Spokane Women on the Fly spokanewomenonthefly@gmail.com www.spokanewomenonthefly.com Facebook Instagram

MONTHLY MEND

I was given the opportunity to speak on the Women’s

Panel “We’re No Longer Gatherer’s” at the 2015

Backcountry Hunter and Angler’s (BHA) Rendezvous. It

was a tremendous honor to be asked to discuss

Spokane Women on the Fly and how our group has been

so successful in getting women involved in the sport of

fly fishing.

The women’s panel was a diverse group of women; a

social scientist, a fly fisherwoman, an archery huntress,

and a hook and bullet daughter. We all had input of

our experiences with hunting and fishing including any

struggles or conquests of being a women in a mostly

man sport. Look for the blog post about the panel in

mid April at http://camoisthenewblack.com/

For more information about BHA checkout

https://www.backcountryhunters.org/.

Spokane Hosts the Backcountry Hunter and Angler’s Annual Rendezvous

Walk & Wade Fly Fishing Etiquette

The Inland Northwest mild winter has allowed the

rivers to be fishable earlier than years past. With this

means more people on the river. Here are a few

W&W Etiquette tips that will help make you take the

higher road when it comes to spending time on one

of our many rivers.

1. Keep as much distance as possible. Whether

you’re 2nd or 15th at the run it still means you

weren’t there first. If someone is fishing the

area that you want to fish, either wait for the

angler to move or move on to different water.

2. Don’t Creep. Be observant of what direction

the angler is traveling. Try to travel in the

same direction.

UPCOMING SPOKANE WOMEN ON THE FLY EVENTS

April –

Friday 4/3/15 6-9pm Fly Tying Evening

Monday 4/6/15 5-7pm Gear Set-Up & Casting Practice

Wednesday 4/8/15 Spokane Fly Fishers Extravaganza

Saturday 4/11/15 10am-2pm Beginner Fly Fishing Class

Sunday 4/12/15 All Day Walk & Wade

May –

Friday 5/8 6-9pm Fly Tying Evening

Thursday 5/14 5-7pm Gear Set-Up & Casting Practice

Saturday 5/30 10am-2pm Beginner Fly Fishing Class

Sunday 5/31 All Day Walk & Wade

3. Don’t walk through someone’s water. If you

need to move around someone who is fishing,

try to always walk behind the angler.

4. Dogs??? Unless you’re dog is able to stay by

your side and not running in and out of runs

or being distracted by other anglers, leave

your dog at home.

5. Pack it in, Pack it Out. We are very lucky to be

able to fish the public rivers, let’s take care of

them! Bring an extra bag with you to pick up

any trash you come upon.

6. When in doubt, talk to the angler. Be polite

and ask if it’s ok if you fish in an area next to an angler.

Apr i l 2015

Volume 4, I ssue 1

Please see Details on Upcoming Events on page 6

By Heather Hodson

By Heather Hodson

Heather’s Monthly Tip… Denny Richards is the Stillwater Guru. If you’d

like more information on how to Fly Fish

Stillwater, check out

http://www.flyfishingstillwaters.com/aboutdenny

.asp.

Page 2

Monthly Mend

Fly Fishing Stillwater 101

Basic Equipment Needed for Stillwater Fishing

A Floatation Device

o Rowboat, Pontoon or Float tube will aide

in catching fish.

o There are many lakes in our area that

can be fished by shore, contact your

local fly shop for details.

A Basic Fly Rod

o 5-7wt

o 9-10’ (10’ is preferred)

Fly Line

o Buy the best (most expensive) fly line

you can afford.

o Floating Line

Floating fly lines cover the shoal

zone, water between 2 to 20 feet

in depth, and are ideal for

presenting floating, emerging,

pupal, and nymphal imitations.

o Sink Tip

A slow or intermediate sinking is

a good line for fishing the

deeper parts of the shoal such

as water between 10 and 20 feet

deep.

This line allows slow

presentation of pupal and

nymphal patterns while

ascending at a gradual angle

towards the surface.

o Full Sinking Line

A fast or extra fast sinking line

provides good coverage of the

20 to 40 foot depth range and

is useful for fishing dragonfly

nymphs, leeches and shrimp

along the deeper edges of

drop-offs or retrieving flies up

the face of the drop-off.

Leader/Tippet

o It depends on what fly line your using

and your of Stillwater presentation.

o Chironomid’s

Floating Line

Long Leaders 3-4x, 10 to 15’

Strike Indicator and Weight

o Emerger/Nymph Patterns

Sink Tip

Leaders 3-4x, 3 to 7’

o Streamers

Full Sink Line

Leaders 3-4x, 3 to 7’

By Heather Hodson

5 Tips for Stillwater Success

1. Know Where the Trout Live

a. The most productive lake zone is the shoal.

2. Fish Subsurface

a. Most trout feeding takes place subsurface. A sink tip and full sink line is a must.

3. Window of Opportunity

a. Overcast or dark days or rippled water provide opportunities for trout to move into the shallows and

feed.

b. On windy days, the shoreline is a natural area to target because the waves churn up food sources and

trout will often move right into this frothy, muddy water.

4. Water Temperature

a. For most lakes that have rainbow trout, it is recommended to use a scale of 55F to 65F. When

temperatures are in this range the trout’s metabolism will be at its peak and it should be feeding.

5. Carry a Basic Selection of Flies

a. Insect hatches follow a seasonal sequence that typically begins with midges, followed by mayflies, then damselflies, caddis flies and lastly dragonflies.

http://www.fishingtips101.com/2007/05/mastering_the_basics_of_stillwater_fly_fishing.html

Page 3 Monthly Mend

Lakes have four different parts; the shoreline, the shoal,

the drop off and the deep zone.

Shoreline

The shoreline is a shallow area near the edge of

the lake. It is generally less than half a meter

deep. It is a very important area for a number of

water and land creatures because it offers quick

access to both land and water.

Shoal

The shoal is the area of a lake from the

shoreline to six meters deep. In many ways, this

is the most biologically interesting part of a

lake: it is where you will find most of the lake's

plants growing. Because the plants offer habitat

and shelter, it is also an area very rich in

insects, small animals and small birds. Small

fish also like to spend time here because they

can catch an easy meal.

Drop-Off

At the edge of the shoal is a place where the

water becomes deeper, often very quickly. This

is called the drop off zone, and it is usually 6 to

8 meters in depth. As the water becomes

deeper, less sunlight can get to the bottom,

and this is often where you will see the plants

stop growing.

Deep Water

Once you pass the drop off zone, you are into

deep water. Not a lot happens in the deep

water of the lake. Light cannot penetrate

enough for good plant growth, and fish stick to

areas where there are plants, because that's

where the insects are.

Basic Stillwater Fly Choices

By Heather Hodson

1. Wooly Bugger

a. Troll the Wooly Bugger slowly behind

your boat at a depth of a few feet to

down near the bottom at about 15-20

feet.

b. Also try to cast the Wooly Bugger and

retrieved slowly with frequent twitches.

2. Leech Pattern

a. Fish similar to the Wooly Bugger above

but try the high speed retrieval to invoke

a predatory attack.

b. Black is most common. Opt for darker

colors.

3. Nymphs

a. Fish under an indicator with an

intermediate line through weed beds.

b. Nymphs are more effective if retrieved

slowly.

c. Zug Bugs, Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails

4. Chironomids

a. Non-biting Midges

b. Fish on a floating line under an

indicator with weight.

c. Zebra Midge, Snowcone Chironomid,

Chan’s Chironomid

5. Dry Flies

a. Fish on a floating line.

b. Midge, Damselflies, Dragonflies

Callibaetis Mayfly

http://www.kidfish.bc.ca/our_lakes.htm

Lake Profile

Please see News on page 5

Page 4

Monthly Mend

Skwala Stonefly - are similar to salmonflies in appearance and habitat. The difference between a

Skawla and Salmonfly are the size and time of year they hatch. The skwalas are smaller in size and hatch

as early as March. Water temps play a huge role in the emergence of Skwala Stoneflies. Once the water

temps start to hit the mid 40’s you’ll see more skwala adults out. The afternoon and evenings are the best

times to see this stonefly.

How to identify a Skwala? The Skwala Stonefly is hard to miss. In its nymph stage it is mottled dark

brown. Once it has emerged as an adult it has a drab-olive body, a head with yellow markings and dark

wings.

Lifecycle of a Skwala – Skwala have three lifecycles; nymph, adult and spinner. It’s best to fish either the

nymph or adult stage.

Presentation – Fish your nymphs in the riffles, runs over rocky bottoms. The dry fly should be fished near

the bankwater, close to the foliage.

Skwala Nymph – Skwala nymphs live in riffles and fast, rocky runs. As the nymphs near maturity, they

migrate to slower (but not slow) water, usually within a hundred yards above or below a riffle.

Skwala Nymph Patters – Rubber Legs (Pat’s), Kaufmann’s Stonefly, Hare’s Ears

Size/Colors – #6-10 Brown, Olive

Skwala Adult – The adult

Skwala Patterns – Britten’s Skwala, Stimulator

Size/Colors - #6-10 Brown, Olive Wing: Brown

West Fly Fishing - http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/entomology/stonefly/skwala.shtml

Fly Fish USA - http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/march-brown-w.html

What’s Hatching...

Skwala – Nymph Skwala - Adult

Page 5 Monthly Mend

Where can I fish in April?

This winter the rivers are a good option earlier

than prior years. Here are a few fishing options in

April. Check out Silverbow’s Fishing Report for the

updated information.

http://www.silverbowflyshop.com/fishingreports

1. Area Lakes

It’s that time when the lakes in our area are

starting to open up.

Amber Lake

CoffeePot Lake

Fourth of July Lake

Hog Canyon Lake

Check out the WDFD file for fishing rules

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01590/w

dfw01590.pdf

2. Clark Fork (near St Regis)

Travel time is 2.5hrs.

The Clark Fork can be a great spring fishery.

Being the largest river in Montana by

volume, it can be a little intimidating to

walk and wade.

Head hunting can be a great option.

Bring an assortment of dry flies and

nymphs.

3. North Fork of the CDA River (Kingston ID)

Search for the slowest currents possible.

Streamers on a sink-tip or double nymph

rigs with split shot and an indicator are your

best bet.

By Heather Hodson

Newsletter Help!

What better way to learn more about the sport of Fly Fishing then to help with this newsletter. As our group

gets larger, I have more correspondence to respond to and less time to work on the newsletter. I’d really like a

few volunteers to help take over a couple sections. Want to learn more about Entomology? The “What’s

Hatching” page is up for grabs. I’d be more than happy to help give you ideas of what hatches to write about.

What about the “Where to Fish” column? That’s an easy one to take over? How about writing on a certain

subject or type of fishing? I’m open for suggestions and could really use some help! =)

Volunteers Needed for a Female Combat Vet Weekend Workshop – May 15th-16th…

Hilary Hart has asked for a couple women to help volunteer at a weekend retreat for female combat vets on a

ranch near Colbert. It is privately funded and draws from the local community. It is a campout, has food,

workshops, fire circles, and most of the women ride a huge truck in the Lilac parade as honored veterans. Until

recently there was a volunteer who led a fly fishing workshop. 1 - 5 women would probably be interested in fly

fishing. We would bring equipment. Very small expectations as these women are pretty fragile. Probably

casting, maybe fly tying. Not extensive, just a taste. Probably needs 1 - 2 volunteers, TU fly rods and vises,

materials. Contact Hilary Hart at hartinthewest@gmail.com or via cell phone 206-525-0741.

Trout Unlimited and Spokane Riverkeeper Volunteer Opportunities.

Lots of volunteer opportunities are starting to come up for the local Spokane Falls TU Chapter as well as the

Spokane Riverkeeper. April 4th – Spokane Falls TU Willow Planting. 8:30am.

http://www.meetup.com/Spokane-Falls-Trout-Unlimited/events/221200956/ April 11th - Hazel's Creek

wetland clean-up: pull weeds, clean-up and plant trees! 9am-12pm. April 25th - Cleaning from the Core: Litter

Pickup along Peaceful Valley Riverbank. 9am-11am. Check out for more information http://us1.campaign-

archive2.com/?u=4e8673d1180af1287e2b8f758&id=4617adf391&e=%5bUNIQID.

News

Page 6

Monthly Mend

Upcoming Event Details

April – Friday 4/3/15 6-9pm – Fly Tying Evening Heather’s House It’s the monthly tying event, we’ll be tying Hare’s Ears. Get ready for some dubbing practice! =) Saturday 4/4/15 8:30am-? – Spokane Falls TU Willow Planting For details see http://www.meetup.com/Spokane-Falls-Trout-Unlimited/events/221200956/ Monday 4/6/15 5-6:30pm Gear Set-Up and Casting Practice Audubon Park How do you become a better fly caster? You practice! This will be the 1st of two casting outings for the spring. Whether you have years of experience or have never picked up a fly rod, join us. Bring your gear if you have it and if not I'll have extra rods to practice with. Tuesday 4/7/15 6-8:30pm Trout Unlimited Meeting Longhorn BBQ (Valley Location) Social Hour 6-7pm, Meeting Starts at 7pm, Avista Spokane River Redband Presentation Wednesday 4/8/15 6-9 Spokane Fly Fishers Extravaganza St. Francis School Spokane Fly Fishers holds their annual Extravaganza during the April meeting every year. Representatives from Washington and Idaho Fish and Game, The Forest Service, Outfitters, Shops, Demonstration Fly Tiers and the Federation of Fly Fishers will all be there. Come represent Spokane Women on the Fly, meet others in the Fly Fishing community and learn more about the opportunites in our area. Saturday 4/11/15 10am-2pm – Beginner Women’s Fly Fishing Class Silverbow Fly Shop 1st of Four Women’s classes offered this year at Silverbow Fly Shop. The class discusses gear, knots, where to fish, what to look for, entamology and we finish the 4hr class with an hour of casting practice. SOLD OUT Sunday 4/12/15 8am-6pm Fishing Outing We’ll see what is fishing best during this time. Could be a Lake or River. Wednesday 4/15/15 7pm – 8:30pm Yakima River Headwaters TU Meeting The Brick Saloon, Roslyn WA Heather Hodson has been invited as the guest speaker to present on Spokane Women on the Fly.

May – Friday 5/8/15 6-9pm – Fly Tying Evening Heather’s House It’s the monthly tying event, we’ll be tying my “Rainbow Bright” pattern. Get ready for some dubbing practice! Thursday 5/14/15 5-6:30pm Gear Set-Up and Casting Practice Park to Be Determined How do you become a better fly caster? You practice! This will be the 2nd casting outing for the spring. Whether you have years of experience or have never picked up a fly rod, join us. Bring your gear if you have it and if not I'll have extra rods to practice with. Saturday 5/30/15 10am-2pm – Beginner Women’s Fly Fishing Class Silverbow Fly Shop 1st of Four Women’s classes offered this year at Silverbow Fly Shop. The class discusses gear, knots, where to fish, what to look for, entamology and we finish the 4hr class with an hour of casting practice. Sunday 5/31/15 8am-6pm Fishing Outing We’ll see what is fishing best during this time. Could be a Lake or River.

Spokane Women on the Fly Brag Page Cold Temperatures Don’t Stop the Ladies from Getting some River Therapy

Laurie’s Amber Lake Rainbow

Jodi had an Amazing Day on CoffeePot

Peg’s New Best Friend on CoffeePot

Lori on the Spokane River

Ashley with a Beautiful Westslope Cutthroat

Carol Hodson (mom) with her First Cutthroat