www.cjtu.org

December 2022

General Meeting

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022

Todd Burns - “Winter Flyfishing for Small Stream Trout”

"Winter Flyfishing for Small Stream Trout " covers the basics in equipment, tactics and techniques needed to be successful in flyfishing small, Pocono area streams in the winter.

Todd Burns grew up and learned to fish for trout in Central Pennsylvania on the small feeder streams of fabled Penns Creek. Streams such as Weikert Run, Cherry Run, Laurel Run and Big Poe Creek provided environments in which to learn the craft. After earning a B.A. degree in Biology from Susquehanna University, he moved to the Poconos where he began work in the Pocono Mountain School District. Once there, he became familiar with the local waterways such as Brodhead Creek, McMichaels Creek, Pocono Creek, Tobyhanna Creek and many small tributaries. Some 39 years later, after a career as a science teacher and administrator, he can still be found, at all times of the year, in one of the many local trout streams.

Currently residing near the town of Pen Argyl, Todd discovered the joys of winter trout fishing some 20 years ago. His home waters of Martins Creek served as a laboratory for the development of the "Burns Bullet," a small, brown, bead head nymph that has attracted fish in many different environments and is effective year-round. The creek also served as the needed catalyst to get him into the water in the winter.

Todd is a long-time member of the Brodhead Chapter #289 Trout Unlimited, a current Board member, a past-president of the chapter and currently serves as the NE Region Vice-President of PA Council Trout Unlimited.

Zoom Link for those who can not attend in person

American Legion Hall
137 New Market Road
Dunellen, NJ

Meeting starts at 8:00 PM - Non Members are always welcome!

President’s Letter

Greetings Fellow CJTU members!

I hope that you enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and friends and that you are looking forward to the upcoming Holidays!

As we close out the year there is much to be thankful for and work to be done to reinvigorate CJTU in 2023. In December we will have a presentation by Todd Burns, our fellow TU member and neighbor from PA. In January we can be assured of an interesting presentation by our own Bart Lombardo, who has built a reputation as a knowledgeable and entertaining presenter.

January starts the show season and our first appearance will be at the Garden State Outdoors Sports Show at Raritan Center. The show runs from Thursday, January 12th through Sunday, January 15th. We will be needing several people to help at our booth, especially on the weekend. If you are willing to give us a hand please contact Marsha at president@cjtu.org by Wednesday, December 14th.

Also, CJTU will once again have a booth at the Edison Fly fishing Show on January 27th, 28th and 29th in 2023. We are looking forward to the outreach that we are able to do at this show! We have some folks who are willing to give of their time to staff the booth so that we make a good showing. But, we need more Volunteers on Friday, January 27th and Sunday, January 29th. Please consider coming out to help us put our best foot forward at the show. Please volunteer a few hours. Each day we receive five passes for free admittance. These tickets will go to those members who give at least three hours or more of their time at the CJTU booth. Please support the Chapter, it will be a great way to renew acquaintances and teach the public about CJTU. Please call or email me if you are able to help!

I realize that it is a bit early but, with all that we have going on in our lives, I want to mention that CJTU will be participating in the Musconetcong River Clean-up on April 16th from 9;00am to about 11:30am. This will be followed by a BBQ at the Resource Center in Asbury, New Jersey. We always have fun and accomplish so much together! I will send out more information as the time gets closer!

And last, but not least, we need someone to take on the role of President and Vice President of CJTU. Please review your schedules and hearts and consider stepping into these roles or supporting in any way that you can. The Chapter needs your help and talents! I will be stepping away from the role of President at the end of December and I would like to pass the torch to one of our many talented and loyal members, to successfully lead us in the future! We have a supportive Board of Directors who are willing to share the responsibility with you!

Be well! Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Marsha Benovengo,
President
CJTU

News & Events

Fly Tying School Returns!

Part 1: Saturday, February 11, 2023
Part 2: Saturday February 18, 2023

10:00 to 3:00 PM

Beginners Fly Tying Class

This is our entry-level class for the person just getting started in fly tying or who has very little experience. We will cover the basic tools, techniques and materials necessary to tie a variety of basic flies, concentrating on patterns that work well on local rivers and streams.

Learn to do things “right from the start” from our excellent instructors who are some of the best in the East. Techniques are taught in a sequence that continually builds competence. Our instructors watch you and make sure you are doing things right. Further, we will provide a quality vice, tools, hooks and all materials or you can bring your own. Finally, we provide a manual with summarized tying descriptions for each pattern plus a reference to a web video we believe is the best for that pattern.

Intermediate Class

This class is for the intermediate tier who has acquired the basic skills in handling tools and materials either by previously taking a beginners course and/or tying flies regularly for a year or two.

While our Beginners Classes are the same from year to year, our Intermediate Class constantly evolves. New patterns, techniques and materials introduced by tiers through-out the world are monitored, and the best ones that mesh with the skill set of the intermediate tier are selected. Thus the class remains interesting to past attendees and also to those who have never taken it before. Students must bring their own vise and tools, some materials will be provided.

The cost for all classes is $50.00. To register or ask questions contact us at cjtutying@cjtu.org. Please register early so CJTU can plan ahead to make your course a success.

Fly tying classes will be held in the American Legion Hall, 137 New Market Road, Dunellen, NJ 08812

This course is open to members and nonmembers. We welcome anyone who has an interest in the sport of Fly Fishing or Fly Tying.

Our courses are taught in a relaxed atmosphere of camaraderie. We feel that with the patient, guiding help of our instructors, everyone will finish the course with a good working knowledge of how to tie flies.

Please remember to bring a light for your vise, lighting conditions in the building might not be as bright as you may like.

Garden State Ouutdoor Sports Show

January 12 - 15

New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837-3810

The Fly Fishing Show

January 27 - 29

New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837-3810

Help CJTU when you shop at Amazon!

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Use the link above to access amazon.com and help support CJTU

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Fly of the Month

Talleur’s Savage Seducer

Tied by Bill Ninke

The top fly was tied by Talleur many years ago. The bottom fly shows my variations in hook and head finishing

Our abnormally warm November weather has kept local water temperatures up. Trout have remained quite active, looking to pack in more calories before the normal winter temperature plunge. So you want to now be fishing something that looks and acts like a large taste treat. This month’s pattern, the creation of noted tier and author Dick Talleur, is just such a pattern.

During his lifetime, Talleur was a regular demo tier at the International Fly Tying Symposium. I first saw him tie this pattern and heard him describe its history at the 2003 Symposium. Prior to that date he had published an article describing and extolling the properties of Whiting Farms Dry Fly Hackle. This article endeared him to Tom Whiting to the point that Whiting regularly sent samples of new products to Talleur for use evaluation. The samples that launched this month’s pattern were Whiting Farms Coq de Leon Hen Capes in natural and dyed colors. Talleur had received the samples earlier that year and took them with him on a spring fishing trip with his friend Sim Savage. Savage looked at the capes and suggested using the feathers in a seducer style streamer. This Talleur tied and they both used the streamer very successfully on that trip and afterward, Talleur named the pattern in honor of his friend.

The pattern is simple. Use a brass cone for weight, two feathers for a tail and additional feathers prepared in soft hackle collar style and wound up the hook shank. The number of additional feathers depends on the hook size. You can use a tungsten cone for really deep water. But then consider hard hats for all around.

Initially, I bought just one cape in the speckled brown color since I wanted to tie and try the pattern before investing in more colors. Also, Initially, I tied and fished the pattern in sizes 4, 6 and 8. Over the years I’ve narrowed my selection to just a size 6. The speckled brown color has worked just fine in the waters I fish. So I haven’t felt the need to purchase other colors. But the capes come in several colors so you can experiment with both sizes and colors if you want.

The instructions for tying this pattern are pretty much as described by Talleur at the mentioned Symposium and in his last two books. I’ve changed the hook from a ring eye to a down eye so the fly rides hook point up. With this hook selection the fly tends to snag less when you are banging the banks when either wading or casting from a drift boat. And I’ve made one variation in how the head is finished so that there is no gap and thread band behind the cone. The fibers come out in line with the angle of the cone. This variation doesn’t make the pattern fish any better but the flies look gorgeous in your streamer box if you ever show them off.

The pattern is fished as a typical streamer with staccato strips, a dead drift, a swing, or a combination. Experiment. The trout will tell you what they want that day. Finally, use at least 3X tippet. I use 2X. Yanks are usually hard.

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