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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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Summer Raffle Schedule

by Jeff Goyert, Raffle Chairman

The Fly Club raffle is taking a short break for the summer. There will be no meeting or raffle in July, in lieu of the August meeting we will be holding our annual summer BBQ. No raffle but we will have some great door prizes. Don’t miss out. 

September will see our regular meeting with both online and in-person raffle ticket sales. 

Many thanks to all who participate in our raffles, your support is greatly appreciated. 

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The Accidental Tyer

When I joined the Santa Cruz Fly Fishing club, I assumed that I was going to learn how to cast, where to go, how to read water, and land a fish.  One day, I asked Sam Bishop where I could buy surf perch flies and he looked at me with incredulity.  “You don’t buy them, you make ’em and if it takes longer than 3 minutes, than you did it wrong.”    So a bit chastened, I went to to a fly tying class which featured a surf perch fly.   On the left is a picture from the Feb. 2020 newsletter and on the right is the fly that I tied in the class.  Let’s just say that I wasn’t a natural.

With that experience and COVID shutting down all in-person activities, it should have been the end of my fly tying.   However by September, Tom Hogye (past-president) convinced Elaine to teach fly tying online using Zoom and I volunteered to help Elaine run the Zoom class which means I participated in the class.    Over the months, I started to look forward to spending an  evening a month in the Zoom class with other club members.  Now I watch YouTube videos on tying, go to club swap meets, and buy material  on-line.  Oh and I still go to the monthly tying classes to learn from others in the club.   I even think my tying has improved.

Over the summer months, we will have guest club instructors including Tom Eckert, Greg Foy, Jerry McKeon, and Michael Sherwood.  You should give it a try, you might accidentally become a tyer.

Have a wonderful 4th of July,

Scott Kitayama, President

P.S.  The fly that Sam was referring to is the “orange stick”.  Very effective, fast to tie, and only uses two materials.  I am not sure you can buy it.  You might just have to make ’em.

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July Fly-tying Class



Jul 12 6:30 PM @ Aptos Grange


John Barr’s “Copper John” is our fly for this month’s class . This attractor fly has a stonefly nymph’s biot tail with a red wire body and a mayfly like thorax. The bead head and wire body help the fly sink to the bottom of the water column and hopefully grab the attention of some chunky opportunistic trout. Bring black 6/0 or 8/0 thread, other materials will be supplied. The club has tools to lend for beginners. I hope to see you there! My phone number is below, please text message or call to sign up.
Greg Foy – ph/txt: (831) 239-8780



Future tying classes. Dates and subject may change, please go to Fly Name to see more information.

Date Fly Excerpt
Aug 09 6:30 pm - 8:30 pmChubby Chernobyl

Guest Instructor: Jerry McKeon

Barry SmeltSep 13 6:30 pm - 8:30 pmBarry Smelt

Guest instructor: Michael Sherwood

October Caddis - Fly Tying ClassOct 11 6:30 pm - 8:30 pmOctober Caddis - Fly Tying Class

All club members are welcome!

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Renegade fly

by Elaine Cook – – fly tying Sherman

This dry fly pattern has been around for decades. It is an effective attractor, easy to tie, easy to see.
1. HOOK: TMC 100 (or any standard dry fly hook).  Size 10-18
Crimp barb.
2. THREAD: Black 6/0, or 8/0 depending on size of hook.
Attach thread, 3/4 back on shank.
3. TAG: small or find flat gold tinsel.
Tie  in back to above barb with silver side facing you. Hand wrap tinsel around 1/3 of curve of hook and back to starting point.
NOTE: that will expose gold side of tinsel. Tie off cut access.
4.  REAR HACKLE: brown or grizzly    Barbs equal to 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 times hook gap. Remove any fuzz at base of stem. Cut 4 to 5 barbs short on each side of stem (crew cut). Tie crew cut in with feather tip to the rear and light side of feather facing you. Advance thread 1/4 back on shank. Wrap feather  forward to thread with close wraps and tie off. Cut excess.
5. BODY: peacock herl.
Using 2 to 4 strands, break off fragile tips. Tie in tips. Reinforce hurl with thread loop and dubbing tool. Advance thread to 1/4 back on shank. Twist thread loop forming a chenille. Wrap chenille forward forming a generous body. Tie off cut access.
6. FORWARD HACKLE: white or cream grizzly   Barbs equal two 1 1/2 to 2 times hook gap.
Prepare feather the same as above. Move thread to one by length behind eye. Wrap feather forward with close wraps. Tie off, cut excess. Wrap small thread head. Tie off, cut thread. Apply superglue, if using a large hook.

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Tulare Lake is Back—For Now

by Bob Garbarino

Some of the expected outcomes of the onslaught of storms this year are the near record snowpack, reservoirs full to the brim and swollen rivers. With climate change, we can expect more drastic swings between flooding and drought in a feast-or-famine cycle. One event during heavy rain and snowpack years is the re-emergence of the “ghost lake”—Tulare Lake. Part of the complex history of man controlling water in California, Tulare has an interesting legacy. Tulare Lake was once the largest lake west of the Mississippi River, although its size varied between dry and wet periods. It was fed by the Kings, Tule, Kaweah and smaller rivers. During a typical year, the lake covered 650-700 square miles!
It provided habitat to a vast number of wildlife including thicktail chub (now extinct),  hitch, blackfish, Sacramento perch, pikeminnow, sucker, Tule Elk,  blackbirds, singing marsh wrens, geese, ducks white pelicans, black cormorants, herons, egrets, frogs, turtles, otters and beaver. Living off the abundance of wildlife were the indigenous Yokuts bands.
The demise of the Yokuts and Tulare lake can be traced to the appearance of European settlers. In the case of the Yokuts, malaria, smallpox, enslavement, genocide and the loss of their ancestral land were certainly devastating.
For Tulare Lake, after California became a State, the newly annexed “swamp and overflow” land in the area was subject to sale by the federal government for pennies. The conditions for sale were that the lake can be crossed in a boat and that the prospective buyer was willing to drain the lake for the purpose of farming. With this incentive, farmers engaged in constructing levees and other water containment measures to make the lake bed farmable. The final blow to the lake came in the first half of the 20th century with the influx of mega farming. These farmers had a hand in convincing the Army Corps of Engineers to spend millions of dollars building Pine Flat Dam on the Kings River as a flood control structure. Following shortly afterwards, dams on the Kaweah, Tule, and Kern Rivers were built. So, except during years when the snowmelt overwhelms the flood control infrastructure (1969, 1983, and 1997 and 2023) Tulare Lake does not exist. From a wildlife resurgence perspective, this year can be considered a wonderful event. Not to mention recharging much-depleted aquifers that have been over-drawn over the years. The downside is how all the water has disrupted and displaced residents in the region. Many of the residents are on the low end of the income scale, will loose farming jobs. Water managers in the area think that it may take a year or two to reclaim much of the lake for farming, costing the economy over a billion dollars.
While we will never return Tulare Lake to its historic glory, I can’t help from thinking if a scaled back version of the lake would be a compromise for the best interests for all stakeholders in California.

For an interesting read, see the following website:  https://californiawaterblog.com/2023/04/16/lake-tulare-and-its-fishes-shall-rise-again/

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Club Activities – July

Date Activity Link DescriptionLocation
Jul 22 2:00 pm - 3:00 pmFly Casting Meetup

Bring your lawn chair, lunch, and fly rod to practice casting with other SCFF club members.

Jade Street Park baseball field
Aug 26 2:00 pm - 3:00 pmFly Casting Meetup

Bring your lawn chair, lunch, and fly rod to practice casting with other SCFF club members.

Jade Street Park baseball field
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Fishout Schedule – July

The newsletter provides brief fishout info.  For full detail, go to the website menu and select EVENTS -> Fishout Schedule

EVENT NAME EVENT DATE SPECIES FISH MASTER
Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 25 – Jul 1 2023 – New Info Jun 24 - Jul 01
Palm Beach Surf Fishout Jul 01Surf Perch / Striped Bass Sam Bishop
Loreto Fly Fishing Trip July 2023 Jul 16 - Jul 20Salty Sharp Toothed Fishy Critters Rich Hughett
Kennedy Meadows / Sonora Pass – Fish-Out 2023 Jul 23 - Jul 27Trout Tom Hogye
Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout Aug 05Surf Perch / Striped Bass Sam Bishop
Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout Sep 02Surf Perch / Striped Bass To Be Determined
Upper Sacramento River Fishout (Dunsmuir) Sep 08 - Sep 10Trout Alex Ferber 
Mammoth Fishout – UPDATED – Sep 23 - Oct 07Trouts John Cook
October surf fishout – Beer Can Oct 07perch, stripers Sam Bishop - Fishing; Mike Lovejoy - Breakfast
Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie) – CONFIRMED Oct 14 Oct 14Bass, crappie, bluegill Scott Kitayama
O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout Oct 19 - Oct 22Striped Bass Kevin Murdock
2023 Fishout Round-Up Dec 01 - Dec 02FISH Club Members
Upper Sacramento River Fishout (Dunsmuir) Date Postponed High Water Mar 15 - Mar 17Trout Alex Ferber 
Pyramid Lake Fish-out April 1 – April 7, 2024 – New Info Apr 01 - Apr 07Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Mike White - (831) 706-5556
Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie) Apr 20Bass, crappie, bluegill Scott Kitayama

Jun 24 : Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch – Jun 25 – Jul 1 2023 – New Info


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/lake-almanor-hex-hatch-2023/
Lake Almanor/Hex Hatch - Jun 25 - Jul 1 2023 - New Info
(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster:
The Lake Almanor fishout is scheduled for the last week of June, 6/24 thru 7/1, 2023. This time period is, hopefully, the peak of the annual Hexagenia hatch that begins generally mid-June and runs through mid-July. The most productive fishing takes place early evenings on into past dark between Lake Almanor West to Canyon Dam… Read More

Jul 01 : Palm Beach Surf Fishout


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/santa-cruz-county-surf-fishout-2/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Sam Bishop
Location: Palm Beach State Park  Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass  Min./Max Participants: NO Limit Cali Surf Style 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… Read More

Jul 16 : Loreto Fly Fishing Trip July 2023


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/loreto-fly-fishing-trip-july-2023/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Rich Hughett
Sign Up Now! Experience a new HIGH! Fish for Dorado, and many other salt-water fish, including Bonito, Roosters, Yellowtail and Sailfish on a fly! Join the group going to Loreto in Baja Sunday, July 16th through Thursday, July 20th. This trip includes: Four nights at the beautiful Hotel La Mission, on the water-front next to… Read More

Jul 23 : Kennedy Meadows / Sonora Pass – Fish-Out 2023


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/kennedy-meadows-sonora-pass-fish-out-2023/
Kennedy Meadows / Sonora Pass - Fish-Out 2023
(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Tom Hogye
Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station / Baker & Deadman campground. http://www.kennedymeadows.com.   If you want to stay in a cabin, you should try to get a reservation now. The cabins generally roll over annually with returning guests from the previous year.   The Hogye's will be in Cabin 11.   Rates range from $115 - 260 per… Read More

Aug 05 : Rio Del Mar State Beach Surf Fishout


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/rio-del-mar-state-beach-surf-fishout/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Sam Bishop
First Surf Fishout of 2023! Saturday May 6th 2023 5:55AM Location: Rio Del Mar State Beach Read More

Sep 02 : Manresa State Beach Surf Fishout


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/manresa-state-beach-surf-fishout/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: To Be Determined
Location: Manresa State Beach  Species: Surf Perch, Striped Bass  Min./Max Participants: NO Limit Cali Surf Style 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… Read More

Sep 08 : Upper Sacramento River Fishout (Dunsmuir)


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/upper-sacramento-river-fishout-dunsmuir/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Alex Ferber 
Fishmaster: Alex Ferber Location: Upper Sacramento River with Potential McCloud River Side Trip Species: Trout Duration: 3 Days Cost: No Cost https://goo.gl/maps/qC5QbdWhMStgX27X9 Equipment: Typical Trout Set Up 9', 4-6wt Rods w/ Floating Lines Ideal Euro Nymphing, and Trout Spey conditions available Nymphs: Pheasant Tail, Hairs Ear, Prince Nymph, Wooly Buggers, Perdigon, Copper Johns, Zebra Midge,… Read More

Sep 23 : Mammoth Fishout – UPDATED –


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/mammoth-fishout-2/
Mammoth Fishout - UPDATED -
Mammoth Lakes (Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: John Cook
UPDATE Both weeks of this Fishout has been filled. I am maintaining a waiting list. There are three people on the list currently. If I get enough I will think about getting another condo. Please email or contact me directly for inquires.  John & Elain Cook - Fishmaster (831) 234-6515 coookin@gmail.com Dates:  This Fishout will… Read More

Oct 07 : October surf fishout – Beer Can


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/october-surf-fishout/
October surf fishout - Beer Can
Beer Can Beach (Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Sam Bishop - Fishing; Mike Lovejoy - Breakfast
Surf fish-out Saturday October 7, followed by breakfast at Mike Lovejoy's. Important location information and breakfast information Read More

Oct 14 : Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie) – CONFIRMED Oct 14


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/kelly-lake-watsonville-bass-crappie/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama
Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama Location: Kelly Lake in Watsonville (Private lake limited to 10 people) Species: bass,  crappie, bluegill Duration: 1 day Registration and Cost: No Cost, but you must contact Scott as the number of people fishing is limited.  Contact at scottkitayama@gmail.com. I am waiting on confirmation on this date, however I wanted to gauge… Read More

Oct 19 : O’Neill Forebay ‘Stosh’ Memorial Fishout


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/o-neill-forebay-stosh-memorial-fish-out/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Kevin Murdock
Event: O'Neill Forebay 'Stosh' Memorial Fishout Date: Thursday October 19 to Sunday October 22 (I chose this weekend for it's 'skinny' moon, less night feeding for the fish) Target Gamefish: Striped Bass Location: Medeiros Campground located on the Southern Shoreline of the O'Neill Forebay, access off of Santa Nella Blvd. (Highway 33) Hosts: Kevin Murdock … Read More

Dec 01 : 2023 Fishout Round-Up


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/2023-fishout-round-up/
2023 Fishout Round-Up
(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Club Members
Greetings Club Members (Existing, new, soon to be),  This though not a Fishout, but rather a year in review of 2023's great events held by our members.  19 trips planned in 2023 not all the trips planned were executed due to the high waters and weather early in the season but for some of those… Read More

Mar 15 : Upper Sacramento River Fishout (Dunsmuir) Date Postponed High Water


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/upper-sacramento-river-fishout-dunsmuir-2/

(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Alex Ferber 
Fishmaster: Alex Ferber Location: Upper Sacramento River with Potential McCloud River Side Trip Species: Trout Date / Duration: POSTPONED DUE TO HIGH WATER Tentatively March 15th - 17th, 3 Days                                                   … Read More

Apr 01 : Pyramid Lake Fish-out April 1 – April 7, 2024 – New Info


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/pyramid-lake-fish-out-april-1-april-7-2024-new-info/

Pyramid Lake (Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Mike White - (831) 706-5556
The Pyramid Lake trip is one of the best-attended fishouts the club has, and for a good reason. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout cruise parallel to the shore in easy casting distance from shore. Read More

Apr 20 : Kelly Lake – Watsonville (bass, crappie)


https://www.santacruzflyfishing.org/events/kelly-lake-watsonville-bass-crappie-date-tbd/
Kelly Lake - Watsonville (bass, crappie)
(Click for address and map)
Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama
Updated March 25th,  fish out if full. Fishmaster: Scott Kitayama Location: Kelly Lake in Watsonville (Private lake limited to 6 people) Species: bass,  crappie, bluegill Duration: 1 day Registration and Cost: No Cost, but you must contact Scott as the number of people fishing is limited.  Contact at scottkitayama@gmail.com. On this Fishout, priority will be… Read More