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March is here, and thus marks
the end of Steelhead season, not that
we had much of a "season" here on
the Central Coast. Those who trav-
eled north got some fish, but overall
the weather and water has made it
tough on the noble Steelhead. But
hey, at least were getting some rain,
right?
Coming this month to our
general meeting is Ed Lawrence, all
the way from Montana. Ed will be
sharing his knowledge of the Madi-
son, Yellowstone, and Missouri Riv-
ers. This should be a good one. Mon-
tana is a fabulous place. Plus, there is
rumors of a Mystery side raffle. A
dollar a ticket will get you the chance
to walk out with a new….?
We have an outing planned to
Pyramid Lake on the weekend of
21st.-23rd of March. Talk to Rod
Sanchez, the unofficial fishmaster,
about the particulars. If you’ve never
been to Pyramid, you should really
“Resident’s Message” Tracy Decoy da Silva
2013 Board
Members
Tracy da Silva 229-9568
President
Rod Sanchez 809-7499
Vice President
Richard Wilson 758-5313
Treasure
Scott Naylor 214-3870
Secretary
Roger Caton 633-4659
Board Member
Mike Gilroy-(425)418-8164
Board Member
Chuck Humphreys
951-3454
Board Member & Poet
———————————————
Rick McCombs 385-4778
Newsletter Editor
Jay Jefferson– 809-0290
Mascot
FFLYLY TTIMESIMES
SALINAS VALLEY FLY FISHERS March 2014
President’s message 1
Fly of the Month 2
Monthly Program 3
Sponsors 3
Outing Schedule 3
Articles 4
Maps 5
Events 6
Inside this issue:
think about going. It's a western favor-
ite that could give you the fish of a life-
time if luck is on your side. We are also
still trying to put together a surf perch
trip in the coming weeks, Scott Naylor
is trying to devise a plan to get out on
the beach for some pre-outing fishing to
test the waters. Recent reports have been
telling of pretty good perch fishing.
Also in outing news, we've decided to
look at Merced River for an April trip,
on the weekend of the 11th-13th. It's
likely that the Merced will be too low
for our usual fall trip. We’ll be keeping
our eye’s on the flows to get the timing
right. If you need any suggestions on
gear or accommodations talk to me or
one of our Merced regulars and we’ll try
to line you up with some ideas. Thanks
to the DFG regulations which keep this
river open all year now, we can fish it
before the trout opener!
Hope to see you at the meeting, and on
the outings.
Tracy
Ed Lawrence featured in March Montana guide, Ed Lawrence, will be the featured presenter at this month’s general meeting at the Landing Zone. Ed is out of Bozeman Montana and his outfit guides on several of the waters of the Big Sky Country. In addition to Ed’s presentation, we’ll have the usual fishing re-ports, sign-ups for Pyramid and other upcoming outing and a generous raffle. Scott has also arranged a buck a ticket mystery raffle. You may want to bring a couple extra bucks from the cookie jar for that one. Rod will be on hand to provide more information on the upcoming Pyramid outing. So with all that happening, we hope you’ll find time to join us.
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Page 2 Fly Times
What’s going on in the world of fly fishing and tying?
Fly of the Month Maholo Midge
Maholo Nymph
Hook:TMC 2457 Size 8-12
Thread: Black 6/0
Head: Gold Bead
Tail/wing case/legs: Pheasant tail
Body: Red tinsel
Rib: Copper wire
Thorax: Olive or Peacock Ice Dub
Chuckie’s Poetry Corner
Fishing’s for Sissies
I ain’t going fishing, cuz I’m panning for gold
Fishing’s for sissies, least that’s what I’m told
So I grab my old sluice box a pit and a pan
And head for the desert, cuz that there’s my plan
No bath for two week and I’m start’n to smell
I been look’n for water, but there’s none in the well
The buzzards are a circling they call my name
Saying he’ll be bones in the desert, and Chuckie’s to blame
Fly Tying this month will focus on solutions to tying problems - How to do those things that you’re
having problems doing. Most all the techniques the fly tyers use are relatively simple, but as one of my
favorite saying goes: It’s simple; it just ain’t easy”. Old Doc Pshide will be on hand to analyze what ails
you, and of coarse the will be a gaggle of opinions to confuse you as well.. Just remember to listen to the
Fly Doctor and you’ll be okay in the morning.
For those interested in going to Pyramid Lake, the Maholo Nymph is the featured fly this month,
but it’s not going to be the focus at the monthly fly tying session, but it’s been included just in case you
might want to tie a couple before taking off for the outing. I’ve has been sitting at the tying vise up here in
Sutter Creek working on flies for Pyramid and if I make it down the hill for the general meeting, I’ll bring
some flies to share with the guys who’ll be going to Pyramid.
Recommended flies for Pyramid
Historically the “go to fly” at Pyramid was the black red tailed Woolly Worm. Now days in addition to
Woolly Bugger you’ve got the Tadpole, Midnight Cowboy, Albino Wino, and all the Beetles. Go figure!
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Page 3
Salinas Valley Flyfishers**2014 Outing Schedule and Programs
Special thanks to Geoff Malloway for his ongoing support of the Salinas Valley Fly Fishers and for his many efforts on behalf of stream habitat and the preservation of the fish that we all seek to catch. Next time you’re out his way, stop by and say hi .It does seems that Geoff has mellowed a bit over
the years. It might even safe to take you wife in the store ..Though it’s not recommended
Geoff Malloway
Central Coast Fly Fishing
7172 Carmel Valley Rd.
Carmel, CA (626-6586)
March 12th. General meeting Landing Zone
@ the sirport
Featuring
Ed Lawrence
Tracy daSilva 229-9568
March 19th. Fly Tying Airport Board
room
Featuring
“Tying Tips”
Bill Pshide 424-3063
March 21st-
23rd.
Outing Pyramid Lake Lahonton Cut-
throat Trout
Rod Sanchez 809-7499
April 17th-18th Outing Merced River Rainbow Trout Tracy daSilva 229-9568
April Outing Monterey Bay
Sunset Beach
Surf Perch Scott Naylor 214-3870
May Outing
possibilities
Kirman Lake
Carson River
Brook Trout
Rainbow
June Outing
possibilities
Davis lake
Indian Creek
Trout
For all the latest info. in what’s happening in the wide world of fishing, go to:
salinasvalleyflyfishers.org
Upcoming Events
Check out the website
Dave Gambetta has jumped in to work on the website. So check it out, give him some feed-
back and for sure send him any fishing pictures you take. With the new administration in place
and Dave at the helm of the website, you can expect some new ideas on the horizon. While
you’re at it, send those picture to me too ([email protected]). I’m working on a photo page
for the newsletter. It’s still a month or two away, but your photos are needed.
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Page 4 Fly Times
The Pyramid Lahonton Cutthoat Story
Pyramid Lake, at one time, boasted the biggest trout in the world or close to it. The official lake record is re-
ported to be 41 pound , but the local Puite Indians clamed to have caught fish as big as 60 lbs.. These catches all oc-
curred prior to 1943 when the Pyramid Cutthroats were determined to be extinct. The huge fishes’ demise was the prod-
uct of massive diversion of water from the Truckee River, mostly for agriculture and the subsequent loss of the fishes
only spawning grounds. In the mid-1970s, the Paiute Indian Tribe opened a fish hatchery at Sutcliffe and began stocking
Pyramid Lake with Lahontan Cutthroat Trout from Summit and Heenan Lakes. The water in Pyramid Lake is saltier
than Lake Tahoe, and that kept out the Rainbow and Lake Trout. The original Lahonton population in Lake Tahoe had
been extinct since about 1930, largely because of competition and hybridization with other trout species that had been
introduced into the lake, The Piute Indian tribe re-established a Lahontan cutthroat sport fishery and in addition saved
Pyramid Lake’s endangered Cui-ui sucker from extinction. Anglers subsequently bought tribal licenses, hauled milk
crates and ladders out into the lake to battle the high winds and cold water and considered any catch that weighed 10
pounds or more a trophy. Unfortunately, the Summit / Heenan Lake strain does not live as long or grow as large as the
original strain of Pyramid fish. However, in the 1970s, fish believed to have been stocked almost a century ago from the
Pyramid Lake strain were discovered in a small stream along Pilot Peak area of western Utah border, This Pilot Peak
strain was reintroduced into Pyramid lake starting in 2006 as part of the reintroduction and planting programs main-
tained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[8Today these fish can be recognized by their missing adipose fin (small fin
located behind the dorsal fin) which is clipped when they leave the hatcheries] In the last 2-3 years therehas been ad-
ramatic increase in the number of exceptionally large fish caught and now the 10-12 pound trophy fish of five or ten
years ago are being replaced with bruts as heavy as 25 pounds and getting bigger.
Going fishing?
Rods A variety of fly fishing rods can be used to fish Pyramid Lake depending on which technique you are
using. The most popular fly fishing technique at Pyramid is making long casts with a very fast sinking line or shooting
head For this method, a stout 9 to 9 ½ foot 7-8 weight rod is the most common. Anglers come to the lake every year
expecting to use their 5 or 6 weight rod and find out that they can be over-powered by the weight of the fly line and the
winds that can be very strong from time to time. Anglers make the assumption that they are good at fighting fish and a 5
weight is fine. It is the situation that calls for a heavier rod, not the size of the fish so much.
Nymphing has become very popular at the lake as well, especially in the spring. Shorter casts and lighter lines
can be used and a lighter rod will do the trick. Anglers use anything from a 4 weight to an 8 weight for this technique.
Wind is still a factor and a 6 weight or 7 weight is probably the way to go for best results. A little bigger rod helps with
mending line and roll-casting when it really gets windy. Switch rods have also become popular to help with casting in
windy conditions.
Shooting Heads – Long casts and covering lots of water is a great way to catch fish at Pyramid Lake. The idea
behind a shooting head is to have more weight in the front end of the line for longer casts. Most shooting heads have a
20 to 35 ft “head” and some sort of a thinner diameter running line to help with distance. The most common shooting
head for Pyramid Lake is one with a very fast sinking head to get the flies to the bottom as fast as possible. Running
lines come in many varieties. The most common are either floating or ones with intermediate sink rates. Because most
of the time you will be standing in the lake, a floating running line is easier to use. If your running line sinks you will
most likely need to incorporate a stripping basket. Full sinking lines can be used but they are much harder to cast and do
not keep flies on the bottom as well as a shooting head. You will most likely not do as well at Pyramid if you settle for a
full sink line. Integrated lines such as the Teeney 300 or the Rio Outbound fast sinking lines can be a good choices.
Floating Lines – are used mainly for nymphing. Most anglers use a floating line and an indicator with a couple
of bead head nymphs for this application. Any floating line will do. A line with an indicator tip can help you see when to
mend and if your leader is straight. There are some neat floating shooting heads that can really add some distance to
your casts as well. Hope to see you there..ed.
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Pyramid Lake
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Salinas Valley Fly Fishers
March 12th. General meeting
Dinner @ 6:00 Meeting @ 7:00
P.O Box 1793
Salinas, CA 93912
Editor: Rick McCombs
Email: [email protected]
"All You Need to Know"
Mailing Address Line 1 Mailing Address Line 2
Mailing Address Line 3
Mailing Address Line 4 Mailing Address Line 5
Pyramid Lake Outing
March 21st.-23rd
Contact:
Rod Sanchez
Board of Directors Meeting@ the
Airport Board Room March 26th. 6:00pm
Fly Tying
Wedn. March 19th.
A/P board room 6:00 p.m.