Payson Flycasters & TU Chapter 530 Newsletter

Issue 17 www.paysonflycasters.org www.gilatrout.org January 15, 2020  Happy New Year!

Remember the most common New Year’s resolutions I received in December. FISH MORE, TALK LESS. Need I say more. To help you implement that resolution, the club has a number of field trips to Tonto and the East Verde planned, plus look for announcements about trips to the San Juan, Silver Creek, and more in the January-June Schedule attached. Add in interesting programs and hey, what a club? Ought to double the dues.

Payson Flycasters’ Jan-June 2020 Calendar

January 25, Tiny’s: Fly Fishing Videos and Equipment Sales/SwapJanuary 30, Police Conference Room: Day 1 of Fly Tying 9am-11am (You can still sign up at Parks/Rec)Feb 6, 13, 20 More of the Fly Tying Class February 10, Middle School Classes BeginFeb 11, Elementary Classes Begin—Volunteers needed on April 21 & 28 and May 5 & 12 See sign up story below.February 29, Tiny’s: Trevor Nelson, Manager of Canyon Creek Hatchery March 12-19, San Juan River (check with Gary Altman for details)March 21, East Verde Field Trip—how to fish itMarch 28, Tiny’s: Jim Strogen on “Fishing Success Tips for Rim Country Streams”April 1, Silver Creek ClosesApril 4, Tonto Creek Field Trip—how to fish itApril 8, East Verde Field Trip—how to fish itApril 9, Tonto Creek Field Trip—how to fish itApril 18—Fly Fishing 101—Parks and Rec Sign Up

April 25, Tiny’s Jack Houck, Orvis Pro on Mountain Lakes May 9, Project Healing Waters at Green Valley Park.

May 16, Wildlife Fair Need Booth VolunteersMay 30, Annual Picnic at Green Valley—Curt Gill, AZGFD East Verde Update and Funtime casting practice.June 27, Tiny’s Lanyards, Fly Tying, and Knots

Lots and Lots of Flies Needed for Kids Program

Jim Strogen (and especially the kids) appreciate all of the donated flies tied by Club members each year for the kids in the JRE and RCMS Intro Fly Fishing classes.  The kids love getting their first dozen flies

from our Club members!

  They put them in fly boxes attached to their lanyards that they have made during an earlier session. We also provide them with

hemostats, clippers, tippet material, and license holder.The flies that work best for us at Green Valley lakes are: beadheads and unweighted flies in #12-16.  Patterns that we have had the greatest success with are black, red, green, brown zebra midges, pheasant tails,

prince nymphs, hares’ ears, and small woolly worms. I expect approximately 20 new students total from both schools. So ideally, we'll need 20 dozen flies for the kids.

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   The kids will start fishing in mid-April so the kids will put their flies in their fly boxes the week before.   Thanks for your help! Check the schedule to see when Jim needs coaches for the kids too. The above pictures are examples of the flies needed, but read Jim’s description above for more information.

Payson Parks and Recreation Fly Tying ClassBegins January 30 Taught by Jim Strogen

Catching a fish with a fly you tied is an amazing feeling! Join us for an interactive fly tying class for Fly Tying Beginners. This four week learning series starts with a look at aquatic insects that inspire fly patterns. These sessions will be an opportunity for participants to tie some basic wet and dry fly patterns that will catch fish in Green Valley Lake and Rim Country lakes and streams. You will be able to keep all the flies you tie and use them the next time you go fishing! Since the learning is progressive from one class to the next, it is important to plan to attend all four sessions. Class Dates *Revised*: (Thursdays) January 30, February 6, February 13 and February 20. Times: Payson Police Department Conference Room (303 N. Beeline Hwy) from 9am-11:00am Registration fee: $25 which includes materials fee. You will not need to bring anything to participate. Vises, hooks, and materials will be provided during the sessions. Registration Deadline for this class is Thursday, January 23rd; or until all 8 spots are filled. Register at www.paysonrimcountry.com or contact the Payson Parks, Recreation & Tourism Office for questions or additional information - 928-472-5110.

Fishing Trips Planned—Make Your Resolution Real

A number of people said they want to fish the San Juan, Lee’s Ferry and/or new waters. Chances you are not alone if that is your resolution, so let Dorothy Howell or better yet, let Deems Davis know that you are interested. We can try to match you up with someone. Always smart to go with someone who has been there. Here are two planned trips you can connect with.

Gary Altman and Larry Hess are heading to the San Juan on or about March 12-19. Call them or email them and they have the information on the campgrounds and motel lodging. They are both great, patient and helpful guys.

Idaho in August—Tom and Ric are planning a trip in August to trophy water near Idaho Falls. Former club member, Glen Whitlock has a beautiful home up that way and has been fishing a variety of beautiful streams. His place is an Airbnb with two bedrooms and bath. There are other accommodations around in the area as well. Its roughly 1.5 hours West of Yellowstone, so the area has lots of great water. Flights from Mesa were $84 one way when Tom checked on Allegiant. Extra Allegiant hint. If you have veteran on your driver’s license or have other proof, Allegiant will wave luggage fees and I think seat selection fees. Tom and I, and my wife and I have used Allegiant a number of times and they are safe and efficient. Contact Tom or Ric for more information.

Fall, Winter, and Early Spring Fishing in Rim Country by Jim Strogen

Don’t put your fishing gear away! Rim Country offers great fishing opportunities year-round, including during the fall, winter and early spring. The most convenient fishing is at the Green Valley Lakes. Besides the resident bluegills, crappies, and bass, the lakes are stocked every two weeks with trout from mid-October to mid-May. Although many of us release our catch, please remember that the Green Valley Lakes are part of the Community Fishing Program and the daily limit for trout is four fish.

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Wild Rainbow Trout caught by Joe Miller

I always look forward to late fall and early spring fishing at Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes for tiger and rainbow trout. As the water cools in the fall until the ice starts to form, these trout hungrily patrol the shoreline and are a blast to catch on a fly rod! Sometimes a wooly bugger is the ticket, while on other occasions a dry fly and a midge combination works well. They return to roam the shoreline in the spring after the ice thaws, so be sure to keep track of lake conditions and when the roads reopen to the lakes for some fun fishing for tigers. Winter conditions require additional safety precautions. Streams are often much deeper and colder, and flow quite quickly. The stream banks may be snow or ice covered, so please be careful when you are fishing. I do all that I can to avoid stepping in the creeks during the higher winter flows.

Tonto Creek in Winter—still holding fish

The advantage of these tougher conditions is that most people don’t bother to come out to fish the streams. I often have the whole stream to myself as I fish for hold-over rainbow trout. These rainbows have had several months to grow and become adjusted to stream life. Tonto Creek below the Horton Creek parking area also is a great place to target brown trout that have moved down from Horton Creek during higher winter flows. For much of the year, the last half mile of Horton Creek actually goes underground and is not connected to Tonto Creek. When heavy rains or snow melt occurs, the creek flows above ground to Tonto Creek and many brown trout are carried into Tonto Creek. Horton Creek has a healthy wild population of brown trout that is accessible all year. Horton Creek is under single barbless hook flies or artificial lure, catch and release regulation, but may be tougher to access in the winter or early spring if the water is high at the trail crossing near the start of the hike. I always make several trips to Silver Creek just north of Show Low to fish for Apache trout and some giant rainbow trout at this time of the year. This spring-fed creek is under special regulations from October 1 - March 31 when it is stocked with these big trout. During this time, it is only catch and release with single barbless hook lure or fly. No bait is permitted. This slow-moving creek is steep-banked in several locations,

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so a long-handled net is helpful to carefully land and release the fish unharmed.

Upper Christopher Creek and the Upper East Verde are fun at this time of year too. Both of these streams get quite skinny during the summer, but typically flow very well now. Upper Christopher has a great population of wild brown trout, while the Upper East Verde has small, but pretty, wild rainbows. The Upper East Verde is under the same restrictions as Horton Creek.

Stephanie Belvedere on Upper East Verde, March 2019

Canyon Creek is a possible destination depending on the condition of the dirt roads. The gate to the meadow section downstream from the OW Bride will be closed, so your better option might be heading to the upper section and fish upstream of the bridge near the Hatchery. This upper section is limited to four trout if you decide to keep any, while the lower section is strictly catch and release. Don’t forget to purchase your annual fishing license. I do that every January 1st online so that I don’t forget. Special Note: Please attend the Public Meeting on the Tonto NF Land Management Plan, including Water Resources here at Ranger Station in Payson on Wednesday Jan 22 at 5 pm.

Lee’s Ferry TU Raffle

The Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is sponsoring a raffle for a trip to Lees Ferry. 

The trip includes three nights lodging (double occupancy) and two days of guided float trips for two people with Lees Ferry Anglers and Cliff Dwellers Lodge. (Transportation, food and drink, and guide tips are not included.) The winning ticket will be drawn at the Native and Wild Trout conference in mid-April.   The certificate will expire one year from the date of the drawing.

The cost is $10 per ticket and only 400 tickets will be sold.

To purchase a ticket, mail your check with your name, address and phone number to: 

Neil Warner 2312 W. Cedar Ridge Road

Phoenix, AZ, 85085. 

Make checks payable to AZ TU Council.

Once your check is received, your ticket stubs will be mailed to you. Proceeds from the raffle will support our various TU projects and programs in Arizona.

Lees Ferry Anglers is Arizona's largest fly fishing outfitter and oldest fly shop at the crown of the Grand Canyon. Terry and

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Wendy Gunn are the founders and have been fly fishing all over the world.  Many thanks to Terry and Wendy for making this fundraiser possible in support of our conservation mission. 

Don't delay! You don't want to miss this opportunity to fish the Lees Ferry!

Recycling Is Back in Payson!Let’s stop sending these recyclables to the landfill—it’s almost full already!

Road Runner Rubbish pickup has a recycling program. $10 a month if you are a customer, $15 if you aren’t. Call them at 928-474-0603 to sign up or for more information. Or, join the over 100 Payson residents already signed up for twice monthly recycling pick up right from their driveway from Recyclops. Cans, plastics, paper and cardboard. Go to this web address and follow the prompts to signup. https://recyclops.com/locations/arizona/payson/

Tell your neighbors and friends. When 200 homes are signed up, Recyclops will email you to let you know when recycling begins. Recycling is only available to Larson Waste customers. If you aren’t already using Larson, the website can help you switch. Bag your recyclables No need to sort! Place them on the curb on your recycling day. They'll do the rest.They guarantee your recycling will be recycled and not

end up in the landfill!Customers love Recyclops all

over ArizonaWe’re so glad there is a recycling company in our town again. Recyclops has been great to work with and made recycling so easy. Shelley SchneiderNot a trout story, but we are all concerned about conservation, so I thought you might be interested in this. Just $12.50 a month!

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