Author: John LaFrancis

Happy New and welcome to 2025. I expect that everyone is well and has had an enjoyable Holiday. WMFF is ready to start the 2025 season.  We have some great things coming up in 2025. The 2025 WMFF Fly-tying classes starting on January 9^th. 7:00pm to 9:00pm continuing for eight weeks ending on February 27, we have been asked back once again to represent the club, fly fishing and fly-tying at the Springfield Sportsman Show at the Big E in West Springfield. February 21-23, we will also be holding our March Expo, along with having some great guest speakers in 2025. We will be looking forward to another successful year

 We will conduct our January meeting at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA on Monday the 20th. at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo. 

January Guest speaker TBA

Fly Tying Demo:

 Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the following flies at our meeting on Monday night. Thank you Dan.

MARLA BLAIR’S JAILBIRD

• Hook – standard curved scud hook 14-16-18
• Thread – 8/0 uni olive
• Rib – Red wire
• Body – Blue wing olive synthetic dubbing
• Wing case – 2 mm white foam

BRONZE BACK PHEASANT TAIL

• Hook – standard nymph 10-16
• Thread – black uni 8/0
• Tail – natural pheasant tail fibers
• Body – natural pheasant tail with bronze flashabou
• Thorax – peacock herl
• Legs – pheasant tail fibers

PEACOCK ANT

Monday December 16, 2024 Meeting Notice

It’s December and Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas is only weeks away. It is time to rejoice and to enjoy the company of family and friends.

Our 2025 office’s elections were successfully held at our November meeting. The current club officers were voted in for another term and will be resuming their duties in 2025. We would also like to welcome Codi Ackley who was voted into the open Board of Directors spot vacated by Manny DeSilva. 

The December meeting will be held at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.

Fly Tying Demo:

Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting. 

TOM BALTZ para nymph

• Hook – standard dry fly size 10 -20
• Thread – uni black 8/0
• Tail – brown antron or zelon (tri-global fibers)
• Body – hare’s mask Wing – yellow calf body hair Hackle – grizzly

TOM BALTZ Iron x caddis

• Hook – standard dry fly 12-20
• Thread – uni brown 8/0
• Tail – brown/olive antron or zelon
• Body – hare’s mask
• Wing – short & fine deer body hair
• Sighter -hot pink antron fibers

Frenchie

• Hook – Jig hook 12-18
• Bead – slotted gold to match hook size
• Thread – 70 D  UTC red
• Tail – coc de leon fibers or substitute wood duck fibers
• Body – natural  pheasant tail fibers
• Thorax – synthetic hot pink dubbing
• Collar – 70 D UTC red thread

November the gateway to winter, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder. The leaves are off the trees and most of us have put away our rods and reels for the season as we move into holiday mode with Thanksgiving right around the corner. 

Our November meeting will be held at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.

November is Club Officers election month. Be prepared to submit your nominees for Club President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer we will be voting for our 2024 officers. We will also be voting on a Board Member position this year.  

Tom Ricardi will be our guest speaker for November’s meeting, Presenting Birds of Prey. Local raptor rehabilitator, Tom Ricardi, has been rescuing birds of prey for more than 50 years. He has saved thousands of owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, and many more during the course of those 50 years. MA Birds of Prey Rehab is a non-profit organization and most of its costs are paid for out of Tom’s own pocket. Please bring a friend to this meeting and enjoy Tom’s talk!

Fly Tying Demo:

Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting. Thank you Dan!

Purple Para Ant Hook- standard dry fly 12-14-16 Thread – black Wing-  white para post Body – antron purple sparkle dubbing Hackle – Grizzly

Alexandra wet fly Hook – standard wet fly 10-12 Thread- black Tail – red hackle fibers Body – silver tinsel Wing – peacock sword Throat- black hackle

Partridge and peacock Hook- standard wet fly 12-14-16 Thread –  UTC Fl.fire orange Tag – fire orange thread Body – peacock  herl Hackle – partridge or speckled hen neck Head – fire orange thread

We will be conducting our October meeting at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.

It’s October and fall in New England. There is no better time to be on the water with the summer heat behind us, cooler nights, the colors reflecting off the water and the days warmth still in the air. To be rewarded with an afternoon winged hatch, to cast your fly upon the ripples, the drift, the take, the set the fight, will all soon be memories once the trees are devoid of leaves, there spiny fingers reaching up into the gray sky. Soon cold days and the threat of ice and snow forcing us indoors to pursue other hobbies and the warmth of the fireplace.

Our October guest speaker will be Ryan S. Leclerc of New England Guide Service. His presentation will be Fishing Alaska

A Little about Ryan Leclerc:

Fishing is an obsession, a passion, a love.  Fishing is a pillar of my life, not merely a past time.  I have trained with some of the most well-known names in the industry like Rodney Flagg & Ora Smith.  A differentiator for me when one considers choosing a guide is that I am Licensed and Registered to guide any inland open bodies of water in New England & Alaska.

Fly Tying Demo: Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting.

PHEASANT FLASHBACK TAIL Hook – Standard nymph hook 18-14 Thread- Black 8/0 uni Tail – 3-4 pheasant tail fibers Body – 4  Pheasant tail fibers, Rib fine copper wire Thorax – Peacock herl Covert – Pheasant tail  & small  pearl mylar Legs – Pheasant tail

RAINBOW WARRIOR Hook Scud hook 16 Bead – Silver Thread – Red uni 8/0 or UTC 70D Tail – Pheasant tail Body Red thread with pearl mylar over Thorax – Rainbow Sow-Scud dubbing Collar- Red thread

THE THUD Hook – 2 xl dry fly size 8-10 Thread – 8/0 black uni Tail – Moose Mane fibers Body – Mahogany brown superfine dubbing Wing – Lt Grey poly yarn

We are back! In fact, our first meeting of the fall season will be on Monday September 16th. I trust everyone had a fantastic summer and enjoyed some great fishing during our break.

We will be conducting our September meeting at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Lodge, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA. The meeting is open to the public.

September’s guest speaker will be Jim Lagacy from MassWildlife Outreach & Education.

It will be great to see everyone again!

Fly Tying Demo: Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting.

• RAY CHARLES SCUD
   
  Hook – standard nymph size 14, 16
  Bead – 5/64 Fl Fire Orange
  Thread – light grey uni 8/0
  Body – grey ostrich herl
  Back – pearl mylar tinsel small

• ZEBRA MIDGE
   
  Hook – scud hook, size 16 to 26
  Thread – Black 
  Bead – 1/16 nickel 
  Rib- silver wire

• PAT’S RUBBER LEGS
   
  Hook- 2 xl nymph hook size 8, 10 
  Thread – 8/0 black uni
  Bead – 5/32  Black tungsten nickel
  Tail, feelers, legs – small round black rubber
  Body – variegated chenille MED Black/Coffee

It’s April and the days are getting longer, however it doesn’t seem to be getting any warmer, the high water levels and strong currents in the rivers and streams have made it harder for early spring fishing. Hopefully soon we will be able to get out and wet a line.

We will conduct our April meeting at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.

April’s guest speaker will be Connor Quigley, rod designer and product development manager at Thomas and Thomas Fly Rods in Greenfield MA. 

In his presentation, He will be covering rod design, rod selection, rod actions, line pairings, and local fly-fishing opportunities.  It will be a 45-minute presentation, with ample time for discussion during and after the presentation.  With multiple fishing seasons on the horizon, he will be covering rod selection for these fisheries, and provide explanations why rods are designed for certain applications. He will be bringing a few items to demonstrate concepts during the presentation, hoping you will all gain valuable information from his presentation.

Fly Tying Demo:

 Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting.  (7:00)

Thanks Dan!

WOODUCK AND ORANGE Thread – Ultra thread 70D Fl. fire orange Hook – 2 XL nymph hook size 8 Body/Wing – Nat. wooduck Hackle – Orange

FUZZY WUZZY SULFUR Hook – standard dry 16-18-20 Thread – yellow Danville 6/0 Wing – yellow CDC feather (trout hunter) Body – yellow CDC feather

DAN’S BLACK FOAM PARACHUTE ANT Thread- 6/0 black uni Hook – 2 xl dry fly hook size 10 Wing – white calf tail Hackle – black dry fly quality Body – black foam 3 mm

Monday February 19, 2024, Meeting Notice

As we move into the new year we have a number of Club events coming up in February and March. We have the Springfield Sportsmens Show at the Big E in February where we will need volunteers to representing the club, we will also be preparing for the WMFF Expo where we will also need club member participation and volunteers.  

We will conduct our February meeting at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.

Our guest speaker at our February meeting will be Adam Kautza from Mass Wildlife

Once again, we have been invited back to the Springfield Sportsman’s Show at the Big E, February 23^rd. – 25th. We are in need of volunteers to man the booth at this event. You can tie fly’s or just be there to talk about the club. We want to have coverage all three days so please sign up to help. A sign- up sheet will be available at our meeting Here is a link to this event https://www.osegsportsmens.com/index.html  

As a reminder we are rapidly approaching the time to renew our individual membership. Renewals are due by the end of March 2024.  Dues are still $20.00. I will be available to renew your membership during the meeting.

Thank you John D Lawor Secretary WMFF

Fly Tying Demo:

 Dan will be demonstrating how to tie the following flys at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting. 

(6:30) Thanks Dan.

Fly Tying Demo:

 Dan will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting. 

(6:30) Thanks Dan.

NO SEE UM MIDGE

Hook – ring eye dry fly TMC 101,

TMC 2488 sizes 22,24

THREAD – 8/0 UNI rusty brown,

8/0 uni black, 8/0 uni dk olive

Hackle- dry fly quality, brown, lt. dun 

ZUG BUG 

Hook – standard 1 xl nymph hook 10.12,14

Thread- Uni 8/0 black,

Tail – peacock sword

Body – peacock eye

Rib – oval silver tinsel

Throat – brown hackle

Wing cover – mallard

Wing – deer or elk body dyed black

Thorax – black dubbing

Hackle – grizzly

PHEASANT TAIL PERDIGON

Hook – standard jig hook any size 14,16.18

Bead – copper bead 

Tail – woodduck fibers

Body – Pheasant tail

Rib – copper wire

Thorax – peacock her