Upcoming Fishing Outings

Confab 2006

Time: Saturday, February 11th, 9:00 AM until dark
Place: Soquel Grange, 2800 Porter Ave., Soquel

The annual "CONFAB" takes the place of our regular club meeting in the month of February. It is an all-day get together for fun, food, learning, swap meet, and tall tales.
Events:
Potluck Lunch, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Bring your favorite potluck dish. Something other than dessert is best. The Grange Hall has an oven, stove, and refrigerator. Drinks, plates and utensils will be provided (bring a serving utensil for your potluck dish).
Fly Tying Instruction
Several talented fly tyers in the Club will demonstrate patterns useful in upcoming fishouts. Watch this space next month to see who will be demonstrating what! You may also tie any other patterns you wish for upcoming fishing trips. Bring your fly tying tools, vise and light. Beginners are encouraged to join in and learn. There will be club equipment available and ample guidance from fellow club members who are accomplished tyers. Fly tying instruction will continue in the afternoon on whatever patterns are of interest to participants. This is a great opportunity to get a start on filling your fly boxes for upcoming fishouts.
Casting Instruction (morning before lunch)
Casting Master Walt Robinson will offer casting instruction to beginners and to those of us who have unusually quirky techniques that need improvement. He will assist you with rod assembly, basic casting, and specialty casting techniques. Bring the casting outfit that you would like to improve your skill with.
Annual Casting Contest (after lunch)
This is a fun contest for beginners and experienced casters alike. It takes contestants through a series of different casting challenges, not just distance. Bring your favorite outfit, but keep in mind that nothing larger than a 7 weight with floating line is allowed. Kathy Powers gave us a handicap in 2004 by casting left handed. Your job this year is, under no circumstances, to allow her to win it left handed.
Swap Meet
This is a good chance to sell or give away those unwanted fishing and camping items, or maybe to pick up a treasure or two.
Eyes - Ears - Mouth - Curiosity
* Watch Jim Hall as he goes over the details of putting together a first class Pyramid Lake fishing ladder.
* Listen to all the fishing stories or plan to share your own fishing tales.
* Tap the knowledge of your fellow club members who always like to share.
* Learn the meaning of "CONFAB."
SEE YA THERE! BRING A FRIEND!

It's time to start thinking about Pyramid Lake again. This is the first fishout of the year, and is always a lot of fun. You need to call Crosby Lodge ASAP at 1-775-476-0400 to reserve lodging if you're not already in one of the reserved trailers. Otherwise the nearest lodging is in Reno, 30 miles away. In addition to rooms that sleep 2 to 6 people Crosby Lodge rents trailers that sleep 6 to 8. There may be openings due to cancellations in trailers the club has already filled up, so check with Jim Hall or Harry Petrakis. You will be on your own for food so plan on cooking your meals. The General Store offers meals on selected nights to those who call in before 2PM. Check at the General Store for details. Plan to dress for cold or warm weather. Conditions are variable and change rapidly, as anyone who has been on this fishout can tell you.

Equipment: 7, 8, or 9 weight rods with hi-speed, hi-D shooting heads (but don't forget the floating and intermediate sink lines Ð you never know). Bring a rain coat, float tube, waders and fins. A ladder, modified to fish from, using a stripping basket, is needed get up out of the cold water. Nearly all of the fishing here is done from a fishing ladder.
Flies: Woolly buggers in black, white, purple, olive, or any color you feel like trying (and don't forget the beetle fly). Keep an ear open for the fly of the month in March, its usually one of the best Pyramid patterns. Plan to attend the tying class to get you some.
How to get there: Take US 80 to Reno-Sparks, take the Pyramid Blvd. off ramp and go north about 35 miles. Crosby Lodge is at Sutcliff, near the Ranger Station.

If you have any questions, you can call Jim Hall or John Steele at 476-0648. Either will be glad to help. Hope to see you there.
Jim will demonstrate how to put together a deluxe "Pyramid Lake Fishing Ladder" at the Confab on February 11th. You can also see some of the best fly patterns for Pyramid at the Confab. There may be some tying of those patterns going on as well.

Place: Quail Hollow Ranch (see below for directions)
Date: Sunday, May TBA
Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Over the past few years, this event has blossomed into a complete forum on just about every aspect of fly fishing. Quail Hollow Ranch is a 300-acre preserve in Santa Cruz County that was once a summer home of the Lane family, owners of Sunset Magazine. This ranch is rich with history; California Ranch Style living we know today was started here. There is a stunning bass pond on the property that was once the watering hole for cattle that grazed on the land. Much of the Ranch house has been restored to its original condition and is a treat to see. Many photos, dating way back, adorn the living area, speaking thousands of words.
The day is geared toward introducing people who think they might be interested in fly fishing to the sport. The event will have continuous demonstrations and instruction in casting and fly tying. Many volunteers are needed to help with fly tying, casting and overall fly fishing questions. This is a great time to introduce our favorite pastime to some newcomers living in our county, who will be coming to learn just what it is we are all about. We have at least a dozen Club members who first learned of us at a Quail Hollow Public Education Day in the past. Don't miss this opportunity; members who have participated in the past have thoroughly enjoyed the day. It's your chance to pass along what you have learned and to pay back a little of the fun, knowledge and camaraderie you have enjoyed as a club member. Please volunteer to help out.
Snacks and drinks will be provided, but bring a sack lunch. Bring your tying gear, and the rods you want to practice with. We will have plenty of room to throw a few hundred feet of line. If we are lucky, we might to get to throw a few hook-less flies in the pond just to tease some of the biggest bass and bluegill in the county.
Directions: take Graham Hill Road to East Zayante Road and travel just about a mile until you reach Quail Hollow Road. About 1/2 a mile up you will see the ranch entrance on the right. Can't miss it.

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