by Brian Martin

The BOD and officers have reviewed the responses from our member survey. Your feedback and suggestions are appreciated. Currently we are working to implement the following suggestions:

• New Member Meeting Format – Reduce the length of the Member Business Meeting to allow attendees to get home earlier. This was implemented at our February meeting
• Monthly Member Update Email – BOD suggestion to provide timely communication to all of our members, partners, and friends. This issue begins that publication
• Fishing Meetup Platform – Provide a way for members to connect and get together for a day of fishing on local waters. The BOD is testing an App called “Spond” to determine if it will work for our needs. Click on the App name to take a look
• Fly Casting Events and Workshops – Provide more events and communicate them better. We began our fly casting program last year and it was well received. It will continue this year with additional workshops to help you develop specific skills that are part of the program. As to communicate it better, we’re not sure what more we can do. Your suggestions are welcome
• Fly Tying Meetups – Provide beginning fly tying classes. We have received comment from local fly tying instructors and businesses that this would take away from their for-profit business. As a non-profit, we don’t want to do that. Instead, what we will do is a monthly fly tying meetup that connects with an upcoming Fishing Outing. Bod Harder will head this up, and attendees will share and tie fly patterns that will they use on the waters where the Outing is being held
• Beginner Fly Fishing Education – Provide workshops pertaining to learning how to fly fish. At the Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo, we provide a beginner track of four (4) classes – equipment, knots, bugs, and how to put it all together on the water. We will look into to providing these classes this Spring
• Social Gatherings – Have more BBQ’s and social events. The monthly member meetings currently provide a social hour to begin. In March of this year, we are planning to have a Pizza Party Social gathering celebrating the volunteers who made the 2026 Expo a tremendous success

Congratulations to Gretchen Beatty, who is the 2019 recipient of the Federation of Fly Fishers 2019 Buz Buszek Award.  This annual award is presented in recognition of a lifetime contribution to the art of fly tying.

This might be considered the Oscar Award for fly tying, within the fly tying community.

Ron Stockade, A past president of BVFF, passed away November 11 at the age of 67.  Although, he had not been active in the club for several years, Ron will be remembered for his many past contributions to our organization. Those who knew Ron can attest to his fish catching ability. weather it was steelhead, trout, fishing on the South Fork or catching rainbows at the Duck Valley Reservoir. In the early days, he won the Whitefish Derby numerous times. Last year, while Ron was still able to fish, he caught his last steelhead, a 38” wild steelhead on the Clearwater River. After a week on the River, he was the only angle to hook and land a fish this large. Ron was using one of his “Stockade flies”. Ron will be greatly missed.

We now have BVFF logo window decals and BVFF info cards available for members.

The decals are 3"x5" and will show nicely somewhere on your fishing rig.   Demonstrate your involvement and membership with BVFF with a decal, and identify your rig to other members when you are down on the river.

Carry a few of the business cards with you--  there is a place to put your name/phone number/e-mail contact information, and provides information on BVFF meetings, web site, etc.  When someone sees your BVFF decal and asks you about the club, or shows interest in learning fly fishing, give them a card.

Cards and decals will be available at the June 2017 meeting.

The Fall 2016 / Winter 2017 edition of Fly Fisher magazine is now available online for members.

BVFF is featured in several ways:

• Willow Lane Boat Ramp Project
• Awards and Recognition for BVFF member Duane Marler, who received the Western Rocky Mountain Council Award of Excellence

THE INVITATION:

The Trout Unlimited Idaho Summer Youth Camp and Academy 2016  will take place in July this year earlier in the summer compared to 2015 but in the same locations - MKNC in town and on the Boise River near Idaho City.  To repeat, it will happen … in July this year, not in August ... Monday, July18 through Friday noon, July 22. River Camp Location: Barber Flat Guard Station on the beautiful North Fork Boise River.

As the local TU Chapter’s Youth Education Coordinator, I am unashamedly trolling for Gillies [Scots lingo for river guides] to mentor the students on the river at Barber Flat on the North Fork.

I really need your names fairly soon with a joyfully positive response!

THE DETAILS:

Blake Schnebly will star again this year as Camp Director. We expect between 12 to 18 children this year many of whom are returning for a repeat performance from last August.

You provide your assistance standing in the river with a child at your elbow… and we feed you … very well. You come with a tent or a camper for yourself to the Barber Flat Guard Station on the North Fork by way of Granite Creek just north of Idaho City.

Those who can arrive at Barber Flat early on Monday around noon can assist Ted Trueblood TU members erect the student tent city and have the remainder of the day fishing by yourselves.

The children arrive Tuesday at lunch time following a full day of instruction in Boise on Monday. They are always enthusiastically anticipating a good wade in the water after lunch. Ted Trueblood Chapter TU provides them with their necessary fishing equipment and they will be casting ready and dressed to wet wade on the river that afternoon.  They and you distribute yourselves up and down the river in the vicinity mornings and afternoons between their arrival Tuesday and our departure Friday. You can use your vehicle for transport or take advantage of TU vans to come and go along the river.

The Barber Flat Guard Station has indoor toilet facilities … in case you are wondering. Our gourmet outdoor cooks use the BFGS kitchen and our own three burner outdoor grill tent beginning with lunch Monday.

The week ends with lunch Friday after which we all leave for home together. Ted Trueblood Chapter TU provides not only three squares every day but just lots of great fun with great kids in the out of doors as recompense for your invaluable volunteer assistance.

THE SALES PITCH

Friends, Romans and Fishers! This is as always an unusual outreach opportunity not just for its intention as a TU Youth Education effort but for the advancement of the sport of fly fishing and as a personally rewarding activity for BVFF membership.

Those members of Boise Valley Fly Fishers and others that attended “Trout Camp” 2015 will recall a great time on the North Fork of the Boise River helping the youngsters master the art of fly fishing. Jim Shirey can provide a beautiful testimonial! He had a blast. [This year … no side trips to Queens River, we promise!]

THE FINISHING TOUCH, COUP DE GRÂCE

To be certain that you actually contact me with your questions or to RSVP please respond by calling my cell phone directly at 208-340-2599. Use the area code if necessary because I may be out of the area from time to time.

A certain alternative contact is our Camp Director Blake Schnebly at 208-720-6317 [bschnebly@gmail.com].

Tight lines, gentlemen! The future of our sport is in your hands.

Richard K. Oehlschlager, M.D.

Ted Trueblood Chapter, Trout Unlimited

3036 Lakewood Way

Boise, Idaho 83706-5240

richardkomd@msn.com

208 340-2599

A special opportunity for all BVFF members, at no cost to you!

Idaho2Fly has generously donated a complementary contestant certificate for one angler to participate in their 2-Fly Derby to be held Saturday June 4th.   The event will be held at Ron Sali's Three Rivers Ranch on Eagle Island, with a private 100 acre lake, and will be limited to 50 anglers.  Normally the entry fee for this event is $500, as a fund raising activity for Idaho2Fly.

Congratulations to member John Hofland, who is the lucky winner of our drawing, and will represent BVFF at the Idaho 2 Fly 2016 2-Fly Derby!

BVFF will hold a drawing for this spot, open to all BVFF members in good standing who wish to participate.  Simply go to the BVFF Events page on this web site, and register at the 2-Fly Derby Drawing event.

The drawing will be held on May 27th, and the winner notified as soon as possible.

If you are not currently a member, joining BVFF for $25 ($15 for Seniors) will enable you to register for the drawing.

More about the Derby:

• Saturday June 4th, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Ron Sali's Three Rivers Ranch on Eagle Island
• Lakeside Dutch oven lunch, catered by Paul and Emmet Bushman
• 100 acres of water
• 30" rainbow trout and 10 Lb largemouth bass in the lake!
• 6 hours of dry fly or wet fly fishing in a fun and friendly derby

The funds raised by this event help support the Idaho2Fly retreats and support services for Idaho men with cancer.  BVFF is a supporter of Idaho2Fly.