Fly Fishing West Canada Creek
The Canandaigua Lake Trout Unlimited meeting for February 15th will be a slide and informaiton meeting with Dave Eveland. Dave regularly fishes West Canada Creek and will share trip information (it's only a two hour drive from Canandaigua) and techniques. There are pleanty of big trout in this water shed as well as fly fishing restricted waters. It is a great place to try. Come a learn more. This meeting (Monday, February 15th) will begin at 730pm at the Canandaigua Wegman's.
Guests and friends are always welcome to our meetings. The 50-50 raffle will have some new prizes. So remember to bring dollars or flies!
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Volunteers Needed for Healing Waters Project
Please click on the logo below to learn more about the Canandaigua Lake Trout Unlimited and Project Healing Waters partnership. Thanks in advance for your participation and assistance.
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The Importance of Casting Accuracy
Accuracy is one of the keys to effective fly presentation, but remember that there is more to accuracy than just casting.
In difficult fishing situations on spring creeks and tailwaters, anglers often pin their hopes for success on a fly box full of imitative patterns and advanced presentation skills like stack mending and curve casting. This makes sense, since the ability to match the hatch and present the fly with minimal drag are often what separates this "technical" fishing from other stream fishing for trout. Unfortunately, many anglers forget that these advanced techniques should be an overlay on more fundamental skills, and not a replacement for them.
A friend, Chad McCormick, once related an anecdote to me that serves as a perfect illustration of this attitude. Chad was fishing the lower Bighorn with fly shop owner George Anderson a few seasons back, and it was Bighorn fishing at its best: little yellow stoneflies were skittering all over the surface, and the fish were keyed into both hatching insects and returning egg layers. With lots of bugs and lots of rising fish, if the angler put the fly on target, the result was a hookup with another 15 to 20 inch fish.
At least that's how it worked for George and Chad. They noticed another angler fishing the riffle just upstream, making cast after cast, changing flies frequently, conspicuous because he wasn't catching a thing. All the while, he was forced to watch the anglers below him hook and land and release a considerable pile of fish.
Finally, after several more fly changes, this fisherman couldn't stand it any more. "What are you guys catchin' 'em on?", he yelled. George's unexpected (but painfully honest) comeback: "Accuracy."
Amusing because it contains an insight into a typical human foible when it comes to fishing skills (and a lot of other things, for that matter). Rather than work on perfecting our own abilities, we tend to look for a magic fly pattern (or invisible tippet material, perfect fly rod design, etc.) to catch fish for us. Unfortunately, that approach doesn't work. The best fly pattern in the world won't catch fish if the fish doesn't see it. Casting accuracy is a basic component of all presentations, but in tailwater and spring creek situations, it is often critical. With lots of naturals on the water, the fish will not move far for a meal, and inaccurate casts won't even garner a feeding fish's attention. On the other hand, even a badly tied or oversized fly will catch some fish if it is presented precisely in the fish's feeding lane.
So what is involved in making an accurate cast? Gary Borger provides a useful delineation of the components of accuracy in his book Presentation (Streamworks, 1995, 319 pages): there is distance accuracy, which involves casting the correct amount of line (i. e., not casting beyond or short of the target), left and right accuracy, and pinpoint accuracy, which is a combination of the two. Separating distance from alignment is a valuable insight, because these different types of accuracy are often required in different fishing situations, and they are achieved by different parts of the casting stroke. In this column, I will discuss some of the fishing concepts involved in accuracy; in the next issue, I will take up the the techniques and casting mechanics of accuracy.
Casting itself is only part of the key to accurate presentations. A precursor to accuracy is the angler's ability to recognize the target, which in turn requires the ability to read water and the ability to see well. In situations where a fish is not visible, it is sometimes useful to cover all of the water methodically, but in most cases, the range of targets is narrowed down by reading water. These scenarios usually involve distance accuracy—the angler identifies a current line that determines a fish's lie, and a cast is made to reach that target distance. (Other situations that involve mostly distance accuracy include casting to bank lies from a drift boat or casting to the edge of a weed line in bass fishing or stillwater trout fishing.) 
In other cases, the angler will rely directly on vision to determine the casting target. In spring creeks and tailwaters, this can be as straightforward as stalking and casting to a visible fish. Careful observation will also allow the angler to identify casting targets in other ways: spotting the shadow of a fish, noticing the subtle riseform of a bulging fish or the flash of a nymphing fish as it turns under the surface of the water. Once the fish or its lie can be determined precisely, alignment accuracy must be added to the equation. This "left or right" accuracy is what allows the angler to place the fly in a position where it will drift naturally into the fish's range of vision. If the cast is made too far to the downstream side, the fish won't see the fly (or won't have time to take the fly in its normal feeding rhythm). More often, I see anglers make the opposite mistake—they lead the fish way too far to the upstream side, and by the time the fly gets to the fish, it has drifted laterally out of the fish's feeding lane. In heavy hatch situations, it is easy to get excited by the sight of a pod of big fish feeding in a small area, but accuracy requires that the angler pick an individual target. Flock shooting is as ineffective for the flyfisher as it is for the wingshooter.
Accuracy is also dependent on the angler's ability to see the fly as well as the target, as the angler needs to see whether the fly is landing in the correct position. One of the keys to spotting the fly (and distance accuracy in general) is to know the length of the leader, so the angler's eye can move to the approximate landing zone of the fly. In flat light, it can be difficult to see a small spring creek pattern, and in windy conditions, the tippet and fly may be blown well away from the intended target. If the angler can't spot the fly at all, there is no way to correct errors in fly placement and there is little chance for success. There is nothing more frustrating than straining to see the fly and then realizing—always a second too late—that the last rise was to your fly, which was several feet away from where you thought it was. In these situations, I recommend changing to a more visible fly (like a parachute style or a "hi-vis" pattern), even if it is less imitative.
If the angler is presenting the fly with a reach cast, another effective ploy in bad light or windy conditions is to hold the reach upstream until the fly begins to skate. The waking fly is easy to see, and the fly can be steered into the right line of current, at which point the rod tip can be dropped to allow the fly to drift naturally to the fish. This intentional drag requires a fly that doesn't drown easily—a Sparkle Dun or parachute style emerger is my personal choice for this technique.
Accuracy is one of the keys to effective fly presentation, but remember that there is more to accuracy than just casting. Identifying the target and seeing the fly are crucial elements, but planning one's approach is important as well. If the angler knows a long (and accurate) cast is beyond his abilities, it may be possible to wade closer. If the angles of wind and current make a particular cast difficult, reconsider the situation and try a different casting angle. Most importantly, careful observation of the situation should allow the angler to make an accurate presentation on the very first cast, which is the one most likely to take a fish. ~~ Brant Oswald
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The West Branch of the Delaware Trip
June 3rd – June 5th (Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights)
The entire White House at the West Branch Anglers Resort, with 6 bedrooms (14 total beds),
4 bathrooms, 1 large equipped kitchen, dining table and a comfortable living room,
www.westbranchresort.com, is reserved. Towels,
bedding, and breakfast are provided. Rising WBD trout may be observed and caught within 100’ feet
of our lodging. In addition, there is a stocked bass/trout pond 200’ from the front steps.
You can typically expect:
-Fabled mayfly and caddis hatches for strong, wild rainbows and browns.
-Wading friendly water levels (300–500 cfs) that offer superb sight fishing.
-Selective, challenging fish that test the skill of any angler.
-Access to fish over 3 miles of private WBD water.
-Opportunities to fish alone, with a friend or with an experienced angler.
-Plenty of water styles to fish, from streamer to nymph to dries.
-Reasonable drive to the Main Stem, East Branch and other Catskill Fisheries.
-Enjoyable camaraderie, laughter and angling stories.
-Ample food and drink possibilities for the discriminating angler.
-Use of a large fridge and modern kitchen, or access to numerous restaurants within 10 miles.
-The West Branch Resort is an easy 3 hours and 20 minute carpool from Rochester.
RESERVATIONS and PAYMENT: Cost is $215 for all 3 nights. This price is based upon a minimum occupancy of 11 at the White House and includes the 13% local sales tax and gratuity for lodging.
Please RSVP by April 1st and mail a $100 check/deposit to Craig Dennison. Remainder of balance should be paid during the trip. Send your email address, as angling updates and helpful info will be shared as our trip approaches. RSVP and Info: Craig Dennison, 264 Woodland Road, Pittsford, NY 14534, craigdennison1@yahoo.com, 585-507-9655.
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The Meaning of the Angler
Somewhere within the canyons of my soul is the answer to my passion that grows so strong. I am brought forth by the power of its waters and set beneath its beautiful canopy to be called at peace. Many people wonder how a feeling of love can be so strong and so faithful.
My love of the woods grows side by side and hand and hand with my love of God. He has built this wonderful place to which I call home and others call the mountains. I have been in the middle of a brook trout pond and witnessed the magic circles as they penetrate the liquid mirror. I have seen the rainbows happily feed on struggling mayflies as if the world was one big playground. I’ve placed myself in the middle of this and wondered how heaven can be more beautiful.
Ask me again and I will tell you I have seen the father begin his day by removing his heavenly fog from the surface of the water as if it were a blanket. There I have witnessed his love shine through the clouds and warm my head as I fly fish on his beautiful water.
I’ve had chances in my life to leave this place and start again. However I sometimes wonder if I can find another place so beautiful and accepting of my awkward casts. She forgives me sometimes with a trout and other times with just a memory of a beautiful sunset. I do so love this land to which I call home.
I end my day removing my fly line from my rod, and placing it back in its case. I remember the fish I’ve caught, the sights I’ve seen, the smiles I’ve brought to peoples faces, and the remembrance of a feeling I can only experience in Gods’ country.
I have become a man in my own way. Maturing some times I feel too quickly. This is something I have no control over, and really no remorse towards. I have brought others towards this religion of fly fishing and taught them the meaning of the angler. You are not out to catch fish or to break records, you instead are taught to respect the land and enjoy all it has to offer.
You, the fly angler, have been given the ability to experience a closeness with God only few can say they’ve experienced. Our heritage began as the sport of kings, and has progressed to something beyond that, something I will know for sure only when I stand before the gates of heaven with my rod in hand. Then I will be told the true meaning of the angler. ~~ JP Ross
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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Help Wanted/For Sale --
Willow Pond Aqua Farms offers a learn to fish program for the regional community and tourism industry. We are seeking a person who appreciates fishing and has the business skills necessary to direct and cooridinate this comprehensive program. Please contact Jim Kennedy for more information at 585/704-2754, or by email, jpk2@frontiernet.net.
Items For Sale: ???
Email jpc@travela.com with the details and we will list your item(s) for sale.
How else can we say it?
It's a free Want Ad.
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Prez sez . . 
It looks like we have a winner this year with the Fly Tying School. Thanks to everyone who helped "get the work out". I am sure this is the reason we have the good response. And thanks to Jerry Luzum for all the time, effort and work that he puts into these classes. I don't know for sure, but extra help can always be welcome. Give Jerry a call if you would like to volunteer a night or two to assist the students with tying.
Some of you have asked about the attendance sheet that we have started to pas around at meetings. it is only serving two purposes, at least that is the intent. First to get a count as to the number of people that are at the meeting, we then give this info (numbers only) to TU at the end of each year, and second to be sure that we have you on the mailing list of your choice. The mailing list of our choice is that you receive the Newsletter by email so as to save the cost of post cards, etc. Please help us out and "log in" at each meeting. Thanks.
Would you like to help out with the Fly Fishing School this spring? Now would be a good time to step forward. Give me a call (585/360-1812) if you would like any information or I can answer a question or concern. Jim Cantin has agreed to be the school chairman. And on another matter, we are looking for meeting ideas. Again, call me or send an email (jpc@travela.com) to me.
Note that there will be an Angler's Workshop on Saturday, March 20, at the Brighton Middle School. Craig Dennison will have more complete information on this new event and show at our February meeting.
I've got tax returns to do.
~~ C
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Notes from the January 2010 Meeting
Jean Chaintreuil (Chapter President) brought the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Visitors were invited to introduce themselves; several visitors stood up to say hello. Jean sent around a new “Attendance Record” for everyone to sign in on.
Jean indicated that anyone wanting to join the Chapter and participate in our events should contact Norm Brust at nbrust@rochester.rr.com. Information about the Chapter can be found at www.canandaigualaketu.org.
Jean asked if there were any fishing reports. Due to the cold weather most folks have been doing more fly tying than fly fishing.
Brian Pitre reported that the Chapter has signed a Memorandum of Agreement regarding supporting the VA Healing Waters Program, which is designed to help disabled veterans get involved in fly fishing. He indicated the basic concept was to slowly build our involvement over time. Brian invited all interested members to go to the Chapter web site to sign up to help with this important initiative.
Craig Dennison talked about the Angler’s Workshop he was organizing to be held on March 20th, at Twelve Corners Middle School. Attendees will be able to pick from a wide variety of fly fishing seminars. Craig handed out flyers regarding the Workshop. He indicated several Chapter members have signed up to be instructors, but he would like to have a few more. This will be a great opportunity to share knowledge and promote fishing. Anyone wanting to help should contact Craig at: craigdennison@yahoo.com.
Craig reported that he still has a few spaces available for the Chapter’s annual fly fishing trip to the West Branch of the Delaware from 3 to 5 June. This is always a great trip. Anyone wanting further information or to make reservations should also contact Craig. Jerry Luzum indicated that the Chapter’s Fly Tying School would start at the Canandaigua Academy on 27 January. The classes will be held Wednesday evenings starting at 7:30 PM and going to 9 PM; they will proceed for 9 weeks versus the normal 8 weeks since no class will be held on 17 February. Jerry sent around a sign-up sheet for members who wanted to help out by being assistant instructors.
Al Kraus reported that he turned in an After Action Report for the Cohocton River Clean-up Project to Headquarters TU and NY Council. He also sent an article and pictures into the editor of Trout Magazine…the project should be in the Spring Edition of the magazine.
Jean reported that the Simms shirts members ordered where still on backorder, but they should arrive in the near future. He also indicated the Chapter would not be holding a Buy, Sell, Trade session this year; nevertheless, if members wanted to try to sell something they could send him the appropriate information and it would be put into the Chapter Newsletter.
The regular raffle, which is held each meeting, was conducted. Several members won various prizes: cash, flies, and donated fly-fishing goodies.
Jean announced that the main speaker during the February 15th meeting will be Dave Eveland. Dave will talk about fishing West Canada Creek, which is a great trout stream just two hours from Canandaigua.
Jean adjourned the business meeting and introduced Bob Hacker, who gave a presentation about his recent fly fishing trip to Argentina. ~~ Al Kraus
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February 15, Chapter Meeting, fly fishing West Canada Creek; Dave Eveland.
February 20, Guys, Flies & Pies, 3pm to midnight, 3666 Latta Road, Rochester.
March 6, Fly Tying Symposium, Radisson Convention Center, Utica.
March 15, Chapter Meeting, "The State of DEC" with Web Pearsall.
March 20, Angler's Workshop, Brighton 12 Corners Middle School.
April 19, Chapter Meeting, Brent Kelly and fishing the Upper Genesee.
May 17, Chapter Meeting, Tying foam fly patterns; Craig Dennison.
June 21, Annual Chapter Picnic at the American Legion Pavillion, 4-9pm.