April 2009 Newsletter

Fly Tying

TYING FLIES -- A QUIET, GENTLE SPORT

Frank McDonald is casting for stripers with his 6-weight fly-outfit.
Photo by Bob Gregorski

"The fly fisherman who knows nothing of his flies is as great an anachronism as the painter who knows nothing about his paints. More, he is a bad man in business.”
- J.W. Dunne.

The late J.W. Dunne was a well known British fly dresser who originated many May fly patterns and is the author of Sunshine and The Dry Fly. Izaak Walton and his book THE COMPLEAT ANGLER that was first published in 1653 is better known to anglers. “More Directions how to fish for, and how to make for the Trout an Artificial Minnow and Flies, with some Merriment" is the title of Walton’s chapter V. Most fly fisherman own a copy of one of the many editions of The Compleat Angler, at least one fly publication, an Orvis and L.L. Bean catalog, a collection of magazine articles, and a fly fishing video. If you fly fish for any of the following species: trout, Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon, steelhead, stripers, bluefish, false albacore, bonito, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish and pike, then you probably have a good supply of flies and an extensive collection of research materials.

In the two centuries that anglers have been flyfishing, a few thousand fly tiers created thousands of fly patterns. There are at least 10,000 different trout flies that attempt to replicate approximately 300 insects in the entomology listings for the trout food chain. The listing of Atlantic salmon flies exceeds 1600 patterns. And, the relatively new sports of steelhead and Pacific salmon fishing has quickly accumulated a roster of around 700 different "ties," then there are patterns for catching bass, sunfish, pike and many marine species including bluefish, striped bass, Atlantic bonito and false albacore. The catalog of freshwater flies includes at least 16,000 different "dressed hooks." The litany of fly- types for each fish species of grows daily. If you are a fly rodder and don't tie, you are missing one of the most satisfying aspects of fly fishing--catching a fish on a fly that you have tied. All "dressed-hook fishers" love to see a trout grab a floating fly; that's why some "wand wafters" become dry-fly purists.

Dry flies are meant to represent flies that float on or in the surface. Dries used for trout range in sizes 10 to 28. Here are most of the types of dries: fan winged, all-hackle, coffin, parachute, caddis, poppers, hoppers, Wulffs, irrestibles, elk wing, thorax, humpy, ants, midges, and gnats. There are too many dry flies to even suggest a starting list. You determine which dry flies should be in your fly box by the rivers and seasons you fish, and the fly sizes that are best for them. A novice fly-rodder should defer fishing dry flies until he/she has learned the rudiments of the sport.

Then there are a variety of wet flies; flies that do not float on the water’s surface. The types include: nymphs, wets (winged and hackle only), woolybuggers, bucktails, streamers, terrestrials and weighted flies. Novices can learn to fly fish more productively when using wet flies for any species or using tiny, foam floating flies for panfish.

There are flies that are used primarily in freshwater streams and rivers, lakes and ponds and in all types of saltwater environments. There are flies that are categorized by the species they are used to catch. They include: panfish, pike, black and calico bass, trout, striped bass, bluefish, bonito, false albacore, steelhead, Pacific salmon and Atlantic salmon.

Some forms of fly fishing are a form of art; a gentle sport with beauty in the casting. And, some forms of fly tying are a form of art with feathery beauty created on a hook. Tying classic Atlantic salmon flies is an art form. Men and women that are primarily fly fisherman and fly tiers are fascinated with classic salmon flies. Every classic salmon fly has its own history. The aesthetics fly materials and techniques are small works of art. Truly they were created originally by the old masters for fishing particular rivers and lochs. That began in the fifteenth century on a small scale. The evolution of the “classic salmon flies” grew more rapidly in the late 1700’s and has become a niche in the fly fish community worldwide. Hundreds of flies with names ranging alphabetically from The Barkworth to The Parson to The Rosy Dawn to The Wormald can be found in Classic Salmon Fly Books. They are strikingly beautiful.

Classic Atlantic Salmon Flies (CASF) are flies that were created and used initially to catch Atlantic salmon. Historically, CASF were anglers fishing Scottish rivers, Irish rivers and lochs, Welsh and English rivers tied flies. Note: The Gary of Loch Ness is a large salmon fly for the Loch Ness River.

Now these beautiful, meticulously tied flies are displayed in picture frames and under glass in domes. Most anglers admire the eye-pleasing composition of colors, not just fly fishers.

Flies

Three Rivers Park

Trout Unlimited VP’S Bob Perrella and Larry Wolff have been working to conserve fishing at Three Rivers Park in Woodbury,CT.

Fishing 2009
The DEP Fisheries Division personnel have been busy preparing the waters for the 2009 fishing seasons. Trout stocking started earlier this month, nets have been set at various locations in the state to trap brood-stock northern pike and trout and kokanee are being raised for stocking later in the tear. Here’s some information about what fisheries biologists objectives is and has been as reported by the DEP.

“The State of Connecticut has used fish-culture techniques to augment, enhance and/or restore populations of native and introduced fish species for over one hundred years. Currently, cultured salmonid species are brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, “tiger” trout (a brown trout/brook trout hybrid), Atlantic salmon and kokanee salmon (a landlocked form of the anadromous Pacific sockeye salmon). The DEP has established, and is currently expanding popular fisheries for walleye and northern pike by stocking fingerlings. The DEP also began a channel catfish stocking program in 2007. Anadromous clupeids (American shad and alewife) are being transplanted in efforts to restore runs.”

By looking back at the DEP 2008 reports, one may project what trout to expect in 2009 (with budgets pending).

TROUT: DEP stocks trout into waters that have suitable habitat and are open to public fishing. In 2008, the Inland Fisheries Division stocked a total of 719,200 adult and “specialty” trout in 201 rivers and streams and 103 lakes and ponds. Adult trout were 9-12 inches in length. Specialty trout are larger, generally in the 12-14 inch range, but some are larger including broodstock weighing 2-10 pounds. DEP also stocked 27,000 yearlings (7-9 inch trout), and over 398,000 fry and fingerlings (1-6 inch trout).

Newsletter Note: Newsletters will no longer be printed and sent via US Postal Service. They will be posted on the chapter’s web site at the end of each month. The deadline for submissions for the newsletter is the 25th of each month preceding the monthly meetings. Send all photos, stories and notices to Bob Gregorski at bobflybox@sbcglobal.net
Tinque Dam By-pass Update The DEP will be applying for Stimulus Package Money through NOAA for the Tingue Dam Bypass. The deadline is April 6th and it was told that there would be a quick turn-around with decisions. DEP Fisheries is optimistic that it will receive the funding. Let’s hope the money is granted.

	Membership Renewals: Recent changes have been made to TU's policy toward membership renewals. Individual chapters no longer receive a portion of each renewal. As such, please send renewals directly to TU national or renew on the website.