President’s Perspective
Dennis Rudloff
October

It has been an incredibly hot summer, with a super El Nino on the way. I am not a weather expert, but I do know in my twenty-six years here in Escondido this was the hottest summer I can recall. It certainly slowed or eliminated some things I had planned for this summer. One example is cancelling the CDFW fin clipping work in the Golden Trout Wilderness. (GTW) And closer to home, I lost a few plants from the extreme heat despite regular watering. Oh, and my golf game went dormant, who wants to play golf in 90-100 degrees? Well, I do know a few of you who ventured out in the heat.

We continue to have amazing speakers each month. My thanks to Wayne Johnson who coordinates this with the fly club consortium who lines up these interesting presentations. Keep an eye on our website to get details each month. Talk fishing with your fellow club members, enjoy a meal and catch up on some aspects of the broad world of fly fishing. Bring a friend or family member, get them excited about our sport.

We are a Trout Unlimited Chapter, please do consider a TU membership and check in on their website. Plenty of good info on conservation work, legislative activities and fishing tips. Their magazine is excellent, well worth the cost of a membership. Thanks to those who cared and took the time to use the TU or CalTrout website to voice your opposition to the potential recission of the “Roadless Rule.” America needs its public wilderness, there are 1,000’s of roads across these public lands already, adding new roads only risks the degradation of pristine wilderness.

Our Fly Fishing 101 Clinic was a success; we had a room of “experts” to help attendees get more knowledgeable about fly fishing and locations local and remote to fish.

Please consider getting more engaged with the club, we have a well experienced board but need volunteers to help expand our activities. For example, we need someone to plan local outings monthly. I can’t think of a better way to build people to people relationships than to get out and fish together.

I sit on the TUCA Advocacy Council; there is much going on “behind the scenes” to counter the mining operation proposed near Hot Creek. The Smith River and Eel River are also focus areas for TUCA. The Smith is threatened by the discharge of pesticides and fertilizers into the river, and the Eel River is grinding along toward dam removals which have a broad coalition of supporters.

Fall is here, get out and fish! This is prime time for the Eastern Sierra. Our winter Bishop trip is coming up, amazing opportunity to catch big, migrating fish in the Upper Owens

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STEELHEAD
with ANTHONY CARRUESCO
November 16th

Steelhead have rightly earned the nickname “fish of a thousand casts,” and when you pursue them by swinging flies on two-handed Spey rods, even that number can seem conservative. So why do we travel long distances and wade icy rivers for the chance at a single grab—or, on a good day, two—from these anadromous rainbow trout? The answer is simple: the sudden, startling take, followed by the leaps and runs of a wild native steelhead, makes every effort worthwhile. It’s the Dodger Stadium of fly fishing, minus the great weather.

Steelhead are rainbow trout that leave their home rivers to spend a year or more in the nearby ocean, where they grow larger and stronger before returning to their spawning grounds. They inhabit the coastal rivers of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. They can be fished by swinging classic fly patterns or more commonly by two fly nymphing techniques. There are distinct winter and summer runs which are fairly predictable.

Although British Columbia is considered the mecca for trophy steelhead, Northern California’s rivers have recently delivered excellent returns in both numbers and size. Our November presenter, JUSTIN WHITE of AC FLY FISHING with stunning images, will take us on a tour of Trinity, Eel and other NorCal steelhead hot spots.

ANTHONY’S STORY

Anthony found a passion for fly fishing at a young age. Following that passion to the foothills of gold country and beyond to the vast tundras of Alaska and finally back home to Northern California, where he has turned his passion into a career. Growing up in competitive sports and being a former collegiate athlete, his drive to persevere and always find his clients fish is apparent on the water. A natural leader, Anthony has put together a group of like-minded guides with superior work ethics that want nothing more than to see their clients have a great time and be successful on the water. His confidence and positive demeanor is infectious, and a trip with him is certain to make for some of his clients most memorable vacations.

When he is not guiding, you’ll find him chasing the white ball on manicured fairways or chasing anadromous fish on the coastline. Anthony and his guides are keen to teach – they expect and welcome anglers of all skill levels and can provide all the gear that a newcomer might need. In his words, “The team at AC Fly Fishing has worked extremely hard to build our reputation as the top lower sac fly fishing guides that Northern California has to offer.

We take great pride in creating the gold standard when it comes to guided Fly Fishing here in the North State. With decades of cumulative experience whether it be Trout, Steelhead or Bass, our guides have mastered the best freshwater fisheries that exist in the Northern California. We consider Redding, CA our base of operation where we are ideally situated in the middle of Northern California’s premier freshwater fisheries. Before booking your next fly fishing trip, please read our reviews below and weigh your options carefully. Come and experience a guided fly fishing adventure a cut above the rest.

The AC Flyfishing website (www.acflyfishing.com) is full of testimonials to this amazing and often overlooked fishery along with the latest fishing reports.

Fly Fishing 101 Clinic

GSF hosts “Fly Fishing 101 Clinic” In late August, the Golden State Flycasters hosted a half day event that provided the public with an introduction to our sport. CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) was kind enough to allow the use of their conference room at the San Diego Office.

It featured an introduction to the sport itself that featured a presentation by Kevin McClain that covered the basics of fly fishing including the nature of the equipment and how it differs from conventional fishing gear. Emphasis on dispelling the myth that fly fishing must be expensive, but it does have a higher learning curve to be effective.

Dennis Rudloff spoke on the basics of entomology and what fly choices imitated this natural prey for trout and bass. As promised, GSF delivered on a “hands-on” experience. Desks were set up to provide instruction on fly tying, knot tying, fly fishing gear and location details for local fresh and saltwater fly fishing. Also offered were maps and details on fishing in the Eastern Sierra, our principal trout waters. As a follow up, the club is working on beginning casting lessons and connecting with local military bases to offer fly fishing instruction. 

Salt Water Fly Fishing Station


Fresh Water Fly Fishing Station


Knot Tying Station



Gear Station

Missoula Montana Trip

Bridgeport Trip 

Coming Soon