Upcoming Fishing Outings

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October 4th Surf Fishout
Fishmaster: Sam Bishop

October 4, we meet at Manresa Beach State Park entrance at 06:50 AM. Sunrise and low tide are both at 7 AM. Low tide isa+3.1', so it is a "high low tide". Parking is limited outside the gate, which typically does not open until about 07:30 AM. You may have to park up the road a bit.
Newcomers welcome! I will have some spare flies and a spare fishing basket.
From Highway 1, south of Aptos, take San Andreas Road south and continue for three miles to Manresa State Beach. It is the first beach access you will reach on the coast.
Call Sam Bishop for more info: 831-274-4024 days, 831-476-6451 home, or e-mail sambishop@totlcom.com.

Davis Lake is on its way back! The poisoning of the lake to kill the pike did not hurt the vegetation or the bug life. And, a ranger told me, by the end of this year, nearly 3 million fish of varying sizes will have been planted. Davis has always fished well in the fall and the campgrounds are usually not crowded. Sign ups will be at the Sept and Oct meetings. If you don't sign up, but decide to attend, no problem...just show up.
Camping: We will camp at Grasshopper or Grizzly campground, depending on which one is open. These are on the east side of the lake. Check the bulletin board of the campground on your way in and look for a notice to see where we are. Camping is either $16 or $18 per night and two vehicles can split that cost. It probably will be chilly at night so bring your warmies.
Food: Bring your own everything. BBQ Friday and Saturday nights. Bring whatever you wish to BBQ for yourself and also a dish to share.
Gear: 5-6 wt rods. Floating (for indicator fishing) and sinking lines. Most fishing will be subsurface. Float tube and a PDF is mandatory (it is the law). Probably 3x to 5x tippet. A folding chair, rain gear (just in case). Wood for the fire.
Flies: Snail and blood midge patterns particularly. Standard wooly buggers in olive, black and rust. Hornbergs and other streamer patterns. Standard nymphs (PT's, hare's ears, prince, etc). Other midge patterns.
If you need to speak to the fishmaster, call before Sept 15th. I will be out of town from the 15th thru Oct 12th.

When: Friday, October 24th-Sunday, October 26th
Where: KOA N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta, CA 1-800-562-3617
Signups: call starting Saturday, September 13th, Payment due by Saturday, September 20th.
Cost: $65 for Friday/Saturday nights/ stay in rustic log cabin (including breakfast/lunch/snacks/drinks) or you can arrange for your own campsite or motel room nearby. We go to different restaurants each night for dinner. A warning to tent or car campers: The weather can be unpredictable at this time of year and elevation (3,500 ft.). Some kind of heated accommodations are recommended. (the prices for lodging are approximate, the exact amount will depend on the number on the fishout, but in years past these numbers are pretty close).
This is a great time of year to fish these two rivers, and see some beautiful fall colors. I've always had my best luck of the season in this time period. The October caddis should be active, with the rainbows trying to fatten up for winter. Additionally, the brown trout will be starting their spawning run in the conservancy section of the McCloud. Medicine Lake outside McCloud is reputed to fish very well in late fall...if you can reach it.
I will provide a simple breakfast, ingredients to make a sack lunch, and soft drinks and snacks for apres fishing. We will go into Mt. Shasta (five minutes away) for dinner, where there are a number of good restaurants. When you call to sign up, please let me know if you will be camping on your own, or staying in a cabin. Please send me the appropriate funds by September 20th.
The log cabins have two rooms, with a double bed in one, and four bunk beds in the other. They have electricity, and portable electric heaters. You will need to bring your own sleeping bags/bedding and towels. There is a big, heated common bathroom area by the office, with showers.
I will be up scouting the area starting earlier in the week if you want to come up earlier. If you arrive on Friday before I return from fishing and want to get into a cabin, you can go to the office and tell them youÕre with the Santa Cruz Club group and get a key. Around dark we will make plans to hit a local restaurant.
Call me if you have any questions.

For anyone who has a boat or would like to rent one, I'm trying to put together a fishout at Russos' on Franks tract, the end of October. The dates will be Monday the 27th thru Wednesday the 29th. Everyone who wants to participate should make arrangements for their own passengers.
Because this will be an official club outing, everyone needs to be a club member. But luckily this time of year the dues are only $15. Please give me a call at 724-9195 or e-mail me at flyfishingfarmer@ebold.com for details or to sign up.

We will have a joint club fish out with the Peninsula Fly Fish Club on Saturday morning, November 8. We will meet at Rio Del Mar State Beach (directions below) at 06:35 AM (sunrise is 06:35 PST). High tide is at the same time at +4.7, so we will fish a very high high ebb tide. Sam Bishop, our Surf Fishmaster is coordinating the event and submitted the following information:
Planning details:
Rod: 6 - 8 weight rods are all acceptable, but if you hook a big striper, leopard shark or halibut and only have a 6 weight, you could be unhappy. ( I use a 7 or 8 weight.)
Line: Most people use a sinking line, intermediate. I personally use a shooting head, same gear I use at Pyramid Lake.
Leader: 10 # test and 8 # dropper is fine, 5 - 7 foot in length and they are not leader shy. I run two hooks, sometimes 3, but one is fine. (You can't get a double hook-up with one fly, but if you are getting tangled, you are not fishing, so it is a trade-off.).
Flies: See the surf-perch or Zen fishing websites below. I will bring spare flies, so "not to worry".
Stripping basket: To me it is mandatory and that sentiment is almost universal. I do not recommend the net style baskets for the surf, due to the aggressive action of the waves. A stiff sided, fairly deep basket is best. I will have 2 or 3 spare stripping baskets available to borrow (or purchase with a donation to the Club of $20). Also, the "HipShooter" basket is excellent and very portable; it is pictured on this website: www.sealevelflyfish.com
Waders: Neoprene is not required, the water is not that cold (until you take a splash over the top and inside your waders, then it is cold).
PFD (Personal Flotation Device): Nice and a good safety factor if you have one, Many people use them, but they are not required.

Why so early? You can catch fish in the surf any time of day, but less people on the beach means less hookups behind you with people and their dogs. Mornings normally are calm or have an off-shore wind so you can cast easier and further, afternoons often have a strong on-shore wind and later the sun is square in your eyes.
I never did it before, should I come? Absolutely. There will be experienced people there who will be very happy to train individually. We will start with a general discussion for everyone and provide individualized instruction as desired, including double haul and shooting head techniques. (But this is not the best place to start learning to cast!)
www.surf-perch.net is an outstanding website with lots of pictures and observations, but not with the details of the next one listed.
www.zenfishing.com Not updated in a long time, but excellent detailed information that applies today. His "Techniques" section should be required reading.
Santa Cruz Club website, full of information in their archived newsletters.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVwvJBc7jfc. This is a great little video on a southern California Beach.
Directions: Take Rio Del Mar exit off Highway one all the way to the beach flats area, make a hard left turn (U turn) and follow Beach Drive all the way to Rio Del Mar State Beach Park. There is parking outside, as the gate does not open until around 07:30 am Questions? Sam Bishop 831-274-4024, or home at 476-6451, or email sambishop@totlcom.com.

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