Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited

The SVTU Chapter invites you to join us in our well received Annual FLY TYING Sessions.

An improvement this year is the first three sessions will focus on beginner tyers followed by six more sessions for the beginners to continue and experienced tyers wanting to improve their craft!

THE SESSIONS WILL AGAIN BE HELD AT THE ISAAC WALTON LEAGUE - ROCKVILLE CHAPTER - CLUBHOUSE IN GERMANTOWN COMMENCING IN MID-JANUARY AND CONTINUING THROUGH APRIL. 

LOCATION: 18301 WARING STATION ROAD, GERMANTOWN, MD.,  20874 

SVTU COORDINATOR: CHARLES AUGUST : CONTACT = csaugust@comcast.net

Current curriculum / schedule is:

BEGINNERS:  3 weekly sessions, Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm Jan. 18th, Jan. 25th, and Feb. 1st.

session #1 will be an introduction to fly tying with a
description of tools and materials, explaining the arcane definitions of
fly tying terms, preparing hooks, and, finally, tying the “Green Weenie”.

Session #2 will involve tying a “Walt’s Worm” and will include putting lead
and/or a bead head on the hook, then preparing and using rabbit’s fur
dubbing, and ribbing.

Session #3 will be devoted to tying wooly buggers; the standard all black
fly and then some variants, for example, “Patuxent Specials”, bead head
buggers, and of course, the “IWL Special” bugger.

EXPERIENCED TYERS SESSIONS:  Six sessions will commence Feb. 8th and will be held every other
Tuesday evening from 7:30 - 9:30 PM.  The current dates are: Feb. 8, Feb. 22, March 8, March 22, April 5, and April 19.

Sudden Passing of Dick Switalski

We were recently notified by Kathy Switalski, Dick Switalski’s wife, that Dick died suddenly last Friday, May 28.  He had just finished working out at his health club and was swimming laps when he suddenly disappeared below the surface.  Lifeguards removed Dick from the pool to perform CPR and use a defibrillator but he was not able to be revived.  A subsequent coroner’s exam ruled that Dick had suffered a heart attack, and, apparently, gasping for breath, had drowned.

Dick Switalski - the morning he & Charles left the Strauss Center in Claryville , NY. 

Charles & Dick had spent the previous 4 days fishing Catskill area streams in late May 2010.

Dick was a longtime, active member of SVTU and was currently in his 2nd year as a chapter board member.  For friends and members who participated in our winter fly tying sessions, you’ll note that Dick served as the intermediate/advanced group’s guru one evening.  Dick could get you excited about catching trout even before you finished tying a fly - a great teacher!  He had recently completed a fishing trip with Charles August, SVTU Secretary, in the Catskills (NY).  In fact, at our May 26th chapter meeting, Dick gave a wonderful presentation on fishing the Catskills.  Even at 70 years of age, his enthusiasm for TU and all things fly fishing just oozed from Dick anytime you were around him.  Many chapter members would rank him as the #1 fishing buddy you could ever have.  Those same folks knew that if you were serious about planning a fishing trip to anywhere in the area, or the U.S. for that matter, Dick was your man.  Recently, Dick had also been an integral part of the chapter’s planning efforts for the upcoming June 19th BBQ.  Consequently, Dick would not have been in attendance, since he was scheduled to be in Las Vegas with his wife to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Seneca Valley Chapter 369, of Trout Unlimited.  The family’s address is 16700 Gooseneck Terrace, Olney MD  20832-2458.

There will be a church ceremony for Dick on Wednesday, June 9, 2:00 PM, at the Oakdale Emery United Methodist Church, 3425 Emery Church Rd, Olney, MD.

The casting clinic scheduled for this coming Saturday, April 3, at Seneca Creek State Park, is canceled.  We hope to hold a clinic the first Saturday in May – check this site for an announcement.

THE PPTU has 2500 brown trout coming on Tuesday, March 16 to stock the upper Pax. Special Area, the section below Brighton Dam, and the Middle Pax. Delayed Harvest stretch.

This is a major stocking for PPTU and all its friends and allies.  We do not stock these valuable trout near the bridge.  So we need maximum manpower to move them.  This species has a much higher chance of over-summering on our local waters in any given year.

If you can help on Mar. 16 please contact JAY SHEPARD @ jmsheppar@aol.com by the end of this coming week….ie, by March 13.  PLEASE advise of what river section you wish to help–first choice, etc.

Jay will send out assignments–where and when to meet, etc, by the following Monday morning, so be waiting for an email by then.

Here is your first opportunity this spring to get involved in the Beaver Creek restoration project.  Beaver Creek Watershed Association & Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be planting trees along the banks of the lower section of Beaver Creek, on the Baker Farm, which is on Benevola/Newcomber Road. The planting will start at 9:00 AM, Saturday March 20^th and will last until 500 trees are planted.  More info to follow, but please put this on your calendar if you are available to help.

Mid Atlantic Council Trout Unlimited
CONSERVATION BANQUET
MARCH 27, 2010
MARRIOTT BWI AIRPORT
1743 West Nursery Road
6:00 – 10:00 pm

LIVE AUCTION, RAFFLES, SILENT AUCTION :TOP PRIZES, ART WORK AND TACKLE

SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION WORK OF

TROUT UNLIMITED, MID-ATLANTIC COUNCIL.

AND IT’S CHAPTERS

CONSERVATION AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED 

TICKETS $75.00 EACH

 TABLES OF 10 $750.00

 SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

$250 Bronze

$500 Silver

$1000 Gold

 $2500 Platinum

 SPONSORS NAMES WILL BE LISTED IN PROGRAM  AND IN COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

 For Tickets or information contact

Jim Gracie

10301 Wetherburn Road

 Ellicott City, MD 21042

410-418-4687

 jgracie@brightwaterinc.com

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A “FLY FISHING BOOSTER SHOT” AFTER THIS SNOWY WINTER.

Fly Fishing Weekend
Saturday & Sunday, March 6 & 7, 2010
Fly Fishing Symposium - An opportunity to learn fly fishing tips and techniques from some of the best-known fly anglers in the Mid-Atlantic region, fly tying demos, knot tying, and fly casting techniques.

Featuring
Jay Sheppard “Getting Started in Fly Fishing” Rod/Reel/Line Selection, Leader Construction, Accessories, Insect Identification, Fly Choices
Jim Gracie “Fly Fishing Maryland Trout Streams” Characteristics of Popular Fly Streams, Matching the Hatch, Tail water or Freestone? Wild or Stocked Trout
Capt. CD Dollar “Kayak Fishing the Chesapeake Bay” Bay Hotspots, How to control a kayak. Best Time of Year, Fly Selection, Best Tides to Fish, Gear to Use
Larry Coburn “Spring Steelhead Fishing/Upstate New York” Salmon River Area/Pulaski-New York, Best Tackle, Type of Flies, Fishing Tributaries, Where to Stay, Steelhead 5 to 15lbs

Seminar Schedule
Saturday, March 6
10 a.m. “Getting Started in Fly Fishing” Jay Sheppard
11 a.m. “Spring Steelhead Fishing in Upstate New York” Larry Coburn
12noon “Knot Tying Seminar” Walt Sheppard
1 p.m. “Kayak Fishing the Chesapeake Bay” Capt. CD Dollar
2 p.m. ” “Fly Fishing Maryland Trout Streams” Jim Gracie

Sunday, March 7
10 a.m. “Getting Started in Fly Fishing” Jay Sheppard
11 a.m. “Fly Fishing Maryland Trout Streams” Jim Gracie
12noon “Knot Tying Seminar” Walt Sheppard
1:00 p.m. “Spring Steelhead Fishing in Upstate NY” Larry Coburn
2 p.m. “Kayak Fishing the Chesapeake Bay” Capt. CD Dollar

Sage Fly Rod Company will be here on Sat. March 6, 9am to 4pm with their Fly Casting Analyzer Machine. Come in and have your cast analyzed for free. 

With the snow events of recent days I thought I would post this as a bit of a ”fishing booster shot”.  

This still is the only “show” in town, so mark your calendar.

35th ANNUAL NATIONAL CAPITAL ANGLING SHOW
NATIONAL CAPITAL CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
SATURDAY MARCH 13, 2010The National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited (NCC-TU) will hold its 35th Annual National Capital Angling Show on Saturday March 13, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland. 
INFORMATION
What: The National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited (NCC-TU) presents its 35th Annual National Capital Angling Show. Proceeds benefit local watershed restoration, conservation education, and conservation projects.
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Where: Georgetown Preparatory School, 10900 Rockville Pike, in North Bethesda, Maryland.
Admission: Adults $10, youth 16 and under free.Featured speakers: Jack Dennis, legendary Jackson Hole Wyoming fly fishing guide, author, and fly tyer, speaking on “20 Places You Should Fly Fish Before You Die,” “How to Become A Better Streamer Fly Fisherman,” and “European Nymph Fishing: Hot New Techniques.” Also featured are Dave Rothrock on “Trout Stream Insects and Fly Designs to Match,” Wendell “Underwater Ozzie” Ozefovich on “Trout Feeding Lies,” humorist Bill Heavey, on “Fly Fishing Misadventures,” journalist Ed Gray, on “Flashes and Shadows: Caught in the Flow While Casting Toward Fish,” artist C.D. Clarke on Atlantic salmon or tropical saltwater fishing, Dr. Bob Bachman, on Modern Trout Management Concepts and Practices, Charlie Gougeon, “Trout and Bass Fishing Oppportunities in Maryland, Brandon White, on “Fishing the Chesapeake Through the Seasons With Fly and Light Tackle,” Dusty Wissmath, on “Getting Started in Fly Fishing.”

It is time to get ready to hit the stream with flies to entice the Trout!

Fly Tying Evenings

The chapter will again sponsor fly tying sessions.

WHEN: The first session will be held on January 19, 2010.  Every other Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:30 PM

WHERE:  Rockville Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (same venue as the chapter meetings). 8301 Waring Station Rd.  Germantown, Md. 20874. 301-972-1645The format for the tying sessions will be essentially the same as last year.  Five sessions will consist of tying.  The 6^th and last session will be fishing with our flies in the IWL pond.  Charles August will teach beginners.  Tools and materials will be provided. 

A curriculum for beginners will include the green weenie and green caddis nymph (session #1), wooly buggers (session #2),  pheasant tail and gold ribbed hare’s ear nymphs (session #3),  cream and other “variant” dry flies (session #4), elk hair  and X caddis flies (session #5).

An experienced tier from the chapter will serve as “guru” for members who have advanced beyond the “beginner” stage.  These will include Dick Switalski, Leslie Gollehon, John Lachin, and Allen Smeltz.  Members are encouraged to bring their questions,  patterns they would like to learn to tie, and materials to share and exchange. 

FIRST: A REMINDER FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT ATTEND THE OCTOBER CHAPTER MEETING. THE MEETING LOCATION IS NOW AT THE IWL -CHAPTER CLUBHOUSE - 18301 WARING STATION ROAD; GERMANTOWN, MD. 20874. 301-972-1645

The agenda for this meeting includes an exciting FORUM discussion on STEELHEAD FISHING.

SVTU Steelhead Fishing Forum

December 2, 2009

Are you an experienced  steelheader who wants to learn more to improve the outcome of your steelhead trips??

Have you thought about learning how to go steelhead fishing but didn’t know where to go, when to go or what equipment you needed to get started??

Then don’t miss the 2 Dec SVTU STEELHEAD conclave.

Experienced SVTU chapter members will be sharing their experience and knowledge on steelhead fishing at our 2 December meeting. 

Agenda

New York to Michigan:  Steelhead fishing is not that far away.  The Great Lakes are the world’s best steelhead waters.  Learn where and when to go from those who have been there.

1. Planning Your Trip:  How to find information about destinations from the comfort of your home from on-line sources so you are ready for success when you arrive
2. Go when the water is right:  finding and reading hydrographs; what level of water causes steelhead to run up stream
3. The right equipment:  How to rig fly and spin equipment; equipment on display
4. On the River: reading river characteristics to fish in the right place
5. Flies and bait:  see proven flies and bait that catch steelhead