“President’s Message” ( da last addition) by Tracy “Decoy” da Silva

2014 Board

Members

Tracy da Silva 229-9568

President

Rod Sanchez 809-7499

Vice President

Richard Wilson 758-5313

Treasure

Scott Naylor 214-3870

Secretary

Roger Caton 633-4659

Board Member

Mike Gilroy-(425)418-8164

Board Member

Chuck Humphreys

951-3454

———————————————

Rick McCombs (209)

267-8088

Newsletter Editor

Jay Jefferson– 809-0290

Mascot

FFLYLY TTIMESIMES

SALINAS VALLEY FLY FISHERS January 2015

President’s message 1

Fly of the Month 2

Monthly Program 3

Sponsors 3

Outing Schedule 3

Articles 4

Maps 5

Events 6

Inside this issue:

Annual Dinner Saturday, January 17th @ Balesteri’s restaurant. You got to be there!

Fine wine, great food. Fantastic prizes and wonderful people who all love fly fishing or love a person who does. It’s not too late!

Howdy Folks, and welcome

to the New Year!

I hope that 2015 has lots of

fun and fishing in store for all of us,

January is usually a bit of a lull in

the fishing world. With the warm

water species slowing down and go-

ing deep, it doesn’t make for par-

ticularly hot fishing, Although hav-

ing said that, I have to acknowledge

that some of those slow methodical

approaches can be successful this

time of year, Heavier flies and

weighted lines might just coax a bite

from one of those lunkers who are

hunkered down deep. The general

trout season is closed and with it the

majority of rivers and high moun-

tain lakes, but don’t forget that

California has many year round op-

tions,, including the steelhead and

salmon streams and many other

trout stream like the Merced that

have been opened to year round

fishing in the last few years. Just

watch the flow rates and play it safe.

2014 was a lot of fun for me

as your President, but it couldn’t

have been done without the rest of

the board helping me along. So,

thanks to you guys. We have a lot

of great things happening now on

the board and I hope that the mo-

mentum stays strong into 2015.

We have been working on creating

an annual budget to help us be-

come more aware of how the

club’s money comes and goes. We

are also reviewing the club by-

laws and looking to revamp and

update them to more accurately

represent the club’s current activi-

ties and responsibilities, etc. I am

very pleased to see three new faces

coming on the board next year, as

well. Mike recently e-mailed eve-

ryone a link to a survey that will

help us see what the club mem-

ber’s like, and dislike about our

meeting, speaker, raffles, etc. I

hope everyone was able to take the

surveys. Your feedback will help

us make the club more enjoyable

for everyone.

Finally, Don’t forget the

Annual Dinner! This Saturday,

January 17th At Balesteri’s.

See you all there - Tracy

Page 2 Fly Times

What’s going on in the world of fly fishing and tying?

Fly tying Jan 21st. Kings River Caddis

Wayne "Buz" Buszek created this fly in the 1950's while fishing the Kings River and trying to match the caddis fly

hatch that was taking place below Pine Flat Reservoir. Buz tied turkey wing by its tip to the front shank of the body

since the wing was more resistant to splitting in this manner. The hackle was undersized to enable the fly to sit low in

the water and keep the wing parallel to the surface. The success of the fly became well known during the 1960's when

Orvis included it in their catalog and many flyfishing books began to mention it. Buz maintained a flyfishing store in

Visalia, CA. The Federation of Fly Fishers honored Buz by creating the Buz Buszek Memorial Award in 1970 which is

awarded annually to an outstanding fly tyer demonstrating skill, innovation, and the sharing of knowledge in the art of

fly tying.

The Kings River Caddis works best on slow moving waters. It represents the spotted sedges, Hydropsyche, that Buz had

spotted on the Kings River below Pine Flat Reservoir.The pattern is also the basis of other Quill-Wing Caddis varia-

tions, sometimes referred to as "Tent Caddis" patterns. The Gray Quill-Wing Caddis is used for small grannoms and

brachycentridae. The Olive Quill-Wing Caddis represent gray sedges, Rhyacophila. A popular version, Tent Caddis, is

one that is commercially tied with the hackle clipped on top and the wing mounted over the hackle.

History of the Kings River Caddis

Hook: TMC 100 #12-18

Thread: Danville Brown 6/0

Body: Brown or Hare's Ear Raccoon. Most tiers now use rabbit.

Wing: Cinnamon Tip Turkey Wing segment

Hackle: Brown Hackle

Note: This month’s fly tying will feature one of the many

dry fly versions of the Caddis Fly. Bill Pside will be back

in the instructor’s seat to share his particular favorite. How

about you make a New Years resolutions to learn how to

tye flies this year. It’s a great hobby.

More Caddis Patterns

Elk Hair Caddis Partridge Caddis Emerger The Real Deal

Page 3

Salinas Valley Flyfishers**2014 Outing Schedule and Programs

Special thanks to Geoff Malloway for his ongoing support of the Salinas Valley Fly Fishers and for his many efforts on behalf of stream habitat and the preservation of the fish that we all seek to catch. Next time you’re out his way, stop by, wish him a happy New Year and buy a bunch of stuff. If Geoff

doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for in stock he’ll be happy to order it.

Geoff Malloway

Central Coast Fly Fishing

7172 Carmel Valley Rd.

Carmel, CA (626-6586)

January 17th. Annual Dinner Balestarie’s Laguna Seca Golf

Ranch

Tracy da Silva 229-9568

January 21st. Fly Tying Salinas Airport

Board Room

Caddis Fly

patterns

Bill Pshide

January 28th. Board meeting Landing Zone

@ the airport

All members

welcome

Tracy da Silva 229-9568

January Club Outing To be

announced

Feb 11th. General meeting Landing Zone

@ the airport

Rod Sanchez 809-7499

For all the latest info. in what’s happening in the wide world of fishing, go to:

salinasvalleyflyfishers.org

Upcoming Events

Salinas Valley Fly Fishers

Annual Dinner

Saturday, January 17th.

@

Balesteri’s

At the Laguna Golf Ranch

10520 York Rd.

off Highway

It’s not too late

Outing for 2015

Incoming club President Rod Sanchez has been busy

working with the board to concur up a whole host of

great outing possibilities for the upcoming year.

Here’s just a few thoughts on the subject The Truckee

area and Davis Lake for the first of June, Lake Al-

manor, Manzanita, the Trinity, along with Lewiston

lake. Goodwin Lake is a possibility with good acco-

madations and modest price, There’s also the Ameri-

can River for Shad and Stripers (this could be a nice

float trip in the spring. The Yuba proved to be a player

worth a replay last year and of coarse there’s all the

old haunts, San Luis, the Merced, the Kings, the Sac.

and how about the surf. Let Rod what you’d like and

let’s make it happen. ed.

Winter Nymphing Tips

Page 4 Fly Times

Winter is among the toughest times of year to catch trout in streams. Water temperatures are cold and a trout’s metabolism is

slow. Even though a fish doesn’t need to feed as much in cold weather, they will eat if given a chance. Fly fishing in the winter is

different than spring, summer, and fall. Nymphing skills are more important now than any other time of year. Here is our best ad-

vice for catching trout on nymphs in the winter.

1.Fish the middle of the Day – Fishing is rarely very good before 9:00 AM in December, January, and February. In fact, fish may

not be moving around much until 11:00 AM or noon. Trout will move most after water temperatures have risen a few degrees.

Aquatic insects also move around a little more when things warm up a bit and this gives the fish the best reason to clock into

work. Fishing often slows down by 3:30 or 4:00 but can continue to be good right up until dark on unseasonably warm days.

2. Choose the Water you Fish Wisely – Any angler who is skilled at reading the water will always outfish another who isn’t as

discriminating. This becomes even more important when fishing in the winter. Shallow riffles and long stretches of pocket water

don’t give up trout as generously in the winter as other seasons. Skip swift water lies in favor of slower flows. Trout move to the

swifter water when food is more plentiful, but lie in slower water when insects aren’t very active. One of the best spots is the point

where a shallow riffle transitions to deeper, slower water. Cast the fly into the riffle so it has time to sink and falls naturally into

the deeper water. Also keep an eye out for slow pockets in stretches of pocket water. Not all pockets will be productive, but some

might give you the best opportunity of the day. Patches of dead water framed by swift water are prime. Watch for stretches of wa-

ter that receive plenty of sunlight. Direct sunlight provides a little extra warmth to get both bugs and fish moving. We often spend

winter days chasing sunny spots and will occasionally find a few rising trout.

3. Plan Your Fishing Around the Weather – Most anglers fish when they can and squeeze a day into a busy schedule when pos-

sible. Keep an eye on the extended forecast during the winter months and try to hit the water on a day that will optimize your

chances for success. A string of cold nights with temperatures in the teens and daytime temperatures that struggle to rise into the

mid 30’s are sure to provide slow fishing. Water temperatures in freestone mountain streams will often plunge right down to the

freezing mark. This is sure to produce a “lockjaw” pandemic among the trout population. Trout are only marginally active when

the water gets below 40 degrees. We see the biggest activity swing between 40 and 42 degrees. Fishing is pretty good at 42 but

noticeably slower at 40. Get down to 38 or 39 and fishing is extremely slow. One of the best weather features to watch for in the

winter is a period of rain when the overnight temperatures stay in the 40’s or barely dip into the 30’s. A rainy 45 degree day brings

relatively warm water into a stream and can get fish and bugs moving. This can jump start a stream after a long cold snap and

even keep a stream warm for the first day after temperatures have made a sudden dip.

4. Use Split Shot – No other piece of equipment is as maligned by fly fishers as split shot. This is in spite of the fact that we find

it more useful than almost anything else in the winter. A $5 – $10 investment in split shot will go much further toward catching

trout in cold weather than a much pricier investment in rods or reels. We typically use shot in sizes 4, 6, or 8 depending on the

depth and velocity of the water. Pinch it on your tippet 6″ – 8″ above the fly or in between two nymphs tied as a dropper. This will

ensure that your flies sink to depth quickly. A fly that sinks quickly is a f

5. Use the Best Strike Indicator For the Job – Expect subtle takes from the fish. This requires a strike indicator that can support

the weight of heavy nymphs. If you use a strike indicator that sinks under the surface on every other drift you’re very likely to

miss a soft strike when a trout does eat. You might even realize it was a fish, only too late to get a good hook set.Yarn can be a

good choice but be sure it’s a big piece. Foam footballs and other indicators made from high floating materials are the best choice.

Sticky pinch-on indicators don’t allow for depth adjustment and are sometimes too small to float a heavy rig.ly that is in the strike

zone sooner and stays there longer.

6. Try Fishing Without a Strike Indicator – Many fly fishers are surprised to hear us say that no strike indicator might be the

best way to go. This isn’t a technique we recommend for inexperienced anglers, but those who are already skilled at high stick

nymphing with a strike indicator may be surprised at how effective this can be. Strike indicators place a limit on just how deep

your nymphs can go and might place a limit on just how effective you can be.Start out by trying this technique in slow pockets

with short casts. Be sure your rod tip is downstream of your nymphs. Use only the minimum amount of line necessary. There

should be no extra line on the water. Move your rod tip downstream at the same speed your nymphs drift in the current. Most fly

fishers are shocked at how obvious the strike is. Your leader and the short amount of fly line you are using will twitch or even

jump upstream. Another benefit is that you can actually feel your nymph bouncing along the bottom. Just a little practice with this

technique will make any fly fisher more effective with nymphs. More to come!

Salinas Valley Fly Fishers

It’s not too late to Join in on the Annual Dinner This Saturday

P.O Box 1793

Salinas, CA 93912

Editor: Rick McCombs

Email: rickmcfly@sbcglobal.net

"All You Need to Know"

Mailing Address Line 1 Mailing Address Line 2

Mailing Address Line 3

Mailing Address Line 4 Mailing Address Line 5

Annual SVFF Dinner

Balesteri’s

January 17th.

Board of Directors Meeting

at the Landing Zone Jan 28th @ 6:00

Fly Tying \ Wednesday, Jan 21st.

(Caddis patterns)

Salinas Airport

Board Room