Category: Meetings

Hope to see you at the Annual Cookout in the Elks Pavilion!  The meeting will be held outdoors. Dan Trela will be grilling some mighty fine burgers and hot dogs for us.  There will be some deserts, chips and other fix ins for us to enjoy.  Our meeting will be held on Monday, May17, 2021 at 7:00 PM, right after the cookout that starts at 5:30 at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow, we hope you can make it there.

No Fly tying demonstrations will take place because Dan is tied up with other duties.

April Meeting: Minutes:

• Our first indoor meeting since the Covid attack!  We had 22 members and one guest show up.  (guest is now a new member! Thank Harold!)
• Dan Trela demonstrated his superb fly-tying abilities on various Caddis flies that are productive on the Swift.  The “Wicked Pissa” is really hot on the Swift River!
• Our Raffle was a tremendous hit!  Many multiple winners of some nice prizes!  Wish you had been there to share the winnings! been there…

TREASURERS REPORT:  We are holding our own until we renegotiate our hall rental contract this month! 

Speaker:

There will be no scheduled speaker for this meeting.  If you are interested in giving us a demonstration or short talk at a future meeting, please give Harold Norman a call to schedule your talk.  We all appreciate learning more about Fly Fishing and other related interests.

GREAT NEWS! WE`RE GETTING TOGETHER AGAIN!

First, we hope that you all survived this immense ordeal in good health and spirit.  Many of us are still adjusting to the new environment, whereby we have all gone “viral” with all the changes in our lives.  Restrictions have been reduced to allow groups to gather with limits of 40% of the facility’s capacity.  Our max club meeting attendance has stayed at 30 members/guests.  The Elks Club hall accommodates several hundred people.  Therefore, we fall way under the 40% limit.  ALL COVID MEASURES ARE STILL IN AFFECT DURING OUR GATHERING!  Masks, attendance register, hand sanitizer, and social distancing.

We will conduct our club meeting at 7:00 pm beginning with the Fly-Tying Demo portion of the meeting. Located at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.  We miss gathering as a group of people who love this sport/hobby/passion and love sharing experiences, knowledge’ and support of our fishing environment for all to enjoy.  See you at the meeting.

Meeting Minutes:

Our last meeting was during the Fall when we got together in the Pavilion.

Treasurer’s report will be available at the meeting.  See Don Vacon.

Fly Tying Demo: 

Dan will be demonstrating how to tie the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night beginning before the scheduled meeting.  Thank you, Dan for tying some terrific flies and describing their unique features and “fishability”!

TIPS: When tying the CDC and deer hair caddis on a size 14-16 hook select a CDC feather about 1 1/4 inch long. Tie it in over the hook barb and twist the feather into a rope. Wrap the CDC to form the body at about the 3/4 point wrap the feather as a hackle.  Then tie in the deer hair or elk. Short and fine deer hair is distributed by Wapsi and is available at fly shops.

Guest Speaker: None scheduled.  If you know of someone, please contact Harold Norman.

Field Notes From Our Local Fly Fishers: Be careful if you venture out on the ice, some spots are not as safe as they look!  The Swift is seeing some good activity!

With the pandemic in full swing here in January of 2021 and our meetings canceled, I wanted to find ways to keep us together virtually. In the video link below Dan is going to show us how to tie five fly’s. Four of the fly’s are variations on the Pheasant tail nymphs and the last one is a dry fly.

I am fairly new to fly fishing/fly tying and found it interesting that by changing in most cases one material in the fly pattern that you now have a different fly that you are making. The opposite of that is you already are using four items on your bench and by changing out one you can practice tying a different fly!

Here are the fly fly patterns to accompany the video.

Pheasant tail nymph

Hook size: Standard nymph hook size 16 NW1 16 hook n

Thread: 6/0  Uni-Thread black

Body: Natural pheasant tail

Ribbing: Extra fine copper wire

Thorax/legs: Peacock herl

Hendrickson nymph

Hook size: 12-14-16 hook

Thread: 6/0  Uni-Thread

Tail: Pheasant tail dyed brown.

Ribbing: Extra fine copper wire

Thorax: Mahoney super find dubbing

baetis nymph

Hook size: 18 standard

Thread: 6/0  Uni-Thread

Tail: Pheasant tail dyed brown or olive

Ribbing: Extra fine copper wire

Thorax: Gray olive super fine dubbing

Pheasant tail soft hackle

Hook size: 14

Thread: 6/0  Uni-Thread

Body: Natural pheasant tail

Ribbing: Extra fine copper wire

Thorax: Hairs ear dubbing (Note: European rabbit has more brown than gray)

Hackle: Hungarian Partridge feather

Dry Fly – Charlie Craven Mole fly variation

Hook: Scud emerger – Dieche 1130

Thread: 8/0  Uni-Thread

Wing: CDC (Cul de Canard)

Body: Natural pheasant tail??

Ribbing: extra fine copper wire

I want to thank Dan Trela for tying the fly’s and Tom Panaccione for his video work!

Here is the link to the video:

Pheasant Tail Nymph Variations by Dan Trela

In watching this video here are some other links I found of interest:

Deciphering thread size

How to select CDC feathers

Aquatic insect Encyclopedia

**ALL MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE**

We all realize that 2020 is going down as a sad, crazy, and “hectic” year with some of us loosing family and friends to this crazy virus.  Plus, the constantly changing Virus related information, guidance and rules that keep us from living normal lives with freedom of mobility, freedom to gather, Freedom of choice, etc.  These restrictions have directly affected our club members and our club organization.  Even when we did attempt to legally restart our meetings, the attendance was never over 16 members.  Many of us have not seen each other for almost one year!  This has created a negative impact in our membership. Currently we have a total of 24 out of the 62 members who are “In Good Standing” (current dues paid, membership card with an expiration date of March 2021). 

The WMFF club Board of Directors held an emergency meeting to address the current and future mandatory changes of the Massachusetts COVID Virus restrictions on our ability to conduct club meetings and group activities.  These restrictions directly affect our ability to conduct meetings, Fly Tying Classes and possibly, the March EXPO.  The changes also impact many other organizations like the Ludlow Elks Club where we conduct our activities.  The WMFF Board of Directors decided to approve two opportunities for our members.

1. All members currently in Good Standing during 2020 will be issued new Membership cards upon return of the old card with no new fee for the new cards that will expire in March of 2022.
2. Granted an extension to all the members who were not able to update their membership in WMFF by the March 2020 renewal deadline, to do so by March 2021 ($20.00).  The new expiration date will be March 2022.

November 2020 Meeting Minutes: 

*Potential for more COVID changes down the road impacting our meetings such as, sign in log, RSVPs via email or telephone for snail mail users, attendance limits, currently we social distance, wear masks, and sanitize our hands and multi us items.

*Thanks to Dan for demonstrating some nice looking flies.

*Thank you also to Tom Panaccione for an excellent presentation on his African Safari and all the terrific photos

*There were many multiple raffle winners!  14 members, 36 items!!

We miss you, the comradery, and staying connected while sharing the passion of our sport/hobby/craft!

We are looking at the upcoming MARCH EXPO 2021 as our target date to hold the event and as the start date to conduct our meetings.  Please consider signing up for club leadership positions.  This will promote continuity, growth and variety for our club.  If you are interested, please let one of the officers know.

Field Notes To & From Our Local Fly Fishers:

FROSTBITE and Hypothermia alert!  Please remember to cover bare skin during these low temperature days. Try to stay dry and stay warm.  It doesn’t take long for frostbite or hypothermia to set in! 

We will hold our November meeting at starting at 7:00 pm at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA. The Fly tying demo portion of the meeting begins at 7:00.  We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and always appreciate your support.

Meeting Minutes:

• Our October meeting was well attended with 14 members and 4 interested guests.
• Please welcome our new members James Carvalho, Tom Bankman, Kevin McClure and Clay Tsaursnik (sp)
• Treasurer’s report is available at the meeting.  See Don Vacon.
• Our new club bylaws/Standard Rules are almost ready!  Our president and secratary need to sign the copies and will have them for distribution at the meeting.
• The COVID Flu has thrown everyone off their regular schedules.  If by some chance you have forgotten to make your current dues payment, (several members) you will be in Good Standing when you make payment.  We ALL appreciate your support for our club. 
• Please keep Manny DaSilva in your thoughts and prayers as he continues on the road to recovery from cancer. 

** COVID UPDATES ON MEETINGS AT THE ELKS LODGE: 

1. We MUST all practice SOCIAL DISTANCING
2. We MUST ALL WEAR MASKS or FACE SHIELDS
3. Indoor gatherings at all venues and locations are limited to 25 people (we usually hit around
4. 25 to 30)
5. We will have sanitizer for all to use whenever you need or items are handled by more than one person.
6. All meeting attendees must sign the ATTENDANCE LOG WITH NAME, AND CONTACT NUMBER
7. ALSO, IF YOU’RE NOT FEELING WELL OR HAVE SOME DOUBTS ABOUT YOUR          CONDITION—Please consider seeking medical attention or staying home.

Fly Tying Demo: Dan will be demonstrating the following flys at our meeting on Monday night beginning before the scheduled meeting.  As always, THANK YOU DAN for all your amazing support.

Hook- DAIICHI 1640 16-20

Thread- black  8/0 UNI

Body – COATES & CLARK THREAD NO. 454 A  Summer Brown   (Available at Walmart or Joanne’s )  

• 

DEER HAIR CADDIS

Hook – standard dry fly hook12-24

Thread – 6/0 uni tan Body – Tan , grey dubbing ( I like Wapsi Dark Tan synthetic )

Wing – fine deer hair ( On northern deer its the hair from the mask)  

The Bill Rose Memorial Fly-Fishing Clinic is Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m..
Location: Route 20 in Huntington, in scenic turnout across from Huntington Health Center. Click here for more information.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS   Fly Fishermen

146 Old Enfield Road, Belchertown, MA 01007

MONDAY October 19, 2020 Meeting Notice!

We will hold our October meeting at 7:00 pm at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and always appreciate your support.  Fly tying demo around 630.

Meeting Minutes:

• Treasurer’s report is available at the meeting.  See Don Vacon.
• Our new club bylaws/Standard Rules are almost ready!  Our president and secretary need to sign the co[pies and will have them for distribution at the meeting.
• Thank you in advance to all our members who made it out to the Westfield River Watershed Assoc. Fly Fishing Clinic in Honor of Bill Rose, our past President.
• The COVID Flu has thrown everyone off their regular schedules.  If by some chance you have forgotten to make your current dues payment, (several members) you will be in Good Standing when you make payment. We appreciate your support for our club.
• For those that have not attended our cookout in August and the outdoor meeting in September, WE MISSED YOU!  Good food and Dan tied a unique local fly.  Guaranteed to catch the Big One!  If you want more info on it, please talk to Dan!
• Manny Thanks you all for the support during his challenge with his medical issue.  He is doing better and plans to be at this meeting.

Fly Tying Demo:

Dan will be demonstrating the following fly’s at our meeting on Monday night beginning before the scheduled meeting.  As always, THANK YOU DAN for all your amazing support.

Guest Speaker:  None scheduled but if you know anyone who is interested please call Gil

Field Notes From Our Local Fly Fishers:   Fall stocking is in progress throughout Western Mass. 

Club Meeting Thursday September 17, 2020

6:30 at the Elks Club Ludlow

Message from our President Harold Norman:

We hope that all our members, their friends and families are in good health after all that has been experienced in our country and parts of the world for the past several months.  For those members who have friends and families that were taken ill or suffered a loss of a dear one, our hearts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.  Please know that this pandemic has impacted us all in some way shape or form.  As a minimum, I miss gathering at our meetings and the experience of sharing our passion for the fly tying/fly fishing hobby/profession.  If there is one lesson that this pandemic has taught us is; to NOT take things for granted as if we expect everything to happen the way we want, or because that is the way it’s always been, or we have always done things or expect things to take place.  Life is short, sometimes unfair, and definitely complicated!  Please stay safe, stay healthy, and stay tuned for information on our upcoming meeting in Sept.  (I hope).  Also, since our membership is comprised of many members with seniority, please take time out to touch base with a couple of our members/friends during this summer.  In fact, when you get the chance please give Manny DaSilva a telephone call at 413-283-2915, he could use a few encouraging words during his fight with cancer. 

Well it has been several weeks since this notice was initiated and now we are in Phase 2.5 of this crazy Corona Virus pandemic.  I hope we are moving toward some normalcy soon.  I will be contacting the Elks Club in the next few weeks to see when they plan on opening and based on that information, we will get the word out to you ASAP.  We hope that by the third Monday in September (21) we will hold our first meeting since January!

We will send out our usual Meeting Notice before the meeting with all the meeting info.  Until then, please stay safe and get out there and enjoy our summer.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at tiger66gd@verizon.net, call me at 603-305-5301, or snail mail at the address listed above.  My Face-Book and Messenger accounts are shut down due to a hacking problem so you won’t find me there.

Guest Speaker: Dan Trela Dan will be tying the Teco Bug

Field Notes From Our Local Fly Fishers:

The shutdown of our country has really impacted the activity on the Swift River!  I have never seen the Route 9 bridge area with so many cars that there were NO parking spots in the lot, the field across the street, route 9, the pumping station and the side trail to the Y-pool!  Poor trout don’t stand a chance!

Due to the affect and impact of the current Corona Virus epidemic, we along with many other groups and organizations cannot gather in large groups until the state revises their group meeting restrictions.  We will stay tuned for any changes to these restrictions and notify all the members when things begin to get back to normal.

Due to these circumstances, our April and May meetings and our cookout are all cancelled.  I will miss enjoying our outing and I miss our meetings as well.  Just another lesson for me NOT to take things for granted because we never know when they will be gone!

Membership status:  Normally we all renew our club memberships in March, usually at the March EXPO.  Due to the current situation, all memberships are in the GRACE period.  No one will lose their membership.  If you want to send your dues by mail, the address 146 Old Enfield Road, Belchertown, MA 01007.  If you want to wait until we meet again, that should be fine as well but the decision/agreement has to be made by the Board Of Directors.

Our President (Harold), wishes everyone a great summer, and looks forward to gathering together in September.

Please be careful and mindful of your environment whenever you are in a public place, and do stay safe.

He also recommends fly fishing as a great therapy for times of stress and anxiety!  I feel better just thinking about it!  Thanks Harold.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at tiger66gd@verizon.net, call me at 603-305-5301, or snail mail at the address listed above.  I have shut down my Face-Book and Messenger accounts due to a hacking problem so you won’t find me there.

Best regards,

Gil DaCosta

**The Fly Fishing Expo is postponed for now**

Take advantage of the fly tying recipes and content on our site to prepare for the season and we will see you next year!

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.  Hope you had a chance to drop in on the Fly Tying Classes on Thursday nights!