The next board meeting will be held Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 7 p.m at Carrows, Seaward and Harbor.

A FEW OF THE ITEMS TO BE SOLD AT LIVE AUCTION

1. Airflo Ridge Nymph Taper WF6F Fly Line.

2. Women's Patagonia Riverwalker Vest-Relaxed Fit.

3. Brodin Catch and Release Rubber Net.

4, Four one day park hopper passes to Disneyland/California Adventure Park . Tickets not valid after January 20, 2012.

5. Galvan Torque T8 Reel.

6. Simms Headwater Stockingfoot Waders-Size XLS.

7. Pacific Bay Fly Rod 6 wt, 9 ft., 4 pc. Built by Ray Johnson.

8. Men's Patagonia Riverwalker Vest.

9. Men's Patagonia Sunshade Shirt.

10. Cabela's Stowaway 6 Combo. Rod 8'6”, 6 pc. 5 wt with Prestige Reel, Prestige WF-5-F line with backing with 20” rod/reel case.

11. Fishpond Barbed Wire Wader/Boot Bag

12. Framed color photograph of Brook/Trout Underwater. Photography by Ralph Owen.

13. Two bottles of Steelhead Wine, a 2006 Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. The Steelhead wines come from the world-renowned Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma, CA

14. Framed color photograph of Brown Trout. Photographed by Ralph Owen.

15. Framed color photograph of Bishop Creek/Fall Fly Fishing. Photographed by Ralph Owen.

16. Fly plate with Bill Blackstone's special cricket. This is our "hot ticket" item.

17. Abel Super Series Reel, Rainbow finish, ebony handle, model #1and a 5/6 wt,

FFFCCI Candidates Study Group

Long Beach Casting Club (LBCC) is hosting a study group for those who are
preparing to take the FFF Certified Casting Instructors exam.

This is not a workshop, but a study group, and everyone is expected to
contribute and participate. As a group, we will go over what is expected
on the performance test which includes casting, instructing and
demonstrations.

In conjunction with the CCI Study Group, everyone is encouraged to
participate in LBCC Instructors Clinic and LBCC Beginning Casting Program
where the candidates would have the opportunity to hone their teaching
skills.

The meetings will take place on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. until noon at LBCC
on the following dates:

February 7 Mandatory Orientation
February 28 - April 25 Study Sessions (8 meetings)
April 4 No meeting on Easter Sunday

In order to make the most out of the study group, please plan on allocating
a minimum of 2 hours a week in addition to attending meetings and casting
practices.

Space is limited. To reserve your spot in the Study Group or for questions,
please call Kathy Kim at (714) 290-6930 or email at kkspfa@yahoo.com

From Left to Right: Paul Wilson, Theresa Bulla, Dennis Harper, Bob Smith, Earl Arnold, Chris May, Gary Bulla.

On February 14, 2009, seven members of the Sespe Fly Fishers in Ventura California met on the banks of the Ventura River just below the confluence of San Antonio Creek near Ojai , California . The objective was to plant 47 trees on the riverbank and adjacent area. The area is a restoration project named the Confluence Preserve under the management of the Ojai Valley Nature Conservancy. This portion of the Preserve is a conservation easement on a private ranch. The flood of 2005 washed several acres of the ranch downstream. The Conservancy received grant funding to stabilize, restore, and protect the stream bank and remaining ranchland.

Some estimates indicate that prior to modern mans intervention and diversion of the natural water flow, the Ventura River watershed could have supported over 20,000 spawning steelhead. In more modern times, prior to ground water pumping and the installation of the Matilija and Casitas dams, the river had been home to an annual run of approximately 2,500 to 5,000 steelhead. Recent returns of the endangered Southern Steelhead are down to about 10 fish per year. The Ventura River is a targeted stream for steelhead recovery. Preserving and restoring the riparian zone of the river is vital to the steelhead recovery effort.

The Conservancy prepared the site by placing rock groins in the flat streambed overflow area, installed an irrigation system and mulched the site for weed control. What they needed were trees and planting labor.

. Chouinard Presentation: Names left to right Dennis Harper, Club Conservation Chairman: Yvon Chouinard,:Paul Wilson, Club President: Gary Bulla, Club Programs Chairman

The Sespe Fly Fisher's project had been in the planning stage for over a year. The club was looking for a meaningful way to express recognition of the commitment Yvon Chouinard, owner of Patagonia , has made to the club and the environment. Yvon's efforts have a world-wide impact. Dennis Harper, the club's Conservation Chairman along with Gary Bulla, the club's Program Chairman researched the options for recognition of Yvon. A local area conservation project was ideal. They investigated several sites for a tree planting project. The club members provided the funds which had been donated for conservation efforts. Fifteen Sycamores, 15 Cottonwoods and 5 Coastal Live Oaks were purchased for the project. OVLC Program Manager Derek Poultney and Stevie Adams, the Ventura River Confluence Project Manager, provided guidance and coordination leading to a perfect wedding of the club's desire and the Conservancy's needs

Fly Tying - Is Back!

Fly Tying will continue this month at our „new and improved‟ facility the Senior Rec. Center (Oak and Santa Clara). This month Bill is going to get us going with Nymphs such as the Hares Ear, the Stone Fly, and maybe a surprise or two. No longer any need to being your breadboard since we now have nice tables on which to clamp your vise (or is fly tying a vice?) so just bring your tools and enjoy.
Date: January 25th (Fourth Monday evening), 7:00 to 9:00 PM .

See the Fly Tying page for more information.

Club Picnic, August 22nd

The setting was perfect. A rustic site buried in a huge oak grove. All the necessary amenities were available, but it
had the feeling of a campout on a fishing trip. What more would a fly fisherman want?

Bill Blackstone volunteered to provide and prepare the tri-tip. He marinates the beef for two days. It can't get any better than that.

Ray and Pat Johnson along with Frances Smith prepared the garlic bread.

Chuck (right side) and Marcia Colwell organized the event and did all the bookkeeping.

Time to share stories

And time to eat!!