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
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Fly tying class Thursday 3-9-2023
Author: John LaFrancis
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
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Monday November 21st meeting
7 Fox Hill Dr., Wilbraham, MA. Contact # 413-579-1994
Monday November 21, 2022 Meeting Notice
We have successfully completed our first two meetings of the last quarter of the 2022 season.
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 2023 officers.
James Conleyour newest memberwill be our guest speaker for the November meeting. James will be sharing his fly fishing experiences fishing Pyramid Lake in California.
Thank you, James,
Fly Tying Demo:
Dan will be demonstrating how to tie the following flys at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting.
PURPLE HAZE PARACHUTE
Hook- standard dry size 12
Thread- black uni 8/0
Post- White poly yarn,/ white calf body hair
Tail – brown /grizzly hackle fibers
Body – purple antron dubbing
Hackle – brown /grizzly hackle
BILL RICARDI’S INCH WORM
Hook – size 10 1 x long dry fly
Thread- chartreuse 8/0 uni
Body – 3/16 chartreuse foam cylinder
E SMOKE JUMPER
Hook- standard dry 22 or 24
Body -black 8/0 uni thread
Rib- x-fine silver wire
Wing – Nat, CDC feather
Thorax – black superfine dubbing
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Monday October 17th meeting notice
7 Fox Hill Dr., Wilbraham, MA. Contact # 413-579-1994
We are back and we have successfully completed our first meeting after our return from summer break.
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.
The Pandemic is over at least according to President Biden, however please feel free to use what ever virus protocols you feel comfortable with.
Sean Rose will be our guest speaker for the October meeting. Sean will be sharing some of his living and fly fishing experiences out west.
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!
(ONE FEATHER MAYFLY)
1. HOOK STANDARD DRY FLY 16-18-20
2. Thread 8/0 uni yellow
3. Wing, Body 1 CDC feather (trout hinter or Swiss CDC)
1. HOOK STANDARD DRY SIZE 20
2. Thread black uni 8/0
3 Tail grizzly/ brown hackles
4. Wing -White poly or calf tail
5. Body – grey superfine dubbing
6. Hackle brown and grizzly
1. Curved hook
2. Thread orange monochord
3. Egg yarn various colors (most popular yellow, orange)
Just a reminder for anyone interested in attending.
The Bill Rose Memorial Fly-Fishing Clinic, co-sponsored by the Westfield River Watershed Association and the Western Mass Fly Fishermen Club, will be held this year on October 15th across from the Huntington Health Center in Huntington, MA. from 9 AM – 12 Noon
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Monday September 19, 2022 Meeting Notice
7 Fox Hill Dr., Wilbraham, MA. Contact # 413-579-1994
I hope everyone had a great summer and enjoyed some great fishing during our break. It looks as though the virus is somewhat in our rear-view mirror, although some may want to adhere to past virus practices, masks, distance, sanitizer etc…
We will be conducting our September meeting at 7:00 pm right after the Fly-Tying Demo, at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.
September’s guest speaker will be Tom Panaccione
Tom will be sharing fly-fishing stories and personal experiences from his trip to Argentina. The presentation will include trip info, fishing techniques and the flies used. Questions during the presentation will be welcome. Please join me in welcoming and thanking Tom for taking the time to share his experiences.
It will be great to see everyone again and start a fantastic and fun after break season.
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!
TAILWATER SOW BUG
Curved grub hook, Daichi 1120 size 18
Thread- Uni 6/0 red
Bead – silver 5/32
Lead wire .015
Rib silver wire x-small
Dubbing – Rainbow sow-scud dubbing
SWIFT RIVER TAN TAILWATER SOW BUG
Hook Curved grub hook Daichi 1120 size 20
Thread – UTC 70 fl. pink
Back- x-small black wire
Body – Tan rainbow sow scud dubbin
RAY CHARLES BEADED
Hook – standard nymph size 16
Thread – red danville
Bead – fire orange 1/16
Back – pearl mylar
Body – Grey Ostrich herl
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Monday May 16, 2022 Meeting Notice
May 2022 and Covid seems to be in our rear-view mirror, we are no longer living under Covid mask mandates, lock downs or distancing. However, Covid is still very real so at this point please utilize whatever virus practices that you are personally comfortable with, masks, distance, sanitizer etc.
Our regular May Meeting will be held at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA
This month we will be meeting in the Pavilion for a cookout and our close of season meeting. We will start serving food at 5 pm. Anyone that would like to help set up the barbecue come to the Pavilion at 4:00pm.
Hope to see all of you at the cookout.
April 2022 spring is here and we are no longer living under Covid mask mandates. Covid is still very real so at this point please utilize whatever virus practices that you are personally comfortable with, masks, distance, sanitizer etc.
In place of our regular April Meeting, we will be holding our Fly-Fishing Expo. The Expo will be held at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA the same venue as our meetings.
Doors will open at 6:30pm and the show will close at 9:00pm you will find an Expo flyer included with this meeting announcement for additional information about the Expo.
We will be taking membership renewals at the Expo this will be an opportune time to renew in person. I will be attaching the Renew by Mail Form.to this meeting announcement to streamline the renewal process please fill out the form and bring it to the Expo if you plan to renew.
Hope to see all of you at the Expo.
*For those that have volunteered to help at the Expo Manny will be available at the Elks starting at 2:30pm for anyone that would like to come early. All volunteers should be at the Elks no later then 5:30pm.
