This month’s speaker will be none other than our very own Fly Casting Master, Alex Ferber! Please come listen in as he shares his thoughts and wisdom on his passion for swinging flies for Steelhead and Trout. This session will be especially pertinent for those considering this month’s Fishout on the Trinity River.
Here is a short bio from our speaker, Alex:
My name is Alex Ferber, I am a long term resident of Santa Cruz, CA and currently split my time between Santa Cruz and Northern California. I am a semi retired Physician Assistant. I have been Fly Fishing for about 25 years and have been a licensed Fly Fishing Guide for the past 8 years. While in Northern California I focus on fishing for Trout and Steelhead. I also guide and teach Surf Fishing in Santa Cruz. I teach casting classes both single and 2 handed rods, as well as Introductory Fly Fishing classes in the Santa Cruz area. The rivers I guide include Fall River, The Upper and Lower Sacramento Rivers, the McCloud and Pit Rivers, along with Hat Creek, Burney Creek and various smaller creeks and rivers in the area. During the Fall and winter I am on the Trinity River, chasing Steelhead. I offer both walk wading and float trips.
My passion is swinging flies for Steelhead and Trout. A close second is pursuing wild Rainbows on Fall River with dry flies.
I place a high priority on teaching. My goal with all my guests is to introduce folks to new techniques in order to develop new skills, to enable them to become more complete anglers. I feel it is really important to be stewards of the rivers we fish and the precious environment we visit. We need to appreciate that our resources are limited and to not place excessive stress on our fisheries. When we visit a river, we need to ensure that we leave as small an imprint as possible. I try to pass these ideas on to all the people I fish with. Fly fishing should not be just about catching fish. We need to respect the partnership we have with the fish we pursue and cherish the wonderful places we visit. We need to ensure that these amazing places continue to exist for future generations. I look forward to sharing my passion for fly fishing with you!
NOTE: Meetings will now follow this time: 6:30 pm – Hands on Learning, 7:00 pm – Club information, 7:30 pm – Main speaker(s)
It was my 27th straight day guiding on the Kenai, and I’d just finished washing down my drift boat, backing it into its spot at the top of the hill. My hands were raw, calloused, and aching, but the fatigue felt lighter knowing tomorrow was my first day off in nearly a month.
On the Kenai, kings were everything. During king season, you fished—no exceptions. Guiding then was grueling, especially in a drift boat. The river itself is a beast: born from glacial melt pouring out of the Kenai Mountains, it swells through summer, peaking in July as rising temps accelerate the melt. It’s a broad, fast-moving torrent of turquoise blue, unlike anything in the Lower 48.
Fly fishing for kings is nearly impossible here, except in a few choice locations, so we run gear rods with line counters. These fish run deep. We back troll plugs or bait—usually cured salmon eggs behind a cheater or a qwik-fish with a sardine wrap—and row against 18,000 cfs of current, using divers to reach the channels and buckets where kings hold. The harder you row, the deeper and slower you fish. The harder you work, the better your odds of hooking one of these giants.
I’d just settled into my cabin, peeled off my waders, and cracked a warm Miller High Life when a quad kicked up dust out front. Jimmy, our mechanic, grinned his usual mischievous grin and asked if I wanted a drink at his place. Never one to turn down a pour, I grabbed my tackle box—because prepping gear was a never-ending chore—and hopped on the back.
We spent the next few hours trading pulls from a bottle of Wild Turkey and watching the river shift. The Kenai had turned from aquamarine to a bluish-tinged coffee beige. No rain all week, but southeast winds had rapidly warmed the glaciers, causing the lower Killey River—a tributary—to dump muddy torrents of glacial silt into the Kenai in just hours. I felt lucky to have the next day off. Tomorrow was the annual king salmon derby, and over 400 boats would hit the river at dawn. The thought of guiding behind that fleet in chocolate brown water made me shudder. A guide’s worst nightmare.
My mind drifted to my tackle box. What would I even use in those conditions? I picked up an oversized orange cheater and spun it between my fingers. It was an egg-shaped piece of foam with a hole down the center, painted in wild color combos, with two holographic mylar wings. You would rig that above twin stainless steel hooks loaded with cured eggs. Back-trolled behind a diver, they were deadly on kings.
I pulled out a Sharpie and blacked out one wing. In murky water, contrast matters—black creates a silhouette, and paired with flash, it might just trigger a strike. I tucked it back in the box, hoping I would never need it.
The next morning, I slept in until 8 a.m.—pure luxury. After breakfast, I suited up, grabbed my switch rod, and wandered down to the river to swing for sockeye. I’d been stocking my freezer with vacuum-sealed fillets to ship home, and finally had time to fish for myself.
Our camp sat at the confluence of the Kenai and Moose Rivers. The 400 yards of river frontage beyond the lodge was prime water—slower, clearer, and warmer—where salmon paused to rest and clear their gills of glacial silt. Step, swing. Step, swing. The rhythm, the sunshine, the solitude—it was bliss.
Then I saw Andrew, our lodge manager, walking toward me from the office cabin. My stomach dropped. Something about his gait told me my peaceful morning was about to end.
“Hey Jesse,” he said. “I’ve got a huge favor to ask. The clients who were supposed to arrive tonight got rerouted from Russia. They just landed and they want to fish. We need all hands on deck. Jeremy, Mark, and Dave are geared up with the powerboats, but we’ve got three more guests and need you to take them out.”
He paused.
“Oh, and we’re not totally sure what they do. Might be Russian mafia. Most of them are already drunk. You should be fine, but… just FYI.”
Just like that, my day off vanished. I trudged up the hill, rigged my gear, hauled my boat down, and dropped it in. The three powerboats lined up beside my drift boat—me, about to be rowing into a muddy maelstrom with a crew of mystery Russians.
I’m double-checking everything in my boat, contemplating the depths of my misfortune, when I hear loud laughter and guttural cries—expletives, I assume, in a Slavic tongue. I look up.
Stomping down the lodge’s long staircase are fifteen men in their thirties and forties, covered in tattoos and wearing speedos. Each clutches a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels. Apparently, they’d demanded the shuttle driver stop at the liquor store on the way from the airport and arrived half-blitzed.
My brain can’t immediately register what I am seeing. The only thought I can process is: it’s gonna be a long day. They swarm the boats, quickly realizing only three of the four have motors. All fifteen bum-rush the powerboats. The powerboat guides point to my drift boat and demand three men offload. Part of me is holding out hope the Russians will stubbornly demand these accommodations and that the three overloaded powerboats will head off downstream leaving me to enjoy the rest of my day off.
A stalemate brews until Kent John, the owner’s son, steps in. A seasoned guide and smooth negotiator, he promises the three who switch to my boat that they’ll never have to ride a drift boat again the rest of the week. After a begrudging agreement, three men approach my vessel. One circles it, throws his hands in the air, and bellows, “Where is the motor?! It is not possible to catch kings with no motor!”
That comment strikes a chord in me, I’m going to prove these knuckleheads wrong I think to myself.
We launch. I give a quick safety debrief and start handing out rods. I’m running a 20-foot Willie, with my clients seated right, center, and left. Center is Vlad—the drunkest and most vocal about the lack of motor. He’s going to be a problem. Dmitri, on the right, is the most reasonable. He had the foresight to wear a tracksuit over his speedo and listens intently as I explain our techniques. Aleksandr, on the left, interrupts me mid-demo, pulling out a chrome spoon from home.
“This is what we use in Kamchatka!” he exclaims.
I clip it on without protest and return to coaching Dmitri. He’s my only hope. I open my tackle box and see the orange cheater gleaming in the sun—like it was made for this moment. Dmitri gets the lucky cheater.
We pass through the no-fishing zone and let our lines out—55 feet on the side, 70 down the center. Dmitri translates for Vlad. Aleksandr is on his own program, casting his spoon across the river and ripping it back through the murk.
Dig and pull. Dig and pull. I settle into the rhythm, fishing hard. In a drift boat, every run counts—there’s no going back upstream. Powerboats zip past, on their way to cherry pick prime spots and hammer them repeatedly. I can’t think about that. I stay in the zone. I made a choice: fish as hard as I possibly can, for as long as I can.
Jeremy, Mark, and Dave with the rest of the Russian crew plane past us, and Vlad, still bitter, pulls out his phone. No interpreter needed—he’s chewing out his travel agent, animatedly describing the disaster. He hangs up and glares at me.
The cold sets in. Vlad and Aleksandr start shivering. I offer them Grunden coveralls from my seatbox. We settle into an uneasy truce.
Dig and pull. Dig and pull. I am determined to get my divers to the bottom of this raging torrent and scour every run I possibly can.
Dmitri’s locked in and watching every pulse his rod tip makes. By God, I’m going to get him a fish. We hook the occasional 20+ inch rainbow—wrong species—but the action is enough to entice Aleksandr to run a diver rig too.
And just like that, we’re fishing. All three rods are out and now I’m starting to feel a little better. Watching the lines and how they intersect the swirling currents helps me read the water and I settle into a comfortable rhythm as the river bank moves slowly by.
I work downstream diligently, re-baiting fresh egg clusters every 20 minutes. I’m burning through bait, but I want this to happen. Checking my phone—5:45 p.m. We’ve got 15 minutes left before rods up. ADF&G regulations shut down guide boats at 6 p.m. sharp.
Morgan’s Landing comes into view—a beautiful stretch of fishy water on river right, a series of buckets ending at a big rock that’s produced many kings for me over the years. My plan: run through the buckets, keep lines in, then scoot left and fish the swift hydraulics that wrap around the rock and into the boulder field below. Risky, but no time to reset lines. It’s now or never.
5:57 p.m. We’re rounding the rock. The run above didn’t produce. My hopes are fading.
Suddenly, I can’t see the right-side line. The rod is buried so deep I think we’ve snagged a diver. The boat’s drifting over it, hydraulics raging, and I’m pulling hard on the oars to slow us down before the rod snaps under the hull.
“Dmitri, reel up I think you’re snagged” I shout.
He stands, reels tight, and throws a heavy hook set.
“Is it a fish?” I ask, half in disbelief.
“No—it’s a friggin’ crocodile!” he yells.
And then, ten feet from the boat, a chrome-bright king explodes from the water, head-shaking in the sun and raining droplets of water down on us.
“Everyone, lines in!” I shout, digging into the oars and pushing the boat downstream, trying to keep pace with the fish and steer us clear of the boulder field. A wave of sweet relief washes over me—but there’s no time to celebrate. I HAVE TO LAND THIS FISH.
About fifty yards downstream, the current softens and a gravel shelf stretches off the bank. I slide the boat over, drop anchor, and leap out with my landing net. The king is thrashing at the surface, and I’m sprinting full speed down the shoreline. I reach the spot where it last broke water and plunge the net deep.
It goes tight.
I lift, and the shimmering beast rises into the air to the roar of my Russian crew. They’re high-fiving, passing around slugs of whiskey, shouting in triumph while I stand there catching my breath—net in hand, heart pounding, safe on the gravel shoal.
I can’t describe the flood of emotion—disbelief, relief, shock. What a day.
Across the river, the three powerboats have stopped mid-channel, idling. The guides stare silently, their bundled-up Russian passengers watching from behind fogged sunglasses. I raise a hand in salute. One by one, the boats throttle up, plane out, and head back toward the lodge.
We don’t have that luxury. We’ve got two more river miles to go before we reach our take-out spot north of Soldotna. We spend the rest of the drift swapping fishing stories and passing around their whiskey bottles. “What do you think that fish weighs?” Vlad asks in broken English, “Twenty kilos?”
I check my phone for the conversion—about 45 pounds. “Yeah, twenty kilos at least,” I nod.
For the first time all day, I feel not just tolerated, but truly accepted. Their beaming approval and newfound respect for my lowly drift boat craft is unmistakable.
Back at the lodge, I drop them off at the top of the hill to rejoin their crew at happy hour. I head down to the fillet tables to clean my rig and process their catch.
All eyes are on me—mine was the only boat that needed the fillet table that day. I can hear their cheers echoing from the deck above and soak in every bit of it as I prep their filets, the king shimmering in the afternoon light.
Rig cleaned and gear stowed, I make my way up to the main lodge. The boisterous group of Russians is holding court on the deck, and when they spot me, they erupt in a raucous cheer. Vlad grabs me by the shoulders and pulls me to their table.
He announces to the group—loud and proud—that I was the only guide to bring in a fish that day, and the only one who did it without a motor. The crew hands me a shot of vodka, and we toast together, one big celebratory clink.
After ten minutes of handshakes, back slaps, and more shots, I leave them to their revelry and walk up the steps to the lodge. At the top stands Lawrence, the lodge owner—a retired NHL player who looks like Santa Claus if he’d spent his youth throwing elbows on the ice.
Normally stoic, today he’s grinning ear to ear. He extends a hand, slaps me on the back, and says, “Atta boy!”
Even 13 years later I think a lot about that day. I would like to think it was my determination, fishing prowess, or my lucky orange cheater, that brought me success. Who knows. All I know is that if you fish long enough, sometimes magic just happens. It’s the moments of sheer ecstasy in between the long days and drudgery that has kept me coming back all these years. Thanks for sharing this moment with me and I hope one day soon we get to share a little magic.
This is a variation of Cliff Watt’s Kilowatt fly that has produced some really nice steelhead for me on the San Lorenzo. I’ve swung it on a skaget line in the estuary, dead, drifted it on a tight line in the riffles, and through runs under a bobber. It also can be jigged like a spoon through a pool or frog water. As always, the classes are free and materials are provided if you have black 140 denier or 3/0 wax nylon, please bring it. The club will have thread to borrow. For you beginners there will be equipment to use as well. Sign up at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-345-0864.
Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to Fly Name to see more information.
To fish this fly, use a sinking line, twitch or strip to elicite a strike from a trout. Woolybuggers typically are not tied with bead chain eyes. They give an entirely different profile. This pattern also varies in that dry fly hackle is used and barbs are kept short.
Hook: TMC 5263 , sizes 8-14
Thread: color to match tail or body
Eyes: bead chain , size proportional
Tail: Marabou, color to match hackle or body.
Hackle: Neck or saddle. Color to match body or tail, or dun.
Body: Chenille: black, brown, olive, cinnamon, or those colors variegated.
1. Crimp Barb.
2. Attach thread behind eye. Touching wraps 1/4 back on shank then forward to one hook eye behind eye.
3. Cut bead chain with wire cutters into sets of 2.
4. Attach bead chain eyes to top of shank, one ball on each side, using multiple figure eight wraps and around base of eyes on top of shank. Wrap thread to mid shank. Apply drop of glue.
5. Pull clump of marabou off stem of feather. Note: moisten marabou for easy handling. Cut off butt ends. Lay butts on top of shank behind eyes. Tie to top of shank back to end of shank. Break (do not cut) tips to desired length.
6. Select hackle with barbs equal to 1 1/2 hook gap. Holding tip, stroke barbs against grain. Position tip on top of shank, butt end to rear. Tie in place.
7. Pull fibers off about 1/4″ of chenille exposing core threads. Attach threads to rear of shank. Advance thread to behind bead chain.
8. Wrap body forward with touching wraps. Tie off, cut excess.
9. Spiral hackle forward in 6 evenly spaced wraps. Tie off, cut excess. A couple more thread wraps to secure.
10. Make several figure 8 wraps around bead chain eyes. Wrap thread head. Whip finish. Cut thread. Apply glue to head.
Every year, Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club contributes a significant portion of its annual budget to support conservation organizations. This year the board decided to increase our contribution to $5,000. What made this possible is our increased membership and your generous donations and participation in our annual fundraiser. For this month’s Conservation Concerns article, I have passed on some of the thank-you letters we’ve received from the organizations we support. Some of the letters include the important work they are doing. I hope you enjoy them. Our contributions are appreciated!
From Carmel River Steelhead Association:
Santa Cruz Fly Fishing
Robert Garbarino
Conservation Chair
Dear Bob
Thank you for your donation of $500.00 to the Carmel River Steelhead Association (CRSA).
CRSA will use your generous gift to further the cause of returning the Carmel River and its
Iconic Sea Run Rainbow Trout – Steelhead – back to their historic conditions.
CRSA is a non profit grassroots organization dedicated to the repatriation of the federally
threatened Steelhead back into the Carmel River. Your donation is tax deductible and very
much appreciated.
Really appreciate your help with our rescues. Your donation is vey generous and will help
CRSA continue its work in bringing back these iconic sea run rainbows.
Sincerely,
The Carmel River Steelhead Association
From Friends of the Eel River:
Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club
ATTN: Bob Garbarino
P.O. Box 2008
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Dear Bob,
I am so thankful for your $400.00 donation to Friends of the Eel River. You are a part of vital work to remove dams, protect endangered species. and safeguard critical habitat.
Thanks to your support, we have the resources to continue pushing for expedited dam removal.
In July 2025,PG&E filed their final License Surrender Application and Decommissioning plan with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This provides an important opportunity for stakeholders to speak directly to FERC and emphasize the broad regional support for PG&E’s dam removal proposal.
Please visit eelriver,org/action for instructions on voicing your support for dam removal to FERC.
Over the next several years, stakeholders will work with PG&E to develop management plans that outline much of the details of how dam removal and restoration in the project footprint will take place. PG&E is committed to making this the fastest FERC dam removal on record and believes that a license surrender order could be issued as early as 2028. Thanks to your support, we’Il be a part of the process to ensure that dam removal and restoration are properly focused on protecting and recovering the Eel River and its fisheries. Be sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter to stay informed as this process continues.
Also over this summer our public trust groundwater case was heard in the Humboldt County Superior Court. This case is about ensuring that the entities with a duty to protect public trust resources are adequately considering impacts of groundwater use in the lower river. During critically dry times, groundwater extraction in the lower river has significant impact on surface flows. Stay tuned, we expect a ruling before the end of the year.
We’ve still got a lot of work to do to achieve ecological resilience for the Eel River and its fisheries, but FOER is a tenacious organization. The Eel River watershed is a truly magnificent place that deserves the best we can give. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to do just that.
Sincerely,
Alicia Hamann
Executive Director
From the Osprey:
Dear Bob Garbarino,
On behalf of The Osprey, Pete Soverel and I wish to express our sincere appreciation for your
generous contribution made in support of The Osprey: The International Journal of Salmon and
Steelhead Conservation. Your gift to The Osprey provides critically important support of the new
editorial and management committee working hard to make the Osprey even better and
distributed more broadly. It provides The Osprey board of editors and the organizations managing
the Osprey with both motivation and inspiration to continue our efforts to increase scientific
knowledge and our shared personal connection to the importance of wild fish across the entire
North Pacific.
Thank you so much!
Pete Soverel, Osprey Chair
Brian Morrison, Osprey Editor
Contact: Chris Jones, Osprey Gift Manager
chris.jones@theconservationangler.org
www.ospreysteelhead.org
From CalTrout:
Dear Bob,
Thank you so much for your gift of $500.00, received on
09/10/2025.
We appreciate you for standing with us as we protect California’s
waters and resilient wild fish.
With gratitude,
Curtis Knight
Executive Director
From California Sportfishing Protection Alliance:
Dear Bob Garbarino,
On behalf of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, I would like to thank you and the
Santa Cruz Fishing Club for your gracious donation to California Sportfishing Protection
Alliance. Receipt of your donation is provided below.
Organization : California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Campaign: Donation
Donor: Bob Garbarino on behalf of the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club
Amount: S400.00
Donation Interval: One Time
Donated Received: 9/11/2025
Payment Method: Check
This letter may serve as a record of your donation. No goods or services were provided for this
contribution. Our postal address is P.O Box 1061, Groveland, CA95321. CSPA’s 501 (3c)
number (Tax ID #) is 68-0004105.
We urge you to keep up with us at Calsport.org and recommend signing up to receive our email
newsletter to keep current on CSPS business, comments, and victories.
With Gratitude,
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
From Restore the Delta:
Robert Garbarino
Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club
PO Box 2008
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Dear Robert and friends at Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club,
On behalf of Restore the Delta and our coalition of over 60,000 Delta residents, business leaders, farmers, civic organizations, community groups, faith-based communities, union locals, fishermen, and environmentalists, I want to thank you for your generous contribution of $400.00 on 8/10/2025. Your contribution will help support our work in saving the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary for our children and future generations.
For your tax records, our Federal Identification Number is 27-4179166. Your donation to Restore the Delta is fully tax-deductible; no goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donation. Your contribution will enable us to save the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary for our children and future generations.
Restore the Delta will keep you posted on the progress and details of our work via social media or e-mail alerts. If you are not already receiving regular updates from Restore the Delta, please send your email address to mariah@restorethedelta.org or call (209) 479-2559.
Again, thank you for your generous contribution, and more importantly for your confidence in our work.
Yours in service,
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Executive Director
Restore the Delta
From Western Rivers Conservancy:
Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club
PO Box 2008
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Dear Friends,
We are overflowing with gratitude because you are ensuring a future of healthy, free-flowrng rivers and
streams. Thank you for protecting the great rivers of the west with your generous gift!
With your support, Western Rivers Conservancy is currently working on more than 25 projects in eight western states. Your gift will help conserve Badger Creek, a key tributary to Idaho’s Teton River, and advance a broad effort to recover Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the Teton system. You will help protect nearly two miles of California’s East Fork Carson River, conserving prime habitat for Lahontan cutthroat trout, migratory wildlife and public access in the Eastern Sierra. Along central Oregon’s Little Deschutes River, you will help safeguard part of the state’s largest mule deer migration corridor. And you will help keep nearly 46,000 acres of the La Jara Basin in the headwaters of Colorado’s Rio Grande in
public hands forever.
These and our many other active conservation projects across the West would not be possible without your support. Your generosity will help leave a legacy of healthy streams for generations to come.
Please visit westernrivers.org to lean more about the invaluable riverlands WRC conserves. And, if you
know of a river property that needs protecting, please contact us 503-241-0151.
Thank you for helping save the West’s finest rivers and streams.
For the love of rivers,
Nelson Mathews
President
From Eastern Sierra Land Trust:
Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen Conservation Committee
Bob Garbarino
PO Box 2008
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Dear Bob,
On behalf of Eastern Sierra Land Trust, thank you for your generous support. Your gift reflects a strong
commitment to conservation and to the future of the Eastern Sierra.
Your contribution makes an immediate and lasting impact. From preserving migration corridors and
safeguarding family ranches to enhancing biodiversity and protecting open space, your generosity fuels
meaningful work across our region. You help ensure that children can explore nature, wildlife can thrive, and
local communities remain deeply connected to the land they call home.
Together, we carry forward ESLT’s founding vision: protecting the lands and waters that make the Eastern
Sierra so extraordinary. Thanks to your partnership, these landscapes will continue inspiring and sustaining
today, tomorrow, and future generations.
As we look ahead, I’m filled with optimism for what we can achieve together. Thank you for being part of this
vital work.
With gratitude,
Mark Drew
Executive Director
Eastern Sierra Land Trust
www.eslt.org | (760) 873-4554 | 250 N. Fowler St. | Bishop, CA 93514
From The Conservation Angler:
Dear Bob Garbarino,
On behalf of The Conservation Angler, Peter Herzog and I want to express our sincere
appreciation and gratitude for your recent generous contribution made in support of our
work to protect wild fish and wild rivers in the Pacific Northwest.
We heartily thank you for your steadfast and timely support of wild fish conservation!
Your gift provides critically important support for our work. It provides the staff and board
of the organization both motivation and inspiration to continue our efforts to increase the
scientific knowledge and understanding of the importance of wild fish to the entire North
Pacific.
Your gift also helps us maintain the tireless advocacy necessary to keep responsible
agencies accountable for protecting wild fish – for present and future generations also.
May wild steelhead survive us.
Warm regards,
Peter Herzog & John McMillan
Contact:
John McMillan
President
john.mcmillan@theconservationangler.org
www.theconservationangler.org
As a reminder, 2026 dues can be renewed online Dec 1-Dec 31 by clicking “menu->membership” on the club website. Because the portal is a secure platform, you will need your email and a password to renew your 2026 membership. Also your membership renewal date is on a calendar date from the date of renewal payment. We will continue to provide updates mid November and before December which will include the January date of the Annual Dinner, price, and ticket details, which can be purchase together online with dues renewals.
Mark your Calendar …tickets are now available below and at the monthly meetings on Dec 3 and Jan 7th. Tickets for dinner and door prizes will be $50 and members can renew membership and purchase dinner tickets in December online.
As stated in the club’s by-laws, we will hold our annual election for the Board of Directors at the December General meeting. We are fortunate to have many people who have volunteered to serve on the board and are willing to continue their service. This year, we have some openings in the nominations and encourage members to consider serving on the board.
In the table below, I have listed the positions and current board members who would like to continue to serve. You can run or nominate someone for a position where there is already a nominee, however as you can see we have several openings that we need to fill.
Officers
2025 elected
2026 nominees
President:
Scott Kitayama
Jesse Collins
Vice President:
Jesse Collins
Rick Chace
Treasurer:
Jim Tolonen
Bill Seaman
Secretary:
Kevin McClish
Kevin McClish
Committees:
Monthly Raffle:
Jeff Goyert
OPEN
Membership:
Bob Peterson
Scott Kitayama
Fishouts:
Justin Ice
Justin Ice
Programs:
Tommy Polito
Scott Anderson / Robert Holombo
Conservation:
Bob Garbarino
Bob Garbarino
Newsletter Editor:
Myles Honda
Myles Honda
Fly Casting Master:
Alex Ferber
Alex Ferber
Fly Tying Chair:
Elaine Cook
Elaine Cook
Marketing/Publicity:
Rick Chace
OPEN
Instagram Chair:
Jerry McKeon
Jerry McKeon
Annual Fundraiser Dinner Coordinator:
David South
David South
Annual Fundraiser Raffle Coordinator:
OPEN
Scholarship Coordinator:
David South
David South
Technology Coordinator (new)
OPEN
Member at Large:
Kathy Powers
Past President:
Tom Hogye
Scott Kitayama
If you are interested in knowing more about the duties of these positions, many of the descriptions can be found in this link. If you have any questions or would like to run for a position, please send an email to scottkitayama@gmail.com before Thanksgiving. And of course, any member of the club is welcome to attend the board meetings which take place at the Aptos Grange on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm.
Wild Alaska Salmon will highlight the dinner and we will have many prizes available for the raffle. A wild salmon dinner for at $50/person and expect it will sell out early. Click on the article to see who has purchased tickets to the event.
Fishmaster: Mike White Greetings fellow Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club Members I have been leading the Pyramid Lake fishing trip for the past ten years. It has always been a remarkable fish out, and one of the best attended too. This one is similar to trips we've done in the past except on a smaller scale. I have reserved 2 trailers and can accommodate 10 people. The dates are March 15th through the 21st. The weather can be very unpredictable in March, but we have had good times in the past fishing this time of year. The cost will range [...]
2026 Green River Fishout is now open! We are doing a maximum of 12 people. Contact Fishmaster Scott Andersen for more information; Cell: 831-247-2993. Email: scott.a.andersen@gmail.com
Fishmaster: Mike White Greetings fellow Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club Members, I have reserved June 4th and 5th for 2026 with Rob Anderson. He can take a max of 14 people. I am going to put together the details of the trip, and provide all the necessary information once you commit to the trip. Each person is responsible for their own lodging. The cost for the trip is $375. All your meals are provided. If you are interested in attending please contact Mike White at 831 706-5556 or email at lumberguy73@hotmail.com We must have a 50% deposit by January 1st [...]
Fishing the surf can be hard on flies, shredding the dressing from sharp fishy teeth and dulling hooks from dragging the sand. Building a robust, surf fly provides a thousand casts and dozens of fish to hand. I recently had the opportunity to take a fly-tying class from one of the bay area fly tying legends, Steve Adachi. He is the innovator of the Adachi Clouser and interesting variations of the same fly. The origin of the fly, Steve claims, is a culmination of original work by several historic striper fishermen and guides. Steve however, perfected the design and added his own flavored details and an additional robustness to the fly that withstands the rigors of time, tides, sand and almost everything lurking below the surface.
Steve ties his flies as he says, “tied to catch 100 fish”. He ties for some of the bay area premier striper guides, striper hunters, and fly shops up and down the California coastline. His clients demand the durability, Steve says. Although he ties different variations for himself and other users, all his flies have some commonality which has produced fabled success with both amateurs and professionals. Being an engineer, I know the devil is in the details and as Steve demonstrated in his ties, he annunciated the details for his long lasting and effective Adachi Clousers.
The key to building a robust fly as Steve demonstrates is in the layers of epoxy he applies during several steps within the tying process. Steve didn’t share the brand of the epoxy but did say the material he uses penetrates deep into the dressing and locks in the fibers and stabilizing the eyes. As I tied with Steve, it might be tempting to take shortcuts, use some UV or cyanoacrylate adhesive to bond the layers, but being patient is a virtue of fly fisher people and tyers who are unsettled with mediocrity.
The evening of tying ran long but the enthusiasm did not wane as I absorbed every fish story while the fly absorbs the thin adhesive. Tying a legendary fly with witness of a legendary tyer was a lifetime experience for me. I came away from the evening with a new appreciation and techniques to duplicate a fly I frequently use. I fish the Adachi Clouser in the Delta, San Luis, and along the Monterey and SF Bays, it works everywhere you find stripers or perch in the surf. It is a universal tie and with small tweaks can morph into almost any other baitfish found on the west coast.
The tie is demonstrated by Steve himself in the link below:
The details Steve shared with the tying group are important but are also easy to effectively replicate the with a rotary tool and a thin, slow drying epoxy. The epoxy I used to replace the process is manufactured by Flex Coat:
The material in the link is designed for coating lures and poppers. However, I called Flex Coat and they said their high build rod wrapping adhesive is the same as the lure coating. I opted to use the rod building epoxy. The adhesive is slow drying and provides a smooth luster to the fly.
Steve ties his flies with a heavy monofilament. The mono allows the colors and flash to radiate through the mono. The first adhesive is intended to bond the inner flash and the eyes. After tying the eyes and the flash onto the hook, a level amount of adhesive is applied to the body. You need to use a fly spinner to rotate the fly until the adhesive is dry to assure a level coating.
After the adhesive dries, the synthetic fiber is lashed onto the fly as descried in Steve’s instructional video, and additional adhesive is applied to the head and around the neck of the fly. I used a bodkin to apply the adhesive but any applicator can be used. The fly is returned to the spinner for the final cure.
I am not claiming to be an expert, but to the contrary, a layman who is continually learning and passing on techniques to other tyers. One note… given Steve’s high bar of catching 100 stripers on every fly, and considering my catch rate, my fly box is filled with two lifetimes of Steve’s flies.
If you don’t have the fly spinner or just don’t have the time for tying, you can purchase Steve’s hand tied flies at Lost Coast Outfitters for about 12 bucks which is a bargain considering the time it takes to tie and the material cost.
Our fish-out with the Stanislaus Fly Fishing Club was scheduled to commence at 8:00 a.m., floating the middle fork of the Stanislaus from Knights Ferry to Orange blossom, just outside of Oakdale CA.
Mapquest advises a 2 1/2 hour drive, so I’m up at 4:30 and on the road at 5. My canoe is strapped to the roof of my truck and all my gear was loaded the evening before.
Here is my essential list:
canoe
life jackets
throwable floating device
paddle + spare paddle
anchor + 50 feet of anchor line
sunscreen (actually forgot sunscreen, mistake!)
sunglasses
hat
4 & 7 weight fly rods with matching reels
floating, sinking, and intermediate lines for both reels
flies for trout, stripers, and bass
two quarts drinking water
4 beers and a sandwich
I made one stop for a breakfast sandwich and coffee, and arrived at 7:45. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Gus Link and his partner, Paul. (? not 100% positive on name) of the Stanislaus Fly Fishing Club. Their vessel was a two person pontoon boat with a rowing station and a casting platform. Kevin Morrison and Susan (not sure on last name) from our Santa Cruz Club rounded out our group with kayaks of their own.
The theme of our trip was a non-motorized float down the Stanislaus with the possibility of catching Trout, Stripers, Smallmouth Bass, and Carp. Gus and Paul had previously unloaded their boat & tackle, and leaving us to watch their gear, shuttled a truck down to our take-out at Horseshoe Bend. While they were gone, we unloaded our boats and gear, and rigged for trout initially. Although we had originally planned to float to Orange Blossom, low water dictated an earlier pull out.
We had agreed to pay $20 apiece for shuttle service, and a $10 parking and day use fee. However, Gus said that because there were only 3 of us to transport, he would waive the shuttle fee. And my senior State Parks pass gave me free entry and parking privileges. Woohoo, good start.
Our guides returned and we launched at 8:30-ish. The water temp was high 50s, and air temps were low 80s. In my mind, an earlier start would have been advisable. I decided (wisely) that temps were too warm to warrant waders.
In all candor, I must admit that I overestimated my canoeing skills. The trip was advertised as a gentle float, and it was…punctuated by small sets of rapids every five or ten minutes. I must have smashed into every rock in the river. Keeping two hands on my paddle and fishing at the same time was impossible. Even on the smooth runs, as soon as I put down my paddle to cast, my boat would begin to helplessly spin about, making accuracy impossible. I had either to anchor mid run or beach the boat in order to fish.
Early on, I saw caddies, stone, and mayfly hatches coming off. I saw no surface activity to indicate active feeding. My go to was a stonefly pattern, with a soft hackled P/T nymph as a dropper two feet below. We floated over lots of carp, but saw no sign of trout.
The drift itself was lovely, but til about midway between Knights Ferry and Horseshoe all I saw were carp. Lots of them. Big, averaging 16 to 20 inches. Some bigger. They were not interested in my offerings. I switched droppers frequently, to no avail. P/T nymphs, Stonefly nymphs, Zug bug, prince nymph. None appealed to our target audience.
At about the midway point, I finally saw trout. Big ones. Steelhead sized. And swimming away fast. They were very sparse, and extremely wary. They were gone before I could even get a cast off.
A short while further, I saw my first Striped Bass. It was hunkered down deep, generally hanging out with the carp. I anchored upstream, and switched to my heavier rod with a sinking line and a chartreuse and white deceiver. 15 minutes of casting without a grab. I saw many more stripers further on, none actively feeding. They were just sulking around the bottom of the deeper runs. Each time I passed two or more, I would paddle back upstream, anchor up, tie on a different streamer, and futilely cast and retrieve for ten or fifteen minutes. No love for me.
It was about 3:00 when we reached Horse Shoe Bend. Susan was already out of the water and ready to go. Kevin and I kept an eye on her gear as Gus drove her to her car. Both cars returned, Susan loaded her Kayak and bid adieu. Kevin and I loaded all our tackle in Gus’ truck, but left the boats unattended. Gus drove us back to our trucks, and we then returned back to Horseshoe to retrieve our boats.
A nice moment: A group of kayakers held off above me as I covered the water with my casts. After a few moments, I reeled in and waved for them to pass. They stopped briefly at my boat to point out an Osprey nest with juveniles, being fed by Mother or Father bird. I was so focused on fishing that I was missing the real life nature exhibition.
I also floated by a wake of buzzards fighting over scraps of some long dead critter. At times, watching them soar in the skies over my head, I wondered if they were anticipating a fatal mishap on my part.
Another nice moment: The parking area at the take-out was about 75 yards, uphill, from where we took out. As I struggled up the hill with my canoe, two young men asked if they could help, then promptly carried the boat and loaded it on my roof rack. Who says chivalry is dead?
By 4:30 I was loaded to go, and by 7:00, I arrived back in Aptos after an uneventful drive.
Would I float it again? Absolutely, but I would use my brothers pontoon boat (similar to Gus’), and shoot for a 6:30 launch. Maybe a touch earlier, when water levels are at 700 cfm, not 250 as it was for us Saturday. At 250, I had to step out of my boat once due to shallow water. 700 cfm would eliminate that requirement.
Final Score: Susan caught a trout. We were all envious. That was the only fish hooked.
This report respectfully submitted to The Santa Cruz Fly-Fishing Club
The stripers have been hitting in the surf, which is perfect timing for our speaker for October, Noel De Guzman, to give us the skinny on California stripers.
As a resident of the SF Bay Area, Noel has fished for striped bass since the 1970s, and has landed stripers throughout their migratory range. He is a self taught fly fisherman who was sold on fly fishing when he watched a trout devour a yellow humpy at the tip of his rod, before a cast was made, while stripping line off the reel. A few proud accomplishments include holding a USCG OUPV captain license, credentialed since 2010, serving as co-director of the Costa Bass-N-Fly tournament, and as the chairman for DanBlanton.Com’s Striperfest fundraising body. The most impactful aspects of his striped bass fishing pursuit were becoming a boat owner and living in the California Delta (Discovery Bay, CA).
NOTE: Meetings will now follow this time: 6:30 pm – Hands on Learning, 7:00 pm – Club information, 7:30 pm – Main speaker(s)
Some people who don’t fish think that fishing is lazy or boring. But it is just the complete opposite. There are multitudes of little decisions to be made for each situation. Variables to be considered. And you are never quite sure what choices will make the difference.
Did I cast too high or too long, too far to the right or to the left? Did I retrieve the subsurface fly too slowly or too quickly? Is the color of the dry fly too bright or too dull, is the size too big or too small? Do I stay “here”, or should I go over “there”?
And you know hooking a fish is not just luck, but you do not know by how much. That is why I fish.
It is never exactly the same. Success requires constant readjusting, reevaluation. Because I am never disappointed in the outdoors. Because I don’t expect anything. Because anything is possible, I can be hopeful out there, even if I don’t succeed. Because I know if I just go over there behind that rock or next to that log jam or wade out into that water just a little further it might make a difference. Something might be different. Something I change might lend itself to success.
And if I catch a fish the reward of success gives me great joy, a deep sense of accomplishment, and gratitude for the experience.
So are you looking for a fly to go after those stripers in the O’Neill Forbay? The club fishout being heldthere will be coming up very soon. When the stripers start boiling at the top of the surface, this is a fly you ought to use. As always, the classes, are freeand materials are provided. If you have white,flat waxed nylon, please bring it. We will also be using either 6/0 or 3/0. The club will have thread to borrow. For you beginners there will be equipment to use as well. Sign up at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-234-6515.
Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to Fly Name to see more information.
So are you looking for a fly to go after those stripers in the O’Neill Forbay? The club fishout being heldthere will be coming up very soon. When the stripers start boiling at the top of the surface, this is a fly you ought to use. As always, the classes, are freeand materials are provided. If you have white,flat waxed nylon, please bring it. We will also be using either 6/0 or 3/0. The club will have thread to borrow. For you beginners there will be equipment to use as well. Sign up at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-234-6515.
This is a variation of Cliff Watt’s Kilowatt fly that has produced some really nice steelhead for me on the San Lorenzo. I’ve swung it on a skaget line in the estuary, dead, drifted it on a tight line in the riffles, and through runs under a bobber. It also can be jigged like a spoon through a pool or frog water. As always, the classes are free and materials are provided if you have black 140 denier or 3/0 wax nylon, please bring it. The club will have thread to borrow. For you beginners there will be equipment to use as well. Sign up at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-345-0864.
This pattern can be used for stripers, pike, salmon, steelhead or ocean fish, depending on size. These directions are appropriate for stripers. Use a fast sinking line and rapid long strips. The overall length of the fly should be about 3 inches, which will turn upside down when finished.
HOOK: Mustad 34007 , size 1 to 1/0. Crimp barb.
THREAD: White flat waxed nylon. Attach behind eye. Touching wraps to mid shank then forward to one and a half eye lengths behind eye.
UPPER BODY: Red or white bucktail. (recently, a copper tan color has worked well). Cut a clump from hide about the size of a wooden match stick. Pull out long fibers from tips and line them up with others. Cut bucktail ends at an angle two and three-quarter inches from tips. Attached to top of shank behind barbells, then back to mid Shank. Repeat with a second plump. Apply glue.
MID BODY: Mega Baitfish Emulator pearl color. Cut about 1/8 inch of binding. Attached strands behind barbells to top of shank. Trim to length of fly.
LATERAL LINE: Grizzly neck hackle. Select Two feathers, barbs equal to 1/2 hook gap. cut about 10 barbs short on each side of the butt end of stem, forming a “ crew cut”. Tie in “ crew cut “ on each side of shank behind barbells.
LOWER BODY: white bucktail. Repeat like upper body only use one clump.
THORAX: Red chenille. Strip fuzz from end exposing about 1/4 inch of threads. Tie in infront of body materials. Advanced thread to barbells. Wrap chenille forward. Tie off, cut excess.
HACKLE: Very webby grizzly hackle with pliable barbs. NOTE: picture of fly did not have pliable barbs and too long. Select feather, barbs equal to one and a half hook gap. Cut off fuzz and and prepare crew cut. With dark side up, tip to rear, tie in crew cut between barbells on top of chenille. Stroke barbs to rear while wrapping three times behind barbells.Tie off cut access. Moisten fingers, hold barbs back, make a couple of thread wraps to hold them toward rear.
HEAD THREAD: Make a number of figure 8 wraps around barbells. Form a small tapered nose in front of eyes. Whip finish, cut thread. Apply glue to nose and thread between barbells.
An effort to fast track a controversial project to construct a 45 mile, 36 foot diameter tunnel that would divert water from the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary to supply consumers to the south including agricultural businesses and urban residents has been defeated. Agriculture consumes 4 times the volume of water than cities and towns in the state. This surely does not mean the project is dead. But it does reveal that there is a substantial coalition that has worked hard to gather support to throw a major roadblock to the Delta Conveyance Project (aka Delta Tunnel). This fast track approach would have added trailer bills to California’s budget.
What would these bills have established?
Bypass established environmental review and public participation processes.
Given unlimited bonding authority to the Department of Water Resources for the Delta Conveyance Project.
Fast tracked the DCP construction.
Eliminated the administrative record access.
Eliminated the public participation for the so-called “Healthy Rivers and Landscapes” Program also known as the “voluntary agreements”.
Why did the trailer bills get defeated?
A coalition of more than 50 organizations of Tribes, environmental justice organizations, fishing groups, conservation advocates, and Delta communities opposed the trailer bills. Some of the members include, Restore the Delta, California Sport Fishing Protection Alliance, Golden State Salmon Association and Friends of the River.
State residents emailed and called their representatives to voice disapproval.
The Delta Legislative Caucus unified around opposition to the bills.
What are primary reasons for opposition?
An estimated cost of $20-$100 billion dollars, with an expected cost burden to rate payers.
Environmental concerns, including harm to ecosystems and an incomplete environmental impact report.
Harm to native fish populations, including endangered salmon which are already in severe decline as demonstrated by the closure of the commercial salmon fishery for 3 years.
Construction impact (expected to last about 15 years) could disrupt ecosystems and threaten habitats, by increasing sedimentation and pollution in the Delta’s waterways, disrupt farming operations, affect local water supplies, and increase noise and traffic in surrounding areas.
Prime delta farmland could be diminished and/or disrupted.
Delta residents and legislators declaring that the process is not responsive to local concerns and input.
What possible are alternate measures instead of one massive project?
Increase water conservation
Desalination
Improve groundwater management, including groundwater recharge
Increase wastewater recycling
Fortify existing Delta levees
I was pleased and relieved to hear about how sometimes positive results can be attained by a collection of grassroots organizations and individuals from different backgrounds to stand up to powerful agencies and corporate interests and push back one more time. Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club supports Restore the Delta California Sport Fishing Protection Alliance with contributions. They play an important role in this ongoing effort. Also, Santa Cruz Fly Fishing and Northern California Council Fly Fishers International signed this letter opposing the trailer bills.
This month I had the pleasure of talking with Jesse Collins-Incoming President and Scott Kitayama, the current President,
about their Club.
Some facts:
The Club started in 1977 so we are getting close to 50 years. And like many of the Northern California Clubs we:
● Hold monthly meetings with speakers.
● Monthly fly tying classes.
● Monthly casting clinics on the lawn and sometimes in the San Lorenzo river.
● Have about 17 fish outs per year.
They are currently around 260 members with significant growth occurring during and after Covid. Tom Hogye (who serves as VP of NCCFFI) was President of the club at that time So at a time when many clubs stopped having meetings and were losing members, the Santa Cruz club did some things that helped us survive and continue to thrive today.
They:
● Continued to have meetings during Covid using Zoom and today’s meetings are now a hybrid of zoom and in-person.
● Fully embraced Instagram to tell our story to an audience younger than our average membership and today have over 1,000+ followers.
● Increased our conservation donations and started a scholarship at the local high schools convinced that our membership would grow by “doing good in the community”.
Scott Kitayama became President in 2023 and his main theme has been “fellowship”. We have tried to make the meetings more welcoming to new attendees, have breakfast and coffee at our local beach fishouts, work with other local organizations such as Project Healing Waters and Sisters on the Fly.
Jesse Collins will be the next President and is already setting direction. He discussed his deep-rooted love for fly fishing, which began in his childhood on the East Coast. He values the community aspect of the sport and aims to mentor others, especially veterans, through teaching and guiding. Jesse also mentioned his plans to conduct advanced fly tying clinics and share his knowledge through presentations on various fishing topics. He believes the club membership will continue to increase, become more dynamic and younger. One of the ways is providing affordable fly fishing experiences that would be attractive to any angler.
Here are some takeaways from our meeting:
Hybrid Meetings and Engagement Strategies Some clubs are experiencing some push back on continuing virtual meetings with their in-person meetings. What have you experienced?
Some members expressed a preference for in-person interactions. Scott contributed to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and engagement in meetings.
Engagement Strategies and Scholarship Programs Could you talk about what you are doing to bring in more members and diversity of members?
Jesse emphasized the need for greater member engagement to enhance the club’s activities, suggesting that more hands-on presentations could attract new participants. When asked about youth programs, Scott explained the club’s scholarship initiative for high school seniors entering environmental studies. The discussion highlighted the importance of fostering interest in nature among younger generations.
Scott also emphasized the value of local knowledge in fishing, suggesting that club members possess expertise that could rival professional guides.
How are you engaging younger generations in Fishing Activities?
Jesse discussed strategies to engage younger generations in the fishing club, including organizing cost-effective, do-it-yourself trips and implementing a points system to incentivize participation. He noted the success of the fly fishing film tour, which drew a large audience and resulted in new memberships. He also mentioned collaborating with the local Project Healing Waters chapter to attract veterans and their families to the club. These are successful events that have increased membership. He highlighted the importance of making learning enjoyable and accessible, suggesting shorter, more interactive sessions before meetings. He also mentioned the positive impact of recruiting younger members to the board, which encouraged diverse opinions and fresh perspectives.
As we were coming to the end of our discussion we all expressed enthusiasm for organizing a swap meet for clubs in California, highlighting the opportunity for collaboration and sharing resources. Scott noted the success of previous events and suggested that attracting overnight visitors could enhance participation. Jesse proposed organizing more joint events to foster collaboration among clubs, which could enhance membership and engagement and highlight the potential benefits of shared experiences.
Thank you Jesse and Scott for a very insightful discussion and I can’t wait to get some of the club collaborations going with you!
To try and get the word out about the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club, we created a display of flies and fisherman for the Collection and Hobbies section of the fair located in the Crosetti Building. The flies and pictures are spectacular and need to be shared. So please enjoy:
(Click Play on the left video. Blue Ribbon for the display)
The flies were all tied by Santa Cruz Fly Fishing members. The collection is intended to spark interest in novice and experienced fly fishers to check out our website and hopefully join the club.
This month we will have an informal casting practice session where you can work on aspects of your cast of your choice. If you want to work on accuracy, bring a target,. I’ll bring a few as well. If you are just getting started, come and pick up a few tips. Practice rods will be provided if needed. Hope to see you there.
October 11th 1:00-3:00 PM
Jade Street Park
4400 Jade St
Capitola, 95010
Location: Manresa State Beach (Ocean View Drive, La Selva Beach Parking Lot) Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 7:04AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 9:28AM. Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Delta Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY [...]
Location: Manresa State Beach (236 Ocean View Drive Parking Lot) Meet at 5:45AM Sunrise is 7:04AM and we will be fishing an incoming tide cresting at 9:28AM. Fish Master: Lance Boiling / clboling@gmail.com / 408-728-0548 Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass Min./Max Participants: The Delta Fly Fishers will be joining us on this outing Gear: 6-8wt. Rods with full sinking lines or shooting heads to match the rod. Polarized glasses (safety), Mandatory Accessories: Wader Belt & Stripping Basket (If a basket is needed, some maybe available to borrow or purchase. Please contact the Fishmaster ahead of time. Also there are many DIY Stripping Basket [...]
Fishmaster: Mike White Greetings fellow Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club Members I have been leading the Pyramid Lake fishing trip for the past ten years. It has always been a remarkable fish out, and one of the best attended too. This one is similar to trips we've done in the past except on a smaller scale. I have reserved 2 trailers and can accommodate 10 people. The dates are March 15th through the 21st. The weather can be very unpredictable in March, but we have had good times in the past fishing this time of year. The cost will range [...]
2026 Green River Fishout is now open! We are doing a maximum of 12 people. Contact Fishmaster Scott Andersen for more information; Cell: 831-247-2993. Email: scott.a.andersen@gmail.com
In August the club received a generous donation of items for us to use as we saw fit. It included fly tying materials, fishing equipment, and a very large amount of rod crafting and building materials and tools. We will be able to use the items for our fly tying classes, swap meet, and annual installation dinner. So thanks go to Terry Williams who read about our club online. The items were her husband‘s who has passed away. She describes him as having been an avid fly fisherman.
I first joined SCFF club in July 2008 after I had retired and was looking forward to expanding my fishing experience from a spinning rod and reel to fly fishing, in not only California, but in other States and eventually Alaska and other areas, as well as meeting other like minded fishing partners who shared similar interest. I would have to say that my 17 years in the club has far exceeded my expectations, including the following trips and experiences:
4 trips to Alaska with John and Pat Steele catching more Salmon in a week and still had 50lbs to take back on the flight home.
5 trips also with John and Pat with Ed Lawrence Guides to Bozeman, Montana on the Yellowstone, Madison, Missouri, and additional trips on the Green River in Utah and Antelope Valley Reservoir.
3 trips to Mcloud Preserve in Northern California with Tom Donovan.
12 trips to the Mammoth fishout with John and Elaine Cook which is always my favorite annual trip since I have been going to June Lake since 1955 with my family to fish the June Lake loop and Crowley with favorite memories of visiting Bodie, 4th of July fireworks on Mono Lake, and waterskiing on Mono Lake.
5 trips to to Pyramid Lake standing on a ladder with 20 other members waiting for the next bite before the wind and waves got too big. And my best picture is of my daughter catching a Pyramid fish bigger than her net.
I only mention these trips since these are experiences and memories that make the Club something more than just a monthly meeting or an annual BBQ. In 2016, I volunteered to be Membership Chair to help the then President Jim Black with membership since he was doing two jobs as Membership and newly elected President. Since then I have seen the club grow from 120 members to 240 members on the current Roster. It’s been a good run, but it is time for me to step down and have let someone else take the responsibility of club membership.
Membership Chair involves the following tasks and responsibilities:
Primary duty is to update the current Roster with member information and updates. This has been made easier by moving from an excel spreadsheet to an online membership database where members can input membership data and in the following months will be able to access the current club Roster with other club members’ contact information and other club information with a secure ID and password for members only.
Collect annual membership dues in Nov. and Dec. this has also been made easier with the use of Square/Visa and in 2026 automatic dues renewal.
Attending monthly meeting to respond to member questions and sign up any new members attending the meeting for the first time.
Attending monthly Board meetings for any updates on membership information or changes.
Monitor SCFF Google groups – the Club’s go-to email forum for club activities and member questions.
The above only highlights recent changes in the Club since 2008 when memberships dues were either paid by check , or in cash, and monthly newsletters were printed and mailed out (and before that they were mimeographed for those who can still remember). I hope that the above comments may help members understand a little more about the Membership Chair and for those that have the time and interest to think about expanding your club experience by contacting me or any Board member by email or text.
We will be tying a streamer fly that is particularly successful at Crowley Lake near Mammoth. Tie up a few for the fishout there at the end of the month. It imitates a bait fish so will work in many stillwaters for bass or trout. Please bring your equipment and red 6/0 thread. If you don’t have 6/0, 8/0 will work as well. There will be a red sharpie pen to color any light colored thread.For you beginners, everything will be provided for you to borrow. As always, the class is free and all materials provided. Sign ups are very important in order to have enough material for all. Please do that at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-234-6515
Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to Fly Name to see more information.
So are you looking for a fly to go after those stripers in the O’Neill Forbay? The club fishout being heldthere will be coming up very soon. When the stripers start boiling at the top of the surface, this is a fly you ought to use. As always, the classes, are freeand materials are provided. If you have white,flat waxed nylon, please bring it. We will also be using either 6/0 or 3/0. The club will have thread to borrow. For you beginners there will be equipment to use as well. Sign up at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-234-6515.
This is a variation of Cliff Watt’s Kilowatt fly that has produced some really nice steelhead for me on the San Lorenzo. I’ve swung it on a skaget line in the estuary, dead, drifted it on a tight line in the riffles, and through runs under a bobber. It also can be jigged like a spoon through a pool or frog water. As always, the classes are free and materials are provided if you have black 140 denier or 3/0 wax nylon, please bring it. The club will have thread to borrow. For you beginners there will be equipment to use as well. Sign up at the club meeting or call with at least 24 hours notice. 831-345-0864.
