Jim Rondoni President

623-363-3368

Brad Norgaard Vice President 602-670-9582

Alan Davis Secretary

925-785-5583

Don Mickus Treasurer

602-861-2021

R E E L L I N E SR E E L L I N E S Established 1962 www.azflycasters.org We support catch and release. August 2017

President’s Lines

Hello AFC members. The hot, hot month of July is in the rearview mirror. I call August, “You can see fall from here.” Our trip to the San Juan River with Chris and Fisheads San Juan River Lodge is right around the corner in October. There was some interesting news recently about the San Juan River. According to federal officials, a fish once widely known as the “salmon of the Southwest” is making a comeback. Scientists have verified that the Colorado pikeminnow is reproducing in the San Juan River and their offspring are surviving. The US Department of Fish and Wildlife Services counted more than 540 fish in the San Juan River last year. The Colorado pikeminnow lives in the river basins of the San Juan, Colorado, and Green Rivers. The name can be misleading. It is not a pike, and it is not small, despite being a minnow. It is the largest minnow in North America and can be up to six feet long! The Colorado pikeminnow’s decline has been attributed to human development, dams, diversion, and depleted water tables used for farming. It makes perfect sense that man caused the problems leading to the endangered species listing, because how can a freshwater fish that reaches a length of six feet have anything to worry about except its next meal? I can safely say the fish could eat whatever it wants. Okay, next item of business, AFC has four board positions to fill: Conservation Chair, Raffle Chair, Banquet Committee Chair, and Volunteer Coordinator. If you enjoy working with others and want to be more involved and help shape the future of AFC, we want you. Please talk to any board member or call or email me directly. My favorite quote this month: “For the rich there's therapy, for the rest of us there's fly fishing.” -Ken Marsh Enjoy August everyone and I’ll see you at the meeting. Jim Rondoni AFC President president@azflycasters.com, jrondoman@gmail.com

MISSION STATEMENT

The Arizona Flycasters Club is a non-profit tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to encourage, support, and educate its members and the community in the sport of fly fishing, the techniques of fly fishing, and the ethics of “catch and release” which promotes the conservation of fish and their habitats. The organization’s activities also encourage friendship, enjoyment, sportsmanship, and safety.

AFC is affiliated with the International Federation of Fly Fishers, an organization dedicated to the betterment of the sport of fly fishing through conservation, restoration, and education.

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SCHEDULE

August

5 2:00 PM AZSFWC Sportsmen’s Summit (Ben Avery Target Center) 10 7:00 PM General Meeting (Tracy Stephens, Native Trout and Chub Coordinator, AZGFD) (SSCC) 17 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 22 7:00 PM General Education Class (Big Bear Baetis/Pheasant Tail Ostrich Flies) (SSCC)

25-27 Woods Canyon Lake/Crawfish Outing

September 1, 5, 6, 11, 13, 7:00 PM Fly Tying Classes (SSCC) 18, 20, 25, 27 14 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 16 9:00 AM Casting Class (Steele Indian School Park) 19 5:00 PM Yogurtini NAU Scholarship Fundraiser (59th Ave/Thunderbird) 21 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC)

October 4, 11, 18, 25 9:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 12 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 14 9:00 AM Casting Class (Steele Indian School Park) 19 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC) 28-31 San Juan River Outing 30 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC)

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 9:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 9 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 11 9:00 AM Casting Class (Steele Indian School Park) 13 5:00 PM Yogurtini NAU Scholarship Fundraiser (59th Ave/Thunderbird) 14 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC)

16 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC)

December 6, 13, 20, 27 9:00 AM Weekly Casting Meet-Ups (Roadrunner Park) 14 7:00 PM General Meeting (SSCC) 16 9:00 AM Casting Class (Steele Indian School Park) 19 7:00 PM General Education Class (SSCC)

21 7:00 PM Board Meeting (SSCC)

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Tracy Stephens, Native Trout and Chub Coordinator, AZGFD General Meeting—Thursday, August 10, 7:00 PM

Sunnyslope Community Center John Doss, Programs Chair

Growing up in Wisconsin, Tracy spent her summers outside camping and fishing for walleye and crappie with her family. Time outside and great science teachers developed her interest in field biology. While attending college, Tracy worked seasonally in fisheries for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before landing a summer technician job with Wyoming Game and Fish Department. After receiving her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Tracy spent over 15 years working for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, primarily in the Jackson Region. As a regional fisheries biologist, Tracy was responsible for managing fisheries in the Snake River headwaters and worked with a variety of species, including Snake River cutthroat trout, Bluehead sucker, and Northern leatherside chub. Some of the projects she completed included a survey of alpine lakes in Grand Teton National Park, extensive drainage surveys of remote waters, and planning and implementing a chemical treatment project to remove non-native rainbow trout from a wilderness lake. She also organized the annual Jackson Kids Fishing Day, a free community event held every June. In March 2017, Tracy became the Native Trout and Chub Coordinator for AZGFD. Please join us on August 10 at 7:00 PM, when Tracy will be our guest speaker and update us on the Native Trout and Chub program. Tracy also will speak at the Zane Grey Trout Unlimited meeting at Bass Pro Shops on August 3 at 7:00 PM.

General Education Class—Big Bear Baetis and Pheasant Tail Ostrich Flies

Tuesday, August 22, 7:00 PM Sunnyslope Community Center

Ron Robinson, Education Chair

At this month’s class we will teach two of the best flies for lake fishing here in Arizona. One was developed by Bear Goode, a well-known guide on the San Juan, and the other by our very own Tim O’Brien. They are the Big Bear Baetis and Pheasant Tail Ostrich (PTO). I simply would not fish any Arizona lake without one of these tied behind my upper fly. In the evening, when you get that last surface feeding event of the day, you can't miss with a good dry fly and one of these tied on a trailing dropper fly. During the day, either is effective fished deeper with your favorite lead fly. Both are easy to tie and use common materials. The club will supply all the materials and tying equipment for those in need. This is a “don’t miss” class so make plans now to attend. We’ll be at the Sunnyslope Community Center on Tuesday, August 22, from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. Give Ron Robinson a call at 602-867-8820 with any questions.

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Club Outings Phil Koda, Outings Chair

Woods Canyon Lake/Crawfish Festival — August 25-27 From August 25 through 27, we will be at Woods Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim for our annual Crawfish Festival. The club has reserved Crook Group Campground Loop B. For those planning on spending the weekend, there will be a $25 camping fee. If you can't make it for the entire weekend, this outing makes a great day trip, as Woods Canyon Lake is only two hours northeast of the Valley. If you choose to come up for the day, the fee is $5 per carload. Space is limited. RV and improved tent sites are available. Sites can be reserved online at Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afc-crawdad-outing-woods-canyon-crook-campground-b-tickets-35022049894) or see me at the August 10 general meeting. As part of our annual tradition, we'll harvest crawfish from the lake and make the "mud bugs" taste like a shrimp cocktail. What they do to the aquatic environment is the bad news—the good news is they are delicious! We will do our best to eliminate as many crawfish as possible and feast on the bounty! To get to the campground, take Highway 87 out of Phoenix to Payson. Turn right (east) on Highway 260 out of Payson. When you reach the top of the Mogollon Rim, turn left on Forest Road 300 at the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff. Follow Forest Road 300 about 3 miles until you reach Forest Road 105 (entrance to Woods Canyon Lake). Turn right and immediately turn right again into the Crook Group Campground.

New Dates For San Juan River Outing: October 28-31 Due to a change in venue, the San Juan River outing has been moved to October 28 through 31 (four nights). We have reserved rooms and a breakfast buffet and Liars’ Banquet with Fisheads San Juan River Lodge. We secured 13 rooms for two people and two rooms for three people and a house which can sleep up to six people. We will begin collecting fees at the July 13 general meeting and will accept credit cards, checks, or cash. You also can mail checks to our post office box. The pricing is as follows: $324 for four nights lodging, four breakfast buffets, and Liars’ Banquet, $72 for four breakfast buffets only, and $36 for Liars’ Banquet only. All pricing includes taxes and tips. You must pay no later than the September 14 general meeting. Rooms will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afcs-annual-2017-san-juan-trip-registration-35143850202?aff=eac2.

“An Open Letter to Paul Finell”

Norm Johnson, Phoenix Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program Lead

Dear Paul: Thank you for the support you’ve given us over our 4 1/2 years — over 200 badges in three different styles. I greatly appreciate the patience you’ve shown when my own spelling errors caused me to ask you to make new badges. I also am grateful for your generosity, as I rarely have asked for 10 badges in the same style, which would reduce your personal expenditures. You are, I hope, aware of the impact your badges have on instilling a sense of belonging and recognition in our vets and volunteers. They are pleased and proud to receive them. Your personal contributions of time, expense, and commitment to our Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program are truly appreciated. Many thanks, Norm PHX-PHW Program Lead

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You are invited to join the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation for the 1st Annual Sportsmen’s Summit and Banquet. The Summit’s program will include updates about AZSFWC activities and issues, AZSFWC member and affiliate organizations, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Commission. After the program, there will be a social hour, followed by a ribeye steak dinner with all the fixings. After dinner, there will be a fundraiser with an auction, blitzes, bucket raffle, and silent auction.

ARIZONA SPORTSMEN FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 2017 SPORTSMEN’S SUMMIT

PROGRAM BEGINS AT 2:00 PM SATURDAY – AUGUST 5, 2017

BEN AVERY CLAY TARGET CENTER 5000 WEST CAREFREE HWY

PHOENIX, AZ 85086

INDIVIDUAL RESERVATIONS $25 TABLE OF 10 – $250

SUPPORTING TABLE OF 10 – $500 Includes $300 in Raffle Tickets Sponsorships are also available.

Please contact us at info@azsfwc.org for more information.

Join us for an afternoon and evening full of information and fun! See you there!

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Hornberg

Hook: 4xl streamer, size 6-10 Thread: 6/0 black Body: Flat silver tinsel Inner wing: Two yellow saddle hackle feathers Outer wing: Natural mallard flank Hackle: Grizzly saddle cock 1. Place the debarbed hook in the vise and start the thread just behind the eye of the hook. Tie in the silver tinsel and wrap it back to the bend and then back to the tie-in point, making sure the wraps are flat and even. Tie off the tinsel and trim the excess. 2. Select two yellow saddle hackle feathers that are the same size and straight. Trim them so they are about one and one-half the length of the hook and tie them in front of the body. 3. Select two mallard flank feathers that are straight and the same length as the yellow feathers. Tie them in at the same point as the yellow feathers, making sure they are straight and cover the yellow feathers. 4. Tie in the grizzly feather in front of the mallard feathers. Make many wraps around the shank of the hook, filling the space between the mallard feathers and the eye of the hook. Tie off the grizzly feather and trim the excess. Wrap a small, neat head, whip finish, and trim the excess.

Designed by Frank Hornberg in the 1920s during the golden age of fly tying, this “old school” trout pattern is quite versatile. It can represent a caddis or stonefly when fished dry, and then once downstream can be stripped and fished as a baitfish. The Hornberg probably is most often dead drifted with the current, then allowed to "swing" at the end of the drift and stripped back.

Board Members Jim Rondoni President 623-363-3368 president@azflycasters.com Brad Norgaard Vice President 602-670-9582 vp@azflycasters.com Alan Davis Secretary 925-785-5583 secretary@azflycasters.com Don Mickus Treasurer/NAU Scholarship 602-920-2350 treasurer@azflycasters.com John Doss Comm./Social Media Chair 623-229-8335 info@azflycasters.com John Doss Programs Chair 623-229-8335 speakers@azflycasters.com Barb and Brian Fayle Hospitality Co-Chairs 602-923-7870 hospitality@azflycasters.com Paul Finell Badges Chair 602-741-6563 badges@ azflycasters.com Chuck Howey Technology Chair 602-866-9495 it@azflycasters.com OPEN Raffle Chair raffle@azflycasters.com Norm Johnson Project Healing Waters 602-993-6524 phxphwff@azflycasters.com Phil Koda Outings Chair 602-620-2614 outings@azflycasters.com David Mayl Membership Chair 480-236-6757 membership@azflycasters.com Ron Robinson Education Chair 602-867-8820 education@azflycasters.com Ben Sheridan Special Events Chair and specialevents@azflycasters.com Youth Activities Chair 480-223-7815 youth@azflycasters.com Bob Sickles Librarian 602-953-3761 librarian@azflycasters.com Greg Stock IFFF Representative 623-824-6286 IFFF@azflycasters.com OPEN Conservation Chair conservation@azflycasters.com Toni Wallis Merchandise Chair 623-979-2465 merchandise@azflycasters.com Steve Nemecek Newsletter Editor 602-264-9224 newsletter@azflycasters.com

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Arizona Flycasters Club general meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the second Thursday of every month at the Sunnyslope Community Center. The Annual Banquet and Raffle is held in February or March. Watch for further details. The Arizona Flycasters Club newsletter is published by the Arizona Flycasters Club and is distributed to its members and advertisers. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the club. Advertisements are placed as a means of conveying the message of the advertisers. The Arizona Flycasters Club does not necessarily endorse the advertiser’s products or services.

Arizona Flycasters Club P.O. Box 47357 Phoenix, AZ 85068-7357 http://www.azflycasters.org

This space reserved for your name and address.

Next General Meeting:

Tracy Stephens

Native Trout and Chub Coordinator

AZGFD

Thursday

August 10, 2017

7:00 PM

Arizona Flycasters Club

P.O. Box 47357

Phoenix, AZ 85068-7357