october/november 2015 presidents message /n ...hoaff.org/newsletters/nl2015-10.pdf · flick, in his...

October/November 2015 Across the Stream1

www.hoaff.org October/November 2015

OctOber/NOvember 2015

Hello fellow flyfishers. This will be my last presidents message to you all. My term will be up at the HOAFF Annual Winter Banquet at Bennett Springs. Want to thank you all for your support and the support of your club. During my tenure as president I have come to know our club members better and had the pleasure to fly fish and learn. I want to personally thank the Officers and Directors: Kevin Carrill (who was willing to take over the minutes at the Officers/Directors meetings as well as his present job as Conservation Chair), Pete Crissey (who mentored me during the presidency and filled in for my absence and has been our chef at the outings and the club picnics), Ron Carruthers (who is the treasurer/membership chair and kept me from dipping into the company funds), Chris Holman (President-Elect, who, I'm sure, will do a fine job), Carol Falkner (who continues to upgrade our library), Cliff Cain & John Bell (both gentlemen provided good monthly speakers for HOAFF), Bill Brandt (keeping our website updated; it's a hard job), Don Grundy & Dick Martin (Don & Dick are responsible for setting up great flyfishing speakers and tending to our guests during their stay for our Annual Spring Programs), Mark Borserine (who puts out the newsletter and does a tremendous job in setting up our Annual Auction plus other jobs Mark performs which are too numerous to mention here). Assisting Mark we have Paul Bowman and Paul Taylor who have graciously volulnteered to assist the officers and are helping and taking some of the load off Mark with the auction. And Jim Jorgenson who is a utility player assisting with the other officers to help our club be the best club. Lastly, I'd like to thank all who volunteer at our club functions and want to encourage each and everyone of you to volunteer. It is a tremendous opportunity to get to know other flyfisherman, make long lasting friendships (as I have) and to continue to learn more about fly fishing and the art of fly tying and especially to give back to the community by educating others about fly fishing, nature, and conservation efforts to save our natural resources. It has been a pleasure and and honor to have served you as president of Heart of America Flyfishers.

Presidents Message HOAFF MEETINGSOctober 19 – Member Meeting Community of Christ ChurchAnnual Auction

November 16 – Member Meeting Community of Christ Church John Bell & Cliff Cain, subject TBD

December 5 – Member Meeting Ollie’s BBQ & Steakhouse Lebanon MOAnnual Banquet

1326 Acacia Club Rd • Hollister, Mo 65672417-334-1005 • 866-362-1928

www.charteredwaters.com

www.AmatoBooks.com

Steve Hegstrom


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Crooked Creek CanoesJames C & Becky Walker1002 MC 4006Yellville, AR [email protected]

Thomas & Thomas413-475-3840info@thomasandthomas.comwww.thomasandthomas.com

President Steve Hegstrom913-677-4806 [email protected]

Past President Peet Crissey913-706-7299 [email protected]

Secretary Jim Jorgensen913-481-1129 [email protected]

Treasurer Ron Carruthers816-741-7251 [email protected]

Newsletter Mark Borserine913-381-0722 [email protected]

Programs John Bell913-484-9762 [email protected] Cain913-558-506 [email protected]

Outings Chris Holman913-244-0610 [email protected] Crissey913-706-7299 [email protected]

Membership Ron Carruthers816-741-7251 [email protected]

Conservation Chair Kevin Carril 913-362-9379 [email protected] John Bell

Web Master Bill Brant816-941-9691 [email protected]

Raffle/Auction Mark Borserine913-381-0722 [email protected]

Spring Programs Dick Martin816-781-9557 [email protected] Don Grundy816-781-9019 [email protected]

Event Coordinator Bill Brant816-941-9691 [email protected]

Library Carol Falkner816-453-8946 [email protected]

2015 OFFICERS

Of special note are the Lodging, Restaurant and Guided Trip Package from Cotter Trout Lodge: Cotter Trout Lodge – Jane Hatchet

• Lodging, Guide Service, Breakfast Package

And, the Holiday Light Tour for your whole family from Agenda KC!AGENDA KC

• 3 hr Holiday Light Tour in a 14 passenger Bus, between Thanksgiving and January 3rd

K & K Fly Fishers • Scientific Anglers GPX WF3F• Scientific Anglers GPX WF6F• Simms Headwaters Sling Pack• Simms Headwaters Stocking

Foot Waders Ladies XLS

Peet Crissey• Portable Depth Sounder System

s: “Hawkeye PF1000D, FF3355P

Doug Oatman 913-634-8163 www.oatmanphotograph.com

• Full-Dress Atlantic Salmon Fly, tied at K&K in demonstration

White River Trout Lodge, on the Narrows

• Certificate for 1 Night’s Lodging we purchase of 1 Night. 2 people in the upstairs unit

SAMPLER of HOAFF Annual Auction October 19th

3October/November 2015

Gaston’s WhiteRiver Resort1777 River RoadLakeview, AR 72642870-431-5202

www.gastons.com

“...it’s simply the best there is.”

Keith Gann Classic Bamboo Flyrods Custom Sheaths

Bamboo Display Rods and ReelsHandcrafted Knives Custom Fly Tying Tools

Bamboo Rods Restored and Repaired Vintage American Shotguns Cleaned

and RefurbishedOutdoor Books and [email protected] 913-299-960

www.moosecreekrodsandknives.com

MooseCreek Rods And Knives

Clockwise Fishpond Vest/Backpack, Simms Headwaters Sling Pack, Chest Pack

Donated by Rick Hafele at our Spring Seminar, Books, DVDS, the flies Rick tied

Orvis Hydros II Reel, Lakeland Large Arbor by Brytec, UK, ARC 99 WF5F, Rio Gold WF5F and ARC tippet

Wapsi Assortment, Jig hook flies by Paul Taylor, Assortment by Cameron Cipperoni Frying Pan Anglers, Multi-Level Fly Box, Wooden Presentation Hook Box, Dan Vise

Weaver’s at Bennett Spring• Buy one night lodging,

get one night free

Sand Spring• One Night Lodging in 4 person

unit w kitchenette

RIM SHOALS• Two Nights Lodging for Two in

single room Riverfront Cabin

Rick Hafele – Spring Seminar• Books• “Tactics for Trout”• “Nymph Fishing Rivers and

Streams”• DVD “Advanced Tactics for

Emergers and Dries”• DVD “Advanced Nymph

Fishing”

ORVIS Leawood• Hydros II Gold Large Arbor

Reel

RIO PRODUCTS• Rio Gold WF5F Fly Line

Moss/Gold

ARC FISHING• ARC 99 Fly Line WF5F• 3 pack 5x Leaders• 1 each: 5X fluorocarbon

tippet; 5X camo tippet; 5X fluoro coat tippet

Remember that our Annual Auction is our only fund raiser for the entire year – bring a friend and be generous. I want to thank you all for exceptional generosity last year in your bidding! Let’s have another great auction this year!


Bennett Spring State ParkConcession Shop

Jim RogersSchool of Fly Fishing

26248 Hwy 64A · Lebanon, MO 65536417-532-4307 · 1-800-334-6946

Fly Rods · ReelsNets · Waders

Tying Materials

11937 Hwy 64Lebanon, MO 65536

417-588-4334

Visit us for all your fishing needs

Wishes & Fishes Fly Shop627 Central Blvd PO Box 751 MailingBull Shoals, Ar 72619-0751Shop # 870-445-3848Cell # 870-404-8906 Fishing

http://theflyfishing-store.comhttp://flyfisharkansas.com

Chow Line

Monet and Ron MOWW characters

HOAFF Ladies entertain

Chris and Steve the chefs

Annual Picnic


Full line fly fishing shop and expert guide service

2626 State Hwy. 165Branson, MO 65616417.332.04601.877.699.FISH (3474)

www.riverrunoutfitters.com

Rainbow Fly ShopComplete selection of Rods, Reels and Lines

4621 S. Shank Dr.Independence, MO 64055Phone: (816)373-2283

PuzzleIt couldn’t have been planned any better. The weather was great – about 70 degrees, partly cloudy and light breeze. The water level was great, and after a little rain a couple of days earlier, the clarity was great – but not too clear. And, seasonally, the “sulphur” season with those mayflies was at its peak. All reports indicated they were in full “bloom”. Finally there was that awaited opening in the family activity schedules and I could get a few evening hours on the stream.

As time has moved on, I realize more and more the importance of anticipation in a fishing trip. If you are heading to familiar waters, you can relive the last few trips or a big one caught -- or missed. If headed to new waters, what will it be like? Maybe the last article in a fishing magazine sparked you interest, or did someone tell you of that secret spot? This trip was no different. I’ve fished Michigan’s Rogue River before – maybe for over 20 years. It has never been a big winner for me, but it is close to family, and I generally have been able to catch an evening or two when one of the grandkid’s soccer or hockey games doesn’t interfere. And, last fall, I caught 12 trout in about two hours, including a nice 13 inch brown. But, then, the browns had put on their pre-spawn hunger binge.

The Rogue has a very good population of aquatic insects, including many species of mayflies. There are stoneflys and caddis, too. In early June, it has a good hatch of the large “Hex” mayflies, hatching after dark, until maybe 2 in the morning. I’ve never done that. Just before these “Hex” show, there are the large brown drakes. And, in August the stream shows the “White Fly”. But, in late May, the sulphurs are the attraction. They follow the Hendricksons, which is the first major hatch in many streams east of the Rockies. But, there is a bit of complexity with the sulphurs – generally there are at

least two – and maybe three -- creamy-yellow mayfly species that choose this time to hatch. And to further confound the angler, they frequently do it together. I don’t know exactly how the trout keep them separate. But, they can sure confuse things when on the stream.

So, the sulphurs were out and I was already anticipating a great evening. I drove around a bit, looking at several spots. Other fishermen seemed to be anticipating this hatch, too. I guess the word gets around.

When I think of the sulphur hatch, I think of the Pale Evening Dun, a generally prolific mayfly that hatches late in the afternoon in the East. I can remember near “blizzard” hatches of this fly on the Battenkill in New York. So, naturally, I tied on a size 16 imitation, tied in the classic Catskill style. Art Flick, in his book, New Streamside Guide (Crown Publishers, N.Y., 1969), used a Light Cahill pattern for this hatch, and that is what my fly box held. The Light Cahill is perhaps one of my most productive dry flies.

There is a nice hole in a bend of the river just above a major highway bridge. As I approached the spot, yep, there were rises. Some were in the middle of the stream, a shallow spot, and some of greater interest, were near the far bank, including under overhanging branches. It was promising.

Fish in the Rogue see lots of fakes. Being close to a major population center, it gets plenty of pressure. And, there is a bit of boating activity on the stream in good weather. I was using a long leader, in anticipation of the fish being “picky”. I began working the fish in mid-stream,

By: Steve Jenkins

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Jann’s Netcraft3350 Briarfield BlvdMaumee, OH 43537419-868-8288www.jannsnetcraft.com

Jim TeenyPO Box 989Gresham, OR 97030503-667-6602www.jimteeny.com

Everharts Outdoor Store511 E. Hillcrest DriveClinton, MO 64736]660-885-4436

Rainbow Trout & Game RanchPO Box 100Rockbridge, MO [email protected]

although I could be certain they were small. However, none succumbed to my efforts. The current is stronger against the far bank, as it comes from around the bend on the right. Just beyond the tongue of current, nearer the bank, there were periodic rises – no rhythm, just sporadic rises. Casting into this spot, given the brush overhead and the current, was tricky. Maybe one out of six casts hit the mark, and I would get a few seconds of meaningful float before the fly began to drag. But, the fish didn’t seem to be interested. But, they weren’t put down, either.

Moving upstream, with a longer cast, I could reach the bend with the faster water coming in from the right. There was one rise noted. But, in trying to reach the “sweet spot” in the current, I caught a dangling branch – I should have been more careful. But, that fly was lost. And, upon inspection, a whole new tippet was needed. So, after a time-out for tackle repair, I tied on a size 14 Lt. Cahill dry. If the 16 didn’t work, maybe they were just looking for something larger on the plate. Being careful to miss the dangling branch, I finally managed to get the fly into the spot and promptly caught a 9 inch brown. But, that was it -- not another. And I worked that spot for a good 15 minutes. But, before wading back downstream, I switched flies to a blonde haystack, worked it for a few minutes and it found a tree branch. With some careful work, I retrieved it without tangling the leader. But, with the fly in hand, I tied on a different size of the haystack pattern. Well, that was not the answer, either.

There is good water around the bridge piers, and that has always been a productive area. Wading is difficult because of some limbs around the piers, and the current. But, there was a nice rise in a spot I finally could reach with a cast. And, after several attempts, the

fly reached the spot and the 11 in. brown took it with authority. I weaved it through the limbs and soon released it. By now, there were more rises, including upstream were I began, as well as around the piers. But, there were rises downstream, too. Downstream about 250 yards, the stream bends to the right, but above that, along the far bank there are some small, sheltered pockets around limbs and stumps. And, there were rises there, too. It was getting late, and for some reason, I only then began to pay the kind of attention to the flies that I should have from the beginning. So locked-in on the sulphur hatch, I really hadn’t even noticed. But, now observing, there were at least four different mayfly duns and two different mayfly spinners. Add two different caddis species, and one could only puzzle just what are these fish eating? In addition to the Pale Evening Dun and the Light Hendrickson (the sulphurs), there was a Light Cahill (a different specie) and the little Blue Wing Olive. Good grief, what is a fisherman to do? Now, at this hour, the duns were beginning to disappear.

Frequently, my “go-to” evening dry fly is the Ausable Wulff. I found a size 14 copy and replaced the haystack. This fly is particularly useful through the declining evening daylight because of its white wings. I put it into all the likely spots wading down to the next bend, but not a look. This bend was the spot that yielded the 13 in. brown last fall, and there were some rises. It did manage to fool a single rainbow, about 8 inches, and now it was too dark, and activity was waning.

With all these rises, and with all these different flies on the menu, what were these fish taking? Was there yet another fly that I hadn’t noticed? Were they only taking emergers, or nymphs? The haystack can be a good emerger pattern, at times. Well, such is the attraction of dry fly fishing for trout. Many articles have been written and whole books, as well. How many dry fly patterns have been fashioned because of the “What….” question? But, the puzzle goes on. May it never end!


The Humpy Dry Fly By: Steve Hegstrom

Hook: TMC 100BL size 10-18 Thread: UTC 70 Denier, color (tyers choice) Tail: Moose Hock Body: Natural Cow Elk Body Hair Wings: Tips of Body Hair Hackle: Brown and Grizzly Rooster Neck

The Humpy is a good attractor pattern with its elk hair body and wings and the heavy hackle makes it a great floater. It can be tied with any color. My favorite colors are green, red, tan and yellow. The Humpy was first popular in the West, where its buoyant deer-hair underbody,

Step 1 Attach thread to hook and build a thread base from the mid point to the bend.

Step 2 Cut, clean and stack a small clump of moose hock. Measure the hock against the shank so it is exactly equal to the length of the hook from the rear edge of the eye to the end of the bend.

Step 3 Tie the moose hock in at the bend and wrap forward over the butt ends to just behind the midpoint on the hook.

Step 4 Clip the butt ends off at this point and leave the thread hanging there.

Step 5 Cut, clean and stack a clump of elk body hair and measure it so it is exactly the length of the shank and tail combined. If you measured the tail correctly the total length of the elk hair will be exactly 2 hook shank lengths.

Step 6 Cut the butt ends off the elk hair at the two-shank lengths point and place the butt ends directly over the thread at the midpoint on the hook.

Step 7 Tie the very butt ends of the elk hair down with 2 or 3 very tight t urns of thread at the very end of the butts. Be sure these wraps don't creep forward and remain at the mind-point on the shank.

Step 8 Pull up on the rest of the elk hair and wrap the thread back over it to the bend of the hook. Make another couple of tight wraps at the bend to lock the hair in place. Be sure the thread wraps and the lock-down turns are all the way back to the base of the tail. You do not want any space between the elk hair and the tail.

Step 9 Build the "hump" portion of the body by wrapping a smooth thread bulge over the butt ends of the elk hair. Make this bulge relatively prominent as it is what forms the "hump" in a Humpy.

Step 10 Note that the front edge of the thread hump is squared off rather than tapered down to the hook shank. This will assure a clean wing tied down area.

Step 11 Pull the tips of the elk hair forward over the thread hump and give the hair a slight twist to help keep it gathered together. Make sure the hair stays on top of the thread hump and doesn't pull down around the hook.

Step 12 Make 3 or 4 tight turns of thread over the elk hair at the front edge of the hump and then continue wrapping forward over the elk hair to the 75% point on the shank. Again, be sure to keep the hair centered on the top of the hook shank, both in the portion that forms the body and the tips that will form the wings.

Step 13 Bring the thread in front of the tips of the elk hair (now the wings) and build a thread dam against ther base to stand the wings up at a ninety-degree angle.

Step 14 Divide the remaining elk hair into two equal bunches and make 3 or 4 diagonal wraps of thread from the back side of the near wing to the front edge of the far wing. Stop with the thread hanging in front of the wings and take a single thread turn around the shank before going on to the next step. Step 15 Now make 3 or 4 more diagonal wraps from the front of the near wing to the back of the far wing. Stop with the thread hanging behind the far wing.

Step 16 Post the far wing by wrapping the thread around the base of the elk hair, grouping it together into a unified bunch.

Step 17 Take a single wrap of thread around the shank before going on to the near wing and repeat the posting process on it.

Step 18 Bring the thread back to the front edge of the body.

Step 19 Prepare 2 brown and 1 grizzle hackle feathers by stripping the butt ends so the stripped quill is equal in length to the disance from the front edge of the body to the rear edge of the index point (one eye length back from the hook eye). Step 20 Tie the hackles in starting at the front edge of the body and wrap forward over them to hook eye.

Step 21 Begin wrapping the hackles, all at the same time, with at least 3 turns behind the wings. Step 22 Then cross to the front of the wings, (on the underside of the hook) and continue wrapping with at least 3 more turns to the hook eye. Step 23 Tie off the hackle feathers and trim the excess. Build a smooth thread head and whip finish. Step 24 Lastly I will take a small dab of epoxy (you can use super glue, flexament or other non-tacky glue) and coat the shell back to keep the elk hair hump from splitting or breaking.

shellback, and wings kept it floating high in large, fast, rough-and-tumble rivers. Its floatability maks the Humpy an ideal top fly for a hopper-dropper rig. It can also be fished in heavy riffles, pocket water, slick runs, and stillwaters. The Humpy was first tied with yellow floss or thread and it was theorized that the yellow color is a trigger for fish used to feeding onPMDs, Golden Stones, Yellow Stones and hoppers. And the body of the Humpy can include thread, floss, dubbing , peacock, and fine yarn. One modification you can use is substituting foam for the shellback which increases the durability of the fly. I'll tell you how to tie a Foam Back Thorax Hackle Humpy in the next HOAFF January/February newsletter.

Heart of America Fly FishersP.O. Box 731Shawnee Mission, KS 66201

October 19 – Annual Auction Community of Christ Church Annual Auction November 16 – Member Meeting Community of Christ Church John Bell & Cliff Cain, subject TBD December 4,5,6 – Annual Winter Outing Bennett Spring Cookout – Sat 5th at Spring Shelter

UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

october/november 2015 presidents message /n ...hoaff.org/newsletters/nl2015-10.pdf · flick, in his...

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