Upcoming Events - Backcountry Fly Fishers

Events and Programs

ANNOUNCEMENTS (top)

NEXT MEETING: Monday, March 8^th

TIME: 6:30 P.M.

PLACE: Norris Center Auditorium

Speaker: Michael R Bauer, JD., PhD.

Subject: Clean up and protection of the Naples Bay estuary

Michael R Bauer, JD., PhD. is the natural Resources Manager for the City of Naples. His work includes all aspects of environmental issues - both land and water such as Naples Bay restoration, pass maintenance, beach re-nourishment and coordination with federal, state and regional agencies. Mike will speak about the efforts to clean up and protect the Naples Bay estuary.

Mike has a PhD in Environmental Policy from Virginia Tech, a BS in Biology, an MS in Wildlife Biology and a JD. He was an environmental attorney for the Yakima Indian Nation in Washington State. He has been a mountain man, an assistant refuge manager with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a lead project manager with the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Policy Director for Audubon of Florida and teacher of environmental policy and planning at Virginia Tech.

Demonstration:

Alan Kuhre, outings director, will tie some of his favorite flies.

UPCOMING MEETING PROGRAMS

April meeting: Monday, April 12^th

Speaker: Alan Zaremba

Topic: Fishing for Peacock Bass

Alan Zaremba is a Florida native and lifetime resident. He has fished the local canals of South Florida for more than 40 years and participated in many Professional Bass Tournaments during the 1980's through the mid 1990's.

PEACOCK BASS were first introduced into the canals of South Florida in 1984 and he caught his first Peacock Bass in 1987. Ever since that time he was hooked. He couldn't get enough of these exciting fish and worked hard to learn as much as possible about their life, their habitat, their breeding habits and, of course, their feeding habits. He started guiding for Peacock Bass in 1989 and devoted his interests to full-time guiding in 1991.

He specializes in catching peacock bass with artificial baits on bait casting, spinning and fly fishing tackle. Although catching Peacock Bass is the main focus, he also catches Oscars, Jaguar Gaupote, Red Midas, Mayans, Black Acara, Spotted Tilapia, Mozambique, Snakeheads and a few other odd species along with Largemouth Bass, Tarpon, Snook, Jacks and Ladyfish. He fishes for Peacock Bass in more than a dozen different south Florida water systems. This allows him to change fishing techniques and locations in response to weather patterns and the Peacock's own habits so that he can adjust to find fish year-round.

In recent years, he has expanded his guiding service to include exciting trips to fish for Peacock Bass in the Amazon jungle of South America, their native habitat. There it is not uncommon to battle a monster Peacock Bass of 20-pounds or more. He takes several trips to South America during the year to fish for the largest Peacock Bass in the world.

Demonstration:

Instead of a demonstration this month there will be a short presentation regarding Project Healing Waters. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

May meeting: Monday, May 10^th

Speaker: Raymond Mackey

Topic: Fishing for Bonefish on Andros Island

Raymond Mackey, owner of Tranquility Hill Lodge on Andros Island, will talk about fly fishing for Bonefish in the Bahamas. More information to follow

Demonstration:

Fly tying of bonefish flies

June meeting: Monday, June 14^th

Speaker: Curt Peer

Topic: Fishing around Matlacha and Pine Island Sound

Curt Peer, owner of the Sun and Moon Inn on Matlacha, will talk about fishing around Matlacha and Pine Island Sound. More information to follow

Demonstration:

Fly patterns for fishing around Matlacha

OUTINGS(top)

BFF MEMBERS OUTINGS SCHEDULE FOR MARCH TO JUNE 2010

18 MARCH (THURSDAY): ESTERO BAY, CARL JOHNSON RAMP. Strong incoming morning tide peaking mid afternoon. More specifically, low tide is at 8:07am (0.7’) and high tide is at 2:30pm (2.6’). Sunrise at 7:33am. Lots of various channels, flats, mangrove shorelines, and easy access to sandy beaches make Estero Bay fishable in most any condition.

13 APRIL (TUESDAY): GOODLAND, FL, CALUSA ISLAND MARINA. Revisit this fishery just prior to a new moon. Tides: Low (0.7) at 7:52am, and High (3.5) at 1:25pm. Sunrise is at 7:05am. Fish the morning and lunch at the Little Bar Restaurant. Good food and hopefully lots of good fishing the day after our Monday membership meeting.

21 MAY (FRIDAY): WIGGINS PASS, COCOHATCHEE COLLIER COUNTY RAMP. A chance to fish an outgoing morning tide, but not as strong as some of the spring tides later in the month. Excellent opportunities for staged snook. High tide (2.5’) at 7:50am and low tide (1.1’) is at 1:48pm. Sunrise is at 6:38am. Launch fee applies to all boaters. Restrooms, ample parking, nonethanol fuel available.

22 JUNE (TUESDAY): KEEWAYDIN ISLAND, BAYVIEW PARK COLLIER COUNTY RAMP, NAPLES. A real chance to cast to some of the most “educated” beach snook in SW Florida, as well as some schooling jacks patrolling the shoreline of Keewaydin Island. Also nearby are lots of creeks, bays, and mangroves to check out if the snook get the best of you. Boaters are needed to shuttle anglers to Keewaydin. Bring a stripping basket, snack, polarized sunglasses and anything else you may need that you can carry with you.

More details will be available regarding our Biscayne Bay overnight at the March meeting. Looking at nailing down April 26 and 27^th as the dates. Thanks for your interest shown at last month’s meeting (Feb). 8 members have expressed interest so far.

Alan Kuhre BFF Outings Chairman

All outings are intended for members only and are one of the benefits of membership. Thanks for your support and participation.

PROGRAMS(top)

FLY TYING CLASSES
When: First and third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM
Where: Mangrove Outfitters, 4111 Tamiami Trail East. Phone 239-793-3370.

CONSERVATION(top)

Thought of the day: Theodore Roosvelt, the Conservation President, is quoted in challenging the citizens;" Here is your country - do not let anyone take it or its glory away from you. Do not let selfish men or greedy interest skim your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance. In the future the world and your children shall judge you according to how you dealt with this sacred trust."

Roosevelt courageously fought shortsightedness and greed. In view of the political and special interests involved, today, the powers in control of the state of Florida need some of his courage in dealing with the environmental problems in South Florida.

MEMBERS CORNER(top)

FOR SALE
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Loomis GL2 two piece 9 ft. 9 wt. in great shape, with sleeve and a case for $125. If interested contact Paul Harwood at 239-566-9176, between March 4 -15 or April 1 – 18.

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Member Owned Montana/Wyoming Riverfront Trout Fishing Parcels For Sale

1 Acre on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River – Painter, WY.

This parcel is ready to build, utilities are to parcel and is 18 miles to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone Park. Parcel is accessible year round. The Clarks Fork is a tremendous fishery and this location provides quick access to the Northeast Yellowstone Park area rivers such as Soda Butte Creek, the Lamar River and Slough Creek. The Clarks Fork River is one of the most beautiful river valleys in the United States, with very good public access. This parcel is one of the only remaining riverfront parcels on the Upper Clarks Fork River. Asking $224,000.

Write-up on fishing the Clarks Fork: http://www.northforkanglers.com/clark.shtml

6.7 Acres on the Stillwater River, Absarokee, MT.

This parcel is ready to build, with electric, phone, well and septic system in place. The Stillwater River is a Blue Ribbon Montana Fishery. Rainbow and Brown native trout are abundant. This parcel is far between two public accesses and also has an easy incline to launch rafts for floating over twenty miles of the Stillwater River and then flows into the Yellowstone River. Parcel is between large ranches which provides great privacy and within 6 miles of the town of Absarokee, MT. Asking $424,000.

Write-up on fishing the Stillwater River: http://www.bigskyfishing.com/River-Fishing/South-MT-Rivers/stillwater-river/stillwater_fishing.htm

For further information in either parcel please call Steve Morgan (321) 693-3015 or morganeng@earthlink.net .

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