April 2013

News & Events

General Meeting - Tuesday, April 9, 2013

“Spey Casting & Fishing for Steelhead on the Salmon River”

Presented by Dave Hess

Dave is a native of the Lehigh Valley area of PA where he grew up fishing the local spring creeks. After retiring from a career in law enforcement, Dave went to work for Tight Lines Fly Fishing in Parsippany, NJ. He has fished extensively throughout the west in Alaska, Montana, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and British Columbia. His latest passion is swinging flies for steelhead in the Lake Ontario tributaries and in the western US.

Tuesday, May 14 

Brian Cowden presents his annual
"Musconetcong Home Rivers Initiative Update"

Brian Cowden is on TU’s Eastern Conservation staff serving as the Coordinator for the Musconetcong Home Rivers Initiative in northwest New Jersey. He has been a life long conservationist active in causes related to New Jersey’s outdoor pursuits. His interest in conservation led Brian to become an active TU volunteer running Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program as state-wide coordinator. Later, Brian joined TU’s New Jersey state council as vice chair. After 20 years in corporate sales, Brian joined the Eastern Conservation staff in February 2008. The Musconetcong Home Rivers Initiative is designed to work closely with landowners and non-profit, local, state and federal agencies, as well as performing public outreach and education to protect and restore the beautiful Musconetcong River and its tributaries in this 158 square mile watershed that drains into the Delaware River. When not working in the “Musky”, Brian is known to follow his Brittany through the grouse and woodcock uplands or fly fish for trout or striped bass. Brian resides with his wife and daughter near the upper Musconetcong watershed in northwestern New Jersey.

Join us for a CJTU Member Picnic at the June meeting

Tuesday, June 18, 2013
6 pm to 9pm
More Details Here

Tuesday, September 10

Jay "Fishy" Fullum"

Pre Meeting Capsule Classroom

Last Fall we launched a new feature in our meetings, the Capsule Classroom. It consists of a short focused session right before our formal meeting (and repeated immediately after our formal meeting and maybe during the break depending upon circumstances). Each session features a presentation and demo by one of our Chapter members or a Guest on a topic that will improve your skills in tackle management, fly tying, or casting.

New Season Casting Tuneup – Come Early

This month we will have Darrel Luty, a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Fly Casting Instructor, as our guest presenter. He currently is a sales consultant in the fishing department at Efingers and helps customers pick out fly rods and new casters get started. As a result, he is quite experienced in watching a caster for a brief time and then suggesting improvements in casting technique. His Classroom session will consist of briefly watching the fly casting of any of you who wants to participate and then suggesting a few ways to improve. So, if you’d like some help, bring your rod, reel, and line all rigged and ready to go. He feels it is best to use your own familiar equipment. We’re hoping for good weather so that we can have the Classroom outside. We plan on having some Redington practice rods available if the weather is lousy and we need be indoors. Of course to serve the greatest number of people, time spent with each caster will be brief. But, if you like what he teaches, Darrel is available for hire at a later time for an in-depth individual lesson. All observers should learn from the comments made to the individual casters.

American Legion Hall
137 New Market Road
Dunellen, NJ

Meeting starts at 8 PM - Non Members are always welcome!

2013 Fly Tying School

The last session of the 2013 Fly Tying School was held on March 19. Thanks go to Ron Ruskai and the Instructors for making this another succesful year. The 2014 classes will be starting in January.

President’s Letter

April 2013

This weekend will be the official start of the the 2013 Trout season.  I say "official" because many anglers enjoy fishing for trout year round.  Fortunately we live in a state where that is possible.  For most fisherman the ritual of opening day is steeped in tradition.  Many have traditional waters they fish, even specific pools on rivers.  The rivers are crowded, often too crowded, but we put up with the company.  Fortunately, things will thin out in a few weeks and solitude on the water will once again be possible.  Whatever your ritual is, get out there and fish this weekend.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the CJTU volunteers who braved the chilly March weather to help out at the Pequest Open House event at the Pequest hatchery last month.  I also want to thank all the folks who donated gear for us to sell at this year's flea market.  We raised just under a $1000.00 dollars for the chapter.

There is still no official word on the status of the Point Mountain Restoration work.  Many of the hurdles that were in front of this project have been cleared and we are hopeful that 2013 will be the year we start this important stream rehabilitation project.  We will keep everyone informed as we move through the spring.  If work is going to take place this year it can not start until after the 15th of June.  In regards to the Trout Conservation stretch at Point Mountain, CJTU volunteers along with folks from Hunderton County Parks assisted the state in stocking trout along the entire section of river.  

In this month's Main Stream you will see a special notice in regards to our June Meeting.  We are doing something a little different this year.  We will be hosting a BBQ for all members and their guests.  The meeting will be taking place on the THIRD Tuesday of the month instead of the second.  We will be at the same location but will be using the grounds outside.  There will be plenty of food and prizes so come out and join us.  You find all the details in this newsletter.

The folks from Tight Lines Fly shop will be giving a presentation entitled “Spey Casting & Fishing for Steelhead on the Salmon River” at this month's general meeting.  They always provide great presentations so be sure not to miss it.  For our Capsule Classroom this month we will have Darrel Luty, a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Fly Casting Instructor, as our guest presenter. He currently is a sales consultant in the fishing department at Efingers and helps customers pick out fly rods and new casters get started. As a result, he is quite experienced in watching a caster for a brief time and then suggesting improvements in casting technique. His Classroom session will consist of briefly watching the fly casting of any of you who wants to participate and then suggesting a few ways to improve.  These sessions start prior to the start of the regular meeting so be sure to get there early and take advantage of this opportunity to "tune up" your casting.

That is going to be it for now as I still need to prep for my Opening Day ritual of a stream side campout.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute...

Tight Lines
Bart Lombardo

Fly of the Month

“Ausable Caddis ”
by Ron Ruskai