PRESIDENT'S POST
november 2025
PRESIDENT'S POST
We’re learning and fishing!
We just completed our Basic Fly Fishing Class and 14 members graduated, learning about rods, reels, lines and leaders, flies, casting, knots and much more. Moreover, graduates will join the members heading to the Lower Owens near Bishop from November 6-9, for a day of guided fishing on Saturday, November 8.
I’m grateful to Larry Basham for leading the class and to the members who contributed their time and expertise.
Congratulations to the graduates and remember that the club has resources and members to help you with your fly fishing journey.
MORE educational opportunities to come in 2026!
Next year we’ll have plenty of opportunities for all members to use and increase your fly fishing skills to the water. Whether it’s in the surf, floating on a lake or wading a stream we’ll have something for the beginner to the experienced. We’re working on putting together more education and amazing experiences for 2026.
Holiday Party, Tuesday December 9
This year we will hold our annual gathering at the Palm Park Beach House on E. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara. This is an ideal location with full amenities including a kitchen. Once again it will be a potluck/BYOB affair.
Please register for the event at our website > www.sbflyfishers.org. First log-in, find the link in the Calendar on December 9.
While you’re visiting the site, please take a few minutes to explore the menu including the photo gallery and our guide recommendations.
Thank you Randy!
The Board of Directors has elected Randy Ward to serve as interim Secretary of the club. He will also volunteered serve as Membership chair. Randy has stepped up to serve as Larry has decided to step away from club leadership.
Thank you Larry!
I’m grateful to Larry for all of the hard work he performed in helping the club membership to grow from 25 in 2022 to over 200 today, for leading the effort to educate members, serving our fundraising events at the Lobero Theater, assist with setting up the website & running it and much, much more.
Last cast…
Veteran members have seen the club’s evolution over the years, but our current trajectory is rapid and broad based. More women and younger people have joined than in my memory. This trajectory is can only be sustained with volunteers. We need your help in many areas including leadership, education, fundraising, legal, accounting, outings, event planning and more. Please volunteer to help our club be the best fly fishing conservation club ever!
Upcoming Meeting with Lael Johnson
We hope to see you at our next club meeting at the McKenzie Center on November 11.
november EVENTS
Hello Friend of Casting for Recovery, SoCal/Central Valley,
Have you heard about our Alaska Anvik Lodge Sweepstakes? From now until Nov 3 there is a mini sweepstakes within our larger Sweepstakes! You can win a trip for two to Alaska’s Anvik River Lodge (valued at $18,000), plus be entered to win an NRS Slipstream 3-Person Raft (valued at $6,500)!
Our own local SoCal/Central Valley, CfR gets to keep 70% of monies from all entries that use our special promo code SOCAL. So far, we have raised ALMOST enough to send 1 breast cancer thriver on our local retreats. Please join us in raising funds to support our local retreats.
CONSERVATION REPORT NOVEMBER 2025
NEXT ONLINE MEETING DATE | to be determined.
Author, Dr. Mark Rockwell, D.C.
The Santa Barbara Flyfishers Conservation Committee has been actively evaluating which streams in the Santa Barbara area should be prioritized to improve access to spawning and rearing habitat for Southern California Steelhead. After careful consideration, we’ve focused our efforts on Mission Creek, which continues to see returning fish from the ocean during most winters.
Lou Ternullo and I have been meeting with city officials and local NGOs to assess the existing barriers that hinder fish passage and determine which ones require attention or removal. Although this process has been time-consuming, it’s proven to be a worthwhile endeavor.
So far, we’ve identified four to five key barriers that, if removed, would significantly improve access for adult steelhead to the upper watersheds of Mission Creek and its tributary, Rattlesnake Creek. We’re currently gathering more information to help us evaluate the next steps and determine the most effective path forward
We started our effort focused on Maria Ignacio Creek, where we identified stranded steelhead . . . read more.
- Dr. Mark Rockwell, D.C.
- Fly Fishers International Conservation
- Santa Barbara FF Conservation Chair
- mrockwell1945@gmail.com
- 530 559-5759 (cell)
OPEN INVITATION TO JOIN OUR CLUB!
Our invitation to join is “open” all year long. No need to know a member to be invited into the club. No membership drives. Just email, call or sign-up online and become a member today!
WE EDUCATE AND LOVE NEWBIES TO THE SPORT!
Learn almost everything you need for fly fishing - for just the cost of membership.
OUTINGS ALL YEAR LONG!
The outings have been one of the many "jewels in the crown" for this club. We continue education on the water and the comradery, food and friendship is what this club is built on!
GOT GEAR? . . . NO? — NO WORRIES!
We have gear for you to learn from. Just let the leaders know in advance whether you're coming to the 2nd Salt Saturday - or on a camping/fishing trip. AND when you're ready to purchase fly fishing gear we are here to help -- and/or check out our auctions or club garage sales! Lots of great gear to be had at amazing prices!
Any questions about membership? Email Randy Ward at: sbf.secretary@gmail.com
WEBSITE QUICK LINKS:
LAKE CACHUMA
MONTHLY FISHING REPORT
Lew's School - on Cachuma!
Check out Doc's report below!
Lew Riffle, past president
"The Doc's In"
Fall fishing at Lake Cachuma is hit or miss.
The bait is forming pods and are coming closed to the surface. The bass and trout follow the bait and can be seen busting the surface. If you can find this action, fishing can be great.
Otherwise, it is it or miss, with the best top water being the first couple of hours in the morning.
Trout plants are coming soon.
Ted "Doc" Ceder - Casting Director & more!
CLUB MEMBER PHOTOS
FISHING, SCENIC, ACTION, RELAXING BY THE CAMPSITE - ETC!
*** CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE THEM IN "FULL SIZE" MODE
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pyramid lake gold!
SBF Member - Eric Kramer
I fished opening week at Pyramid in really good weather.
I was with Hans Grootwald's Lacy's Guide Service for two days and Joe Contaldi's Pyramid Anglers the other. We drop shoted the east side in 60-120 feet of water, with most of the fish suspended on bait balls. All of the boats caught alot of fish.
Sam Snyder from FFCOC got a 17 on a 16 fish day. Don Tanaka and Terry Imlay , also FFCOC ,had two great days with fish to 15 pounds. Bob Semerau of Sespe Flyfishers was with Doc. V. the host of the Ventura County fishing show and they had fish to 15 with a huge percentage of their catch over 10 pounds.
I did OK, with 36 to the net. I had a 19,15,14,two 13s and two 11s. June and October are the big fish boat months. Hard to get a reservation. Someone needs to die for a spot to open up.
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SBF Deschutes Pack Float Highlights
Some of the crew just got back from a 4 day/3 night pack float trip on the Deschutes with @griffmarshalloutdoors - a great time was had with all manner of fishing techniques producing redband and even an illusive steelhead on a dry !
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Lost a few monsters, but landed a few too.
SBF member ~ Scott Devore
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Why I fly fish . . .
SBF member ~ Alan Pritchard
I work and live off grid, at Jameson Lake on the upper Santa Ynez river. I often explore the area on my free time, and last June I was mountain biking east of the lake and stopped at a river crossing. An odd metallic shape caught my eye half buried in the gravel bank of the river. I fished it out and, to my amazement, it was what I would in a past life have called a fancy roach clip. The words “Dr. Slick” accompanied by a logo of a leaping fish were emblazoned on the thing.
A Google search revealed that the thing was a handy little tool from a company that specialized in fly fishing paraphernalia. “Hmm,” I thought, “Fly fishing, I’ve heard of that.”
That was all it took.
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gorgeous photography while hiking and fishing in the eastern sierra
SBF member ~ Katrina Peeples
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Santa barbara flyfishing members lead the basic fly-fishing class with success!
Submitted by club member Larry Basham, DDS
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Nice fish! Nice HAT!
SBF member Jim Farnum
Newish member Jim Farnum with a 21-inch 3.8 lb. Kamloops rainbow from a lake in British Columbia in late August. Note SBFF hat! Fish was smoked in camp and brought home.
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Fall Fishing: Nature’s Vault
SBF member - Ryan Eden
(Left) Holding a Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat from a creek in southern Idaho on a crisp early October morning. The fish was caught on a size 12 orange "Chubby Chernobyl"
(Right) Showing a beautiful fall brown trout caught on the last day of September with an articulated streamer on a small stream in the eastern Sierra.
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Stream-Hopping with Andy: Idaho to Yellowstone and beyond
SBF member - Andy Stull
Yellowstone Cutthroat, that I caught in the Teton River on my Idaho trip in Sept. I also fished Idaho’s Big Wood, Silver Creek, Big Lost, and Henry’s Fork as well as the Gibbon, Madison, Firehole, and Gallatin in Yellowstone.
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Tagging silver Giants in Cuba’s Garden of the Queen
SBF member - Reid Wittliff
This last May, I had the pleasure of participating in a tarpon tagging trip sponsored by a University of Miami professor in the Garden of the Queen off the coast of Cuba – it was an incredible trip with lots of tarpon, bonefish and permit.
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ITEMS FOR SALE BY CLUB MEMBERS
Fly Fest 2025 Recap: An Incredible Gathering of FFI Members and aFly-Fishing Enthusiasts
Fly Fishers International is proud to share that FFI FlyFest 2025, held September 26–27 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was an overwhelming success!
This year’s gathering brought together passionate anglers, educators, and conservationists from across North America and beyond for two unforgettable days of learning, community, and inspiration. The event exceeded expectations in every area — from attendance and funds raised, to increased awareness of FFI’s mission and the strengthening of connections within the global fly-fishing community. The weekend’s workshops, casting programs, and conservation presentations reflected the very heart of FFI’s Mission and Vision — to preserve the legacy of fly fishing for all fish, in all waters, through education, conservation, and community. | READ MORE
The Southwest Council of FFI
2026 Trout Rodeo
Don’t miss this exciting event—mark your calendars for February 7th and get ready for a day full of friendly competition, fun, food, prizes, and community! We can’t wait to see you there!
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Bishop, California. Meet at Tri-County
- Cost: $30 per individual or $25 per team, regardless of team size.
- Registration opens from Monday, December 1, 2025, to Saturday, February 7, 2026
CALIFORNIA LUNAR CALENDAR & TIDE TABLES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- President: Vince Narez
- Secretary / Membership: Randy Ward
- Past President: Lew Riffle
- Treasurer: Mike Pugh
- Conservation: Dr. Mark Rockwell
- Brett Greenwood
- John Grace
- Chris Hortinela
- Lindsay McTavish
- Lou Ternullo
- Randy Ward
Credits:
Created with images by Sandra Cunningham - "Fly fishing equipment on deck with view of a lake and mountains" • Tan Kian Khoon - "classified ads" • sbthegreenman - "mayfly and ripple on still water" • Jeremy Bishop - "untitled image"