Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers - October 2019 Irideus

THE IRIDEUS The Newsletter of the Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers Based in Kensington, Serving the East Bay & Environs since 1982

September Highlights

The McCloud River

Reports from Mark Likos, Roger Wachtler and Brad Gee on a busy month

A Unique Blue-Ribbon Fishery

By Kirston Koths

oct

‘19 GPFF.ORG

CLUB MEETINGS 52 Arlington Ave, Kensington, CA Every second tuesday of every month No meeting in July Social Hour - 6:30pm Business Meeting - 7:00pm

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FEATURES

Departments

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03 announcements

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casting correctly from the beginning the Mccloud river September highlights

03 BOARD 04 CALENDAR 05 CONSERVATION Conversation 07 Fishing Throwbacks 08 NEWS, NOTES & RANDOM CASTS 17 GONE FISHING

Lynn Valley Canyon - British Columbia

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announcements Annual Membership Dues to Increase by $10

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ecause the costs of most of our club activities continue to increase, the GPFF Board concluded that it is necessary to raise annual membership dues by $10. Two items that were key influences to the Board’s decision are that the auction fundraiser did not materialize in 2019 and that the club now pays a rental fee for our monthly meeting venue.

Starting on January 01, 2020, yearly dues will be $50 per family. However, on the bright side, if you renew your membership by December 31, 2019, the dues will be only $40 and cover the remainder of 2019 and all of 2020. After January 01, 2020, membership dues will become $50 per year.

As you know, your membership dues support the club in many ways: educational speakers at monthly meetings, fly fishing outings, conservation activities, educational clinics, Trout in the Classroom, the annual Open House, the holiday banquet party, and participation in the Solano Stroll. It would be a shame to have to eliminate any one of these worthwhile activities. Thus, the dues increase.

Texas Hold’em Tournament Delayed We just learned that in order to hold the tournament we have to fill in ONE MORE FORM, well maybe two, perhaps three. Not wishing to duke it out with Sacramento our club’s officers postponed the tournament until spring and are busily filling out forms. Don’t worry: We’ll be back.

Executive Board OFFICERS

Brad Gee

Eric Larson

President

Secretary

PROGRAM CHAIRS & BOARD MEMBERS

Josh Genser

Julie Haselden

Program Chair

Conservation Chair

Mark Likos

Vacant

Education Chair

Membership Chair

Dave Garfin

Linda Friedman

Trout in the Classroom

Outings Chair

Douglas Hale Newsletter

NON-BOARD CHAIRS

Mike Lippman

Bob Marshak

Lee Hahn

Vacant

Treasurer

Webmaster

Asst. Treasurer Librarian

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Douglas Hale Editor-In-Chief

Zachary Wong Asst. Editor

PHOTO CONTRUBITORS THIS MONTH Cover............................................................ Roger Wachtler Table of Contents........................................... Zachary Wong Calendar............................................................. Ron Francis Conservation.................................................. Julie Haselden Fishing Throwbacks...........Field Museum Nat. Hist. Library News Notes & Random Casts...........................Bob Marshak The McCloud River......................................... Kirston Koths Sept. Highlights........Mark Likos, Roger Wachtler, Brad Gee Sept. Highlight Vector....................................Available Here Gone Fishin’..................... Rebecca Blair, Loretta Strickland Back Cover..................................................... Zachary Wong We are always looking for photos! Submit your photos to Zachary Wong at craigwong810@gmail.com or Doug Hale at drhale@gmail.com Your photo could be featured on next month’s cover, table of contents, Calendar or our Back Page

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Upcoming Events Week of October 7th Spawners Contra Costa County Creek Monitoring

October 8

October Club Meeting - Mike Moran from EBRPD

October 24-27

McCloud River - October Caddis Outing

October 26

Friends of 5 Creeks Work Party

November 12

Club Swap Meet & Silent Auction

Past Events September 8 Solano Stroll

September 10 September Club Meeting - Open House

September 22

Bay Area Youth Fly Fishing @ Oakland Casting Ponds

August 14-18

High Sierras - Little Lakes Valley Backpacking Rock Creek Basin

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onservation F onversation

With Julie Ruth Haselden

To be a conservationist is to find moral challenges and conundrums everywhere you look. Save this species, destroy another.

Return a native to an alien world, or not? What we do is muddle through, hoping we do more good than harm.

From ‘Raised Hackles’ Golden West Women Flyfishers Septmeber 2019

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he Twin Tunnels scheme to move water around the Delta came and went, but tunnel supporters are creating a new onetunnel project that will do most of the same damage. The Delta Reform Act’s requirement to reduce reliance on the Delta for the state’s water supply just doesn’t seem to have sunk in. California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) is preparing for the next round.

The issue of whether the State Water Board must go through a formal public process to balance public trust resources and whether it can unilaterally weaken water quality standards is finally going to trial in November.

CSPA is continuing a twenty-five year effort to make the lower Tuolumne River into the salmon and steelhead resource it can and should be.

TO CULL, OR NOT TO CULL? ederal officials have said that more than 1,100 sea lions could be killed annually along a stretch of the Columbia River on the Oregon-Washington border. This would take place in order to boost faltering populations of salmon and steelhead.

The National Marine Fisheries Service said it is taking public comments through Oct. 29, 2019 on the plan requested by Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Native American tribes. The agency said in the last several decades, billions of dollars have been spent on habitat restoration, fish passage at dams and other efforts in the three states to save 13 species of Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead protected under the Endangered Species Act.

But the California sea lions and Steller sea lions have learned that fish bunch up at dams and are easy to catch. “The changes in the system have created this sort of pinchpoint, where sea lions can take advantage of the fish,” said Michael Milstein, a spokesman for National Marine Fisheries Service.

About 900 California sea lions and 250 Steller sea lions could be killed each year, starting about 110 miles from the river’s mouth and extending 300 miles upstream. Experts say that sea lions in that area exclusively prey on salmon and steelhead.

The Wild Fish Conservancy, which works to recover and conserve wild fish, opposes killing sea lions. The group says that habitat destruction, dams and overharvest have far greater impacts. Killing sea lions “is a kind of scapegoating when there are a lot of other actions we are choosing not to do that would have a larger impact,” said Emma Helverson, spokeswoman for the group.

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The National Marine Fisheries Service already allows up to 92 California sea lions to be killed annually at Bonneville Dam, which is within the stretch of river in the new plan. The new plan expands the area where sea lions can be killed, allows tribes to take part in removing sea lions and adds Steller sea lions for removal.

Nearly all of the sea lions are males bulking up on fish before heading back to the Pacific Ocean and then to breeding grounds. California sea lions, which can weigh 1,000 pounds, are heading south to the Channel Islands of the California coast. Steller sea lions, which can reach 2,000 pounds, are heading north to breeding areas.

California sea lions number about 300,000 and the eastern population of Steller sea lions number about 52,000.

Neither population is listed as threatened or endangered.

Excerpted from Bay Area New Group 9/1/2019

Codornices Creek California Department of Fish & Wildlife biologist Sean Cochran and F5C board member Sheryl Drinkwater electrofishing.

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A Bit of a Stretch but...

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ood news! After the tragic poisoning of Codornices Creek due to fire retardant chemicals, every fish and fish egg appeared to be destroyed. In early September, CDFW electrofished four blocks of Codornices Creek.

In the two locations where trout historically lived (below Albina, below 10th) they/we saw three small trout in each block. A small population, but some survivors nonetheless.

We are all very happy.

A Letter to the Conversation Desk 9/15/2019 Dear Julie,

Did you know that it’s “Bristol Bay Salmon Week” in Washington, D.C.? Over 25 restaurants throughout the DC metro area will be serving up wild, Bristol Bay salmon. And just last night Senator Murkowski spoke at a Bristol Bay Salmon Week event in D.C.

At the event last night Senator Murkowski said, “I have said, along with all of you, that we should never pit one resource against another. And that if a mine cannot stand on its own, without negative impact to the fisheries resource, then that mine should not be permitted.”

This is one of the strongest statements we’ve heard from Senator Murkowski and that is thanks to you for helping to remind her of the value of Bristol Bay. But we still have a long road ahead.

With Congress back in session and leaders from Alaska and Bristol Bay spending the week in D.C., we need your support to make sure we can continue this work to educate as many people as possible about the impacts of Pebble Mine.

Can you help ensure Bristol Bay voices are heard in our nation’s capital?

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The clock is ticking on Pebble’s path to a permit. This is going to be a busy fall holding the line against Pebble. Can you help us?

FISHING THROWBACKS

Defend Bristol Bay 707 A Street Anchorage, AK 99502 United States VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES SPAWNERS - San Pablo Watershed Neighbors Education and Restoration Society During the week of October 7, you may join SPAWNERS for creek monitoring in West and Central Contra Costa County. The work will start around 9:30am and it usually takes 4-6 hours, depending on the number of sites to cover. Please let Julie Haselden know if you’re available to assist!

FRIENDS OF FIVE CREEKS - Friends of Five Creeks will have an Oct. 26 work party on Codornices Creek which runs along the Albany/Berkeley city border. You will join a group of UC students. Contact Julie Haselden for more info.

Fishing throwbacks is a new segment featuring vintage advertisements related to fishing. This month’s feature is Tuttle’s “Devil Bugs” from the March 1923 issue of Forest & Stream. We can only venture a guess as to how the company knows how they taste like bugs!

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News, Notes & Random Casts OCTOBER MEETING October 8th, Arlington Community Church Kensington, CA The october meeting will feature a special presentation from Mike Moran, the Supervising Naturalist of the Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta. Mike is a fascinating speaker who has an energetic and entertaining way of sharing interesting information. His presentation will focus on the Sacramento Delta and the fish that live within. He will also discuss the fish and wildflife in our East Bay Regional Park District.

Also attend this meeting for upcoming details regarding the annual club outing trip to the McCloud river for the October Caddis Hatch!

YUBA FEST, October 12 Sycamore Ranch County Park Browns Valley, CA Fly Fishing Traditions, Gold Country Fly Fishers, and the Northern California Council of Fly Fishers International, announce Yuba Fest 2019. The event is a celebration of the Yuba River and will take place at Sycamore Ranch County Park from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Yuba Fest is a gathering of people celebrating the Yuba River watershed. People passionate about fly fishing,

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conservation projects, education, and sharing a sense of community are invited to come.

“We’re very excited about the programs at Yuba Fest 2019,” said Clay Hash, Yuba Fest Chairman, Past President of Gold Country Fly Fishers, and owner of Fly Fishing Traditions.

“After spending time at our explorituorium like stations, people will have a basic understanding of fly fishing, the importance of conserving the Yuba River, and generally have a good time gathering with numerous community organizations. Yuba Fest advocates active stewardship, public education, and activism for the Yuba River watershed.”

“It’s a great opportunity for all fly fishers in our region to come together and celebrate the importance of our Sierra Nevada watersheds, including the Yuba River,” said Mark Rockwell, President of the Northern California Council, Fly Fishers International.

“Our support of this event fully supports the Council’s goal of bringing fly fishers together to have fun, celebrate our fly fishing sport, learn new methods to fish Sierra streams, and join with like minded people who love our sport.”

This free to the public event will bring together many conservation groups, numerous educators, and anglers of all experience levels and ages.

Some of the activities will include: • A Women Connect gathering for women fly

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fishers of all levels of experience; • a series of exploratorium like fly fishing stations for fly fishers of all ages and skill levels. No equipment or prior experience required.

• fly fishing casting instruction as well as chances to achieve a Fly Fishers International recognized bronze or silver casting credential; • fly tying demonstrations by expert fly tiers; • information about the organizations working to enhance and preserve the Yuba River watershed; and • a no-host after-party at the 1849 Brewing Company in Grass Valley starting at 5:30 PM featuring the local rock band NON-GMO.

For more information, see flyer at the end of the News, Notes & Random Casts or visit yubafest.blogspot.com

GPFF strongly encourages car pooling.

Contact the fishmaster at koths@sbcglobal.net to coordinate rides, or, more generally, if you have questions.

Look here for the fishout sheet a few weeks before the trip. Here are maps of the Conservancy, the river from the dam to Ah-DiNah, and the upper river loop.

October Caddis Outing October 24th - October 27th McCloud River, CA

Trout in the Opportunities

Our annual October Caddis outing.October 24 - 27, 2019 (Th-Su). Skill level - Intermediate to advanced(difficult terrain). Ah-Di-Nah Campground. Fishmaster - Kirston Koths.

The McCloud River is absolutely beautiful this time of year. And the fish love the big caddis flies that should be hatching, especially the migrating (big!) browns. Just cast near a the edges and watch your fly explode!

NOTE: This outing is located far from medical services, in a remote canyon where wading is difficult and injuries are not uncommon. This outing is a fun trip that will test (and hopefully improve) your angling skills, but it is not recommended for beginning anglers, those with limited wading skills, or people with health and fitness issues.

We will have a potluck dinner on Saturday night after sunset, followed by a campfire gathering with special activities.

High-Stick Euro-nymphing is most effective in waters such as these.

Classroom

Coaching

This is the time to become a Trout in the Classroom Coach. Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is GPFF’s main educational/charity function.

The aim of TIC is to create the next generation of river stewards from among elementary and middle school students.

Teachers are very enthusiastic about our TIC program and there is a waiting list of teachers to join. What keeps us from taking on more classrooms than we have (about 27) is a lack of GPFF volunteer coaches. Our coaches are the facilitators who spend 6-16 hours spread over the 12-16 weeks the program runs to bring the tanks and eggs to classrooms and to assist teachers as requested.

I invite you to become a coach. It will be good for kids, teachers, and the club, and good for you as well. To answer your questions or to volunteer feel free to contact me, David Garfin, at degarfin@sonic.net

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Casting Correctly from the Beginning...

With Mark Likos

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aybe like many of you, when I first got interested in fly fishing, I hit the internet consuming all I could find on the subject. There were hours of ‘expert’ casting videos. After swinging away through a multitude of instructional videos, I decided to try my new found casting technique on the water and headed to the local casting ponds.

I hadn’t really grasped the importance of ‘the loop’. I was totally focused on getting my fly to where I wanted it to go. I thought I was doing fairly well inside of thirty-five feet. Well, within that first hour on the water no less than seven ‘casters’ came up to give me pointers or tell me what I was doing wrong. Many of these wellmeaning casters had contradicting comments that did nothing but confuse my pursuit of casting excellence.

I left the casting ponds not to go back for a long time.

This brings me to the phenomenon of muscle memory. When a practiced movement is repeated over time, that movement, through repetition, becomes a long-term muscle memory created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort.

The problem I experienced in learning to cast correctly is that I acquired a number of bad habits that became muscle memory. It is much harder to unlearn something than to learn the correct way from the beginning.

Most of you might not have this challenge, because most of you don’t practice casting enough to experience the muscle memory phenomenon.

I’m suggesting to you, if you haven’t already, take a casting lesson or two and go back for a checkup from time to time to make sure you’re on the right track in your casting development.

Casting, in my opinion, is something you never master. It is something you hope to get better and better at over time.

If you don’t get out to practice, none of this matters. Learning to cast is like playing a musical instrument. Schedule your practice time regularly. I try to get out every day, if only for a few minutes. I leave a rig setup in the garage, so it’s ready to go when I find a few minutes to cast.

REMEMBER: Always cast to a target, better yet, varied targets.

If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to contact me at mlikos@ comcast.net -Mark Likos

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d

lou C c M The River

ue q i n AU hery s i F on b b i R -

Blue

: with ths Ko n o t s Kir

The McCloud outing is physically challenging - best for experienced fly fishers

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k, I’ll admit it. I love fishing the magnificent McCloud River, especially its fall run of huge brown trout that come up from Lake Shasta to spawn. GPFFers have been fishing the McCloud since the founding of the club in the early 80’s, and for some good reasons.

The Lower McCloud at Ah-Di-Nah has very challenging wading and is many miles away from paved roads, far from medical services, so it is best suited for intermediate and experienced fly fishers in good physical condition. This stretch of the river is chock-a-block full of big native rainbows and browns, and each October the club’s traditional McCloud outing is timed to coincide with the amazing October Caddis hatch. Fish with a heavily weighted nymph rig with October Caddis pupa patterns or a big Orange Stimulator on a dry line, and you may may be richly rewarded. Fly fishing guru Gary LaFontaine has stated that if he wants to catch a trophy trout, beefy October Caddis imitations are his favorite flies.

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The McCloud River, in the shadow of Mt. Shasta, is one of those rare watersheds that is significantly comprised of spring water. A major source of the river is Big Springs, which flows in at an impressive 700 cfs. This water is unbelievably pure, spending an average of 14 years underground before it sees daylight in the McCloud!

The McCloud was also the historic location of the most southerly range of the Bull Trout, a huge trout that can still be caught in Canada. After the building of the McCloud Reservoir dam in 1965 blocked the spawning grounds of the Bull Trout, it was extinct in California by 1976. It’s all part of the story that has drawn me back to the McCloud each fall for over 30 years. If you are an experienced, healthy fly fisher, join us on the club outing this year, and don’t miss the on-stream clinic on Saturday morning that will cover long-line and Euro-Nymphing techniques which are very effective on this river.

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September Highlights Reports by Mark Likos, Roger Wachtler & Brad Gee on Grizzly Peak’s Exceptionally Busy September

Editor’s Note: The Club has so many activities no member could participate in them all.

Nevertheless, no one wants to be left in the dark about what the Club is doing. This part of the Irideus is intended to bring you up to date.

Who knows, this year’s report on an event you missed might inspire you to participate next year.

Solano Stroll Reported by Mark Likos

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unday, September 8th I manned a booth at this year’s Solano Stroll. I’m not sure how long GPFF has participated in The Solano Stroll, but I know why. It’s the Bay Area’s largest street festival and has remained free since its inception! 230,000 strollers passed by our booth this year! An incredible opportunity for GPFF to interact directly with the public to introduce the benefits of GPFF membership.

Hats off and huge thank you to the GPFF booth crew this year; Gary Bard, Julie Haselden, Gary Templet, Eric Larsen, Linda Friedman, Kirston Koths, Dave Garvin, Scott Harrison and D’Arcy Richardson and Brad Gee. 2019 GPFF Open House reported by Mark Likos

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Dave Garfin discussing club benefits to a passerby while her kids are mesmerized by Kirston Koths tying a fly. - Photo by Mark Likos

he September 10th GPFF Open House immediately followed the Solano Stroll.

Like previous years, these events publicized the Club and brought us some new members.

Free hot dogs and soft drinks along with a room full of tabletop informational setups including a two man Fly Tying Exhibition, a demonstration of Knot Tying Magic, an introduction to Fly Fishing Fundamentals Education, a Tenkara Exhibit, and informational exhibits on Trout in the Classroom and Conservation attracted a nice crowd of first

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time visitors.

This year we added a raffle for new Open House visitors that included a new complete fly rig. An Echo 9’6”, 5 weight Fly Rod, Reel & Fly Line and a number of hand-tied leaders graciously supplied by Billy Jones. All of which generated new members in the first 3-days following these activities!

A BIG thank you to Linda Friedman, Dave Garvin, Gary Bard, Mark Likos, Kirston Koths, Zachary Wong, Leong Tam and Brad Gee for putting it all together.

(Above) Dave Garfin discussing the attributes of an aquarium in class. (Below) Gary Bard teaching visitors new efficient knots.

Photos by Mark Likos

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Casting for Recovery

by Roger Wachtler

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he annual Casting for Recovery retreat was held September 20 through 22, near Indian Creek Lodge on the Trinity River.

Casting for Recovery (CFR) provides healing outdoor retreats for women with breast cancer, at no cost to the participants. CFR’s retreats offer an opportunity for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life, and experience healing connections with other women and nature.

Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers has been a longtime supporter of this program which Rebecca Blair has championed since the beginning. This year there were two event staff coordinators -- Rebecca Blair and Belinda Wachtler—and three River Helpers --Linda Friedman, Lee Cohn and myself Roger Wachtler—from our club. River Helpers accompany their assigned student in the stream and coach them through every aspect of catching a trout. There were 14 recovering women this year.

The weather forecast for the Sunday I was to coach on the river called for a 50% chance of rain. How to make sure this day was a success?

I settled on research and reconnaissance. I arrived early the day before the event and got right to work. I drove to all the access points from Steel Bridge to the dam to observe what species were present. I saw many fresh adult salmon on redds up by the dam. I saw no adult steelhead on or below redds. I did see a fair number of the half-pounders some of which were rising. In the air I saw some mayflies and along the river there were grasshoppers. I did a bug study on the rocks and could see mayflies and a large number of case caddis almost ready to come out. In the evenings there was a large number of mayflies and the fish would go crazy for an hour before dark. I experimented with different flies and drifts and on Saturday and

This year’s volunteers & participants for Casting for Recovery - Photo by Roger Wachtler

caught eighteen fish. I was ready.

The women receive expert instruction on the art of fly fishing from the event coordinators throughout their inspirational three-day weekend and on the last day volunteer River Helpers from many fly fishing clubs and organizations assist the women for what is quite an anticipated moment of fly fishing. As River Helpers we always want to see our participant catch fish no matter what the challenge. We are also keen to impart the wisdom that catching fish is only a small part of fly fishing and that the understanding of the river and of nature itself is the prize. We talk about the life cycle of the insects, the power of observation, the amazing abilities of the fish and the unique characteristics of the river itself.

Well, on that morning of our special day my participant and I were quick to rig up and waded into a carefully selected position in the river in which I knew we had our best chance for a fish. Through my prior reconnaissance I knew we had the right fly, but would the fish gods be with us? Could we put all the intense training

by the staff together and make it happen? She made a few false casts and dropped the fly to the water out and across. As the fly drifted below us I heard a yell, “I got a fish, what do I do?” Those magic words! “Reel it up” is all I could say and in that moment I knew her day was made. Indeed, the fish gods were with us and it never did rain.

The end of this magical weekend is a lunch in which they say farewell to River Helpers, staff and fellow participants. Many

Their reward from the fish gods! - Photo by Roger Wachtler

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CFR River Helpers, participants and staff fishing on the Trinity - Photo by Roger Wachtler

share stories of someone dear....

CFR would like to thank to the Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers for all the volunteer support.

CFR would also like to thank GPFF for donating a rod and reel outfit for a raffle prize to one lucky participant. If you would like to know more about CFR, how to contribute or be a volunteer please see: https://castingforrecovery.org/ nca/ Bay Area Youth Fly Fishing.

Reported by Brad Gee Linda Friedman assisting with a knot - Photo by Roger Wachtler

Participants (and hopefully future fly fishers) learning the subtleties of casting - Photo by Brad Gee

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rom early Sunday morning until early afternoon on September 22, Gary Beard, Luong Tam and I were at the Oakland Casting Club helping the BAYFF instruct about 15 excited youngsters in the basics of fly casting.

There were three instructional stations: casting, knot tying, and conservation. Luong taught a Tenkara casting clinic with outfits he provided.

He also gave away string bags promoting the upcoming Pocket Ninja Tenkara rod.

The kids had a great time; some parents even participated in knot tying and casting.

OCC hosted the event and did a beautiful job of preparing the ponds for the participants.

Chris Korich, Dave Roche and Alison Tinney organized and executed the event. I am already looking forward to next year.

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GONE FISHIN’ Reports From the Field Clark Fork River Fatty

By Rebecca Blair

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or the third year nine women and I went to Montana to fish some legendary rivers. We mostly fished the Clark Fork River but we also sampled the Bitterroot and the Blackfoot.

We stayed at the Missoula River Lodge.

Lodging, food and guides were all top notch.

This is one of my most “posh” trips.

We caught lots of brown and cut throat trout and a few rainbow trout. Black ants were effective but my favorite was to fish with a grasshopper imitation. At one spot, my guide pointing to a large sunken branch said “No guts, no glory.” So I drifted my grasshopper fly about four inches from the branch. And BAM, a large brown trout took it. To keep him from wrapping around the branch I had to get him clear in a hurry. Thank goodness for 2x leaders.

Rebecca Blair’s spoils from her trip to the Clark Fork River. Time out on the river with friends is always better! - Photos by Rebecca Blair

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Fly Fishing in Poland 2019

By Loretta Strickland

T My nasce fish - Photo by Loretta Strickland

Froggie - Photo by Loretta Strickland

Baked Chicken Dinner - Photo by Loretta Strickland

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his was my second fly fishing trip to Poland.

My first is reported in the July 2018 Irideus.

This year I arrived three days before the fishing began so that I could see some of Krakow. Unlike Warsaw, which was 95% destroyed in WWII. Krakow was largely undamaged. Krakow is a beautiful city with one of the largest market

My hotel was a 10-minute walk from the old town area. For two days I toured mainly on foot and saw the Underground Museum, the Wawel Castle, the Galicia Jewish Museum and the History Land Museum. The History Land Museum had a most unusual exhibit of the Polish History done in Legos and scrap metal figures! Communication was fairly easy since most people under 40 speak English; signs and menus always included English.

On the third day I met up with the other five members of my fly-fishing group at the Krakow airport. Wojtek, the owner of Fly Fishing in Poland, met us at the airport and drove us about 2 ½ hours to our lodge and to the start of our five day/six night fishing trip.

A typical fishing day started with breakfast at 7am. Each morning we had a European style breakfast of sliced meats, cheeses, spreads, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with fresh bread from the local bakery.

Early risers had the option to start fishing at 4:30am until 6:30am. My friend Gail and I did that for three mornings. We were guided either by Wojtek, or his younger brother Maciej.

Fishing was great in the low light hours of the morning; I always caught fish. After breakfast, we all got into the van and headed for the day’s fishing spot. We usually started fishing around 8:30am. We mainly fished the Dunajcem River since the other river flows were either too high or muddy. The Dunajcem River is like the Lower Sacramento River in that there are many access points.

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Once at the river, we separated into a couple of groups, those who did not want to wade deep (like me) and the others. Unlike some of the more adventurous waders I did not fall in. We fished until noon and then had a lunch of either sandwiches or grilled sausages, cheeses, chips, pickles, fruit and dessert. Nobody went hungry. After lunch we fished from about 1:30 to 4:00.

Then it was back into the van to return to the lodge and get ready for dinner at 5 pm.

Dinners were delicious home-cooked three course meals that always included soup, a main course and dessert. We had stuffed cabbage, perogies, baked fish, and baked chicken as some of the main courses. Nobody went hungry.

Wojtek’s wife and mother cooked dinner so we were eating great home cooking. After dinner, we rested for about an hour before we went fishing again, usually 7 pm until about 8:30.

Being in Poland, I Polish nymphed during the day with an 11ft 3” 4 wt. fly rod for the first two days. This rod has a very flexible tip so I could easily feel the flies ticking on the river bottom. I liked the rod so much that I bought it. Others nymphed or fished dry flies with droppers. Each method caught fish.

Some evenings there was a hatch of small yellow mayflies. On the third day, I switched to

Dessert! - Photo by Loretta Strickland

streamer fishing with a 9wt fly rod with a fast sinking line using 2 streamers. Most of the fish were hooked on the larger point fly. I mainly caught brown trout including several over 20 inches, but did manage to catch a small nasce fish which was very rare. Several people in the group caught browns over 20 inches. Besides browns, others caught barbels and rainbows also. Huchen or Danube salmon, which are large member of the salmonid fish, were hooked but none were landed.

At the end of the trip, Wojtek drove us back to the airport. I would definitely do this trip again.

Cleawox Lake - Oregon Coast