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NEWSLETTER wmflyfishing.com

Established 1996 P.O. Box 2187, Pinetop, AZ 85935 February 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 We want to thank everyone who responded to the priorities survey, especially those of you who wrote your narrative

comments. To date 50 survey forms have been returned and processed for the numerical statistics and narrative suggestions. The survey information will require much more analyzing before we can start to draw some conclusions that can be implemented. We hope to get more public involvement in that process also. The survey indicates that we certainly have a diverse group, the study tally sheet looks like a target that was hit with a shotgun blast. It has the expected concentration of scores and a spray of outliers. This is not a survey where the highs and lows are thrown out; all scores will be given a share of the final total. Below is a brief account of how the data was collected and what steps are expected to complete the analysis.

The amount of Club involvement in fishing and non-fishing activities has been discussed in and out of board meeting

for the past two years. It was recognized that since there were not enough members (from over 140 total potential volunteers) engaged in completing tasks that priorities needed to be determined and the number of activities (over 40) reduced. At a board meeting a three-person committee was formed to develop a survey of the membership. Committee members submitted ideas and outlines which were merged into the final survey. The survey had two sections: one, an email with background and reference information (6 pages) and two, the survey form to be mailed out to all members (2 pages). Emails were sent to all members (99) for them to designate or update their current mailing addresses. Emails returned with ‘failed delivery’ were telephoned to update email addresses. Email address and mail address changes were made to the membership list which established the master mail address list. A group of 5 members prepared mail out sets, about 90 for mail and 10 for hand delivery. The email section (6 pages) was sent out (to 99) and mail out section mailed (90). Club self-addressed and stamped envelopes were provided. Mail out letters that were returned with “Insufficient Address” were contacted by email for current address updates. A second mailing was made to updated addresses.

Activity scores (0-5) on returned survey forms were dot tallied by activity (30 activities) and recorded on a tally

sheet. 50 survey forms were tallied with 1,412 total entries. Narrative comments written on individual survey forms were separated and summarized by activity (97 narrative comments). The tally was converted to numeric scores and weighted-average numeric scores were calculated for each activity. Activities were ranked according to weighted average scores.

Numeric and narrative summary tables will be emailed to all members with a call for comments. The Board of Directors and member volunteers will review the statistics, narrative comments and feedback and prepare a ranked list of a limited number of priorities for club administered activities. A protocol will be developed for conducting non-club-administered low-priority activities by individual members as private actions. That is the activity and plan to date, if you have any comments please contact me.

….……………. 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

General Monthly Meeting Minutes for January 15th, 2014…Submitted by Ellen Hofmann Meeting was held at the Lakeside Fire Station on January 15 and started at 6:30 pm with the Pledge of the Allegiance. Membership: Steve Hofmann introduced 2 new members: John Clark and Lee Everroad. “Captain” Bill Harris is still in the valley for medical treatment. Treasurer: Sparky Snyder gave a report of the current bank account balance. Newsletter: Anything you want in the newsletter contact Steve Hofmann. He can always use pictures from the outings. Outings Report: The Outing in January was at Show Low Lake. In February outing is scheduled for Fool Hollow Lake. We always need volunteers to pull the trailer. If interested, Contact John Stoner. Conservation: Gary Miller, chairman, not present and nothing new to report. Library: Gail Allgood not present. Dennis Jones explained to the new members the club library set up. Fly Tying: Rich Tesinsky, last years’ coordinator, will not do it this year so anyone interested in taking over contact Dennis Jones. Fly tying will start up again in March or April. We will be able to use the new vises this year.

Fly Swap: At this time there were not enough participants to start a fly swap.

Survey: The survey was mailed and maybe by next meeting we will be able to give information of the results.

On January 8th there was a Board Meeting and the following items were discussed.

- Ted Lambert informed the Board that the fishing tournament at X- Diamond Ranch was now going to cost $600 (was $500). The Board decided not to go to the X-Diamond Ranch but maybe do a lake competition or go to Silver Creek. No final decision was made at that time.

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- It was decided to pay the annual dues for the IFFF (International Federation of Fly Fishers).

- No membership renewal to the Chambers of Commerce of both Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside for 2014.

- WMFFC donated money to WMLF for aerators to be placed at Crescent Lake. At this time WMLF and AZF & G are testing one of the aerators at Bill’s Lake.

- The Troops boat “Float for the Fallen” needs the Waiver from revised: At this time it states in the waiver that the maximum flow rate is 3000 and the minimum flow rate is 480. Below above 3000 and below 480 it could not be used. It will be changed to a minimum of 350, but at that flow rate the boat will have to stay in Texas Hole. This year we are taking not more than 3 veterans to the San Juan River and they will be from Arizona.

- Our president talked about the possibility of a club sponsored swap meet in June or July.

-Some members had requested for midweek outing. No decision made.

-A 2014 Outing schedule was developed (see below)

-Troops first outing at the San Juan River: This year October 14-17 was designated as the dates. October 14 and 17 will be travel days and the fishing will take place October 15 and 16. Contact Bob Bowers for more info or if you want to volunteer.

Fish Tales: Fishing at Silver Creek was good.

The raffle followed and the business meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm. At that time our guest speaker, Lorraine Avenetti from AZ F&G, took the stage and showed a slide presentation about the local lake aquatic vegetation, insects and water quality. She talked approximately 45 minutes.

Meeting was adjourned at ~ 8:00 Pm

The Outings Schedule for 2014

Month Outing 2014 Alternative Lake

January Show Low Lake Silver Creek

February Fool’s Hollow Lake Becker Lake

March Horseshoe Cienega River Reservoir

April Hawley Lake Earl Park

May Becker Lake the 17th;

Christmas Tree 23rd & 24th 17th, Becker Best

June (Banquet) Becker Lake X Diamond

July Big Lake Reservation Lake

August Crescent Lake Reservation Lake

September Reservation Lake Big lake

October

San Juan River/Troops 1st

Oct. 14th - 17th Club Outing

Oct 14th-17th

November Sunrise Lake Horseshoe Lake

December Christmas Party NA

Weather and Forest Service Conditions permitting!

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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

The February 19th Speaker will be 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 service in the Circleville area. He will talk about fishing rivers, small streams and Lakes for wild Rainbow, Brown, Tiger, and Cutthroat trout.

Upcoming Programs:

March 19th: Mike Anderson, Native Trout Biologist AZF&G cancelled. Steve Hofmann from Show Low will fill in. Steve will give a power point presentation and short video on Fly Fishing the Cody area of Wyoming. This area has opportunities for Yellowstone Cutts, Browns, Cut-bows, and Brookies. (I.e. Cody is on the East entrance of Yellowstone NP and has a wide variety of fly fishing conditions).

April 15: Open

May: Phil Rowley of Fly Craft Angling in BC Canada will speak. Phil is a noted author, guide, instructor, seminar leader. 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.

The Recent Club Questionnaire: Results in Tabular format (Posted as Highest ranking: I.e. Number 1 is highest ranked, 29 is lowest ranked)

1 Monthly Meeting 11 Wounded Warriors 21 Rod Building

2 Newsletter 12 Christmas Party 22 Wt Mt Lakes Foundation

3 Guest Speakers 13 Casting Pond 23 Wildlife Cons. Council

4 Monthly Outings 14 Casting Lessons 24 Wt. Mt Apache Tribe

5 Annual Banquet 15 Cub Library 25 Fed. Fly Fishing

6 Fish tales 16 Silver Creek 26 Boy Scouts

7 Fly tying 17 Casting For Recovery 27 X-Diamond

8 Raffle & Club website was at tie

18 Project Healing Waters 28 C.A..S.A

9 Outing Potluck 19 Troops First 29 Chamber of Commerce

10 G&F Projects 20 Club Trips Away

The Board will be reviewing the statistics above and the write-in comments before any final decisions will be made.

………… January Outing Report ……………. This month’s outing was out Show Low Lake. Four people showed up at the boat docks. They were: Bob Bowers, Dennis Jones, Jaclyn Barton and her son, Brenden. Remember, Jaclyn was one of the women from recent Troup’s First fishing outing on the San Juan River. Jaclyn was always the one with the beaming smile. Although there was no ice on the lake, the winter fishing was reported to be tough going. Dennis was the only person reporting catching fish near the boat ramp. Jaclyn and her son are new to fly fishing, so Bob Bowers assisted her in learning how to cast a fly rod. Hopefully, we can get her some casting lessons at the fly casting pond.

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………… Fly Fishing Quote of the Month ……………. "If people concentrated on the really important things of life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." ~ Doug Larson

Notice about the April Lees Ferry Fishing trip. The total cost is $530.00 The First installment-payment is due at the February 19th Meeting. That amount is $265.00. The final installment is due is at the March 19th meeting. Remember, the $530 is for fishing guide service for 2 days and a double occupancy room for 3 nights. This cost is a steal considering the normal in-season cost guide service is $450 per day/2 angler.

The February Fly Fishing Question of the Month: “How do you play or land fish? I.e. do you ‘strip land’ hooked fish or do you use your reel drag system?” And if you use your reel drag system, how do you set the drag? I have not been a fly fisherman very long, but I have hired at least a dozen guides over the last 3 years and I have received varied answers. Some opinions will be aired next month.

An article on “What do trout see?” Why will a trout eat a fly that looks to us, mostly like a bare hook?” Hint: Think “negative match!”

This fly …. or this…… or this……… Etc.

However fussy trout might be at times about fly pattern and size, trout don’t seem concerned about the highly visible

hook bend and point. Why not?

Trout learn by experience. A mayfly or other intense hatch is a collection of quickly repeated experiences with identical

insects. Trout key in on that repeated identity, which allows for more efficient feeding because the trout’s brain is able

to establish a narrowly defined searching image. (I know I’m going through this pretty fast; bear with me.) That

searching image, as used in short-term feeding on dozens of identical blue-winged olive mayflies, for example, depends

on a series of positive matches made by the trout almost simultaneously. Right color. Right size. Right shape. And so on.

It does not for the most part depend on negative matches. A hook, something that’s not supposed to be there, would be

a negative match. The natural insects on which the trout has rapidly learned to selectively feed don’t have hooks. Hooks

are not part of the trout’s developed searching or matching image. Therefore, in grossly oversimplified form, trout don’t

care about the hook. There’s actually been quite a bit of technical research on this topic. If you want to search some of it

out, start with Neil Ringler’s work at Syracuse University. This article was written by John Merwin. This article was taken from “The Midcurrent website”. [http://midcurrent.com/flies/about-that-hook-what-do-trout-see/]

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New Member Recruiting in Alabama!!! Here are two new members from Enterprise, Alabama.

… Rylan Hofmann (3yrs old) gets a casting lesson. Rylan with casting coach and Dad (Flight instructor-USAF)

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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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