$45 includes FFF membership and 10% discount on terminal tackle at Sweeney's Sports Store.  More than that you will be supporting all that our club does: community outreach, education, Youth Essay Contest, Trout In the Classroom, Project Healing Waters, Casting for Recovery, paying for speakers, paying rent, club outings, on and on.  Pay by check, cash, or credit card at the meeting, or send in via mail to P.O. Box 2373, Napa, 94558, or use our newly simplified check out process on our web site.  For any of you that might have tried to buy this season on the web site and had trouble, please go try again.  I turned off a lot of features to streamline the process and you should find it to be quite easy now.  Prospective members are welcome to come to two meetings, but by their third meeting they should be prepared to support us with membership.

 

While on the topic of money, I want to thank everyone that supports us with raffle ticket purchases at the monthly meetings.  We really couldn't survive without that extra income.  Most people spend $5-$10 on tickets at the meeting.  I always try to have a few decent prizes, and of course lots of the cheap stuff to make it fun, but nonetheless most everybody buys tickets, and I just want to take the opportunity to thank you all and point out it really helps us out a lot.

 

Raffle tickets for 5 Rivers Lodge are still available; ask Sharon at the meeting.  The raffle is for 4 days guided fishing, 5 nights lodging for 2 people at Five Rivers Lodge in Dillon, MT, including travel, value $6300.  Tickets $20 each or 6 for $100.  There's a little competition going amongst the different councils of the Federation on who can sell the most, and the Northern California Council which we are members of is running in close second.  Support the fight to protect our fisheries by supporting the Federation and take a chance on a fantastic trip.

 

Guide Trip Certificates for sale.  Fishing at Wilms Ranch with Off the Hook guide service is one.  Another is a drift trip on the Trinity with Trinity River Drifters, two days two people, including lodging, discount coupon expires 3/1/2010.  Talk to Sharon at the meeting.

 

NVFF took the guys from Pathway Home fishing a few weeks ago.  A big thanks to Rick Bollen and Alistair Rimmer who helped out, and all of you who provided flies and equipment.  Everyone had a good time, and a lot of fish were caught.  A number of the Pathway Home participants commented that this was the most therapeutic activity they'd participated in during their stay at Pathway Home.  Some of the guys we've been working with are processing out, and some new guys are just starting, so next week we'll be starting over with fly casting and introductory fly tying.  Any of you that want to help out are more than welcome.  Currently we are doing sessions every Monday 3:00-4:30.

 

The rules change proposal for Putah Creek passed the Fish and Game Department review process.  Putah Creek is now a no stocking no harvesting stream.  Zero limit!  Single barbless hook, artificial lures only.  Given a couple of years for the small fish to grow up and the creek will be better than it ever was.  It will however be incumbent on all of us who fish the stream to help inform people about the law, as many people may still come try to bait fish, and with less than 200 game wardens in the state I wouldn't expect to see one on the creek too often.

 

Napa Valley Fly Fishers next club fish outing is scheduled for Saturday Feb. 6 for Steelhead on the Russian River, most likely starting at Veteran's Park in Healdsburg.  Meet at Sweeney's 8 a.m.  Not necessary, but it'd be handy to know who's coming; you can RSVP me at the contact info at the bottom of this letter.

 

International Sportsman's Expo in Sacramento is January 21-24. 

 

Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton is February 26-28.

 

Fly Fishing Hall of Fame is March 20 at the Napa Senior Center.  The inductee this year is Mike Michalak.  If you plan to come let me know.  If we get 10 of us signed up we'll get a discount and share a table at the dinner!  We need some volunteers to help set up.  By doing so you will be earning money for our club.  More info at http://www.nccfff.org

 

After several years of successfully joining forces with the Fly Fishers of Davis on Putah Creek clean up day, and building relationships among our club members, we thought it would be fun to do some joint fishing trips, so to that end the NVFF and the Fly Fishers of Davis have scheduled a joint outing to Lake Almanor June 25-27.  We plan to reserve June 25 for Lincoln Gray's school, and we'll stay at the campground right near Lincoln's cabin.  

Help preserve 6 creeks and Letts Lake in the Berryessa Snow Mountain area!  Below is a letter I received from Dr. Garrick Chang:

I was wondering if the Napa Valley Fly Fishers might consider writing a letter of support for the designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area.  Tuleyome is a local nonprofit spearheading this effort.  I have been a member and supporter of this fine organization for several years.  Putah Creek Trout and the Putah Creek Council recently wrote letters in support of this designation.  Tuleyome recently supported our regulations change campaign on Putah and they also supported the Wild Trout designation of Upper Stoney Creek.  In addition to these watersheds, I believe that a portion of the Eel River watershed would also be included in this designation.  You can find out more about this designation at http://www.tuleyome.org/
 

Also, I have copied Katie Moore at Tuleyome who can provide more info as needed. I hope that NVFF will consider supporting this worthy effort.  Many thanks for your help with the Putah campaign!

Regards,
Garrick Chang, M.D.