fly fishing, conservation and politics.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing has become a valued participant at the Jim Range National Casting Call. This year Ed Nicholson, PHW’s president, was on hand to “christen” the Mending, PHW’s warrior built drift boat.
After a brief ceremony the Mending was launched and proceeded out to the Potomac and a successful morning of shad fishing
On Monday I was in Washington, D.C. to participate in the Jim Range National Casting Call. I also had the privilege that evening to be the Master of Ceremonies at the event celebrating the life and conservation legacy of Jim Range, my dear friend who tragically died in January from cancer.
This was the ninth year that the American Fly Fishing Trade Association had gathered on the banks of the Potomac river to celebrate fly-fishing and an aquatic habitat success story, the return of prolific runs of American and Hickory shad to the Potomac river.
This was a special year for those of us who, under Range’s leadership, started the Casting Call. AFFTA’s board of directors, after conferring with the Range family and his friends, decided to rename the event in Range’s honor.
Jim Range was a widely recognized conservation visionary who represented AFFTA in Washington. He was a hero to many in the hunting, fishing and conservation community.
I wrote in this column at the time of his death that he was like a brother to me. The best man in my wedding, a hunting and fishing partner of many years, and the voice on the other end of the phone keeping me strong when trouble came. I still feel that way today and know many more who do as well.
Range saw the Casting Call and its venue, Fletcher’s boathouse on the Potomac, as the perfect opportunity for the fly-fishing industry to educate members of congress and administration officials on the important nexus between conservation and economic activity.
He knew as well that the partnership efforts that had gone into restoring shad to the Potomac were a model that could be replicated across the nation.
“The Jim Range National Casting Call gives us a chance to get government decision-makers on the Potomac to see and experience the aquatic resource we all cherish,” said Alan Gnann, Chairman of the Board of AFFTA. “It was our friend Jim who showed us that this was the best way to communicate the importance of aquatic habitat and fisheries and we will continue this tradition in his name and his honor.”
Around the time of the first casting call, the federally chartered Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, of which Range was a member, recommended that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develop a partnership effort similar to the successful North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
This effort, endorsed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and supported by numerous conservation organization and federal agencies became the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
The Action Plan is a science-based voluntary effort to address the challenges facing aquatic habitat and our nation’s fisheries. There are six regional partnerships, including the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture that works here in the Valley.
Range saw the newly created National Fish Habitat Action Plan as an exceptional example of how partnerships like the one that had helped the shad could be replicated across the country. He saw the National Casting Call as a great opportunity to showcase success.
“The National Fish Habitat Action Plan’s approach – teaming federal, state and local partners – is helping to bring fishable waters back to life in a faster more strategic way. We can see real progress in treating the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms,” said Kelly Hepler, Chairman, National Fish Habitat Action Plan. “The Jim Range National Casting Call gives NFHAP the opportunity to spotlight 10 specific projects that display on the ground work that can be held high as a vision of what quality habitat should be.”
The Action Plan’s 10 “Waters to Watch” was started in 2007. It highlights examples of aquatic habitat conservation efforts of the National Fish Habitat Partnerships. In addition the NFHAP board presents two group awards and two individual awards including newly renamed Jim Range Conservation Vision Award, given this year to world- renowned conservationist Yvon Chouinard, the founder of outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia Inc.
Jim Range was deeply missed at this year’s Casting Call, but his name and legacy live on in tribute to his memory.
You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com
First stop TU’s National Capital Angling Show, Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Georgetown Preparatory School, 10900 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD
This show is always fun with national known and local fly-fishing pros and celebs, casting classes and clinics, and great vendors.
Next week I will be at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, March 16-21, Marriott Crystal Gateway, Arlington, Virginia.
This is the premier gathering of professionals from the hunting, fishing and natural resources community. Loaded with special sessions, workshops, meetings and great changes to socialize with friends and colleagues.
My friends at Blue Ribbon Flies turned me on to this terrific general purpose nymph. I have used it in the mountain streams here in the east and the big rivers in the west. It is one of my favorite “go to” patterns.
Tying the Shop Vac.
Hook: Nymph (sizes 20-12)
Bead: Gold
Body: Zelon Pheasant Tail Dubbing
Rib: Copper wire (thin)
Wing: White Zelon
Step 1: Place a gold bead on the hook
Step 2: Attach thread and tie in gold wire behind bead.
Step 3: Wrap thread over wire to half way down the hook bend.
Step 4: Dub the body forward to just behind the bead.
Step 5: Reverse wrap wire forward to just behind the bead.
Step 6: Attach wing, by folding zelon over the thread and sliding it up behind the bead.
Step 7: Whip finish and trim the wings back to approximately the width of the hook gap.
Change bead color and wire color for variety.
Classic pattern uses real pheasant tail (4-6 fibers). Zelon dubbing is more durable.
As a fisherman and hunter I have learned to appreciate the interconnectivity of the natural world.
Like many, I have come to see the wisdom in the quote often attributed to John Muir, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
By the way, what he really said was, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”
But the point remains.
One of the prime examples of this interconnectivity is the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture.
The Joint Venture began in 2002 when a small group of us got together to see if we could take advantage of the emerging interest in fish habitat conservation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Service had launched the National Fish Habitat Initiative and a few of us were interested in seeing if there might be some common interest to do something for the Brook Trout habitat.
The original group of fish heads included the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ Larry Mohn and Steve Reeser, Hannibal Bolton from the USFWS, Dave Cross from the U.S. Forest Service, Steve Moyer from Trout Unlimited and Gordon Robertson from the American Sportfishing Association.
We all felt that the National Fish Habitat Initiative, later known as the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, was a good idea. Using regional partnerships modeled after the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, joint ventures made good sense to us.
What we worried about was the spectra of “process” getting in the way of progress. The folks managing the Action Plan wanted to build a program first. We wanted to put our time, money and energy into “on the ground” projects.
Over the next few months we reached out to the fish and game departments in the 17 states that encompassed the Eastern Brook Trout’s native range from Maine to Georgia.
Most of the states contacted agreed with our enthusiasm for protecting, restoring and enhancing Brook Trout habitat. Many agreed to participate in an initial planning meeting the following year.
At that meeting the participants formed a steering committee (I currently serve as the vice-chair) to manage the effort. The participating organizations then divided the work among five working committees; Conservation Strategy, Data, Outreach and Education, Science and Research and Grants and Development.
Over the next two years the EBTJV did a range-wide assessment of Brook Trout populations and threats to Brook Trout and Brook Trout habitat in the Eastern United States.
Each state drafted conservation strategies to improve water quality and restore Brook Trout habitat and populations using local, incentive-based, non-regulatory programs.
“Once the partnership recognized the threats facing Brook Trout within its historic eastern range, we developed regional and range-wide strategies to take swift and deliberate steps to conserve strong populations and restore weaker ones,” said Steve Perry, Inland Fisheries Division Chief for the NH Fish and Game Department and Chair of the Joint Venture. “We created a model for fish conservation — a large-scale habitat-focused conservation strategy for a species at risk. This strategy provides us with a roadmap to significantly improve Brook Trout populations by 2025.”
Last year, the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture was recognized as one of the first partnerships under the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. The list of partners supporting the joint venture now includes fish and wildlife agencies from all 17 states, federal agencies, conservation organizations and academic institutions.
Brook Trout are state fish. They are the only trout native to the streams and rivers of the eastern United States.
Once abundant throughout their historical range, Brook Trout populations are declining as land use changes alter their habitat. “Brookies” need cold, clean water to survive. They also serve as excellent indicators of the health of the watersheds they inhabit.
Virginia has received funding for two projects, both of them here in the Shenandoah Valley, one on the North River and another on Smith Creek.
The North River Brook Trout Habitat Restoration project was one of the first to receive funds set aside by the USFWS for the EBTJV.
The North River project is restoring the original stream contour to a five-mile section above the Elkhorn Dam. VDGIF is working with the U.S. Forest Service to restore this historic Brook Trout habitat.
Larry Mohn at VDGIF told me that the project has tremendous potential for Brook Trout restoration. He also said because of the size of project it would take a while to get it completed.
Mohn is a pretty laid-back guy but he was visibly excited about the potential to restore this low in-stream flow habitat for Brook Trout.
The Smith Creek project is in Rockingham County. Working cooperatively with ten diverse partners, the project is helping restore riparian habitat at the headwaters of Smith Creek.
This project connects to Mountain Run in the George Washington National Forest as well, providing additional spawning habitat for those Brook Trout.
The connection the EBTJV has to our everyday life is not hard to see. Clean water is important in so many ways here in the Valley, in Virginia and across the country.
As part of the EBTJV we all benefit from the work to protect our watersheds and aquatic habitat. Whether you fish or not, when we tug at a single thing in nature, we indeed find it attached to the rest of the world.
You can read more of my columns in the News Virginian here.
In keeping with the tradition of New Year’s resolutions I will share one of mine with you.
I have been a somewhat inconsistent fly tyer, both in commitment and quality. This year I resolve to improve both.
What is nice about this resolution is having the chance to share the virtues of this wonderful pastime with you.
If you like to fly-fish and have not learned to tie flies, why not start now? It is a great winter activity. There is something magical about catching a fish on a fly you have tied yourself. Even if you only catch an easily fooled sunfish.
I got started when I was a teenager in the late 60’s. My maternal grandfather taught me.
Like grandfathers will, as soon as he saw I enjoyed it, he got me my own set-up.
It was pretty basic; a vice, some tools and materials. He also let me raid his stash of more exotic materials whenever I wanted.
He taught me the basics and then let me go. He was a good teacher, not insisting on perfection, just happy that I was enjoying myself.
That is the great thing about fly tying — you can do it with kids. The basic tools and materials are not particularly expensive. The basic techniques are easily mastered. Many of the most effective patterns are easily learned.
Can you imagine the smile on a child’s face, fishing with you and catching a fish on a fly they tied themselves? Yup, magical.
Even if you don’t fly-fish, you might like fly tying if you like working with your hands or doing crafts.
One of the fellows I teach fly-fishing with was tying flies for fun and selling them to his fly-fishing friends. After seeing how much fun folks had fishing with his flies he decided to learn how to fly-fish himself.
Here are some suggestions on getting started with fly tying.
First you will need a fly tying vice. The vic is used to securely hold the hook you will be tying the material to form the fly. It stands upright to give you room to work.
The basic beginner vice costs less than $25. Better models will run from $50 to $250 and the top of line models can go for more than $500.
The key thing in a vice is to hold the hook securely. Even the least expensive vices can do that. After that,it is a matter of what your budget is.
The one feature that makes tying easier is a vice that rotates as you tie the material on the hook. Rotary vices of course cost more.
For years I tied dozens of flies without using a rotary vice but I later invested in one. It was worth the money because I could tie flies more efficiently.
I kept my old non-rotary vice for traveling. I can pack the basic equipment I need with my fishing gear and tie up some flies on location.
Next you need some simple tools. While you could find many if not all of these tools around the house, it pays to get the right tools for the job.
As with all work, good tools make sense. You should use the best tools your budget will allow.
Small, sharp scissors designed for fine work are essential. Like vices, they can run from plain to fancy. I have two pairs. One is used only to cut soft materials like fur, feathers, yarn and thread. This one is the more expensive pair.
The second pair cuts wire, tinsel, or other materials that will dull them. A fine substitute for this second set of scissors is a pair of nail trimmers.
Because you will be using spools of thread as you tie your flies, a tool called a bobbin is must have. Having more than one will save you time if you have different spools of thread pre-loaded on their own bobbin.
To make loading the bobbins with thread easier, there is a bobbin threader. It is a “must have” just for the ease of loading bobbins.
You will be working with feathers. The tool, called hackle pliers, holds the feather as you wrap it around the hook. The simpler ones are best for beginners so you get a feel for wrapping feathers.
Other material you are apt to use a lot is hair. Elk, deer and moose are the common ones. A hair stacker comes in real handy to help get all the ends lined up for tying them on to the hook.
Another handy tool is a dubbing needle also called a bodkin. It is just a needle in a handle. For years I just stuck various size needles in wine corks. They are used to separate feathers, fluff up hair and clean out the hook eyes.
Hooks and materials for fly tying are so dependent on the type of fly you tie that it would take a whole column to cover them. The best advice is to get a good fly tying book, pick some patterns to try and then buy what you need.
My favorite fly tying books are “The Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying” by Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer and “Inside Fly Tying” by Dick Talleur. Both are good for beginners and great reference for any fly tyer. My favorite DVD is “Fly Tying Yellowstone Hatches with Craig Mathews”.
Locally you can find tools, materials and good advice at Mossy Creek Fly Fishing in Harrisonburg, Albemarle Angler in Charlottesville or Murray’s Fly Shop in Edinburg.
On the Web you can find tools and materials at Orvis, L.L. Bean, Cabelas and Bass Pro Shop. The Caddis Fly Angling Shop in Eugene, Ore., was especially helpful when I asked for ideas on Twitter.
My favorite place for materials and tools anywhere is Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Mont. Craig and Jackie Mathews are good friends and consummate professionals. They are truly the one-stop shop for fly tying.
There is something relaxing about fly tying. The whole creative process is enjoyable. If you need a new “vice” for the New Year this one might be fun.
You can read more of my columns in the News Virginian here.