President's Message
We have two of our biggest events coming very soon: Celine’s Fly Gals Weekend (CFGW) and The California Fly Fishing Open (CFFO). Read about these events in this newsletter. I understand we have just a few open spots for CFGW. Signing up is easy on the ssffclub.org website.
Also included in the newsletter is our schedule of events for the remainder of 2021 and our first event in 2022. The Club has been doing email blast as the events dates approach. Please check your spam folders in case our blasts have been detoured.
We now have the CFFO vendor form -informational sheet for those interested in being a vendor at the CFFO. It can also be found on our website. Also, I’m happy to announce Cece Rubin will also be sitting in with Par Avion and the Stoneflys on her sax. She has played with a wide range of big named groups such as Guns and Roses, Diana Ross and the Supremes, etc. At the other end of the music ability range, I will attempt to sit in with Par Avion for one song. I ask for your forgiveness in advance as I have no music skills. I also asked Jaime, co-owner of Rivernook campground, not to allow any fruits or vegetables, especially tomatoes into the stage area. LOL. This will be after my unassisted keg stand to start the afternoon festivities. I hope all of you can attend so we can raise lots of funds for our beneficiaries: Casting for Recovery and Kern Valley Search and Rescue.
I was recently reminded what it means to belong to Southern Sierra Fly Fishers family. I haven’t touched my guitar and amp in many years; it’s actually more like decades. Over the past 3 years, I’ve talked to Bernard Yin – Par Avion about sitting in on one of their tunes at the CFFO. It’s never happened due to a number of reasons but mostly my lack of practicing and me not knowing how to play the guitar. (hint, it’s more of the later) Well, this year, we seem to get an earlier start of talking about me sitting in. About a month ago, I was able to locate my Fender Strat and amp. I download the tabs to Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy, being the slowest, easiest surf song I know. Plug in my guitar and amp and I knew something was definitely wrong. I was surrounded by sounds of crackle, pop and being in back feed city.
I’ve known Doug Davis for about 5 years. I met him at one our Lower Kings outing and he’s a big dude, with a big personality, with a heart of gold. He’s been in the military service, so when he says he’s got your back, he really means he’s got your back. He’s also a rod builder. A while ago, Doug and I started discussing music; likes, dislikes, etc. He told me he’s into metal and fools around with guitars and amps. Remembering these facts, I text Doug a few weeks ago and tell him about my guitar/amp problems. He said “sure I’ll take a look at it. A few days later, I receive a text from Doug stating it’s fixed along with an audio bar of him playing my guitar. I’m thinking Doug is a genius. He said he took apart the whole amp and found a loose wire. He also cleaned my guitar and put on new strings. I asked him how much do I owe you. His reply “nada, friends and family, bro. This was not a simple process and it meant the world to me. This is what it means to be in the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers Family. We take care of each other and have your backs.
Come fish with us!
Chiaki
2021 CELine's Fly Gals Weekend
Sept 25/26
We are super excited to bring back our Fourth Annual Women's Fly Fishing Clinic on September 25 and 26. We have an amazing line up of instructors from all over Southern California to teach the class. Classes will be held at Rivernook Campground. The day begins with a fun and easy yoga class designed to fire up those fly fishing muscles followed by classes in casting, entomology, fly tying, conservation, knots, and gear and tackle. The day ends with a lively (No Host) Dinner and Pint Night at Eddy Out. We have a few spots left, so sign up now.
We will follow Kern County Covid protocol.
CALIFORNIA FLY FISHING OPEN - OCTOBER 9
Join the 6th annual CFFO. The 2021 California Fly Fishing Open is coming back to Kern River. One of our many goals as a fly fishing club is to give back to the community. We created the California Fly Fishing Open with the hope of building stronger ties with fishy fly fishing folks while also giving back to such an amazing community. This year entry proceeds will benefit Casting for Recovery SoCal and Kern Valley Search and Rescue.
We will follow Kern County Covid protocol.
MEMBER Spotlight
Featuring Lesley Smith
1. Describe the day you got the news you will be on the first USA women's Fly Fishing Team? It was a nice sunny Sunday in San Diego. I was sitting on the couch with my husband, Dave. I was working on my lesson plans for Monday and Dave was watching watching Down East Dickering (one of his most favorite shows). I opened up my email - scanning through the list - I saw an email from USA Women's Fly Fishing. Now I had received many emails from them - because I was going through the process. So I didn't think anything of it, I thought it was another questionnaire to go through.
Upon my surprise - the first word was "Congratulations" I was like - wait.....what?? I read through it again "Congratulations for your selection to the first USA Women's Fly Fishing team" Still not believing it - I leaned over to Dave: "I need you to read this" He read it, and looked at me - "you did it, you did it! You made the team." It was real, I had confirmation with Dave reading it. I still couldn't believe it - I thought I was a long shot: girl from San Diego, not a guide, closest trout good trout water 6 hours away. My second thought - thank goodness I checked my email and that it didn't go to the juck folder.
2. What was the process to enter like? It started with me seeing a social media post by multiple sources about an application for the team. I really didn't think anything of it, except - oh cool, we will have a women's team. It wasn't till a couple good friends of mine encouraged me to apply - that I actually applied.
Because of Covid - the selection process was different then a normal selection of a national team. Usually there are regional competitions, followed by nationals and the selection is made from there. In 2020, FIPS-Mouche declared it would hold a first ever Women's world championship in the summer of 2021 in Norway. The United States wanted to be a part of this and wanted to send a team - so they had to select a team. All competitions were on hold because of Covid, so the selection committee decided to select a team from an application process. There were multiple levels and stages to complete. With passage of one stage, more questions and references were required. This process lasted around 4 months. With many applicants - 6 women were selected to be on the team. At that time, we believed we were heading to Norway for Worlds. However, Covid is still all around us, and the event was canceled and rescheduled for the summer of 2022.
3. How long did you have to wait? Do you have a schedule of events? What makes this team so cool - is that we have women from all over the country: Montana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Colorado, and California. We all have a a wide variety of fishing experience and this creates a great environment to learn from each other. However, especially when you add Covid to the mix, it makes it difficult to actually all get together in person.
We all attend many zoom meetings intended to familiarize ourselves with competition angling. But it's not all about fishing. You have to remember, we are the very FIRST Women's team - we have to fundraise, organize, create what this team stands for and where we want to be in the future. We were very fortunate to attend a one day comp in PA this past June. This was the first time all of us met in person and it was the first time some of us were in a FIPS-MOUCHE rules runned competition.
I've never been so nervous in my life! And I'm a Division 1, scholarship, athlete! I met both my goals: don't zero out and don't come in last. I am happy to say I did neither of these. It was amazing fishing with women at a top level. We learned so much from the whole competition angling community that weekend. I can't wait to be in the next comp.
(Photo: Lesley with 2 of her teammates)
4. How did you get started in fly fishing? I can say I owned a fly rod before I met my husband! I"ve always been an outdoorsy girl. Even though I grew up in Orange County, I'm not your average "OC girl." My parents instilled in my a love for nature - we fished (spinning rod), backpacked (I've done the JMT twice, El Camino de Santiago, and the Trans Catalina trail), I even hunt. When I was in college in Ohio (Miami University - Go Redhawks) I bought a fly rod at the local Bass Pro shop. But at that time, there was no youtube, only books to learn from. I'm not a book learner - so the fly rod stayed in the closet.
Fast forward to 2015, I meet this guy who says he's pretty good at fly fishing (Dave is too modest - he was on the Professional Fly Fishing tour). 3 months into dating, Dave bought me waders and boots, and we were off to the Owens. He rigged up a dry dropper and showed me what to do. With him standing by my side - he handed over the rod and I made my first cast. The dry went under the surface, I struck, and a 12 inch brown was on my line. I looked at him and said "Is that how you do it?" Been casting a fly line ever since
5. Did you have a mentor? I absolutely owe everything I have learned about fly fishing to my husband Dave. I can't thank him enough! I do realize I am very fortunate. We both love to fish and we love to do this together. I wouldn't have it any other way.
6. Describe your favorite style of fly fishing? Oh wow...favorite style .... the one that is catching the fish! ha - that's what I love about fly fishing - or at least the way that Dave has introduced me to. There are so many different ways to fly fish. Fresh water: rivers or lakes. Salt water: bay, shore, or even off shore.
Just because a fishery is known for a certain style (size 26 or smaller ) doesn't mean something else won't work, you just got to try it. Just recently, Dave and I were with guide James Garrettson on the San Juan. Small nymphs under an indicator is the typical way to fish here. However, Dave and I threw big streamers and had a blast when everyone was looking at us pull in the fish.
But don't get me wrong - I do love a dry fly take, especially if its a bass blow up on a popper. Ha, I"m not a purist at all. I just want to catch a fish on a fly rod
7. What was your most memorable fly fishing experience? Most memorable moment - the summer of 2016 - I've always gone to the sierras to camp and hike. Even before I met Dave, I would do this on my own. Summer of 2016, I wanted to go to the sierras and go fly fishing. I don't remember why Dave wasn't able to come - but I went anyways. I set up camp and went to the upper Owens. For the first time, I was by myself rigging up my fly rod. Deciding what tippet to use, deciding what flies to put on. Tying all my knots, putting on my very own vest filled with all the gear Dave helped me with. Walking to the river I was so nervous, what if I don't know what to do? What if I don't catch fish? All that went away when I got to the rivers edge and I could hear the ripples in the water. All of that didn't matter, I was at the river, by myself, and I made the decision to do this. I can do this. I made my first cast ... and no - didn't catch a fish on my first cast this time. Actually I think I got tangled and had to rerig everything (which probably took me another half hour).
That trip is my most memorable because I made the choice to go fly fishing by myself and I loved it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love fishing with Dave, but at that point in my life, I needed to make sure I loved fly fishing and not just fly fishing with this handsome guy I was dating. I need to make fly fishing my own. It didn't hurt that I caught a lot fish that trip.
8. Why do you fly fish? if you could fly fish anywhere in the world, where and why? I fly fish because it brings everything that I love in life into one moment. Fly fishing lets me be engaged in nature in ways that touches all my senses. It challenges me physically and mentally. and it just brings out the best in me. I enjoy every opportunity I have to cast a line.
9. Retired or working? if working, what do you do for work? Nope. I've got a full time job; Middle school PE teacher. I'm starting my 19th year of teaching PE. I've taught k-5 and high school as well.
SCHEDULE of EVENTS:
September 25th and 26th: Celine’s Fly Gals Weekend at Rivernook Campground. A beginner women’s weekend clinic learning how to fly fish. Learn more
October 9th: California Fly Fishing Open Tournament: 5 person teams complete on the North Fork of the Kern River. Morning tournament, afternoon consisting of raffles, games, 2 bands for your entertainment, team parade, BBQ dinner and awards. Learn more
November 6th: Fish San Diego Bay from a rented skiff or from your own float tube/pontoon boat. Plan to launch in the early morning, fish for spotted bay bass and enjoy an early afternoon BBQ at the park.
January 2022 Lower Kings River. The exact weekend date will be announced soon. Meet Saturday down by the Lower Kings River for a group breakfast hosted by the Club. We will be meeting for dinner Saturday night at a nearby place TBD.
March 2 to 6, 2022 Pyrimad Lake Nevada. Save these dates to catch some of the largest cutthroats in the world. Additional details coming.
CADFW Fishing in the Heat Guidelines
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is asking recreational anglers to voluntarily change how, when and where they fish to minimize stress and mortality among fish populations suffering from drought conditions. CDFW is advising anglers not to fish past noon on certain inland waters as even catch-and-release angling during the hottest parts of the day can greatly increase fish stress and mortality.
“Many of our inland fisheries that rely on cold water habitat will likely be significantly impacted in the short and long term,” said CDFW Inland Fisheries Manager Roger Bloom. “California's drought cycles have required us to learn to manage fisheries with extreme variations in water flows. The last drought resulted in significant effects to fisheries that took years to recover from. We hope the self-imposed Hoot Owl restrictions by anglers will help mitigate those effects.” Coldwater species such as trout, salmon and steelhead have the greatest likelihood of being affected by the drought this year but low water levels and high-water temperatures can potentially affect all inland aquatic species. CDFW has introduced a series of voluntary angling recommendations – so-called “Hoot Owl” Restrictions – that directs anglers to focus their fishing during the cooler “hoot owl” periods of the day when water temperatures are lowest. A watchlist of specific waters anglers should avoid fishing past noon is included and will be updated as conditions change. Sustained afternoon water temperatures exceeding 67 degrees Fahrenheit for trout fisheries could trigger addition to the list.
Currently, the list of waters include:
- Lower Owens River (Pleasant Valley Dam downstream to Five Bridges) in Mono
- CountyHot Creek in Mono County
- Mill Creek (Walker Basin) in Mono County
- Lower Rush Creek (Grant Lake to Mono Lake) in Mono County
- Bridgeport Reservoir in Mono County
- Deep Creek (San Bernardino County)
- Crowley Lake (Mono County)
- Truckee River (Lake Tahoe to the Nevada state line) in Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties
As conditions change, CDFW will post the updated list on the “Hoot Owl” Restrictions page. Elevated water temperatures, lower oxygen levels, disease, low flows and low water levels are among the drought-related effects impacting many of California’s coastal waters and inland fisheries.
CDFW offers a number of other angling tips to reduce fish stress during the drought:
- Minimize the time you spend "fighting" the fish and any hands-on handling.
- Use rubber or coated nylon nets to protect a fish's slime layer and fins.
- Quickly remove the hook with forceps or needle-nosed pliers.
- Minimize the amount of time the fish is exposed to air, especially when the weather is warm.
- Keep your hands wet when handling the fish.
- If the fish is deeply hooked, do not pull on the line. Instead, cut the line as close as possible to where it is hooked and leave the hook so it can dissolve.
- Allow the fish to recover in the net before you release it.
- If the fish does not stay upright when you release it, gently move it back and forth.
- Avoid fighting fish from deeper, cooler waters and bringing them into warmer waters at the surface if your intention is to release them.
- Target fisheries that have stable water levels and species that are more resilient to elevated temperatures.
While theses best practices may not all apply to anglers interested in harvesting their fish to eat, mortality may result from non-targeted species caught and released or fish outside of legal size limits that must be returned to the water.
Credits:
Lesley and Dave Smith