FOUND: THE MYSTIQUE OF FLY FISHING AT SUNNYBROOK

I recently read a report profiling the average trout fisherman. It was several years old, but the numbers still hold true. Trout fishermen fish an average of 11 times per year and spend $4.8 billion in pursuit of their prey, resulting in $13.6 billion in economic output. Trout fishermen have an above average education, earn an above average income and are 75% male, 25% female.

If you are interested in reading the full report, read (nat_survey2006_troutfishing.pdf) at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/NationalSurvey/reports2006.html

What is the mystique that so fascinates fly fishermen? Catching trout is an important objective, but not paramount. I enjoy time on the stream even if I don’t catch a trout. Perhaps it’s the opportunity to spend time in beautiful surroundings in pursuit of beautiful prey, or perhaps it’s more basic and appeals to our primeval instinct of man as a part of and in tune with nature. Maybe it’s just a much needed escape from the pressures of every day life, or a chance to get lost in one’s own thoughts. Henry David Thoreau said it best—”Many men go fishing and don’t realize that it is not always the fish that they are after.”

Help Support Your Club—Current difficult economic times have affected all walks of life and Sunnybrook has not been immune. As a member with an interest in the club, there are several ways each of you can support the club. Do you have out of town visitors coming to Sandusky? They have to stay somewhere, so why not refer them to the lodge? We are an excellent alternative to the mundane environment of the local motels. As a benefit to you the member, referral spending will be credited to your account, reducing your required spending amount.

Support the club’s dining options and other activities. I and the staff at Sunnybrook makes every effort to put together opportunities for members to enjoy the club, but each member’s support is needed in order to continue. It’s difficult to be open for dinner on Friday evening when only a handful of guests show up.

Do you know anyone that will be celebrating a special anniversary, bridal shower, family reunion, or other group event?  Suggest they look into Sunnybrook for hosting their party. We are a unique location and one they will remember for years to come. Introduce the club to friends and relatives that are potential members. New members are lifeblood for the club. Over the past several years, we have actually experienced a small decrease in the number of members, a trend I would like to reverse. We do no marketing of the club and your referrals are our best means of promotion.

…Doug

* * *

Fishing Report—The fishing this year has been as good as any previous year I can remember, the result of favorable conditions, aggressive stocking and limited pressure on the stream. There have been many days this past month, when less than a handful of members visited the club during the entire day. Chances are good that on any given afternoon, you may be only one of several on the stream at any given time.

Members have reported that the dry fly fishing has been very good. Beetles, foam spiders, and ants remain popular patterns when fished under the willows and up close to river’s edge. Member Rick Cooper reported one his best days ever fishing a size 20 Griffith’s Gnat just before sunset. Rick told me he landed at least 15 fish, mostly brook trout in a half hour stretch before dark. A fly that small in the dusk is very hard to follow. Rick reported that he used a larger parachute pattern as a strike indicator and tied the gnat 12 to 18 inches behind.

Long time member Al Thomas echoed Rick’s comments after fishing a foam spider. Al told me it was one of his best days ever. His secret to success was a long, lightweight leader. When Harry Singer and his son Reid, fished Sunnybrook the very next day after Al, I suggested using a foam beetle. They took my advice and selected a red body beetle. In several hours of fishing they landed 15 to 20 fish, including a 23-inch brown.  

Keep in mind that a drag free drift and delicate presentation are necessary to fool wary trout. I’ve got several new patterns in the fly shop that are worth trying; namely, a red flying ant in sizes 14 to 18, a ladybug, a foam spider with rubber legs, and any of several different spinner patterns that have produced when other patterns seem to fail.

With the warm summer weather and extended hour of sunlight, various type of stream vegetation and watercress have begun to bloom. I’ve hired a group of fellows from the Margaritta football team to help keep the growth in check, and keep all areas of the stream open for fishing.

While the stream’s aquatic plants are a problem for the fisherman, they are a boom for the fish. Plentiful numbers of sculpins, freshwater shrimp, and scuds make their home in this growth. For some reason, patterns that match these forms of life have been neglected on the stream. The few members that have continued to use flies replicating these forms of stream life have done very well.

As we go forward into the summer, the water clarity will become gin clear. Fish get an excellent opportunity to examine closely your fly and leader. Consider fishing a lighter leader in these conditions. I suggest a nine-foot leader with a fluorocarbon 6X tippet. It really does make a difference.

Streamers fished deep have enticed several of the large trout that were placed in the stream last month for the tournament. The white wooly bugger reported in last month’s newsletter continues to do well and several members have been successful using a Muddler Minnow. Randy Mason and Dave Owen both landed 29-inch rainbows last month, and many others have landed and released trout in the 22 to 25-inch range. Randy’s method was attaching sufficient weight to the leader to make certain his fly hugged the bottom.

In going forward, expect the early morning hours and late afternoon to early evening hours to be the prime periods for fishing. These are also the times least fished by the membership. If you want the stream to yourself and some dynamite fishing, come out at 6 AM or 6 PM. If you must fish in the middle of the day, look for shaded areas and deeper, cooler pools. Trout will also be hiding under canopies of watercress as well as along seams of vegetation growing in the stream.

Angler Courtesy—Sunnybrook is a club with few rules and regulations. Essentially, they boil down to (1) respect the grounds and it environment, (2) respect the trout, and (3) respect other fly anglers.

Fly fisherpersons as a group are known to be courteous anglers among whom common sense prevails. Therefore, as a member please help keep the grounds pristine. Do not litter—micro trash can be a problem such as cigarette or cigar butts, used leaders, paper wrappers, bottle tops, water bottles, and pop cans. All of these bits of trash can be easily pocketed and disposed of when you return to the clubhouse.

Use barbless hooks and handle trout properly and with care to insure survival. This includes moistening your hands when handling your catch, reviving exhausted trout, and returning your catch to the water as quickly as possible. Trout are extremely susceptible to stress as the weather and water warms. Dead trout littering the bottom of the stream is unsightly and an unnecessary waste of our most important and precious natural resource.

Don’t crowd other anglers. There is plenty of fishable water on the stream. If someone is fishing a section you fancy, pass it by and come back later after the spot has been vacated, rather than crowding in by casting a fly near another’s line. If you are fishing a popular section, fish it for a reasonable period of time and then move on so that others may have the same opportunity. Why monopolize one stretch for an entire day when there are so many challenges to be enjoyed up and down the entire length of Sunnybrook’s stream?

* * *

Guidelines—Members are reminded that Sunnybrook is a Catch & Release Club. Many other area clubs require their members and guests to keep and pay for all the trout they catch. At Sunnybrook fly fishing privileges go hand-in-hand with conservation responsibilities. All members are expected to know about proper Catch & Release practices. Members are further reminded to instruct their guests about these guidelines. Every year the club makes a sizeable investment in stocking the stream. It is, therefore, paramount that all members help protect the club’s most valuable resource by practicing the following guidelines.

1.      Use barbless hooks for easy release of fish.

2.      Moisten hands before handling your catch.

3.      Return your catch to the water as quickly as possible.

4.      If possible, release your catch without removing it from the water. A pair of hemostats or a Catch & Release tool such as the Ketchum Tool makes this easy. Studies show that the mortality rate of fish handled and held out of the water for more than 30 seconds increases to more than 50% versus fish that are returned within 30 seconds, or that are never removed from the water.

5.      Do not over play a fish to exhaustion. Bring your catch up to the stream bank for quick release.

6.      Revive your catch by cradling its belly and holding its tail and gently moving the fish forward and backwards until it is ready to swim away.

7.       Use only a conservation approved Catch & Release tight weave, soft cloth landing net.

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

CLUB NEWS

Smoked Trout—Greg has begun smoking trout on a weekly basis and will try to keep an ample supply on hand. He has also begun making a smoked trout dip which is placed in the pop cooler for member purchase. Take advantage of our trout exchange program. Bring in a trout ranging in weight of one to one and one quarter pounds, pay for the trout at $6.65 per pound, and exchange it for a smoked trout of similar size. Smoked trout is a healthy meal and a tasty summer appetizer. Your harvest of the trout from the stream is also beneficial, as it not only creates a turnover of trout in the stream, but also a cash flow for the club.

State Fish Hatchery Improvements—The Ohio Castalia State Hatchery just upstream from Sunnybrook will be undergoing some improvements. They have set a budget of $5.5 million. When I see numbers like that I get envious—oh, what I could do at Sunnybrook with that kind of money.

Regardless, the fact is Sunnybrook has done and is doin an extraordinary job on maintaining its stream and property on a limited budget, but I can dream can’t I? 

 Prior to commencement of work on August 1, 2010, the hatchery is open for public inspection and tours from 8 AM to  3 PM. Once work begins, the hatchery will be closed until completion. A trip to the hatchery is interesting, educational, and time well spent. Set aside a half hour on your next trip to Sunnybrook for an impromptu visit to the Castalia Hatchery.

Guest Fees—Guest fees remain the same as they have for the past several years at $37 for the daily rate. A reduced rate of $25 is available for the twilight hours after 6:00 pm. New for this year is a $25 rate that will apply to youngsters up to the age of 16. Be certain to mark the signup sheet as “Twilight” or “Child Rate” as it applies to your guest.

Summer Dining Hours—Lunch is served daily from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Dinner is served Friday evening from 5:30 to 8:30 pm from a bistro style dinner menu. Special occasion dining for groups of six or more can be arranged by giving the club at least one week advance notice. Confirmation, however, depends on club availability and being able to schedule Greg and Peg for the hours requested.

* * *

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
Mike Steinmetz,	Chagrin Falls, Ohio

* * *

CLUB EVENTS

Friday Night Fish Fry—Our Friday Fish Fry offers members an opportunity to enjoy the club in a manner other than fishing. The grounds are beautiful and the setting is a relaxing venue to enjoy an evening meal. Dine in the sun room overlooking the stream or under an umbrella on the back deck. The food is excellent and reasonably priced and the setting unrivaled by other dining establishments in the area.

 

 

If you haven’t done so yet, you owe it to yourself to come out. Dinner is served every Friday evening through Labor Day from 5:30 – 8:30 PM No reservations are necessary, just drop in and dine. Arrive early enough to allow yourself some time on the stream following dinner to experience the evening hatch and some fine fishing. Invite a friend for dinner and take advantage of the reduced twilight guest fee after your meal.