General Meeting
Tuesday, January 9th, 2024
“Fly Tying Night”
Please join us at our next General Membership meeting on Tuesday, January 9th featuring our annual Member Fly Tying Night. The action starts at 7:30 pm at the American Legion Hall, 137 New Market Road in Dunellen, NJ.
As in past, we invited our talented CJTU fly tiers to demonstrate their patterns, techniques and general prowess to other attendees. We will have a nice overhead AV setup so everyone can get a good view of how patterns are tied, live and in-person.
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 if you are inspired by what you see, sign up for the fly tying courses that CJTU will be sponsoring starting in February 2024.
Tuesday, February 13th, 2024
Rick Nyles
Tactical Dry Fly Fishing
Rick has been fly fishing for over 45 years and started guiding in 1999, 24 years ago. As the business grew, Rick decided to start Sky Blue Outfitters in 2001. Sky Blue has grown to be the most comprehensive guide services in Pennsylvania. His staff of 8 guides has well over 100 years of guiding experience and over 170 years of combined fly fishing in Pennsylvania. Sky Blue Outfitters is a Endorsed Trout Unlimited Business for over 10 years. Sky Blue also offers destination trips to Pennsylvania, Montana, Saskatchewan and Idaho.
Rick is an accomplished fly tier who is known for his CDC patterns, his simple approach to fly tying, and fishing techniques. Rick placed 3rd in the ORVIS fly tying contest by entering his unique Green Drake pattern. Rick developed and started selling his own wing material called UP DN TROUT. Rick has done presentations at the regional fly-fishing shows, contributed to books and magazine articles on fishing in Pennsylvania. He is also Executive Vice President for Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited.
American Legion Hall
137 New Market Road
Dunellen, NJ
Meeting starts at 8:00 PM - Non Members are always welcome!
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President’s Letter
I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself, although I suspect that many of you may already know me. My name is Bart Lombardo, and I am the “new” president of Central Jersey Trout Unlimited. “New” is probably not the best way to describe my role as president as I have served in this capacity many times over many years!
I want to thank our outgoing president Masha Benovengo for the fine work she did running the chapter for the last few years. For those of you that may not be aware Marsha has been pulling double duty serving as our chapter president and the president of the New Jersey State Council of Trout Unlimited. Fortunately, Marsha is not leaving CJTU and is staying on as a board member where she will continue to support our chapter.
One of my goals as president is to try and breathe some life back into our chapter. We have been struggling since the outbreak of COVID 19. The shutdown hit us particularly hard, and we have some work to do to get us back to where we were pre-pandemic. We are looking for help on several fronts including bringing some new folks onto the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors are the individuals responsible for running day to day operations of the organization. Over the years we have lost a number of board members, and it is critical that we get a few folks to take a more active role in the organization. There are a number of open positions available, and I am happy to discuss what is involved and what is expected of someone who decides that they would be interested in helping out.
The board meets once a month (the first Tuesday) via a zoom call, so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home to participate. Board meetings are open to all members, and I encourage you to attend one if you have any interest in helping out. Believe me when I say it is not a heavy lift. It is a role that anyone can fill if they have a desire to help Central Jersey Trout Unlimited succeed in the future.
The beginning of the year is always a busy time for us. We have several events and activities taking place over the next few months. Starting out in January is the Fly Fishing Show at the end of the month. The Fly Fishing Show takes place at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison NJ on January 26-28, 2024. CJTU will be manning a booth at this event to promote our conservation and fund raising efforts. We still have some spots available for volunteers at our table. No prior experience is required, we can bring you up to speed in a few minutes if you want to help us out at the show. Give us three or more hours at our table and we will cover the cost of your admission to the show ($20.00). If you’re interested in helping reach out to Marsha Benovengo at casabeno@msn.com .
In February we will be kicking off our fly tying school. This year we are offering two classes. The first class is our Beginners Fly Tying Class. In this class we will introduce you to the art of fly tying and by the end of the class you will have all the skills needed to tie your own flies. For the beginner’s class everything is provided including all tools and materials. The second class is the Intermediate Fly Tying Class. This class is for the fly tier who has acquired the basic skills in handling tools and materials either by previously taking a beginner’s course and/or tying flies regularly for a year or two. The cost for each class is $50.00. The classes will take place over two Saturdays, February 10 &17, 2023. The class hours are 10:00am to 3:00pm and take place at the same American Legion Hall where we have our monthly meetings. If you are interested in taking a class or would like more information, drop us a line at cjtutying@cjtu.org .
In March we kick off our Point Mountain stocking program. CJTU has adopted the Point Mountain Tract on the Musconetcong River as our “home waters”. Our chapter led the efforts on the restoration project completed there some years ago. We have also been assisting the state in stocking trout on this beautiful stretch of trout stream for many years. Our volunteers stock the length of this special regulation water ensuring that fish are evenly distributed throughout the tract opposed to being dropped off at the bridges that cross the river. If you would like to help us stock this stretch of stream reach out to the program coordinator Ed Kordyla at kordyla@aol.com .
In April is our Annual River Clean-Up. Once again this takes place at Point Mountain on the Musky. The date for the clean-up is Saturday, April 13, 2024. We meet on the river at 9:00am and work for a few hours cleaning up the area. This is a family friendly event and a great opportunity to get outdoors and do something good for the environment! Contact Masha Benovengo at casabeno@msn.com for more information or to sign up for the event.
Also, in April our chapter will be participating in Rutgers Day at Rutgers University. This one-day event is a big one for us and we are always looking for volunteers to assist us. You can contact me for additional information (my contact info is at the end of this letter). Rutgers Day is Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Our next general meeting is Tuesday January 9, 2024. We are doing something a little different for this meeting. Some of CJTU’s most talented fly tiers will be showing off some of their favorite fly patterns. They will tie the flies right there at the meeting and what’s going on behind the vise will be projected on the big screen for all to see. They will tie the flies right in front of you while discussing where, when, and how they fish them. This should be a great meeting so be sure to come out and join us. The meeting begins at 8:00pm, though folks show up earlier to set up and socialize. Meetings are held in the American Legion Hall, 137 New Market Road, Dunellen, NJ 08812.
I look forward to my “new” role for the next two years! I hope to see you at a meeting or event soon.
Tight Lines
Bart Lombardo
You can contact Bart at
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News & Events
CJTU Fly Tying School 2024!
Open for Enrollment
Part 1: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Part 2: Saturday February 17, 2024
10:00 to 3:00 PM
Beginners Fly Tying Class
This is our entry-level class for the person just getting started in fly tying or who has very little experience. We will cover the basic tools, techniques and materials necessary to tie a variety of basic flies, concentrating on patterns that work well on local rivers and streams.
Learn to do things “right from the start” from our excellent instructors who are some of the best in the East. Techniques are taught in a sequence that continually builds competence. Our instructors watch you and make sure you are doing things right. Further, we will provide a quality vice, tools, hooks and all materials or you can bring your own. Finally, we provide a manual with summarized tying descriptions for each pattern plus a reference to a web video we believe is the best for that pattern.
Intermediate Class
This class is for the intermediate tier who has acquired the basic skills in handling tools and materials either by previously taking a beginners course and/or tying flies regularly for a year or two.
While our Beginners Classes are the same from year to year, our Intermediate Class constantly evolves. New patterns, techniques and materials introduced by tiers through-out the world are monitored, and the best ones that mesh with the skill set of the intermediate tier are selected. Thus the class remains interesting to past attendees and also to those who have never taken it before. Students must bring their own vise and tools, some materials will be provided.
The cost for all classes is $50.00. To register or ask questions contact us at cjtutying@cjtu.org. Please register early so CJTU can plan ahead to make your course a success.
Fly tying classes will be held in the American Legion Hall, 137 New Market Road, Dunellen, NJ 08812
This course is open to members and nonmembers. We welcome anyone who has an interest in the sport of Fly Fishing or Fly Tying.
Our courses are taught in a relaxed atmosphere of camaraderie. We feel that with the patient, guiding help of our instructors, everyone will finish the course with a good working knowledge of how to tie flies.
Please remember to bring a light for your vise, lighting conditions in the building might not be as bright as you may like.
The Fly Fishing Show
January 26 - 28
New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837-3810
As we do every year, we will have our booth set up at the Fly Fishing Show. We will be needing volunteers to help man the booth for the 3 day period.
CJTU Fly Tying School
February 10 and 17, 2024
Musky River Clean-up
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Rutgers Day
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Fly of the Month
Jigged Faux Fur Zonker
Tied by Bill Ninke
Top, Brass Barbell Eyes; Middle Tungsten Bead Plus Plastic Barbell Eyes; Bottom, Plastic Barbell Eyes
Whenever I visit a crafts store I walk all the aisles looking for any new material that might be used to in tying a fly. About five years ago in the yarn section of my local Hobby Lobby I noticed a yarn I had not seen before. It seemed an endless white synthetic zonker strip close in fiber size, texture and width to a natural rabbit zonker. As I picked up and examined a skein, another customer walked up beside me and picked out a skein for herself. I took the opportunity to ask if she could tell me what it was and what she was going to do with it. She said she knew it to be a synthetic fake or faux fur and that she was going to crochet into a fur-like collar around the neck of a sweater she was making. She advised me that I should be sure to use a size 13 crochet hook if I bought it. I assured her that I wouldn’t be crocheting with the yarn but might make fishing flies from it. She said “Good luck”, gave me strange look and hurried away to check out her skein. Thus was I introduced to the name fake fur yarn and how normal people use it. Now alone in the aisle, I noticed skeins in maybe a dozen colors beside the white (officially Yarn Bee Fur the Moment, Cream) but decided to buy only the white and take it home for experiments. At 62 yards for $6 I figured I could try and afford to discard many failed experiments while having lots of yarn left for duplicating successful ones.
Once home I started by taking a good look at the construction and properties of my new yarn. The package said 100% polyester fibers. This meant the yarn would take Sharpies and RIT Dyemore dyes. The fibers were about ½ inch long emanating from a ribbon-like tape about 1/8 inch wide. Each fiber was fine, about the diameter of the hairs from a mink zonker. But, unlike those on an animal skin, they were not solid but were comprised of even smaller fibers that separated on the outer end to give a slightly fuzzy tip. Although the “faux hairs” were slightly tangled in the yarn coming from the skein, I found that running a comb through them straightened them so that when you looked at the cut end of a yarn section you have a cross section with outer periphery in the shape of the letter V. The bottom of the V is slightly truncated, this bottom being the tape into which the fibers are woven. While the fibers emanated at nearly 90 degrees to the core tape there was a slight grain from the manufacturing process but certainly not as strong as the grain on a natural fur zonker strip.
Now having some basic understanding of the yarn, I tied the end of a piece to the back end of a long shank hook , making sure the slight grain was like that of a feather to be wrapped. I then wrapped it forward the length of the shank with the edges of the central tape abutting, brushing back the fibers with my fingers with each wrap, and tied it off. With a little more combing I had a nice cylinder of fibers. If I overlapped the tape core and even more carefully brushed back the fibers on each wrap, the cylinder became denser, the amount depending on the overlap. I then tapered the cylinder with my scissors and rebrushed it. This restored the fuzzy ends to each of any cut fibers making it looked like I’d wrapped the cylinder with a yarn section of preshaped profile. Wow, I thought. Although this yarn seemed at first to be just a synthetic replacement for an animal zonker strip, it’s really is material that can be used to form bodies or extended tails that can be sculpted. Next I furled it alone and then in combination with some eyelash yarn. Impressive results. Then I tried various weaves, Again, impressive results. I even borrowed a crochet hook from my wife and did a chain stitch extended body. Buoyed by the potential for the yarn, when Hobby Lobby next had one of their periodic “30% off on all yarn” sales, I went back and bought a wide assortment of colors in Yarn Bee and Lion brands. Over the coming months I’ll be presenting flies than take advantage of the many things I learned and faux yarns I now have. But this month I’m describing the first pattern I actually tied with a few refinements added based on fishing the pattern.
This month’s pattern is a variation on Dan Byford’s Zonker, a streamer pattern originally with a wing of a rabbit zonker strip. Byford first created it in 1975 and a multitude of tiers have produced a multitude a variants since then. In the photo I’ve stuck with my white initial yarn since a white streamer seems always effective. Byford’s original used a regular hook and lead barbell eyes. I started with only substituting the faux yarn for the rabbit. But in fishing my initial version I found that it hung up easily on the weeds in local bass ponds and particularly snagged the pickerel weeds at the edges of these ponds. So I switched to a short shank wide gap jig hook which has helped considerable. This hook has also helped reduce snags from clumsy casts while banging the bank of a stream for trout. Because the fuzzy tips of the fibers are larger than the fiber next to the support tape, a free section of yarn always curves away from the tape. See the photo.
I’ve tied and tested two weighting variations. The first uses just plastic barbell eyes. This variation is easily cast and fishes well using a Tenkara rod. The eyes are located at the center of the shank so in still water the fly settles slowly in a mostly horizontal orientation with the curved tail flapping up and down. Many a bass has grabbed it quickly. The second uses brass barbell eyes again mounted at mid-shank. This is more in line with Byford’s original. It tends to dive forward with tail again flapping up and down. I’ve used a fairly long fibered crystal chenille for the body with trimming to get a wide front but back tapered shape. Eddy currents coming off the body excite the tail during a retrieve, sort of the effect Drew Chicone and Brian Wise get with their fettucine foam patterns. Many recent articles and videos extoll using jigged streamers on mono euro rigs. I’ve pictured a version with a 3/16 tungsten slotted bead at the head (middle one in photo) which I soon will test. I highly suspect it will catch well. I did not trim the “faux hair” fibers on any of the pictured flies but I often do some tapering.
Once materials are collected, a streamer every five minutes can be done. See the detailed tying instructions. To keep the tape at the tail of the fly from fraying I’ve impregnated that part of the tape with thinned Liquid Fusion. I’ve also brushed the top front of the fly with the thinned liquid fusion to hold the front in a nice shape.
Click here for the recipe!
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