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Backca!
"e Vol. 39 No. 8
The Monthly Newsletter of the Wyoming Fly Casters
Ten Sleep Outing The Dawn of Dam Removal Community Recreation Letter of Thanks What You Should Know about Wyoming Browns Recipe and Fishing with Joe Know your Knots Event Calendar
August 2012
Le$er for Augu! Greetings Fly Caster’s,
Here it is, almost the 8th month of the year and beyond the halfway point of the summer. I hope you have had, or have taken, the time to get out on one of our many streams and lakes for a spot of fishing. I have managed only one day for each of the past three month’s; hopefully you have done much better. On July 14th members of the club participated in the Trapper’s Route public access dedication event. Trapper’s Route is the access on the north side of the North Platte that begins at Government Bridge and continues for about four and one-half miles downstream. As most of you members know, the Fly Caster’s have contributed club funds toward the purchase of the land and the resulting access the public can now enjoy. Our specific involvement was with the mile of riverfront known as the ‘Miles Ranch’ parcel. In this instance our financial contribution may have played a lesser role compared to the importance of the club getting behind the proposed acquisition and lending our name as a supporter and community partner. It is easy to forget just how valuable the support of this club can be to a project. Listening to the speakers at the dedication it was apparent the respect that they held for the Fly Caster’s, and the list of quality and meaningful projects we have been a part of in this community. It was one of those moments that make one proud to be associated with a group such as ours. The club’s financial contribution was large enough to make a big dent in our bank account and I feel that our resources were well-utilized and generated additional good will among the The Conservation Fund, the BLM, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and other agencies that were a part of the complete project. I want to extend my thanks and the club’s thanks to members; Brian Bayer, Mark Nalley and club V.P. Lee Tschetter for 2
stepping in at the last minute to tend to the barbecue duties and a special thanks to Brian, Mark, and the folks at ARS for their contribution toward the purchase of the food for the event. Thanks also go out to Bob Fischer and the Ugly Bug crew for their contribution toward the food, and Luke Lynch and The Conservation Fund for their contribution that completed the needs of the food fund. Matt Stanton, our treasurer and one-man conservation committee, was one of the featured speakers. Board member Jim Johnson joined us for the clean-up duties. When you come across these people be sure to say thanks. It was great of these members to step up and do such a quality job on the barbecue and food preparation, their PR for the club was excellent. Feel free to use them as role models for your future club involvement. Now that the Trapper’s Route area is officially dedicated how about some club members giving some time to fishing that stretch and giving us a report at a future club meeting. Why, I bet our newsletter editor Peg would even accept a write-up on ‘fishing Trapper’s Route’ for publication in a future Backcast. I would appreciate it if you all would think about someone that you know who might be willing to give a program at a regular club meeting. It does not have to be fish or water related, just something at least half the club might find interesting. We enjoy the yearly updates from the Bureau of Reclamation and Game and Fish, but I would rather not over use their good nature if we don’t have to. Remember it need only be 20 minutes long, and could be up to 60 minutes. The board and I are looking forward to hearing from you with your ideas. Don’t let the rest of the summer get away from you, get out there and do some more fishin’. Tight lines,
Will
Will Waterbury, President Vacant, President-elect Lee Tschettert, Vice President Casey Leary, Secretary Matt Stanton, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms expire in 2012 Spencer Amend Scott Novotny Neil Ruebush Brent “Smokey” Weinhandl, DDS Terms expire in 2013 Joe Meyer Alex Rose Herb Waterman Terms expire in 2014 John Dolan, Jim Johnson, Chris McAtee, Andrew Sauter The Backcast is the monthly newsletter of the Wyoming Fly Casters, an affiliate club of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy and the Federation of Fly Fishers. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the views of the officers, board or members of the Wyoming Fly Casters. Annual dues are $20 for an individual, $30 for a family, or $250 for a lifetime individual membership or $450 for a lifetime family membership. Visit the club website at www.wyflycasters.org. To pay dues or contact the club, write to P.O. Box 2881, Casper, WY 82602. The deadline for submission of information for each issue is a week before the end of the month. Make contributions to the next issue by emailing material to the Backcast editor at marketingmavenaha@ gmail.com or call (708) 997-2071. The Backcast is available either in electronic format or through USPS snail mail. To receive each newsletter through a monthly e-mail, you must be able to open .pdf (Adobe Acrobat, a software program available free of charge) documents. Usually, each issue is roughly 1 MB in size, some are larger. Your e-mail provider may have limits on the size of attachments. In order to be added to the e-mail list, send a request to marketingmavenaha@gmail.com. In addition to receiving each issue of the newsletter earlier than your hard copy peers, e-mail subscribers are able to print each copy in vibrant color -- an added plus if the issue is rich in color photographs. By sub- scribing electronically, you also save the club roughly $17.40 a year in
printing and postage expenses.
Wyoming Fly Casters
August 2012
However, most of us go fishing when we can get the time off, not because it is the best time! But if we’re lucky enough these tips about the best time to fish, just might work. (1) During the “morning rise” & “evening rise.” (2) When the barometer is steady or on the rise. (3) When there is a hatch of flies— caddis flies or mayflies. The fisherman will have to match his fly with the hatching flies or go fish-less. (4) When the breeze is from a westerly quarter rather than from the north or east. (5) When the water is still or rippled, rather than during a wind. When does that happen in Casper? (6) If the cows are up and eating, go fishing. If they are down resting, you might as well stay home. I don’t know if these will work or not but I’m game to try... how about you? 3
Peg
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Will’s Letter
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Meeting Minutes
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Ten Sleep August outing
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Member Notes
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The Dawn of Dam Removal
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Community Recreation Letter of Thanks
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Wyoming’s Brown Trout
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Recipe Box & Joe’s Fishing Tip
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Know your Knots
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Event Calendar
CONTENTS
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, ‘The Best Time to Fish’ this month will be: August 17th 31st.
TABLE OF
August 2012
Minutes Wyoming Fly Casters July 18, 2012 Call to Order: A Board meeting of the Wyoming Fly Casters was held on July 18, 2012. The meeting was convened at 7:00 PM, president Will Waterbury Presiding and Casey Leary, Secretary. Members in Attendance: Will Waterbury, Lee Tschetter, Casey Leary, Joe Meyer, Jim Johnson, Spencer Amend, Brian Bayer and Bob Fischer. Members Absent: Matt Stanton, Herb Waterman, Alex Rose and George Auxland all excused. Chris McAtee, Jesse McGregor and Phillip Smith unexcused. Guest: Scott Novotny Secretary’s Report: No report for June as no quorum was present. Treasurer’s Report: Reviewed as provided by Matt Stanton. Old Business: The grand ceremony was held at Miles Landing, including an honorary 1st cast, speech and meal. Twenty-three people were present and no press present (however an article was published in the Casper Star Tribune on July 21, 2012.) The Ugly Bug, ARS and the Land Trust paid for food expenses for the ceremony. New Business: Al Condor of the WGFD took photos of the signs placed at the Miles Landing site and WFC, WGFD, Conservation Fund and other emblems were not present. WFC to support Al Condor looking into the reason emblems of some supporters of this project are missing from the signs. Scott Novotny volunteered to fill the board position left vacant by Greg Groves, who resigned due to other commitments. WFC to send Greg a thank you for his services. Motion by Casey Leary that Scott Novotny fill Greg Groves position on the Board. Motion carried. Joe Meyer will again need volunteers to assist at the WGFD Expo September 13, 14 & 15. A sign up list will be sent around at the August general meeting. We are in need of the August general meeting program. Matt Stanton will be streamkeeper of the August Ten Sleep outing. Randy Stalker will scout out the area as rumors are the traditional camping area was to be closed. WFC received a thank you letter from the Community Recreation Board for participating in the Fishing Derby. WFC also received a thank you letter from the Library for participating in the Library Fly Tying with the youth. Brian Bayer will get an estimate for the WFC vests and report back to the board. Brian Bayer volunteered to construct a stand for the large WFC plexiglass sign. Motion that the WFC spend up to $200 to construct a stand. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:59 PM. Wyoming Fly Casters
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WFC Ten Sleep Creek August Weekend Outing Mountains. Travel about 50 miles and just past Meadowlark Lake you will turn right at the Deer Haven Lodge. Continue on the dirt road for seven miles, until you are about to cross the west branch of Ten Sleep Creek where you will see Deer Park campground. You can settle either in the campground (for a fee), or in the meadow on the other side of the bridge. There was some concern about the campground being closed this year, but as of now it remains open to all users. Campground spots are on a first come basis. Also, it appears fire restrictions are still in effect for the forest, but fires in designated campground fire pits are allowed. The annual weekend camping outing in the Big Horn Mountains adjacent to Ten Sleep Creek is scheduled for the weekend of August 10-12. Matt Stanton and Lee Tschetter are sharing the streamkeeper responsibilities this year. There will be at least one breakfast and one dinner prepared for attendees, including gumbo on Saturday night. If you plan to attend and haven’t signed up already please call Matt at 258-9915 so they know how many to prepare food for. In general fishing in the area is good to excellent this time of year. The small streams in the West Ten Sleep lake area are packed with energetic trout and are typically anxious to hit a variety of dry flies. A good selection of flies to bring along might include: Terrestrials (hoppers, beetles and ants), Adams, Renegade and Stimulators. Nymphs including Copper John, Prince and Hares Ear have also been used when the fish aren’t looking up. Historically, attendees have an excellent time and for some this is a must attend outing. Even if you can only make it for one day, camaraderie and hungry fish are a guarantee. To get there: Go North on I-25 to Buffalo, then head West on highway 16 and climb into the Big Horn 5
Hope to see you there! - Matt Stanton August 2012
Member Notes: Beginning Fly Casting instruction is being offered by WFC’s “Fishin’ with Joe” Meyer. Joe has gotten permission from Mike at Izaak Walton Lodge to teach beginners at the pond behind the lodge. This will be ‘catch and release’ instruction only. Permission to fish at this location has been approved on one condition, that Joe is present when fishing. If interested please contact Joe at: fishingwithjoe2@gmail.com. or 307-235-1316.
Classifieds
COMING EVENTS Joe Meyer will again need volunteers to assist at the WGFD Expo September 13, 14 & 15. A sign up list will be sent around at the August general meeting.
Ten Sleep outing = August 10 - 12. For detailed information see story on page 5. Stay tuned for more information on the Tongue River outing in September.
Large selection of framed, signed and numbered Vivi Crandall and Terry Redlin prints (contact me for names/prices) and Men’s Chaco Z/1 Sandal. Size 13. “Matrix color. New in box, $45. OBO Matt Stanton 307-258-9915 All Patagonia SST jacket XXL $300.00 2011 model NIB; SST jacket women's older style XL $125.00 NIB SST jacket Small; older style used $50.00
A Special thanks to our local retailers, fly shops and lodges. You’re always there when we need you.
North Platte Lodge, Platte River Fly Shop, Platte River Outfitters, Sportsman’s Warehouse, The Reef Fly Shop, Ugly Bug Fly Shop, North Platte Walleye’s Unlimited, Cliff Outdoors
Coleman Fleetwood Colonial Popup Camper 2005 Like New $5,000 http://www.roadslesstraveled.us/Popup.html For more details email Scott Novotny at gscottn@gmail.com
Remembrances
Our members are very special to us and we want to remember them in times of adversity. If you know of a member or their spouse who is ill or is recently deceased, please contact Donna Diesburg at (307) 234-4278 or e-mail her at faith10@bresnan.net. Wyoming Fly Casters
Scott Novotny 307-315-3534 The Patagonia SST Jacket has evolved over the years. New fabrics, pocket designs, zippers, belt loops are all re-designed in the 20011 SST. One thing has stayed constant over the years, the SST Jacket is superbly designed to deal with harsh conditions and be a functional tool in the arsenal of the fly fishier. The SST stands out in it's design, water proof zippers for hand warmer pockets as well as the main zipper. The back belt loop will allow you to thread your wading belt through the jacket and create a lock down tight seal for those deep wading situations. The SST is simply a great fly fishing jacket.
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The Dawn Of Dam Removal
W
Written by Bruce Babbit, Patagonia Early Fall Edition
hen I began considering dam removal, the Elwha River quickly emerged at the top of my list. The river flows through the heart of Olympic National Park. It once hosted the most prolific salmon runs in the Northwest. And the tiny amount of electricity from the dams could easily be replaced from other sources. O went to the Olympic Peninsula to take a look. Sure enough, it seemed the perfect place to begin. The two dams down near the mouth of the river appeared completely out of place in the splendor of the great old-growth forests. I convened press conference to announce a new era of am removal, beginning here at the Elwha River. And then all hell broke loose. Washington State’s senior senator angrily condemned the idea, vowing , as ranking member of the Department of Interior Appropriations Committee, to put an end to such nonsense. Other members of the congressional delegations chimed in, in opposition. Newspaper editorials ridiculed the plan. A few weeks later President Clinton took me aside, looking somewhat bemused and asked, “Bruce, what is all this stuff about tearing down dams?” His innocent-sounding question was really a cautionary admonition. Our administration was already caught up in a bitter and politically costly controversy over the spotted owl and logging of old-growth forests in the Northwest. Friends reminded me that cabinet secretaries who stir up too much controversy can and do lose their jobs. The Elwha project would have to go on the back burner for a while. That public opinion was flooding in against us was hardly surprising. Back then, tearing down dams to restore rivers seemed a capricious idea dreamed up by another meddling bureaucrat. Why tear down perfectly good dams? 7
We quietly sat around rebuilding our case. Within the Department of the Interior we began preparing an environmental impact statement loaded with cost estimates, hydrologic computations, sediment studies, fish mortality statistics and regional economic impacts. However, of all the arguments thrown up against dam removal, the most effective was simply, “It won’t work. The salmon have been gone for a hundred years. What makes you think they’ll return?” Somehow, somewhere, we had to demonstrate that fish do come back. We needed to show and tell - with a small dam, built within recent memory, surrounded by a friendly community that actually remembered the fish runs and their importance to the community. And finally we found a candidate, at the other end of the country on a little-known river on the Atlantic Coast of North Carolina. It turned out that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was already quietly at work on the Neuse River where a small diversion dam built in 1952 near the mouth had killed off one of the most prolific spawning runs of American shad, herring and stripers on the Atlantic Coast. A power company had built the Quaker Neck Dam to draw water for cooling, and it was perfectly feasible to design an alternate intake method. On a clear winter day in 1997, continued on page 8 August 2012
continued from page 7
... Dam Removal to an accepted means of river restoration. Most importantly the concept has taken root in hundreds of local communities as residents rediscover their rivers, their history, and the potential not only restore natural systems, but, in the process, to renew their communities as well.
we assembled on the river bank. I took a few swings a the concrete with a sledgehammer and a wrecking ball finished the job. By springtime, fish were swarming up the river, passing through Raleigh 70 miles upstream. The success of Quaker Neck brought national press and began to turn public opinion. Across the country local communities came up with proposals, and dams began to come down - at Kennebec in Maine, along the Baraboo River in Wisconsin, the Rogue Rive in Oregon, and the Butte and Clear Creeks in California.
I am asked, “After Elwha, what is your next priority?” “That’s like asking, What is my favorite national park?” My answer tends to vary depending on what I have been reading and where I have been hiking most recently. But my nomination would be the four dams Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite - that have transformed the great Snake River in western Washington into a slack-water barge channel, destroying thousands of miles of salmon habitat is in the Rocky Mountains and driving four salmon species to the brink of extinction.
With public opinion now moving our way, nationally and in the Northwest, we ratcheted up our efforts in Congress to finish off the Elwha dams. Slowly, at what seemed a glacial pace, funding started to flow, finally coming to fruition in the Obama administration. In the space of two decades, dam removal has evolved from a novelty
Others will have their own compelling priorities - and there are still 75,000 dams for consideration.
Community Recreation Thanks Dear Club Members: fish were measured and cleaned. The vision that your organization has to encourage kids to fish, not only for a day for a lifetime, truly shows.
Thank you for your help with the 17th Annual Kids Fishing Derby held on June 2nd at Yesness Pond. I can’t thank your organization enough for helping prepare the fishing poles, helping the kids fish, and donating your time.
We will plan to hold next year’s event the first weekend in June. I hope you’ll be able to join us again. I do sincerely thank your Club members for your support. Thank you for all you did with this event!
We had 277 kids register this year. I estimate that we had an additional 360 adults. Everyone seemed to have a good time and the weather could not have been more cooperative.
Sincerely, Ken Thoren Community Recreation Foundation President
More fish were caught this year than year’s past. The Game and Fish report shows that 204 caught Wyoming Fly Casters
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What you should know about Wyoming Brown Trout By Peg Novotny
My goal this summer is to land a Brown Trout. So far they have alluded me but my nephew Mick seems to be a Brown magnet. Just check out the pictures to the right. So how did the Brown Trout get here in the first place? Inquiring minds wants to know. Well, the Brown Trout was introduced to America from Europe many years ago. As a result it is now widely distributed in lakes and streams throughout Wyoming. We love the fact that Brown Trout have made their home in Wyoming and seem to thrive here too. They prefer dense cover, especially overhead cover from undercut banks and vegetation. They are slightly more tolerant of high water temperatures than other trout. So is it any wonder that they are fall spawners? Summer’s too hot for romance. Young browns feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and plankton in lakes and reservoirs. Browns over 12 inches prefer food items such as small fish and crayfish.
Mick Novotny
Did you know that their average life span is up to ten years? All the more reason to be gentle when returning them to the water. Due to their longer life span and preference for large food items, brown trout often reach trophy sizes. Fish over ten pounds are not uncommon, and (believe it or not) fish over twenty pounds have been taken from the North Platte River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Fishing at the Flaming Gorge currently holds the Brown Trout state record at 25.81 pounds, though fish over thirty pounds have been taken by anglers on the Utah end of the reservoir. When’s the best time to catch a brown trout? They are more nocturnal than other trout and, therefore, early morning and late evening fishermen are usually most successful. Browns have dark spots on a lighter background versus light spots on a darker background as found in brook trout. You can’t mistake them for any other fish. See you at the Flaming Gorge! Don’t forget to send photos to ‘Brag Time’ - marketingmavenaha@gmail.com 9
Alex Rose August 2012
WFC’s Recipe Box LEMON-PICKLED TROUT
2 Cups white wine vinegar 1 Small onion, sliced 2 TBSP ground mustard 2 10-12 inch trout, cleaned 2 tsp sugar 2 Small bay leaves 1 Lemon, sliced 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Combine vinegar, mustard, and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then let cool to room temperature. While vinegar mixture cools, fill a 1-quart jar with the sliced lemon, onion, trout, and bay leaves, and sprinkle the cayenne pepper over the top. Pour the cooled vinegar solution over the fish and close the jar. Refrigerate for 3-4 days, and eat within 1 month. Serve with crackers. - Lee Tschetter
Joe’s Fishing Tip When it’s hot outside, try to keep the fish in water while removing the hook. Exposing a fish to extreme heat can have life threatening consequences. Wyoming Fly Casters
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Blood Knot Uses: The Blood Knot is a favorite knot for fly fisherman. It is primarily used to join two lines of similar size, e.g., when joining sections of leader or tippet, and is one of the best knots for this purpose. The strength of the knot depends on making at least five, and up to seven, turns on each side of the center Advantages: The Blood knot is a simple, easily learned and very effective way of joining two similar sized lines.
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August 2012
WFC General Meeting
WFC Ten Sleep Outing
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WFC Ten Sleep Outing
WFC Ten Sleep Outing
WFC Board Meeting
Wyoming Fly Casters P.O. Box 2881 Casper, WY 82602
The Mission of the Wyoming Fly Caster’s is to promote and enhance the sport of fly fishing and the conservation of fish and their habitat. 12