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NEWSLETTER wmflyfishing.com

Established 1996 P.O. Box 2187, Pinetop, AZ 85935 January 2014

WMFFC Mission Statement:

The Mission Statement of the White Mountain Fly Fishing Club is: “To assist in the development and maintenance of fly fishing opportunities and to promote and participate in fly fishing in its many forms." We support the practice of “Catch and Release.” We support the use of barbless hooks and harmless netting-and-release practices. Fish should never be held out of water for longer than you can hold your breath.

“Tight Lines” — President's Column

Our club is a team effort!

The Club is a volunteer-led organization and requires the combined support of the officers, chairpersons, members, volunteers, contributors, editors, affiliates, vendors, and mentors to keep this club operating at the level it does.

This entire group swings into action to provide the array of services that the club is noted for including fly tying classes, rod building seminars, casting instruction, fishing outings, conservation efforts, educational programs, health/service events, and social activities. It is the individual efforts of our volunteers that make this possible. We are a diverse group comprised of persons from a wide variety of backgrounds with many skills and abilities. With a family membership which maintains around 100 members, we have the possibility of having many of these talented people participating. We can only grow and become the best club possible based on the level of our members’ participation, however they choose to help. It’s up to all members to make the club the best it can be and we encourage everyone to participate in as many activities as possible. This club is for you, by you.

Dennis Jones, President

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2013-2014 WMFFC Board Members

President: Dennis Jones (928) 367-6124

Past-President: Bob Bowers (928) 367-5579

Vice President: Richard Dreyer (928) 368-3562

Secretary: Ellen Hofmann (602) 320-6388

Treasurer: Sparky Snyder (928)-521-0929

Board Member #1: Steve Hofmann (623) 262-7491

Board Member #2: Gary Miller (602) 439-3262

Board Member #3: Jaime DeZubeldia (928) 242-4386 Membership Chairman: Dick Davis (480)-220-4501 & Steve Hofmann backup (623) 262-7491 Conservation Chairman: Gary Miller (602) 439-3262

Newsletter Chairman: Steve Hofmann (623) 262-7491

Outings Chairman: John Stoner (928) 242-0325

The December Christmas Dinner Party was a huge success! See write-up and pictures at the end of the Newsletter!

January 15th Monthly Meeting- at 6:30PM – Lakeside Firehouse Agenda: - Social Hour – (5:30PM) (Buy your Raffle Tickets!!!) - Call to Order -- (6:30PM) - Pledge of Allegiance - Introduction of Guests and New Members - Committee Reports - Business & Raffle - Fish Tales - Speaker - January Outing: Show Low Lake ……. Meet in the Parking Lot above the lake at 10:00 am.

The January Speaker will be Lorraine Avenetti of the Arizona Game and Fish Dept. She will talk about local lake aquatic vegetation, insects, and water quality.

Upcoming Programs: February: Emmitt Doane from Circle Valley Anglers, Circleville, Utah. (Note: Circleville is ~25 miles north of Panguitch, UT on Highway 89) Emmitt is going to talk about his guide experiences in the Circleville area and fishing rivers, small streams and Lakes for wild Rainbow, Brown, Tiger, and Cutthroat trout.

March: Mike Anderson, Native Trout Biologist, will talk on native trout program and the “Triploid” rainbow trout.

April: Steve Hofmann from Show Low, Az. Steve will give a power point presentation and short video on Fly Fishing the Cody area of Wyoming for Yellowstone Cutts, Browns, Cut-bows, and Brookies. (I.e. Cody is on the East entrance of Yellowstone NP).

May: Phil Rowley of Fly Craft Angling in BC Canada will be our “honored” speaker. Phil is a noted author, guide, instructor, seminar leader and professional fly tyer. To Check out Phil’s credentials, go to his website at: www.flycraftangling.com/. More on what exactly he will talk about will be coming later.

Notice: The Club Questionnaire instructions and background info is coming your way shortly via e-mail. Then the actual survey will be delivered via US postal service. Please fill out it out and send it back to us with the enclosed self addressed envelope.

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…………Fly Fishing Quote of the Month ……………. "To go fishing is the chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish." ~ Herbert Hoover

NOTE: The International Sportsman’s Exposition is happening in Phoenix on February 20th-23rd. (http://www.sportsexpos.com/)

Location University of Phoenix Stadium 1 Cardinals Drive Glendale, AZ 85305

Tickets are $12 each (watch for discount coupons). Parking is free.

Look for ride sharing info at the February meeting.

Check the website for exact open and closing times, but typically 10 am to 6 pm.

The December Fly Fishing Question of the Month: “I don’t know anyone who fishes a double-taper line, but I notice that all the manufacturers make them.

Somebody must be buying them. What are they for?”

Answer: (remember there are really no right or wrong answers) First of all, what really is the physical difference between WF (Weight Forward) and Double taper (DT) fly lines? The following sketches and Tables are from the Rio website for Lt. Trout line specs: (All measurements in Feet).

Double Taper lines Spec Weight Forward Lines Spec

Line Size 5wt Line Size 5wt Tip 0.5 Tip 0.5 Rear Taper 9 Running Line 43.5 Rear Taper 2 11.5 Back Taper 5 Body 1 8 Body 1 22 Body 2 32 Front Taper 2 12 Body 3 8 Front Taper 1 7 Front Taper 2 11.5 Head 46.5 Front Taper 1 9 Tip 0.5 Line Total 90 Line Total 90 30ft Wt. 140 30ft Wt. 140

Those members who want a good discussion of the advantages of each type of fly line listed above; here are some links: http://www.sexyloops.com/articles/wfvsdt.shtml or http://midcurrent.com/experts/why-fish-double-taper-fly-lines/

However, one of the clubs more experienced fly fisher and fly line expert sent in the following response, which nicely sums what one will find on the internet.

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Dear Steve:

Years ago, when lines were sold by size such as "HCH" or "EAE" Double taper was THE THING (circa 1950). Each end of a fly

line was tapered the same. Each year you reversed the line and had several years of extra fishing with it. Lines used to wear

out. The materials, manufacturing techniques (entrapped bubbles, etc.) and the coatings we have today just did not exist. The

double taper concept did survive the modern weight forward line however. The double taper line appears to be is the perfect

type of taper for delicate casting and roll casting. I use a double taper line exclusively on both my 1 weight and also my 3

weight stream rod. I used to do a lot of crouching, creeping, and crawling around our streams. The double taper made soft

presentations of 15 to 30 feet an easily accomplished task. I also could roll cast on the follow up and put the fly right back

over the fish, many times with a better presentation than the original cast, where I was often more concerned with over

hanging trees and bushes than with making a perfect cast. I guess I kind of worked up a casting system where I would cast

more to put the fly on the water than to catch the fish, and then follow with a roll cast to drop it gently within strike range.

And if you damage your fly line on a sharp rock or car door, you can always reverse it. A properly proportioned tapered

leader plays an important part in this also. You will work out your own formula for that. Trial and modification are great

deciders in what works best for you and your rod. The basic formula is a bit longer than your rod, "except..." Sometimes in a

gin clear high mountain lake where the water appears to be air, you want a 12 or 15 foot leader (we do not have such lakes

here). Other times in turbid water with high flows and bad winds, 4 feet can be superfluous. M.S.

Another article on Fly Lines ….. Does color make a difference?By Terry Gunn of Lee’s Ferry Anglers

Some people are convinced that it is all about presentation, and line color has nothing to do with it. Here are my conclusions based upon more than 75,000 hours watching fish: In clear water, fish react to fly lines and shadows from lines, both on the water and in the air. ….The brighter the color, the stronger the reaction. ….The larger the diameter of line (fly line, leader, or tippet) the stronger the reaction. ….The reaction to line color and diameter diminishes with depth of water and turbidity. In other words, the deeper the water and murkier the water, the less fish react to line color and diameter. ….The color of line that causes the least reaction in fish is a neutral color. ….The line colors that creates the most reaction is bright florescent colors...orange, yellow, and reds.

The same holds true for strike indicators. The larger the size and the brightener the color, the more they spook fish. A large and bright “thingamabober” in deep water is fine, put it over a fish in skinny clear water and he is spooked. In skinny water go small and with a color that the fish see all the time...that is when I'll use green yarn and the smallest that I can get away with.

Note: Terry Gunn is owner and operator of the Lees Ferry Anglers guide service, lodge and fly shop. Look for Terry & Wendy’s new book: “50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish” coming soon via the internet or your favorite fly fishing store.

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The 2013 Christmas Party Pics

2013 WMFFC Christmas party was a great success. Great camaraderie, great door prizes, entertain games and a fantastic Location. The club thanks Bob Henry for arranging the party to be held at Torreon Cabin Restaurant. This facility turned out to be one of the best locations in many years. The following pictures tell it all.

………. .. The location … The Cozy Torreon Cabin Restaurant what a handsome group!

……. . Making costumes….. Looks like Santa’s elf……

…… Looks like Santa himself…….. The whole group of contestants….

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If you have an Ad or Article that you would like featured in the next Newsletter, please contact Steve Hofmann at 623-262-7491 or sdieseldoc@cableone.net

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