Website: www.wffc.com MMXlll No. 6 June, 2013 During the outing to Chopaka I calculated President’s Riffle there was a storm with a 2.35 factor. See By 2013 President Mike Wearne how easy that was! Observations On another note, Carl Hiaasen will be reading I found a golf ball at Chopaka at the Central Library in Seattle on June 25th during the outing. I found it at 7:00. His new novel is Bad Monkey. within ten minutes of my arri- Hiaason was selected as the 2012 Angler of val. That allowed me to con- the Year by Fly Rod & Reel magazine. He is a centrate on fishing. I have regular columnist, with Dave Barry, at the found a golf ball in the campground area every Miami Herald. His books range from chil- time I have been to Chopaka! dren’s books, to non-fiction, to slightly crazy crime novels that are simply a hoot. One of I have made an application to the U S Weather the novels, Double Whammy, was about the Service for a grant. I hope my observations will professional bass fishing circuit. Hiaasen is a revolutionize storm weather measurement on a supporter of many causes, including Earth worldwide basis. I have developed a stormy Justice and Partners in Health, founded by weather measurement which is easy to measure, Dr. Paul Farmer. It should be an interesting and more importantly, is easy to understand. evening. The measurement is to be known as the I know I am repeating myself, but here goes. HLWMPSOSTATW factor. The measurement is To truly get the most out of the club I suggest pretty easy to calculate. The factor can go you attend one of the outings. Initially I from .10 to say 6.56. It is really a time measure- joined the WFFC with the intent of becoming ment. The whole number is the time in hours a better fly fisherman, practicing skills and and the decimal portion measures minutes. For techniques I learned from other members. I example “.10” is ten minutes and “6.56” is six have found that the best venue to accomplish hours and 56 minutes. The factor stands for this goal is on an outing. If you don’t finding “How Long Will Mark Pratt Stay on Shore to Avoid (Continued on page 2) the Wind”.For example we could refer to Sunday’s weather as a 1.34, and everyone would automati- Inside this Issue cally understand the weather conditions. Page 2……June Program While at Chopaka, during a rough period of Page 2……On the Fly weather, I observed Mark on shore having a beer (or two) and not fishing! I think if one were to Page 4…...July Outing (Leech Lk) measure how long Mark stayed Page 4…...Pontoon Boat ashore, there would be an illustration Page 4……Club Roster News of how nasty the weather we experi- Page 5/6...Fishing Reports enced. Page 7……WFFC Archives (Continued from page 1) Creel Notes an outing that meets your needs or requirements, develop one that works for you and invite the club! ...is the official publication of the Washington Fly Fishing Club. Sub- scription is free with membership. June Program Ron Tschetter Editor [email protected] Erik Skaaning President British Columbia Guide Mike Wearne [email protected] By Bob Burdick 1st Vice President (Membership) Eric Skaaning, from Hope BC, is going to be our speaker for next Ron Little [email protected] weeks June meeting. He is an energetic young man who guides on the Frazer, Pitt, Lillouet, Squamish, Thompson, and upper 2nd Vice President (Programs) Bob Burdick [email protected] Columbia, areas that are close to us but ones we hear little about. Erik was born and raised in the Fraser Valley, and been 3rd Vice President (Christmas Party) chasing everything that swims for as long as he can remember! Dick Robbins [email protected] Treasurer Dyche Kinder, and Dave Schorsch have fished with him and rave Don Barton [email protected] about hooking and landing salmon to 40 pounds. Secretary Gary Bergquist [email protected] His presentation will include pictures of cutthroat, chums, sil- vers, kings, trout, sockeye, and some stunning tailwalking pic- Ghillie 1 tures of sturgeon on the Fraser River (caught on something other Jim Macdonald [email protected] than flies). This will be a presentation you won’t want to miss. Ghillie 2 Ron Little [email protected] Erik will also be our fly tier for the June’s general meeting. Trustees Bob Young ‘11 Chapin Henry III ‘11 Don Schroder ’12 Gene Gudger ‘12 Roger Rohrbeck ‘13 Dave Hawkinson ‘13 Club Aims and Purposes ‘On the Fly’ May 21st 2013 By David Ehrich The purpose of this club shall be: 1. To improve and increase the sport Busy opening. Competing with my salty, but good Veal, were a of Fly Fishing in the State of wonderful number of guests, introduction of the Fly Tying Con- Washington. test by Pete Baird, an impassioned appeal by the Executive Di- 2. To promote and work for the bet- rector of the FFF, now known as the IFF, for us to rejoin the fold, even offering to wave the fee for the first year. Then, a recounting terment of trout streams and by Don Simonson of the history of the WFFC in regard to the lakes. FFF going back to 1939, as to why we might want to consider 3. To encourage and advocate the this offer. conservation and increase of trout, steelhead, and salmon in state wa- Fishing reports shared similar enthusiasm. Obviously, the boys ters. and girls of the club are sharpening their rods and heading out. 4. To promote a campaign of educa- Reports varied from 50+ fish days on Rock Creek in Montana, to tion against pollution in streams, Newhalem River Steelhead fishing, to windy conditions on Dry lakes or Sound waters of the Falls Lake. State of Washington. 5. To encourage and assist others — Interrupting the tone of self-satisfaction, President Mike Wearne particularly young persons of high then brought up Gil Nyerges for a rousing version of the old fa- school age—to become fly fishers and true conservationists. 2 vorite and a few Hoorays for lasting 92 years on Blue Creek, in Northern California. Avoiding this here old planet. politics, they look for "willing sellers" and hope to piece together a 47,000 acre purchase, look- Jim Cox, of Western Rivers Conservancy, took ing at an expected $17 million. The Klamath the podium to describe "Great Rivers of the system fills the third criteria, preserving cold West", but took first the privilege of his own water. Blue Creek, 16.1 miles up the river, is fishing report. Then succinctly describing and the first cold water salmon reach. Salmon head- promote the mission of WRC as that of protect- ing farther up the river, hold there an average of ing outstanding river systems of the West. Their 12 hours and reduce their body temperature by motto; "sometimes to save a river you have to an average of 8 degrees. In other words, without buy a river." After they identify crucial river sys- Blue Creek, salmon might not reach the upper tems, they acquire land to conserve critical river. habitat, provide public access, and then work with all available parties to arrange for steward- The final criteria is a no-brainer: great fishing. If ship of the river in the long run. salmon exist or can exist, then let's keep it and Working in 7 of 11 western states, Jim gave us then let's preserve it, and then, dang it, let's examples of some of the rivers they have chosen fish it! For example, they acquired critical land to conserve due to their intact ecosystems like around Three Dollar Bridge on the Madison Goose Creek in the Smith River system, the last River in Montana. Working with Trout Unlim- dam free river in California. Nason Creek got ited, they bought 4,400 acres with the help of protection in 2012, mostly for the benefit of Bull Orvis and anglers world wide. Trout. They bought 648 acres, helped close some logging roads and with help of the WDWF, John ended with their signature project, the returned the stream to its original bank. Re- John Day River, the longest free-flowing river in served from fishing for Bull Trout sanctuary, the USA outside the Yellowstone. The goal is to Nason Creek is now under the stewardship of purchase 16,114 acres to provide habitat for the National Forest System. steelhead, rafters and anglers world wide. Fit- ting all criteria, as the property came available, The next slide featured a local favorite, the WRC came in hard and fast using the generos- mighty Hoh. It fit another criteria, "Meaningful ity of low interest loans and the Oregon State scale and assemblages" which means signifi- Park system. cant lands available for sale or significant pub- lic land to round up. Fitting the latter, they John ended with WRC's favorite saying, "When went after critical adjoining acres from 2001 to we buy a river, it belongs to everyone." And as a 2009, competing with some big fish in the land side note, if you but a six-pack of Sierra Ne- ownership world. Working with the Hoh River vada's Wild river Series of beer in June, you can Trust, WRC has started a long process to re- help WRC earn $60,000. Give now, give often. store the river to its pristine state.