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Vol. 39 No. 5
The Monthly Newsletter of the Wyoming Fly Casters
May 2012
GREYBULL RIVER SPEAS FISH HATCHERY MEMBER NOTES & EVENTS LITTLE NIPPER BRAG TIME! PLUS KNOW YOUR KNOTS!
May’s Le#er from Will Greetings WFC members,Time for trading gloves and hand warmers for sunscreen. While I really enjoy the pleasant temperatures and being able to feel my toes work properly while wading I have to admit to missing the cool days already. I wonder if this may signal some kind of transition toward acceptance of Casper’s climate, though it is doubtful that I will ever embrace the wind aspect of it. Regardless, it’s still a great time to be out on the water testing those new patterns you spent the winter perfecting. I hope you are already scheduling fishing time into your busy summer and vacation plans. Thank you to all who attended the banquet this year and supported the evening with your energy and wallets. If you missed it you missed another excellent array of quality items available to bid on. We seem to have done pretty well with the banquet overall. Our attendance was down somewhat this year and the generosity of the attendees was up a bit. Many thanks go out to Matt Stanton and the rest of the banquet committee for putting together a great evening. Special kudos are also extended to everyone who acquired donations for the banquet. For next year let’s break with tradition and have someone step up to chair the banquet rather than have to resort to arm-twisting again. Absent from the banquet this year was Bob Fischer, due to medical issues and unfortunate due to his selection as this years MacTavish recipient. He will be presented the award at the general meeting on May 9th so make sure you make it to the meeting for the presentation. Another reason to be at the meeting will be our presentation. This month Matt Hahn, a fisheries biologist from the Casper Game and Fish office, will be providing some information about catch and release, and potential for mortality of a seemingly healthy 2
released fish. Matt’s presentation will help us understand when it’s safer to take that photo and measurement and when we should do a quick release. This info would seem to be especially pertinent to the folks who guide during the summer months. I really encourage them to attend and pick up some more wisdom to pass along to their clients. On another G&F related note, there will be an Aquatic Invasive Species training coming up on May 16th. You have a choice of 9am to 4pm during the day OR the evening of the 16th and 17th from 5:30 to 8:30. Again this year the training will be about Watercraft & Equipment Inspection & Decontamination. The training will be primarily focused on the procedures for detecting possible Zebra or Quagga mussel presence on watercraft. There is good information provided at the trainings and you can walk away as a certified Wyoming inspector, ready and able to volunteer at an AIS check station this summer. A couple of club members are already trained and it would be great for the club’s presence in the community to have a few more. Sign up by May 9th, I might see you there. Visit http://gf.state.wy.us.fish/ais for more info. April’s meeting was a swap meet and it seemed to go pretty well. If you attended I would like to get your feedback on it. Please talk to me at the next meeting. I will admit that it was different to have a kind of nonmeeting. Some of us that were there talked about it and felt that it was definitely worth doing again, we just weren’t sure about the format and/or timing. We are looking forward to hearing some of your thoughts. Enjoy this delightful spring and the few amazingly calm days we have been experiencing. Makes you feel like you can cast well after all. Here’s to fish that sometimes let me think I am smarter than they are.
Will Waterbury, President Lee Tschettert, Vice President Casey Leary, Secretary Matt Stanton, Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Spencer Amend, Neil Ruebush Brent “Smokey” Weinhandl, DDS Terms expire in 2013 Greg Groves 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
For this month’s feature story I’ve picked up an article written by Martin Kidston from the Billings Gazette. It’s a great story about rerouting water over the new $4.3 million irrigation dam designed to reunite the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout with native spawning grounds upstream. It was posted on the WFC Facebook page, so in case you missed the story, it’s been added here. “Greybull River Runs through New Dam.” A must read for all members! Also included is a short article with some interesting facts on the Dan Speas Fish Hatchery renovation. Since 2006 the hatchery has been officially closed to the public. This past friday, April 27th, it was opened again. Check it out. A new feature and NOT to be missed, “Know your Knots!” The Kreh Knot comes highly recommended by our own, Joe Meyer . Simply said, if I can tie this knot, anyone can. So, study up kids... the fish will test you on this one. Photo highlights of the Spring Banquet, Gear Swap and some very impressive “Brag Time” fish. Keep them comin in!!! Once again, see if you could identify this month’s “Little Nipper.” He’s a new member of the Wyoming Fly Caster’s. Also, a special thanks to Lee for another great recipe! Happy Fishing!
TABLE OF 2
Will’s Letter
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Greybull River
5
Member Notes, Classifieds
6
Joe’s fishing tips & Recipe Box
7- 8
Minutes & Treasurers Report
9 -10
Know your Knots
CONTENTS
May 2012
11
Brag Time
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Speas Fish Hatchery, Little Nipper
13
Spring Banquet
14
Calendar of events
Peg
May 2012
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Greybull river flows through new dam By MARTIN KIDSTON
MEETEETSE, Wyo. — A stretch of the Greybull River turned muddy Wednesday when crews diverted water over a new $4.3 million irrigation dam designed to reunite Yellowstone cutthroat trout with native spawning grounds upstream.
"It's going to open up over 100 miles of fish habitat above this structure for unrestricted access, especially for Yellowstone cuts," said Ray Zubik, a fisheries biologist with the Shoshone National Forest. "They've been restricted and reduced to a fraction of their historical range for nearly 80 years."
At 9:30 a.m., a backhoe working against the backdrop of the Absaroka Mountains unplugged the river and sent a torrent of chocolate-colored water flowing back into the Greybull's historic channel. The dam's floodgates were raised and the river was whole again.
Early Wednesday morning, a backhoe dug into the river bank while crews tinkered with the dam's flood controls, making final adjustments ahead of the release.
"A lot of fish over the years have been displaced by getting stuck below this thing and not being able to get upriver," said Cory Toye, director of the Wyoming Water Project for Trout Unlimited. "They'll be able to get upriver now for the first time."
Shortly after 9 a.m., Bob Cooke, project superintendent with Groatehouse Construction, advised workers to cross the river -- the water was coming soon. A slow trickle began, followed by a rush of muddy water, which quickly spread across the channel and filled in behind the dam.
Construction on the new dam began last fall when the Greybull was sent on a course slightly north of the new structure. Throughout the winter, the $4.3 million project, known officially as the Upper Sunshine Dam Rehabilitation Project, employed about 25 people. While the dam was intended to provide irrigation water to a canal feeding the Upper Sunshine Reservoir five miles south of here, efforts by Trout Unlimited, the Shoshone National Forest and Wyoming Game and Fish, among others, helped incorporate a fish ladder into the project's design.
"Any time you can reconnect as much traditional or historic habitat as you can for migratory requirements, you'll get a pretty good return on your investment," said Toye, watching the water flow.
Built in the 1930s, the old diversion dam had essentially severed the Greybull River, blocking the migration of Yellowstone cutthroat up into the cold waters of the Shoshone National Forest.
Wyoming Game and Fish also has high hopes for the dam and its fish ladder. The "fishway" allows operators to change the water level within each pool of the ladder, allowing fish to climb the elevation.
The hope is that the fish will now use the ladder once runoff begins and the water rises. Reconnecting the upper and lower stretches of the river, biologists say, will help stabilize one of the purest populations of Yellowstone cutthroats in Wyoming.
Erin Burckhardt, the agency's Cody region fisheries biologist, said the state will document how fish use the structure. As many as 50 cutthroats were captured and radio-tagged last year. Biologists will continue to track their movements up and down the river.
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"The Greybull above and below this dam is considered two of the best Yellowstone cutthroat populations left in the state. It's one of the best strongholds we have, and this will further secure that and make it better."
Wyoming Fly Casters
Member Notes: WFC Gear Swap recap Our first annual and what a great success! We had a really good response from those who wanted to sell some items at the Gear Swap and those who made some great purchases. A great event for all. See images below. If you missed this one, don’t miss the next.
Classifieds Drift Boat - ’97 Hyde
(Pre Dove Tail) With all the stuff you would expect AND an extra front seat with storage. $3500.00 Andrew Sauter 307-265-3932
Large selection of framed, signed and numbered
Joe Meyer will present the McTavish Award to Bob Fisher at May 9th’s regular club meeting. Please plan to attend and show your support for Bob and this great honor. Upcoming Events Matt Hahn will be attending the regular meeting on May 9th. Matt will be talking about catch, release and fish mortality. He’ll explain water temperature, time spent bringing the fish in and time spent out of the water-as you remove the hook and take your pictures, as well as some other findings. He’ll investigate probability factors of fish survival versus demise. Fly tying for young adults at the Casper Library on Tuesday, June 19th, 2 - 4 pm. Lee Tschetter is asking for 3 - 5 members to help out. Stay tuned for 2012 dates for the Ten Sleep outing = August and the Tongue River outing = September. Congratulations to Spencer Amend on his new position as trustee with the WFC Foundation. May 2012
“Emerger” activities. Still in discussion stages. Trout Unlimited Annual Banquet was held in Saratoga on April 27th and 29th. Matt Staunton and Scott Novotny attended. Stay tuned for a recap of the event in next month’s newsletter.
Miles Landing is tentatively scheduled for June 2nd. Stay tuned for more details. One of our new members is doing some investigating on creating some new shirts with our WFC logo for regular and board members. Thanks Jessie! In the mean time we’ll be taking a look at inventory of existing shirts, hats etc. Looking ahead to October, we tentatively have Kent Sundell scheduled to present a review of geology in the North Platte area during a regular club meeting. Stay tuned.
Vivi Crandall and Terry Redlin prints (contact me for names/prices)
Men’s Chaco Z/1 Sandal. Size 13. “Matrix color. New in box, $45. OBO Matt Stanton 307-258-9915 Classifieds are free to WFC members for sale, drop a line. To advertise your item to marketingmavenaha@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. 5
WFC’s Recipe Box Trout Fillets w/Fresh Tomato & Basil 3 TBSP Olive Oil 4 Trout Fillets 1 Cup Chopped Onion 2 Cloves Garlic
1 TBSP Snipped Fresh Basil 2 Cups Chopped Tomato ¼ Cup Water Salt & Pepper to Taste
Heat oil in a large skillet. Fry fish until golden brown on both sides. Remove fish & set aside. Add onion to skillet for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic & basil. Cook 2 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Arrange fish over tomato mixture. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 12-15 minutes, or until fish begins to flake. Serve over hot, cooked linguine. 4 Servings @ 410 Calories
Joe’s Fishing Tip When you’re retrieving or stripping in your line, keep your rod tip close to the water. If you do this, it’ll be easier for you to set the hook because there will be a lot less line drag on the line. It’ll also be easier to feel when a fish is playing with your fly or streamer.
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Wyoming Fly Casters
Minutes of the Wyoming Fly Casters April 18, 2012
Call to Order: A board meeting of the Wyoming Fly Casters was held on April 18, 2012. The meeting was convened at 7:00 pm, Treasurer Matt Stanton presiding, and Casey Leary Secretary.
Members in Attendance: Matt Stanton, Lee Tschetter, Casey Leary, Joe Meyer, Herb Waterman, Spencer Amend, Jim Johnson, Alex Rose, Brian Bayer, Jesse McGregor. Guest Peg Novotny
Members Absent: Will Waterbury, George Auxland, Phillip Smith, all excused.
Approval of Minutes: Motion was made by Lee Tschetter to approve the Secretary’s Report. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Matt Stanton presented his Treasurer’s Report to the Board. Motion was made by Casey Leary to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried.
Conservation Report: The grand opening of Speas Fish Hatchery will be April 27, the WFC received a postcard for the invitation. Miles Landing grand opening celebration is tentatively set for June 2nd. WFC will get more information for our role in the ceremony. Matt Stanton and Scott Novotny will be attending the Wyoming Trout Unlimited Spring meeting in Saratoga. Motion by Alex Rose for the WFC to pay for expenses for WFC members attending the TU meeting. Motion carried.
Old Business: $215 was sent to the Yellowstone Cutthroat Foundation. WFC received a letter of thanks from the Foundation. Lee Tschetter and Matt Stanton have been cooperatively operating the raffles for the General Meetings.
New Business: Jesse McGregor will gather information about WFC shirts including costs, designs and other details regarding shirts and was tabled. Lee Tschetter will ask for help from 3 to 5 members for fly tying for teenagers at the library from 2 to 4 pm on Tuesday, June 19th. A sign-up sheet will be sent around at the May meeting. Spencer Amend was invited to be the 3rd Trustee of the WFC Foundation. The Board did not see this as a conflict of interest. Matt Stanton reported 55 members have not renewed their membership with WFC. Motion by Casey Leary to spend up to $100 to send cards to members to remind them to renew their membership. Motion was carried. Discussion was held regarding having the newsletter on the website as a members only privilege or if the general public should be allowed to view it. Matter was tabled for a later discussion. Peg Novotny reported she is putting posts on the WFC Facebook page soliciting photos of current members fishing in their childhood as well as any other photos. Will Waterbury receives newsletters of other TU chapters and some board members are interested in also receiving them. Will to get specific members of interest.
At the May General Meeting, Matt Hahn of the Game and Fish will present a program on fish mortality. July may be a program of lichen in Wyoming. October, Kent Sundell will present a program on the geology of the North Platte region. Suggestions for future programs included: a tour of the Speas Fish Hatchery; Bureau of Reclamation; entomology; and Herb Waterman volunteered to present a program on fishing Texas, Belize, and the Bahamas. Casey Leary will be the streamkeeper of the Robinder Outing in October. Matt Stanton will again be the streamkeeper for the Ten Sleep outing in August. Lee Tschetter and Scott Novotny continue discussions about re-establishing the kids’ club, the Emergers. Meeting adjourned 8:23 PM. May 2012
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WFC Treasurer's report month ending March 31, 2012 Date Vendor/Item Income 3/12/12 Fly Fishing Film tour 50/50=$215, Membership=$20 3/14/12 Return Cabin Fever deposit (check #4153) 3/21/12 March Raffle 3/21/12 February Raffle 3/21/12 Banquet Ockets 3/21/12 Membership 3/29/12 Banquet Ockets 3/29/12 Dues 3/31/12 Interest Total Expenses 3/1/12 #4166-‐Ugly Bug (Walleye Exchange Trip) 3/3/12 #4167 -‐ Casey Leary (Cabin Fever Raffle Rod package) 3/6/12 #4168 -‐ Office Max (Banquet Ocket blanks) 3/8/12 #4169-‐Office Max (Banquet posters) 3/14/12 #4170 -‐ Great American Insurance (Liability policy) 3/23/12 #4171 -‐ Ma] Stanton (Cabin Fever expenses -‐ signed by Will Waterbury) 3/28/12 Fedex Online (Feb Backcast prinOng 3/29/12 #4172 -‐ IWLA (Feb/March/April rent) 3/29/12 #4173 -‐ Save the YS Cu]. (from F3T 50/50) 3/29/12 #4174 -‐ Cash (change for banquet) 3/29/12 #4175 -‐ Finishing touch (Banquet framing) 3/30/12 #4176 -‐ Office Max (Banquet programs) 3/30/12 #4177 -‐ Office Max (Banquet supplies) Total
$235.00 $200.00 $98.00 $73.00 $550.00 $330.00 $175.00 $60.00 $0.26 $1,286.26
$285.00 $52.46 $26.24 $13.97 $929.00 $50.34 $121.28 $225.00 $215.00 $600.00 $522.90 $151.20 $40.06 $3,232.45
Banquet Thanks! I want to express my thanks to the folks that helped make the Spring Banquet a great success. Help in even a small way goes far: Joe Meyer, Spencer Amend, Scott Novotny, Lee and Theresa Tschetter, Will Waterbury, Marty and Gene Robinson, Brian Bayer, Bill Mixer, Peg Novotny, Jim Johnson, Bob Fischer,Casey Leary, Blake Jackson and Jake Sabus. Iʼd also like to thank the donors, without whom the event wouldnʼt have been as successful as it was: Abe Knapp, AD Maddox, Alaskahalfprice.com, Andrew Sauter, Cadillac Cowgirl, Cliff Outdoors, Crazy Rainbow, Dave Hutton, Joe Meyer, Mark Boname, Marvin Nolte, Mountain Khaki, Neal Reubush, North Platte Lodge/The Reef, North Platte Walleyes Unlimited, Platte River Fly Shop, Rex Eggleston, Rocky Mountain Discount Sports, Russ Newton, Scott Sanchez, Simms, Sportsmanʼs Warehouse, The Nature Conservancy, Tony Valdez, Ty Hallock, Ugly Bug Fly Shop, Wyoming Anglers, Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and The Wyoming Wildlife Federation. Finally, a huge thanks to all that attended. With ongoing support by membership and community at events just like this, the Wyoming Fly Casters continues to help improve access and habitat in the area. The WFC financial contribution to the Miles land purchase at government bridge and sediment remediation on Bolton Creek wouldnʼt be possible without your generous support. 8
Matt Stanton
Wyoming Fly Casters
Surgeon’s Loop Knot Uses: The Surgeon's Loop is essentially a Double Overhand Knot. It can be tied quickly and easily in the end of a line. It is often used to make a "Loop to Loop" connection or to create a fixed loop that allows the artificial lure or fly to move naturally. Advantages: The advantage for this knot is that is reliable, easy to learn, and some sources claim that it retains a high proportion of the rated line strength.
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May 2012
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Kreh Knot Uses: The loop connection to a fly or a lure can give the fly or lure more natural action. Advantages: When tied correctly the Kreh Knot is about 100%, even in a fragile 7X tippet. If the knot is used with a size 18 nymph, the loop will be larger than the fly. For freshwater trout it’s better to use the Kreh loop with hooks larger than size 12.
1 Make an Overhand Knot in the line with the tag end. Allow about 4 to 5 inches of tag end to extend through the knot to give you enough line to complete the knot.
2 Insert the tag end through the hook eye on the same side the tag end entered the Overhand Knot..
3 After making the required turns with the tag end around the main line, pass the tag end through the side of the Overhand Knot (not through the center).
4 To properly close the knot, pull on the tag end, the main line, and the hook. Hint: If it appears that the loop may be a little too large, pull harder on the tag end to decrease the loop size. If the loop seems too small, pull harder on the main line when closing. Trim the tag end. 10
Wyoming Fly Casters
Matt Randy
Michael
Brag Time!
Marti
Russ
Will
sMick
May 2012
Eric
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Dan Speas Fish Hatchery Opens to Public “Speas is now a showcase fish rearing facility that all the citizens of Wyoming can be proud of,” said Robin Kepple, information specialist for the Wyoming Game and Fish (WGFD) Casper office. The Wyoming state legislature approved the $10,494,246 budget to renovate the fish rearing facility and construction began in 2006. Assisting in raising the required funds, the Wyoming Fly Casters and the WGFD purchased 34.4 acres between the Speas rearing facility grounds and the North Platte River. Without this facility, all fish for Speas were hatched and initially raised at other Wyoming stations and then transferred to Speas. This past December, one million eggs were deposited into the hatchery, and those fish are now in various stages of growth. Prior to the renovation, Speas produced an average of 90,000 pounds of fish per year. Post renovation, Speas now produces approximately 229,000 pounds of fish. Currently, it’s one of the biggest and most modern hatcheries in the U.S. Speas is responsible for meeting the stocking needs of the North Platte River and reservoir systems. The stocking schedule is set primarily by
Speas Hatchery Creek that leads to the North Platte River at Bessemmer Bend.
biologists with the WGFD who determine the number of fish in an area and the need. The hatchery then develops stock based on the recommendations of the biologists. The most popular type of fish produced are trout, led by the rainbow and cutthroat varieties.
Who’s the Little Nipper? Looks like quite a big catch for this wee lad! He’s a new member of the WFC and a Casper native. A UW Biology and Education graduate; he works for the Natrona County School District. He’s a football coach at NCSD too. He and his wife attended WFC’s first Gear Swap and got some great deals! If you were there, perhaps you met this “Little Nipper.” Be the first person to accurately identify this WFC member by emailing your guess to: marketingmavenaha@gmail.com. Please send in your “Little Nipper” picture (a jpg or pdf will do) and some hints to accompany the photo so we can continue this column in future monthly issues. Thanks! 12
Wyoming Fly Casters
WFC Spring Banquet
May 2012
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Club Meet Present McTavish; Matt Hahn Aquatic Invasive species 9 - 4pm See Will’s letter
The Backca! Newsle#er www.wyflycasters.org
Aquatic Invasive species 3 - 5pm See Will’s letter
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. 14
Wyoming Fly Casters