The BUFFER

The Newsletter of Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Inc., Cincinnati, OH

Volume 23, Issue 5     Web site: http://www.buckeyeflyfishers.com     May 2000

 Spring Nantahala Trout Trip 

Bob Ireton 

This was certainly one of the more interesting trips to the Nantahala. So far I've fished this river twenty-five different days, but when Jorge Villares and I arrived the afternoon of Wednesday, April 5, I saw something I had not seen before. We found the Nantahala almost two feet higher than the normal Spring flow. In fact, we watched someone kayaking in the upper gorge. Those who have seen the upper gorge know this guy must have a death wish. 

I talked with the kayaker, and he said that the water level was three feet higher than today's level when they were running the gorge the day before. We could see this was true by looking at the drift line. If you have seen the delayed harvest section of the Nantahala, especially the upper gorge, you can understand what this much water would be like. Wading was definitely out of the question. 

The water was a little off color, and 49 degrees. Jorge and I decided to try fishing by 'rock hoping' from the edges. Although I caught some fish, my normal techniques didn't work as well as usual. Jorge used his 'Mad River' experience, and did really well. Nice going, Jorge! 

The next day, the water level had gone down some, and was clear. We were able to venture into the river, although we had to be very careful. The fishing improved, and we did better than the day before. Also, several of the trip participants began arriving early. So far the weather had been perfect; sunny and in the upper 60's. 

The official trip started with our meeting at the Sleep-Inn on Friday morning at 7:30 am. The weather forecast was mostly sunny, temperatures in the lower 70's. Participants were Bill Riehle and his wife (who came to keep Bill out of trouble! ), Bill Schobel, John Doscher and his brother, Rick, Wayne Fischer, Doug Mowell, Steve Simms and his guest, Ray Spurlock, Norv Webb, Dave Jones, Don Hogue,Ted Keegan, Bob Ireton, Jorge Villares, Bob Purde, and Paul Wynet. What a great group of fly fishers! 

After going over last minute details, etc., I asked those who had not fished here before and would like to fish with an experienced Nantahalier, to identify themselves. I then asked that those willing to help out, meet us at a designated location at the river. With these details addressed, we left for the twenty mile drive to the river. Upon our arrival at the river, Jorge and I lent a hand to Steve Simms, Ray Spurlock, Paul Wynet, Bob Purde, and Dave Jones. Before too long, everyone was doing fine. Everyone else had already spread out along the four mile 'Delayed Harvest' section of the river, and were busy catching Brookies , Brown, and Rainbow trout! 

The water level had gone down some more overnight, although it was still at a very healthy Spring level, and was clear and 48 degrees. The weather was beautiful, and everywhere could be seen the evidence of Spring! It doesn't get much better than this! Everyone had a great time, and everyone caught trout! I heard so many good stories and experiences, that it would take a book to tell them all here!

Because of the high water, nymphing was by far the most successful method to catch fish, although some of us did some dry fly fishing, with success! At day's end, we all met in Bryson City at the PEKING CITY Chinese restaurant. We dined on their excellent food, and relived the day's adventures. It was a wonderful time!

Saturday started out at 50 degrees, and overcast, with the weather report forecasting a nasty cold front coming through during the day. As predicted, the temperature dropped throughout the day, and by afternoon, it was 34 degrees, and sleeting! What good luck! This cleared out the fair weather fishermen, and what would normally be a crowded Saturday on the Nantahala, turned out to be a day with the pick of the good fishing spots! Everyone who fished did well. In fact, this turned out to be my best day of the trip. I had my highest day total of the trip, and almost landed the biggest trout of my life! 

While fishing the upper section, I hooked what could have been mistaken as a snag, but seconds later, a huge Rainbow Trout broke the surface. His rainbow colored side was brilliant, and looked a couple feet long. He was so close, I could see a silver spinner-bait stuck in his jaw! I played him for what seemed like forever. He would run, and drop down into a lower plunge pool, and I would follow. We did this down several series of drops and pools, and I had him to within a foot of my net several times, only to have him run and drop down to the next plunge pool. This fish was easily over 30 inches long! We had reached a point that I knew I could not follow him past the next drop, so in spite of the current, I attempted to net him. Unfortunately, he went over the next drop to freedom, leaving me shaky and in disbelief. Why do the big ones always get away?

As I said earlier, this trip was certainly the most interesting so far. I'm glad everyone had an enjoyable time. Thanks to all the participants who made this trip a really nice one! I would like to extend an invitation to the non-members that attended this trip to become members of the club. We would love to have you! ­ I don't know about you, but as I relive the great memories of the Spring Nantahala Trout Trip, I'm going to start tying some flies for the Fall trip!

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Elkhorn Creek Fly Fishing Trip - June 2-4

Joe Guenther

As an organization, we are offering you, as a Buffer, the chance to go on a smallmouth bass excursion to one of the best smallmouth creeks to be found anywhere.  The best part is this trip will cost pennies on the dollar and save you hundreds.  There has to be a catch!  Well, there is. First, you have to sign up and the catch is the ever popular smallmouth bass.  If you haven’t guessed already, I’m talking about this year’s Elkhorn Creek flyfishing trip in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the forks of the Elkhorn Campground on June 2 – 4.  

This is a beautiful smallmouth stream close to home with some excellent fishing to be had by all.  This is an invitation to you!  All Buffers are welcome and we hope you will sign up and come.  

The following is an overview of the trip:

Trip Specifics:

I personally have access to three extra tents, cookstoves, lanterns, coolers and other equipment.  I also have a couple of extra fly rods.  So, if there is someone who would like to go and does not have the equipment needed, I will loan some of mine.  So don’t let that hold you back from going on this great trip! 

For new members and people that have not fished this area I have talked to a couple Buffers that have a good bit of experience on this water and they have agreed to do a morning “How To Fish The Elkhorn” techniques seminar on the water including what to look for, fly selection and so on.  They will know some of the good spots.  

If this sounds like something you are interested in, please let me know.  The June 2-4 weekend is the National Free Fishing Weekend.  No fishing license is required for this particular weekend only!  I have received my information packet from the Kentucky Department of Wildlife and they have the Elkhorn Creek rated excellent for the year 2000!  

This trip should and can be a great success if we can get you to come to the Elkhorn for a weekend of smallmouth fishing.  Some trips end up getting scratched from the next year’s calendar due to lack of interest and participation.  Let’s not let this trip spit the hook on us!!!  If you are interested, sign up at the May B.U.F.F. meeting or call me anytime, Joe Guenther (724-6343).  Thanks for your support and hope to see you on the Elkhorn.  ­  

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Another great  report on Ohio Steelhead

Karl Krefting  

I went to my first Fly Fishing Sports Show with the thought that I would be spending little or no money.  I deliberately brought only a few dollars just to make sure of it.  All of the seminars were entertaining, but Brian’s presentation in Erie Steelies was invigorating.  I signed up for the trip ten minutes after the seminar!  The prospect of catching a steelhead without going all the way to Manistee sounded great.  So much for not spending any money.  

The 300 mile drive through Ohio was boring as usual, but turned out to be well worth it.  The guided trip included lodging at the local motel in Conneaut.  It was nothing special but just fine for our purpose.  We convened there and went to the creek to find some fish.

The creek basin was mostly sedimentary rock with no gravel and very few trees.  Other than being quite slippery with algae, the creek was very navigable with chest waders and good balance.  I noticed early on that unlike the rivers and creeks in the Manistee area, landing a fish here would be quite easy. As it turned out, I would be right.

The water was low and clear – too low, really.  The fish could see us as well as we could see them.  What a pain!  It’s tough being sneaky with clunky rubber waders.  Fortunately, the majority of the decent fishing holes allowed for a good cast both ‘fore and aft.  A fisherman good at rollcasting would do well.  I’m sure it will be a few years before I’m to that point.  A longer fly rod would have allowed me more versatility in that area.  I unfortunately do not have a ten foot model.  I have an 8-1/2 ft., 5 weight rod with a WF5F line.  My leader consisted of a two foot butt section of fifteen pound Amnesia, eight inches of nine pound shockgum, three foot of ten pound Maxima, and two feet of 4X fluorocarbon tippet.  The flies that worked the best were cream eggs and a dark bead nymph dropper. 

The first evening back at the motel I was throwing together some easier tied flies for a couple of guys from Columbus who did not tie their own stuff.  They seemed interested to some degree in what I was doing.  I was asked to tie something totally ridiculous just to be rebellious so I used some strands of cheap brown shag from the motel carpet.  The CARPET SPAWN was born.  The really funny part was that I caught steelhead on all three flies that I tied from this stuff.  What a great hobby!  

The eight of us fished for two days with three guides for Mad River Outfitters.  While I didn’t do any math to arrive at this, I believe we collectively stuck about 120 and landed between 20 and 30 steelheads.  The average size was about seven pounds.  Not bad at all since most (or all) of us are first time steelheaders.  The guides really knew what to do and how to do it.  They made sure everyone caught fish.   If you are inexperienced in fly fishing or catching Salmonidae, these guys will definitely get you on the right track.

Anyway, in closing, the most important point, regardless of whether you’re fishing for tarpon or bluegill, is that you enjoy yourself.  And we definitely did!!  

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A Good Day of Fishing  

Roy Matthews  

On my annual trip to the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle in March of 2000, I took a guided trip with Captain Allen Duke of Presnell’s RV and Marine Resort.  The resort is near Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park.  This was my second trip with Allen and I must say he knows where the fish are located.

On the second cast I hooked and landed a five pound Red Fish, which on anybody’s stringer is an excellent catch.  Not long afterwards, the second catch of the day was a four and three quarter pound Sea Trout.  Captain Allen was really enthused with this fish because it was the largest caught so far this season.  I caught several smaller ones during the rest of the outing.  James Fairfield, a fellow camper, was having no luck and asked me to handle his lure.  I did so and on the next cast he caught a two and a half pounder.  Between the two of us, we netted more than our limit of seven each.  Several of the campers enjoyed a fish fry that evening.  

I am already planning my trip for next year.   Would you like to go along? ­  

Prognostication 2000

Ed Jones  

It was 3 PM Wednesday, the Ides of March, and the forecast was for 65 degrees to be followed by several days of late winter weather.  If I didn't get out this day, it might be a couple of weeks before my first fishing escapade of 2000.  I left a pile of half-completed work, grabbed my neoprenes, belly boat, and a 6-weight and headed to a near-by farm pond.

A belly boat over one shoulder, and scuba flippers over the other, my boots led the way for the first time this century along a familiar half-mile trek -- across a dusty road, down a narrow path through the woods, and over a damp gully with Lilies of the Valley poking their noses through the black forest floor.  My pace quickened as I exited the woods onto a deer trail flanked by the lifeless remains of last year's weeds and prairie grasses.  Across the field and over the barbed-wire and I was there for the first time since November.  

The silty old farm pond beckoned with the promise of feisty bull bluegills and a lunker largemouths.  A brisk gust pushed an erratic wave of pond surface toward the center of the water.  A ring of cat tails makes this water difficult to fish without a belly boat or other small craft.

A faint whisper in the breeze seemed to say "Bass," so my finger sifted through the maze of undersized scruffy buggers and nymphs and on to a Zonker.  A big Zonker!  The thick mylar body and long black bunny tail is frequently the last bass fly I use in the fall and the first one in the early spring.  The weighted body sinks about a foot per second to get down to where sluggish big mouths can get a close look. 

My first few casts were pretty sloppy as tight coils of cold weight-forward line fought to find their way past the stripping guide, through the snakes, and out the rod-tip.  The line eventually limbered up, and I got into a rhythm with slick 25-30 foot casts, the weighted Zonker turning over with a gentle plop.  The target was one inch from the edge of last year's cattails.  

After waiting for 5-10 seconds for Zonker to get in the zone, I began a series of slow strips.  On about the 5th cast, the initial strip included a surge of extra weight, and the battle was on!  No aerial antics, of course, but a good fight that twisted the belly boat and me about 180 degrees counterclockwise.  I lipped the bigmouth and held my prize high in the sunlight before easing the barbless hook from the right lower lip.  

I took a little extra time to admire the three pounds of glistening perfection, dark green and white with a racing stripe down the middle of each side - not a blemish to be found.  I eased my new acquaintance back into the water with a promise that we'd meet again when the water was warmer and a popper or hair bug would be more to his liking.  What a start for 2000!  It's going to be a great fishing year! 

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Ohio State Fish Update  

Mike Utt  

Clean water/ Smallmouth Bass Allies,

The second OH-FISH-ALL hearing for the Smallmouth Bass as our state fish was held April 5 with the State Government Committee at the Statehouse in Columbus, and we ROCKED THE HOUSE!!  This campaign is like no other, and the bar has now been raised for any future state symbol proposal by proving statewide support before the proposal is made.  

Testimony was heard from:  

The testimony, coupled with a bus load of students from the Fishing 181 class at the K-8 School, attired in their Make it OH-FISH-ALL, SmallmouthBass Our STATE Fish, Tee shirts provided a display, one that the folks at the Statehouse will not soon forget.  The difference between Smallmouth Bass and all others? Distribution, Attitude, Water Quality, and Statewide Support.  

If you want to see our state bird, put out some bird seed, if you want to see our state fish, keep our waters clean. The Smallmouth Bass as an environmental role model can do for Ohio's waterways what Smokey the Bear did for forest fires.

WE ARE NOT DONE YET! Please!  Contact your State Representatives and tell them you support House Bill 546 and ask them to do the same.  We will need a fresh group of faces for the next Proponent/ Opponent hearing to be scheduled soon.  If you are interested in testifying, (3 minutes) please contact:

Michael Utt  
President - The Ohio Smallmouth Alliance  
(937) 592-5360  
(937) 592-4380  
muttxl@bright.net   ­

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MAD RIVER REPORT - April 2000  

Steve Groome

Well, as the old saying goes: “April Showers Bring May Flowers” also brought FLOODING to the Mad as well as other local streams in the area earlier this month. Unfortunately, the week or so of flood conditions was smack dab in the middle of the HENDRICKSON HATCH! So unless you caught the beginning or the tail end of the hatch on the “good days”, it could have easily been completely missed by a lot of anglers. 

I was lucky enough to go up the Saturday afternoon (April 1st) before the “Great Flood”  (which has changed the river bottom river quite a bit by the way) and caught the beginning of the hatch, which was sporadic but got going “pretty well” between 2 and 4 that afternoon. I had a lot of rising fish but only caught 6 due to my dry fly skills, which got very rusty over the winter! But I would say in that 2 hour period, I probably had close to 20 fish rise to my # 14 Hendrickson Thorax Style Tie. (pinkish body and gray wing).  

And later in the month (April 15th) after the flooding but with water still a little high and off-color, I fished with TU President and MVFFer Mark Blauvelt above 36 and we happened upon a few fish rising on the right bank as you head up stream. We caught a few on Hendricksons and would have done better but for 2 anglers who got in the river just upstream but right next to us and started fishing to our risers! We didn’t say anything for a long time until Mark got so mad he gave them a lesson about stream etiquette and the fact there are approx. 25 miles of trout water on the Mad in which to fish! (I’ll save a discussion of stream etiquette for another article, but this was a clear breach of it under any circumstances!)

As far as TU activities in April….the Habitat  Day on  April 8th was canceled due to flooding, but the Stream Monitoring did take place last Saturday (the 22nd) but I don’t have the official results for you yet. They will be forthcoming however! As far as May goes, we will have a Habitat Day on May 14th (I’m sure the Mother’s will be happy about having it on that day—who picks these dates anyway!?) and meet at the low dam at 36. This date is subject to change I’m sure, when everyone realizes that their fishing privileges will be revoked for the entire year if they go to the Mad on Mother’s Day! Ha! Ha!

That’s all for this month’s article…until next month…..Tight Lines to all of you!  

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Cabo San Lucas 

by Steve Groome

For you saltwater fishing fans, I was down in Cabo San Lucas in February of this year at the tip of the Baja Penn. in Mexico and had some success catching Striped Marlin on the Fly. There are also a  number of other species you can catch on the fly there as well but it has to be one of the best places in the world to catch Billfish (especially Striped Marlin) on the fly. I highly recommend.

If you go, you will need at least a 13 Wt. with a good saltwater reel that will hold at least 400 yards of backing. A Billfish tapered fly line that is intermediate sinking and billfish leaders with at least  12 inches of 100 lb. Shock tippet. I used a leader with a 20 lb. IGFA class section tied to the shock tippet. And would recommend using no lighter leader than that unless you are going for a world record. If you are going for an IGFA record, the shock tippet can be no longer than 12 inches and the “class section” must be at least 16 inches I believe.

The one Marlin I tagged and released (130 pounds) was teased to the back of the boat by trolling hookless teasers (skirted lures) and then the fly was presented when all but one teaser was left in the water. The fish hit on the fifth strip I made. I was using a mackerel type billfish  fly  tied on a 8/0 hook.  We landed 3 others between 120 and 150 pounds on the 4 day trip but those were on conventional saltwater gear. I also got a couple of small tuna on a 10 Wt. outfit.

Well that’s all for this month’s article. Good luck fishing and tight lines to all of you!

BEGINNER’S  CASTING CLASS  

Steve Groome will be teaching a Beginner’s Casting Class for any B.U.F.F. members interested in learning the basic casting techniques.  The class is FREE to B.U.F.F. members.  The class will be conducted on Thursday, May 18 at 7:00p.m.   

The location is the Deerfield Township Park off of Montgomery Road.  Steve will be teaching the Lefty Kreh Five Step Method of casting.  This is a great opportunity, so take advantage of it.  

Call Steve (683-5601) for details and signup.

Thanks Roy!!

Jim Leblond

I would like to extend a special thank you to Roy Mathews for his April program entitled “50 Years Behind The Long Rod.” Anyone, who knows Roy, knows that he likes to tell stories and they are always entertaining.  Roy began by telling us how as a child he saved dimes to buy his first split bamboo fly rod from Bowls & Brendamore down on 6th Street for the grand sum of $25.00.  

He told us about some of the fish that last a lifetime, like the Blue Gill he caught down on Fontana Lake, “it was six inches…   wide.”   From his many trips to the Welston Inn, or the New River, or to fishing for New Jersey Blue Fish with telephone poles and clotheslines, Roy has done a little bit of almost every type of fishing in his lifetime. After the passing of his best fishing buddy, Roy hung up his fly rod for many years.   

With the help of LL Bean and BUFF, Roy has regained his fishing fervor.   Over the years, Roy has graciously given of his time to our club and our sport.  He’s become a bit of an icon for our club, setting an example that we could all learn from.

Nymphing the Net -  www.ask.com  

Joe Panfalone  

The Internet is loaded with just about any kind of information that you can think of. Even some that you don’t want to think about…like the IRS’s website. Gotcha!

Trying to find the information you want somewhere out in cyber space can be somewhat daunting. Check out this site www.ask.com.  In plain English, you can ask Jeeves the site’s mascot, your question. He will go out and search for you and return with a ton of possible links that may have the information you are looking for. 

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