Upcoming Fishing Outings

Lake Davis - June 2 to 5, 2005
Fishmaster: Betty Rentz, 427-9875, rentzb@santacruzpl.org

General: Depending on the kind of spring we have, we should be right in the middle or beginning of the damsel hatch at Lake Davis. Lake Davis is a beautiful lake, filled with some large, aggressive trout, located near the town of Portola on Hwy 70. It has nice campgrounds right on the lake, and a resort with a motel and cabins, and there are motels in nearby Portola, five miles away. If the damsels are happening, you can fish from shore, but most people either float tube or fish from boats. YOU MUST WEAR A PFD, by law, on this lake.
Camping: We will use Grasshopper Flats campground for the evening meals Friday and Saturday and general gathering. The fishmaster will be staying there. It's a nice campground with tables, fire rings and lighted bathrooms with flush toilets. Most sites can accommodate two cars, and cost $14 per night for the first vehicle and $5-6 for an extra car. Those arriving on Wednesday or Thursday should have no problem finding a site. If you plan to arrive Friday or Saturday, you will need to make a reservation or be the second car on the site of someone arriving Thursday or Friday. Reservations can be made at www.reserveusa.com or by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777. Each person attending is responsible for making his own camping arrangements.

Lake Davis Resort: This resort has motel-type rooms and four cabins. Visit their website: www.lakedavisresort.com. There's lots of information about the lake, a map, etc. Their phone is (530) 832-1060. Also on this site is info about the Grizzly Store, phone (530) 832-0270. The store has basic supplies, ice, beer, etc. and FLIES that you can purchase. They also have a public shower ($4), and operate a hamburger and ice cream joint.
Motels in Portola: There are two that are decent: Sleepy Pines Motel (530) 832-4291 and Sierra Motel (530) 832-4223.
Food: Bring your own - everything - . However, on Friday and Saturday nights, we will do a group dinner/barbecue. So bring something to barbecue for yourself and something (salad, side dish, dessert, bread/butter, etc) to share each night. We will use one of the campsites as a central location for dinner---to be determined.
Good Information: One of the local guides, Don Rotsma, has a great website filled with good advice on fishing the lake. Check out www.flyfishwithdon.com. Especially check out the sections on "Strategies" and "Entomology and Flies." A good map of lake is there, also.
Rods/Lines/Flies: Don's website has good information on this. Basically, you should bring a 5-6wt rod, a floating and an intermediate sink line, and some indicators. Basic flies: damsels (dark olive to brown), tied thin. Green stillwater nymphs (size 10-12), wooly buggers, especially olive in size 10-12, blood midge pupas and emergers in size 10-12 (they are big at this lake!), and some basic callibaetis nymphs such as pheasant tails, flashback pheasant tails, hare's ears and flashback hare's ears, Prince nymphs, dark lords, hairy princes, etc. in sizes 12, 14, 16. If the damsels are happening, you will see splashes all over the lake, especially in the bays near shore, and will want to fish near the surface. If we miss the damsel hatch, that's when we will want our intermediate sinking lines.
Directions: Hwy 80 to Truckee. North on Hwy 89. In Sierraville, left on Hwy 49 for about 2-3 miles. At Sattley, right onto A23. At Hwy 70, go left for about 4-5 miles to Grizzly Road. Turn left, and lake is 7 miles. Stay on Grizzly Road all the way to the second campground, Grasshopper Flat.
Signup: We will do a sign up at the April and May meetings. We'll need to know who's camping or motelling it, and when you plan to arrive. For more info, call Betty Rentz (427-9875).

This is will be a day trip to a local ranch for bass and bluegill fishing. The ranch is located near Morgan Hill close to Casa de Fruta on Hwy 152, north of Bell Station about four miles east. We will leave in a group from the Casa de Fruta Restaurant at 8:00 AM sharp. Four-wheel drive vehicles are mandatory for transportation onto this property to negotiate steep inclines on dirt roads. The two ponds we will fish are nestled back in the hills side by side to an old cabin. With this year's rainfall, the ponds will probably be overflowing and the fishing great. Lunch arrangements will be announced later. The cost will be $80 per person. If you are interested, please contact me. There is no specific call-in date, but you must confirm your participation no later than June 1st. This fishout is limited to twelve members who will fish.

I am happy to announce that this year's four day fishout for the women members of the Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen will be on the waters of Fall River, Baum Lake, Manzanita Lake and Hat Creek. One of my long-time friends, Garry "Tick" Herceg, has offered his riverfront home on Fall River for our lodging and has generously offered us his many years of fly fishing experience to guide us on these waters. It is at this time in June that the fabled "hex hatch" generally occurs in this area and creates some of the best trout fishing imaginable. We'll have opportunities to float tube lakes, stream fish and fish from boats. Tick will lend his expertise to help us improve our skills and learn about hatches. It will also be a great opportunity for beginners to learn to fly fish and be successful at catching and releasing fish. I can guarantee, ladies, you will have a memorable experience. The cost is only $100 per person and is limited to only six women. There are still openings on this fishout...call me for information.

This fishout is canceled. The fishmaster will enjoy being with members at Bear Valley!

Sign ups for this fishout will be taken at the June and August club meetings; John will have the sign-up sheet available there. There will be room for 15 people, lodging will be at a cabin which is located at the intersection of Bear Valley Road and Quaking Aspen road, on the downhill side, right across from Bear Valley Lake.
Directions: Flies to bring: Adams, ants, grasshoppers, black gnats, Griffiths Gnats, Elk Hair caddis, Little Yellow Stoneflies, and of course, the famous Mr. Bill Fly (Western Coachman).
Food: Bring what you like for lunch, we will be packing our lunches and going fishing during the day, of course. We will have a pot luck dinner one night, so bring a dish to share, and whatever meat you'd like to cook.
We have many different areas nearby that we can fish: The flies-only section of the South Carson River near Markleville, Lake Alpine, Spicer Reservoir, Upper and Lower Kinney Reservoirs, and the Stanislaus River above Angels Camp. So, whatever kind of fishing you like, it's available. Plan on coming for this mid-summer High Sierra fishout. Call John for more information at any time between now and the first part of August.

Location: Mammoth Lakes is on the Eastern side of the Sierras, six to seven hours' drive from Santa Cruz. There are many lakes and streams in the area for us to fish. We will be staying at the Fireside Condominiums in the town of Mammoth lakes. Two units are reserved for each of the one week periods. Each unit will accommodate eight to nine people. The condominium complex also has a Jacuzzi and an indoor heated pool.
Cost: $215 per person for one week. This covers seven nights' lodging with three meals per day. You may sign up for either week for $215 per person or both weeks for $430 per person.
Meal Preparation: Each person will be assigned to a group for a Kitchen Day. The group will set out breakfast and lunch foods, store unused food, prepare the evening meal, and clean up on the day designated.
Sign-Up: There are still three single places available in the first week (September 17th-24th). In the second week (September 24th - October 1st) there is room remaining for two singles and one couple (one bed). Call John Cook at 688-1561 to reserve one of these places. To hold your place, the fishmasters must receive your $215 or $430 check before the June 2nd club meeting. Mail your check, made out to John Cook, to him at P.O.Box 2822, Aptos, CA 95001-2822. This payment is non-refundable.
Unused Funds: Any funds received but not spent on the fishout will be turned over to the club's Treasurer as club income.
Note: New mailing address for John Cook.

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