Author: John LaFrancis
7 Fox Hill Dr., Wilbraham, MA. Contact # 413-579-199 wmffclub@gmail.com
Monday May 15th 2023 is our last meeting before we go on summer break. We had another great year and got through another WMFF Expo.
Our May meeting will be the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA at the Pavilion for our close of the season cookout. We will be starting at 5:00 pm the meeting will commence after the cookout outside in the Pavilion area. Anyone wanting to help with the cookout please see Dan at 4:00 pm to assist him with preparations and cooking.
We will be starting back up in September on Monday the 18th at 7:00 PM. Our regular September Meeting will be held at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.
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Monday April 17th, 2023 meeting
7 Fox Hill Dr., Wilbraham, MA. Contact # 413-579-199 wmffclub@gmail.com
It’s April and Spring is here. The days are getting longer, and warmer, Mass Wildlife has been stocking our streams, rivers ponds and lakes, it’s time to get out flex the muscles shake off the winter rust and throw 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.
Guest Speaker
April’s guest speaker will be Karl Meyers, Society of Environmental Journalists. The topic will be “LIVING RIVERS FLOW DOWNSTREAM: A History of Fish Passage on New England’s Broken Rivers”
Fly Tying Demo:
Dan will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the meeting.
(7:00) Thanks Dan!
IRON MIKE STREAMER
HOOK – size 6 – 2 xl nymph/streamer
BEAD- silver tungsten 5/32
THREAD – 6/0 black UNI
TAIL – white marabou with mallard flank or teal feather
BODY- pearl wing & flash, or ice wing or secret stuff
WING- pearl wing & flash with mallard or teal feather
HEAD- med pearl mylar collar
LANDON MYER BLACK MINI LEECH
HOOK – Jig hook size 10
BEAD – black tungsten 1/8
TAIL- black pine squirrel
BODY_ red mylar tinsel
LT. HENDRICKSON DRY (CATSKILL STYLE)
THREAD – 8/0 uni
HOOK – standard dry size 14
Tail – dun (gray) hackle fibers
BODY_ Hendrickson dubbing (pink/gray/tan mixture)
WING wood duck flank
HACKLE – Med. blue dun (gray)
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Fly Fishing Expo
The Western Mass Fly Fishermen club wants to thank everyone that came out to support our March Expo!
The following images were provided by John Calhoun. Thanks John!
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Fly tying class Thursday 3-9-2023
We will be holding our 8th and last fly tying class next week. I tip my hat to Manny DaSilva for his excellent instruction over the past 7 classes!
Students in the class
I hope everyone survived the cold weekend we had at the beginning of the month without any frozen pipes or dead car batteries!
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.
Guest Speaker
We will not have a guest speaker at our February meeting due to the time required to discuss our March Expo plans and other club activities.
We will have representation at the Springfield Sportsman’s Show at the Big E February 24th – 26th. 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 at our next 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. For individuals that are looking to join the club the membership dues are $20.00 a year. The annual renewal date for the 2022-2023 season is March 31, 2023. I have included a mail in renewal form with this meeting announcement.
Hope to see many of you at this coming meeting.
January Meeting Minutes:
At this time of this publication we do not have the January meeting minutes.
John LaFrancis – Vice President
Fly Tying Demo:
Dan will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night before the meeting.
(7:00) Thanks Dan!
IRIS CADDIS
Hook – standard dry 18-14
Thread – Tan
Tail – tan z-Lon or (antron)
Body – Lt. hare’s ear
Wing – loop of white z-Lon or antron
X CADDIS
Hook – standard dry 18-14
Thread – black uni
Tail – brown uni 6/0
Tail – brown antron
Body – tan superfine dubbing
Wing – nat deer hair- short and fine by wapsi
ADAMS CRIPPLE
Hook – standard dry 18-10
Thread – black uni 8/0
Tail – brown antron
Body – gray superfine dubbing
Wing – white EP fibers or any white poly yarn
Hackle – brown and grizzly mixed or 1 grizzly hackle, 1/2 of which is colored brown
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Monday January 16, 2023, Meeting Notice
Welcome to 2023 I hope everyone is well and have survived the Holiday’s. WMFF is ready to start the 2023 season.
We will conduct our January meeting at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.
January’s guest speaker will be Brian Comfort of the Deerfield Fly Shop
As a reminder we are rapidly approaching the time to renew our individual membership. For individuals that are looking to join the club the membership dues are $20.00 a year. The annual renewal date for the 2022-2023 season is March 31, 2023.
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.
Thanks Dan!
Hook – gamagatshu c12 BM 26.28,30
Thread -8/0 black uni
Tail- midge pearl krystal flash
Body – black uni thread
Wing – natural snowshoe rabbit
Thread – tan mono-cord or any heavy tying thread like UTC 140
Hook- 2 xl nymph hook 10 or 8
Body- 2 mm tan foam and 2 mm brown foam Cut width to hook gap.
Wing -white macrame yarn
Legs – speckled sili legs
Thread- hot orange 8/0 uni
Hook- standard nymph hook size 16
Bead;- 1/16 fl. orange bead
Covert – med pearl tinsel
Body- dun (grey) ostrich herl
We had 21 students at our class last week. It is not too late to come to this weeks class! If you are interested you are more than welcome to join the group!
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Monday December 19th meeting
7 Fox Hill Dr., Wilbraham, MA. Contact # 413-579-199 wmffclub@gmail.com
Our November meeting was once again another great meeting where we successfully held our 2023 office’s election. The current club officers were voted in for another term and will be resuming their duties in 2023.
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.
Our December guest speaker will be Jennifer Lapis Visitor Services Manager at the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
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!
Hook -Lightning strike DF3 18-20 or any dry fly straight eye hook
Thread – Grey uni 8/0
Tail – Dun grey hackle fibers
Body – Olive superfine dubbing
Wing – Dun hi vis or grey poly yarn
Hackle – Dun grey
HOOK – Any 1XL nymph hook size14
THREAD – Blk 6/0 uni
GOLD BEAD – to match hook 5/32
Tail _ Brown goose boots
Body – Copper wire brassie size
Thorax – Peacock herl
Wing Cover – Pearl tinsel / Black Thin Skin)
Legs – Brown hen hackle
HOOK- TIEMCO 2488 SIZE 22
THREAD – black un i8/0
Tail – grey organza (wedding veil material)
BODY – black uni thread
WING – pearl krystal flash
