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December 2017 |
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General MeetingTuesday, December 12, 2017Holiday Gathering with Fly Tying
Our Meeting on December 12 will feature some of the old and some of the new. We will start the meeting at 7:30 with pizza and soda available. As for the old, as in recent December meetings, we invite our Chapter fly tiers to demonstrate their patterns, techniques and general prowess to other attendees. So if you are one of these tiers, bring you materials and tools and be prepared to show off. But we will be adding three new twists. First, we want to encourage those who have never tied a fly to get started. So please invite any friends , neighbors, spouses, family members, significant others or whatever that fit this category to the meeting or come yourself and one of our excellent instructors will provide guidance in tying a first fly. Tools and materials will be provided.
Second, for existing tiers who have questions about a particular pattern or technique, bring the relevant hook and materials and your own vice and tools and our instructors will guide you in answering your questions. Could it be that none can help? We doubt it. But maybe you can wipe the smug confidence off their faces to the delight of all attendees. Finally, for those who never have or never will tie flies, we invite you to share social interactions with other Chapter Members and witness the appearance of Santa Claus at about 9:00. Santa will have special gifts to those who have been good during the last year. Even if you haven’t been good Santa keeps poor records and will most likely still give you something. Anyway, all come and have a great time. Tuesday, January 9, 2018"From the Skies" – Tenkara, Fixed line Fly FishingPresented by Lou DiGena
Tenkara is a Japanese method of fly fishing which is "from heaven," or "from the skies." Tenkara is a fixed line method of Fly Fishing developed in Japan, but there are a Northern Italy version and similar 16th and 17th centuries methods in Britain. "Tenkara" requires only a rod, line and fly, much like in Izaak Walton's time. In The Compleat Angler, Piscator said to Venator: "And I will then give you direction for the making and using of your flies: and in the meantime, there is your rod and line; and my advice is, that you fish as you see me do and let's try which can catch the first fish." 
Note there is no mention of a reel. The only reference to a reel In The Compleat Angler is when fishing for salmon. Lou was introduced to Tenkara fly-fishing in early 2010 and saw right away how productive, and fun this method could be; it’s that and more. At that time there was little to no information on the technique, other than the materials from TenkaraUSA and a few bloggers. As Lou explains “My first attraction to this method is its minimal philosophy, lightweight and compactness (great for backpacking). But what keeps me going with Tenkara is it’s deadly effectiveness and unmatched approach for presenting a fly”. Lou DiGena, a longtime CJTU member and former chapter president, has been using this method since 2010 for Trout, Landlocked Salmon and Bass from Maine to Montana and is eager to share his knowledge. Join us for a presentation on Tenkara Fishing gear, flies, and techniques. He will cover rods, lines, flies, knots and how to present flies during an evening entitled "From the Skies.” Tuesday, February 13, 2018"Fly Fishing Paradise"Presented by Andrew Trelease
Andrew Trelease is an avid fly fisherman, guide and owner of Trout Haven. As a native of upstate New York, Andrew learned to fly fish on some of the Northeast's most legendary rivers - the Beaverkill, the East and West Branches of the Delaware River, Willowemoc Creek, and lesser-known backcountry gems full of native brook trout. Before earning his Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Mathematics and Music from Union College in 2010, Andrew would fish and guide between semesters and whenever possible. His studies lead him to Miami, culminating in a full-ride and Masters degree in Music Composition from Florida International University. After returning to the Northeast in 2014, Andrew founded Trout Haven – a destination guiding service offering trips to the world-renowned waters of Spruce Creek in central Pennsylvania. Trout Haven now attracts visitors from all over the country, and some internationally. When he’s not guiding, Andrew can be found tying flies and plucking his bass guitar. American Legion Hall
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President’s Letter
The Chapter tied flies and cast the new Helios 3 rods at Orvis on November 12. We also tied flies at L.L. Bean at Freehold Raceway Mall on November 25. Both events were enjoyable. It's is always fun meeting new people at these events. This is one way we actively recruit new members. At L.L. Bean, Bart Lombardo brought his younger son, Daniel, since he is presently learning how to tie. Now you can't get a better teacher than Bart. It was fun watching him pass on his passion for tying to the little guy. Daniel had Bart and I laughing to the point where each of us almost lost our breath. 
Please keep in mind that both the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen's Show and The Fly Fishing Show go on this January. We always need help working these shows. Please consider helping us out for a morning or afternoon at one of these two shows. There is a lot of camaraderie that goes on behind the tables at our booths. Join us and get into some of that fun with us. We're always trying to get people more active in our Chapter. Learning fly tying in this day and age has changed. The first time I picked up a bobbin spooled with waxed tread was thirty-four years ago at CJTU's Fly Tying Class and Dick Turse was the instructor. It was there that I learned the art of tying. Today most of our beginners sit at their computer screens and google whichever fly that want to learn to tie. My friend Art Port and I met a younger fellow on the East Branch of the Croton this October. He was only fly fishing and fly tying for a couple of months but he was already catching fish. He told us all his instruction came from the web. I won't hide the fact that I have done the same thing in the last several years to learn some new patterns. Now, I will tell you that my most used fly for nymphing is a heavily weighted Walt's Worm. I was introduced to that fly a few years ago at a CJTU meeting. The guide who presented the program gave us his detailed manner of tying that pattern. I COULD NOT GET THAT ON THE WEB! With that last capitalized sentence in mind, five of our best fly tiers/instructors have gotten together to offer new personalized instruction. Please read about the first offering of this instruction at our December 12 meeting. They are making a strong attempt to make face to face instruction relevant in this You Tube age. As President of CJTU I applaud their efforts! I think they're on to something. Now the December 12 meeting will be a blast, I guarantee it! Besides new approaches in fly tying instruction, pizza and soda to start the night at 7:30, the big guy himself, Santa, will arrive at 9:00 that evening. You never know what Santa has planned for us. If I were reading this letter, I would make it my business not to miss this meeting. In closing, I wish all of you a "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Hanukkah" and a New Year filled with the biggest and most trout you have ever caught! Tight lines,
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News & Events Central Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited
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Fly of the Month“Blue Muskie Nymph”Tied by Bob Machemer Click here for the recipe! |
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Central Jersey Trout Unlimited’s Supporters
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Well, it looks like our warm Fall is about to abruptly turn cold. My last day of fishing was Wednesday, November 29. I fished Point Mountain and managed to catch and release only two small rainbows. I will say the water was really cold but I never took the time to check with my stream thermometer. That may have contributed to my limited catch. At least that's what Bruce Turner of Orvis Princeton said when he asked me how I did that day. You can always rely on a friend to try to boost your spirits.
Bart spent about an hour teaching him how to tie a wooly bugger. Once he learned the tie, he then proceeded to start teaching anyone who wanted to learn. As I was tying, the young Lombardo turned to me and asked if I wanted to learn how to tie a wooly bugger despite my years of tying. When Bart and I heard his offer, we both started to laugh uncontrollably for a couple of minutes. Undaunted, he then offered his new-found ability to teach Laure Palatini of L.L. Bean the art of tying. I think the appropriate words to describe Daniel is precocious and enthusiastic. Trout Unlimited's future will go on because of young people like these.
