October 2014 The Angler’s Creel

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club

Promoting Knowledge of cold water fisheries, Volume 14 Issue 1 fish habitat, conservation and stream ecology

Roll casts from two Presidents’ desks: Past & Present

Upcoming Events October Clambake

Wednesday, October 15 DINNERS With Speaker: (For Reservations see page 3 & 4) Dr. Joe Koonce Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Speaker: Dr. Joe Koonce Past President: Phil Murphy 2014 President: Eric Baumann “Aquatic systems and fly fishing” Wednesday, November 19, 2014 This is my last cast for our newsletter. My Welcome back! I hope everyone had a sum- tour of duty as president has come to an end. mer of fun with plenty of time to fish your Tuck Scott Please welcome Eric Baumann as the new home waters, a favorite destination, places Wednesday, December 17, 2014 president of the CMNHTC. He will do a great close to the heart, or to explore new waters. job, and take the TC to greater levels. This is the first Roll Cast from my desk as Jerry Darkes your incoming President of the Trout Club of Wednesday, January 21, 2015 The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Thanks you to the senior members of the TC. Friday, February 6, 2015 Your commitment and contributions were Just around the corner is our traditional Film Festival greatly appreciated. To the newer members of Clambake Meeting on Wednesday, October the board, thanks for "Volunteering". I am 15th. Mr. Joseph Koonce, Emeritus Professor Wednesday, March 18, 2015 sure your future efforts will drive the TC fur- of Biology at Case Western Reserve Univer- Pat Dorsey ther. sity and father of Robert Koonce, CMNH Liaison to the Trout Club, will be our fea- Saturday, April 25, 2015 Over the last two years, our annual banquet tured speaker. Information on the dinner Banquet and film festival have raised close to $50,000. and program may be found elsewhere in this We have used these funds for development of newsletter. Outings & Classes our youth fishing program, contributions to Over the past two years, Phil Murphy, the the CMNH general fund, and are considering Trout Club Executive Committee, and the November 22, 2014 some streamside land acquisitions. Museum have been working together to es- tablish the Junior Trout Club for youth inter- Jr. Trout Club Outing Special thanks to Karen Menn. She is the glue ested in fly-fishing. Julia Swanson, Outdoor Rockwell Springs Trout Club that holds the CMNHTC together; and to Jock Education Coordinator provides an article Thompson—he patiently assembles this news- that appears in this issue of the Angler’s .

Continued on page 6 Fly Tying Classes Plan on attending our classes that start in January, bring a buddy. Details in CMNH “Tracks.” Native Brook Trout and Steelhead News

Wild Ohio Magazine — 2014 Winter Edition

The Ohio Division of Wildlife , in partnership with the Geauga Park District and many partners including the Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, initiated a cooperative research effort in the 1990’s to reintroduce the native Ohio Brook Trout back into headwater streams containing suitable habitat within their native range, primarily the drainage. An additional 15 streams were selected for stocking using offspring of the native Ohio strain. At the end of the 10 year project, 5 streams consistently demonstrated natural reproduction. Five streams showed natural reproduction and 6 did not. The Division of Wildlife has continued to monitor and has found only 7 remain viable. Our Trout Club is proud to have been a part of the valuable protection of this Ohio native fish.

Ohio Division of Wildlife Summit of Steelhead by George Klein Key items: 1. 10 year average of Steelhead stocking: Michigan: 66,052 Ontario: 35,666 Ohio: 435863 Pennsylvania: 1,112,988 New York: 275,627 Totals: 1,926,196 2. Peak fishing months: Ashtabula: January and February Chagrin River: December and March : April and May : September and October Rocky River: April and May 3. Ohio average stocking per year from 2006 to 2013: 400,000 4. Stocking history: 1988 to 1995: London fall fingerlings and London spring yearlings 1996 to 2012: Manistee fall fingerlings and Manistee spring yearlings 5. Target stocking numbers: Vermillion River: 55,000 Rocky River: 90,000 Chagrin River: 90,000 Grand River: 90,000 Conneaut Creek: 75,000 6. Ohio Division of Wildlife spent $585,000 to purchase approximately 4 miles of fishing access.

Pres. Baumann’s better half with an ANGLER’S LAMENT Ohio Steelhead

Let us go then you and I

To a place where I can cast a fly

Let us go while I’m still able

To wade and cast on the Au Sable

Let us go while I’m still itchin’

To do some skinny water fishin’

It’s in my blood and I am drawn

To fish again on the Big Horn Editors note: Norm Hyams is past president of the Trout Club and is a passionate fly tier and fisherman. Some sea- But it takes two hands and I have only one sons ago, my daughter and I were getting set up with a guide on the Madison River. In chatting away, I asked him if he And so my fishing days are done. knew Norm. “Stormin’ Normin’? I guided him in South

America last year.” We will be presenting in the coming --Norman Hyams, 2014 months Norm’s stories of his years of fly fishing. Jock October Clambake Featured Speaker: Dr. Joe Koonce “Aquatic systems and fly fishing” Wednesday, October 15, 2014 6:00 P.M. Cocktail Hour 7:00 P.M. Clambake with 2 dozen clams 7:30 P.M. Program

Dr. Joe Koonce is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at Case Western Reserve University. He received his A.B. Degree from Dartmouth College and M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in Zo- ology. He joined the faculty of the Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University in 1973 and re- tired as a Professor of Biology with a secondary appointment as Professor in the Department of Electrical Engi- neering and Computer and Science in July 2012. He also served as Chair of the Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University from 2000 to 2009.

He has broad research interests in aquatic systems ecology and has served on a number of boards and advisory committees for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the International Joint Commission, National Research Council, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His experience in undergraduate biology teaching and curriculum development includes service as a Program Director for CWRU’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant and recognition as a National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences in 2004-2005. Elected a SENCER Leadership Fellow in 2012, He is currently serving as a co-Director of the SENCER Center for Innova- tion—Great Lakes.

Reservations for Clambake and Dr. Joe Koonce

Call Karen Menn at (216) 231-4600 Ext. 3278. The cost of the Clambake and program is $45.00 payable to: CMNHTC. Send your check to: CMNHTC, Museum Of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval, Cleveland, Ohio 44106- 1767, Or: Go to CMNH.ORG, reserve at the museum store by: October 10, 2014 Name: ______M.Card, or Visa: Expires______Card #______Vcode ___ Street: ______Signature: ______City, State, Zip: ______Phone, Email: ______Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club Guest name: ______1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle Amount Enclosed or charged: $______Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767 CMNH.ORG

Hamilton Fisk Biggar III: Outdoorsman’s Life Exemplified the Co-existence of Man and Nature

By Evan Morse

Hamilton Fisk Biggar III (“Ham”) passed away at age 67 on May 22, 2014, surrounded by family at his home in Cleve- land Heights, Ohio. All those who knew him recognized his powerful presence, affability, and his lifelong attachment to the outdoors, and to nature in all of its kaleidoscopic phases.

The word nature has many different meanings, but for Ham, two aspects were particularly relevant. The word could re- fer to all the reality around us that is non-human (such as forests, rivers, glaciers, lakes, mountains and so on). However, we also refer to human nature when we take note of natural forces that function in and through human beings. It was precisely at the conjunction of nature in general, and human nature in particular, that Ham lived his whole life.

Ham’s way of life was probably voiced best in the memorable words of the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas:

“The force that through the green fuse drives the flower drives my green age… The force that drives the water through the rocks drives my red blood.”

These lines capture the interrelationship between human nature and nature in the world external to humans. Thomas was implying that the forces that provided the energy for the growth of a flower were in a sense the same as the energy that enabled his growth as a young person coming into his own in the world of humans. When Ham devoted his creative energy to activities such as founding the Conneaut Creek Club, wildlife photography, teaching children to appreciate activities in nature, and promoting conservation groups, he was giving practical expres- sion to the spirit of his reverence and devotion to the natural world.

Ham did not confine his activities to outdoorsmanship. He was also an accomplished athlete, excelling in baseball, golf, football and especially squash. Additionally, in business undertakings, he started The Mad Hatter, The Last Moving Pic- ture Company, the 13th Street Racquet Club and was co-owner of Drake Construction Company. On another level, Ham also served as President of the Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where he played a major role in inspiring the Club to focus heavily on local conservation issues. In each endeavor, Ham's zealousness and indomitable spirit steered these undertakings toward ordinarily unimagined heights. His untimely death may have ended his earthly activities, but in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, he will live on forever.

To the very end, Hamilton Fisk Biggar III epitomized a noble quote by Ernest Hemingway:

“From things that have happened and from things as they exist and from all things that you know and all those you cannot know, you make something through your invention that is not a true representation but a whole new thing truer than anything true and alive, and you make it alive, and if you make it well enough, you give it immortality…”

Tight lines, our comrade, as we toast you with a Myers and tonic! CMNH Trout Club Fall Outings

Junior Trout Club – Julia Swanson, Coordinator/Instructor

This year, eight interested young anglers (grades 5 through 8) will join the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s outdoor educators to form the Junior Trout Club. These eight youths will learn and practice fly fishing skills while building interest and knowledge of cold water fish habitat and stream ecology in North- east Ohio. This year-long membership consists of eight programs to be held throughout the 2014-2015 year and includes experienced instruction, transportation, fly fishing outfits, gear and supplies; all the things needed to get a good start in the artful sport of fly fishing. I would like to thank the Trout Club for sponsor- ing this fun and educational opportunity for our youth!

If you are or know of a youth who would like to become a member of the Junior Trout Club and learn the skills of fly fishing, please contact me at [email protected] or (216) 231-4600 ext. 3292. Our first meet- ing is Saturday, September 20th,

Members fish the world

Trout Club Members enjoy a spring morning fishing the Clear Fork near the Mohican State Park and Forest. Yes, that is a Brown Trout in Ohio. Presidents letters cont. Officers Advisory

Evalyn Gates, Ex Officio Past President’s letter cont, from page 1, President Eric Baumann Robert Koonce, CMNH Liaison letter, another thankless job. [email protected]

Vice President Sadly, we mourn the passing of Ham Biggar, He was a Tom Motimer, Gary Am- Charles Lanzieri past president of the TC, and actively contributed to our mendola, Mark Sudduth, [email protected] success and early survival. Evan Morse has prepared a Peter Wykoff, Peter Krembs tribute to Ham elsewhere in this newsletter. Treasurer John Bergfeld, Amos Crow- If you have any ideas for TC events, or would like to be TonyJelenic ley, Grace Smith, Rick God- more active—contact Eric Baumann. We are always [email protected] dard, Ray Rackley looking for talented participation. Secretary Don Kuzma May your lines always be tight, and your hooks sharp. Past Presidents See you on the stream. [email protected] Sibley Hoobler Phil Murphy Joseph Gladysz Committees Peter Wellman President’s letter cont. from page 1 John Wheeler Banquet Creel giving an overview of Junior Trout Club and how to Norm Hyams Eric Baumann, Jim DeCocker, become a member. Robert Colson Doug Henry, Phil Murphy Our annual banquet will be held, Saturday, April 25, Evan Morse 2015. This event is our primary fundraiser and always Membership / Film Festival Dennis Gant offers something for everyone. Please mark you calen- Amos Crowley, Don Kuzma, dar now so that you will not miss out on fabulous trips, Doug Henry, Woods King Ted Schurdell outings, art, and gift items for the fisher and non-fisher. Jake Ragan It is not too early to start planning you donation to this Contributions worthwhile effort. Funds raised from this event help Jon Grimm, Rick Cooper, Andy Ham Biggar fulfill our mission to promote knowledge of cold-water Kirkpatrick Mark Sudduth fisheries, fish habitat, conservation and stream ecology, Outings & Education which include our dinner meeting program, Junior Trout Austin Morrow Club and land acquisition to improve stream access. Bill Grake [email protected] Matt VanDeMotter The Executive Committee, resulting from Phil Murphy’s Program Peter Krembs tenure as President, is in reasonably good shape with Marty Burke Jock Thompson two changes occurring since last year. Don Kuzma will Social be serving as Secretary, leaving an opening on the Mem- George Klein bership/Film Festival Committee and Phil Murphy will Jim Negrelli, Ann Negrelli Andy Kirkpatrick be supporting the Banquet Committee as Co-Chair leav- Conservation: Doug Henry ing an opening for Banquet Chair. Please consider pro- Phil Murphy viding your support to a committee of your choosing Historian listed in the side bar of this newsletter; everyone brings Evan Morse something to the table. Trout Community Liason The Angler’s Creel newslet- ter is published for mem- Lastly and on a sad note, our good friend, outdoorsman, George Vosmik supporter and past president, Ham Biggar passed away bers of The Trout Club of in July. Newsletter The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. George Klein George Klein, Editor; Eric Baumann [email protected] Jock Thompson Jock Thompson, Co-editor [email protected] Editor; Karen Menn, Coor- dinating Liaison