Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Restoring the Tucannon River fishery



President Diane called our meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
We had 24 members and guest in attendance.

Prior to the evening’s meeting everyone is invited to dinner being served (Dutch Treat) from the menu, while tales of fish tails are being shared.  Ex-Pres Dave passed out door-prize-tickets (for a box of flies) to all. We also have a second round of tickets being sold (1 for $1 –or- 6 for $5) for club raffle-fund-raiser which wins a second fly box for the evening.  

Diane welcomed all to our meeting and introduced our visitors.
She then ask Secretary Dale to give his report.

Dale gave a synopsis of last month’s meeting and program. He mentioned the club’s online reference points he maintains – the club blog site (as seen here) and a Facebook page. He also mentioned that he had posted on the Facebook page an invitation to all area US Veterans to join in, with our ongoing Project Healing Waters meetings being held at the Walla Walla Vet Center on Popular Street. 
All Project Healing Waters activities are FREE for all vet who wish to participate.
Dale also mentioned that due to the record breaking winter snowfall, that he had not yet picked up the club's 9' pontoon boat from Tom, nor had he and Dave gone out to Waterbrook Winery to check on having a June Fly Fishing Fair day.

#12 March Brown

Dale did mention that he was logging to the club's Facebook site, the river flow and the flies that he was collecting at his home, overlooking the Walla Walla River at Stateline, on particular days so there would be some record "chart" of this 2019 season's hatches, with changing river flows.





Treasurer Harold reported that the club now has a little over $1300 in our checking account. 
Those that wish to pay your annual membership dues may do so at our club meetings or by mailing your dues to Harold Saxby – PO Box 218 Walla Walla, WA 99362.
Membership dues are - $15 for individuals and $20 for families

Dave (in Tom’s absence) gave a report of the upcoming 4-H Super Saturday activities. He reported that it appeared that Tom would have plenty of help from club members for the event.

The first drawing (by a guest) was made for the evening’s Door Prize fly box.


The second drawing for the Raffle fly box was made just before our evening’s program.

Heidi, announced that several women of our club had a ladies only fly fishing group forming.  This group would be to promote the camaraderie of area women fly fishers and train more women to become fly fishers. Heidi told us that she was working on the first ladies outing (to develop rod/reel casting skills) to be held at Tietan Park with a follow-up mid-week “Meet and Greet Tea" at Clarette's Restaurant - 15 S Touchet St, Walla Walla. 
Heidi also mentioned that she and VP Tyson are continuing to work on cataloging the club's library, and it will be available soon for member's check-out of a lot of fly fishing information... literature and video works.

Dale asked the group this evening to keep their ear on the rails, and if anyone hears of Bennington Lake being filled and stocked... please spread the word.
Dale says he will keep the club posted on any upcoming stillwater fishing trips being planned by the Pendleton fly fishers. We have an open invitation to join them to fish NE Oregon with some nice stocked triploid rainbow, to be caught there.
7100' elevation -Anthony Lake - rainbows

Diane brought up the idea of developing a Casting for Recovery group in our Walla Walla area – to be discussed later.

This evening our program PowerPoint presentation was made by Eric Hoverson. Eric has been fisheries biologist that has been working with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) for the past 27 years.
Effective the first of this year Eric resigned from the CTUIR, became the President of our local Walla Walla Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter.
Eric’s position with the CTUIR was the manager of stream / river habitat restoration of the Tucannon River.

As mentioned his presentation was of Power Point slide and since a picture is worth a thousand words, this writer will use his pictures to recap Eric’s program.













Progress in the works
It is a tough job, and Eric gets to work with dreams of a job well done and fisheries restored.

Eric, Thank You for this evening's program and a job well done with improving / rehabilitating the salmon, steelhead and trout habitat of the Tucannon River. A lot of people fish that river for trout from the upper ponds, to the mouth of the river for steelhead.

Our meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary

Our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant on W. 9th Street in Walla Walla --
  Wednesday
17th April 2019
6:00 pm Dinner and Social
7:00 Call-to-Order Club Business







Judy McDole – Co-President
Diane Briggs –  Co-President
Tyson Kopfer – Vice President
Harold Saxby – Treasurer
Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster

Dave Stemmer – PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Catching more fish on the dry fly with Tyson



This evening President Judy called our meeting to order at 7:00 pm. We had three guests that introduced themselves as interested novice, and longtime fly fishers. We gave them a warm Welcome.

Judy asked Secretary Dale to refresh the meeting with minutes from last month’s meeting. Dale gave a quick synopsis of that meeting and asked everyone to refer to the club’s blog site (this site) to stay abreast of current and historical club events. He also mentioned that there were a lot of fly fishing tips and guides to be found here, actually hours of fly fishing reading. He pointed out that the blog site was a re-counting of our club’s history since March 2009. Dale also mentioned that for quick reference, he maintains a Walla² Fly Fishers’ Facebook page with a lot of fly fishing info, and schedule of Pacific NW fly fishing events.

Judy then asked Dave Stemmer to give a report of current activities with our member’s support of the Walla Walla Chapter of Project Healing Waters, LLC. Dave recapped some history of this group, which is a national organization, started in 2005 by some returning Iraq War veterans. Our local group was instigated by Jerry Newell in early 2014, and is now being directed by Dave. Dave pointed out that the Walla Walla Chapter of Project Healing Waters, LLC is FULLY FUNDED by the national organization for all fly fishing activities participated in by any and all US veterans of our area. This group have regular fly tying sessions, annually they build their own fly rods, and several times a year they initiate their own fly fishing trip and have occasion to join other chapters from across Washington and Oregon for fishing tournaments - all lodging, travel and food is paid for - at the expense / courtesy of Project Healing Waters, LLC.

At this point in our meeting with all accounted for we had the first drawing for an evening fly box door prize give away. 
Heidi O won the first -door prize- fly box of the evening.
After Tyson's program, Anne B won the second -raffle- fly box of the evening.

It was then brought up that Tom Craig had sold his Outcast 9’ pontoon boat (at a very fair price) to the club for due paying club member to have use of, and Dale was to pick it up to keep at his house. Due to more than a month of winter / snowy weather, Tom and Dale have not gotten around to moving the boat yet. All due paying club member are welcome to check out this boat, for their own personal fun time, and it will be used for club fishing outings for members in need of. Dale brought up that the club had discussed that we would purchase another smaller 6’ or 7’ boat for those members that found a 9’ boat too large to handle.
Tom also addressed the group that he would again be participating with the local 4-H Organization’s –Super Saturday– on March 23. Tom will be conducting demonstrations in the art and science of fly fishing. He has asked for volunteers that might assist him in this day’s project which begin at 8:45 am. He said that there is usually 5-10 kids in two sessions that he “works” with at this annual event. 


VP Tyson was asked to update the group on the progress of cataloguing the club’s library of many magazines, books and fly fishing videos for the use of all due paying club members. We do have a wealth of fly fishing information in the library. Heidi has said that she can transfer VHS videos into DVD format videos; this will also expand and upgrade our fly fishing library.

Treasurer Harold gave a report of funds on hand and a listing of members that have currently paid annual club membership dues.
ANNUAL membership dues = $15 for Individuals and $20 for your entire Family
Harold mentioned that he had collected $15 more than he has names for. He ask that everyone that had paid their annual club dues in January to contact him during our March meeting, so he might update his membership list. Thank you

President Diane was out-of-town this evening, so President Judy announced that Diane will be participating in North Idaho Fly Fishing Expo in Lewiston, ID on March 15-16 for those interested in joining her for that weekend's event.
With this announcement it was also mentioned that there would be the annual Northwest Fly Tyers’ and Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, OR on March 8-9.
There is also the Washington Fly Fishing Fair in Ellensburg, WA on May 3-4.
If anyone is interested in car-pooling to these events please contact Diane Briggs about the ID function, and Dave Stemmer about the WA event.


This evening our program was a slide presentation given by VP Tyson Kopfer.
Tyson is a past president of our club.  


It is said that "10% of the fisherman, hook 90% of the fish caught." Tyson and few other fly fishers in our club are some of the fly fisher fitting in that category. Almost all of Tyson's catches are released to play, and fight again for another day. Remember in most place of the Pacific NW the creel limit is 5 fish - rarely can an angler keep all the fished hooked in a day. The person paying attention to what Tyson says about fly fishing, and watching his techniques, will inevitably be catching more fish in a short time as well.
Being "a picture is worth 1000 words", this writer cannot convey all that Tyson shared with us this evening, so will try to use some of his slides to instigate further research by interested club members in what he know and is willing to tell, to have a good day of catching on streams and rivers.
Click on the images below to enlarge for better reading.
Tyson discussed the mechanics of a fly rod system, and how it works to make a fly presentation.







  

There is also a matter of "reading the water." One should remember that most fish will drown if exposed to fast moving water current for very long period of time. Fish that reach maturity have "learned" they must spend the least amount of energy, for the most food they can acquire, or they starve. "Reading the water" to learn where fish will lay / hold, makes a difference in an anglers catch rate.
In "reading the water" anglers learn to study flow and currents: a run, a pool, a pocket, and eddies. A successful angler has to begin to think like a pea-brain fish, if they are to catch fish consistently.


There are thousands of Dry Flies that will catch fish...
and there is a lot of satisfaction in tying your own.


10 Flies for Trout Worth Trying Out 
Parachute Adams
The Adams and the Elk Hair Caddis are rather widely considered to be the most essential of dry flies
Blue Wing Olive (BWO)
Woolly Bugger
Hopper
Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear
Ant
Pheasant Tail Nymph
San Juan Worm
 If you have any further questions concerning dry fly fishing, come to our next meeting and talk with Tyson.

Tyson, Thank you for a most informative program this evening.

Our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant on W. 9th Street in Walla Walla --
  Wednesday
20th March 2019
6:00 pm Dinner and Social
7:00 Call-to-Order Club Business



Meeting was adjourned at 8:35.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary










Judy McDole – Co-President
Diane Briggs –  Co-President
Tyson Kopfer – Vice President
Harold Saxby – Treasurer
Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster

Dave Stemmer – PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator



Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Learn a river - Hire a Guide


This evening Co-President Diane called our meeting to order at 7:05. Prior to our meeting Co-President Judy had been greeting everyone at the door and then made a round through the room to make everyone feel welcomed and pass out meeting agendas.

Tonight we had 24 members and guest in attendance.

Our new Treasurer Harold has not yet received a bank statement, so he was unable to make a report of club funds. Ex-Treasurer Doug tried to bring up a paperless statement on his phone, but he has been exited from the bank’s system, so that didn’t happen.
We discussed our future 2019 meeting programs, and wish to let the fly fishing public (pros and novices) know that they are invited to join us.

February 13th - Rick Hafele
March 20th - Spokane Fly Fishing Women (and/or)
Eric Hoverson - CTUIR Salmon recovery efforts
April 17th - Grant Richie's guided Grande Ronde River trips
May 15th - a fishing trip with Tyson Kopfer
June (first weekend?) - a 2019 Fly Fishing Fair

Secretary Dale was asked to speak about the contact he had made with Rick Hafele and scheduling our February 
meeting. Our February meeting will be out of our normal scheduling, and will be held on the second Wednesday of February –the 13th– instead of the third Wednesday. Dale gave some of Rick’s credentials of being a leading Pacific Northwest stream / river / stillwater entomologist, author, lecturer, and fly fisher. This meeting’s program will be at the usual time of 7:00 pm. 

Dale also announced that Rick had suggested for a club fundraiser we consider he doing a fly fisher’s habitat workshop before our 6:00 dinner hour. 
~~~~~~~
Rick offered to conduct one of his 3-hour workshop programs for a fee of $30 per person, of which he would split half ($15 per person) with the club. 

Several people have expressed an interest in his workshop, and we will follow-up on this prospect of helping area fly fishers, biologist become better catchers with a broader understanding of the feeding habits of wild fish. Afternoon workshop time will be 2-5 pm. We are hoping 10 to 20 fly fishers will be interested in attending this workshop; which will also take place at Smith's Family Restaurant in Walla Walla on the 13th. Please email wallawalla.flyfishing@gmail.com  before Saturday, February 9th if you are interested in attending the afternoon workshop. We wish to notify Smith Restaurant of a needed chair count - dinner is not included.
 











~~~~~~~
Eric Hoverson –new Walla Walla Valley TU President– was with us this evening and said he would be glad to have a meeting program with us in the near future. Eric works with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in the Walla Walla River, Touchet River, and Tucannon River drainages supervising the tribe’s salmon recovery projects. Again it was mentioned that the Walla² Fly Fishers would like to have any / all TU members to join with us to learn more about the pleasure of our fly fishing sport, as you are on and off the river worksites.

Dave mentioned that he was trying to get a rod building friend of his to make a near future meeting presentation on Building Bamboo Rods.

Vice President Tyson and Heidi talked about the effort they are making to update the club’s library, and making it easier for members to check out literature and videos between our monthly meetings.

Co-President Diane announced that she would not be in town for our February meeting. She will be attending the Kelly Creek Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Conference in Idaho, and announced that if anyone would be interested in this conference to speak / contact her for details.

Heidi again mentioned the concept of creating a "Fly Fishers Mentoring Program" for individuals and group to help new members, and area novice fly fishers to become more familiar with fly fishing, and area fisheries. This program will be developing soon.



This evening Tom made introduction that we had joining us for dinner and program Capt. Justin Waters (US Coast Guard Certified), to share his experiences of fishing guide on Hood Canal and western Washington waters. With Capt. Justin this evening he had Capt. Mike Hanford who works closely with him. Together their area of fishing expertise is Hood Canal and the Puget Sound.


Capt. Justin, and Capt. Mike tells us the beauty of fishing the Washington westside is one can fish almost everyday of the year and expect to find a specie of fish coming and going in their annual migration.
Contact: Justin@All-Waters.com -or- (360) 318-5664

Our meeting this evening was adjourned at 8:30.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary


Our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant on W. 9th Street in Walla Walla --
  Wednesday
13 February 2019
6:00 pm Dinner and Social
7:00 Call-to-Order Club Business



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Judy McDole – Co-President

Diane Briggs –  Co-President

Tyson Kopfer – Vice President

Harold Saxby – Treasurer

Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster

Dave Stemmer – PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator