SB Flyfishers Board Meeting Highlights will be back in July. Stay tuned!
Larry Basham / SBF Secretary & Membership Director / DrBuzz2@aol.com
CONSERVATION REPORT | JUNE 2025
Author, Dr. Mark Rockwell, D.C.
- Fly Fishers International Conservation
- Santa Barbara FF Conservation Chair
- mrockwell1945@gmail.com
- 530 559-5759 (cell)
As we move into mid-year the conservation challenges only seem to be increasing, though we continue to hear good things out of the northern part of our Council. Here’s a rundown on what is happening | READ MORE
A. Klamath River - After a banner year of salmon returns to the upper parts of the river for the first time in more than 100 years, the river continues to move forward. | READ MORE
B. Scott and Shasta Rivers - major tributaries to the Klamath, these rivers are perpetually flowing at low to no flows in the summer. | READ MORE
C. Eel River - Dam removal continues to move forward on the Eel, though it was feared that the Trump administration might take over the project from PG&E. | READ MORE
D. The Yuba River - As many know, the Lower Yuba River stands as one of recreational fishings most favorite rivers to catch large, wild steelhead-connected rainbow trout. | READ MORE
E. S.F. Bay-Delta water diversions - This is the most complex process that I've worked on for more than 20 years. Currently, we are faced with the 3rd year of closed salmon fishing on the coast and highly limited fishing in our tributary rivers to the Bay-Delta. | READ MORE
F. Fish and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort (FAHCE) - This is a collaborative effort NCCFFI, Cal Trout, and others entered into in 2003 to protect and recover salmon & steelhead in the 3 main streams in Santa Clara Valley (Silicone Valley) - Coyote Creek, Guadalupe River, and Stevens Creek. | READ MORE
G. Lastly, I am working with FFI National in Montana to help move them toward a significant conservation process that provides FFI a path to improve fishery protections as well as restoration work in all our Councils. | LEARN MORE
These are the major projects that I and NCCFFI Conservation is focused on now. All of these projects are complex and require significant attention. If anyone is interested in helping NCCFFI to represent fly fishing interests in North State conservation issues please contact me, Mark Rockwell, mrockwell1945@gmail.com. 530-559-5759.
Our primary purpose is to keep our fisheries healthy, and to limit or expand protections for fisheries and aquatic habitats. We work with many partners - Cal Trout, T.U., South Yuba Citizens League, Friends of the River, Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC, and several of our member clubs, as well as other fishing interest organizations. It takes all of us to be engaged and leave healthy fisheries and watersheds for the next generation. We need you!
HENDERSON SPRINGS - club OUTING
May 7-11, 2025
Report and imaged provided by Tim Carpenter, SBF member
Santa Barbara Flyfishers Club Henderson Springs Ranch Trip
I decided to join this trip at the last minute during our May club meeting, and I am sure glad I did. Mark Rockwell organized this fantastic trip on the Henderson Springs Ranch to float tube for these epic Rainbows.
We all met in Redding the Fly Shop to stock up flys and such and arrived at the ranch around noon. We quickly filled our float tubes, grabbed our gear and after a short tour of the four lakes the ranch had to offer, we were out on the water catching lunker trout.
For the next two days we explored the four lakes catching 18 – 23 inch trout on Chironomidae under a strike indicators, Dry Flies, Emergers and even Leach and Wooly Bugger patterns. Besides the fishing and the fine accommodations at the ranch, the competitive dinner teams prepared and served outstanding restaurant quality meals each night. I highly recommend this trip to any of you considering it next year. - Tim Carpenter
next in person meeting is tuesday, June 10, 2025
Pizza for all who attend!
In June we are delighted to welcome back local expert Steve Schalla with another in depth and off the beaten path presentation on his beloved Eastern Sierra - "Fly Fishers' Paradise"
MEETING LOCATION:
"THE MACKENZIE CENTER" ,3111 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
The MacKenzie Park Center is located off of Las Positas Road, across from McCaw Road and the Municiple golf course.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT, by Larry Basham
"Seven New Members Sworn In"
Welcome to a few of our newest members who took the club oath at the May 6th meeting. It’s exciting to see the club growing as never before with fly fishers of all ages.
It’s hard to believe that coming out of covid in 2022 after not meeting for two years, we had 24 paid members. Now we have 172 members!
Running a club of this size with such rapid growth can be challenging. It can only be done by sharing the load.
Please consider being on the Facilities Committee and coming a little early to help arrange the meeting room or be a “Greeter” to welcome ne members and introduce them to other members.
The Blue Dot on a member's badge means they are new.
Of course, we can always use help with planning outings and club social events.
Call or email Vince Narez and tell him how would like to help the club prosper.
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
WEBSITE QUICK LINKS:
“Camp Peeples” is Now Official!
If you’ve been on any of the club’s camping outings to the Eastern Sierra the past two years, chances are good you’ve spent some time around the campfire at Katrina and Curtis Peeples’ campsite. They come with ALL the campsite amenities from propane cooking grill, camp lights, chain saw, wood and, of course, a HOT shower!
They generously share their food and campsite and the action is around their campfire in the mornings and evenings. Katrina entertains with memorized poems and Curtis has some great stories to tell. Everyone joins in with their own “fish tales.” Evening meals are often accompanied by wine and other spirits. The Peeples have become club favorites!
To show our gratitude they were given an official “Camp Peeples” wooden plaque to hang at their campsite. Thank you for all you’ve done to build friendships and energize the club!
MORE CLUB MEMBERS' FISHING REPORTS - Tim Carpenter
REPORT #1 - Spring Fishing on the Upper Kern River
Earlier this April, Eldore and Victor Wood along with Teresa and I made a trip up to the Upper Kern River, eager to catch the early season hatches and some of the large Kern River Rainbows. We quickly checked into a room at McNalley’s, just below the Fairview Campground and headed out on the river. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we were happily greeted by hatching Skwallas and large Brown Drake Mayflies coming off the water — a sure sign that spring had arrived on the Kern.
Despite the promising conditions, the river proved challenging. The warm weather, brought snow melt and caused the river to rise. The flows were running high at around 1600 CFM, making it tough to find willing fish. The trout weren’t rising at all, so we concentrated on using heavily weighted nymphs, such as large stoneflies, Rubber legs and Bead headed Hares ears. We mostly fished the river’s edge and the deaper pools, and spent much of our time working harder than usual to entice a take. In the end, we managed to land a few spirited rainbows, and even though the fishing was slow, it was hard to complain. A couple of days spent on a beautiful river, under blue skies, in the company of good friends, is always time well spent. Sometimes, it’s not just about the fish — it’s about being out there.
REPORT #2 - Snowbow Success – Third time was a charm.
Teresa and I made our third trip of the year up to the Owens Valley, joined by Victor and Eldoré Wood, in pursuit of the elusive upper Owens Winter Rainbow Trout — the “Snowbows” We arrived on Monday and set up camp on the lower Owens at our favorite Pleasant Valley campsite. Tuesday morning started out euro nymphing we got into some decent sized Rainbows and Browns. That lasted until around noon, when the BWOs and some small caddis started hatching. We quickly switched to dries and we picked up a few more fish on the surface.
The next morning, we met guide Mark Rosen on the Upper Owens. Fishing was tough in the wind, but we managed a few small Rainbows and Browns while searching for the deeper holes where the big rainbows allegedly hold. Around midday, I found the perfect bend in the river with a channel that dropped into a deep pool. I cast my three fly Euro setup into the channel and as it dropped onto the pool, I saw a big silver flash. I hooked into a strong fish — after a good battle, Mark came running upstream with the net. I finally landed my personal best, a beautiful 23” Rainbow. I caught it on the anchor fly, which was a #12 Red San Juan worm, tied with a 3.8 tungsten bead. Shortly after we landed the big one of the day, the wind was getting worse, so we decided to pack up and leave to go check out Hot Creek, only to find it just as blown out.
Our final day, we returned to Hot Creek under much better conditions. We fished most of the day using dry flies, trailing dropper zebra midges. We all had success landing solid numbers of average-sized Rainbows and Browns using the dry droppers. It was a stunning day on the water at Hot Creek and a great way to close out the trip.
CLUB MEMBER PHOTOS | FISHING, SCENIC, ACTION, RELAXING
"Opening Weekend on Crowley" - Eric Kramer
Saturday morning dawned windless but overcast on Crowley. Our engine didn't shift so we lost a half hour moving to another boat. You would think since they had weeks of perfect weather before the opener that they would have checked every boat.
We expected a snowstorm to hit sometime during the day, so we wasted no time in hurrying up to McGee Bay to start trolling. It was a slow pick on Tasmanian Devils and Repalas at 15 feet over 20 to 40 feet of water. We metered quite a few fish, but it was far from wide open.
Almost no one was flyfishing and there were no float-tubers. In fact, people were so afraid of the weather that only half the rental boats even left the docks. We got 9 fish by the time the Blizzard hit at around 11:00am - the largest an 18" Brown. In fact, 6 out of the 9 were browns, mostly one year fish about 14 inches. We slow trolled back to the marina in zero visibility with idiots flying by us at 20 knots.
I have fished "the opener" for almost 60 years and had never gotten snowed out. We went back to the condo to warm up and then fished Hot Creek at the Interpretive Site in the evening. Chris got 4, two Rainbows and two Browns, largest 19" on green Wooly Buggers. I got a 14" Brown on a green Pistol Pete.
Sunday was great weather and surprisingly the fish bit better than on Sat. We got 15, the largest a 17" Kemloops Rainbow, keeping a few to smoke. Again, the gold Tassie was the ticket at three colors. Monday we met Ernie Gully at 7 to go midging, but his fishfinder didnt work. Kindly, Doug Roddricks of Sierra Drifters offered to let us follow him. We both set up deep in McGee in 11 feet of water. It was a slow bite, better in the afternoon. I caught 15 and Chris caught 10, no bigs.
Tuesday we were joined by Jeremy Campbell, new member of FFCOC. This time it was a morning bite. I got 17 including a 20" Cutty, one of the few we caught. Chris had 9 and Jeremy landed 4 on his first ever flyfishing outing. He was really stoked with his 20" rainbow. The fish were higher off the bottom than usual. We got bit best on gray emergers and brown balanced leeches. It got better after we left. Ernie had three 50+ fish days at the end of the week. - Submitted by Eric Kramer
Here are some photos I took during a recent flyfishing trip to Bishop with club members Joseph Narkevitz, John Grace and Mike Pugh. We fished & explored the Owens Valley, including the Lower Owens, Hot Creek, Rock Creek and Bishop Creek.
Although fishing was not 'red hot' we managed to catch our share, and we saw lots of beautiful country in the process. The weather in the valley was spring-like, but it's still winter at the higher elevations. You know it's too cold to fish when the ice in your guides keeps you from casting. - Russ Redmond, SBF member
3RD ANNUAL FFI WOMEN'S FLY FISHING PHOTO CONTEST SPONSORED BY MISS MAYFLY
FFI Women Connect and participating FFI regional councils are hosting a flyfishing photo contest to celebrate women anglers for June, FFI Women Connect Fly Fishing month.
- CATEGORIES
- Freshwater fish
- Saltwater fish
- Water, bugs, and their “Match the Hatch” flies,
- Buddy teaching or fishing moments. Buddies may include pets
- Group moments
Everyone wins! Prizes offered by Miss Mayfly and more! Join an online Fly Fishing Photography Seminar with renowned fly fishing photographer Brian O’Keefe, who is also serving as one of our judges. He will offer a FLY Fishing Photography seminar to all entrants.
Photos taken between June 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025, are eligible. Judging will be done from September 1 – 8th. All Winners will be contacted by Sept 9th. There will be an online Zoom Award Announcement in September/October and all photos will be featured in “The Fall Issue of “The Connection” the FFIWC Newsletter. Date TBD.
CALIFORNIA LUNAR CALENDAR & TIDE TABLES
club officers
- President: Vince Narez
- Secretary / Membership: Larry Basham
- Past President: Lew Riffle
- Treasurer: Mike Pugh
- Conservation: Dr. Mark Rockwell
board of DIRECTORS
- Brett Greenwood
- John Grace
- Chris Hortinela
- Lindsay McTavish
- Lou Ternullo
- Randy Ward
Credits:
Created with images by Uladzislau - "Torn paper with text BOARD OF DIRECTORS, business concept." • Marcelo Dufflocq - "Trout" • sablin - "trout fisherman in action on a small river" • amadeustx - "Mountain river and forest in North Cascades National Park, Washington, USA" • sbthegreenman - "mayfly and ripple on still water" • Jeremy Bishop - "untitled image"