ALASKA FLY FISHERS

Official Monthly Newsletter

February 2025

General Membership Meeting - Monday, February 3rd

at the BP Energy Center    6:00 to 8:00PM

Our featured speaker will be Damond Blankenship

Damond is a long time member and will be coming up from his home in Kenai to discuss casting and some of the recent changes he has seen in the casting instructional world.

"Fly fishing has been around for a couple of thousand years in one form or another.  Fly fishing has made radical changes over the years. The biggest changes have occurred in the last 175 years!!!  Presently there are millions of dollars in technology available in the rods, lines and reels. 

Truly this is an evolving sport. All that being said, several things have become apparent to develop into an advanced fly caster.

Such things as how we hold the fly rod for casting, when and where to flex your wrist, when to start your cast going back and forward. And of course, how to develop a really nice loop!!!    

I have been mentored over the years by several really great fly fishers. This will be a combination of what has been offered and a lot of study to sort it out.  Ironically, several of my mentored have said the same thing, in different ways at times…. Over time it has sunk in!!!

If you don’t hone your skill or learn something, I will gladly give you one of my hook releases!  Looking forward to seeing you there."  

Damond A. Blankenship (907) 351-6810.

Garage Sale

The February meeting will also feature a special Fund-raising Garage Sale featuring a huge assortment of miscellaneous item related to fly fishing. These items are from a long time fly angler who loved his trinkets and treasures. After all, it's not just about the fish.

Item are available for any reasonable offer, nothing will be price tagged. This is a cash-n-carry event, however we would prefer checks and cards. Bring your own shopping bag.

 If you think you have enough stuff, you may not be serious about this sport !

PRESIDENTS' HOOK

I hope to see you at the Alaska Fly Fishers (AFF) March General Membership meeting on February 3, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.

We are still having the meetings at the BP Energy Center. The February meeting will include a presentation by Damond Blankenship. I know that many AFF members have had the opportunity to use Damond as a guide. Or have the great opportunity to fish with him as a friend. The other possibility is you have attended a casting clinic where Damond was the instructor. I have had the opportunity to have him as a guide and as a casting instructor. I could not walk due to an ankle injury. No matter how you interacted with Damond, you know you come away from the interaction knowing something more about fishing. So please come to the February meeting to learn from and enjoy listening to a good friend of AFF, Damond Blankenship.

I know that it is early in the year, I really wish to have the AFF members put the Alaska State Fair on their calendars. The Alaska State Fair if you have not been in the last few years, has a fly judging contest. In addition, we had a table there showing off our fly-tying skills and providing examples of equipment.  Hal Lloyd and I had a great day tying files and answering questions. We have been asked to provide a few additional days at the fair. In addition, the Alaska State Fair has had a fly contest for the last several years speared headed by Frank Stevens. Knowing that there are many fly tiers in the Club, it would be great to get more members involved in the contest at the State Fair. I have an entry number that needs to be dusted off, so I am planning on trying my skills. If you are not sure about entering, the State Fair is also seeking judges for their fly contest.  This could be a great opportunity. I will also note that there is sufficient time to take part in the great food, such as crab and shrimp pita pockets, while you are at the State Fair. As we get more information on times and dates, we will get the information out to the membership.  

Starting the February meeting, we will be discussing AFF’s financial status.  We do have concerns. Even before the Covid pandemic, AFF’s financial health was not good. Some the issues are the cost of the keeping the website going, members taking leadership roles for club events, and not having an individual being a full-time newsletter editor. While the Board can continue discussing AFF’s financial health, we believe it is time for the members to provide their input on the future of AFF. 

Remember the AFF Fly Tying Clinic on February 15, 2025, at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 941 N. Reeve Blvd., from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. It is a great place to share information on different flies and learn a few tying tricks. There will be a Fly of the Month drawing at the February meeting so remember to bring a few flies.

You, the members of AFF make this club as great as it is. Your time and involvement help this club continue to move forward.

Looking forward to seeing all of you. 

Keven K Kleweno    

Goals and Events for 2025 – Charlie Baker

As we continue into 2025, we aim to ensure a year full of activities and community efforts. Here are the key highlights of our plans:

Group Trips

We have planned three group trips to nearby lakes. These outings will be opportunities for relaxation, bonding, and enjoying nature together.

Garage Sale and Online Auction

Another exciting endeavor for this year is organizing a garage sale. Additionally, we are considering the possibility of an online auction to expand our efforts and reach a broader audience.

Kenai Cleanup

We will maintain our tradition of hosting the Kenai Cleanup, scheduled for the first weekend in September. Mark your calendars for September 5th, 6th, and 7th to join us in this vital environmental effort.

International Fly  Fishing Film Festival.

We will again be hosting the International Fly Fishing Film Festival.

We look forward to a productive and fulfilling year filled with shared experiences and meaningful contributions to our community.

Fly of the Month

Keven Kleweno

I hope you have had better fall and early winter than I have had.  In August 2024, I was diagnosed with Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) also known as Forestier’s disease. The ligaments along my spine have been turned into bone. Most of my discs and vertebrae are now covered with a thick coating of bone. In some areas, my spinal cord is pinched due to the extra coating of bone. This disease also impacts other joints such as ankles, knees, and wrists.  It has taken several months to find methods to control the pain and retain as much flexibility as possible.

When I am having problems with pain in my neck and upper back along with my wrists, I have been organizing my fly boxes. This was a very interesting event.  I first tried to find all my fly boxes and just put all the boxes that have red salmon flies in one pile. Silver salmon fly boxes in another pole, King salmon fly boxes in another, all the way through trout flies for lake and stream fishing.  I covered a twin bed with all my fly boxes.

The next step, I started to consolidate the different fly boxes.  As an example, I went from six to four fly boxes for red salmon. While I went from three to five boxes for stream fishing. How? I found more flies that I have tied over the last year in different bags and on pieces of foam that filled another two fly boxes.

I have heard of some fly fishers paying others to organize their fly boxes. I understand that these fly fishermen do not have enough time to get everything done. While I may be retired, I really do not have that much free time.  Organizing my fly boxes helps me relax almost a type of mediation that helps me control the pain from my neck and upper back. Over the last few months, I have been enjoying organizing my fly boxes. This has also provided me with a list of flies that I need to start tying over the next few weeks.

I started with the first fly on my list during the December Fly Tying Clinic. In about two hours, I tied a dozen white bead headed nymph that I will use for early season stream fishing for rainbows. 

Please remember to bring a few flies for the February 3, 2025, meeting to be included in the Fly-of-the-Month drawing.

Also remember the monthly Fly-Tying Clinic on February 15, 2025, at the Fish Hatchery.

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the February 3, 2025, General Meeting.

Keven

Fly Tying Clinic - Saturday, February 15th

10:00AM to 3:00PM at the Jack Hernandez Fish Hatchery

941 N Reeve Blvd (at Post Road)

Hal Lloyd will once again be hosting the monthly fly tying clinic. The clinic is open to members and the general public. There's no cost to drop by and see what happening in the world of fly tying.

Sportsman Show

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday - March 7th/8th/9th

Note: This year the Sportsman Show is in March, not April.

Mark those calendars for this great annual event.

We are thrilled to announce our attendance at the Great Alaska Sportsman Show, which will occur from March 7th through 9th. This event is an excellent opportunity to connect with the community and showcase our commitment to outdoor activities and sportsmanship.

As we do each year, we need help, looking for volunteers to help set up, take down, and man the booth for the three days.

If interested, please contact Charlie Baker by phone:907-333-9011

 or by email: cbaker@cbaker.com    (Subject line must read Sport Show)

Thanks in advance, I know the show is early this year.

Charlie will also be available at the membership meetings February 3rd and March 3rd.

The Mayfly Project

Tom Rueter, Jolynn Howard, and Rich & Jo Johnson attend the start up organizational meeting of a TU sponsored program for mentoring Foster youth last Friday night.

The Mayfly Project (TMP) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit that is currently in 34 states. Two ladies with Trout Unlimited are looking to make Alaska the 35th by hosting a program this summer for local youths that in the foster care world. The local TMP program could use volunteers to become mentors, sponsors, and background support.

Contact either co-leaders (Anna & Alexa) to help with the local TMP event at anna.petersen@tu.org or alexamillward97@gmail.com

For additional information on the national TMP go to www.themayflyproject.com 

Annual Spring Fly Fishing Seminar

April 14th, 21st, 28th, & May 12th

It's coming folks! Mark your calendar and watch for more information in the near future.

Featured Fly Pattern

Baby Fry is a pattern that I saw on a Face Book tying/fishing group. It caught my attention because of it's use of modern UV resin and just a couple materials. Fry patterns are inherently simple. Let's face it, fry are little skinny things with eyeballs and are only about 1" to an 1-1/2" when they start their migration and are available to fish.

Original version is on the left - my version on the right.

Materials and Tying Steps

(Materials and steps were not listed on FB and are my interpretation.)

Hook: X-short, ring-eye (I used a Gamakatsu C14S Glo-bug hook #6)

Thread: White, 70 denier or smaller (I used 14/0 Veevus)

1) Attach thread directly behind the hook eye with a minimum (4-6) number of wraps.

Wing/Back: Bronze mallard fibers (I used both bronzed and gray mallard for a two tone affect) 

2) Make sue the fiber tips are even and measure for length. Tie in forward, with the tips over the eye of the hook, with as few wraps as possible. (I tied in the bronze first and then the gray.) Whip finish and cut your thread.

Head: Tapered Bead (I used a 1/8" copper)

3) Slid the bead onto the hook, "backwards" tapered end first. (This allows the bead to come up and over the wraps holding the mallard fibers.) Reattach your thread directly behind the bead.

Body: Flat Tinsel, opal/pearl

4) Tie in the tinsel directly behind the bead and wrap rearward to the bend and then back forward to the front. Tie off and trim the excess. Whip finish and trim your thread.

5) Add a small amount of UV resin on top of the bead and along the top of the body. Fold the mallard fibers back over the bead and to the rear. While holding them in place saturate the top of the fibers to where the body ends and cure with your light.

(I used Loon Thin for this application. it has a semi-thick viscosity and doesn't drip very readily, allowing me time to get everything where I want it before hitting it with the light to cure it.)

Eyes: Flat Mylar (I used 1/8”)

6) Stick the eyes on either side of the bead making sure they are flat to the sides.

Finish: Resin over head, body, wing

7) Apply additional resin on top of and under the eyes (not on the sides) and down the wing/back. Fill in any gaps between the body and the wing. Cure with your light. (Again, I used Loon Thin for this step.)

8) I then coated the head, including the eyes, and body with Loon Flow as a final finish.

As always with creative fly tying, don't be afraid to experiment with different materials and techniques to tweak the pattern into what works best for you and where you fish.

Given the hook I used and the bead, this fry pattern will run deeper than my other two favorite fry patterns. But then I know a couple spots where that will come in real handy.

Rich

FISH TALK by Bill Hauser

Alaskan Blackfish

The Alaska blackfish is a fascinating little critter that is extremely abundant in some parts of Alaska, but it is virtually unknown by many Alaskans for two reasons.  First, most blackfish live where most Alaskans do not; and second, Alaska blackfish are usually quite small.  

Let’s start at the beginning. Alaska blackfish seldom grow longer than 8 inches.  “Trophy class” would be over 10 inches but some may grow to 13 inches.  Despite their small size, they are closely related to northern pike which they resemble in general appearance (e.g., fin placement on the body, cylindrical body).  The pectoral fins and the tail are like big paddles.  Their head is broad and flat but not pointed like a northern pike. Their color is dark green or brownish on the upper sides and pale below, with irregular blotchy areas on their side.

Where are they found? Alaska blackfish are found only in Alaska and eastern Siberia. They typically live in the densely vegetated areas of lowland swamps, ponds, rivers, and lakes in western Alaska but there have been accidental or illegal introductions into the Anchorage area, including Delong, Hood and Fire Lakes.

How do they live?  Alaska blackfish spawn from May to August. Depending on her size, a female may release 40 to 300 eggs throughout the entire spawning period.  The eggs adhere to the heavy vegetation and hatch in about nine days (at 54 deg F). The fry are only about a quarter inch long when they hatch, and they live off their yolk sacs for about ten days.

Alaska blackfish from different areas grow at different rates.  Those from Interior areas are about 2.5 inches at age 2 and 7 inches at age 4 while those from the Bristol Bay region are only about 2.5 inches long after 4 years.  Alaska blackfish live about eight years. One study found mature female blackfish at just over 3 inches.

What do they eat? Aquatic insects and other small invertebrates are the principal foods, but they may be cannibalistic, and they also eat small, young-of-the-year northern pike.  These little guys use their large pectoral fins to paddle slowly about the vegetation in search of food. After a prey organism is spotted, they capture it with a quick dart - just like most other predators.

Now, here is something interesting.  Alaska blackfish are unique because they have an esophagus that is specially modified, so it is capable of gas absorption.  This means that they can use atmospheric oxygen directly and they do not need to rely on extracting dissolved oxygen across the gill membranes like most other fish.  How does air-breathing help these fish?  This capability allows these little fish to live in the small stagnant tundra or muskeg pools that are almost devoid of oxygen in summer.  In fact, they can survive in the moist tundra mosses during extended dry periods while they wait for rain to fill the pools again.

Alaska blackfish move out of their tundra pool habitats in winter and reside into the deeper portions of lakes, where oxygen is more abundant. However, as oxygen becomes depleted, especially toward late winter or early spring, the fish become stressed, and they seek open water areas where they can gulp atmospheric oxygen.

Only one other species of fish in the world is known to have an esophagus that is modified for breathing, and that is a swamp eel that lives in the tropics. One scientist suggested that the Alaska blackfish represented a prime example of an end-product of evolution in mutation and natural selection that results in the establishment of a species well-adapted to a limited environment.

Even though Alaska blackfish are small, they are still important.   In some areas, they are prey for northern pike. Burbot, sheefish, river otter, mink, and loons also eat blackfish.   And people appreciate Alaska blackfish, too. Their great abundance and ease of capture make the Alaska blackfish excellent subsistence fish for both people and dogs, especially when other food supplies may be less available. What makes these little fish so easy to capture?  People find holes in lake ice where the blackfish come to breathe, or they cut a hole to attract them. The fish become so concentrated in the vicinity of these holes that they are easy to capture with simple traps.  Historically, these were made from strips of tamarack and spruce.  In spring and fall, blackfish are also easily caught in traps as they migrate between summer and winter habitats.

Probably, you have heard of Alaska blackfish.  They have a reputation. They are very hardy because they can live off atmospheric oxygen,. Sometimes large numbers are kept alive in a tub of water for later use, or a pile of these fish may be covered with a mound of snow.  Some of the fish move toward the center, where the water is not frozen and remain alive for extended periods. This ability has caused reports that Alaska blackfish can withstand becoming completely frozen. Controlled experiments, however, have shown this to be untrue. Even partial freezing of their bodies results in eventual death.

Alaska blackfish is a small fish that is easily overlooked, but they certainly one of the most fascinating fishes in Alaska.

Taken from the ADF&G Wildlife Notebook Series.  Original text by Robert H. Armstrong.

Please remember this is a membership-driven organization. Each member's help is appreciated and makes a difference in the quality of the club. Come to meetings, talk to our leadership team to find out how to volunteer.

Keven Kleveno - Co-president

Charlie Baker - Co-president

Submissions to the newsletter are due no later than 2 Wednesdays prior to the first Monday of the month. Please type all considerations in a word document, in Arial font, size 12. Photos are to be attached separately in a .jpg file. Email to aff.flylines.ed@gmail.com.

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Mailing address: 200 W. 34th Ave, Box 1233 Anchorage, AK 99503
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