SANTA BARBARA FLYFISHERS newsletter | september 2025

PRESIDENT'S POST

september 2025

PRESIDENT'S POST

We’re getting there quickly

Summer is on the wane and the fishing will only get better.

Rock Creek Club Outing

We have over 20 members registered for our Rock Creek outing from September 18-21. If you haven’t made it to this trip, you should. There’s ample opportunity to fish creeks like Hot, Rock and McGee, the Upper Owens and the Lower in the Gorge and lakes including Crowley, and the lakes above Mammoth and Rock Creek Lake.

The French Camp campground will be home base, with campsite number 8 the spot reserved for Camp Peeples. We’ll have morning and evening campfires to gather and plan the day and then share the day’s adventures.

CA Fly Fishing Open / Kernville

Next up is the Kern River outing October 9-12, in conjunction with the California Fly Fishing Open on October 9 and hosted by the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers. The club will pay the entry fee for the team. This is much more than a fun fishing team competition; there’s a Poker Night and BBQ party Saturday evening. This event will raise funds for good causes including a Kids Academy.

Annual Club BBQ report

The BBQ was a huge success with over 90 members and guests in attendance. Grilled tri-tip and chicken were the stars of the grill and thanks to everyone who brought beverages, sides and deserts to share.

The winner of this year’s Casting Contest was Rob Widiner and there were many winners of the raffle prizes and the live auction. Special thanks again to Chiaki, Otto, Tom, Russ and Casey for the special auction prizes.

And thanks to all the volunteers who helped make it a great gathering.

Last cast . . .

For those members that are new to fly fishing please remember the club’s got you covered!

There’s Second Salt Saturdays at Rincon Beach hosted by Joseph. Learn to fish the surf, our closest water, for perch, corbina, halibut and more. Gear is available to use. Please reserve a spot with Joseph Narkevitz and/or Sam Soga.

Then there’s Fly Casting Clinic hosted by Doc at Berkeley Park in Goleta the third Saturday of the month to learn casting or to hone your skills. No reservation required. Just show up with or without gear.

Larry will host a two part Basic Fly Fishing classes beginning October 25. This will provide a good foundation for skills development and knowledge to get you started in the right direction. There’s also a trip to the Lower Owens River on Nov. 8th as part of the class. Please register for these classes through the Calendar at our website.

Our next general meeting on September 9 will have a different mini-class. This time some of our expert member fly tiers will demonstrate tying fresh water and salt water flies. Our speaker, Frank Burr’s presentation will focus on entomology and fly fishing.

I hope to see you on September 9th

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

• September 9 - Monthly Meeting
• September 13 - Second Salt Saturday
• September 18-21 - Rock Creek Outing
• September 20 - Monthly Casting Clinic
• September 23 - Board Meeting

CONSERVATION

SEPTEMBER MEETING DATE | to be determined.

I have three main issues to report on as Fall fishing season begins. All are important for our local Santa Barbara Steelhead survival. Save Santa Barbara Steelhead is alive, and needs to develop more momentum.

Status of our barrier removal project on Zaca Creek

Our project to remove a significant barrier on Zaca Creek in the Santa Ynez valley continues to wait on a funding source. Cal Trout has been working on grants and had submitted a request to a CDFW funding program focused on barriers.

We were notified by Cal Trout that the grant was not approved for 2025. In discussions with Cal Trout we were assured that they still are intent on getting the grant and project completed but we will have to wait on the new funding cycle in 2026. The effort continues to help the steelhead in Zaca Creek, and to remove the barrier at Koehler winery.

Two rescues of rainbows/steelhead in local creeks

I am proud to say that following the wet season this past winter, a few of us in the club had been watching our creeks as water flows diminished, and in most cases stopped as summer set in.

On Maria Ignacio Creek, we noticed two plunge pools below significant barriers were holding several fish, a few of which were upstream migrants from the ocean—true steelhead. The lower pool was under the train bridge near Hwy 101, and the upper pool was below Cathedral Oaks Road near the Foothill School in Goleta.

In the lower pool under the train bridge, I actually watched two nice-sized fish—14”–16”—spawn in the pool. The upper pool was larger and deeper, and likely held more fish.

We advised CDFW that we were monitoring these pools, and Kyle Evens of CDFW advised they would be willing to rescue the fish when water levels were lower.

In July, the lower pool had dropped to about 3 feet in depth, and 37 fish were rescued and carried upstream to a suitable over-summer location. In late August, 74 fish were rescued from the Cathedral Oaks pool. In total, from these two pools, 111 rainbows/steelhead were rescued.

We are currently in discussions with CDFW and their new Steelhead coordinator, Deena Hansen, to talk about forming a community-based monitoring program to oversee strandings and other threats, and coordinate with CDFW staff on rescues and needed actions.

We must do all we can to keep our local fish alive, awaiting barrier removal on these streams.

Future efforts for Save Santa Barbara Steelhead

We are focusing on two primary streams in Santa Barbara—Maria Ignacio Creek and Mission Creek—both of which have active steelhead populations.

After meetings with Moe Gomez of South Coast Habitat Restoration, it is clear that they are working to get the significant barriers off of Maria Ignacio in the next couple of years.

Hence, Lou Ternullo and I have been meeting with Resources Institute and Restoration Environmental Solutions (RES) to get some help in evaluating projects that need to be done on Mission Creek.

It is our hope that we can pull together a process to evaluate the barriers that now exist, and from that evaluation, develop a barrier removal agenda for Mission that can move forward to open the full stream to its headwaters in the mountains.

We will need some help from our full committee to accomplish this effort, so stand by for more in the months ahead.

Our goal Remains

Opening up steelhead streams so adult fish can migrate to their spawning locations in the upper watershed, and outmigrants have an open passage to the ocean. Their survival and recovery is fully dependent upon that access, and Save Santa Barbara Steelhead is focused on that objective.

Author, Dr. Mark Rockwell, D.C.

• Dr. Mark Rockwell, D.C.
• Fly Fishers International Conservation
• Santa Barbara FF Conservation Chair
• mrockwell1945@gmail.com
• 530 559-5759 (cell)

MONTHLY MEETING Tuesday, SEPT 9th

Guest speaker: Frank Burr

"Aquatic Entomology for Fly Fishing"

• 5:30-6:45pm: Mini-class & Pizza
• 7:00pm: Meeting & Speaker

This presentation will introduce you to basic aquatic entomology for Fly Fishers. Learn how to identify the main classes of insects that fish are most likely to find in their search for food. The life cycles of these insects and the artificial fly patterns used to mimic them in their different stages will be covered. Great information for the Fly Fisher and Fly Tying

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 Larry Basham at: DrBuzz2@aol.com

THE SESPE FLY FISHERS is hosting the

International Fly Fishing Film Festival

"IF4™" 2025

• Ventura College Auditorium | October 4, 2025
• Doors open at 3:00 pm
• Panel Discussion 3:00-4:00 pm
• Film begins at 4:00 pm
• Post-film activities* at 6:00 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION SPEAKERS/PRESENTATIONS:

• Debbie Sharpton on the Malibu Creek Restoration
• Bernard Yin and Rebbecca Ramirez for Piru Creek
• Martin Schenk of Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
• Candice Meneghin of Friends of the Santa Clara River
• CCA on White Sea Bass
• Others dealing with Estuary Improvements at Ventura River.

The final hour will have a Raffle of Swag, food and beverages, and a "Meet and Greet" with about 5 fly fishing guides, mostly of the Eastern Sierra.

• Students: $15.00
• General Admission: $25.00
• VIP: $45.00

SBF'S ANNUAL BBQ AT THE EMBARCADERO

SPECIAL REPORT | By Larry Basham

CHECK OUT ALL THE IMAGES on our YouTube Channel!

The cool foggy morning turned to sunshine just in time for the barbequed tri-tip and chicken lunch. Lou Ternullo, Mark Stimson and Curtis Peeples prepared and cooked the meat to perfection and members provided the side dishes for our annual summer get together.

Over 80 members (including several new members who hadn’t even been to a meeting yet), spouses, and guests enjoyed the meal and camaraderie.

“Doc” Ceders’ casting competition, which has become a fun part of the gathering, was close with Rob Widener putting the fly in most of the rings and winning a nice assortment of Sam Sogas’ Sierra flies.

There were many great raffle prizes which were drawn for and several people won multiple prizes, The big winner was Emily Myers (pictured left) who walked away with 5-6 prizes. Mike Reinestos’ number was called several times too. Making sure the drawing was on the up and up, Lindsay McTavish drew the tickets and Chris Hortinela (below) called the numbers.

This was the warm-up for the auction with lively bidding for new and old items. Mike Pugh went home with the “Gone Fishing” sign (above) he donated for the auction when his wife, Cristy, bid for it. Stephen Olson was the high bidder for a box of beautiful saltwater flies tied by our club member and guide, Casey Cloud.

Tom Simmons donated a beautiful fishing net he crafted from Honduran mahogany and reclaimed maple which attracted numerous bidders and ultimately went to Nollie Lei.

Jim Dougherty was the winner of a special Sage rod made for SB Flyfishers but Larry Basham outbid him for a new Sage reel and line donated by Chiaki Harami in some “friendly” competition between boys from Taft.

The prize of the day was a 1910 Bamboo fly rod & reel refurbished and donated by Russ Redmond. There was active bidding between Jim, Larry and longtime member Christine Green. It came down to Larry and Christine whom have a history of bidding against each other at past club auctions. This time Christine was determined to get the rod and Tom Simmons sweetened the deal by offering to make a custom rack for it. The auction was all in good fun and more than paid for the BBQ.

Thank you to everyone who donated items for the raffle and auction!

Thanks to everyone who came early to set-up and stayed afterwards to put away the tables and chairs and clean the room.

It was a great day, and we’ll look forward to our Holiday Party at the Palm Park Beach House on December 9th.

LAKE CACHUMA

MONTHLY FISHING REPORT

Lew's School - on Cachuma!

Check Doc's report below. Scroll down . . .

Lew Riffle, past president

"The Doc's In"

Lake Cachuma continues to be in the summer mode.

Top water bite the first 2-3 hrs in the morning. I think the late evening as well. Use larger poppers in the shallows, with deeper depths later.

After the bite slows, heavier sinking lines along the cliffs with chartreuse/yellow streamers, bass to 4# have been landed. There are areas for bluegills at the back of coves all day. Nymphs and small leeches for them.

As the fall approaches, the bait fish will get closer to the surface, and the bass will follow.

Ted "Doc" Ceder - Casting Director & more!

The first week of August I flew to southern Baja to fish with my longtime friend Gary Bulla. We have been on the Sespe Board for over ten years together. His operation at La Ventana is absolutely first class. The fishing, food, accommodations, and guides were great.

La Ventana is definitely the Roosterfish capital of the world, with Cerravo Island, Punta Arena, and Muertos Bay all close by. I caught 10 Gallos in four days of fishing, two to a panga. One day was spent looking for Marlin, to no avail, and the last day a tropical depression winded us out.

The captains chum sardinas and we strip two-handed like mad. It really wore this 80-year-old out. I did manage to land a 35lb Rooster and a 40lb Jack Crevalle, aka Toro, plus a few Trumpetfish and Green Jacks. Gary's boats are set up solely for fly fishing and his captains know what they are doing.

We took a side trip up to the village of Truimfo, a silver mining town dating to 1750, one afternoon and had Passion Fruit ice cream that was to die for. I flew from LAX to Cabo airport and his van picks you up.

All in all, a great trip. —Eric Kramer