Welcome to September – the end of summer and the beginning of fall. We will be feeling the change in temperatures, the starting of the leaves changing and the days getting shorter. To me, this is the best time to be on the water. Within a few short months we will be in the chill of winter, now is the time to enjoy the slightly cooler days, with the feel of the fall air just starting to break through the summer warmth, it’s really a wonderful time to fish.
We will be starting back up in September on Monday the 21st with our regular September Meeting to be held at the Ludlow Elks Club, 69 Chapin Street in Ludlow MA.
Our Guest speaker for the September meeting will be Joey Takeman and Chris Paris from the Local Fly Co. They will be doing a very broad, panel style Q and A session where everyone can bring their top 5 to 10 questions on all types of fishing related topics, and Joey and Chris will do their best to answer as many as they can. Should make for a great conversational night!
As many of you already know, Dan Trela will be stepping down from doing the fly-tying demos. Dan will be doing his last fly demo for the club at our September meeting. Please join me in thanking Dan for making the start of our meetings first rate for all these years.
However, we will still be starting our meetings with a fly-tying demo. Steve Babbit has graciously stepped in to-do the fly-tying demo and will be starting at our October meeting. Steve has been a guide and fly-tying instructor and now that he is retired, has the time to do something a little different. Please welcome Steve.
Summer activities
For the first time during the summer break the club stayed active and enjoyed some great club activities.
- At the beginning of July WMFF put on a Fly Fishing for Beginners Program at the East Longmeadow Library.
- In July and August, fishing on the Farmington River as guests of the Local Fly Co. in New Hartford, CT. Thank you, Chris Parisi!
- In July, WMFF assisted Matt Tempesta and Cambria Spring with the Swift River Clean-up, and at the completion of the clean-up we had a WMFF stream side cook out.
- Also in July, WMFF toured the Thomas&Thomas Fly Rod Factory.
- In August we toured the Orvis Fly Rod Factory, visited the Orvis Flagship Store and the American Fly-Fishing Museum in Manchester Vermont. Some even found time to take in a little Vermont fishing.
All in all, we had an active summer break and next year we will be planning even more events.
Announcements
The Bill Rose Memorial fly fishing clinic will be held this year on October 17th from 8:00 -12:00 noon. The location is across from the Hilltown Community Health Center, 73 Russell Rd, Huntington Ma, in the rest area. Please contact me or John LaFrancis if you would like to volunteer as representatives of WMFF.
The Connecticut River Watershed Partnership is holding its second annual Connecticut River Watershed Week Celebration September 18th through September 27th. See the link below for more information:
The WMFF will be putting on a Fly Fishing for Beginners Presentation at the Longmeadow Senior Citizens Center on September 30th at 5:30pm.
Note:
We will also be holding a special election to fill the three vacant seats on the board of directors.
Nominees will be welcomed.
Thank you.
John D Lawor – WMFF Secretary
JLawor@wmffclub.org
Fly Tying Demo
Dan Trela will be demonstrating how to tie the Iron Mike Streamer at our meeting on Monday night before the scheduled meeting.
IRON MIKE STREAMER
Hook – STREAMER / NYMPH 2X HEAVY /3XL SIZE 6 Bead 5/32 – silver plain or tungsten
Thread – white 6/0
Tail– marabou any color (white is most popular)
Tail cover – teal or mallard
Body – SLF prism pearl
Body flash – pearl wing & flash on each side
Wing cover – teal or mallard
Eye – black on silver stick on or black paint
Coat eye with UV resin for protection
