Upcoming Fishing Outings

Quail Hollow Ranch
Sat., Feb. 10th, 2007 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Confab 2007 and Public Education Day
Coordinator and Fishmaster: Betty Rentz

* The annual Confab will be combined with our Public Education Day and takes the place of the regular Club Meeting in February.
* The Confab is an all day get-together for fly tying, rod-building, casting instruction and the Annual Casting Contest, blind fly tying contest, pot luck lunch learning, swap meet, and tall tales.
* The Public Education Day has grown into a forum on most aspects of fly fishing. Its purpose is to introduce people to fly fishing who think they might be interested in our sport. The Confab events will also serve as demonstrations of the various aspects of our sport. This will be a great opportunity to introduce our favorite pastime to people who will be coming to learn just what it is we are all about. As many as a dozen Club Members first learned of us at a Quail Hollow Public Education Day.

EVENTS:
Inside, Morning -10:00 AM:
* Fly tying instruction and demonstration: Elaine Cook will demonstrate a Vernille emerging caddis, and will provide all the materials for those who wish to learn to tie this fly. 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.
* Rod Building: two rod wrapping stations will be set up for demonstrations. Call Greg Foy (683-2972) or Kent Hull (662-3332) if you want to participate.
* Beginner Overview: Tom Hogye will give his renowned Fly Fishing 101 presentation to visiting members of the public from 10:00 AM til 11:30 AM. This presentation includes some fly casting instruction for beginners.
Outside - Morning - 10:00 AM:
* Casting Instruction and demonstrations: Bring your rods and your problems. Walt Robinson will be available for instruction for club members exclusively.
Inside 11:30AM - 1:00 PM:
* Blindfolded fly tying contest: Try to tie a fly while blindfolded. You will be amused at the results, as will any of the onlookers!

* Pot luck lunch: Bring your favorite pot luck dish. Something other than dessert is best. The ranch house kitchen has an oven, stove and refrigerator. Drinks, plates and utensils will be provided. Bring a serving utensil for your potluck dish.
Outside - Afternoon, beginning at 2:00 PM:
* The Annual Casting Contest: This event is for beginners and experienced caster alike. Walt Robinson lays out a circuit to take contestants through a series of different casting challenges, not just distance. Bring your favorite outfit, but keep in mind that nothing larger than a 9Ő rod and 7 weight floating line is allowed.

Quail Hollow Ranch is a 300-acre preserve in Santa Cruz County that was once a summer home of the Lane family, founders of Sunset Magazine. The ranch has a special history, California Ranch Style living we know today was started here. There is a wonderful 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 about the ranch's past.

Directions: take Graham Hill Road to East Zayante Road (near Felton) and travel just about a mile until you reach Quail Hollow Road. About half a mile up you will see the ranch entrance on the right. You canŐt miss it!

It's time to start thinking about Pyramid Lake again, if you weren't already. This is usually the first club fishout of the year, and is always a lot of fun. The nearest available lodging is in Reno, 30 miles away. This event is already all booked up, but if you still want to chance it, contact Harry Petrakis to get on a cancellations list, at 831-419- 4245.
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 2:00 PM. 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-you never know). Bring a rain coat, float tube, waders and fins. A ladder, modified to fish from, using a stripping basket, is needed to get up out of the cold water and be able to cast out to where the fish are. 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). Pay particular attention to this month's Fly of the Month article; it's usually one of the best Pyramid patterns. Plan to attend the February fly tying class to get some made for your fly box. You can see some of the best patterns for Pyramid at the ConFab/Public Education Day.
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 Harry Petrakis at 831-419-4245. Hope to see you there!

If you are considering a trip to Utah in May to join us on this fishout, it isn't too early to begin planning. This river is a tailwater of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir Dam, situated in the northeast corner of Utah. It carves its way through a spectacular red rock canyon, and is the home of a healthy number of large brown and rainbow trout. It is rare to catch one under 16 inches, and not uncommon to catch several over 20 inches.
The Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen group will be staying at Trout Creek Flies Lodge, which can house up to 16 people, with four people sharing each of their four rooms, but if you call later and cannot book a room with Trout Creek, there are other options in the area, such as Flaming Gorge Lodge, and Red Canyon Lodge. There are also several campgrounds in the area, if you are driving an RV and wish to camp.
If you are planning to fly to Salt Lake City and rent a vehicle, call Kathy Powers, at 728-4130. If you'd like to take the AmTrak train, call Elaine Cook at 688-1561. If you plan to drive, (it's a day and a half's drive) call John Steele, at 476-0648. Likewise, if you need more details, or want to sign up for this fishout, call John. A sign up sheet will be available at the February, March and April meetings.

It's time again to think about signing up for the 3-day bass fishout scheduled for April 27 - 29 to the Roostercomb Ranch. This is one of the club's favorite venues that will guarantee to be a lot of fun and adventure. It involves a 4-wheel trek of 20 miles into the back country of Henry Coe State Park / Morgan Hill vicinity to an historic ranch site with ranch house, bunkhouse and 9 bass ponds scattered throughout its nearly 6,000-acres.
This is a great opportunity for club newcomers to meet and get acquainted with other members and to learn how to flyfish during the bass spawning season when bass are especially eager to take a fly.
Space is limited. You must be a member to SCFF to attend. The call-in date to sign up will be Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 PM. Cost: $135 per person. Group meals are pre-arranged. Accommodations: Ranch and bunk houses, or your own tent. REQUIRED: 4-wheel vehicles in good working condition. For more information, contact Cecilia Stipes at (831) 335-5727 or email her at flyfishgal3@aol.com.

Back to Table of Contents