www.cjtu.org

April 2025

General Meeting

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Dave Rothrock

Tying and Fishing Non-Beaded Flies/Drop-Shot Nymphing

It's not so much about tying and fishing non-beaded flies as it is about why to do so. Versatility is a key component in my approach to fishing nymphs. Tying non-beaded nymphs allows for more flexibility to suggest specific naturals or generally a wider range of nymphs by varying both size and color.

A drop-shot rig can be used whether fishing a sighter system (contact/tight-line) or an indicator. Being able to make adjustments in weight to present flies at a desired depth and change quickly as well as being able to change flies with minimal effort: This and more is where fishing a drop-shot rig really shines.

Dave Rothrock has been pursuing trout and other species with a fly rod since the mid-1960's and he's been tying flies for a bit longer than he's been fishing them. He has fished throughout the East, into the Midwest, and Europe where he fished great waters in Austria and Slovenia.

Over the years Dave's articles have appeared in Fly Fisherman, American Angler and Pennsylvania Angler magazines as well as other publications. His fly patterns have have graced the pages of various publications, books and calendars. He has presented programs on fly- fishing related topics to groups throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada. Dave is also a co-author of the book “Keystone Fly Fishing: The Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania's Best Water.” He also authors his website blog at www.therantingangler.com. Dave teamed up with John Kolb for the YouTube channel The Ranting Angler which offers flly-fishing related content.

In 2004 Dave and George Daniel teamed together to compete in the northeast regional qualifier for Barrett Productions' Fly Fishing Masters competition. As a team they placed first out of 36 teams in the two day casting competition.

Dave is a former Orvis Endorsed Guide as well as a former FFI Certified Casting Instructor . He has worked as an instructor in the L. L. Bean fly fishing schools and has taught fly fishing, casting and fly tying classes for various fly shops and groups. Dave currently guides and teaches fly fishing and casting through his business, Salmo-Trutta Enterprises. He utilizes many of the best trout streams in central and north central PA as his classroom environment.

Dave serves as an Ambassador Pro with Douglas Outdoors and also serves on the Pro Staff of HMH Vises, Cortland Line and Flystones.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Rich Liptak

Flyfishing for Trout on the Delawares “Other Half”, Callicoon NY to Port Jervis NY

This presentation goes on a 45 mile float from Callicoon NY to Port Jervis NY . Rich will discuss trout fishing on the Delaware Rivers little known trout zone, offering a fantastic alternative to the upper reaches of the river. Characteristics, techniques, access sites, and expectations will be covered.

Rich Liptak has been flyfishing the Delaware for 47 years as well as other rivers and streams in the Catskills and Poconos. Additionally Rich has fished many other areas throughout the country and out of the country in both fresh and saltwater.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Annual CJTU Picnic Meeting

Join us at CJTU's Annual Bar-B-Que and Picnic, Tuesday June 10th, starting at 5 pm in the grove right behind the American Legion Hall, 137 New Market Road in Dunellen, NJ 08812. Plenty of food and soft drinks (plus the inexpensive bar is open right inside the hall as always).

Come relax, meet new and old friends, and share some fish stories. The cost of the picnic is only $20.00. In case of rain we will move inside the hall to our regular meeting space.

We will be collecting money at this months meeting!

Meeting Location

American Legion Hall
137 New Market Road
Dunellen, NJ

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

News & Events

Volunteers Needed!

Annual Musconetcong River Clean-up - Point Mountain
Saturday, April 12th, 2025

9:00 am

CJTU members will again gather at Point Mountain for the Annual Musconetcong River Clean-up on April 12th at 9am. We come together to show our concern and caring for the River as we gather to bag trash.

Bags and gloves will be provided and we will supply grabbers out to help with picking up wet trash. Please bring reusable water bottles. CJTU will supply water. After the Clean-up at 12pm the Musconetcong Watershed Association will sponsor a complimentary BBQ at their office at 10 Maple Avenue, Asbury, NJ for all Volunteers.

If you are interested in being part of the CJTU Clean-up Team please contact Marsha Benovengo by email at volunteer@cjtu.org or by text or phone at (908) 216-4855. Sign up sheets will be available at the 3/11 and 4/8 meetings.

Please bring a friend or family member!

Thank you for all that you do!

Califon Trout Fest
Saturday, April 12th, 2025

Volunteers Needed!

Rutgers Day
Saturday, April 26th, 2025

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Volunteers Needed!

Fly of the Month

Rubber Band Maggot

Tied by Bill Ninke

I first tied this month’s pattern over 20 years ago. It was not original at that time and many others have also (re)created it in the interim. It consists of just a hook, thread and a section of rubber band wrapped on the hook to approximate a maggot. I fish it at this time of year for bluegills that are bunching up in the shallows of my local pond getting ready to build nests and spawn. This pattern is on the point and a small nymph like a #16 Pheasant Tail is on the dropper. The pattern generates a good “plop” when it hits the water and I’m usually delighted to see a bunch of the gills rush to see which can grab it first before it sinks too deep. When one does and gets hooked, it drags the nymph around and another gill usually grabs the nymph. So now I have two fish tugging me around. To me this is certainly fun and I bet it will be fun for you too.

I’m bringing this pattern to you attention now because over the years I’ve continually refined my tying technique and I’ve not seen it elsewhere. A key point is cutting a small notch in head side of the rubber band where the final tie in point will be so a nice head is easily formed. The photo shows my consistent results. See the instructions below for details. Further, I recently discovered a YouTube video of a Scottish fly fisher who ties the pattern a little differently than I do but produces much the same profile and uses it about two feet under an indicator to catch rainbow trout in his local stillwater pond. See his video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2I918Jv4dU) for details.

I’ve never fished this pattern myself under an indicator and to date not for trout. .Have I been missing out? Will it work in Round Valley where the stocked rainbows are known at this time of year to be continually circling the edges searching for the non-existent feeder stream of their birth? Or maybe in some of the big pools on the South Branch? Trout season opens April 5 so I hope to soon be finding out. I’d be delighted if someone sends me a note on any experiences.

You can send comments, questions and suggestions to Bill at fotm@cjtu.org

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