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Monthly Newsletter
Issue: 0419                       MAY 2019
SOUTHWEST COUNCIL
FLY FISHERS INTERNATIONAL
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
STEVE SCHALLA |President Interim|Email

QUARTERLY MEETING
Our Spring Quarterly meeting was a lively event in Ventura, April 20th. We had 31 members in attendance and a quorum for our board. Three program chairs were confirmed: Debbie Sharpton (Conservation), Cece Rubin (Communication), and Wenda Payan (Fundraising).

CDFW PROPOSED REGS
One of the major topics was the CDFW Proposed Fishing Regulations for inland fishing. This proposal seemed rushed upon us with public comments taking place throughout the State in March and April and a deadline of May 3rd to receive any written comments. You would think that a letter would suffice in relaying concerns of the program to CDFW. But this is an age where letter-writing hits the trash can and only digital forms filled within a specified web page has sole consideration. We are hostage to algorithms.

PROPOSED REGS | WATERS | SPREADSHEET
Debbie Sharpton, SWC Conservation Chair, created a dynamic spreadsheet that would allow each of us to respond to these forms as simply and quickly as feasible. Hopefully, most of you took advantage of this form as Debbie had it emailed through our Mailchimpsystem to all Club Presidents and BOD members.

SWCFFI | PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT ELECTIONS
Another important accomplishment of the meeting was the selection of a nomination committee for both President and First Vice President. From what I understand, not having one or the other position filled is a very unusual position for a council to find itself, having both positions unfilled is almost unthinkable! Hopefully, we will get this worked out in a timely manner.

WET FEET | BY-LAWS | RULES OF THE ROAD
Just getting my feet wet as the “Acting” President, I am quickly understanding the responsibilities of the office. One, is getting familiar with our By Laws. It really functions as a road map in how we function as a council and is something we should be familiar with, particularly as a board. Susi Wright, SWC Secretary, sent a copy to each board member.

SWCFFI | TWO YEAR TERMS | YEARLY ELECTIONS
The Council President and all officers/directors have a two year term “or until their successors are duly elected”. So, you might be in this position indefinitely. It’s the Council President’s responsibility to hold elections each year and give us an opportunity for change.

COMMON GOALS | FFI & SOUTH WEST FLY CLUBS | BOZEMAN HERE WE COME!
As a Council, we set goals that are unique to our council but we also have common goals that we share with the other councils throughout FFI. Some of these common goals are building membership and participating or supporting the activities of the international organization. The Council President helps fulfill these goals by attending the annual Fly Fishing Expo in Bozeman, MT, participating in all of the Council President’s meetings, and serving on committees at the national level.

CONCLUSION | LOOKING FORWARD
I am looking forward to welcoming a new President and First Vice President to our council. We have a number of very qualified members throughout the council and it is always a good thing to have a fresh set of ideas to bring to our board.

Your “Acting” President (but really just your Treasurer).
Steve Schalla
REGISTRATION DUE BY: TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019
REGISTER ONLINE – $10.00
CLICK HERE
SPREADSHEET | SPECIFIC WATERS | SUGGESTED COMMENTS

SWCFFI CONSERVATION
Debbie Sharpton & Gary Applebee |EMAIL
CDFW INLAND TROUT ANGLING REGULATION CONCERNS

REGULATION SIMPLIFICATION COMMENTS -CLICK HERE

Your participation in the CDFW proposed changes to Inland Trout Angling Regulations is valuable. Passionate responses are appreciated, but CDFW would like to receive concrete alternatives to their proposals so they may consider those received in a formulaic manner. The SWC urges everyone to take 15 minutes to comment on a stream, river or lake that you fish and care about.ONLINE COMMENT PERIOD ENDS MAY 3.

The attached spread shee has specific waters and suggested specific comments:https://gallery.mailchimp.com/26ba2028f4445013c38d1cfd0/files/fff23ff4-3e0e-4b67-b1af-18d22789e275/Regulation_Changes2.xlsx

For CDFW online comment form click here: COMMENT ONLINE
  • The first section is about all waters not listed on the special regulations. You may have some concerns about the broad changes proposed. Make your voice heard by adding some text into the comment box.
  • The second section “Waters with Special Regulations”, has a pull down tab for the specific water, then a comment section. Choose your water, or look at the spreadsheet for the body of water, then find it on the pull down tab.you can scroll down below the column header.
    • Go to the spreadsheet and you will see a column on the far right titled “Copy and Paste this Section” You can copy and paste the text from the Suggested Public Comment section into the online comment box
  • The third section “If you would like to see an additional water added to 7.50, comment below (optional)”is about waters not on the special regulation list. You need to write in the water body, see the spreadsheet.
    • Go to the top section of the spreadsheet and you will see a few waters that we noticed are not on the list. You can copy and paste the text into the online comment box

The Southwest Council of Fly Fishers International discussed the issue at the quarterly general meeting held April 20 in Ventura. Debbie Sharpton, the new SWC co-conservation chair, with input from Lew Riffle, Chiaki Harami, Steve Schalla, Justin Bubenik, and Gary Applebee, is providing information on the regulation changes and what impact they have on some streams, rivers and lakes.
There are some sweeping changes and concerns, such as:
  • State designated Wild and Heritage Trout water changes without sufficient support documentation, such as revised management and hatchery plans, on how wild trout will be protected and sustained
  • Impacts of bait fishing on certain waters, such as the Golden Trout Wilderness
  • Increased bag limits without supporting documentation on how the fisheries will be sustained
  • Open season dates that conflict with spawning fish, such as Crowley Lake tributaries
  • Native trout recovery waters, and those holding genetic rainbow/southern steelhead, are open to take and increased fishing seasons
  • Waters missing from the special regulation list and now open to all year, all gear, 5 trout bag limit, 10 in possession general regulation
  • All year open season without supporting evidence provided to public that additional anticipated takes will be supplemented throughout the year
The CDFW staff will review comments and will, hopefully, provide a revised list of proposed changes. The California Fish and Game Commission will have a formal public comment period when the item comes to it for consideration. We will keep you informed.

TROUT UNLIMITED has spreadsheets for the entire state broken down into regions.
https://www.redwoodempire-tu.org/cdfw-inland-trout-regulation-changes

CalTrout has issued a comment letter and is available here:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/26ba2028f4445013c38d1cfd0/files/37044411-2301-48b6-b852-c4c5747c3a38/CalTrout_reg._comment_letter_April_2019.pdf

The website for more CDFW supplied information can be found at:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Trout-Plan/Regulation-Simplification

THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT OUR WATERS, OUR FISH AND THE LIVELYHOOD OF OUR FLY FISHING GUIDES.

SPREADSHEET | SPECIFIC WATERS | SUGGESTED COMMENTS
SWCFFI WOMEN'S EVENTS |Karen Hall

WOMEN'S |FLY FISHING FIESTA!
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019 | 1:00-3:00pm | FREE!
ORVIS |345 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
  • Orvis Pasadena is hosting Introduction on Fly Fishing in collaboration with the Southwest Council and Pasadena Casting Club. Ann Bull, Karen Hall,, Wenda Payan and Connie Bullocks will help you get out on the water.
  • There will be a raffle drawing drawing for a spot on a fly fishing weekend in Kernville, a sage rod, a backpack, and other fun stuff.A panel of experienced local Women Fly Fishers will offer an introduction on fly fishing.
  • "We'll give you the confidence and skills to enjoy life on the fly."
  • Questions? Contact Karen Hall, women's program chair at:womensprograms@swcffi.or
WOMEN'S |FLY FISHING RETREAT
June 28-29, 2019 | Kernville, CA | $200
  • June 28/29 there will be a retreat for up to 7 women in a cabin above Kernville.
  • Local Guide Chuck Stokke will help us refine our skills, and catch some gold trout on the Tule River and nearby creeks.
  • Spend aweekend in a cabin in Kernville with 6 experienced fly fishers who will help you refine your skills.
  • This retreat is for all women who would like to help enable other women to enjoy the art of fly fishing.
  • Gain some experience and pass it on!
  • Questions? Contact Karen Hall, women's program chair at:womensprograms@swcffi.or
EMAIL KAREN HALL | SWCFFI WOMEN'S PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE
SWCFFI | Secretary | Email Link
WOMEN'S FLY FISHING EVENT REPORT
PROVIDED BY:Amy Kileen & Karen Hall

Twenty lucky ladies were treated to a special taste of fly fishing today, April 27th, 2019. Excellent local guides and talented members of theCarson Fly Fishing Club, theHigh Sierra Fly Casters, and theTruckee River Fly Fishingclub provided six rotating classes. A delicious lunch was covered by the CFFC & HSFC.

The Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW) endorsed the event and provided our vises and fly tying materials. Everything from fly tying, knot tying, casting, conservation/etiquette, fly fishing equipment just for women, and entomology were taught.

Each woman was given a copy of Mark Warren's booklet Fishable Waters of Nevada, which he wrote as a biologist for NDOW. Both the students and the instructors were energized by the day's activities.

A special thanks go out to Guides Glenn Lemon (Pilot Peak Guide Service) Jose Luna, and Whitney Inmon.

Trout in the Classroom

 

                                                           

 


    • The picture this month is a photo with Chuck Bonham, the Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with our Trout in the Classroom Chair, Rich Bollinger, and his wife, Judy Bollinger, who is Conejo Valley Fly Fishers’ TIC Chair. Chuck was gracious enough to stop by the Southwest Council booth at the Fred Hall Show so that we could thank him for all the DFW is doing to help with the Southwest Council’s Trout in the Classroom Program, and especially Jennifer O’Brien and Julia Swanson, who have just been wonderful in smoothing out our operations.  Currently, we have Trout in the Classroom programs in close to 200 classrooms with over 200 teachers participating. Mr. Bonham was very appreciative of all the volunteer hours donated by our members. Without volunteers, we accomplish nothing.