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Monocacy Chapter of Trout Unlimited Volume 1, Issue 3 Fall 2014

Stream Lines the Newsletter of the Monocacy Chapter of Trout Unlimited




President’s Message

Inside This Issue

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President’s Message Feature Water: The Saucon Creek

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Favorite Flies

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Chapter Program News

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Summer Planning Meeting

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Dates to Remember Sept.23-

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Oct. 28 -

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Chapter Meeting Planning Chapter Meeting Elections, Speaker - Paula Piatt Eastern Sportsman Org.

Nov. 22-23 Fly Tying Symposium, Somerset, NJ

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Nov. 25 - Chapter Meeting Conservation Use Equip. Sale

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Dec. 23 -

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Meet for Holiday Cheer Location TBA

Jan 23-25 - The Fly Fishing Show Somerset, NJ

Members: Just as I was a bit shocked that winter ended so fast, I was equally as unprepared for how fast summer would go. As sad as I am to see summer come to an end, I am excited to see what the fall has in store as far as fishing. Fall is probably my favorite time of year, as the cooler weather signals some exciting things to happen. Brown trout, salmon and saltwater species all start their annual move to spawning and wintering grounds, and it can provide for some great angling. Fall also signals the return of our monthly meetings at the DAR House and I always look forward to catching up with fellow TU members and hearing about vacations and fishing trips. We hope that you can join us and share your fishing and conservation stories. As a reminder, we will continue to share information and schedules with the 3 other Lehigh Valley TU Chapters, and a joint calendar can be found on our website under the publications tab. We are also going to be pursuing some very worthwhile conservation projects and we are always looking for volunteers. Please consider lending a hand. Thank you for your continued support of TU and the Monocacy Creek. Erik Broesicke President Monocacy Chapter TU

Featured Water: The Saucon Creek A great job has been done in restoring Saucon Creek into a good trout stream. Saucon Creek is a Southeast Pennsylvania limestone stream. It now has a good population of wild brown trout. At one time, it was nothing more than a drainage for mines. Now, fly fishing Saucon Creek provides pleasure in the center of a very populated area of the state. According to studies done by biologist on

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Stream Lines

The Saucon Creek (cont.)

Chapter Directors and Officers

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Officers Erik Broesicke - Pres Open -VP Dr. Ed Hart III - Treas Bob Signorello - Sec

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2013 Board of Directors

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Dr. Theodore Burger M.D. Jim Coxe Todd Griffith Steve Vanya Bob Signorello CQ Williamson Ken Young Dr. Ed Hart, III Vicky Bastidas Ron Horwath Phil Burner Mike Recine Mike Bradley Jose de Jesus Jack Schildt Norm Szymanski

different sites, the stream has plenty of wild browns. One was upstream of the High Street Bridge in Hellertown and another was done in Saucon Park in Bethlehem. There were substantial numbers of wild brown trout in both areas. Saucon Creek is a fairly wide limestone stream, averaging over forty feet in places. It usually has a good flow rate even though the water is relatively shallow. The bottom is mostly small cobble, rocks and gravel. It provides a good spawning bottom for the brown's redds. You will find the most access to Saucon Creek at the two parks mentioned above in Hellertown and Bethlehem but there are other access points at the bridges where they cross Route #412. Saucon Park is the trophy trout project area. The state does stock the creek in some places, providing excellent early season angling for all anglers. Saucon Creek is, however, primarily a special regulation class “A” trophy wild brown trout fishery. Cold limestone springs feed many areas of the creek and the water maintains a consistent water temperature ranging between the 50’s and 60’s providing excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. As with the other Lehigh Valley area streams.the Saucon Creek insect population primarily consists of midges, olives, sulfurs, tricos, crane flies, and caddis. Anglers with fly boxes stocked with a variety of patterns matching theses insects will find success on the Saucon. Without any signs of hatching, a well fished combination of a bead head pheasant tail in size 18-20 with a similar sized RS2 trailing 12 to 18 inches behind it will usually produce fish. Just prior to and during a may fly hatch an emerging mayfly pattern to match the hatch will provide plenty of action. As for dry fly patterns, have a variety of patterns for each insect and tie them sparse as Saucon fish see heavy angling pressure and tend to get very selective, especially later in the season. Midges will provide the action during the winter months, with olives in the early spring and then again in fall, then sulfurs and caddis in the spring, and tricos in the sumer. A well placed scud pattern could provide action at any time. As with most area streams, beetles, ants, and other terrestrials are excellent choices through out the summer. With the popularity of the Saucon growing not only with local anglers, but with many anglers from surrounding areas, the creek and it’s fish need be be protected. Look after the creek, pick up trash, and carefully release all fish caught. Of utmost importance is the protection of spawning fish and their redds as they are the future of the creek. As you venture out on the Saucon this fall pay particular attention to lighter circular shapes in the gravel, as these are the redds of the spawning fish. While it is tempting to target these large spawning fish, leave them alone and remember that they are producing future generations of trout for the stream. Get out on the Saucon and enjoy some excellent fall fishing.

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Tight Lines

Stream Lines

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My Favorite Fly - Mike Recine: The RS2 The Rim’s Sembalance 2, better known as the RS2 was developed by Colorado angler and tier Rim Chung. . Tied mostly in sizes 16-24, the fly was designed to imitate small emerging baetis, PMD’s and midges. The fly is simple to tie, yet very effective. The fly basically consists of 2 split tails, a long thin body, a short wing, and a robust head. The tails are tied split and about as long as the body with dun microfibbets, The body can be tied with a variety of materials including, but not limited to thread, dubbing, micro tubing, and biots. The most common body colors are olive, brown, grey, tan, and black. Materials for the wing, include CDC, antron, phyo phluf, and foam and range in color from white to dark dun. Ribbing is optional, but wire, thread, or, flashabou can be used. Match the colors with the insect you are imitating. Tying Instructions: 1) Secure the hook in the vice and wrap the tying thread from the middle of the hook to the bend. 2) Tie in 2 microfibbets and split. 3) Form a long thin body using your choice of color, material, and rib. 4) About 4/5’s of the way up the hook, tie in your choice of wing material and cut short. 6) Dub in a robust head. 7) Whip finish and cement. I usually fish the RS2 in tandem with a bead head nymph.. On the San Juan I fish it with a midge 12-18” below, or 2 RS2’s of different colors. San Juan guide, Bear Good is famous for rigging his clients up with a brown and a grey RS2 known as “Bear’s Brown and Grey”. The fly is also productive fished as an emertger, in the film, or on the surface. Dust the submerged and fly with “Frogs Fanny” for some added sparkle as it envelopes the fly in an air bubble. You will find this fly easy to tie and fun to fish. Tie them up in a variety of sizes and colors, and have some fun.

Chapter Program News It was a good program year in 2013-2014 for the Monocacy Chapter, with a myriad of topics both at our own chapter meetings, and, jointly with other chapters. They centered around 3 key topical areas: 1) Conservation of our Streams & Key Environmental Projects 2) Fly Fishing “How-to” Sessions – both Introductory & Advanced 3) Fishing Destinations - both Local & Remote. Feedback from our members indicate we should continue on this same “path” with our programs, and, continue to collaborate with the other TU Chapters with joint program calendars and sharing of volunteers for our key community events (e.g. Project Healing Waters, etc.). So, we’ll try and do just that while we also explore some new ideas, such as we did last year. Things like the “Kiss the Waters” movie viewing at ArtsQuest, the Lafayette College Fly Fishing Book & Art Special Collections, and, our new venue for the Spring Event. As we put the programs together, we’ll communicate them to you via our website. Or, better yet, come to our monthly meetings and get it first hand. We’ll continue to use our Monocacy Chapter website to also deliver a joint calendar for all 4 Chapters programs you can take advantage of. Please know that the Forks of the Delaware, Hockendaqua and Little Lehigh Chapters have been cordial in “opening their doors” to all of us for both their monthly programs and fun outdoor events. Since we all reside in the Lehigh Valley, you have access to a wealth of programs during the year. And, it’s fun to visit other chapters, meet their members and share their programs. It’s a great way to learn the fishing hot spots on their home waters. Why not give it a try. For the near term, our September chapter meeting will be a planning and direction setting meeting for the year. For October and November, we’ll try to have a Conservation program and a Fly Fishing How-To Workshop. Feel free to email us with any good program ideas. We have a few great ones we’re trying to solidify already. We look forward to seeing you all at our program events.

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Bob Signorello , Programs Coordinator

Stream Lines

The Monocacy Chapter of

Trout Unlimited #419

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The Monocacy Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from September through June with the exception of December. Chapter meetings are held at the DAR House located at 717 Eighth Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18017.

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Information about the chapter can be found on our web site located at http://www.monocacytu.org Information about Trout Unlimited National can be found at their web site at:

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www.tu.org/intro. Membership information can be obtained from either of the above mentioned web sites or at a monthly chapter meeting.

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*You receive this publication as a benefit of membership in the Monocacy Chapter of Trout Unlimited. This newsletter is published three times a year, Winter, Spring, and Summer/Fall. You will receive the newsletter via email unless otherwise requested. Should you no longer wish to receive this publication please email me at [email protected].

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Chapter Summer Planning Meeting Chapter officers and directors met this summer on the back deck of Mike Recine’s house to set the direction that the chapter will follow in the coming year. After a snack of hot dogs and drinks, the meeting began with discussions on ways we can make the chapter better. Communication to chapter members and the general public was the first item on the agenda. Directors decided to continue with the electronic distribution of the chapter newsletter “Stream Lines” three times a year; Fall/ Winter, Spring, and Summer. On the same topic of communication it was decided to look into signage along the Monocacy relating to good practices, conservation, and stream life. Dr. Hart suggested that we produce chapter related brochures and “business” cards highlighting chapter activities. The directors are also looking into doing a major stream improvement to coincide with the projected work to be done by the city of Bethlehem on the creek in Ilick’s Mill Park. Steve Vanya suggested a stream walk to high light areas of need and set priorities. It was also suggested that we reach out to area colleges and universities to tap into their expertise in engineering, design, and biology. Dr. Hart will explore the possibility of involving area Eagle Scout candidates in our projects. Bob Signorello will continue to look into more and new programing opportunities for our chapter members. As always, we are looking to provide entertaining and educational programs for our chapter meeting. Suggestions included “how to”, destination, and conservation related presentations. We are also looking into some fun activities such as a “Night Out” and an on stream cook out. Also, thanks to Bob for putting together the master calendar of

of all of the programming of our chapter and those of the other area chapters as well as joint chapter programming such as the “Spring Event”. Remember that most all programs presented by the TU chapters of the Lehigh Valley are open to the public. One suggestion on programming was to look into more joint chapter programs where chapters could share in the cost to bring in outside speakers, especially a “Big Venue Fall Program” to compliment our “Spring Event”. Bob will also bring to the attention of our members outside opportunities of interest such as the Lafayette College library fishing collection, and the “Kiss the Waters” film presentation. In an effort to find a niche in which the chapter could specialize, Dr. Hart noted that the Hokundequa Chapter is known for it’s fly tying program and Forks for “Trout in the Classroom”. He suggested that we focus on the area scouts. Boy scouts can now work to attain merit badges in fishing and fly fishing and Eagle Scout candidates are always looking for service projects, many of which are conservation related. As we enter the 2014-15 season we look forward to an exciting and productive time for our chapter. As always, we are hoping for increased interest and participation in our meetings and projects. We are always looking for ways to bring more members into our meetings and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We look forward to seeing you.

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Your Board of Directors