Table of Contents:

Club Presidents, directors, and Council Officers who are unable to attend the Annual Conclave Directors Meeting, to be held right after the Conclave General Business Meeting, are asked to use the Proxy Form to assign their vote.

Editor' note: Conclave attendedees please note that every attempt was made prior to this issue to let you know that you would save money (particularly in the Conclave Issue, the last issue of Long Casts), by registering early, before September 15th. If, as if possible because of the way the newsletter is mailed to Council Members, you do not get this newletter in time to pre-register by the 15th, please remember that you received the information for pre-registering in the last issue. Please do not complain that this issue didn't get to you in time. That's why we now put out the Conclave Issue in July. That way, no matter when the September issue gets to you, you will know all of the details you need to have, to plan your trip to the Conclave, in October, without having to do everything at the last minute.

This year is the last of the old and the start of the new. Yes, the Conclave is 25 years old, and this is the beginning of a new era in Mountain Home. This year we have 31 display tables, up from last year's 23, thanks to Leon Cuccia and his computer. There are many of the old guard coming: Jack Brikner and Cary Marcus (Squimp) from Sage Rods; Dale Fulton from Blue Ribbon Fly Shop; Larry Notley of Pock It Sports; the Trek-man of the river, Shawn Taylor; the Back Country Outfitter, Jack Nichols; and the guy who will supply the net for the fish you catch, Bill Karduck, will all be there, ready to make your Conclave days great.

If you have a picture in mind, I'm sure Dwane Hada will paint it for you. If not, buy one of his great paintings on display. Barkley Souders, with Epoch, will show you a St. Croix rod, or a Scientific Angler line, or check out what Leo Eck or Bob Brunsell have up their sleeves. Kurt Weieneth at Midwest Fly Fishers, Jeff Mack at Longhorn, and Ron Huff will also be in attendance, as well as Judy Lehmberg, who will show off her exceptional salmon flies.

New this year is the Cajun from Lafayette, Jerome Hebert; you should see his work, and Ruben Stettnisch who sculptures wood into fish that look real. Scott Gleason, with Loomis Rods, said that he will show off the latest, and Robert Woodruff will take you fishing on Lake Fork or Mountain Fork River, and, if you can't catch fish, he will show you what they eat (B.S. Entomology). You can't beat that! Doug 'the bird man' Ewing will be there with 100,000 feathers, more or less, and Terry Baird will bring a new line of rods from Austin Fly Rods, and may I add, very nice rods.

If you failed to book a room, call Eric Turner, at Evergreen Resort, in Bull Shoal. He has donated freely in the past, and this year he will be there to show you what he has to offer. I apologize if there are any errors, omissions or misspelled names. If you know of anyone who wants to display, please call, as there are only a few tables left. Display Booth Chairman, Joe Meyers, 318 929-2993 or 318 378-4368. See you in Mountain Home.

The workshop, intended for basic fly casting instructors, will be conducted by Tom Jindra, of the Federation's Casting Certification Board of Governors. Because of limited seating, candidates should register in advance by contacting Tom Jindra. Telephone (504-392-7511), mail (2501 Prancer Street, New Orleans, LA 70131) or e-mail (tjindra@cmq.com). Candidates who wish to be certified as master instructors should contact Mr. Jindra regarding availability.

Basic certification requires attending the workshop and passing a written exam and a performance test. The candidate should provide his own casting equipment, consisting of a single-hand rod, no longer than 9 fee, with no heavier than a number 7 line weight. The leader must be a minimum of 7.5 feet and include a size 14 practice fly or a piece of yarn.

The fee for the basic instructor workshop and testing is $50, with an additional fee of $50 to be paid upon passing the exams. Testing is limited to Federation members.

"In wildness is the preservation of the world"

Henry David Thoreau -

The following information, in checklist and capsule form, summarizes the events and activities that will occur at the 25th Anniversary Southern Council Conclave. Check the items that are of most interest to you and don't miss them!

This free event will take place Thursday night, Oct. 1st in the pool area at the Ramada. Please see details in this issue.

Intermediate to Advanced Fly Casting Clinic - Mike Lawson will be conducting this clinic on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Each class is limited to 12 people so please register early. (Pre-registration required)

Fly Casting Clinic - This class will be conducted by FFF Certified Casting Instructors and will be open to all levels of fly fishers, from beginners on up. The classes will be held in the morning and afternoon on Friday and Saturday. The classes will be held off-site at Cooper Park (close to the Ramada). Each class will be approximately 21/2 - 3 hours in length. (Pre-registration required)

Note: If you are planning to attend either of the two clinics listed above, you will need to bring your own fly rod and reel with matching line. A 5 to 7 weight rod is ideal. Also, a 6 -8 foot leader with a practice fly or yarn secured to the end is suggested.

Casting Coach - A "Casting Coach" will be available throughout the Conclave to anyone who would like to improve some aspect of their casting skills, but who does not want to commit a half day to a casting class. Look for the sign "Casting Coach" on the casting lawn behind the Ramada. Don't be shy! Having a problem with your roll cast? Here's where you can "straighten" it out!

Conclave Casting Games - The casting games will be held on the back lawn of the Ramada on Friday and Saturday. Come show off your casting skills! Awards will be presented at the Banquet for distance and accuracy in Youth, Adult Women, and Adult Men divisions.

Youth Casting Games - This event will take place on FRIDAY ONLY, since many of the participants will be attending the Youth Conclave on Saturday.

Intermediate to Advanced Fly Tying Class - Gary LaFontaine will be conducting this class on Friday morning and Saturday afternoon. Each class is limited to 12 people. Please register early. (Pre-registration required)

Note: If you plan to attend Gary LaFontaine's fly tying class, please bring your own vise and tying tools (bobbin, scissors, bodkin, whip finisher, hackle pliers, threader, hair stacker, head cement, etc.) Tying materials will be provided. Electricity will be available; if you bring a lamp, bring an extension cord.

Beginning and Youth Fly Tying - Jack Dennis will be conducting this special fly tying demonstration especially for our youth on Friday afternoon from 2 - 4 p.m.

Feature Guest Tyers - This year's Conclave will spotlight two of our feature guests as the "Feature Fly Tyer" in the Convention Center. Mike Lawson will be the Feature Fly Tyer on Friday morning and Jack Dennis will demonstrate his talents Saturday afternoon. A digital video camera and TV monitor will be utilized so that all observers will have a clear, unobstructed view of our guests' fly tying expertise.

Conclave Fly Tyers - The Convention Center will be packed with world class fly tyers throughout the Conclave. Plan your schedule to provide ample time to watch and learn from these masters.

This year's Youth Conclave will begin Friday morning with casting games and a special youth and beginning fly tying demonstration Friday afternoon, with Jack Dennis. Saturday, the Youth Conclave Outing will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Transportation as well as lunch will be provided for the youth. The youth will visit the fish hatchery with a guided tour by the hatchery personnel to answer questions posed about fish biology and habitat. They will then proceed to Dry Run Creek to wet a line. Special guest speaker, Jack Dennis, will present a program on fly fishing, during lunch. After lunch, a park ranger will visit and lead a discussion on conservation, and then, more fishing. (Pre-registration required).

Each day of the Conclave, our feature speakers, as well as guest speakers from the Southern Council, will be presenting programs throughout the day. A wide variety of topics including cold water, warm water, and salt water fishing, as well as interactive programming, will be offered. Check the Conclave Program for specific programs and times.

The Friday Evening Program will be presented by Jack Dennis. He will be narrating a very special video, "Fly Fishing Legends of the Fall." The video will feature several "Fathers of modern fly fishing" such as Lee and Joan Wulff, Curt Gowdy and many others that have pioneered our sport in to what it is today. You don't want to miss this!

The Saturday night banquet is the culminating highlight of the Conclave. Special guests will be presented. Awards and honors will be bestowed. Meet the dedicated folks that make the Southern Council the most successful council in the Federation. And, oh yes, feast on a delicious meal while enjoying our feature speaker, Mike Lawson. Mike will be presenting his most requested program, "Henry's Fork Seasons". This program is an in depth look at the Henry's Fork and surrounding area. It covers most of the basic questions asked about fishing this area, including best times of the year, best waters, and basic techniques. This program also contains some good fly fishing philosophy, sprinkled with some old fashioned country humor. Don't miss the banquet! It promises to be most informative and entertaining.

Silent auctions and raffles will take place each day, all day, during the Conclave. This is a great way to get a super deal on quality fly fishing equipment, gear, and related items. The live auction will follow each evening with the infamous auctioneer, Johnny Chamness, and his cohort , Dennis Slane. If you have never experienced seeing these two in action, you are in for a delightful and entertaining treat, regardless of whether you bid or not. But, you will probably engage in bidding, because this year we have a large variety of high quality items that have been donated. Everything from fly rods, reels, gear, and fly plates, to exotic fishing vacations, and much more will be available. This is a "MUST DO" event. BE THERE!

Please Note: The Conclave is a great opportunity to get together for fun, fishing, fellowship and learning new techniques and skills. But PLEASE REMEMBER, the Conclave is the major fund raising event that supports our newsletter, the Long Casts, numerous conservation projects, and scholarships, as well as educational and youth programs. These funds are generated at the Conclave, primarily, through the live auction, silent auction, and raffle. Participate in these events. You will have fun! You will be supporting your Council! And chances are in your favor that you will get a great deal!

This year's Conclave will offer a specially designed hat sporting the embroidered logo of the 25th Anniversary of the Southern Council Conclave. These are really good looking, high quality hats, with a leather adjustable band in the back. This is your statement to say, "Been there, done that-- it was fantastic!" Conclave pins are also beautifully designed with the 25th Anniversary logo. There are a limited number of hats and pins ordered so place your order early on the pre-registration form.

The Women's Outreach program has expanded it's schedule this year, and is almost a conclave within itself. The variety of programs are diverse, offering something for everyone, and, yes, I mean you guys too. Experienced guide, author, and lecturer, Jennifer Olsson, will share her knowledge and skill with several programs that engulf the Saturday schedule. She will conduct a casting clinic Saturday morning, followed by a luncheon program, and afternoon programs. Don't miss the Ladies Luncheon on Saturday from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Van Matre Senior Citizen Center in Cooper Park. The luncheon will feature a raffle and program with slide presentation by Jennifer, not to mention the delicious lunch and fellowship. (Pre-registration required)

This year's commercial displayers will have a wide variety of fly fishing equipment, gear, and related items for your perusal. Look at it, touch it, feel it, reel it, cast it, scrutinize it, buy it. It's all there for you! Please see article this issue.

A cash bar will be open Friday night from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and will reopen again after the feature speaker has concluded and remain open until the end of the activities that night. Saturday night the cash bar will be open from 5:00-6:00 p.m.; then reopen after the banquet until the end of the activities that evening.

This event is currently in the process of being developed. Details will be published in the Conclave Program found in your registration packet.

Under the new fee format for registration, you can save yourself a few dollars by pre-registering for the upcoming conclave, and who doesn't like to save a few dollar?. This will give you a few more dollars for the raffle and auctions.

With the larger attendance numbers we have been having the past several years, tickets for the Awards Banquet have been selling out. This year, we have made arrangements to be able to seat more people; however, only the first 366 will be seated in the convention area, with the remainder in either the small meeting room or the main dining room of the restaurant. Tickets will be distributed on a first come-first serve basis, and you will need a specific ticket in order to be seated in the convention area. After the banquet, adjustments will be made so everyone who so desires can be accommodated in the main area for the program and auction.

Pre-registrations are coming in very fast this year, and classes are filling up. By the time of Conclave, I anticipate that all the classes will be filled. If you want in one of the classes, it is best that you send in your registration early and indicate a first and second choice as to time of class. If your class is filled, a refund will be awaiting you at the registration desk when you check in at the Conclave. Your registration verification card will let you know whether or not you were successful in enrolling in a particular class. This Conclave has all the indications of being one of the best ever. Don't miss it!

The Texas sun can be a bit overpowering in the mid July clear skies. Casting a shadow that is less than your length is the time for most fishermen to seek the shade of a porch, or at least a big oak. Then there are people like me. I adjust the brim of my twenty year old cowboy hat, to keep the glare from spoiling my vision of the dark area under the river bank, shadowed by the trees that line the bank of the Brazos River. Here is where the spotted bass lies in ambush, waiting for his dinner, or, in this case, maybe he is just looking for a fight.

I introduce him to my popper, often a Miss Prissy from Arcadia. This little popper is chartreuse green with a red mouth and black tail dressing, six white rubber legs protruding from the side. The popper dances and infuriates the bass in to taking a swipe at it. I cast this tidbit with a 5 wt. graphite 71/2 foot. rod, using a weight forward 5 wt line.

I sometimes use my 8 wt. 9 foot, if I think that striped bass are in the area. They can strip my 5 wt of line before I can turn them. I do enjoy the spotted bass that live in this part of the Brazos River. They can put on a show of jumps and runs that would make any fisherman's heart beat a little faster. You would think that these fish would go over 8 lb. and be 20 inches long. The surprise will be a 12 to 14 inch scale covered beast, weighing just over 2 lb.. Don't let this small package fool you. They can cause water surface to foam and fly. The water will be over eighty degrees, with a gravel bottom. Sometimes, the river will flow against a rock wall, rising straight up 25 to 30 feet, from ten feet of water. Other areas will have sloping banks with sand beaches. Not a bad place to wade. I do often take my canoe down the river to be able to cover more area or to fish a deeper pool.

At times the higher flow will cause me to use a float tube. Mine is a Browning Laker; which has a hard plastic U shape that allows me to get in or out when I need to cross a gravel bar to fish the deeper pools. You can rent a canoe from several canoe rentals in the area of US 67, crossing the Brazos River just east of Rainbow, TX. Now where is Rainbo?. Just east of Glen Rose, in Somerville County, in north central Texas, 50 miles SW of The Dallas/ Ft.Worth metroplex. Many a business man could spend a few hours here with his trout rod and be better rested for his next meeting. It's better than sitting in a hotel room or club. It is only an hour down the road.

What can you catch? Well, we have fighting spotted bass, largemouth, small mouth, sunfish (called perch in this area), white bass at spawning time, and, if you want to take on the heavy weights, there are striped bass that go over 40 Lb... and can make you trout rod and reel smoke. These are the famed land locked fish that Texas Parks and Wildlife stocked back a few years in the reservoirs of Texas in hopes of having a big fish that could reproduce in enough numbers to keep the public fishing. THEY did... Striper fishing is now a full time job for many guides in and around the lakes of the area; like Texoma, Possum Kingdom, Granbury, and Whitney, to name a few. I just think that the spotted bass was made for the fly fisherman to fight with, on his light weight, other wise trout outfit.

Winter time brings cooler temperatures and more water that brings up from the lakes a new bunch of fish, ... spawning small mouth and sandies (white bass), and the trout that are stocked in many areas of the state. Fishing is a year 'round sport.

You that have a computer that is hooked to the WEB might try some Texas Parks and Wildlife sites. Or maybe, better yet, a fly fishing club like the Ft. Worth Fly Fishers page, at Check some of the links for fishing spots and how to get to them. Stream flows and stocking reports are also given. So the next time you come to Texas, don't forget you fly rod and wadding shoes. The cost of a fishing license is not much more that a good dinner and drinks at a hotel in the city. The poppers and license can be picked up at a fly shop or Wal Mart. So Enjoy life more, ... take some time to fly fish.

Says John Stark, Cold Water Biologist for the Sate of Arkansas, and a friend of ours: Although not exact, we use the following information for Bull Shoals Tailwater to estimate water level for our sampling. First, you need to know how far below the dam you will be sampling or fishing.

The following is a list of locations and their distance in miles downstream from Bull Shoals Dam:

Rivercliff - 0.5; Brainerds Bend - 24.0; State Park Dock - 1.5; Hwy 101- 25.5; Gungala - 2.2; Ranchette - 27.1; Gastons - 4.0; Buffalo City - 33.0; Stetsons - 5.5; Cartney - 40.0; White Hole - 7.0; Shipps Ferry - 42.0; Sportsmans - 7.9; Norfork - 44.0; Wildcat - 11.1; Reds - 49.3; Rainbow Drive - 12; Chessmonds - 56.1; Hursts - 14.1; Calico Rock - 62.0; Chamberlains - 14.3; Optimus - 69.2; Cotter - 18.0; Mt. Olive - 74.0; Millers - 18.5; Sylamore - 79.0; Redbud - 20.7; Guion - 92.0.

Water released from the dam, travels downstream at about 2.5 miles per hour, when less than 3 units are running. When 3 to 6 units are running water travels at about 3 miles per hour. At over 6 units running water travels fastest at about 3.25 miles per hour.

To estimate the time water will reach an area, divide the distance downstream by the water speed. For example, with 3 units running, water will reach Cotter in about 6 hours (18/3=6).

We sometimes want to know when water will fall after generation. To estimate this we divide the distance downstream by 2 miles per hour. For example, after generation stops water should be falling at Cotter in about 9 hours (18/2=9).

Remember, these figures are only estimates and you will probably find that actual times will vary, perhaps by several hours. Outfitters and guides who fish a particular area, can probably provide better guesses of water levels for their areas. Data on water flow was collected during the dye test two years ago.

When the minimum flow report is completed, we should be able to make better estimates. Good luck with your next fishing trip!

Our Conclave is the major Fund Raising project for the Council. It is important to have participation from all members, member clubs, and vendors we support, if it is to be a success.

As of Late July, we have 6 beautiful fly rods, several fly plates, art work, 2 float tubes, waders, and some fantastic trips. Please consider donating. The Conclave will be here before we know it and we are still in need of additional merchandise in order to maximize the potential of the auction-raffle.

Please send donations to: Don Nasser, Auction-Raffle Co-Chair, 8510 Millicent Way #506, Shreveport, LA 71115. If you have any questions please contact me at (318) 798-9160. Thanks to those who already made a charitable donation and I am looking forward to adding some additional names to the list of donors.

CREEPING

Here's an excerpt from Jason Borger's upcoming book "Fly Casting and Line Handling"...

"Creeping" refers to the slow, almost imperceptible forward movement of the rod after the backcast has been made, but before the forward cast has begun... thus shortening the available stroke length, and ultimately constricting the cast. Casters who stop at the correct backcast position for a standard Overhead Cast and then creep, often find themselves starting their forward cast with the rod vertical or actually forward of vertical--very awkward to say the least. So how do you prevent/cure the creep?

Well, first of all, practice your foundation casting stroke. Then, be conscientious about stopping the rod (and KEEPING it stopped), until it's time to make the forward cast. To assist in that endeavor, you can say out loud: "Stop. Wait. Forward." Such verbal self-commands can really help to gel the idea in your mind. You can also turn your head (just your head) and watch your ARM, making certain that it doesn't creep forward prematurely.

"Drifting" (slowly moving) your arm (and thus the rod) slightly back along the Casting Plane during the pause between the back and forward casts will also help prevent creep from occurring. Of course, don't make a habit out of talking out loud to yourself or turning to watch your arm everytime you cast--it's mighty distracting on the water. Just do what you need to do in order to beat the creep, then get back to your normal routine.

(Jason Borger, the Club-Wire's casting columnist, was the 'Shadow Caster' in 'A River Runs Through It' and is Editor of 'The Loop.' the publication of the FFF's Casting Instructor Certification Program)

I DON'T HAVE TO JOIN THE FEDERATION

This article is not another sweet plea, begging for the support of non-members of the Federation. It is an Op-Ed article by the National V.P. - Membership. It is not meant for the guys and gals who consistently support the Federation but rather to elicit reflection and thought among those non-Federators in your club. For many years those of us in the Federation of Fly Fishers have heard the arguments on why members in affiliated clubs don't have to join the Federation. The line usually goes something like this, 'I don't see why I should join the FFF, after all...

Any of this sound familiar? Well, after more a than a year in this position, I've heard ALL of these, and yet, I'm still amazed. Let's review a simple fact: The vast majority of affiliated fly fishing clubs would not exist were it not for the Federation. Without aid and support from the FFF Councils and their officers, along with the National office, most of the affiliated clubs would never have formed and would not have survived! How can I say that? Easy. The network of other FFF affiliated clubs and the Federation's councils provide the nourishment and enthusiasm that carries individual affiliated clubs through the 'low' periods, and all clubs have periodic lows. The Federation's web of support from the National, the FFF councils, FFF conclaves, other FFF affiliated clubs, regional FFF speakers, as well as, the Club Wire and FFF Web Site all play integral roles in virtually every affiliated club. These are mutually beneficial roles. The FFF council system showcases your local tyers, casters, authors, and speakers. These participants learn from members of the Federation who freely give of themselves to disseminate knowledge and share that which was previously given by other Federators to them. For example, if you tie deerhair, then YOU owe a debt to the Federation.

Don't believe me? Then ask the person who taught you to work hair who they learned from - then backtrack again. Within a 'generation' or so, I bet that you quickly hear the names of Federation tyers and probably Buszek Award winners like Billy Munn, Royce Dam, Jimmy Nix, or Darwin Atkins. Saltwater tyers step back even faster to the Federation greats. What - you don't tie? Then try the same trick with your favorite casting instructor, speaker, or author. Remember that 33 years ago, Lee Wulff, one of our founders, gave us our theme, 'A gamefish is too valuable to catch just once.' Yeah, and the bass clubs are still clueless as to where 'Catch and Release' came from.

When your affiliated club teaches casting, do you use your five (5) St. Croix rods? You know, part of the $33,000 worth of rods given by National to the affiliated clubs in the last three years. Have you taught classes using the loaner gear or free materials for youth instruction from National or the FFF councils?

Are you aware of, or receive FFF publications, such as the FlyFisher? Council newsletters? Loop (The quarterly publication of the Federation's Casting Board of Governor's designed for certified casting instructors)? Osprey (The quarterly publication of the Federation's Salmon and Steelhead committee)? How about any of the Federations other dozens of pamphlets or books? Tapes? Films? Club newsletters are the life's blood of most clubs. Check with your affiliated club's newsletter editor and ask him how his life and your club's rag have improved since the advent of the Federation's Club Wire and Web Site. For more than two years, articles from these FFF services have regularly appeared in hundreds of affiliated club newsletters. This service has been a god send to many clubs, especially the smaller clubs, throughout the country.

Has the Federation been there to help your resource, stream, or species of interest? Are you aware that the Federation was the ONLY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION to stand up and fight attempts to remove protective Fly Fishing Only Regulations. In these cases, the regulations protected trout, but all other national organizations stood quietly on the sidelines where they either said nothing or released a formal statement that they were 'not gear specific'. Well, the Federators in Oregon and Michigan were and are 'gear specific' when it comes to protecting the rights of fly fishermen. Are you? We fund scholarships; coordinate symposiums for fisheries scientists; and act as intermediaries between scientist, regulators, landowners and user groups. Under the Federation's umbrella streams have been cleaned, rocks rolled, trees planted, fences installed, lands purchased, and regulations promoted.

Do you realized that the last several world record brown trout were most likely plantedn as eggs in FFF Whitlock-Vibert boxes by volunteer Federators?

Still not enough? Well, we've fought throughout the country to protect resources from dams, the strip-mining of smallmouth streams for gravel, mines, and commercial saltwater nets. If your club has ever asked, it's probably received more back in conservation funds than you'll ever pay in dues to the Federation. This is true not just for specific clubs but also for some entire councils.

So, tell me again how you've 'never gotten anything out of the Federation of Fly Fishers' and how, 'Those guys can't make YOU join!'

You're correct. We can't 'make' anyone join - nor would we try, but you know that this is the organization where you belong. After all this is a way that you give, not something you get. Together with participation from you and others in your affiliated club, we will have even more resources available when a crisis erupts in your backyard, or when your kids or grandkids are ready to take up a long rod and accompany you to the water.

So, join us by getting out your check book and sending in your membership today.