IN PERSON MEETINGs

Yesterday a group of our club members got together for lunch at BJ's in Thousand Oaks.

Luncheon set-up by former longtime president, Scott Olson. Attendees were Bob Vorac, Dan Millis, Kit & Betty Korf, Chuck Hiatt, myself and hubby Matt Rubin.

As expected, conversations were about the vaccines, gatherings, state rules/restrictions with many points of views, but mostly agreeing on the usage of vaccines considering the age demographics of the group.

Scott announced the introduction of in person meetings will start with the Tuesday night fly-tying meetings, which have become less and less about fly tying, but more of a social gathering of our group, the Conejo Valley Fly Fishers.

The gatherings can be quite fun with snacking, adult beverages (or not) and banter about everything under the sun including fly fishing.

Right now, as the club meeting director, I have been exploring other places to meet in person, including a possible community gathering area, but the details of availability and pricing are still to be explored.

In the meantime, starting back up with in-person meetings will be handled thoughtfully and cautiously. All those attending still need to think about their health and if they are ready or feel comfortable to attend.

In the meantime, there will still be the continuation of ZOOM online meetings, pared down to one Friday a month starting in May, for those who are not ready for a live group setting -- or for those traveling and "on the road" who might want to hang out after a great day on the water to brag about their catch and release numbers.

That's all for now. Enjoy the newsletter and enjoy the great outdoors, for that is why we fly fish!

• Cece Rubin
• CVFF's meetings, newsletter, social media & website chair.

Online zoom meeting: Secretary Bob Kieling, Member Kurt Leisure, President Gary Scott, Treasurer Kit Korf and myself (Cece Rubin)

scott olson | MISSIVE

DUSTING OFF THE GEAR

If your fishing vest is anything like mine it becomes a repository over time of an amalgam of miscellaneous items that needs to be occasionally purged, or at least sorted and organized. I try to take everything out of my vest at least once a year to take stock of what I have and what needs attention.

Take fly boxes for instance. I have organized my fly boxes in to different categories……..mayfly nymphs, mayfly dries, caddis nymphs etc. (nine in all). You get the idea.

However, many times when I’m actually out in the field fishing it can get rather frenetic trying to match the hatch, so flies sometimes go on and come off at a feverish pace leaving a muddled mess of flies in my boxes and on my drying patch.

I tell myself after each trip that I will “clean up” that patch, but mostly it only happens once a year (usually during a rainy winter day) which takes it from being a five minute job to something more like an hour. It’s amazing to me how many flies can accumulate on that little 2” x 2” patch of fleece.

Other vest housekeeping duties include refilling weight boxes cleaning and sorting indicators, checking tippet spools for quantity and quality and checking leader inventory.

I also carry things like a flashlight, several pairs of gloves, stomach pump and other miscellany. All of which I make sure to clean, install new batteries in or just check to make sure they are in satisfactory working order.

It’s nice to start out the season with a well-organized and clean vest (it goes in the washing machine one a year) with all of the necessary accoutrements of our sport ready for action.

I wonder if a three year old granola bar is still edible?

Tight lines and fighting fish to all!

Scott Olson | CVFF Former President

NEW MEXICO FISH REPORT | CHARLEY BEALS, MARCH 2021

San Juan River Trip

A short flight for Santa Barbara to Phoenix, then connection had us with a beer and a burger for lunch in Durango by 1230 local time.

The best option would have been guided on The San Juan or “Juan” as they all termed in on Sunday . . .

. . . but our guide held Sundays for family – I am really good with that.

The water was moving at about 400 cfs and the area just below the dam was our initial focus. I threw everything at them and only netted one Brown trout, about 18 inches on an egg pattern. By the end of the trip, I had realized I had been getting takes all day on Sunday – my indicator was too large to pick up the takes.

Just about 75 minutes from Durango, Monday Morning was overcast and chilly – we bundled up and slid into line at the Texas Hole.

Take after take after take I missed – eternally frustrated, I just did not have that “Feel”.

In my defense I was fishing a double rig with a 26 and 24 – and that is a whole different game when it comes to hook setting. I finally got better and netted several fish to 20 inches with most being in the 16–18-inch range. They were bright and lively and EVERYWHERE.

I was warned that “boats would run right over your spot but it’s all good, just wait a few minutes” and that was true. We would fish a slot, row up and hit it again until we stopped getting takes then we would move on down the river, and that is the way it went. All day – only 3 1/2miles from Texas Hole to Crusher Hole.

I did not take a lot of pictures or look at a lot of scenery as I was so focused on my indicator for two days.

Tuesday had us in Texas hole again but this time three times the number of boats – somehow it all worked out as the guides have this rhythm – they call it the Indy 500 – one big oval, they slide in and out, most everyone was respectful, and the waders seemed to take it all in stride.

TUESDAY WAS MY DAY

I traded the guide rod for my Scott Radian – it has got a softer tip and I broke off far fewer fish as we offered up the 6x. Still with the 22’s to 26’s. Craig and I had a full day of Trout with fish in every slot we stopped, lots of doubles and too many fish for me to count.

We used mostly a double nymph rig with unweighted emerger patterns on 6x.

I did learn a new tool – two indicators one standard and another Palsa type, this was a game changer for me as the Palsa indicator was instrumental in helping me see the takes, it also slowed down my set – that was helpful.

Overall, it was a great trip.

Our Guide James Garretson was A++ (575-779-0465)

He is far and above the Best Trout Guide I have every used. He was patient, knowledgeable hard working and effective. I cannot recommend him enough.

Now get out there!

Charley Beals | former CVFF president