Fly Fisher Magazine | Fall/Winter 2021

A L L F I S H • A L L WAT E RS

flyfishersinternational.org Winter 2021 | $5.95

HAVE ROD WILL TRAVEL Fly fishing with worldly ambitions

LONG EXPOSURE Behind the lens with Val Atkinson

VISE ADVICE

From hippy stompers to dubbing steps

ALL FISH, ALL WATERS ®

THANK YOU! Thanks to everyone who was a part of FFI’s First Virtual Expo!

We teamed up with some of the best instructors, presenters, and personalities in the sport to deliver high-quality fly fishing education to the broader FFI community. We could not have accomplished this feat without the hard work of the volunteers who supported us and the participants who joined in on the fun.

We’ll be back in 2022 Watch fo r det ai l s i n t h e com i n g months.

Board of Directors

* Dave Peterson Chairman of the Board * Patrick Berry (Non-Voting) President and CEO * Tilda Evans Secretary Awards Committee Chair * Jim Maus Treasurer Finance Committee Chair * John Kirk (Non-Voting) Legal Counsel * Dutch Baughman Education Committee Chair * Keith Groty Senior Advisor * Tom Logan Chairman of the Board - Emeritus Conservation Committee Chair Senior Advisor * Jen Ripple * Richard Ross Nominations, Elections, and Board Development Committee Chair

Fly Fishers International 1201 US Highway 10 West, Suite E Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 222-9369 flyfishersinternational.org President and CEO Lee & Joan Wulff Legacy Circle Patrick Berry | pberry@flyfishersinternational.org Vice President of Operations Conservation/Education Coordinator & Webmaster Rhonda Sellers | operations@flyfishersinternational.org Membership Coordinator Kate Richardson | membership@flyfishersinternational.org Clubs & Councils Coordinator & Fly Tying Group Jessica Atherton | clubs@flyfishersinternational.org Casting Coordinator & Merchandise Nikki Loy | casting@flyfishersinternational.org Membership and Donor Administrator Presidents Club, 1000 Stewards Lindsey Webster | donations@flyfishersinternational.org

Todd Heggestad Council Presidents Committee Chair

Special Projects Coordinator Jake McGlothlin | projects@flyfishersinternational.org

Patty Lueken Women Programs Chair

Bookkeeper Sharon Cebulla | bookkeeper@flyfishersinternational.org

Kuni Masuda International Programs Chair

Museum Information (406) 222-9369 | museum@flyfishersinternational.org

Tim Papich Communications & Marketing Chair

Flyfisher is the official publication of Fly Fishers International, published two times a year and distributed by mail and online free to members. Send membership inquiries, fees and change of address notices to the FFI Headquarters at the address listed above. Flyfisher is produced for FFI by Bird Marketing Group Inc. Editorial & Advertising Inquiries: Editorial queries are welcome and should be sent to Bird Marketing Group Inc at the address listed above attention to the Editor. Email queries can also be emailed to editor@flyfishersinternational.org.

Visit flyfishersinternational.org for the full writer and photographer guidelines. Advertising inquiries can be directed to jbird@ birdmarketinggroup.com. Visit flyfishersinternational.org for Ad rates and spec guidelines.

Reprints & Permissions All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, or endorsements. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2021 Fly Fishers International.

Letters to the Editor Send your comments about any aspect of Flyfisher to the Editor at editor@flyfishersinternational.org. We will endeavor to reply to each letter. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Letters published in Flyfisher become the property of Fly Fishers International.

Barry Webster Membership Chair Bruce Williams Casting Programs Chair

Board Members

Marnee Banks Kastine Coleman Tom Dempsey Shalon Hastings

Carole Katz PHWFF Liaison

Geoff Mullins Heather Hodson Neufeld Dennis O’Brien Andrew Reichardt Berris Samples Peter Vandergrift

* Indicates Executive Committee Members

FlyFisher FlyFisher is published for FFI by Bird Marketing Group Inc. PO Box 227A Eastport, ID 83826 Executive Publisher Jennifer Bird jbird@birdmarketinggroup.com Editor Bob Covey editor@flyfishersinternational.com Group Art Direction Terry Paulhus Office Administrator Kim Carruthers Department Contributors Conservation Dr. Andrew Taylor Casting Jeff Wagner Fly Tying Jerry Coviello Feature Contributors Val Atkinson Sascha Clark Danylchuk Jeff Currier Kai Hsun Chen Steve Foisie Capt. Stacy Lynn Dave McCoy Karin Miller Matteo Moretti Robert John Pales Tim Papich

Jessica Haydahl Richardson



3

On the cover: Jessica Haydahl Richardson Contents: Val Atkinson

IN THIS ISSUE 6 President’s Message Showing up to shape the future 8 Wet Fish Healthier, happier and handsomer 12 All Fish, All Waters Angler Profile Connections with our community 18 Passport to Adventure Hooking up on holiday 24 Gems of the West A rod builder’s odyssey 26 2021 Virtual Expo Highlights Bringing the experience to you 38 Conservation A primer for fishing in America’s Southern rivers 44 Casting Improving your mental game on the path to testing success 46 Fly Tying Making your own dubbing brushes to augment your tying kit 50 FFI Guides, Outfitters and Businesses 52 FFI Forum News, events, and happenings



5

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

T

here’s an old saying, “The world is run by people who show up.” When it comes to conservation efforts, truer words were rarely ever spoken. Still, it can be hard to find the time and attention to get involved, even when dealing with issues that directly affect us.

The burdens of work, family, life and the escape of our hobbies leave little time and limited mental energy to focus on other things. The news cycle is often depressing. For many of us, a call to action on a conservation issue can represent one more thing to worry about.

Believe me, I get it. I just want to go fishing, too. After all, fly fishing represents an outlet away from the stresses of everyday life.

But there are times when we have to show up. If we don’t, the very core of things we care about can begin to slip away. On the battle lines of conservation issues that directly affect fly fishing opportunities and healthy fisheries, we have an obligation to stand together in solidarity and make a difference.

Fly Fishers International has been showing up to take action on important conservation issues since the 1960s.

But FFI’s ability to move the needle is limited by the response to a call to action, the capacity of partner organizations to coalesce towards a common goal, and the resources FFI has available for our conservation work.

To see a bellwether on the need to show up, look no further than the

tragic decline of wild steelhead and salmon in the Pacific northwest. The number of returning fish has declined so precipitously in some river systems, it is not hyperbole to view the trend as a harbinger of potential extinction.

At the Bonneville dam in the Columbia River Gorge, returning numbers of steelhead are on track to be the lowest since 1984. Overfishing, along with the significant impacts of dams throughout the Columbia River watershed, have increasingly disrupted the natural systems that sustain anadromous fish such as salmon and steelhead. And with the escalating impacts of climate change, the thermal pollution caused by impoundments will only get worse. By mid-September, only around 50,000 steelhead made it past the dam, representing less than one third of the historic 10 year average.

The FFI Conservation Committee collaborated with an impressive number of conservation partners to weigh in on the tragedy unfolding with northwest salmon and steelhead stocks. Media sources for fly fishing showed up too. If you missed it, make sure you check out “Darkest Hour for Columbia River Wild Steelhead Returns” on FLYLORDS, or go to YouTube and search for “Salmon are Dying.”

I realize it may be challenging to contemplate spending time digesting such a depressing state of affairs, especially if you don’t live and recreate in the Pacific Northwest, but the reality is we must. The value to our

natural history, indigenous cultures and recreational opportunities are beyond measure. If you care about wild fish in wild places and the legacy of fly fishing, I don’t see any other choice.

Following FFI’s mission to preserve the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters, FFI also focused attention on other critical conservation issues, including the Everglades in Florida. Representing a diverse, interconnected ecosystem of wetlands, fresh and saltwater fisheries, and complex interconnected habitats, the Everglades have diminished to half of its original four million acres. Development and agriculture have eaten away at one of the most incredible natural treasures in the world. Already, 39 species within the Everglades ecosystem are listed as threatened or endangered.

Again, FFI showed up and supported increased funding for Everglades restoration and protection. FFI has taken similar positions on Bristol Bay in Alaska, the Boundary Waters in the Upper Midwest and saltwater fishing regulations in the Gulf of Mexico.

These may not feel like your conservation issues, but what happens when a threat arises on your river, lake, or coastline? Wouldn’t we want our broader community to show up in solidarity to help move the needle on things that matter to us?

But what does it mean to show up?

Frankly, it can mean a lot of things. It can mean taking action when there’s a call for conservation advocacy,

Patrick Berry Patrick H. Berry is FFI President and CEO. Berry brings over 27 years of experience within the environmental conservation field, having come to FFI from the Vermont Community Foundation where he served as vice president of philanthropy. A former commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Berry is recognized as a visionary conservationist and is widely respected by his peers.

6

FlyFisher Winter 2022

members value our conservation focus. That’s why we launched a dynamic new website that includes detailed information on high profile conservation initiatives and actions taken by FFI. We provide regular conservation updates through the new FFInsider communication piece.

We share important information and updates on FFI’s social media feeds.

And we hope to do even more.

How can you help FFI continue on our trajectory doing this important conservation work? Stay informed, maintain your FFI membership,

donate to FFI’s grants and scholarship, programs, join and get active in your local FFI Club or Council, volunteer at local and Council levels, or organize a local conservation project. It often matters less what you do than the fact that you’re doing something.

If you think you’re powerless when it comes to the fate of important conservation issues, think again.

Consider Margaret Mead’s wise words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Photo Matteo Moretti

encouraging your elected officials to vote for conservation initiatives, supporting policies and regulations that protect fish and habitat, contacting your state and federal agencies to protect our resources, joining conservation organizations that align with your values and donating to FFI’s conservation programs. Showing up might also mean participating in a river clean-up day, attending public hearings or mentoring someone on the nexus between fly fishing opportunities and conservation.

We know how much FFI

President’s Message

7

© All images Dave McCoy

8

FlyFisher Winter 2022

The Catch

with catch and release

I

Sascha Clark Danylchuk

t’s no secret that many populations of wild salmon, steelhead, tarpon, striped bass and other aquatic species are threatened. Likewise, it’s well-known that these populations’ pronounced decline comes as a direct result of human activity; what scientists call anthropogenic pressures. These pressures come in many forms and operate at many geographic scales, including habitat degradation in local streams, overfishing and by-catch of regional stocks, and the global stresses of climate change. Over the past 30 years, there has also been an awakening by fisheries scientists and anglers as to the impacts of another threat to fish survival and population health: recreational angling— including the practice of catch and release.

Science focused on catch-and-release angling has shown that physical injury and physiological stress caused by capture and handling can influence the fate of fish. However, research also demonstrates that many of these impacts are in an angler’s control and can be greatly reduced by changes in angler behavior.

Crimping the barb on a hook, for example, can reduce physical injury and the amount of time a fish needs to be handled before release. This becomes even more important when you consider that many of our most treasured species are caught multiple times over their lifetime or even within a single season, and that many more fish are caught and released than kept in North America. As such, getting more anglers to learn and

adopt science-based best practices for catch-and-release is an essential step towards establishing resilient and sustainable recreational fisheries.

With the above in mind, our mission at Keep Fish Wet is to help anglers improve the outcome for each fish they release. We make the science of catch-and-release and related best practices accessible and understandable. We help sidestep scientific journal paywalls and translate scientific jargon so that science-based best practices can reach a broad cross-section of the recreational angling community. Tied to our mission, we firmly believe that access to this type of knowledge should be barrierfree, thus we made the conscious decision to forgo a membership structure and make our information available at no cost.

At Keep Fish Wet, we work to build a community of informed angler-activists and aim to change social norms about how fish are caught and released. By fostering a community of anglers to help guide our own actions and to socially reinforce conservation values, we can help secure the future of fish and fishing. We start important conversations within the angling community, help anglers remain curious and provide a foundation for those who care about wild fish. We believe that, as anglers, we have a responsibility to help create more resilient fisheries through the use of science-based best practices. This is especially important for threatened or vulnerable wild fisheries and in the face of other impacts, such as climate change.

Sascha Clark Danylchuk Sascha is the Executive Director of Keep Fish Wet. As a worshiper of sandy toes and mountain air, Sascha has spent most of her life seeking water in one form or another. Her obsession has led her to a career centered around the natural world. As a fisheries scientist, Sascha has focused most of her work on recreational angling, specifically the science of catch-and-release.

WetCatch Fish The

9

Keep Fish Wet Principles We have distilled the principles for science-based best practices down to three short phrases that can help anglers remember what to do. Our principles encompass the actions that are most in an angler’s control and which create the best outcomes for fish that are caught-andreleased.

1. Minimize Air Exposure Fish need oxygen just like us, but they get it from the water, not from the air. Most of the science says that 10 seconds or less of air exposure is OK for most species. It also says air exposure is more detrimental to bigger fish and when in higher water temperatures. The takeaway: Keep a fish’s mouth and gills fully submerged in the water as much as possible.

2. Eliminate contact with dry and hard surfaces Fish need their slime the same way we need our skin. Dry, rough, and hard surfaces remove the slime from fish and can also remove scales and damage fins, making them more susceptible to diseases.

10

FlyFisher Winter 2022

Keeping fish in or over the water, and supporting them with clean, wet hands or a soft rubber net will help keep their slime layer and scales intact and the fish disease-free.

3. Reduce handling time Handling is the time elapsed from landing to release, including all the ways the fish is restrained (i.e. in your hands or in a net). Multiple studies have shown that longer handling times lead to poorer outcomes after release.

Each of these principles are simple and doable by any angler of any skill level in any fishing situation. Most importantly, each one is backed by science and will make a difference to the fish that you catch-and-release. See our Tips section of our website for more information on setting yourself up for successful Keep Fish Wet best practices.

Fish Friendly Photos: Tips to capturing the moment Documenting our experience is inarguably part of the appeal of angling. But a little forethought goes a long way in helping create more resilient fisheries.

Get set up. Whether you plan to do an in-water or abovewater shot, make sure the photographer has everything ready to go before you pose the fish.

Wet fish look good. A fish photographed in the water or dripping wet looks more natural and less like the dead slab photos your grandfather used to show you.

Measure air exposure. If you do lift the fish out of the water, consider this trick to keep the amount of air exposure short: Hold your breath when you take the fish out of the water—when you need to breathe the fish probably does too.

Don’t drip-dry your fish; fish out of the water should be dripping profusely.

Get a new angle. The classic ‘grip and grin’ is tired and overdone. Instead of bringing the fish up for the camera, bring the camera down towards the fish. Notice how getting your camera as close to the water as possible enhances your photo.

Keep Electronics Dry. Get a waterproof case for your camera or phone. Submerge your camera instead of lifting the fish out of the water.

Break out the selfie stick. While often disdained, telescoping monopods can be very useful for taking unique photos of fish, particularly if you’re in a boat.

Solo sacrifice. If you are fishing solo, your ability to document the experience can be limited. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, however. Try holding the fish by the tail or keeping it in the net, using a low camera angle to get a close-up.

Be mindful of conditions. There are times when conditions simply will not allow for a photo, and when releasing a fish soon as possible is the priority. Factors

include water temperature, whether the fish is deeply hooked or if there are predators in the area.

Ecologically, fish occupy almost every type of water body on earth, from high mountain streams to the deepest parts of the ocean, and are integral in structuring aquatic food webs and ecosystems. We have learned to fish in most of the accessible places where fish are found and today recreational angling is a billion dollar industry, with hundreds of millions of fish caught in the U.S. each year. More than half of those fish are released, either voluntarily or due to regulations such as size limits. That means there are literally millions of opportunities for us to create healthier, more resilient recreational fisheries by using science-based best practices.

Top Tips to Keep Fish Wet. Keep Fish Wet also provides Tips to help make adhering to the principles even easier.

• Follow local regulations • Don’t target spawning fish • Be wary of warm water • Use barbless hooks • Use rubber nets • Limit the use of lip grippers

• Carry a hook removal device • Limit fight time • Hold fish over or in the water • Grip fish carefully • Photograph wet fish • Only revive fish that cannot swim

Visit keepfishwet.org for more information.

Wet Fish

11

VAL ATKINSON

ALL FISH, ALL WATERS ANGLER PROFILE

Bob Covey: Have you been out with your rod lately?

Val Atkinson: I have, indeed. I caught one of the nicest fish I’ve caught all summer two days ago. I’m calling it a five-pound rainbow. It was awesome, it was beautiful.

BC: What was the first image you ever made with your first camera that you remember being happy about?

VA: The first image that I ever made that was meaningful to me was just after graduating from art school. We had the Kent State riot. I saw there was a lot of turmoil, and tear gas, and the National Guard, and students. I went into the local camera shop and bought a Miranda camera and I went out on the street and shot a few images of people duking it out.

BC: When you found fly fishing photography, was it a light bulb going off?

VA: I’d been a fisherman. I moved to California after graduating, and was looking around. I had been experimenting, trying to figure out what I was going to do with photography. During this fishing trip to Northern California with a group of friends, I documented what we did that weekend, and I sent the pictures into Fly Fisherman Magazine, and they bought them for a photo essay. I thought: ‘I’ll become a fly-fishing photographer.’

BC: I think it can be easy to lament today’s

12

FlyFisher Winter 2022

proliferation of social media content. But what has the interest in fly fishing and the popularity of fly fishing images from across the world improved in the fly-fishing industry?

VA: Well, it’s raised the bar considerably, but I feel like competition is great; I honestly feel like I may not be as agile and spry as I used to be, but I feel like I’m still at the top of my game because of the competition, trying to be better.

BC: You’ve implied you’ve made bigger strides in the last few years of your career than ever before; why have your photographs improved?

VA: I would say some of the simple things are getting up earlier and staying out later; one of my mottos that I tell people is the LCM principle, that stands for light, composition, and moment, the latter of which transcends everything.

BC: I heard you correctly say that behind every good man is an even better woman. Tell me when you first discovered what your long-term girlfriend brings to your partnership.

VA: My girlfriend, Susan Rockrise, has always pushed me to do something different or unusual. She tells me “Val, when you go out on a photo assignment, try to get some unusual angles that other people don’t get.” And I used to say to her, “Well, everybody’s trying to do that.” And she says, “I don’t care. Just keep trying.”

BC: You’ve said that putting down the rod has made you a better photographer and that, as of late, you’ve been getting more excited about creating a photograph than having the fishing experience. So you’re telling me that if a giant dorado is about to eat your fly, that’s less exciting than taking a picture of your buddy, or girlfriend, or client doing it?

VA: I love to fish, but it’s starting to be less important to me. In the early years, I used to say, “You can do both; you just have to know when to put down the rod and pick up the camera.” But that was not really true because if you’re willing to put the rod down, you can take better pictures.

That’s a fact. I’ve learned that I can live vicariously through you catching that dorado or that big fish, and that I can pick up my camera and I know how much fun you’re having, and I can make a good image.

BC: You’ve spent a lifetime fishing with and photographing legends of the sport in some very unique places. When you were headed to Casablanca with Lefty Kreh, what was your vision for how that experience would be photographed?

VA: I had met Lefty on this Casablanca trip. One of the days,

All Fish, All Waters Angler Profile

13

14

FlyFisher Winter 2022

ALL FISH, ALL WATERS ANGLER PROFILE

All Fish, All Waters Angler Profile

15

we’re out there on the flat somewhere with a guide and we saw something—I don’t remember what it was—but it was a moment and you had to be ready to go. When we saw this moment, I jumped over the side of the boat and I went out, and I photographed it because I had one camera and one lens. As I came back to the boat, Lefty had missed the shot.

He was still trying to figure out what lens and what camera body to put together. And that set off the light bulb in my mind: “Less is more.”

BC: You can only take two prime lenses on the fishing trip of a lifetime—Alaska, Christmas Island, Russia, wherever— what are the two lenses?

VA: I would say those would be probably a 24 wide-angle and an 85 mm portrait lens.

BC: I heard you say once that fly fishing as a young person allowed you to escape from a family life that was, at times, tumultuous. How important in your life is the concept of nature as an escape?

VA: When I was probably 15, my mother and father got divorced. They were arguing a lot, and it was three or four years of my life that were not much fun. And so, I would just escape; I would just go out into nature. I’d be usually fishing in a farm pond or walking in the woods. And so photography

16

FlyFisher Winter 2022

was, and is, an escape for me too.

BC: Underwater housing: What do you think? Overdone and gimmicky or essential to any serious fly fishing photographer’s arsenal?

VA: The former. I will admit, it’s very seductive. Same thing with drones, it’s a perspective that you don’t normally see. And as soon as something like that becomes popular, everybody’s doing it. But I have fallen back on the ‘less is more’ mantra.

I’m just going to concentrate on what I do best.

BC: What species of fish, or what style of fly fishing, is the most difficult to photograph in a way that achieves your vision?

VA: I would just say fishing from a boat is the toughest one because you’re locked in and you don’t have very good alternative perspectives.

BC: What’s a mistake in your career that you had to make before you started to learn to correct it?

VA: Because I’m not super outgoing, my failure was to not call up editors more frequently and talk with them. If I were starting all over again, I guess I would push myself.

I used to think that if I take good enough pictures, they’re going to come to me; but that’s not really true, you’ve got to present yourself.

ALL FISH, ALL WATERS ANGLER PROFILE

All Fish, All Waters Angler Profile

17

Passport to Adventure

I

Jeff Currier

have been extremely fortunate to fly fish all over the world, but I’ve had to put in my dues.

From being stranded in the Venezuelan jungle while chasing payara, to being bus-jacked in Malawi in search of tigerfish, I’ve had more than a few adventures with a fly rod in hand. Forty years ago, back when I was behind the counter at a well-known Jackson Hole fly shop, if I wanted to fish for exotic species, I’d save enough money for a plane ticket and go from there.

Living out of a backpack, hitchhiking and taking local transportation to the river, I was happy, and privileged, to fish the world on a shoestring budget. Being passionate and resourceful spurred many trips and experiences that made me the angler—and the person—I am today. Moreover, those experiences have made me appreciate taking a more organized approach, one which I hope can help other anglers see travel through a fly fisher’s lens.

Passport priorities Angler or otherwise, first and foremost, travelers need to obtain a passport. If you’ve got one, ensure it’s not expired and won’t be for at least six months. Many countries require a travel visa, which is oftentimes granted upon entry, however, some countries require you apply for the authorization far in advance of a trip.

Do your homework. Consider expediting the process by using a visa service. Although it costs money, this is a

headache-avoiding and time-saving process that you’ll be happy you invested in.

As long as you’re doing some reading, make sure you’ve researched the safety warnings for the country you intend to visit. I always peruse the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisory website for relevant information prior to considering a trip abroad. Long before you start thinking about what rods to bring or which flies to pack, you’ll want to know if there’s been a recent coup d’état, a weather disaster or other dangers in the country you’re considering.

Sure shots Certainly in 2021/22 all countries will have preventative measures for ensuring Covid-19 does not spread via visitor-entry ports. Be sure to review what kind of proof of vaccination is required and even if you are vaccinated, find out if you need to arrive at your destination with a copy of a negative Covid test, taken within 72 hours. Don’t forget about your other potential vaccines, too.

Travelers should have a current tetanus shot, and may be required to get other vaccines such as hepatitis A and B, typhoid and meningitis. I always make sure my yellow fever is up-to-date to visit certain countries in Africa. Always carry proof of your inoculations with you. While we’re on the topic of health, you should make an effort to be in shape for your trip. Better fitness means more casts.

Jeff Currier Follow Jeffs adventures on his blog at: www.jeffcurrier.com Instagram: @jeffcurrier65 Facebook: Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing Passport to Adventure

19

Spin the globe You and I might find the idea of pointing to the atlas and picking a random spot to fish exciting, but most people aren’t inclined, or able, to go searching for River Monsters à la Jeremy Wade. If you are healthy, ambitious, tough and have time to spare, by all means, spin the globe and go for it, like I did in my 20s and 30s. Most people, however, want to approach their inaugural cross-border fly fishing trip in an organized fashion. I recommend selecting a location that doesn’t require logistical hoop-jumping and doing so through a travel business that caters to anglers.

Better Belize it There are plenty of wonderful international fly fishing destinations within a day’s flight of the U.S. or Canada. If you’re American, an easy, outrageously-fun itinerary is a northern pike trip to Canada. If you are Canadian, a simple yet classic international adventure is to come down my way and fish the Rocky Mountain West. For those wanting to push their angling envelopes, however, I highly recommend sampling the salt. A saltwater fishing trip offers the appeal of escaping winter, plus, for the majority of land-locked North Americans, getting on the ocean with their fly rod is new territory. With easily-accessible locations such as Mexico, Bahamas or Belize, you can be fishing the flats in

20

FlyFisher Winter 2022

a t-shirt the same day you leave the house for the airport in your parka.

Belize, in particular, is an outstanding destination for a first time international fly fishing trip. Only a day’s travel from the U.S. or Canada, Belize is incredibly friendly to tourists. With English as the country’s official language and a world-class tourism industry underpinning a plethora of renown, respected fly fishing lodges, you can be assured you’ll be looked after upon arrival. The lodges I’ve been fortunate enough to work with in Belize provide clean and comfortable accommodations, tasty food and experienced guides. Such outfits have hosts whose passion is giving you the ultimate experience in their country.

Expanding horizons Once you get that first taste of travel, it’s only natural to want to explore more of the planet. When you start to talk continent-hopping and seeking out exotic species to target on the fly, even the most adventurous globe trotters can benefit from the expertise of folks who specialize in the extra special.

Maybe your thirst for the salt hasn’t been quenched, but now as well as the Caribbean you’re intrigued by the Indian Ocean. Perhaps a photo of a peacock bass was implanted in your mind’s eye and now you’re toying with the idea of

a freshwater trip to the Amazon rainforest. Those are the fruits. The labors include travel logistics, region-specific regulations, decisions on gear and luggage, and perhaps the most intimidating challenge of all, language barriers.

The fact is, distant locations bring on new challenges.

Full disclosure: I am an ambassador for Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures (YD), a Montana-based company that specializes in fly fishing travel throughout the world.

I have the pleasure of answering customer questions about the most far-flung locations that Yellow Dog services. I also have the distinct honor of hosting anglers on some of these adventures. In the next 12 months, I am taking groups on two separate trips to the Seychelles (an archipelago of islands off the coast of East Africa), a trout and salmon wilderness adventure on the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia and a monster pike and sheefish trip on the Yukon River. Traveling with an experienced host is the ultimate way to fly fish the most exotic places in the world because not only do you have an experienced leader with you at all times, but usually the group includes other anglers with the drive to see exciting places and enjoy new

adventures just like yourself. It’s a great way to make new friends for life.

Just in case One thing all traveling anglers should strongly consider, and especially when journeying to extremely remote locations, is purchasing travel insurance. Trip interruption/cancellation insurance and emergency evacuation coverage plans are self-explanatory, but in case you need a case study, I recently took a group all the way to the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean, to chase exotic species such as trevally, permit and triggerfish. Unfortunately, we were grounded because of a

Passport to Adventure

21

freak cyclone. It was a $25,000 trip and because they had invested a very reasonable $1,500 to be covered, my insured guests got every penny back. Convinced yet?

DIY on the fly When my fly fishing travel career began, I had no choice but to go DIY. I organized my own flights and had no qualms with arranging local transportation with little more than my gumption and my thumb. Often my accommodations were downright dubious and when I got to the water it was never with a guide. Occasionally I tracked down someone willing to drive a boat, but these folks were hardly fishing guides—the look on their faces when I broke out my fly rod and started to cast made that abundantly clear!

If you are confident in your angling skills, have an extra carry-on of patience and an appetite for adventure, a DIY trip overseas will always be memorable. Because it’s so raw, I encourage ambitious young anglers to build character this

22

FlyFisher Winter 2022

way, but remind them that those spurs aren’t easily earned.

I always warn keen adventurers that no matter how selfreliant they are to expect plenty of failure—and not just on the water. Getting skunked can be the least of your worries if your bus gets hijacked or you narrowly avoid being mauled by a Bengal tiger (true story!).

DIY adventures are just that, adventures. If you want to save money and you have time, they can be rewarding expeditions. I would not trade a single one of my past experiences, the glorious or the hair-raising, however, if you’re after targeting unique fish in a wild setting followed by a cold beverage, nutritious meal and cozy bed, and you can afford to do an organized trip, trust me, it’s worth it.

Temper expectations While it’s easy for me to recall the greatest hits of a blessed career spanning four decades of travelling with a fly rod, just because one visits an amazing angling destination does

not guarantee great fishing.

Seasons, weather, tides and the unknowable mood of the fish will always influence the species, quality and number of fish you ultimately bring to hand. What you bring to the table, however, in terms of your preparation, angling experience and expectations, will greatly affect your trip.

Keep your hopes and dreams in check with reality and realize that just like spending time in your favourite home waters, exotic angling is about much more than just the fish.

Traveling with my fly rod has helped me live an incredible life. There is nothing more invigorating than tackling unfamiliar waters and having a chance at targeting a wide variety of fish species.

It took 35 years in the fly fishing industry to make the

connections I have today, but I haven’t forgotten how I arrived here. Meeting people, learning about different cultures and catching a few amazing fish along the way has made me a rich man at heart.

Passport to Adventure

23

Gems of the West

I

Steve Foisie towns, and how the landscape has changed from recent forest fires. In a moment, he pauses mid-stride and looks up with a smile.

“Listen. Can you hear that?”

In the distance is the distinctive, soft, sweet sound of a mountain stream.

It’s been a few years since Norm has had the opportunity to visit the North Fork of the Little Snake River, a tributary of the Yampa, the Green, and eventually, the Colorado River.

His elation is evident as he leads the way, traversing a lush green meadow. Approximately 100 yards later we enter a cathedral of old growth conifers and aspen: the sanctuary of the Colorado Cutthroat. The air is cool and crisp, heady—almost soporific— with a luscious earthy bouquet. The stream is stained a light tea color from root tannin but it runs clear, pristine and untouched at an ideal 58 degrees.

The rod I carry with me for this adventure is a modified version of one developed by master rod maker, Lyle Dickerson. The 7613 taper is a 7’6”, relatively fast-action, two-piece bamboo rod which casts a 5-weight line elegantly. My rod was conceived more than two years earlier for this specific trout and was born from a 12-foot culm of bamboo, carefully split into fine segments and handplaned into precise, tapered splines.

In turn, these splines were glued into rod segments which now comprise its Photo Jessica Haydahl Richardson

’ve been traveling for more than an hour up a dusty, washboard forest service road, dodging logging trucks fully-laden with the casualties of mountain pine beetle.

Next to me is Norm Crisp: author, guide and retired EPA water scientist and fisheries biologist. Norm has documented the catch and release of nearly three dozen salmonid species and subspecies and where we are headed is one of his favorite preserves. Our route takes us deep into the Sierra Madre range of southern Wyoming where Norm has graciously offered to escort me to a sacred sanctuary. Here the Colorado Cutthroat continue to swim in their indigenous waters, free of threats from invasive predation— piscine and human alike.

We cross the Continental Divide with little fanfare and descend into the valleys where the rivers flow to the Pacific. Our present location is but a stone’s throw from the Colorado State line, yet we’re miles from any significant infrastructure or settlement. With a subtle signal from Norm’s finger, I pull over to a nondescript widening in the road and park the car. We proceed to set up our fly rods. Far below our vantage point is a verdant blade of green which traces its way south into the horizon, toward our destination.

The hike is steep and the air is desiccating—I am grateful that I brought extra water. As we descend the trail into the valley, Norm talks about the hydrology of the area, how the water below is siphoned off for farms and

Steve Foisie Steve, past President of the Overlake Fly Fishing Club (FFI 1K), donates his handmade bamboo rods and bentwood landing nets to conservation organizations and charities. He credits Patrick Trotter, PhD scientist and author (Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West) for inspiring this odyssey. He and his wife live near Fall City, WA.

24

FlyFisher Winter 2022

unique hexagon shape. Fabrication consumed more than 60 hours of mindfulness, perseverance and precision before it came to rest in my hands as a fly rod. Dubbed “The Colorado River,” it is one of 12 unique rods, each made to represent one of the 12 remaining subspecies of cutthroat trout. The goal of the Cutthroat Odyssey is to seek out our precious cutthroat gems of the American West, explore and appreciate their native habitats, document their presence, and to encourage others, through similar personal efforts, to help preserve the habitat of these endangered fish.

I confess that I feel there is something romantic about bamboo which fiberglass or graphite cannot replicate. Maybe it’s the organic nature of the material, or perhaps it’s the hours of precision craftsmanship dedicated to produce such a fine element of art. Regardless, nothing can compare to the thrill of catching a trout on a fly you tied on a rod you constructed. Maybe John Gierach, in his book Casting Bamboo, said it best: “…if casting graphite is like typing an invoice on a word processor, casting bamboo is like writing a letter to a friend with a fountain pen.”

Norm notes my hesitancy and my sloppy casting as I stand mid-stream to ponder. I’m nervous, having waited two years for this opportunity. Tactfully, he gently offers a few suggestions to improve my casting in close quarters. I take a few deep breaths to relax. It’s then that I recall an enlightened comment by Master Casting Instructor Mary Ann Dozer, who said “I fish bamboo to slow down.” It is a Zen moment.

Recalibrated, I shoot out a second cast and soon a beautiful, adolescent Colorado River Cutthroat comes to hand. I remove the hook gently, take a quick photo and release it. The thrill of seeing firsthand such a rare specimen in this pristine setting leaves a mark on me.

We continue fishing upstream for another hour, catching and releasing a number of these stunningly-beautiful fish, savoring the ethereal environment before finally making our way back to the car. On the way back, we casually talk about the importance of relationships and how far they subtly extend into our lives. I would have never discovered this sanctuary if it had not been for Norm’s generous offer to guide me here and Norm may have never returned to it, had an amateur rod maker and fly fisher not been intrigued to discover a rare cutthroat subspecies. We muse that this beautiful fish would likely not exist today had it not been for the forward-thinking folk who constructed barrier dams far downstream to prevent non-native, invasive trout species from entering this precious cutthroat cathedral.

We continue our hike uphill in silence. Trekking at nearly 9,000 feet altitude, we preserve our breath to ascend back to the car.

The Colorado River bamboo fly rod is now “retired,” donated to a conservation group which helps protect the environment of our cutthroat trout subspecies. Five other rods have subsequently been retired, having also caught their respective subspecies. The Snake River Fine-Spotted has been donated to FFI for a future auction event. The Yellowstone, the Whitehorse Basin, the Westslope, and the Coastal Cutthroat bamboo fly rods will find their way to other, similarly-devoted organizations.

It is my hope that in 2022, the six remaining bamboo fly rods made specifically for this odyssey—the Bonneville, the Green Back, the Humboldt, the Rio Grande, the Lahontan, and the Paiute—will have an opportunity to witness firsthand the rarified environment of their namesake cutthroat.

Please join me, whether you’re packing a fiberglass, a graphite or a cane rod, to explore and in turn, help protect these remaining vestiges of our rare Western Gems.

Cuttcatch Project The Cuttcatch Project is part of an effort by FFI to express the value of species diversity in fisheries.

The project is designed to help flyfishers appreciate diversity of native species in general and, in this particular case, value the many subspecies of cutthroat trout. To aid in their recovery, the Cuttcatch Project encourages anglers to collect memories of the different species of cutthroat caught and released.

Those FFI members who successfully catch four or more of the 12 subspecies will receive recognition of their accomplishment.

Congratulations to the following award recipients: Laurie Banks | Sacramento, CA First award on 6/1/21 Second award on 9/21/21 Steve Foisie | Redmond, WA 1st award on 8/4/21 Ben Roussel | Baton Rouge, LA 1st award on 11/17/21

Gems of the West

25

FFI Virtual Expo 2021 Highlights

Photo Capt. Stacy Lynn

Building off of the incredible success of the FFI Online series over the last two seasons, the 2021 FFI Virtual Expo ushered the fly fishing show experience into the homes of attendees around the world. More than 100 workshops and demonstrations on casting, fly tying, conservation, diversity, travel and much more were ported from presenters to audience members.

In the following pages we feature a select number of highlights from FFI’s inaugural Virtual Expo.

Quick on the Draw he moment is upon you. You’ve pictured this situation countless times. You’ve finally made it to the salt, you’re in the capable care of an experienced guide and working together, you’ve located fish. Now a big one is tracking your way. You’ve thought about this exact scenario for so long, imagined your hero shot, an exciting hook up and the ensuing battle. Here you are, in the moment, with a quality fish within casting range. Your guide has called it out…so why do you still have the fly in your hand?

Sight-casting to ocean-dwelling predators is exhilarating.

When you’re finally in position to take a shot at your target— be it a tarpon, permit, redfish, bonefish or any other of the powerful saltwater species fly fishers have on their bucket list—you want to be prepared, practiced and ready to execute.

Visually acquiring a target, stalking the fish and delivering a precise presentation as efficiently as possible isn’t something that comes easy—particularly if you’re used to swinging streamers, working riffles with a nymph rig or chucking clunky casts to patient panfish or tolerant trout.

The key to not mangling the moment is getting the fly from its starting point in your hand, to the fish, with as few false casts as possible. The technique for releasing the fly, making three (or less) casts and putting the fly on target has been devised, practiced and refined by many talented salt anglers over the years. We call it: the Saltwater Quick Cast.

Step right up Once you put yourself in position to cast—be it on the bow

Photo Capt. Stacy Lynn

T

Capt. Stacy Lynn

Virtual Expo: Quick on the Draw

27

of a flatstrungs boat or simply wading off the beach—you will need to peel out a length of line to facilitate the fly reaching your target. The amount of line you strip off your reel should correlate to either the distance between you and the target when you can obtain a visual or the length of your most accurate cast—whichever is shorter.

When you first pull line off the reel and pile it onto the boat deck or stripping basket, it will be “upsidedown,” that is, the part of the line that will shoot out of the guides first will be on the bottom of the pile. To correct this, cast the line out and, as you strip it back in, organize the line so that it will be ready to shoot with no tangles. Ensure it’s not under your feet or going to blow off the boat (a stripping bucket or even a wet towel on the deck can help with this aim). Now, with a rod’s-length of line left to strip in, raise the rod tip, face into the wind and grab the end of the fly line with your line hand.

Prepare to unleash The length of fly line that is strung out of the rod tip during the hunt is called “the leash.” The length of the leash is determined by how far your cast will likely need to be. If

28

FlyFisher Winter 2022

water visibility is limited, or if you are in tight quarters such as when fishing a mangrove creek, then the leash needn’t be long, perhaps only three to five feet (one third to one half of the length of a nine-foot rod). To facilitate a longer cast, however, you’ll need to start with a longer leash. Hold the fly line in your line hand and pull it through the rod guides until your line hand touches your stomach.

At the same time, push the rod out away from you until your rod arm is straight. This will lengthen your leash to approximately 10 feet. That extra bit of leash might not seem adequate to help make a long cast but with a 10 foot leash and a 10 foot long leader you can easily make a 30 foot cast without even shooting line (10 foot leader plus 10 foot leash plus 9 foot rod plus your casting arm length).

Hold fast That said, the Saltwater Quick Cast involves shooting line.

To make that possible, you’ll first need to bring the fly to hand and be comfortable with one of two hold methods. The first, more traditional technique, is to hold the fly in the line hand and the line in the rod hand, under the stripping finger. This method is great for short shots but can cause confusion; many anglers struggle with it on longer casts because it requires the line be transferred between hands at some point, an awkward motion that nearly always results in additional false casts.

My preference is to hold the fly and the line in the line hand. Once you get used to this method, it’s much more efficient and because the line is already in your line hand, ready to shoot and/ or haul, it’s a quicker, simpler way to send out a longer cast. To accomplish this, fold the tip of the leader across your middle finger so the fly is on the outside of your hand. As you normally would, pinch the leash between your line hand’s thumb and index finger.

Once the fly and line are in hand, your job is to stay ready to cast. Pay attention to the leash and leader—do not let either get trapped under the bow of the boat or snagged on grass, coral or other implements.

Stroke #4 is the second forehand stroke: shoot more line.

Stroke #5 is the third/final backhand stroke: again, build rod load and line speed, and use correct pause timing.

Stroke #6 is the final forehand stroke: shoot to the target!

Shoot first, haul later

Three strokes and you’re out You’re in position, you’re ready to cast, now it’s time to perform. Set a goal to deliver the fly, on target, on the third forward cast—that gives you six strokes to make up the distance (three back casts and three forward). The fish may be close enough that you will not need all six, but when your target is further away you will be happy for each one.

The goal is to make each stroke count. Assuming the subject is a right-handed caster holding the fly and line in their line hand; and assuming a 10 foot leash, narrow loops, no hauling and that the angler is targeting a fish on the left side of the boat, practice the following routine: Stroke #1: the first backhand stroke is typically Belgian style (aka the Oval Cast) to get the line in motion and to release the fly from your hand. Pitch the fly away from you so that it does not hit the water, the boat, or yourself. This is the shortest length of line you will cast in the series, so it is the shortest stroke.

Your goal is to hit the target at any distance, without presenting slack.

Using good casting fundamentals which create narrow, fast loops, and with good shooting skills, you will be able to achieve casting distances of 50, 60 and 70 feet without utilizing hauling techniques.

Once your fundamentals are solid, adding hauling techniques will create additional line speed and the opportunity to efficiently shoot line on your backhand strokes.

Practice this process until you can accomplish it with little thought or effort. Then, when the moment arrives, just like you pictured so many times in your mind, you will be ready to make that hero shot, hook up and hold on!

Captain Stacy Lynn is a FFI Certified Instructor and Saltwater Guide.

Visit wowflyfishing.com to learn more.

Stroke #2 is the first forehand cast: the line is already in your line hand so you can shoot some line.

Stroke #3 is the second backhand stroke: build rod load and line speed with a crisp stroke-and-stop, and the correct pause length. Do not rush it!

Virtual Expo: Quick on the Draw

29

Triangulating Angling

I

Karin Miller

Photo Jessica Haydahl Richardson

’m not a math whiz or a wannabe physicist, but a few years ago, while reviewing video footage of myself engaged in a spirited skirmish with a beefy Seychelles bonefish, a geometric revelation occurred to me.

As I edited the tape, reliving the heart-pounding moment frame by frame, I watched my rod and the angle my body made relative to it, and also to that of the bonefish. With the benefit of the camera footage allowing me an observer’s vantage point, I noticed there was a relationship between this temporary triad of angler, fish, and rod.

Compared to the plethora of information on how to hook them, how to successfully land a trophy fish is rarely discussed in contemporary fly fishing literature—let alone how to do so with a Tenkara rod. That’s one reason I think the concept of what I’m endearingly calling “fish geometry” bears consideration. Another is to mitigate the chance of losing the fish of a lifetime. Although I would

30

FlyFisher Winter 2022

suggest the fundamentals of my theory become more critical when you don’t have a reel to bail you out, the principles of the concept are the same for both Tenkara and traditional rod-and-reel fly fishing.

Trigonometry time As I studied each frame of that bonefish battle, I focused on three points: my rod tip, my body and the fish. Connecting those points in my mind’s eye, I realized they made a triangle. In some frames of the video the connected points made a right-angle triangle—that is, a triangle in which one of its three angles is 90 degrees. In other frames, the three points created an acute triangle, wherein each of the triangle’s angles is less than 90 degrees. And in still other parts of the footage, I could see the triangle that formed between me, the fish and my rod was that of an obtuse triangle, where one of its three angles was greater than 90 degrees.

Eureka I felt like I was on to something. As I watched the footage again, I noticed that each type of triangle directly and consistently corresponded to the amount of control I had over the fish. It occurred to me that the type of triangle I could create and maintain during the playing of a fish helped determine, at any given moment, how much influence I had in the situation and, ultimately, how successful I’d be at landing the fish.

Since you weren’t there in the editing suite with me, to visualize the fish geometry concept, imagine yourself, the angler, as the base of the triangle. Your rod tip, held above and in front of you, is the second point. Finally, the fish, some distance away is the third. Once the hook is set, this “fishing triangle” is activated.

Don’t get acute In this exercise, if you have your rod tip high, with plenty of tension on the line, you’re essentially making a right-angle triangle. This is when you have the most control over the fish. Contrast that with when the fish makes a deep run and the angler lowers the rod tip, allowing the fish to take line.

At this point, the angle between the base (you) and the fish decreases to form an acute triangle and suddenly you are just barely hanging on. As the fish tires, the angler begins to lift the rod again, creating a wider angle and regaining control. This process—the rod lowering and raising, the fish running and being reeled in—continues until the fish is brought in and landed. This is the essence of the thrilling fight that inspires later stories around the campfire.

Obtuse odds What’s not typically talked about is what happens when the angle between the fisher and the fish becomes too great, creating an obtuse triangle. While the right-angle triangle provides the most control by allowing the angler to harness the power of the rod’s lower sections, we’ve all been in the situation when the rod is laid out too far behind us—typically when trying to net a fish—and the control we just had is once again lost. In this “laid out” position, the angle between the rod tip and the fish is too wide, i.e., too obtuse. Now, instead of fighting the fish with the butt of the rod, the angler is having to rely on the most flexible, least-powerful part of its

construction. Just like when the triangle is too acute, when it becomes too obtuse, the odds tip in favor of the fish.

Tenkara technicalities This is worrisome enough when you’ve got 100 of feet of line, 150 feet of backing and a sophisticated drag system on your reel to rely on. Using a Tenkara rod, the triangle theory is even more critical to landing powerful fish because when a fish attempts to run and the rod begins to straighten, there is no extra line to feed out. If the fish gets away and the acute triangle closes up, there is little chance of recovery; either the line or the rod will break. Likewise, if the angler creates a too-broad, too-obtuse triangle by drawing the rod too far back, relying on the softest portion of the rod to manage and steer the fish, the tip of the rod gets overloaded. This situation also almost always ends in a broken off fish—or worse.

A triangle that’s “just right” As anglers, we have no problem discussing, hypothesizing, reading and reflecting on what it takes to hook up to a quality fish. But due attention should be given to how we compose ourselves once that fish triangle is activated.

Being aware of what I call fish geometry will help you bring more fish to hand in shorter order. Avoiding too-acute or tooobtuse triangles in your temporary triad of angler, fish, and rod will ensure you’re engaging your equipment to keep steady pressure on the fish. By abiding the fish geometry concept you’ll hopefully maintain a 90 degree triangle that is, for our purposes, “just right.”

When she had her geometric revelation, Karin Miller was fishing Zen Tenkara’s 12-foot “Kyojin” model, a stout stick designed to handle powerful gamefish.

Virtual Expo: Triangulating Angling

31

Tie one on in Taiwan

W

hile many might picture massive skyscrapers and vast cityscapes when they think of the country of Taiwan, there is a small but steadfast fly fishing community on this mountainous island in east Asia.

Most Taiwanese anglers learn to fish like their counterparts in North America: with bait, then graduating to lure fishing.

Increasingly, however, fly fishing is making a mark, thanks in part to the influence of its Pacific neighbour, Japan, and also to the growing appreciation for Taiwan’s unique fisheries and available species.

Until recently, most fly anglers in Taiwan were from the north end of the island, near the city of Taipei.

Now, however, there is evidence to suggest that interest in fly fishing is spreading out geographically.

Regardless of where they call home, most fly anglers in Taiwan are Tenkara practitioners.

Originating in Japan’s mountain streams more than 400 years ago, this pared-down engage to fly fishing (fixed line length, no reel) is well-suited to the streams accessible in Taiwan.

Several unique species of fish, including zacco and Taiwanese mahseer (which aren’t actually a

32

FlyFisher Winter 2022

Kai Hsun Chen mahseer, but a Holland’s Carp), call these waters home. These fish range in size from 10-20 cm.

Popular trout patterns such as the Elk Hair Caddis and Soft Hackle can be quite effective to fool them.

The mahseer, while renown as a powerful fish, is also extremely wary. Anglers will need to approach this fish accordingly, taking care not to spook them as they approach. In the spring, a floating line and dry fly combo is key (I like foam beetles). In the fall, fly fishers should consider using a sinking line with a subsurface pattern such as the damsel nymph.

The Taiwanese streams where fish are found are typically small and shallow. Take note when using a sinking line. Snags happen!

Another exciting fish found in Taiwan is the tarpon—not the giant tarpon, like you find in the U.S., but the Taiwanese variety. An averagesized tarpon will run between 30 and 50 cm. Like their larger counterparts, tarpon in Taiwan are found in both salt and fresh water.

Any streamer pattern will work well when fishing for tarpon. In my own hometown (Yilan county) I’ve had much success with classic trout streamer patterns.

The jungle perch is considered a dream fish in our area. A powerful saltwater species, these fish

average between 20 and 40 cms (816 inches) and are not easy to catch.

Using patterns such as a foam beetle or Crazy Charlie Streamer, many anglers report hooking up with a jungle perch when targeting mahseer.

Urban fishing opportunities also exist in Taiwan. In and around Taipei City, anglers can find some huge grass carp. These fish can grow upwards of 100 cm (40 inches).

Great fishing can be accessed via Taipei’s Mass Rapid Transit system or, depending where you start, by foot. One of the most popular species in Taiwan, grass carp are targeted often and many have been caught and released repeatedly.

Carp are well-known for their relative intelligence and fly anglers having difficultly producing an eat on a more traditional pattern will often fish the popular “bread fly” to entice a strike.

Anglers who are interested in seeing the best of Taiwan’s fly fishing can easily access both fresh and saltwater opportunities, often in the same day. There is no requirement to purchase a license to fish in Taiwan, however the small but dedicated angling community encourages catch and release practices in order to preserve this resource for many generations.

(1980), The Borger Color System (1980), Fishing the Dry Fly (1986), Designing Trout Flies (1991) and Presentation (1995).

Notably, Gary was hired by actor/producer Robert Redford to serve as one of the fly fishing consultants on Redford’s award-winning film, “A River Runs Through It.” Gary shares the abiding belief of FFI “founding father” (and Gary’s friend) Lee Wulff, who put forward that of all anglers, fly fishers are the most conservationminded, and that the best way to preserve our sportfishing resources is to educate, train and inspire future generations of fly fishers by building a strong, vibrant and influential FFI. Gary’s unselfish work for FFI has long been recognized.

In 1979, he was the first recipient of the Lew Jewett Memorial Life Award. His contributions as an innovative fly tyer and teacher of fly tying were recognized in 2006 when FFI awarded him the Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award.

Parallel to this achievement, the Casting Instructor Certification Program Board of Governors recognized Gary’s “significant contributions to the art of flycasting instruction” when it presented him with the Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Instruction Award in 2011.

Gary went on to be a “founding member” of the Casting Board of Governors, serving from its inception in 1992 for more than

2021 AWARDS

FFI Award of Distinction for Leaders and Service Gary Borger Tom Logan The FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service is the ultimate award of Fly Fishers International.

The consideration for individual achievement is extremely selective.

Services and contribution to FFI must be prominent, extraordinary and significantly above the criteria that would merit consideration for any other award.

In 2021, we are honored to recognize Gary Borger and Tom Logan with the FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service.

Gary Borger has been recognized both inside and outside FFI as an important and influential contributor to our sport. He was named one of the 50 most influential fly fishers of the last 50 years by Fly Fisherman magazine.

Gary first fly fished in 1955 at age 11 and began his life’s work as a fly fishing educator in 1972. After a long and distinguished teaching career, Gary was designated Professor Emeritus from the University of Wisconsin. He has authored numerous books and articles, produced multiple videos and presented at countless fly fishing shows, including FFI conclaves and expos.

Gary’s book titles include: Nymphing (1979), Naturals

a decade. During that time, Gary helped develop the requirements and exams for candidate testing and administered certification exams across the U.S. He continues today to take this responsibility seriously, testing Casting Instructors and Master Certified Casting Instructors candidates whenever asked.

It is time to recognize Gary Borger’s lifetime of humble and selfless service to FFI and the sport of fly fishing. We are honored to present him with the FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service.

Tom Logan, FFI Chairman Emeritus, is not only deserving of the FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service but exemplifies the very intention of this award. Tom not only contributes in meaningful ways to our sport, but in fact, embodies FFI’s entire mission.

In August of 2016, Tom assumed the Chairmanship and began charting the course for FFI’s transformation. After four years at the helm, Tom completed his tenure at the Annual Board Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020.

During the time Tom served as Board Chair, he strategically guided FFI’s renaming and rebranding, and led us in the development of many new programs that have increased FFI’s relevance and impact in the fly fishing community. Tom was tenacious, he challenged

Virtual Expo: 2021 Awards

33

2021 AWARDS 34

conventional thinking and kept our board, council presidents and FFI’s membership moving forward. In a time when consensus builders are rare, Tom carefully listened to all and crafted new directions that, today, we’re better off for embracing.

Importantly, Tom’s foresight led us to employ Patrick Berry, our full-time professional president and CEO. Additionally, he spearheaded new fundraising initiatives, including, notably, the 1,000 Stewards program.

In addition to his contributions as Chairman of the Board, Tom has held other important leadership positions.

He has served as Chair of Fly Tying Board of Governors; he currently serves as Chairman of FFI’s Conservation Committee; and Tom has also served in various leadership positions in the Florida Council and Southeast Council of FFI. Overall, Tom’s leadership to FFI has spanned more than 20 years. So many great leaders have left their mark on Fly Fishers International and countless individuals have contributed their time, energy and ideas to the organization we have become today. However, if you have to point to one person whose fingerprints are inextricably linked to FFI’s bright future, it would have to be Tom Logan.

The FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service is a fitting recognition for Tom’s continuing legacy.

FlyFisher Winter 2022

FFI Flyfisher of the Year Patty Lueken The FFI Flyfisher of the Year is presented to an individual who has demonstrated remarkable devotion to Fly Fishers International, and through outstanding contributions to FFI at National or International levels.

FFI is fortunate to have had many devoted and contributing individuals in the last 12 months, but those which culminated in the visioning, planning and execution of the FFI 2021 Virtual Expo on November 5-7 have helped make Patty Lueken the FFI Flyfisher of the Year.

Patty is the Chair of the FFI Virtual Expo Committee, but she has done—and is doing—so much more for FFI. Patty was a founder of FFI Women Connect. When Patty became Chair of the program, the community of women fly fishers elevated to new levels.

Through her leadership, Patty coalesced a team of dedicated volunteers to develop a strategic plan for Women Connect which the Board of Directors heartily endorsed. Patty is now a member of the FFI Board.

Patty’s leadership was essential in developing women’s activities, tying programs, fly fishing instructional programs, fly fishing outings and much more for the members of the Women Connect. The Women Connect Facebook site has grown to over 1,100 participants under

Patty›s guidance.

She has been the catalyst to establish collaborations with other women fly fishing groups, and to assist in the Celebration of Women in Fly Fishing virtual expo.

Patty is a tremendous example of what a dedicated volunteer with a cooperative spirit can do. It is with great honor we recognize Patty as Flyfisher of the Year.

FFI McKenzie Cup Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers McKenzie Fly Fishers, an active Club in Eugene, Oregon, provided instrumental leadership in the original formation of what now is Fly Fishers International. The FFI McKenzie Cup honors the McKenzie Fly Fishers and is presented to a FFI Club making an outstanding contribution on behalf of FFI. This year we bestow the award on two deserving clubs.

The Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers has been a club since 1987. They are one of the largest FFI-associated clubs in the nation. They work hard to grow their club and even through the pandemic saw record growth.

They are the epitome of what a fly fishing club should look like.

They strive to have 50 percent representation by women on their board and have a Women’s Corner on their website. They aim to make all who come through their doors welcome

and have done an exemplary job at creating diversity in their club.

The Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers are an active club who focus on education and conservation. In addition to their monthly meetings, in times outside of the COVID pandemic, they have fly casting and fly tying events, rod and net-building classes, children’s classes and scholarships for deserving students.

They have women’s-only classes and engage female presenters to speak at their events. The nominator attested to being impressed: “I joined them even though they are nowhere near where I live,” they wrote.

Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has been an outstanding supporter of FFI’s Southwest Council for the past several years. Nine of the 21 Southwest Council directors and two of the three immediate pastpresidents of the Council have come from this club. The club has been a strong promoter of the FFI Casting Instructor Certification program.

Two of its members manage and operate the Southern California Speaker Circuit, which provides both local and nationally-known speakers for seven fly fishing clubs in the greater Los Angeles area.

During the pandemic, the club developed and provided many online programs. These have been widely popular with both members and nonmembers, particularly in the area of women’s programs, fly tying, and involvement of youth in fly fishing.

In short, Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers has been a prominent ambassador of FFI and its objectives.

Bud Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award Fred Dupré The FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award is presented to an individual for having made a significant contribution to the art of fly tying.

This is the most prestigious award in the world of fly tying. It is the “gold seal” of fly tying accomplishment.

Fred Dupre has been fly fishing and fly tying since 1958. Fred’s list of accomplishments is quite long, and we’re only including a few in this issue: Fred currently serves on several committees of the Fly Tying Group, including the Executive Committee, Fly Tying Skills Awards Committee, the Fly Tying Program Committee and the Video Library Committee. He is also serving in his third term as the group’s treasurer.

Fred has made significant contributions to the FFI Learning Center by developing the FFI Fly Tying Video Library that contains thousands of high-quality fly tying instructional videos. He also developed and implemented the FFI Online Legends of Fly Tying Program.

Fred has received the Gold Level of the Fly Tying Awards Program and is an evaluator for all three award levels.

Fred’s contributions have been

recognized in the past when he received the 2015 Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award.

Finally, Fred has donated thousands of flies to organizations which help those stricken with cancer and which assist military veterans. He is certainly deserving of the FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award.

FFI Women’s Community Development Award Ann Miller FFI Council Leadership Award A.J. Rosenbohm FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instruction Award Mac Brown John C. Till FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award Celebrating Women in Fly Fishing Mary Ann Dozer Corie Berrigan FFI Roderick Haig-Brown Award Ann Miller FFI International Ambassador Award Kuni Masuda FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award Michael Peratis FFI Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award Henry Hoffman

FFI Forum

35

Hippie Stomper Tim Papich Created by Andrew Grillos, an Umpqua Feather Merchants signature tyer, the Hippie Stomper is an attractor dry fly effective in ponds and rivers. This pattern imitates a variety of terrestrials such as beetles, ants and flies. This is a durable fly which floats extremely well and can be used in a tandemconfiguration with another dry fly or with a dropper. The oversized poly

36

wing makes spotting the fly a breeze, whether on a river, choppy water or on a lake—even at long distances.

Material List: Hook – Dry Fly 1X – 10 to 14 Tail – Moose Mane Foam – Top Foam 2MM

– Bottom Foam 1MM

– Two Colors (black, tan)

(red, black) Legs – Silly Legs Body – Peacock Hurl

– Red Holo Tinsel Floss Hackle – Grizzly, size to match Sighter – White Floss

Special Equipment River Road Creations foam cutters; Gurgler Foam Body Cutter (size to match hook size)

Step 1: Using foam cutter, cut out the top and bottom foam pieces.

Top Foam – 2mm Black Bottom Foam – 1mm Green Note: same thickness of foam can be used for both pieces.

Step 2: Place hook in vice and cover with thread. Place a thin layer of head cement over thread. This helps to secure the foam and keep it from rolling.

For the tail, take a small amount of moose mane, even the tips and measure equal to the length of the hook shank.

Step 3: Tie in moose mane.

1a

3

6a

8

1b

4

6b

9

2

5

7

10

FlyFisher Winter 2022

Step 4:

Step 9:

Step 14:

Tie in by the small tag created when using the cutter. Tie in the top foam piece first, it will be folded forward, so it will end up on top.

Tie in the holographic tinsel.

Step 10:

Select two lengths of the silly legs, approximately three times the length of the hook.

Make 3 wraps to create a small hot spot band.

Step 15: (2 images)

Step 5: Tie in the bottom foam slightly ahead of the first piece. This will make it easier to fold the top piece over and make for a cleaner look.

Step 11: Make three more wraps of peacock hurl and tie off.

Step 12: (2 images)

Step 6: (2 images)

Fold the lower foam piece forward and tie off. Then fold the top foam piece forward and tie off.

Tie in the peacock hurl.

Step 7: To make a more durable fly, wrap the peacock hurl around the tying thread.

Step 8:

Step 13: Tie in the indicator floss so there is a piece going to the tail and a piece going to the eye of the hook.

Wrap forward to the hook point.

Tie in legs on the near side and on the far side. Pinch all of the legs and cut them to approximately one hook length.

Step 16: Tie in the grizzly hackle.

Step 17: Make three or four wraps of the hackle between the legs and tie off. Whip finish and tie off.

Step 18: Cut a “V” in the hackle on the bottom of the fly so it will ride lower in the water.

11

12c

15a

16

12a

13

15b

17

12b

14

18

Virtual Expo: Hippie Stomper

37

CONSERVATION

Chasing Black Bass Diversity Dr. Andrew T. Taylor Introduction I grew up with a fishing pole in hand and plenty of lakes and ponds within a walk or short drive. Raised in northwest Georgia, my father would take me fishing for sunfish (locally, we call them “bream”), crappie, and bass.

Fishing became our evening ritual after my dad returned home from work, and I will always be grateful for those times we spent together. As I grew older, I set my sights on catching trophy bass, but it wasn’t until my high school years that a neighbor told me about the Redeye Bass which could be caught in a nearby creek. Soon, a different type of water beckoned me. Flowing waters, and the unique species of bass that inhabit them, sparked a life-long passion of fishing and set me on a path to my current career as a fisheries scientist and university professor.

Early on, I struggled to expand my knowledge of the different black bass species and how to fish for them. At that time, kayak fishing for river bass was in its infancy, and there were only a few internet forums that discussed fishing for bass in streams. In this

article, I hope to expand on the stillrelatively scarce resources available to anglers. In presenting a crash-course on black bass diversity, detailing the different species currently recognized by scientists, their native distributions, and information on their habitat use and diets, I hope to inspire appreciation for the diversity among the genus Micropterus—the black basses—and the wonderfully dynamic, scenic waters they inhabit.

Diversity and Distribution In 1881 Dr. James Henshall’s “The Book of the Black Bass” concluded there were but two types of black bass: the Largemouth Bass and the Smallmouth Bass. Today, we know that Dr. Henshall’s view was a bit too simplistic, but scientists are yet to agree on the exact number of distinct species within the genus.

This is partly because scientists are continuing to apply more advanced genetic methods that can uncover previously-hidden diversity. As new genetic lineages are uncovered, a great deal of scientific effort and review is required before a new species is given

formal recognition. For those reasons, the number of formally described species remains in flux. All that aside, the peer-reviewed scientific literature recognizes an astounding 19 unique “forms” of black bass (Table 1), and there may be more forms introduced in the near future!

Black bass diversity mirrors freshwater fish species diversity in general, with the highest variety concentrated within streams and rivers of the southeastern United States. A few of the more well-known species, including the Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Spotted Bass, have relatively-wide native distributions and tend to occur in both rivers and lakes. However, most of the black bass forms are considered endemic. Endemic black basses are limited to just one, or a few, river drainages, and tend to rely on flowing waters for reproduction or other aspects of their lifecycle.

These riverine endemic forms function as important top-predators in the ecosystems they inhabit while also displaying incredible ecological diversity.

Dr. Andrew T. Taylor Dr. Andrew T. Taylor is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in fisheries management from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in fisheries and aquatic ecology from Oklahoma State University. You can learn more about his research at http://andrewtaylor.fish or by following his social media outreach efforts on Facebook (https://facebook. com/AFS.black.bass) and Twitter (@TaylorFishLab1).

38

FlyFisher Winter 2022

Habitat and Diet The black basses endemic to southern rivers inhabit a wide array of habitat types. A few species, like the Alabama Bass, have been able to adapt to dammed waterways and are able to live in impoundments just as well as in flowing waters. However, many others are unable to adapt to impounded waterways, and therefore, are only found in uninterrupted reaches of flowing water. A group of species colloquially called the “Redeye Bass species complex” tends to inhabit the smaller headwater streams (often swimming alongside stocked trout) that are typified by fast-moving, rocky bottoms with cool waters and copious shading from forested canopies overhead. Moving east-to-west across northern Georgia and Alabama, one could encounter seven species—Bartram’s, Altamaha, Chattahoochee, Tallapoosa, Redeye (aka “Coosa”), Cahaba, and Warrior basses—by simply traversing the headwaters of each major river basin divide. Other species tend to live in medium-sized streams to large rivers of upland areas, including the Shoal Bass, Guadalupe, Neosho Smallmouth, and Ouachita Smallmouth basses. The Suwannee and Choctaw basses are confined to coastal plain rivers along southern Alabama, southern Georgia and the Florida panhandle. This region includes an interesting mix of blackwater streams and springs that contribute crystal-clear groundwater into stream channels. Within each of these types of stream environments, the fly fisher will find that each species has unique microhabitat preferences which vary seasonally.

Additionally, some riverine species such as the Shoal Bass have been

known to undertake long-distance migrations to reach particular habitats for spawning in the spring.

Diets are also quite variable across the riverine endemic forms, but are probably best described as opportunistic. Black bass diets include aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, crayfish, and smaller-bodied fish.

Some species have slightly more specialized diets; for example, the Suwannee Bass feeds primarily upon crayfish. Within a given species, there are often noticeable shifts in diet as fish grow larger and their energetic requirements increase. Most large black bass will opportunistically prey on other fish, such as minnows, madtoms, darters, and shads. There can also be important seasonal shifts in diet which can vary regionally,

even within a given form or species.

For anglers targeting black bass in rivers, the tried-and-true “matching the hatch” strategy certainly applies.

Conservation Challenges The black basses are part of the biological heritage of the southeastern U.S., yet the conservation outlook for many of these forms is worrisome.

Although these bass are considered popular sport fish, they face many of the same conservation challenges as the lesser-known, non-game fish species in the region. Principal among the threats include habitat alteration and loss resulting from poor land-use practices which increase siltation, alter hydrology regimes, increase pollutant levels and decrease water availability.

Habitat fragmentation is also a major

Table 1. Summary of the 19 forms of black bass (genus Micropterus) currently recognized in the scientific literature Scientific Name

Common Name

Taxonomic Status

M. cahabae

Cahaba Bass

Described species

M. cataractae

Shoal Bass

Described species

M. chattahoochae

Chattahoochee Bass

Described species

M. coosae

Redeye Bass

Described species

M. henshalli

Alabama Bass

Described species

M. notius

Suwannee Bass

Described species

M. punctulatus

Spotted Bass

Described species

M. salmoides

Largemouth Bass

Described species

M. tallapoosae

Tallapoosa Bass

Described species

M. treculii

Guadalupe Bass

Described species

M. warriorensis

Warrior Bass

Described species

M. dolomieu dolomieu

(Northern) Smallmouth Bass

Described (sub)species

M. dolomieu velox

Neosho Smallmouth Bass

Described subspecies

M. sp. cf. dolomieu

Ouachita Smallmouth Bass

Distinct form

M. sp. cf. salmoides

Cuatro Ciénegas Bass

Distinct form

M. floridanus

Florida Bass

Provisional species

M. sp. cf. coosae

Altamaha Bass

Provisional species

M. sp. cf. coosae

Bartram’s Bass

Provisional species

M. sp. cf. punctulatus

Choctaw Bass

Provisional species

Chasing Black Bass Diversity

39

concern because dams and poorlydesigned road crossings can limit gene

Basscatch Project The Basscatch Project is part of an effort by FFI to express the value of species diversity in fisheries and the importance of conserving their individual habitats. The Basscatch Project is intended to aid in the conservation of black bass by encouraging fly fishers to collect memories of the different black bass they catch and released. Those FFI members who successfully catch four or more species of bass will receive recognition of their accomplishment.

Ben Roussel | Baton Rouge, LA 1st and 2nd award on 12/3/21

40

FlyFisher Winter 2022

flow among neighboring populations and prevent natural re-colonization following local extirpation.

One of the most pertinent challenges to the conservation of black bass diversity is the introduction of black bass outside of their respective native ranges. In nature, several species of black bass may co-occur naturally—in these instances, the species have evolved reproductive isolation mechanisms that limit hybridization with their naturally occurring counterparts. However, when a non-native black bass species is introduced outside its native range, widespread hybridization is common.

This is worrisome for several reasons. First, the non-natives can begin to outnumber, hybridize, and completely “swamp out” the native species—to the point of extinction.

This is actively happening to native Smallmouth Bass fisheries across the southeastern U.S. because misguided

fishermen have illegally introduced Alabama Bass into systems where they do not naturally occur. Native Bartram’s Bass, Chattahoochee Bass, and Altamaha Bass are also being hybridized at alarming rates as Alabama Bass have invaded entire river systems after being stocked into impoundments. Even if the native species is not completely replaced by a non-native, hybridization among black bass is typically followed by introgression—the transfer of genetic material from the non-native species into the genome of the native. Nonnative genes entering a native gene pool can result in native populations that are less-fit to their natural environment.

An already present but increasinglytroublesome conservation concern is global climate change. Projected changes in the southern U.S. include increased severity and longevity of droughts, as well as increased

CONSERVATION maximum temperatures.

These projected climate changes alone will create difficulties in conserving endemic riverine black bass. However, climate changes will also act as a “threat multiplier,” in other words, they will likely amplify the threats of habitat alteration, pollution, and fragmentation that already exist within our watersheds. The expected impacts of climate change on black bass is poorly known at this time, but one might expect that species will be negatively impacted by changes to hydrology (e.g., spawning success each year). Additionally, species that live along coastal areas may lose some habitat to sea level rise as saltwater encroaches on formerly freshwater habitats.

sculpin patterns, Clouser minnows and game changers. Having a selection of flies that allows you to adequately cover different depths and speeds of water is a wise strategy on every outing. Once you determine the microhabitats the fish appear to be relating to on a given day, you can choose your tactics to target those fish.

Accessing many of the streams that hold native bass populations is not always easy. The terrain is often unforgiving, with sharp elevation changes, slick rocks and anklerolling boulders—not to mention high humidity and a proliferation of insects during the warmer days of the fishing season. Safety should be of utmost priority, especially if wading

Fly Fishing for Native Black Bass Fly fishing for native black bass is about the pursuit of gorgeous native fish within their domestic waters. These experiences are truly immersive, with wonderful scenery around every new bend in the stream. Akin to Fly Fisher International’s policies towards the protection of fish and their habitats, taking only memories is the best bet for enjoying these resources.

When fishing for riverine black bass species, reading the water is key. Although some of these bass forms occupy areas of surprisingly fast-flowing waters, they will usually position themselves behind current breaks to pick off prey items as they drift downstream. Finding pockets of deeper water will usually hold larger fish, especially during the summer months. Popular fly selections include surface poppers, crayfish imitations, hellgrammite patterns,

Chasing Black Bass Diversity

41

CONSERVATION or floating treacherous or remote stream reaches. Another important consideration is access permissions and landowner rights. Always obtain proper landowner permissions before hiking, wading or floating streams, and follow state regulations for harvest and gear restrictions. It is my belief that more landowners would allow access to streams if these places were not constantly abused and littered by others, so remember to clean up after yourself and try to leave places in better shape than how you found them. On a related note, sharing fishing locations online or to the general public is ill-advised,

particularly on smaller waterways where bass populations may be vulnerable to increased fishing pressure or harvest.

I only have room for a quick primer in this article, but there are plenty of resources that can help the fly fisher target native black bass. One of the best resources available is the book “Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters,”

by Matthew R. Lewis. The American Fisheries Society’s Black Bass Conservation Committee maintains a social media outreach page full of helpful tidbits on black bass diversity and conservation and many

FFI Conservation Award Andrew T Taylor James M. Long

Timothy W. Birdsong Michael S. Allen

Michael D. Tringali Brandon L. Barthel

The FFI Conservation Award recognizes the outstanding contributions individuals, groups, or organizations have made to the conservation of our fisheries resources. In this issue, we recognize a group of individuals who have made an impact on the black bass species.

Fishery management practices for Black Bass are continuing to advance based on the research and publications by Andrew T. Taylor (Oklahoma State University, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management), James M. Long (Oklahoma State University, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management), Timothy W. Birdsong (Texas Parks & Wildlife), Michael S. Allen (University of Florida, Dept. of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences), Michael D. Tringali (Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute) and Brandon L. Barthel (Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute).

Their work has contributed to expanding the descriptions of distinct bass species from eight in 2013 to as many as 19 species in 2021. The identification of genetic differences has contributed to revised management plans and protection of the genetic diversity of each species. The prominent efforts of this group of researchers have greatly contributed to the knowledge of native black bass, their habitats, and conservation needs.

This will continue to provide scientific data that can enable protection of recreational opportunities and enjoyment associated with these warmwater species in their respective native environments.

FFI congratulates these researchers on their groundbreaking work and presents them with the 2021 FFI Conservation Award.

42

FlyFisher Winter 2022

state agencies (e.g., the Georgia Department of Natural Resources) hold “Bass Slam” competitions and curate information for each native species in their state. Other fishing companies and organizations sponsor their own versions of a “Bass Slam,” including Fly Fisher International’s Basscatch Project.

If you are looking for an additional jumpstart in an unfamiliar area, many fly shops, outfitters and guide services have been springing forth in recent years to help anglers target regionally-unique bass species.

Closing Thoughts As taxonomists continue to refine our understanding of black bass diversity, there is a growing body of anglers (both fly and conventional) who have embraced the pursuit of native bass within their native waters. With increased public awareness of these regionally-unique and ecologicallyimportant fish, we can strengthen our collective voice to secure the longterm conservation of these unique species. Fly fishers should express support for sound management and conservation actions that are informed by science. Further, fly fishers should support Riverkeepers and similar organizations that keep watch over our waterways and protect the health of our streams. We can all help the endemic riverine black basses by informing others of the dangers of illegally transplanting bass into new systems.

I invite you to take an adventure of your own in these southern streams to chase black bass diversity, and to become a voice for the stewardship of these unique resources. I hope to see you on the water!

WHAT’S YOUR

LEGACY? THE FFI

There is perhaps no more profound way to establish your legacy within the sport of fly fishing than by naming Fly Fishers International as a beneficiary in your estate plans.

The FFI LEE AND JOAN WULFF LEGACY CIRCLE was established in 2019 as a way to honor the tremendous imprint Lee and Joan have left on the world of fly fishing, and the contributions they have made to Fly Fishers International.

And, if you have already included FFI in your estate plans, please let us know — we would like to honor your legacy and acknowledge your generosity that directly impacts on the future of fly fishing.

If you are interested in learning more about how to create your own legacy for the sport you love, simply contact FFI President and CEO, Patrick Berry.

ESTABLISH YOUR LEGACY TODAY ///

flyfishersinternational.org

406.222.9369

The Confident Cast

W

e all want to cast better, but no matter how smooth our stroke is, how far we can throw a hopper dropper rig into the wind or how few false casts we require to lead a moving fish at distance, there are always things we can improve upon.

One of the most telling signs of a great caster is how well they respond under pressure. Recently, while involved with a Casting Instructor Certification event, I noticed that once the pressure ramps up, the casting performance usually takes a nosedive.

I passed the Casting Instructor test in 2001 and the Master Casting Instructor exam in 2004. At the time, I was teaching and presenting and practicing regularly with the goal of competing in casting competitions.

Those experiences have given me insight into what it takes to lay down a consistent cast, no matter what the conditions, and to do so under pressure—whether it’s making a good presentation to the fish of a lifetime or delivering what you’re capable of when a member of the Casting Instructor committee is taking notes.

Here are a few ideas to help you perform under pressure, a collection of tips and tricks that I categorize under improvements to our “mental game.”

Jeff Wagner Consistent equipment, consistent performance Too many times I’ve watched Casting Instructor candidates score an “own goal” on themselves because they swapped out elements of their equipment just prior to taking the CI test. This is classic over-thinking and should be eliminated from your preparation process. Find a rod, line, leader and yarn that you like and stick with it. My own setup for the CI and MCI exams was the same 5 weight rod with the same 5 weight line with the same leader and yarn attached. This primary outfit became an extension of my body and thus allowed me to feel confident. When it was test time, using my primary outfit made casting second nature.

Get your reps While this probably falls into the “tell me something I don’t know, Jeff,” category, there is truly no substitute for regular practice. Don’t start erratically and then try to cram in a month’s worth of practice a week before the test. Cast consistently. Dedicate at least three days a week to your routine, and make sure you’re taking at least one day off to rest. The week prior to the exam, to avoid the pre-test jitters and to keep yourself physically fresh, taper

off your regiment. If you don’t have the physical and mental game to diminish your reps in the last week, I’d suggest you’re not yet ready to demonstrate your casting proficiency to examiners.

Competitive confidence Nothing will make your quick-action rod feel like a wet noodle faster than trying to hit a number of targets while under a timer with people watching. Reflecting on my success in test situations, I know that casting, teaching and presenting has allowed me to feel comfortable casting in front of others. Most of us shy away from being put on display, but if you want to mimic the stress of performing under an examiner’s eye, I suggest entering into a little friendly casting competition. You don’t need to sign up for an American Casting Association tournament, perhaps you simply set up a little backyard target practice with friends. The point is to get in front of people with your cast. The CI track record shows that those with high pass rates are those who’ve had competition and presenting experience.

Learn through teaching While you may not yet be certified as a casting instructor, if you’re on the path to taking a test, you’re surely qualified to practice your teaching. I can

Jeff Wagner When he’s not fishing or casting you’ll find Jeff hiking or biking the back country with his family. They also volunteer their time to conservation efforts with groups such as Fly Fishers International. Oh, and during business hours Jeff does business stuff.

44

FlyFisher Winter 2022

appreciate the sense of humility that anglers might feel and can empathize with someone who assumes they shouldn’t be teaching until they have their accreditation. However, as Tom White used to say, “it’s only fly fishing.” Practice teaching like you practice casting. Your friends won’t hold it against you if you offer advice that might not be as well-articulated as that which is offered after passing the test. Life long teachers are also life long learners.

Write It Down Different people learn in different ways—whether it’s learning by doing, listening or watching, how we get information to stick is as variable as the individual angler. Having said this,

my advice to aspiring casters where there is a lot of information to retain is to reinforce your learning by writing it down. Writing down, then condensing, the lessons that will help you become a better casting instructor, will help crystallize the most important points.

Let a trusted advisor read your answers, and then work to refine them.

As the good Rev. Maclean imparts on his boys in our opus, A River Runs Through It: “Again, half as long.” Write down your lessons, reduce them, and like the sharpest hooks in your fly box, make sure they stick.

Don’t tell me no lies No one likes a mealy-mouthed critic.

It might give us the warm fuzzies to hear we’re “doing great,” but if we’re

trying to improve our skills, we need honest feedback. Everyone can find ways to improve, so if you’re casting with someone who suggests you have nothing to work on, you might consider finding a new consultant, one who is willing to push your boundaries. Too often prospective casting instructors practice to exactly the distances required. Sure, they’re dialled-in on days when everything is in their control, but what happens if there’s a slight breeze on test day?

For that reason, I recommend aiming for a standard that’s above the passing grade. If your loops can be up to four feet, you should shoot for two-foot stingers. If you are required to launch a 75-foot cast, be comfortable hitting an 85-footer. By soliciting honest, constructive feedback from trusted fly fishing allies, you might not get the warm fuzzies today, but by tomorrow you’ll be a more capable caster.

The ripple effects For many anglers, fly fishing is merely a hobby—and for those folks, treating it as such is perfectly fine. For an increasing number of us, however, the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom that can improve our skills and techniques is a way of life, one which has many ripple effects, including increased awareness about our natural resources and a subsequent interest and investment in conservation values. Casting is an element of the sport that we can take into the realm of competition and adjudication, but when we do, there comes an added element of stress. It’s my hope that what I’ve learned about “the mental game” can help you on your own journey to mastering your cast, wherever you choose to lay it down.

The Confident Cast

45

FLY TYING

Gear Changer

W

Jerry Coviello

hen Blane Chocklett’s book, Game Changer: Tying Flies that Look and Swim Like the Real Thing, was released last year, I knew I had to get my hands on it. In this revolutionary book, Blane discusses his search for the ultimate streamer to entice pressured and wary fish around the world. Chocklett’s “Game Changers” include more than 20 patterns, tied on a series of interconnecting spines, which create an irresistible movement when drawn through the water. I devoured the tips and techniques outlined in the book and immediately purchased the materials, shanks, and dubbing brushes required to whip up a few of the patterns.

As I began tying, however, I realized that the store-bought dubbing brushes produced only about two flies per brush.

Further, I discovered the color combinations that I imagined would help mimic the code cracking that Chocklett had embarked upon, were not readily available.

In my mission to make these changes to my own streamer game, I found that there are many materials which would be useful in making my own dubbing brushes. These include Craft Fur, Polar Fiber, EP Fibers, natural fur and more. By making my own brushes, I could create a variety of colors and dimensions with

sparkle materials such as ice dubbing or Krystal Flash.

Further, because these materials come in different sizes (half inch, three-quarter inch, one inch and up to three inches), I discovered I could create an effective taper to the body of the streamer.

I dug out a dubbing brush table I had purchased many years ago to make dubbing brushes for thoraxes on nymphs and decided to experiment with a variety of materials and colors. Below is a tutorial, including a few tips and techniques based on my experience, to create and tie with these homemade brushes.

For additional patterns and video tutorials, visit flyfishersinternational.org

Jerry Coviello Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group Chairperson. Jerry has recently received the Fly Fishers International Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award, he serves on the FFI Education Committee, and as newsletter editor for Delaware Valley Fly Fishers, an FFI Affiliate Club in Bucks County Pennsylvania. Fly tying demonstrator at the FFI Fly Fishing Fair, International Fly Tying Symposium, and the Edison Fly Fishing Show. Fly tying instructor at Project Healing Waters in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. Member of Pro Teams for Dyna-King Vise, Ewing Feathers, and Solarez UV Resin.

46

FlyFisher Winter 2022

Dubbing Brush Formation

5

1 Dubbing Brush Maker Tool.

2 Use a stainless dubbing brush wire (medium or large works well). Lay the wire on the table, then cut your material. Using Polar Fiber, measure the length of the hair to be 2 inches long.

3

Create a large loop to trap the fibers.

6

8

Once the fibers are trapped in the loop, spin the wheel until the wire tightens or breaks.

7

Use Polar Fiber, EP Fibers, Natural Furs and Craft Hair to change the color of the fibers. Brushes can be made half Inch, three quarter inch, even up to three inch widths, by measuring the length of your materials.

9

Add Ripple Ice Hair on top of the layer of Polar Fiber. This will add flash to the dubbing brush.

4 For color, add red Polar Fiber sparsely over the top of the Ripple Ice Hair.

Remove the wire with the fur that is trapped in the wire loop. With a wire brush or a pet wire brush, stroke the fibers perpendicular to the wire core. This will pull fiber tips out and start forming your dubbing brush

TIP: Once you start twisting the wire, the material forms a clump. Use a wire brush to comb out fibres tangled in the wire core. Stroke the fibers perpendicular to the wire core.

Dubbing brushes shown using EP Fibers and Krystal Flash.

TIP: Finished brushes can be attached just like a feather hackle! Wind the fur hackle around the shank and stroke the fibers rearward.

Gear Changer

47

Tying an Articulated Steamer using brushes

Move the wings to the tie-in position.

Using a pinch method, secure them at the 1/4 position of the hook behind the eye.

4

5 Materials

Gamakatsu SL12s 3/0 Large Pearl Cactus Chenille Polar Fiber Dubbing Brush EP Fiber Dubbing Brush Chartreuse 3/0 Monocord thread

3 - 10 mm Articulated Fish-Spines 2 – 15 mm Articulated Fish Spines Senyo’s Trailer Hook Wire Ahrex NS172 Curved Gammarus #6

1

Tie a white marabou feather, 3 times the length of the 10mm shank, onto the first 10 mm shank. Wrap Polar Fiber brush two times around the shank. Attach the second 10 mm shank to the tail section.

Whip-finish. Add Bone Dry UV Resin or Super Glue to the wraps. Repeat this again for the third 10 mm shank.

Wrap the dubbing brush two times around the shank.

6

7

2

Insert the AHREX NS172 Curved Gammarus size six in your vise. Wrap a layer of thread on the shank.

8

Attach the Large Pearl Cactus Chenille.

Tie in Intruder Trailer Hook Wire.

3 Attach one Polar Fiber Dubbing brush.

48

FlyFisher Winter 2022

9

Slip the 3-10 mm tail section through the hook wire. Form a loop and secure the wire to the shank of the hook. Add super glue or UV resin to secure the wire.

CONSERVATION

10

Wrap the chenille to the half way point of the shank of the hook.

Tie in a piece of Large Pearl Cactus Chenille at the bend of the hook.

11

15

Tie in a polar fiber brush and wrap it two times around the shank. Comb fibers to make sure they are not trapped by the tying thread. Whipfinish and coat the wraps with super glue or UV Resin. Repeat this for one more 15 mm shank.

12

Attach the 15 mm shank in the vise. Tie in the pearl Cactus Chenille. Wrap the chenille two times.

16

Attach the Gamakatsu SL12S size 3/0 hook in the vise.

Attach the Trailer Hook Wire and form a loop to attach the trailer hook section.

Coat the shank with super glue or UV Resin.

17 Tie in a polar fiber brush.

Wrap the polar fiber brush two or three times, whip-finish and coat the wraps with UV Resin or Super Glue.

14

13

At the bend of the hook, tie in a polar fiber brush. Make two to three wraps, stroking the fibers rearward. Tie in the large pearl cactus chenille. Make two wraps.

Attach a 15 mm Articulated Fish Spine shank.

19

18

Wrap EP Fiber dubbing brush behind the eye of the hook. Whipfinsh. Add two ice eyes to each side of the head of the fly. Apply Flex UV Resin to the head of the fly.

Just add water and wait for the big ones to get hooked!

Gear Changer

49

FFI GUIDES & OUTFITTERS/BUSINESS LISTINGS Fly Fishers International has expanded the Guides Association to include Outfitters and is now offering additional benefits, including an insurance plan offered through ESP Specialty Insurance. For more information about FFI Guides & Outfitters Association and Business members, please visit flyfisherinternational.org ALABAMA Deep South Outfitters fishdso.com Donald Dehm, Guide kayakflyfishingschool.com Sims & Keith Herron, Guides simsherron@gmail.com William Woodall, Guide budoma@aol.com ALASKA Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge boardwalklodge.com Ana Harrington, Guide asamh62@yahoo.com Damond Blankenship, Guide damondent@gci.net Dave Rocke, Guide info@familyairtours.com Double Haul doublehaulflyfishing.com Michael Brantley, Guide zz49er@outlook.com Possibilities Unlimited Alaska possibilitiesunlimitedalaska.com ARIZONA Bruce Friis-Pettitt, Guide fishdogflies@gmail.com JB Fly Fishing jbflyfishing.com ARKANSAS Berry Brothers Guide Service, Guides berrybrothersguides.com Michael Foley Sr, Guide mfsr11@yahoo.com Ozark Troutfitters ozarktroutfitters.com Stonefly Nets stoneflynets.com CALIFORNIA Brendon Flynn, Guide brendon@eltruchero.com Catherine Amparano, Guide kasiawin12@gmail.com Clay A Hash, Guide clayhash.fft@gmail.com Fly Fishing Western Wyoming LLC flyfishingwesternwyoming.com Four Winds Guide Service, Guides fourwindsguideservice.com Guy Jeans Fly Fishing Guide Service kernriverflyfishing.com His & Her Flyfishing Shop hisandherflyfishing.com James E Elias, Guide jim@fishmammoth.com Jay Clark, Guide jay@jayclarkflyfishing.com John Dietsch, Guide john@castlecreekproductions.com Jon Hart, Guide kernrivertenkara@gmail.com

50

Koal Browder, Guide koalbrowder1@gmail.com Kris Skinner, Guide kris.skinner@gmail.com Lane Leonard, Guide captl1@me.com Paul Lenos, Guide fourwindsguideservice.com Pat Patman, Guide pat@sourcemeat.com The Fly Shop theflyshop.com The Trout Spot thetroutspot.com

Rick Miller, Guide millfish@aol.com Rick Ruoff, Guide simmsfishing.com/content/guide/ rick-ruoff Saltfly Pioneer facebook.com/comeflyfish Saltwater Adventures of Central Florida saocf.com The Anglers Mark theanglersmark.com Tony Menendez, Guide saltfly124@gmail.com

COLORADO David Pehle, Guide dpehle@gmail.com Drifthook Fly Fishing drifthook.com James C Phillips, Guide skifishvail@gmail.com Jeffrey L Dean, Guide troutbumjd14@yahoo.com Jonathan Walter, Guide j_walter@msn.com JP Fly Fishing Specialties jpflyfish.com Midcurrent mcutchin@midcurrent.com Montrose Anglers montroseanglers.com

GEORGIA Capt. David Edens, Guide blueridgerods@hotmail.com Fernanda Fraire, Guide fernandafraire10@gmail.com Hulsey Fly Fishing, Guides hulseyflyfishing.com James Long, Guide froghollowflyfishing.com Oconee On The Fly Inc. wmoore1700@outlook.com Peach - Fishing and Adventures peachfishingandadventures.com Spring Creek Anglers Fly Fishing School springcreekanglers.com

CONNECTICUT William Lanzoni, Guide millriverflyrods.com

ILLINOIS Dooley’s Fly Fishing dooleysflyfishing.com Les Sutherland, Guide lessutherland@icloud.com

DELAWARE Tyler O’Neill, Norvise admin@nor-vise.com FLORIDA Arthur H. Ferber III, Guide buddyferber@att.net Capt. Chip Smith, Guide captainchipflyfishing@gmail.com Capt. Daniel Snapp, Guide snappy252@gmail.com Capt. Edward Tamson, Guide evergladesflyfishing.com Capt. Frank Catino, Guide indianriverfishingguide.com Capt Lionel M. James, Guide hello@lioneljames.com Capt. Michael Manis, Guide mike@puntagordaflycharters.com Capt. Michael Rehr, Guide captflyrod.com Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters flatsfishingtrips.com James Hazlett, Guide jwhazlett@jwhazlett.com Keys Angling Outfitters, Guide keysangling.com Metalfab Inc. metalfab-inc.com Pete Greenan’s Gypsy Guide Service floridaflyfishing.com

IDAHO Henry’s Fork Anglers LLC, Guides henrysforkanglers.com Sawtooth Flies theupstreamfly@gmail.com The Fly Rod Company Theflyrodcompany.com IOWA Driftless Fishers LLC driftlessfishers.com KANSAS Sodie Sodamann, Guide sodie6390@gmail.com LOUISIANA Capt. Peter R. Scafaru, Guide marshonthefly.com MAINE HMH Vises, Guides tyingvise.com Michael May, Guide Blackcatflyfishing@gmail.com Mona Brewer, Guide flyfisher.me Peter Fallon, Guide pfallon@mainestripers.com

Rangeley Region Sport Shop rangeleysportshop.com Rangeley Region Sport Shop, Guides rivertoridge@aol.com Sean McCormick, Guide bhguideservice@gmail.com Scott R Whitaker, Guide bucktailguideservice@gmail.com MARYLAND Gene (Duber) Winters, Guide Greenwatercharters.com Jake Cruze, Guide catch13fishing@yahoo.com Rich Dennison, Guide richdennisonflyfishing@gmail.com White Marlin Outfitters whitemarlinoutfitters.com MASSACHUSETTS Chris Ryan, Guide cjryan93@yahoo.com George Sylvestre, Guide sylvestreoutdoors.com Gypsy Soul Guide Service cuffs1980@yahoo.com Juro Mukai, Guide juro02@gmail.com Pure Flyfishing, Guides pure-flyfishing.com Sean Murphy, Guide seanmurphy4269@gmail.com MICHIGAN Brian Kozminski, Guide flyfishbkoz@gmail.com Current Works current-works.com Feenstra Guide Service, Guides feenstraguideservice.com John R Kluesing, Guide jtkluesing@gmail.com Kevin & Joan Morlock, Guides indigoguidekevin@gmail.com Mangan’s Cast a Fly manganscastafly.com Ray Schmidt, Guide rschmidt5181@gmail.com Sam Clark, Guide sdc76121@gmail.com Tom Quail ausableriverguideservice@gmail.com MINNESOTA Dan Brown Guide Association brownstroutadventures.weebly.com FlyDog Fly Fishing flydogflyfishing.com Moose Track Adventures moosetrackadventures.com Pruvent pruvent.com The Driftless Fly Fishing Co., Guides melvin@minnesotaflyfishing.com Thomas Kollodge, Guides tomkollodge@gmail.com Twin Cities Flyfishing twincitiesflyfishing.com

MISSISSIPPI Capt. Sid’s Fly Fishing Guide Service amzilovelincolnhomes.com MISSOURI Adam’s Adventures apennington@cableone.net Jim Rogers, Guide bennettspring@aol.com MONTANA Breakline Optics LLC breaklineoptics.com Brickhouse Creative Inc brickhousecreative.com Elizabeth Donahue, Guide donahue.elizabeth@gmail.com Fins & Feathers of Bozeman finsandfeathersonline.com Garrett Blackburn, Guide hookedoutfiting@gmail.com Hatchfinders Fly Shop hatchfinders.com Jacklin’s Fly Shop jacklinsflyshop.com Jan D. Axtell, Guide janaxtell@msn.com Linehan Outfitting Company fishmontana.com Livingston Chamber of Commerce livingston-chamber.com Madison River Outfitters madisonriveroutfitters.com McKinnie Fly Fishing Outfitters of Montana mckinnieflyfishingmontana.net Nick Spencer, Guide njsconst@gmail.com Sweetwater Fly Shop sweetwaterflyshop.com Trout Stalkers LLC, Guide joe@montanatrout.com Twite Realty Corp twiterealty.com NEBRASKA SEVENWT LLC sevenwt.com NEW HAMPSHIRE John McKernan, Guide grnleech@yahoo.com Harry Mehos, Guide northstarguide@hotmail.com NEW MEXICO Doug Walker, Guide justdriftingllc@gmail.com Jarrett Sasser, Guide highdesertangler.com Thomas F Harper, Guide tharper@thomasfharper.com NEW YORK Eastern Caster Guide Service easterncaster.blogspot.com James Engel jae342park@gmail.com Mike Lane, Guide weedrift@aol.com Patricia (Sam) Decker, Guide samfishes@hvc.rr.com Scott Feltrinelli, Guide ontariofly.com

NORTH CAROLINA Anchor Fly anchorfly.com Boones Fly Shop, Guides boonesflyshop.com Michael Foreman thespeckledtroutoutfitters.com Michael Foreman, Guide speckledchef.trout@gmail.com Robert Allen, Guide bac280@gmail.com Stream Team Anglers, Guide streamteamanglers.com OHIO Alert Stamping & Manufacturing Co. Inc alertstamping.com Jeff Liskay, Guide jeffliskay@gmail.com Lapel Pins Unlimited LLC lapelpinsunlimited.com Scott Davis, Guide scott.davis2@cabelas.com Semper Fly Rods LLC semperflyrods.com Spring Creek Fly Fishing, Ltd. david@springcreekfly.com Tall Man Outfitters, Guides flyfishlocally.com OKLAHOMA Laurence Paradis, Guide paradis907@gmail.com Checkurfly Guide Service, Guides gregory@checkurfly.com OREGON Bert’s Guide Service bertsguideservice.com Jamie Briscoe, Guide castblastcoach.com Jim Ulm, Guide jimulm9@msn.com Moriston Rod Co./Tyne Reels jsrods.com Sara Jo Royalty, Guide sarajoflies@gmail.com PENNSYLVANIA Dusty Wissmath Fly Fishing School dwflyfishingschool.com Keystone Fly Guides, Guides keystoneflyguides.com Ronald Nimitz, Guide rlnsailor@comcast.net RHODE ISLAND John Lemont, Guide johnlemont53@gmail.com SOUTH CAROLINA Anthony Welch, Guide twelch@accountant.com Hilton Head Fishing Adventures hiltonheadfishingadventures.com Will Stephens, Guide wstephe2@yahoo.com TENNESSEE Blake Parsons, Guide flysouth.net Chattfly, Guides chattanoogaflyfish.com Crossing Creeks Fly Fishing crossingcreeks.flyfishing@gmail.com

Travis Burt, Guide tburthn@gmail.com TEXAS Benjamin Christensen, Guides tack23@gmail.com Capt. Stacy Lynn, Guide saltyflygal@gmail.com Dan Cone llanoriver@gmail.com Fly Tyer/American Angler/ Gray’s Sporting Journal Magazines americanangler.com Ironhorse Outfitters ironhorseforge.net Mark Machado, Guide missionarymgm@sbcglobal.net Mark Marmon, Guide markmarmon@gmail.com NB Fly, Guides nbfly fishing.com Phil Dopson, Guide phil@phildopson.com Shean Phelps, Guide sheanphelps@ymail.com Tom Strawther, Guide tomstrawther@hotmail.com UTAH Park City Outfitters and Lodge parkcityoutfitters.com WEST VIRGINIA Greenbrier Resort pastorsouther@yahoo.com WASHINGTON Fly Gyde, Guides info@flygyde.com Jenn Cordz, Guide jenn@gypsyfishing.com Thornton Outdoors LLC thorntrout@tds.net WISCONSIN Dan Boggs, Guide dbguideservice@yahoo.com Jacquish Hollow Angler/ Anglers Inn jacquishhollowangler.com Margo+Lola, Inc., Guides margolola.com WYOMING Mike Kaul, Guide mikekaul@wyoming.com ARGENTINA Jorge Aguilar Rech, Guide suroutfitters.com Jorge Trucco, Guide patagonia-outfitters.com AUSTRALIA Driftwater Tasmania driftwater.com.au Jonathan Burgess, Guide flycastingseqld.com.au High Country Fly Fishing highfly.com.au Brenda Galey, Guide msguidedff.com.au

chinookwindoutfitters.com Dave Burns, Guide dave@goldengillie.com Douglas Goosen, Guide dgoosen@xplornet.ca Pat Johnson, Guide paddy.johnson65@gmail.com NaturAventur naturAventur.com Peter R F Taylor, Guide peterray.prt@gmail.com Rob White, Guide egancreekoutfitting@gmail.com The Enlightened Angler jamesbaxternelson@gmail.com Total Gate Manufacturing Inc. totalgate.com DENMARK Jan Nachtigal, Guide jannachtigal@hotmail.de Omar Gade, Guide denmarkfishinglodge.com ITALY Alps Store & Fishing Services, Guide gianluca.laralps@gmail.com MALAYSIA Ping Anchorage (Terengganu Fly Fishing Outfitters) pinganchorage.com.my MONGOLIA Jargal Expedition LLC, Guide riverfishingmongolia.com/ SOUTH KOREA Far East Outfitters flyfishasia.com SWITZERLAND Marco Flury, Guide flurry.marco@gmail.com Toms Fly Fishing Academy flyfisheurope.ch/thomas-luescher. html SPAIN Vincent Brotons, Guide maniac flyfishing.com SWEDEN ABARO AB, Guides marcus@christianstad.se UNITED KINGDOM Alex Adams, Guide alex.adams1969@gmail.com Alba Game Fishing Scotland stewart@albagamefishing.com Ferdinando Rodino Dal Pozzo D’Annone, Guide info@flyfishersitaly.com Paul Eslinger, Guide jonbondgameangling.co.uk

CANADA Chinook Wind Outfitters

51

FFI FORUM

F

ly Fishers International is on the move! As you peruse this issue of the magazine you will see a multitude of examples of how FFI is changing and growing to better meet the needs of its members and the greater fly-fishing community.

From November 5-7, Fly Fishers International held its 2021 Virtual Expo. An incredible success by any measure, the Virtual Expo brought fly fishers from around the globe to enjoy a world class event from their own homes. The expo featured renowned tiers, fly fishing luminaries and experts presenting on a wide array of topics. Hundreds of FFI members and other fly fishers enjoyed this groundbreaking event.

The Virtual Expo is just one example of how Fly Fishers International is finding new ways to engage its members, build community and expand its relevance in the evergrowing fly-fishing community.

Grateful kudos to Virtual Expo Chair Patty Lueken and her committee of FFI members and committee chairs for their hard work and creativity.

For more evidence of the vibrant changes in store at FFI, take a trip around our newly-retooled website.

Along with getting a crisp new design, flyfishersinternational.org is now more intuitive and easier to navigate. Make sure to click “Learn” to visit the Learning Center. The Center, which is the brainchild of Board Education Committee Chair Dutch Baughman and his committee, is a comprehensive library of fly fishing

information, featuring downloadable workshops and presentations, casting videos, thousands of fly tying tutorials and so much more, all curated by experts from around the world aiming to increase your angling knowledge.

Why not start by downloading the newly published Beginning Fly Tying Manual or Saltwater Fly Tying Manual developed by Casting Programs Chair Jerry Coviello? I also highly recommend the fun and interactive Casting Skills Development Program which can assist in improving your cast, regardless of your skill level.

Once you’ve brushed up on your skills, click through on the “Conservation” tab where you will learn about FFI’s conservation initiatives

““We invite you to become part of our community in a way that makes a real impact on protecting the art and sport we’ve all come to love.” led by Chairman Tom Logan and Vice Chair Brad Eaton. This section of the FFI website provides an incredible resource for conservation actions and outlines the positions that FFI takes on issues relevant to the conservation of “All fish, All Waters.” If you are looking for a conservation grant for your club or a conservation scholarship for an emerging conservation leader, you will find information on such opportunities here. Up for a challenge? I encourage you to consider participating in the

Basscatch and Cuttcatch Projects, two programs that will test your angling skills while promoting species diversity.

And please don’t forget to click on the “Donate” button! Every dollar you donate to FFI helps us ensure that fly fishing will continue to thrive, both now and into the future. We invite you to become part of our community in a way that makes a real impact on protecting the art and sport we’ve all come to love.

One of the challenges that all organizations face is addressing the question of how to move forward in a clear direction while allocating financial and human resources in a way which yields the greatest benefit.

To ensure that we maintain this clear picture of where FFI is going and how we will get there, the Board of Directors is in the process of drafting a new and more comprehensive strategic plan.

Under the guidance of FFI member Jack Gillis of Ledge Strategic Planning, the FFI Board, Committees and Staff are taking a comprehensive look at FFI’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Collectively, we will identify a finite number of key priorities and time-specific action plans to address each of those priorities. Stay tuned for the highlights of that plan in a future issue.

In the meantime, I would like to sincerely thank you for being an FFI member. Best wishes as your pursue your next fly fishing adventure!

Tight lines, Dave

Dave Peterson Dave is currently Chairman of the Board of Fly Fishers International. He is a semi-retired school superintendent who fly fishes as often as he can. The Pere Marquette River in Michigan is his home water and he also fishes regularly in Montana, Maine, Florida and the Turks and Caicos Islands. He has served as Chairman of the FFI Conservation Committee and is a Life Member of FFI. He is also Conservation Vice President for the Great Lakes Council of FFI and a dedicated member of the West Michigan Hacklers, his local FFI charter club.

52

FlyFisher Winter 2022

brand development. THCFF’s new look was featured in tandem with our new vice president, Lindsey Hollin, whose leadership role provided proof of concept that we were indeed a club for men and women. Following our annual Oktoberfisch fundraising event, the Fredericksburg Standard included coverage of the event as a front page news item, featuring a member of the Texas Women Fly Fishers and subsequently reinforcing our diversity message.

Rebranded, restructured and revived The Texas Hill Country Fly Fishers Membership Development Plan Last year, the Fredericksburg Fly Fishers determined that the time for change had arrived. In 2020, working with a declining membership, the newly-elected officers of the club embarked on a mission of rebranding and restructuring.

First impressions Desiring a club name that encompassed more than just the small town of Fredericksburg, Texas, (pop 11,000), the club voted to change its name to the Texas Hill Country Fly Fishers.

With that change came the need for a new logo. Developed by club member and graphic artist Milburn Taylor, the new insignia is readily-recognized and helps give our website and club apparel a unique visual identity.

Software for hard jobs The real work then began with club treasurer/webmaster Tim Gikas completely rebuilding a new website

and web presence, tasks made possible with new software which handles nearly all of our administrative tasks: it collects membership dues and renewals, processes event registration, customizes membership levels, and importantly, provides database updates in real time for new membership processing and communication. Tim also began a campaign to get members to submit fishing photos for our monthly newsletters. At the beginning of the year, our email list was less than 150 people. We now have more than 1,000 subscribers and have embraced social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Grassroots Marketing: During the website construction process, a grassroots marketing plan was employed to provide the club much-needed visibility within the surrounding communities. Several meetings took place between Tim Lafferty, club president, and John Schrock of Best Version Media, a publishing company specializing in

A supportive relationship In 2021, THCFF took larger strides in connecting with the community, and other nonprofit fly fishing organizations, by providing handson help and financial assistance for support groups such as Reel Recovery, Casting for Recovery and Good Fly. In 2021, using funds generated from a very successful Oktoberfisch 2020 event, THCFF donated $7,500 to nonprofit and charitable groups.

We have worked together with the Good Fly organization to network with first responders in our area and participated in the Annual Stroke Awareness Fair at Sid Peterson Regional Medical Center. Fly fishing was wellreceived by those patients we engaged with, folks who didn’t imagine they could participate in outdoor activities again. The physical therapists involved also embraced fly fishing, and our club, as a support source for their patients’ ongoing recovery.

Finally, THCFF has engaged young and potential new members through our Carpe Diem Tournaments, held at a local private golf club. Targeting grass carp that live in the water hazards on the course, anglers get the chance to feel a real good tug on the end of

FFI Forum

53

out to the Texas Women Fly Fishers, who will be represented at this year’s Oktoberfisch. The results have been encouraging as more than a quarter of the new members and nearly half of the pre-registering participants for the upcoming Oktoberfisch event are female.

Through the efforts of professional fly tyer, and our new Educational Chairperson, Chase Smith, our membership has expanded to include anglers from ages 11 to 87-years-old.

New fly tyers for Oktoberfisch 2021 include an 11-year-old female, two high school students and a seasoned fishing guide. Returning fly tyers from last year are Odom Wu, a professional fly tyer and photographer (with cover photos for Flyfisher); Jack Gillis, a fly tying medal winner and certified instructor; FFI Director Dutch Baughman, who has won nearly every award possible for fly tying; and our 87-year-old, extremely active club co-founder, Martin Pursch.

their fly line. This helps sell newbies on the sport. Educational Chairperson Chase Smith gave an introductory talk about technique and fly selection prior to the tournament and because the required casts aren’t challenging, the location is close to their homes and the atmosphere is fun and welcoming, the event proved to be an excellent entrypoint for THCFF’s new recruits.

Diversifying the Membership At the beginning of 2021, the need for developing and engaging all members of the community was painfully apparent; the club’s 50 members were primarily white male seniors. To remedy this, a Ladies Program was developed, led by newly-elected vice president and past member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team, Lindsey Hollin. Hollin began networking with other women within the fly fishing community and developed social hours after casting classes and instructional courses.

Lindsey became the spokesperson for these efforts at monthly membership meetings. The Board also reached

Milestone in growth In 2021, the Texas Hill Country Fly Fishers, a Charter Club of FFI, has

grown to 154 dues-paying members.

Our goal for 2021 is to have 200 members by the end of the year. The membership will be younger, more diverse and more active with more club-sponsored events and outings than ever before. By joining THCFF, new members enjoy: An in-person fly fishing educational program from top professionals in the sport.

Opportunities to learn about conservation and participate in regional efforts.

Actively participating and engaging others within the community with recreational events, group outings and programs to support other nonprofit organizations And, importantly, as members, they will have far more opportunities to go fly fishing.

The Board is appreciative of the support that FFI has provided to help our club achieve this milestone in our growth. Rick Haness, the Texas Council President of FFI (and member of our club) has been stalwart in his support. Year after year, the FFI Texas

ME WA

VT ND

MT

MI

MN

OR

WI

SD

ID WY CA

UT

CO

MI

IA

NE

NV

NY

IL

KY

MO

KS

MD WV

AZ

OK NM

AR MS LA

TX AK

HI

54

FlyFisher Winter 2022

AL

VA NC

TN

RI

NJ

PA OH

IN

NH MA CT

SC GA FL

DE

Chesapeake (PA-WV-VA-MD-DE) Eastern Rocky Mtn (WY-CO-NM-AZ) Eastern Waters (NY-NJ) Florida Great Lakes(MI-IN) Gulf Coast (LA-MS-AL) Northern California (CA-NV-HI) North Eastern (VT-NH-ME-MA-RI-CT) Ohio

Oregon South Eastern (KY-TN-NC-SC-GA-AL) Southern (NE-IA-KS-MO-IL-OK-AR) Southwest (CA-NV) Texas Upper Midwest (MN-WI-IL) Washington (WA-AK) Western Rocky Mtn (UT-ID-MT-ND-SD)

FFI FORUM Council and FFI Board continue to be active in providing their personal expertise, participation and instruction at Oktoberfisch.

Our geographic membership boundary now encompasses communities with a combined population base of roughly 35,000.

Changing the name and rebranding the club has allowed us to expand out to additional communities within an hour’s drive, a distance new members are already showing they’re willing to travel.

Now is the time to ramp up efforts for new membership, reach out to more diverse potential members, and to become more involved and well-known within the communities that we serve. With sustainable membership growth and participation, we hope to educate and prepare our younger members on the vital need for conservation and protection of our natural landscapes, waters and wildlife. These younger club members are the future guardians who will take the lead for our organizational purpose.

International Ambassador Jorge Trucco Jorge Trucco is the newest addition to FFI’s team of International Ambassadors. Jorge was born and raised in Argentina. A recognized fly-pioneer, Jorge first picked up a fly rod at age 10. Following a brief career in the financial sector, in 1975 Jorge shifted to a career in fly fishing when he became co-owner of Fly Fishing Enterprise, Argentina’s first fly shop. Shortly after, he founded Patagonia Outfitters, a flagship guiding operation in the area. During this time, he has guided notable clients including Mel Krieger, Leigh Perkins, Lefty Kreh, Ernie Schwiebert, President Jimmy Carter (and wife Rosalyn), Wilfred Brimley,

Michael Keaton and Liam Neeson, to name a few.

Jorge became a member of Fly Fishers International in 1979. Since that time, he was made a member of the Advisors Committee of Fly Fishing Instruction and named Outstanding Fly-Casting Instructor of the year in 1993.

In addition to FFI, Jorge has served as President of the Chamber of Hunting and Fishing in Argentina as well as for the Fishing Guide Association of Neuquén Province. He helped establish catch and release regulations in Northern Patagonia and led a successful campaign to stop the construction of large dams in the Collon Cura and Aluminé river basins.

Jorge is an accomplished fly fisherman, fly tyer, rod maker, guide/ outfitter and casting instructor.

He has participated in the launch of countless lodges in Argentina and has fished more than a dozen countries all over the globe.

It is our honor to have Jorge join our team of FFI International Ambassadors.

Council Presidents: Chesapeake Lane Thurgood lthrugood68@gmail.com

Great Lakes Terry Greiner tlgreiner12@gmail.com

Eastern Rocky Mountain Tim Papich president.ermc.ffi@ gmail.com

Gulf Coast AJ Rosenbohm ajrosenbohm@gmail.com

Eastern Waters Sam Decker samfishes@hvc.rr.com Florida David Olson david@whitestackle.com

North Eastern Jon Larrabee jon@larrabeereels.com Northern California Mark Rockwell mrockwell1945@gmail. com

Ohio Jeff McElravy jmcelravysr@hotmail. com

Southwest Leigh Ann Swanson president@swcffi.org

Oregon Sherry Steele steelefly@msn.com

Texas Rick Haness president@ texascouncilffi.com

Southeastern Greg Thurlow president@secffi.org

Upper Midwest Ralph Johnson rjpar@aol.com

Southern Chris Allen callenshooter@aol.com

Washington State Steve Jones sjones22@comcast.net

Western Rocky Mountain Dave Londeree dlonderee@roadrunner. com

FFI Forum

55

Fly Making Initiative Ties Charitable Organizations Together Robert John Pales

A

spontaneous act of generosity 15 years ago has snowballed into a culture of giving.

In February 2007, Tim Scott and Terry Wittorp carpooled to the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited monthly meeting in Kalamazoo, MI to assist in planning the chapter’s upcoming summer youth camp. While driving home, Wittorp worried there wouldn’t be enough flies for the event. Scott suggested they recruit members from their FFI Affiliate Club, the Saint Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers of South Bend, IN, to help KVCTU in supplying flies for the children. To motivate members, Scott pledged to tie 100 flies, and Terry, a non-tier, offered to cook lunch.

A week later, 38 tyers met and produced 2,500 flies in Elkhart, IN. The Tie-a-Thon was born.

Ironically, both Scott and Wittorn envisioned the project as a one-off—

56

FlyFisher Winter 2022

at best, a periodic event. The group, however, begged to differ.

“That was fun. Who are we tying for next year?” one participant said when the first Tie-a-Thon wrapped up.

Another shouted, “I know of a Reel and Heal retreat in Ohio!” With that, the new direction was set.

The following spring, the tyers lived up to their promise and produced 3,700 flies for the Ohio retreat.

That evening, Scott and Wittorp committed to organizing a yearly event, one which would benefit other charitable organizations that use fly fishing as therapy. They envisioned combat veterans, cancer survivors and at-risk youth—as well as youth fly fishing education groups—as the recipients of their efforts. But never could their vision have been so grand

as to what it’s turned into.

What started as a local endeavor has now gone world-wide. A Facebook page, coupled with national media attention, has produced a group of tyers from 48 U.S. states, Canada, Scotland, Australia, and American Samoa. FFI affiliates DRiFT (IL) and Fly Girls (MI) have been consistent yearly donors, holding their own club “Tie-a-thons” and submitting thousands of flies.

These international volunteers have donated 180,000 flies benefiting 18 charities over the past 15 years. Charitable organizations have included Project Healing Waters, the Mayfly Project and Casting for Recovery.

The Tie-a-Thon accepts any number of flies, but individuals donating at least 100 receive a t-shirt designed by

FFI FORUM Indiana fly fishing guide Andy Kitson.

Despite world events, 2020 proved to be a record-breaking year. While 2011 and 2019 produced an average of 10,000 charitable flies per year, in 2020, the Tie-a-Thon recorded upwards of 20,300 flies! Then in 2021, the record was broken again with a total of 34,400 flies tied.

For Stan Golub, CEO of Reel Recovery, an organization which facilitates free fly fishing retreats for men living with cancer, being the 2020 recipient of the Tie-a-Thon’s efforts was a charity’s dream come true. “They’ve stocked us for several years’ worth of retreats,” Golub said.

“They gave such a wide assortment of flies for bass, trout, and bluegill, that we can customize distribution.”

Reel Recovery hosts, on average, 34 retreats per year. Golub said the variety and volume of flies will allow Reel Recovery to outfit each survivor with flies customized for specific regions. “Participants’ vests will be filled with flies to match their pursued species, and they will also receive a box of flies to take home,” Golub said. “After the experience, they keep those gift boxes to use for the rest of their lives. It’s pretty powerful stuff.”

For Trout Unlimited Youth Director Franklin Tate, the 2021 record setting donation to TU’s youth camps will assist all 25 camps in providing a memorable experience for the future ambassadors of fly fishing and conservation.

“These flies will be put directly into the hands of kids who will be starting their fly fishing journey,” Tate said.

“One of the special parts of camp is when kids receive their fly box, and their eyes just light up!”

Breaking it down financially, Tate said each camp will receive approximately $2,000 in flies, freeing the directors to spend that money on other administrative costs.

Like Golub, Tate believes the true power of the flies lies in the thought behind them.

“The Tie-a-Thon’s generosity is going to last the next decade and beyond. These flies will be fished for years and years to come, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Tim Scott thoroughly enjoys the random surprise waiting in each package. He was particularly moved by a young tier from Brooklyn, N.Y., who this year donated beautiful crab and shrimp saltwater patterns.

“His mother wrote a letter and said he read an article about us and wanted to donate,” Scott said.

The most rewarding part of the Tiea-thon, Scott suggests, is calling an organization out of the blue to tell them they will be receiving 10,000 flies.

After 15 years, the Tie-a-Thon is not

slowing down. Due to its exploding success, they are now a 501(c)(3) charity and seeking corporate and individual sponsorships. In a world where good things often fade with time, Scott and Wittorp have created a living, generative culture of giving.

It’s what keeps Wittorp going year after year.

“The camaraderie and the people we’ve come to know is bigger than fly fishing or fly tying,” Wittorp said. “The common good has gone global, and it’s nice to know there are so many people around the world who still care about other people.”

If you are interested in donating to the Tie-a-Thon or becoming a sponsor, contact the group at https://www. facebook.com/tieathon/.

BIO: Robert John Pales is a freelance writer, active FFI member and an enthusiastic Tie-a-Thon contributor. He lives in northern Indiana with his wife, twin sons and golden retriever and chases steelhead throughout the Great Lakes region nine months a year.

FFI Forum

57

IN MEMORIAM degrees and a PhD. He was a Professor of Engineering Science at Baylor University and Oklahoma State, and at the Idaho National Laboratory.

Throughout his life he lived in California, Oklahoma and Idaho.

Harley enjoyed nature and was a fishing guide for 50 years. Harley was a long-time supporter and volunteer for the Western Rocky Mountain Council of FFI.

Roger Williams

Chuck Collins Charles Arthur Collins (Chuck), 74, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away August 15, 2021. He was from a military background and served in the Army at Fort Sill and Fort Jackson. He lived in Pocatello with his wife Sharon.

Together, they had a daughter and son.

Chuck was a great volunteer for Fly Fishers International, with dedicated involvement in the Fly Tying Group.

Always ready to learn, Chuck regularly participated in online fly tying demos and fly plates. Fly Tying Programs Chair Jerry Coviello commented “Chuck was a good friend and would call me at least once a month to discuss how I was doing with the Fly Tying Group and check in to see if there was anything he could do to help me.” Jerry designed and coordinated the medals for the Fly Tying Contest and was always a reliable resource for raffle prizes.

“Chuck will be dearly missed by the entire Fly Tying Group,“ Jerry said.

Fred Dupre said that Chuck was a willing volunteer to help the FTG

58

FlyFisher Winter 2022

with its annual Rendezvous, leading the organizational duties of mealplanning, raffles and auctions.

“Chuck helped us raise thousands of dollars through his leadership, Dupre said. “He would call each of us throughout the year to find out what is going on and to chat about new fly designs. Chuck will be missed by all.“

Harley Reno Harley Wayne Reno of Rigby, Idaho, passed away on March 30, 2021 at the age of 82. In the course of his education Harley earned five masters

Roger Williams was a true ambassador of fly fishing and, by extension, an ambassador of Fly Fishers International. Roger was an attendee at nearly all of the FFI Florida Council events. He welcomed new and old members, served at the FFI membership table, assisted with auctions and helped with other activities during those events.

Roger was also very active in Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, especially the annual on-the-water Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament, sponsored by the Bradenton Yacht Club. This event saw veterans out on the water with a boat captain and a FFI Florida council member. The Yacht Club provided breakfast and lunch each year for more than 100 veterans, captains and FFI members. Roger greeted the attendees and helped with the lunch and logistics of the event.

For many years, Roger was Vice President of the FFI Charter Club, Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers and also served on the Florida Council Board and the Board of the Club.

WATERPROOF - SUBMERSIBLE WWW.YANKEE-FORK.COM

meet patty lueken, a 1000 steward “I became a member of 1000 Stewards to help support the legacy of fly fishing and all it has to offer. I particularly support FFI’s partnership with key conservation organizations to help projects and advocacy initiatives in a manner that leverages limited resources and maximizes the impact of my contribution. I like that concept.” help MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

flyfishersinternational.org/ffi1k

You have a unique opportunity to invest in the sport you love.

FLY FISHERS INTERNATIONAL’S

1000 Stewards program

asks dedicated fly anglers to donate $500 PER YEAR FOR 5 YEARS (a total of $2500.)

FFi1K

join the

stewards