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. 

A copy of this year's program in this PDF Brochure

The event is being held at the Blue Mountain Community Church - 928 Sturm Ave, Walla Walla.

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

Contact Us

~ Follow Us on Facebook ~

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

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

Summer - group fishing outings

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 13^th– 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 13^th. Please email wallawalla.flyfishing@gmail.com  before Saturday, February 9^th 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

Contact Us

~ Follow Us on Facebook ~

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

A New Year – New Club Officers – A New Agenda

The Walla² Fly Fishers elected new club officers on November 14, 2018.

Diane Briggs – Co-President

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

On January 6^th this new slate of officers came together at the home of Diane Briggs to discuss 2019.

We discussed the activities of the November 14^th meeting, the distribution of funds $100 each to the Tri-States Steelheaders and the Walla Walla Christian Aid Center.

We also discussed the acquisition of Tom’s 9’ pontoon boat and the purchase of a smaller 6’ or 7’ pontoon boat for active due-paying club members' use. We talked about presenting to the club the idea of helping the Tri-States Steelheaders with their 2019 Kids’ Fishing Day at Bennington Lake. Volunteers are asked to come forward.

Discussed was an itinerary for club meeting programs, and the price it would cost the club to have Rick Hafele join us on Wednesday, February 13^th – a one-time change from our usual third Wednesday of the month meetings. The monthly program itenary discussed was:

January - Sea-run Cutthroat fishing guide

February - Rick Hafele

March - Spokane Fly Fishing Women (and/or) 
Eric Hoverson - CTUIR Salmon recovery efforts
April - Grant Richie's guided Grande Ronde River trips

May - a fishing trip with Tyson Kopfer
June - a 2019 Fly Fishing Fair

Summer - group fishing outings

Heidi Hoffer also attended this meeting and made suggestions that we create a mentoring program for novice fly fishers and fly tyers. Our program would be hands-on instructions, at a fly tying vise and/or with a fly rod in hand, not a video program of watch and talk about. This will be discussed in more detail at our January 16th meeting.

Heidi and Tyson also volunteered to upgrade our club's video, book, magazine library and develop a better system of club members to check out valuable fly fishing information.

We also hope to develop a club meeting HOSTING /  GREETING group of individuals that will WELCOME everyone attending our monthly meetings.

Diane had bought a dozen fly boxes for the club to fill (2 boxes per meeting) with flies to continue to offer a nightly Door Prize and a box for the nightly Raffle.

This meeting lasting about two hours, was complemented with tea, coffee and Diane's banana bread being served.

Respectfully submitted
Dale McKain
Secretary 

Contact Us

~ Follow Us on Facebook ~

November 14, 2018 Meeting Minutes

This evening President Dave Stemmer brought our meeting to order at 7:09.

There were 25 members and guest in attendance.

There were several items on the agenda that were to be addressed this evening:

·     Election of club Officers for 2019

·     Disbursement of $200 from June fly fishing seminar to non-profits

·     Treasurer’s report of end-of-year bank balance

·     Discussion of buying some pontoon boats for membership use

·     Recent fishing trips reports

·     Meeting program presentation -steelhead- by Dr. Chris Peery

To start the meeting President Dave opened the floor of new officer nominations, no one came forward, so the slate of member who had previously consented to take office was presented –

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

All of the above had previously agreed to form a new club administration. A vote was called for on these members to be our new officers beginning 1 January 2019, and this slate of officers was passed unanimously.

Next order of business was the disbursement of $200 received from the Walla Walla Public School District for the fly fishing presentation our club members made in June for the Washington State Dept. of Education DO Seminars at Whitman College. 

https://wallawallaflyfishers.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-fly-fishing-workshop.html 

Several Non-Profit organizations were under consideration. After discussion and a vote was taken, the club decided to donate locally -- $100 to the Tri-State Steelheaders’ schools classroom Salmon Recovery Program, and $100 to the Walla Walla Christian Aid Center.

Treasurer Doug Coe gave us his end-of-the-year Baker Boyer Bank balance report-
currently in our checking account we have $1539, and this evening funds received for the fly boxes raffle was $53.

Barbara won the Raffle box      --------     Robin won the Door Prize box

Secretary Dale had previously discussed with President Dave the idea of making a club purchase of 2-3 pontoon boats (shopping for the best prices) for the paid membership to have access to. It was discussed that with club fishing outing -stream fishing- was a good thing but is strung everyone out along a stream or river with little socializing, whereas -stillwater fishing- allowed member to come and go, meeting each other on the water, comparing fishing “notes” and ideas of the day’s activities. The proposal was presented to the membership this evening – all were in agreement, a vote was made and passed unanimously.
Thereafter Vice President Tom said that he had an Outcast 9’ pontoon boat that he would sale the club for $300 (a $900+ value). Dale immediately made a motion that the club buys Tom’s pontoon boat for $300. The motion was discussed ~ carried ~ voted on and passed. The 2019 club officers will now be shopping for one or two more pontoon boats in the $300 +/- price range for due paying members to use. 

Now… Let’s Go Fishing.

Heidi brought up the idea that the club create a Mentoring Program to help novice fly fishers, find a coach to get into the sport. With discussion of an outline of such a program Blogmaster Dale said he could create a listing of mentors that area wannabe fly fishers could make reference to, to gain help with their fly fishing ~ fly tying ~ where to go fishing endeavors.

Diane brought with her this evening a pair of new neoprene waders and wading boots – ladies size 7 1/2. These had been given to her, and she wished to Give them -FREE- to someone that could use them. Aimee was the lucky lady to take this wading outfit home.

Fishing Reports – Tom had recently been to Ireland fishing for Atlantic salmon. He brought back and showed us some of his flies bought there, and tonight donated a few to our fly boxes.
Brian has recently made a guided trip to the coast to fish for Sea-run Cutthroat. He reported a successful trip and ready to go again.
Tom reported that prior to his fishing trip to Ireland, he had fished the Grand Ronde River for a few days - he said he had hooked a couple of steelhead, but catching was quite slow.

PLEASE NOTE: with the very small return of steelhead this season there are a number of rivers being CLOSED to fishing for steelhead – check the most updated fishing regulations on all local river before lining up your rod, wetting your hook. Please consider Catch & Release Only if steelhead fishing this season.

11/1/2018 only 102,226 adult steelhead returning through Bonneville Dam

  

Our evening program was a PP presentation made by Dr. Chris Peery who is currently employed with the US Army Corp of Engineers- Walla Walla office.

For years he has studied steelhead and has his PhD. in the studies of steelhead fisheries. He has studied and advises the entire Columbia River system, with his greatest concentration on the hatchery operations of the Snake River system and that of Dworshak Dam.

Dworshak Dam and hatchery

Also discussed this evening was the ebb and flow of steelhead passage on the Columbia River system, and some of the causes for low returns, of steelhead and salmon for the past two years.

A most interesting evening spent with Dr. Peery, discussing the Salmonids of the Pacific Northwest. 

Dr. Chris, Thank you for your time and sharing your extensive knowledge of, and experience with our PNW steelhead fisheries.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:40.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale McKain
Club Secretary

Happy Holidays

We take a multi-Holiday Break -- our next meeting will be held at Smith's Family Restaurant on W. 9th Street in Walla Walla --

  Wednesday

16 January 2019
6:00 pm Dinner and Social
7:00 Call-to-Order Club Business

Contact Us

~ Follow Us on Facebook ~

Dave Stemmer – President

Tom Craig – Vice President

Doug Coe – Treasurer

Dale McKain – Secretary - Blogmaster

Dave Stemmer – PROJECT HEALING WATERS Coordinator