While fly fishing at Lee’s Ferry last October, club members observed these mountain goats coming down for a drink.
George Abernathy
Last year was very rewarding for those club members that participated in the 20 plus one day and overnight fly fishing trips we went on. Members landed everything from tilapia, bass, sun fish, carp, crappie and trout, including a five lb. rainbow that was landed at the San Juan River on a size 26 midge. On our fall trip to the White Mountains, with snow falling, five members landed in excess of 40 trout that measured over 17 inches. Who said Arizona is 114,000 sq. miles of kitty litter?
The philosophy of the Sun Lakes Fly Fishing Club is to bring Sun Lakes residents together that want to fly fish; no red tape, no politics, catch and release; just wet your lines and go hunting. Be an experienced castor or new to fly fishing, you’re welcomed to our club.
As some of you know, our club hosts disabled veterans from Project Healing Waters several times per year to fish some of the lakes within the Sun Lakes communities. After his first experience with working with a disabled veteran from PHW and learning how underfunded the group is, Stan Kaufman (SLFFC member) opted to put together the Hooked On Healing Motorcycle Ride to benefit Phoenix Project Healing Waters as well as, to a lesser extent, the Arizona Stand Down Alliance which I’m sure you are very familiar with. The event is planned for Saturday, February 27. If you are interested in participating or would like to help with a donation, please check out their web site www.healingwaters.org, e-mail Stan at [email protected], or call Stan at 480-339-0247.
At our January’s meeting we had two guest speakers. Vince Deadmond from Desert Fly Castors did a power point presentation on salt water fly fishing at Rocky Point for a variety of fish, including bonefish. His presentation was exciting enough to motivate me and others to acquire the right equipment to venture to Mexico for some excellent fly fishing, fish tacos and margaritas. Ron Krump, a SLFFC club member, spoke about his backpacking fly fishing trips for golden trout in the Sierra’s and shared multiple pictures that were primarily taken above 10,000 feet. Ron also enjoyed several friendly encounters with General Chuck Yeager who in 1947 became the first pilot to break the speed record.
In January the club hosted five disabled veterans from PHW at the east lake at the Cottonwood and afterwards enjoyed lunch at their restaurant which was paid for by the club members. The fishing was great, but the catching was slow.
This is going to be a fantastic year to get out and wet our lines. I personally look forward to going on the hunt with fellow members and making sure we and our guests have numerous opportunities to do so.
“What Happens at Bass Prop Shop, Stays at Bass Pro Shop”
Fish On! Fish On!