Issue 76.6May 2013

Voice of the Fox Valley Chapterof Trout Unlimited

Member Musings

Are you still waiting for Spring? You are not alone and Iwondered this same thing as I wandered into a northernTributary River to find it out of it’s banks, with not much hopeof successful fishing. For those hoping to see a repeat of lastyear’s conditions for the early season, it was not to be. Eventhe tributary fishing has been difficult at best, since manyhave just become free of ice and now are raging rivers with allof the runoff. The positive aspect of all of this is that we needthe moisture to replenish both the ground water and the localstreams and lakes. Any luck and the water levels should bedown by opening day. I remember many opening days ofhaving to work our way through the snow banks to get to thestream and Robert Traver relating the story of skidding the flyacross the ice and into open water.

The annual tradition of Chapter elections was held at the lastmeeting. Our current leadership team has agreed to stay inplace, with Joe Bach as President, Tom Lager as VicePresident, Shawn McMullin as Secretary and Al Johnson asTreasurer. We thank the leadership for their time anddedication that makes this a successful Chapter. Appreciationalso goes out to the board members for their time anddedication.

Our friend, past President, Vice President, Treasurer, BoardMember and all around soul of the Chapter, MarkPeerenboom is in the process of moving and not available tocontinue to serve on the board. We owe so much to Mark forhis service over the years. Whenever you needed somethingdone, Mark was there to help and was never afraid to jump in.Mark’s wife, Beth Spencer, was also instrumental in servingthe Chapter in many ways over many years. To both we saythank you and wish them all the best as they move into a newwatershed.

On Saturday May 18th the Chapter will hold the 35th annual“Fishing Day for People with Disabilities.” Yes, that is right,35 years. Not a lot of things last this long but if you come outand participate, you will understand why this has. Want tosee some folks having fun, feel good after helping, or just find

a way to give back? Come out and help us, or you can makea financial contribution to this event that gives many possiblytheir one chance per year to fish for trout. Details can befound on the website or in the newsletter.

A little bit of cool, I mean cold weather, did not dampen thespirits of around 20 souls who gathered for the first HabitatDay of the season at Davies Creek. Led again by the guidanceof Elward Engle, the group cleared brush and downed treesand built several bank covers to stop erosion in the steam thatis an important trout nursery. Several members of the CentralChapter helped to provide that needed push to get a lot ofimprovements accomplished. It might have been cold but theburgers and brats were hot thanks to Jim Hlaban and BobDoornbos who did the cooking. I promised Bob I would notinclude another “Candid Camera” photo of him again. To allof those who participated, thank you.

After you have had a successful opening weekend, you cancome out and join the group for some Habitat work on May18th. Watch the website for details.

Warm weather will get here soon enough and you will beswatting mosquitoes, and with all of this water we may havea bumper crop. Even though it may not look it, the newseason is on the doorstep.

Editor

The two best times to fishis when it's rainin' and when it ain't.

Patrick F. McManus

Let’s Talk BugsTom Lager

While waiting for spring to break through the cold rainywestern fronts that march out of the northern plains, wemake the best of the situation by confronting the high waterwith wet patterns and intermittently floating dry fliesamong snow flurries. After being spoiled on several couleecountry streams burgeoning with productive troutpopulations, the central sand region streams appeardepopulated but worth a stealthy effort. The bugpopulations appear reluctant to shift through spring andprepare for summer – there is not much for new news.However, there is always something “a – fin”, as it were,when turning rocks – a sculpin for example.

In first and second order streams, typically those runningcold and clear, flush with ground water, sculpin live amongthe rocks and woody structures of riffles and undercutedges and pool margins. They live a precarious existence bysharing space with brook trout. However, the sculpin bodyshape and behavior enable evasion from this predator tosome degree, while occupying the same habitat. Thesculpin head is large and dorsal-ventrally flattened with itseyes located on the top of the head; the body narrowsabruptly through the mid-section and tail region (notepictures of Chaffee Creek sculpin I caught and released thisweek). This shape is perfect for hiding in small nooks andcrannies among rocks and submerged branches where itcan curl-up out of the reach of feeding trout. The mottledbrown coloration melts into stream backgrounds making itnearly invisible. Sculpin are well equipped predators withfinely toothed upper and lower jaws; they feed on the samefood sources as brook trout, such as midges, mayflies,caddis and stoneflies. Lacking a gas bladder they easilymaintain close contact with the stream bottom, from whichto see prey and predator alike with their dorsally positionedeyes. The large pectoral fins protruding behind the gillsenable aggressive maneuvering after prey and necessaryescape from brookies. They are spring spawners that rely onmale nest selection / construction and protection after eggfertilization. Females turn themselves up-side down to lay apink cluster of eggs on the ceiling of the nest structure,which can be under an edge of a rock or ledge.

Rarely do sculpin get hooked by anglers, perhaps it is theirbehavior of being within stream structures and in closeproximity to the stream bottom that limit our fly’s exposurein their feeding lanes. Sculpin are an important food sourceto brook trout. I recall brookies regurgitating sculpin whenunder the stress of being caught and released. Maturesculpin are typically 3 to 4 inches in length but someobservers report length as long as 7 inches, certainly aprized source of protein for trout.

This little fish has had a significant impact on fly fishing.The Ojibwa of the Great Lakes Region new the importance

of “cockatouche”, as they called the sculpin used as live baitfor Nipigon River’s world class brook trout. It is this fishand the Native American fishing practices that inspired DonGapen Sr. to design the Muddler Minnow on the banks ofthe Nipigon River in 1937. The colorful history of this fly’sdevelopment and competition for the world record brooktrout is recounted in the Nick Karas book: (revised 2002).The muddler is a globally recognized fly pattern that isparent to many variations in design and resides in someform in almost all fly fishing vests.

The weather models paint a picture with warmer colors forthe May opener. I will muddle my way through anotherweek of rainy cool days, count my blessings and thinkabout magnificent rivers such as the Nipigon and uniquefishes such as the Coasters. Sculpin are true bug pickers andthey do not even have to lift a single rock to find them.

If one really loves nature,one can find beauty everywhere.

Vincent Van Gogh

Office: 920.832.24092901 E. Enterprise Ave., Suite 500

Appleton, WI 54913www.wipfli.com

HabitatDay

Thanks to allwho participated!

Join us in May!

Muddler MinnowJesse Walters

Hook: Mustad 79580 , sizes 2-12

Thread: Brown 6/0

Tail: Mottled turkey quill section

Rib: Gold oval tinsel

Body: Gold flat tinsel

Underwing: Gray squirrel tail

Overwing: Mottled turkey quill section

Collar: Deer hair (spun)

Head: Deer hair (spun and clipped)

Catch More FishDon Clouthier

Meeting and Greeting another angler

Encounter at the lake from my father’s generation.

Hello Mac. - ‘lo buddyBeen ‘ere long? - Coupla hours.Catchin’ any - just a fewAny size to ‘em? - nah.Whatcha’ usin’? - ‘crawlersThat your black truck? – She’s mine.Nice rig, - She’s a good runner.Mind if I join ya? - sure, there’s plenty of room here.I got a few beers. - Thanks, I’ll have one.Glad you got the game on, who’s pitchin’? - Spahns’on the hill.Great day for fishin’ – beats workin’ any day!Let’s fish . . .

Fast forward to today’s trout stream meeting.

Hi there, I didn’t mean to scare you . . . just saw youas I rounded the bend. – No problem.Beautiful day, any luck? - Yeah, I’ve been havin’ a goodday.Any size to them? - Mostly 10-12” browns, a few13-14” and one nice brookie.I am a little new to this, what are you using? –Nymphs.What kind? - big green and small brown ones.Do they have a name? - No, I make ‘em myself . . .and keep ‘em to myself.Ohhhh, I’m from Appleton, where you from? -Chicago. Where is Appleton?It is up by Green Bay, you heard of Green Bay?Yeah, too many times.Hmmm, mind if I jump far ahead of you, I will stayout of your way - No! I have a buddy ahead of me.

You had better find another stream!I guess . . . Well good luck and nice Cubs hat.Sure, see ya.

Share our cold water resources . . . and practicestream improvement.

I don’t know what to makeof the difference. Differenttimes, that’s for sure. As TU’ers,we work to improve our sport.There are plenty of streams and noreason not to share them.

When I meet another angler on thestream I always engage him/her in lightconversation about the fishing andcatching the stream, weatherand the like. These days we call it“networking” - if you pardon t h epun. I am always surprised when theangler chooses not to share h i s fi s h i n gexperience. I have had anglers actually position theirrod so I can’t ID the bugs being used. I have been fishinglong enough to have encountered about every rudeon-stream act possible. I follow the “golden rule” Do untoothers . . . and SHARE. Share your knowledge of thestream, tactics and flies. Give a novice a fly that isworking if he doesn’t have one . . . and explain how topresent it.

Observing on-stream etiquette and sharing the streammay not help you Catch More Fish but it does qualify asstream improvement.

The biggest fish he ever caughtwere those that got away

Eugene Field

Chapter Board Members

President Joe Bach 570-2632Vice President Tom Lager 540-9194Secretary Shawn McMullin 734-1876Treasurer Al Johnson 450-2013Board 1 Jim Cuhel 202-4275Board 2 Duane Velie 450-0862Board 3 Norm Christnacht 419-3303Board 4 John Hammond 731-8155Board 5 Rich Erickson 982-9080Board 6 Steve Heuser 470-0836Board 7 Roger Genske 729-9916Board 8 Scott Heinritz 427-5846Board 9 Don Clouthier 851-0597Board 10 Jim Jenkin 734-6344Board 11 Mark Peerenboom 284-0252Board 12 Chris Witten 735-0495

w w w. f v t u . o r g

ProfessorJim Jenkin

Bill of Material:

Hook: Mustad 3906 (or standard wet-fly hook)Size: #10 - #14Thread: 6/0 BlackTail: Red Hackle FibersRib: Flat Gold Tinsel or MylarBody: Yellow Floss or DubbingHackle: Brown Hen – Collar StyleWing: Gray Mallard Flank

In our recent chapter program Tom Lager pointed out thefact that some Caddis actually swim under water todeposit their eggs in the last stage of life. During ourdiscussion, Russ Bouck, an excellent fly tier and fisher-man, pointed out that the “Professor” wet fly is a goodimitation of these submerged Caddis flies. This is some-thing I had never thought about, but if you look closely atthe fly it would certainly appear to be a good imitation,with the mallard flank wing imitating the wing structureand color of many Caddis flies.

This is a fairly straightforward tie and should become partof your collection. Begin by laying down a thread base andtying in a few red hackle fibers for a tail. Next tie in thetinsel rib material and then the yellow floss used to form

the body. Bring the thread forward to behind the eye.Wrap the yellow floss to form the body and tie off, thenwrap/palmer the tinsel to form the rib and tie off.

Our next step is to add the mallard flank wing. Select aclump of gray mallard flank and tie in so the end extendsjust beyond the bend of the hook. Some variations include using two groups/clumps of mallard flank tied in more ofa tent style to imitate a Caddis wing. Our last step is to tiein a hen soft hackle by its tip to be wrapped as a collar.Take a couple of turns of hackle, tie off with the thread,form a head, whip finish, add head cement and you arefinished.

Give this fly a try and begin a new journey using soft-hackle flies.

T

The great charm

of fly fishing

is that we are

always learning.Theodore Gordon

F o xV a l l e y

TROUTTROUT UNLIMITED2000 W. Spencer St.Appleton, WI 54914

Mark Your Calendars!Saturday, May 11

Habitat Day

Saturday, May 18Fishing Day for People

with DisibilitiesCheck website for details!

NON PROFITUS Postage

PAIDAppleton WI

Permit No. 211

www.foxvalleytu.org

The Fox valley Trout Unlimited chapter is sponsoringour 35th annual Fishing Day for People with Disabilities

on Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 10:30 – 2:00.

The event will again be held at the Main Creek Farm north ofShiocton – map is on our website. Chapter members are needed to:

help with the fishing activities, cleaning and icing fish, cookingburgers and brats, and clean-up. If you can help out for a few hours

on May 18th please call Rich Erickson or Jim Jenkin.

Also, if you know of someone who would enjoy being ableto take part in the Fishing Day for People with Disabilities

please contact Rich or Jim.