCA who are now handling the new Master Plan. The process by MTCA does not include any Public Meetings other than a requirement that Big White, (sometime after the plan is published) will hold an “open house” re the plan. No Gov’t reps normally/expectedly are in attendance at any “open house.” We are therefore being told to take our concerns to MTCA, the Ministry re-sponsible for shovelling public assets into private hands, the Ministry that invited Big White and other resorts to “apply for all the water available,” the Ministry that appoints Big White’s consultant to be their agent in dealings with RDKB and a Ministry in which staff are acting like agents of private interests. We were advised a new Draft Master Plan submitted to MTCA is as follows: Plan proposes building from 13,800 bed/units to 47,000 bed/units with the latter figure awaiting further input from Big White before it can be con-firmed, but preliminary figure dis-cussed is 47,000.

Changes to Big White Ecological Re-serve (that was tried previously & re-jected but MTCA who may well sup-port it this time ). Two Golf courses. No Environmental Assessment will necessarily be trig-gered. There would be a 456% increase in bed/units over the existing, 10,289 figure on RDKB docs. As BW is rewarded with favourable

purchase price on land it will resell for development based on increasing ser-vices. BW is effectively rewarded for massively expanding its ski hill foot-print. (Pay 10% of appraised value ?) and note in current application at RDKB, that some surrounding lands don’t have to be purchased, this saves BW further cost, and yet these public lands will be effectively controlled by BW.

RDKB has advised that an accepted new Master Plan will not necessarily trigger a new or revised Official Community Plan (OCP) by RDKB unless the plan calls for development outside of the develop-ment areas outlined in the existing OCP. The existing OCP certainly needs revis-iting as existing OCP guidelines have no conservation requirements & OCP says “RDKB will encourage BW or other private... to create a golf course.” Re existing bed/units Regional District as of Sept 2008 had on agenda an application under Big White’s existing Master Plan for an additional 1038 bed/units to existing total of 10,289 for a build out total of 11,327 A Report from BW consultants indicates that (prior to 2005 water licence) exist-ing water licence capacity will serve 14,000 bed/units + fire etc. The 2005 licence is either a 90% or 112% increase over existing licences, depending on whether the reservoir is 21% bigger than licensed. On basis of smaller figure, extrapolating the math used by BW’s consultant, it would en-able build out to reach 26,600 bed/units,

Review of Big White’s Current Applications and Plans: March 4 2009

By Al Grant.. Boundary Environmental Alliance

Send your emails to the follow-ing, Ministry of the Environment Minister Barry Penner Email to: [email protected] Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Minister Ron Cantelon Email to: [email protected] Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Bill Bennett Email to: [email protected] Premier Campbell Email to: [email protected]


(A 258% increase over the actual of 10,289 and considerably more than the “doubling” of the resort that Ballingall has publicly proposed). No wonder that Ballingall has said publicly “they don’t need the new water” (for development servicing) Application includes support letter from MTCA who advise the District that “BW’s consultant, BHA, acting as an agent for Big White, is authorized by MTCA to also act as agent for MTCA.” Such an arrangement is inces-tuous and when considered along with the MTCA invitation to resorts to “apply for all the water available in the water-shed” it is apparent that MTCA is effec-tively acting as an agent of Big White and other resorts.

What significance in the proposed withdrawals? MOE Water Stewardship Branch, and the Minister of the Environment have dismissed concerns over the proposed withdrawals, maintaining that the pro-posed withdrawals are “not significant.” Regional Hydrologist, MOE Phil Epp has stated that: stored water is largely used for residential purposes, small losses from reservoirs to evaporation, maybe transpiration if there is a golf-course. The proposed diversion would be small relative to downstream flows. This I do not share as I have (expressed ) con-cerns based on information I have re-ceived. Unfortunately Mr Epp buys into the notion that this application is largely for development purposes (not for the future use described by Ballingall). He downplays reservoir evaporation losses as small, and apparently doesn’t know that two golf courses are proposed in the Draft Master Plan. Golf courses are wa-ter hogs due to major evaporation and transpiration losses. Further evaporation losses from snowmaking, which can be 10 to 20% as well as evaporation from sewage lagoons. Figures subsequently given of 9% of freshet of the 3 streams is based on what data? Given the lack of flow data for the three streams. If based on any recent measures they wouldn’t include the 2005 licence and its effect, which is not yet in effect. The data we were shown from a station higher up on Trapping Creek was

data collected for about 12 years, 27 years ago, what relevance? Above all, there is a lack of hydrology informa-tion or study in the area that would indicate the effect of these withdrawals on groundwater recharge and the rela-tionship of that recharge to the depend-ence of the Kettle on groundwater flows for summer and later flows. That lack of information should prompt MOE to decline this applica-tion until such time as the necessary studies are done and a Watershed Man-agement Plan is in place. Big White obviously has no immediate or even medium term needs for additional wa-ter and likely wouldn’t have made this application if MTCA had not invited them to do so. Public Consultation ? MOE has avoided requests to hold or participate in a public hearing and now suggests we should direct our attention to the “public consultation” that will occur as part of the MTCA process of review of Big White’s new proposed Master Plan. The only “public hearing” that is proposed in that process is an “open house” that Big White will be required to hold. An open house at which no government representatives are normally in attendance. The public consultation process therefore has been reduced to concerns being directed to MTCA, the agency working to advance Big White’s interests. It must be time to direct our concerns to the Premier himself and find out if there was anything meaningful in his claims that “the application would receive full community consultation, environmental review, community use review and complete community and scientific studies.” See raw footage of interview Nov 19 2008 at: http://www.youtube.com/user/SavetheKettle Or see transcript and our earlier com-ments re Premier Campbell’s assur-ances at: http://www.boundaryalliance.org/cambell_sassurances.pdf

1.) Conversation with Steve Rowe indicates that (as per act) Comptroller or Regional Water Mgr authorize water licences but addi-tionally, which may not show in the Act, the Assistant Regional Water Manager would actually sign off on the licences, in this case Conrad Pryce. Pryce recently described him-self as: Allocation Section Head, Okanagan Region, MOE.

2.)A theoretical figure for possible buildout of bed/units within the existing Master Plan. The actual existing bed/unit total is 10,289.(see detail on following page)

3.)Ballingall has variously stated that BW is presently at 16,000 bed units or 17,000 bed units and has talked publicly of doubling in size over next 30 years

4.) Ballingall has publicly stated that the reservoir hold 60 million gallons, which would make its capacity 21% greater than that licenced.


Letter to Editor March 30, 2009 Kettle River Echo

Re: Big White’s colors— they aren’t snow white! Big White plans to have it’s way with the upper Kettle River drainage. Their recently approved expansion gives them a capacity of 11,400 bed-units! They have huge expansion plans that will increase this capacity to nearly 47,000 bed units. The entire ROB (Rest of the Boundary) has a total population of ~ 10,000 people. To enable this expansion Big White has stated unequivocally that they want more water from the upper Kettle River and will do whatever it takes to get it. In spite of many protests from local ROB residents the MOE has indicated that they will give Big White the requested water on the basis that it will be an insignificant amount. Mr. Ballingall believes that legitimate practices like forestry that pay very decent wages and which have been the his-torical mainstay of the majority of the ROB residents nearly ‘forever’ no longer have legitimacy, only Big White’s plans do. In a recent interview, while looking out his office window at some ‘clearcuts’ , the harvesting of which pro-vided solid jobs to ROB residents and which had almost certainly been reforested and are now growing a new forest, Michael Ballingall stated that such activities…. “ scar the land---in a tourism area that already has enough scars.” This statement is incredibly revealing & arrogantly hypocritical. The biggest and ugliest “scars” in the “tourism area” were made by Big White with more “huge growth” and accompanying scars in the making. These scars are located at one of the most sensitive and fragile environments in the entire Boundary---the top of Big White Mountain. According to Ballingall however, they are OK; Big White made them and, instead of denigrating them as “scars”, they are legitimized by being referred to as: condominium development sites, ski runs, skating ponds, water & power-line R/Ws, sewage ponds, water storage areas, roads & even golf courses; as such, they are legitimate and really don’t qualify as “scars”! If they enable Big White to make more money then they must be legitimate, good and perhaps---- even holy. All developments made at the top of a 7,500+ foot mountain are, by their very nature, ecologically devastating. Huge investments are necessary to develop, maintain and service the site, involve lost environmental values, increased energy consumption with attendant increases in pollution and permanent loss of forests and their associated environmental ser-vices. Big White is proud of their developments and future mega-growth plans, and oblivious to the concerns of the ROB resi-dents. Yet their actions are largely responsible for the Kettle River moving from # 8 on BC’s Endangered Rivers list to # 2, a most undesirable ranking! Big White’s colors are definitely not green and clean. Yours truly, Fred Marshall Fred Marshall Boundary Resident

2009 FISHOUTS

Salmon Lake Sept 11 to 14

Kettle River July every weekend


Link Lake May 22,23

& 24

Darke Lake May 30

Idelback Lake June 27 & 28

Ripley and Madden Lakes

early May- Date to be arranged

Leighton Lake and

Tunkwa Lake Aug 8,9 & 10

Headwater Lake

Early May date to be arranged


Chinook SALMON The Chinook salmon is blue-green on the back and top of the head with sil-very sides and white ventral surfaces. It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body; its mouth is dark gray. Adult fish range in size from 33 to 36 inches (840 to 910 mm), but may be up to 58 inches (1.47 meters) in length; they average 10 to 50 pounds (4.54 to 22.7 kg), but may reach 130 pounds (59 kg). The current sport caught World Re-cord is 97 pounds 4 ounces (44.1 kg) and was caught in May 1985 by Les Anderson in the Kenai River (Kenai, Alaska). The commercial catch world record is 126 pounds (57 kg) caught near Petersburg, Alaska in a fish trap in 1949.

Chinook salmon may spend between one to five years in the ocean before returning to their home rivers to spawn, though the average is three to four years. Chi-nook prefer larger and deeper water to spawn in than other species of salmon and can be found on the spawning redds (nests) from September through to December. After laying eggs in a redd, adult female Chinook will guard the redd from 4 to 25 days before dying, while males look for additional mates. Chinook salmon eggs will hatch, depending upon water temperatures, 90 to 150 days

after deposition. Eggs are deposited at a time to ensure that young salmon fry emerge during appropri-ate time for juvenile survival and growth. Fry and parr (young fish) usually stay in freshwater from twelve to eighteen months before travelling downstream to estuaries, where they remain as smolts for several months. They also turn a bright red before spawning. They spawn in main channels in order to hide from predators.

The typical lifespan of an Chinook salmon is 4-5 years, although some Chinooks return to the fresh water one or two years earlier than their counterparts, and are referred to as "Jack" salmon. "Jack" salmon can be half the size of an adult Chinook salmon, and are usually thrown

back by sportsmen but kept by com-mercial fishermen. Chinook salmon range from San Francisco Bay in California to north of the Bering Strait in Alaska, and the arctic waters of Canada and Rus-sia (the Chukchi Sea ), including the entire Pacific coast in between. Popu-lations occur in Asia as far south as the islands of Japan. In Russia, they are found in Kamchatka and the Ku-ril Islands.

Chinooks are more territorial while moving and are easier to get at when they are moving in water of moderate depth. Fast sinking lines are still most useful. The angler should be prepared to fish at depths between four and twelve feet. The fly should fish much slower than the current. Jim Teeny T-300, T-400 and T-500

lines are most useful. Be pre-pared to loose some gear. Chi-nooks like big bottom struc-ture. These fish are much larger on average ten to twelve weight are most useful. Rods from ten to twelve weight are most use-ful. Eight weight rods are too light. A beefy nine weight is minimum. Spey rods capable of throwing fast sinking tips are handy on some water.

Source: the Internet


Picture Gallery Sawmill Lake


CLASSIFIEDS CALENDAR of EVENTS

For Sale—15 ft Sage graphite Spey rod, line weight 10, 8 3/4 oz, 4 piece, used only ten times. New condition. Price $375 O.B.O. Call Ken Cochrane 250-860-9128 or email at [email protected] Wanted—Pictures, locations and descriptions of damage to the wilderness caused by off road vehicles. See Bruce. Lost—A good fishing story went missing and we would like the members to search long and hard to see if they have one in themselves that they would like to share. Send your story and pics if you have them to the Editor. He would appreciate the help with upcoming newsletters.

May 7—General meeting. Time 7 pm. May 14—Last fly tying night of the season. Fly tying will start back up in October. Time 7 pm. May 20—Executive Meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm. June 04—Last General meeting before the summer break. Come out and find out about summer fish outs and what else is going on. Time 7 pm. June 17—Executive meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm. Location of summer Exec meetings to be discussed and arranged. Sept 3—First General Meeting of the fall. Come out and see and hear what has been going on with members over the summer months and also see what the club has planned for the fall session. Time 7 pm. Sept 16—Executive meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm. Oct 01—General Meeting Time 7 pm. Oct 8—First fly tying session of the fall. Time 7 pm. Oct 14—Executive Meeting at Phil Rogers house. Time 7 pm.

www.bcwf.bc.ca

www.bcfff.bc.ca

www.pentictonflyfishers.ca

www.troutwaters.ca

Tying and Fishing Techniques

The Penticton Flyfishers meet the first Thursday of every month except July and August when we meet at nearby fish-outs. Club meetings begin at 7 pm at the “OLD CPR” Train Station on Hastings St., and everyone is welcome. Membership costs $40 per year (Junior membership is free) and includes membership in the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers, the B.C. Wild-life Federation, The Federation of Fly Fishers (International), and the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA). The club is registered as a society and its function is to promote the sport of fly fishing, to educate, and to conserve and protect the environment. The club is actively involved in conservation projects throughout the Okanagan and surrounding areas. If you would like more information about the club, its membership, projects and programs, please call any member of the Executive (see inside front cover).

Bruce Turnbull Bruce Turnbull

Hook: Standard dry fly, sizes 18 to 10 (the hook shown is a Tiemco 101). Thread: Single-strand floss and 8/0, 6/0 or 3/0 thread (both floss and thread should be the same colour; colours include yellow, red, black, orange, green, and fluorescent ver-sions of these colours). Tail: Moose-body hairs. Hump, and Wings: Natural elk hair. Hackle: One grizzly and one brown.

The Humpy seems to have established itself as the number-one rough-water dry fly. Its hair hump adds buoyancy, and the tips of the fibers that form this hump make the wings. Clever. I will show you a few unconventional techniques for ty-

ing this fly that make it quick to tie and durable.

Here are a few pointers for tying the Humpy that I have discovered on my own: Elk hair is the best for the humpy's hump and wings - elk hair is generally much tougher than deer, and the hump is secured at both ends which makes it vulnerable between. Deter-mine the thickness of the hump-wing hair bunch to suit the wings; don't worry about the hump. Again, careful measuring of the tail and wing-hump hair is critical . . .but even when meas-uring is done carefully, variations in hook design will vary the length of the wings somewhat, though not to any real consequence. Single-strand floss used as thread for the first few steps will make the Humpy go quickly - the floss covers the hair much faster than would any

thread, and the floss's strength allows you to really secure the hair. When drawing the hump-wing hair up and for-ward, stroke lightly as you grasp up the hairs to even out tension among them. One of my favourite flies on streams or lakes.

HUMPY

pff may june 2009

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