January Meeting
The January 17th meeting of the Canandaigua Lake Chapter of Trout Unlimited will welcome John White from the new L.L. Bean store in Eastview Mall. John is a Fly Casting Instructor at the store and a new member of the Canandaigua Lake TU Chapter. The meeting begins at 730pm at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Building 5 Auditorium, 400 Fort Hill Avenue, Canandaigua, and is open to the public without charge. We all know many things about L.L. Bean, its quality merchandise and exceptional guarantee. L.L. Bean is also a strong Trout Unlimited supporter. John will fill in all the details, connecting L.L. Bean and fly fishing, the details of selecting this area for a store and even sharing current store expectations and results to date.
Please feel free to bring a friend (always welcome).
We will have our usual raffle.
So . . . Remember to bring dollars or flies!
Need directions the to VA Medical Center? Click directions
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Fly Tier Course ...
The Chapter is now taking reservations for its annual Fly Tying Course. The series of 8 classes will be held Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm at the Canandaigua YMCA beginning January 19, 2011.
The registration fee is $50 and covers instruction, materials and support by experienced fly tiers. Each week there will be a different guest instructor. Jerry Luzum, Course Chairman, said: “The guest fly tier approach has been proven valuable to provide a wide rand of techniques and tips for both the new and experienced fly tiers. Students who complete the class will have all the basic skills to tie any fly pattern.” The flies that are tied during the class are patterns that can be used in local streams. Class size is limited, so advance registration is required. For more information, contact Jerry Luzum at 585/396-1406 or by email, roni39@earthlink.net.
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Prez sez . .
Gerald Reinman is a new member to our Chapter; transferring in from Seth Green. he has been going to Alaska for several summers now and has rave reviews for the Goodnews River Lodge. This year, he is looking for a traveling partner. Please take a look below, For Sale/Help Wanted section, where he has posted information on this trip. Contact Gerry for more of the details.
The Fly Tying Course begins on Wednesday, January 19th. Our new location is at the Canandaigua YMCA and classes will begin at 7pm. It is not too late to sign up, so please contact Jerry Luzum to insure that you have a spot.
I'm goin' get ready for tax returns now.
~~ C
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Gear: Getting a Bang for Your Buck
Question: I started fly fishing for trout last year and really want to get into it this coming season. However, I don't have enough money to buy top-notch everything. What's the best way to spend the money I do have to get the most bang for my buck and have adequate gear?
Answer: The good news is that there is a ton of excellent gear in the mid-to-low price range. Focus the lion's share of your available funds on the essential pieces of equipment—rod, waders, and reel, in that order. Let's assume that you have $600 to work with, but you can use these ratios based on any starting amount.
The largest portion, say 1/3, should go toward purchasing the rod. That means you've got $200 to spend. Ten years ago, there were hardly any good fly rods to be had at this price, but over the last decade the offshore rods have improved immensely. For most of the large manufacturers, this price will get you their low-end rod, but that doesn't mean it's crap. These companies are trying to develop brand loyalty, so they give you a good product at the low end in hopes that when you're ready to trade up, you'll buy one of their fancier models. Other manufacturers specialize in this price range. Take the time to work with your local fly shop to find a rod that fits your casting stroke, and this will help you learn the sport faster and easier.
Next come the waders and wading boots.
You're obviously not in the market for the $600 all-the-bells-and-whistles
bombproof products. Instead, you'll want to focus on waders made from technology that's a few years older.
As companies bring new products to market, they usually shift the older ones down the price ladder. So the
$150 waders you can buy now were top-of-the-line five or six years ago. That means they're still pretty good.
You'll end up sacrificing some durability, breathability, and a few pockets. And maybe a zipper. But if you
tread carefully, they should last several seasons. You can find a comfortable pair of wading boots for around $100.
Based on where you live, I assume that you won't generally be casting to really large fish, so you won't need a reel that will stop a truck. High-tech disc drags using space-age polymers are neat, but most fly fishermen rarely get a trout on the reel in the first place. Don't spend more than $100.
That leaves you $50 for a floating fly line and some tippet material. Add a pair of nail clippers, and you're good to go.
The most important thing to remember is that no piece of fly-fishing gear is going to make you cast or fish better. Yes, good equipment makes the process easier or more comfortable, and there is definitely pleasure to be derived from a beautifully designed and built rod or reel. But never forget that, even if you had top-of-the line everything, Steve Rajeff could probably outcast and outfish you using a curtain rod and 100 feet of clothesline. No gear will substitute for skill.
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Combating the Cold
Winter officially started December 21, but don't let the shorter days ahead keep you from a great day of fishing in cold weather conditions. With available daylight hours at a premium, you'll want to make your time on the water as productive as possible.
Colder water and air temperatures mean that casting can become a chore – water collects on your rod guides and can quickly freeze over. At best, you may lose a fish due to the line being frozen in the guides. At worst, removing ice with gloved hands can cause breakage of the rod and/or guides.
Nothing is more frustrating than walking into a prime spot only to have this problem – so,
stock up on the air-activated hand warmers available at most fly shops or sporting goods stores.
Put them in your boots, pockets and keep a few extra to help with freezing guides. When your
guides are frozen, simply wrap one of the hand warmers around the guides to start the melting
process. Once you've started it melting, it'll be easier to remove all the ice with less risk
of accidental breakage.
When casting, try using a static amount of line. If you're streamer fishing, or bouncing nymphs, you can make the most of the run by using a set amount of line and thoroughly working the water, moving your feet a few steps every few casts. This keeps your body moving to stay warm and keeps your line from icing up while it's in the water.
Finally, wear layers. Two temperature-based layers followed by a wind and waterproof jacket will keep the cold out. And you'll find it less cumbersome to cast.
Winter fishing in cold conditions usually means you'll have the water to yourself – make
the most of your time by preparing your gear and enjoy the different conditions and tactics.
~~ Derek Young, Emerging Rivers Guide Service
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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For Sale / Help Wanted --
Goodnews River (Alaska) trip: I recently joined the Canandaigua Trout Unlimited. Last year I fished the Goodnews River in Alaska for silver salmon and found the fishing to be excellent. I plan to return to this lodge again this year and am looking for someone to join me.
The Goodnews River flows into the Bearing Sea above the Alaska tree line. There is only one lodge on the river and no commercial fishing.
The trip is fully guided with two fishermen in each boat with casting platforms in front and back to accommodate fly or spin casting. I caught at least thirty silver salmon per day and as many as forty some days in the ten to twelve pound range. I also caught a few king, sockeye, chum, and pinks, as they were near the end of their run. The accommodations are rustic but very comfortable, and the food is excellent.
This is a 6 ½ day fishing trip rated by ESPN TV as "the number one fishing spot in the world".
If you think you are interested, call me at 585-381-0496 before January 5th or call my cell, 585-200-9323, from January 5 – March 20. ~~ Gerald Reinman
10 weight outfit: Sage Xi2 9 foot, 10 weight. 4 pieces. Ross BG6 reel with extra spool. Retail is $630 rod, $415 reel, and $195 spool. Call Bob Mulcahy at 585/889-8591. Best offer.
Wanted: Someone who can help re-design the Chapter web pages. Please contact Jean Chaintreuil if interested: 585/360-1812, or by e-mail, jpc@travela.com. Knowledge of CCS very helpful.
Items For Sale: ???
E-mail jpc@travela.com with the details and we will list
your item(s) for sale.
How else can we say it?
It's a free Want Ad.
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Fly Fishing the Salmon River
The Salmon River located in Northern New York State is a tremendous fishery consisting of prolific runs of King and Coho Salmon as well as Steelhead and Brown trout from Lake Ontario. Flowing out of the Salmon River Reservoir, this dynamic river makes a 13 mile journey before emptying into Lake Ontario at Port Ontario. Pulaski is a renowned and popular town due to the Salmon River and its awesome fishery.
Depending upon water flows and temperatures, late August is generally the start of the fall run of King salmon. This enormous run of fish lasts till late October when the steelhead start their annual jaunt (water levels and other factors dictate when these fish begin and end their run). The King Salmon (also known as Chinook Salmon) are large, averaging twenty to thirty pounds. Fish to forty plus pounds have been caught.
Most of the fishermen during the salmon run use spinning outfits. Unlike Steelhead and Brown trout the King Salmon do not "take" as well. Although they are in the river to spawn and feeding is their last priority, these fish will strike out of aggression when they are fresh from the lake and have not seen many flies. Once the fish have been in for a long period of time they tend to not strike with the same aggression. There has been controversy about fishermen "lifting" salmon. "Lifting" is when they try to snag the fish, which is an unfortunate part of the entire Great Lake's fishery. Snagging has been outlawed and game wardens patrol the river to issue fines to anglers that are caught violating the rules that govern this fishery. Check all the Special Regulations before fishing. If you do not understand the regulations, there are many shops in the area that will explain them.
Another factor about the salmon run is the amount of fishermen it draws to the river. It is not uncommon to see anglers shoulder-to-shoulder for a hundred yards in a likely hole. A few popular fly patterns for the salmon are large krystal buggers, egg patterns, and estaz flies all tied on extra strong hooks.
Steelhead are what most fly fishermen come to the Salmon River for. The steelhead average eight to ten pounds and fish over twenty pounds have been caught. They can be in the river anytime from late September to May. There are also summer run steelhead called Skamania which are not as dependable but can be in the river during the summer months providing that water conditions allow it. Steelhead are very aggressive, especially from October to late November, because they are in the river to feed with the abundance of salmon eggs available and optimum water temperatures. This is also a good time for them, because the weather near the Great Lakes is still tolerable. Estaz flies, egg sucking leeches, woolly buggers, and yarn eggs work best this time of year. Winter Steelhead fishing from December through late February can be very productive and also very cold. Make sure to bring along plenty of warm clothing if you go. Temperatures will drop below zero and lake effect snow squalls can pop up at any time. At this time generic nymphs, small black stone fly nymphs, and small egg patterns work best. Remember that the winter fish tend to be more lethargic because of the extremely cold water temperatures. Fish slow and look for some of the softer seams where they do not have to fight strong currents. March through April is a good time for steelhead as well. Like the fall the weather is generally more tolerable then during the winter months. The fish at this time of year are generally less active then during the fall and are there more to spawn, although they will feed and the fishing can be excellent. Starting around late April and May the steelhead will drop out of the river back to the lake. This is a good time to fish for drop-backs that are extremely aggressive after spawning. They need to feed and will take dries, streamers and wet flies (spey flies) eagerly.
Coho Salmon, also known as Silver Salmon, can be in the river anytime during the fall from September to December. They are more aggressive then the King Salmon and will strike eagerly at a fly (especially the males). Cohos are hard fighting acrobatic fish similar to steelhead. Most people do not come to the Salmon River specifically for the coho salmon fishing, but come across them while fishing for other species.
Brown trout can also be in the river along with the Steelhead. The best time for browns is usually from late September to early December. The brown trout migrating into the Salmon River from Lake Ontario are very large averaging five to eight pounds and browns to fifteen plus pounds have been caught. Steelhead flies will work effectively on the brown trout.
The Salmon River is made up of churning pools, deep runs, riffles, glides, and pockets. The river bed is mostly slate and gravel and cleated waders are necessary to keep your footing. Water conditions on this river can change rapidly (within minutes) with the water releases used for generating power. If your not familiar with the water be smart and pay attention to changing conditions. The upper end of the river is made up mostly of deep pools and runs and is generally less swift. Below Route 81 the river picks up speed on its way to Lake Ontario. This area is made up mostly of hard pushing pools, glides, swift runs, and pockets. The upper end of the Salmon river near Altmar has two fly fishing only sections. Check the special regulations. Fishing in the vicinity of Altmar can be good since the fish tend to hold up well there. This area can also be very crowded so remember that the fish entering the Salmon River are migrating in from the lake and can be anywhere in the river. Below Altmar the river flows through pools such as School House, Wire, Ellis Cove, Trestle, Sportsman's, Compactor, Papermill, Ball Field, and Black Hole as well as many others. Below the Black Hole the river enters the Douglaston Salmon Run which is an area you need to purchase a permit in order to fish. This area is excellent and offers angling for fish fresh from the lake since it borders the mouth of the river. These fish tend to be less selective and will eagerly take a well presented pattern. Overall there is approximately 12 miles of very productive water to fish. Some areas tend to hold fish better then others but remember that they are migrating fish and have to get through one area in order to get to the next.
Access to the river is generally easy. There are numerous designated access points as well as other areas to pull over and fish. Routes 13, 11, 81, and 2 as well as other roads provide access to the river. Fish an area and move if your not successful. Sometimes its a matter of finding the fish. Other times it may be waiting for the water temperatures to warm enough for them to take. Either way be patient with the fishery. The opportunity is there to hook or catch a good number of large fish. If you put your time in you will most likely be largely rewarded!
The Salmon River is New York State is a famous fishery for migratory Salmon, Steelhead, and Brown Trout. Every year anglers flock to the river from all over to try their skills with these powerful acrobatic fish. Steelhead have been known to empty anglers reels in a heart throbbing battle to escape being caught within seconds. If you plan on coming to the Salmon River, it is within 5 driving hours of New York City and Montreal, located along the Southeastern shore of Lake Ontario. Many anglers come from all over the Northeast and Canada for the opportunity to catch a "fish of a lifetime."
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January 17, Chapter Meeting. L.L. Bean store now at Eastview.
January 19, Fly Tying Class, first meeting and the Canandaigua YMCA.
January 25, Healing Waters Project, 7pm.
February 21, Chapter Meeting. Loren Williams and USA Fly Fishing Team.
March 21, Chapter Meeting. Trout fishing in north central PA.
April 18, Chapter Meeting. Howard Beemer, fly fishing the West from a trailer.
May 16, Chapter Meeting. Jay Peck, Atlantic salmon fishing in Central NY.
June 20, Chapter Picnic. Canandaigua VFW.