Also thanks to all the guides that contributed to the Guide Side and helping to make it a successful column. We will resume the feature in April.

We will also be raffling off the T&T rod, Bauer Reel and a tying vice.

Thanx

Frank

By Joel B. Filner

For the last three years I was given the opportunity to make a trip to Florida for business and manage at the same time to fit in fishing for business and pleasure in the Keys. Allan Finkelman, a past president of the club, moved to Islamorada, chucked it all in, and started guiding. A perfect opportunity for a beginner to learn at the bow of a master and friend.

Every trip was a lesson in humility and skill enhancement as a patient Allan made the most of the originally poor habits and put us on to fish. The problems I encountered are not seeing the fish until it's too late, then buck fever with the fly into the back, then standing on the line, then "lining the fish", and finally the perfect cast, hookup, thumb whack, gone. After 5 days over two years I caught a fish and held another. This year was going to be different.

I practiced casting at targets. I went out in the wind. And the rain. Line testing for each rod to determine the best loading, longest casting, and line management(coiling) on the ground. Even learning a twitch to ensure the line was clear of feet, knees, belts, coolers, etc. to allow for a clear cast. Herman's patience in teaching a new wind smart cast was worth all the lawn casting at the meetings. I was ready.

Allan however was not going to be available this year as he took another opportunity before I could confirm the dates. He graciously gave three recommendations and the first and most touted agreed to take us for the two days. Captain Tim Klein was the designated hitter.

We met at the boat with all the gear, and in this instance we used my own equipment. A 10wt Scott, a 9wt Simroe, an 8wt Scott, and an 8wt Simroe. Tim carefully inspected all the lines and immediately dumped my tippets and knots and gave a quick lesson in knot tying and proper tippet length. Then he tied on each rod a fly of his own design but with different sinking abilities. Because of the wind we kept all the leaders under 9ft as the conditions were not as stealth reliant as calm days would require. There was a tournament being held at Islamorada for the first day so he chose to go out of the usual local waters to avoid the armada. The fun began.

Wind at 20 knots, tide incoming, and clear skies all completed the scene. The essence of the hunt is find fish and cast to them. Tim found us fish. We alternated half hour up, and if we hooked up we relinquished the front. This was not a problem our first two years. Andy has the most luck up front and got the first shots at three fish. Then I had one shot then Andy with three more, then I had two, and Andy had four. All the while Tim watched us and learned our weaknesses and strengths, adjusting the boat with the wind to enable us to maximize our abilities. His calm, sure instructions coupled with encouragement improved our skills.

Bang, Andy had his first fish on and in. This was his first bonefish ever. No matter what happened afterward, the day was a success. My turn and my fish. Then Andy again and one on then off. We were fishing for muds by this time as the tide was still coming in but we were actually learning to see the muds and fish and cast reasonably well. The winds were increasing and now blowing steady 20 to 25 knots, making the work harder for the guide and the casters. Into the wind casting was tuff but also coached very well by Tim so that we still could manage the shots. I hooked up one more fish who took us on a wild ride across the flats as we untangled the line from the lobster traps and floats and finally boated the fish. The lovely 8.5 pounder in the photo.

On the way back across the flat Andy had two more shots, but they just gently squeezed the fly and then ran. My turn for the end of the day as we poled off the flat to the channel. Tim directed "Permit- 50ft 11:30" dead into the wind. All the practice paid off as I made the best cast of the day into the wind and watched the fish hit and run. I don’t know who jumped more, me or the fish What a run. He was on for 15 minutes and just close into the boat when his tail hit the leader and gone. A perfect end to a great day.

The second day was very different. Wind was now steady 25 knots with gusts to 35. Ouch. I wouldn’t go out the surf at Shinnecock in those wind conditions. We went out with the good feeling of the day before still in our minds. We saw tails in morning but couldn’t get them to hit. Andy hit three fish on the back with three different casts. I hit one, lined one and then Andy got the fish to take and he dropped the fly. This was a learning day. On Thursday, we could see the fish pretty well, but Friday with the wind I couldn’t see the direction and speed of the fish. I was totally reliant on Tim but the angler must see as well in order to act properly with the fly. We only had total 15 shots on Friday all tough and above our skill levels.

The trip was one of the best I ever experienced. It is easy to see how Allan learned his trade when Tim was his guide. They both have the ability and skill to work with what the angler brings to the table. And the right encouragement without all the harsh intensity of some of the fabled guides. Their telephone numbers are: Tim Klein, (305)852-1512, and Allan Finkelman (305) 852-5233.

This is the second part of the interview with Bob Popovics. His presence in the sport, as well as his support for conservation efforts, make Bob one of the "local" stars that contribute to our club.

1. I think the sport is doing just fine. I think the new guys coming into the sport are finding it easy to learn, through seminars, sports shows, books, videos, TV and the Internet. It’s all there; the industry is listening to their needs. Progress is constantly being made, with better fly lines, better rods, easier knots and easier flies, all the needs are starting to be met. We have breathable waders now---that’s progress! Salt-water fly fishing as a sport is ever promising; it’s on the way up. We’re coming into the first generation where the new salt water fly fishermen are going to be taught by their parents, notice I said parents not just fathers. Now hopefully by their mothers, by aunts and cousins. Myself and most of the guys I know were taught to fish by their parents or by their fathers, but were not taught to fly fish by a father or uncle. Now I think we’re coming into a time where our base of fly fishermen is getting broader. That they’ve had children that they not only teach to fish but include fly-fishing in the process. I don’t think that’s ever happened before, all new, yet to come.

17. If you had one place in the world that you could go fishing where would that be, and what species would it be?

1. It would be the Northeast; I like it right where I am. I’ve been around- through Florida, Canada, Mexico and the Islands. I think from North Carolina to Maine is probably the best. The variety of species, the easy access to fish. If I had to choose one species it would be a 15 to 20 lb. bluefish. Catching them on a fly is the most exciting fly-fishing that I’ve ever done.

17. Do you ever see the sport of salt-water fly-fishing as becoming a predominant player in the sports fishing arena?

1. No, I don’t think it will become a predominant player. I don’t think the numbers will ever be heavy on salt-water fly-fishing. I think it will still be a specialized sport. It will always be a portion of the whole scene. It’s not going to seem so strange anymore, but I don’t think it will become the type of fishing that fishermen are going to do first. You’ll still see bait fishermen, guys with conventional gear—deep jigging, etc: predominantly. However, I think fly-fishing will be ever growing.

17. Do you think that the Internet will be a good tool in furthering the growth of the sport?

1. Again, communication, that’s the key. People want to learn people want to know where to go to get the answers. The Internet is probably the ultimate in communication nowadays. It’s communication par excellence; it’s the way to go. I think it’s the place everyone will be going for answers.

17. What are your plans for doing a video or a book?

1. I have done two videos, one called POP-FLEYES and one was Masters of Fly-Tying volume #3. They’re out there and they pretty much cover my flies to date. I’d really like to get into videos, not just fly tying, but videos in combination with teaching techniques. Using my own videos to communicate and entertain. As far as a book is concerned, we’re working on one. It’s almost done, it’s called POP-FLEYES and it will be a book on only my flies. I’m doing it with Ed Jaworowski. The book will be step by step on all the patterns. One step at a time so you can learn how to tie the flies with it. There will be a chapter on the use of epoxy and silicone. It will give some fly tying theory. Because, believe me, a good fly designer has a reason for everything he or she does in the construction of a fly. There’s a reason for the choice of hook, choice of material, how much and where it goes. How to meet your objectives, i.e. not using a floating type material on a hook when you know you’re going to use the fly for fishing deep water situations, so you choose something that’s going to go down easy.

17. How long has the book been in process?

1. The book has been in the making for some three years and I had hoped to have it out for the year 2000, but that couldn’t be, so it will be out for the year 2001.

This interviewer will end by saying that due to equipment failure, Bob had to sit through this interview twice. Thank you, Bob, from me and the "Salties" for being so understanding.

Individual Membership $40.00

Husband and Wife/SO 60.00

Children under 16 5.00

Seniors over 65 20.00

Youth 16-21/Student 20.00

New Member Initiation Fee 10.00

Dues are payable at the beginning of the calendar year latest Feb 29, 2000.If not paid by the due date a $10 reinstatement fee will be assessed.

New members who join in the fourth calendar quarter are automatically paid in full for the following year.

Husband and wife/SO will only receive one copy of the newsletter and/or any mailings issued by the Club.

Business card insertions 12 months: $120.00

Business card insertions 6 months 90.00

Business card insertions < 6 Months 20.00 per insertion. Minimum 3

Quarter Page 12 Months 150.00

Quarter Page 6 Months 125.00

Full Page by special arrangement.

So there has to be some simple answers to this puzzle and it comes down to a few basics. First, the fly’s size and action should be considered. That gray Lefty’s may have been the right size to look like a large spearing or small squid, only the fish know what it looks like to them. Second, presentation is very important. Making the offering available to your quarry in just the right manner goes along way in hooking up. Sinking lines can offer the fly at the fish’s level. Another point, baitfish do not attack larger fish, it is just a fact of the real world. Color is important but not as important as we may think (though many a story about striper fishing at Montauk centers around the color yellow, who knows why it just does). And most important of all go fishing and find these things out for yourself, then share you experiences with other members and friends. Make a pledge right now during this holiday season that you will fish more and share you information with others. Keeping things a secret is fine if you are in the CIA, fly fishers (or anglers in general) learn by doing and asking around. If it wasn’t for some of the fine older members in this club I would have never learned as much as I have. Names like Jimmy DiGregorio, Don Avondolio, Steve Broznya, Past President and wild man Dennis O’Brien just to name a few. And of course my friends that I have met through the club have made a difference in my fishing and in my life. All this is do to sharing information openly and having a common interest…fishing just brings the right people together. A quick thanks to Perry Lisser, Bob Woolley, Joe Blados and Glenn Mikkelson for teaching me new things about fly fishing and about life, I have learned a lot from them. Happy Holidays and remember……..they’ll hit just about anything you throw at ‘em. Just about anything.

By Alan J Evelyn, Conservation Chair

DECEMBER'S CONSERVATION NEWS

UNPRECEDENTED AGREEMENT TO CONTROL LONGLINES

In late August, CCA, in conjunction with The Billfish Foundation and the American Sportfishing Association, entered into a memorandum with the Blue Water Fishermen's Association (which represents longliners), pursuant to which 160,000 square miles of US waters would be permanently closed to longlining, additional time and area closures would be instituted, the size of the longline fleet would be reduced by 30% and longliners would be required to participate in an extended study aimed at reducing bycatch.

The permanently closed area would stretch from the North Carolina/South Carolina border to Key West, Florida, an area identified in Billfish Foundation studies as the U.S. region accounting for the greatest incidence of sub-legal swordfish and billfish bycatch.  (Early this year, CCA opposed NMFS's original proposal of a seasonal closure encompassing only the Florida Straits, since we realized that the more extensive closure provided by the current agreement was not only possible, but necessary.)  Large areas in the northern and western Gulf of Mexico will also be subject to seasonal closures.

 As part of the agreement, the longline fleet will be reduced by approximately 30% through buyouts.  50% of the money for the buyouts will come from the federal government.  The remaining costs will be shared equally by the remaining participants in the longline fishery and by anglers fishing in the closed areas (or by state governments assuming the anglers' share).

While the agreement is, in the words of Walter Fondren, CCA's Chairman, "maybe the biggest conservation measure for offshore fisheries ever," it is, as he acknowledges, only a "step in the right direction."  CCA, other conservation organizations and the longliners themselves will now go to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and request that similar conservation measures be implemented in international waters.  Such international management is essential, since about 95% of Atlantic billfish mortality, and most mortality of juvenile swordfish, is caused by foreign longliners.

For the agreement to become effective, it must be approved by Congress.  CCA has already lined up a list of influential sponsors and cosponsors in both the House and the Senate.  Unfortunately, a negative campaign with some false information regarding the agreement is encouraging anglers to ask their Congressman to oppose the deal.  Since any piece of legislation is a very delicate construct,  that campaign could succeed.  Therefore, CCA NY members are being provided with the following information so that, properly informed, they can spread the truth regarding the agreement:

Vessels that are "bought out" of the longline fishery will not be able to enter any other commercial fishery.  Such vessels are federally documented.  Pursuant to the buyout agreement, not only the vessels' longline permits, but also the commercial fishing endorsement in their documentation, will be purchased.  After such purchase, the vessels may be used as dive boats, party boats, whale-watchers, oil-rig  tenders or any other purpose except commercial fishing for the rest of their working lives.

The buyout will substantially reduce effort in the domestic swordfish fishery. Longliners remaining after the buyout have agreed to support  at ICCAT, at 10-year rebuilding plan for swordfish, and will insist that American negotiators press for such a plan.  Since a 10-year rebuilding plan will require harvest reductions of at least 27%, both the reduction in fleet size and the reduction in harvest will be roughly proportional.  The remaining longline vessels will not reap a significantly larger share of the swordfish quota.

There should be little displacement of longline effort from the closed areas to the mid-Atlantic and New England.  The east-coast longline fishery is broken into distinct segments.  a)  Longliners in the Gulf of Mexico primarily target yellowfin tuna in a short-set, live bait fishery that provides most of the fresh tuna steaks to the eastern United States.  Employing methods designed to get fish from the water to the consumer in a matter of hours, Gulf longliners have already agreed that they could remain in local waters and serve their traditional markets under the terms of the agreement.  Under the terms of the agreement, they have agreed to participate in a multi-year scientific study of longline bycatch.  b)  Southeastern longliner primarily target swordfish, and is the group that will be the most affected by the closures.  Some may opt to travel from traditional  ports, and fish in waters north of the closure line.  However, most are expected to accept the buyout offer instead.  c)  Mid-Atlantic longliners, most operating out of New Jersey, are unique in that they target both swordfish and tuna.  They are not expected to be significant participants in the buyout, and their operations will see little immediate impact from the agreement, although they will also participate in a multi-year bycatch study.  d)  New England longliners are primarily swordfishermen, and comprise a distant waters fleet that frequently fishes for extended periods outside of the EEZ.  They will see the least immediate impact from the agreement, and will remain in  traditional waters.

Vessel owners who accept the buyout will not be able to re-enter the fishery unless another owner leaves.  Because a limited-entry system has been instituted in the longline fishery, the only way such a vessel owner would be able to obtain a permit would be to buy it from another owner who will then no longer be able to fish.

The Billfish Foundation, America Sportfishing Association, and CCA believe that the above facts refute fallacious arguments made by those who oppose this conservation measure and urge all anglers to support the adoption of this historic agreement. This is the first real breakthrough in the conservation of highly migratory species since the drive to outlaw the sale of Atlantic billfish, was spearheaded more than a decade ago.

CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORED EVENTS

REMINDER:: LIBBA's "Operation Holiday Spirit" Toy and Food Drive thru December 17th. For more information call the LIBBA Hotline: (516) 579-1344.

CONSERVATION FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Saturday December 4th: CCA New York and New York Sportfishing Federation Fundraising Dinner to benefit the "Sportfishing Educational Center" in Babylon, New York. The event will take place at the Snapper Inn in Oakdale New York.  Ticket price (includes dinner and open bar) will be $100 per person donation, off course all donations will be deductible to the extent allowed by law.  For tickets or more information, please contact Alan Evelyn, home: (516) 256-0726, work: (718) 951 6522, work fax: (718) 951-4744 or by email: aevelyn@brooklyn.cuny.edu. or John McMurray at 516 422-4162 or E-mail: director@ccany.org.

Remember, if you want other conservation issues brought to the Salty's attention, please talk to me at the monthly meeting or contact me at: home (516) 256-0726, work: (718) 951 6522, work fax: (718) 951-4744 or by email: aevelyn@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

Surf fishermen have long known the success in slinging those slimy, nasty looking creatures called Anguilla rostrata, or more commonly called the American Eel. It has always been a challenge for fly rodders to imitate such bait and the eel is no different. This pattern utilizing Bob Popovics siliclone technique is a sure fire imitation to dislodge any wary bass from the boulder he’s been hiding behind.

Thread- black flat waxed nylon

Hook- Tiemco or Eagle Claw

Tail- black Yak hair, black bucktail, yellow or natural

Grizzly hackle(as long as you can get)

Flash- black and olive krystal flash

Head- black wool

Eyes- silver prism

Head coating- silicone and silver sprinkles

1. Tie in some bucktail at the bend of thehook.
2. Tie in a small bunch of Yak hair at the same tie in point as the bucktail.

3. Take some hackle (about 4 or 5) and tie in one at a time

   Around the previous material.

4. Add a few strands of black and olive flash.

5. Brush out your wool with a pet brush and take a bunch of

   The longest wool and tie in the round at the tie in point , surro

   unding all the material. This will act as a veil.

6. Cut small bunches of wool and spin around the hook

   shank, repeating until you get to the eye of the hook.

7. Trim wool to the desired shape and coat with silicone.

8. Add some sprinkles for flash and let cure.

February 7^th. North Carolinas, Harkers Island guides Sarah Gardener and Brian Horsley will give a comprehensive how-to on the newest fall season fly fishing venue. Would you believe 20 lb. Albies!

March 6^th. He's been there and done that, Saltwater Flyfishing Legend Lou Tabory, author of the books "Inshore Flyfishing," "Guide to Saltwater Baits and their Imitation" and his newest work "Stripers on the Fly" will be here to share over 40 years of experience with club Members.

April 3^rd . Club Member and western sound guide, Dino Torino will speak to members about western sound Fly fishing. He will also have some amazing underwater video.

May 1^st . Spring has sprung! What better way to spend a night, then with the man himself, Bob Clouser, whose single fly design, the Clouser Minnow has revolutionized the sport of saltwater flyfishing.

June 2,3,4, XXXIII Annual Conclave weekend featuring Page Rogers and Ed Mitchell. A three day teaching, tying and fishing frolic. Sign up early.

June 5^th. Conclave wrap up with members relating success and failure stories of the weekend, including flies tied to order.

July 19^th. Capt. Jim Levison, member, and fishing guide will talk on flyfishing and photography.

August 7^th. Ed Jaworowski casting guru will be our guest this night. Bring your

Flyrods!

September 20^th . Fishing and casting columnist Mark Sedotti will be on hand to

show us his own brand of fly casting and a presentation of Long Island Sound

flyfishing.

October 2^nd. Still in Planning Stage

November 6^th. Still in Planning Stage

December 4^th. Christmas Party.