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Thoughts on Mammoth

From Club Member, Brad Elliot:

If you want to have a fun and enjoyable trout fishing experience, signup for the next Mammoth Fishout. John and Elaine Cook host this wonderful experience. They have been fishing this area for many years and know all the places to go, flies to use etc. etc. This was my second year in this gorgeous area in the fall of the eastern Sierras. I am an avid float tuber and my buddy Mike Lovejoy and I enjoyed some wonderful days on the beautiful mountain lakes catching rainbows up to 20″. What fun! The food and conversation over cocktails in the evening just add to the great fishing during the day.

From Fish Master, John Cook:

Elaine and I have been doing this for many many years, more like decades, and each year we find it entirely different than the last. The variables include personalities, the weather, fishing conditions, water levels, Crowley conditions, hatches  etc. etc. etc. Even after all this time we love it and look forward to the next. And the best thing is, we always make some new friends. Hope you will be one of the anticipatory fishermen in 2024.

From Club Member, Scott Kitayama

Third year of going on the Mammoth fishing trip. My first two trips were primarily fishing lakes since the fishing was good, and the streams didn’t have much water. This year was exactly the opposite, the lakes were unfishable or I didn’t have much luck in them. However, the stream such as San Joaquin, Owens, Hot creek, McGee were all in good shape, and I had the chance to fish them with dry flies with John/Elaine Cook and Bob Garbarino . The weather was beautiful, Mammoth scenery is gorgeous, and small fish were willing to come up for flies. All in all it was a good trip and helped me learn how to be a better dry, fly fisherman.

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October 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
   Fly Fishing Film Tour Part 2
October Raffle……………………
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
 October Class: October Caddis
 Fly of the Month: Scintilla Bubble
Conservation Concerns……………
 Fly Fishing Conservation Best Practices
Membership Notes…………………
 Club Activities – October
 2024 membership renewals can be done online
Fishout Schedule…………………
Gone Fishing…………………
 Upper Sac Fishout
Cartoon ……………………
 A puzzle instead of a cartoon this month!

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Don’t wait to wade!

When I think of fly fishing, my mind often conjures up the iconic image from “A River Runs Through It”: the elegant overhead casting of a dry fly in the middle of a picturesque river. However, upon joining the Santa Cruz club about five years ago, I was surprised to discover that river fishouts had become a rarity. I was told that these outings used to be more common, but as time passed, the interest dwindled, and the club aged.  Recently, we’ve experienced an influx of new members, and with their arrival, several new river fishouts have been organized. I’ve just returned from one on the upper Sac, and I’m reminded of the beauty and serenity of wading in a river.

Wading is good for your soul if you have good soles

Imagine my shock when I found the rocks in the upper Sac to be exceptionally slippery. For the past three years, I’ve relied on Vibram-sole wading boots for my angling adventures on rivers like the Stanislaus, Truckee, Putah, Firehole, and San Lorenzo with little trouble. However, during our upper Sac fishout, seven club members, all wearing Vibram-soled boots, took unexpected dips into the river. The following day, I replaced my Vibram soles with felt, and the difference in traction was remarkable. I was taken aback by the discrepancy, especially since fishing gear advertisements and videos often promote rubber soles as the modern choice, portraying felt soles as outdated. While there are places that ban felt soles due to environmental concerns, California isn’t one of them, and we frequently encounter slippery algae and granite here. I strongly urge you to prioritize the best traction boots available when wading. Below is a chart I sourced from Korkers’ website, illustrating the types of soles and their effectiveness on various surfaces.

Remember, traction matters, as does balance

My earliest fly fishing experiences were on streams where I could quickly move along the banks of small mountain creeks. However, the upper Sac fishout was a stark reminder that stream fishing can be more challenging than I recall. It’s not merely a lapse in memory; walking on streams becomes increasingly challenging with age. I’ve attached a graph depicting a simple balance test and its correlation with “perceived age.” As you can see, there’s a notable decline after reaching 40 years of age.

Now, I’m no expert in wade fishing, so if you require detailed information about equipment, you can seek advice from the club via Google Groups or visit a fly fishing shop for proper gear setup. However, here are some safety items I personally use: a wading belt, a wading staff, a whistle, a walkie-talkie, a cell phone, and a fishing partner.

My ultimate advice: don’t wait

This is counsel I’m personally taking to heart. My plan is to embark on more river fishing trips and maintain my physical fitness. Hopefully, I’ll continue to enjoy fishing from a boat or float tube when wading becomes more challenging. And for our younger club members, I encourage you to seize your “River Runs Through It” experience as soon as possible.

Wishing you great fishing adventures this October,

Scott Kitayama President, Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club

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Upper Sac Fishout

The fishout on the upper Sac was from Sept 8th – 10th.  Members stayed at the Sims Flat campground and in Dunsmuir.   The days were  warm, but in the early morning, you could feel fall in the air and the stream water temperature had cooled down.   According to fish master, Alex Ferber, the upper Sac can be a fickle stream and the fishing was tough.   Fish were mainly caught nymphing though there were dry fly opportunities in the evening.

New members that took advantage of the fishout included: Alex F, Scott A, Robert H, Clark C. Other members included: Scott C, Greg F, Bob G and Scott K.

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September 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
   Fly Fishing Film Tour
September Raffle……………………
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
 Sept. Class: Barry Smelt
 Fly of the Month: Blue Winged Olive
Conservation Concerns……………
 Costly Columbia River Hatchery Program—Results Disappointing
Membership Notes…………………
 Club Activities – September
Fishout Schedule…………………
Gone Fishing…………………
 Another Successful Surf Fish Outing!
Cartoon ……………………

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Making Fall Season the Best Fishing Season

Since  my roles as a parent and at work have lightened, I welcome the upcoming fall season as a perfect time for fishing. With Sierra streams returning to their normal levels, cooler weather offering better conditions in local lakes, and a potentially lower risk of heat and fire hazards, the potential is high to turn this season into a wonderful opportunity for fly fishing. Now, how can we all maximize this experience?

Let’s Ignite the Enthusiasm!

We’ve all indulged in fly fishing videos on platforms like YouTube. While some are undeniably captivating, much like action films, they lack the immersive experience of sitting amidst an animated theater crowd, feeling the collective thrill and vitality. The memory may still linger of the Fly Fishing Film Tour’s past appearance at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz. Regrettably, the tour skipped Santa Cruz in recent years and last year, its Bay Area screenings were a no-show. Yet, Justin Ice, a dedicated SCFF Board member, took it upon himself to resurrect the film’s presence in Santa Cruz. As a result, the 2023 film will grace our September and October fly fishing meetings. The decision was made to make the screening open and free for all attendees, fostering a packed house and igniting a sense of festivity and dynamism. Anticipate fantastic door prizes and an array of appealing raffle items.

Even the mere trailers of the film have me itching to head out fishing.

Following that, let’s plan our excursions

From September onwards, I’ve marked my calendar for seven out of eight consecutive weekends for fishing. Am I boasting? Well, guilty as charged. However, the noteworthy detail is that each of these trips is a part of SCFF fishouts, and among them, four are conveniently local (Beach, Beach, Kelly Lake, Forebay). A few years ago, a survey aimed at gauging the most valuable club activities for members—such as education, guest speakers, casting workshops, fly tying sessions, and fishouts—revealed that fishouts took the lead. This year, the club has significantly ramped up the number of fishouts on offer. If you haven’t yet taken part in a club fishout, I highly encourage you to do so. It’s the simplest path to acquainting yourself with fellow club members and discovering new territories or styles of fly fishing.

Share your escapades post-trip

Whether your fishing adventure yields a Personal Best or Personal Bust, your fellow club members would greatly appreciate hearing about it. If you’ve captured an impressive shot and wish to showcase it to the world, simply forward your photo to Jerry McKeon at metropolitantrout@gmail.com. Alternatively, if you’ve got an anecdote or an image to share exclusively with club members, you can submit it to info@santacruzflyfishing.com to feature it in the newsletter. Alternatively, dispatch it to santacruzflyfishing@googlegroups.com to ensure its delivery to all club members.

My sincere hope is that you leverage the meetings, the fishouts, and the insights, camaraderie, and feedback from your fellow club members to make this fall season your most memorable one yet.

Wishing you tight lines and looking forward to meeting you soon,

Scott Kitayama

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August 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
   August BBQ
Summer Raffle Schedule……………………
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
 August Class: Chubby Chernobyl
 Fly of the Month: Parachute Ant with Orange Post
Conservation Concerns……………
 Fall Creek Fish Ladder Improvement Project Begins
Membership Notes…………………
 Club Activities – August
 Hands-On Learning Opportunities
 30 2023 Rosters Will Be Available
Fishout Schedule…………………
Gone Fishing…………………
 Lake Almanor Fishout
Cartoon ……………………

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Summer notes

We are going to have the Annual BBQ and Swap meet at the Aptos Grange on Wednesday, August 2nd at 6:00 pm. I kind of think of this event as a gift from David South and Kevin Murdock to the club members. They do all of the purchase of the food, prep and cook it for us. All they want is that we show up, eat some food, and have a good time. Its that easy to make them happy.

Bucket-List Fishing 


In June, I joined club members, Elaine and John Cook, Kathy Powers and Michael Sherwood as we camped and fished our way through Yellowstone NP, Cody WY and Dutch John UT. With guides costing upwards of $700 a day, it was an honor to fish and learn from fellow club members who have been fishing these waters annually for upwards of 25 years. We had lots-of-fish days and no-fish days, sunny days and God-is-going-to-blow-our-camper-two-states-east days. After two and a half weeks, I was sated; I could have fished more, but I didn’t need to fish more. And that might be the best way to end a trip.

Goodbye and thank you Emily Marriott

Just last year, Emily Marriott joined the SCFF club and the Board by volunteering for the Secretary and the Marketing positions. Without any prior experience in fly fishing, Emily learned quickly and became a regular at the fly tying classes and the surf fishouts. In August, Emily and Adam are moving to central Illinois to help care for aging parents and be closer to their daughter and grandchild.  We are going to miss Emily’s smile, purple hair, and great work she did on behalf of the club. Thank you so much Emily!

Welcome Carly Blanchard to the SCFF Board

For the rest of the 2023, Carly Blanchard has stepped in to be the Secretary for the club. Carly has been helping behind the scenes with the monthly online raffle and she is going to be a real help with conservation issues as she is the Environmental Programs Manager for the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed District. You can read about one of her projects, “Fall Creek Fish Ladder”, in the conservations section of the newsletter. We are lucky to have her join the Board!

We still have an opening on the Board for Marketing and Merchandise position. If you have a creative flair, like designing and selling logo items, and want to help spread the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing brand than let’s talk!

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Hands-On Learning Opportunities

If you are new to fly fishing and want some hands-on learning, here are some local resources.  The first is our club’s casting clinic held the last Saturday of the month at Jade Park in Capitola.  (Check the club activity list in the newsletter or the monthly calendar on the website).  Another option is to check the schedule at Central Coast Flyfishing and see what Geoff Malloway is offering: https://www.centralcoastflyfishing.com/

Local Recreation Classes Taught by SCFF Members

This fall, we have club members offering classes through the local recreation department.  This might be a good class for some of our brand new members or for friends who are interested in an introduction to fly fishing.

Discover Fly Fishing
Capitola Park & Recreation
Alex Ferber

It will be 5 consecutive Saturdays starting September 23- October 21. It will be held at the Jade St Park in Capitola and we will use the recreation building for our classroom sessions. The class is for those with little or no experience in Fly Fishing. It will cover basic casting on the lawn, as well as classroom instruction on knot tying, rigging rods for various fishing situations, reading water, basic entomology, conservation and an overview of the equipment one might need to get staying fly fishing. It is geared to those wanting to get into fly fishing or to those just getting into fly fishing who would like a formal introduction to what it takes to fly fish. I will supply all the equipment, including rods, reels etc.  you can sign up for it at:  https://www.cityofcapitola.org/recreation

Fly Fishing 101  Oct 17 and Oct 21
Santa Cruz Park & Recreation
Tim Loomis

Fly fishing demystified! This class will cover the basics of fly fishing along with the history of the sport from its evolution of tree branches as poles to state of the art graphite rods. Learn about two of the commonly used types of fly fishing along with the ABCs of casting with all the various knots, materials and gear available. Then we will head outside to practice the skills learned. Discover a lifelong hobby that will take you into the great outdoors. Tuesday’s class is instructional and Saturday’s class will be held outdoors. Rods, reels and gear are all provided. A material fee of $30.00 is due to the instructor at the first class. Tuesday’s class will take place at 7pm at the LNCC, Saturday’s class will take place at 10:00am at DeLaveaga Park Meadow.

Additional info and sign up detail at:

https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/faq/activity-guide-english

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July 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
  No monthly meeting in July – August BBQ
Summer Raffle Schedule……………………
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
 July Class: Copper John
 Fly of the Month: Renegade Fly
Conservation Concerns……………
 Tulare Lake is Back—For Now
Membership Notes…………………
 Club Activities – July
  Fly Casting Meetup July 22 at Jade St. Park
 2023 Rosters available August BBQ
Fishout Schedule…………………
Cartoon ……………………

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June 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
   Lee Haskins (In Person)
June Raffle……………………
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
 June Class: Damselfy Nymph
 Fly of the Month: Vernille Caddis
Conservation Concerns……………
 Klamath River Dam Removal – A Deep Dive
Membership Notes…………………
 Club Activities – June
  Fly Casting Meetup June 24 at Jade St. Park
 Membership is at a New High of 212
Fishout Schedule…………………
Gearing Up…………………
 Alpine County
 SAFETY: A recycled article from 2012
Gone Fishing…………………
 Lake Nacimiento Fishout
 Fishing the Cantankerous Surf
Cartoon ……………………

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June Raffle

Ok folks, it is now June and time to really get serious about some fine fly fishing.
We have some great raffle prizes help get the party started.

ROD AND REEL PACKAGE
How about a winners pick for either a 5wt, 6wt, or 7wt V-Access 9 ft four piece rod in a cordura hard case along with a matching machine cut HCH reel. Winners choice from mountain trout streams to open water stripers and everything in between. One rod/reel prize will be awarded, winners choice.

HEXAGENIA FLIES
For some of us, June means one thing-HEX HATCH! And that means Lake Almanor, Butt Valley Reservoir, Lake Davis, Fall River, and a few other guarded secret spots that produce the mid-summer Hexagenia Fly. Lance Gray, famed Lake Almanor guide, has put together a box of a dozen of his favorite Hex flies ranging from his Swimming AP, Hex Wiggletail, Hex Dunn, to a Loop Wing Paranymph plus a few in between. A great selection of some great flies.
Note: Henderson Springs has quite a prolific hex hatch in mid-May.

STILLWATER GUIDE BOOK
The good news is that we had a very wet winter however the downside is that some of our favorite streams and rivers will be running high well into summer. Might be time to give some thought to Stillwater options. To that end we have a great book raffle prize “Fly Fishing California Stillwater” by Bill Sunderland.
This beauty is loaded with extensive stillwater techniques, detailed maps, gorgeous photographs, fly selection tips, and local connections to help you achieve success in our mountain and valley waters. A true treasure trove of stillwater information.

THE FINE PRINT
Raffle tickets cost a dollar each, $20 bucks gets you 25. Click on the following link to purchase your lucky raffle tickets:
https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/product-category/raffle-prizes/
The online raffle ticket sales office will close at noon on Wednesday the day of the monthly meeting (6/7/23). Club membership not required to participate, need not be present to win. The prize drawing will take place at the regular monthly meeting.

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To Promote, Educate and Enjoy the sport of fly fishing.

by Scott Kitayama

Happy June Everyone,  I thought I would use the club’s mission statement to provide a unifying theme around some disparate events that happened in May.    Usually, I like to discuss future events, but sometimes you just have to look back and appreciate what has been accomplished.

Promote: Did you hear about the Swap Meet that happened on May 20th?  If you weren’t one of the 150 or so who attended, it was a ‘shoulda been there’ event. I saw beautiful rods and reels that were sold for 10% of the original retail price going to happy fishermen from SF, East Bay, and other distant places.  Carly Blanchard created the Swap Meet poster and Jeff Goyert made sure that the event was well-promoted online and in print.   Due to generous product donations from club member estates, the Swap Meet raised quite a bit of money for the club and helps to ensure that next year we will be able to match and/or exceed our 2023 donations for conservation and education.

Educate: I am so proud to be part of a great organization that gives back to the community.  Below are the eight students that we gave scholarships in 2023.   The Scholarship program is headed up by David South and he has done a tremendous job this year; getting the club to double the scholarship amount per student, coordinating with the schools to select the students, and lining up club members to present the scholarships.  David South, Kathy Powers, Tom Hogye and I attended senior award nights and gave these students a chance to be recognized by their peers and parents for their past and future accomplishments. 

High SchoolRecipientMajorCollege
Aptos HSVivienne ChankaiEnvironmental Sci.UC Santa Barbara
Harbor HSMaya ManildiEnvironmental Sci.UC Berkeley
Pajaro Valley HSAlexa Falcon-VizcarraFood ScienceUC Davis
Santa Cruz HSJace GularteFire ScienceCal Poly Humboldt
San Lorenzo Valley HSMia HamiltonGreen EngineeringUC Davis
Scotts Valley HSPayton DufourEnvironmental Sci.UC Davis
Soquel HSJakob SporlederAg Bus. / Engineering.Cal Poly SLO
Watsonville HSAaron EscalanteEnvironmental Sci.Cabrillo College

Enjoy Fly Fishing: This spring, I have enjoyed the heck out of fly fishing. In late April, I caught my first ever sea trout, snook, and tarpon in Florida fishing with club member, Jeff Sloboden. Caught black bass locally and spent a fun day with some club members and local fishers in search of spawning white bass in the Nacimiento River (alas, too late). But for me, the biggest thrill was achieving my goal of the past five years by catching my first striper off the beach with a fly rod. What made it even better was that I was with two other club members, Bob Garbarino and Lance Boling. Bob was able to jump into the hole after me and land a striper, Lance had to wait a few extra days before he caught his. In all of these fishing adventures, what made them special? What’s that word again? Oh yeah “Fellowship“.

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SAFETY A recycled article from 2012


In February 2012, a fisherman from Oakland drowned in the surf on Rio Del Mar Beach. He had a wife
and two teen aged children. What a tragedy! It appears that he was in a strong rip current area, his
waders filled up, dragged him down and out. His fishing buddy could not save him.
So this issue, we think it is appropriate to discuss safety; surf safety in particular, but much of this
applies to any wading.
Waders are wonderful, but they can be dangerous. Frankly I cannot understand why any reputable
company would make waders without built-in belt loops and a wading belt, but some still do. We have
all gone on a fishing trip and forgotten something. The wading belt may be that item and yet it is
number one for safety with waders. You will not find me buying waders without belt loops so a belt is
always with my waders and never forgotten. And when worn, my wading belt is always TIGHT.

Think you are safe in still water?
At Pyramid Lake one of our members slipped on an area with a clay bottom. His waders did not fill up,
but he went upside down, because the air in the wader legs kept pulling his feet up so his head went
down. Fortunately his fishing buddies were there to assist, but it sure shook him up and he quit for the
day, cold and shaking with the aftermath of fear. If you are “top heavy”, be even more careful, because
your risk is even greater.

Moving water:
Streams and rivers: How many times have I crossed a river with my heart in my mouth wondering what
the heck would I do if my legs were swept out from under me and I went tumbling down the river,
unable to regain my footing? Well I NEVER cross a river without a wading stick of some sort and prefer
to cross with a buddy, holding each other when it is a serious current.
Boots: I totally prefer felt soled boots, but they are being banned in more and more places. In a
discussion with a Montana guide, who has one of the very latest, expensive rubber soled boots that
were supposed to be premium sticky, he said “Now I have to have a wading stick all the time. The
rubber soled boots just don’t hold like felt does.” I do not know what to recommend, other than adding
cleats, and I just wish I did not have to make that purchase decision for my Alaska trip this year, but I
do.
You do not need felt or any sticky soled boots in the surf. I wear boot foot rubber soled waders in the
surf.

SURF:
The surf is moving water, but totally different than a river. If you are even marginally aggressive, it is
not a matter of “if”; it is a matter of “when” you will be knocked down. So do your best to avoid a knock
down, but prepare yourself and you will laugh at yourself when it happens.
I have been knocked down to my knees several times and to my butt once or twice. I have slid off the
edge of a sand berm into a rip current and swam on my back for awhile to finally get to the side of the
channel and get stabilized again. But I never was worried because I had prepared. I have never lost my
hat or my gear. Yes, I am an aggressive surf fisherman, but I have seen more conservative club
members get knocked down too. In every case we have been safe because we had prepared in
advance.
Waders again, in the surf. Start with a belt of course, but also wear a jacket of some type over the
top, NOT tucked inside, so when a wave hits you, the water goes outside, not inside. A windbreaker or
other jacket cannot shed water if it is tucked in, yet I see that on the beach all the time. Many of us
wear kayak style jackets now, tightly fastened around the neck. And many wear a PFD – Personal
Flotation Device: You can buy different styles of these lightweight devices. Pull a lanyard in an
emergency and it inflates. You have to wear some type of lifejacket on the O’Neil Forebay and other
places, so might as well get a good PFD and wear it for surf fishing too.
If you are down and water is coming in, keep your head about you. Don’t panic and remember almost
nobody drowns. In fact the first story in this article represents the only person I have ever heard of who
actually drowned and it is possible he panicked and/or could not swim. You prepared yourself; you
know what to do, so pick yourself up calmly get out of there and go dry off.
Let’s go fishing: The rip currents represent the most likely place to catch any type fish in the surf,
because that current is pulling crabs, worms and lots of other fish food right through it. The fish hang
out there for chow, so I will not tell you to not go near them, but I will advise you not to actually get IN
one. Properly prepared for the surf, you will have a great time and only rarely have to quit early
because you got water inside your waders!
I’ll see you out there, with the other daughters and sons of the beaches.

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May 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
  James Garrettson of About Trout (In Person)
May Raffle
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
 May Class: Adult Damsel
  Fly of the Month: Klinkhammer (modified)
Conservation Concerns……………
  The River’s End and Hatchery Fish
Membership Notes…………………
  Club Activities – May
  Swap Meet May 20th at Aptos Grange
  Membership over 200
Fishout Schedule…………………
Cartoon…………………………..…

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May Raffle – High Flow Adventures

Under the heading of little known facts, when the Romans ( or whom ever it was) were putting together the calendar they named the month after April with the hope in mind that all of the land MAY be done with what seemed like never ending rains. With that said, let’s take a look at the great raffle prizes we have up for grabs at the May 3rd meeting.

Winner’s choice of either an Intouch Euro-nymphing 10 foot 2 weight Competition Nymph rod or a V-Access 9 foot 6 weight rod  with a matching reel.

Need an extra reel? Take a look at this GP model in black from Albright. While it is rated for 3/4 weight use, its oversize spool makes it more than adequate for 5 or 6 wt lines and backing.  It has a super smooth drag and can be set up for right or left hand retrieve.
With the expected higher than average stream conditions it would be wise to make use of a safety wading staff. This Aventik  four section spun aluminum collapsible staff will provide the confidence needed to safely reach the productive pieces of water. Comes with a neoprene belt sheath  which keeps the staff handy when needed.
Lucky raffle tickets cost $1 each, twenty bucks gets you 25. Click on the following link to purchase tickets:
Club membership not required to participate,  need not be present to win.
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the monthly meeting, May 3rd.
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Dipping your toe into Surf Fishing

by Scott Kitayama

What makes the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club unique? Many of the members would say “the friendly members and the helpful culture”. This is certainly true, but not really unique since all the other clubs say the same thing. What makes us unique is the miles of public beaches that we have and the number of surf fly fishing outings. I agree with Sam Bishop when he says the Santa Cruz club has the largest number of surf fly fishers on the west coast, but even with that probably less than 10% of the club does it on a regular basis. I am hoping that some of the 90% of the club will become regulars on the beach this year.

On Saturday May 6th, the first beach fishout will take place on Rio Del Mar beach. If you are remotely interested in trying surf fly fishing, I have some suggested steps on how to get started.

  1. Read Sam’s excellent writeup on surf fishing on the club website.
  2. Go to a surf fishout and just watch from the beach. Talk to some of the members and decide if you really want to try it.
  3. Go to the monthly casting class at Jade Park and try out a heavier rod like a 7 or 8 wt. (ask a member to teach you how to haul).
  4. Borrow or purchase the necessary equipment . 8wt rod with full sink line and stripping basket.
  5. Find a friend or mentor to fish with you.
  6. Figure out the right beach and fishing conditions so that you feel safe

I am going to talk about the last three items because I want to encourage more of the club to try out surf fly fishing. Here are my thoughts:

4: Get the necessary equipment: I am making the assumption that you already have a trout rod and waders. The surf equipment is different and lately, I have seen some options that are relatively reasonable. Last summer, Emily M, showed up at a fish out with a combo from Redington called a ‘Coastal Cold Water field kit’ for just under $400. It came with a rod, reel, intermediate fly line and leader. An alternative is to come to the swap meet on May 20th and see if you can put your own equipment together. Getting an 8 wt rod not only opens up surf fishing, but it also opens up other local bass fishing and forebay striper fishing. My take is that if you are busy with family or work, fishing locally can easily double your number of fish days per year.

5: Find a friend or mentor: When learning to surf fish you should absolutely go with someone for safety, having someone there adds another layer of security. Also, I find it fun to fish the beach with others. Another line close by will not spook the fish and the biggest challenge on the beach is to find the fish and what flies they want. Having another person improves your odds of finding the successful combination. And don’t be afraid of asking another club member to be your mentor as you learn. If interested, you can talk to me at the club meeting , email scottkitayama@gmail.com or by phone/text 650 279 5871. If I can’t fish with you because of timing (I fish on weekdays), I’ll find someone to help you learn and fish with you.

6: Figure out the right conditions: I believe the luxury of local fishing is that you can fish when it is the right conditions, not when you have scheduled vacation. For someone new to surf fly fishing who is wary of big waves, there is a way to plan ahead and find conditions that are no more dangerous than wading a shallow river for trout. For me, I use the app, Windfinder, which is available on iOS and android. Here is a screen shot from the app that shows conditions on a local beach:

The image is an example of a forecast for Rio Del Mar. I have circled ideal conditions for learning to surf fish. In the image it shows the wind speeds less than 4 knot, the waves are less than 3 feet, the wave periods are about 13 seconds and it is a falling tide. If you wade into the flats and time your casts based on the level of the water, you will be able to fish the surf safely.

I will not be able to attend the May 6th outing, but there will be plenty of people there to answer questions. And please contact me if you have any questions.

Tight lines,

Scott Kitayama,

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April 2023 Table of Contents

General Meeting……………………
  Mike Villemiare of Mammoth Lakes
April Raffle
President’s Line……………………
Fly Tying……………………
  Hex Mayfly Emerge
  Henryville Special
Conservation Concerns……………
  2023 Commercial and Sport Chinook Season in Jeopardy
Membership Notes…………………
  Club Activities – April
  Advanced Spey Casting Techniques Class
  17 New Members Since Jan 1
Fishout Schedule…………………
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April Raffle – Spring into angling endeavors!

A lot of us fisherpeople (is that a word?) think of April as the kickoff of a new season to launch our angling endeavors across the great outdoors. To that end we have some great raffle prizes up for grabs.

How about a winners pick for a V-access rod and reel package? This is a great way to fill in that empty slot in your fly rod quiver.  The winner (singular) has their pick of either a 5wt,6wt,7wt. or 8wt rod along with a matching reel. These picks can get you covered from the small Sierra streams to the big Northern rivers or the Stillwater in between.  It’s a winners choice!
Thinking of one more trip to Pyramid or maybe a spring trip to Mammoth Lakes?
Take a look at this Simms Gortex hat that will keep you warm and dry. The fold down flaps will keep your ears and neck warm while darkened underbill cuts down on reflected glare. Don’t let the cold and wet put a damper on your next angling adventure.
Anybody thinking about getting into Fly Tying? Anybody looking for a great gift for a Fly Fishing friend? Anybody need neat little Fly Tying kit to pack away on your next trip? This Fly Tying kit from Colorado Angler Supply is just the prize you’re looking for. Packed away in a classic wooden box is a vise with a pedestal base along with seven  quality tying tools. Also included is a basic fly tying instruction book. A really sweet prize for a lucky winner.
Raffle tickets are available online, click on the following link to purchase your lucky tickets:
Tickets are a dollar each, twenty bucks gets you 25. The ticket sales office will close at noon on the the day of the April meeting (4/5/23). Club membership is not required to participate,  need not be present to win.