Fellow HOSSFLYers,

 

The big news for the month of June was an unbelievable trip to Don Gaddy's house on Cat Island.  Don, a new HOSSFLY member, made his house available to us for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of June 12,13, and 14.  His house is the perfect fishing lodge with ample dockage for multiple boats, a great downstairs open air area for cleaning and cooking fish, and a beautifully appointed great room paneled with cypress.  The house slept 15 in comfort (noting that Don Gaddy slept in his sleeping bag on the floor!  What a gracious host!).   Bob Effinger and Anita Arguelles and cohorts made the culinary side of the trip something to remember.  The food was excellent to say the very least.  We couldn't have eaten better at Emeril's.   We had adequate fishing considering the poor tides for the week end, and some who ventured to the Louisiana marsh did quite well, some with sinking lines.  Don Abrams, with his usual diligence, caught a big Red at Cat.   We can't thank Don Gaddy enough for his generosity and hard work;  HOSSFLY will not forget.

 

The Mentoring Programs are doing very well.  Our casters are at the point of shooting line and some are getting on to the haul and double haul, so essential to fishing the salt.  At this writing the On the Water session for July 7 is yet to occur, but I'm sure will have been a great success by the time you read this.  The Fly Tyers have tied the Clouser deep minnow, easily the most productive fly produced in years if not in the entire history of salt water flies.  You have available to purchase, the HOSSFLY logo fly box with 12 very excellent flies.  You should avail yourselves of this opportunity and learn to tie these flies.  You can do it with a little patience.  Please, please practice!  What we are trying to teach cannot stick and produce if you do not. 

 

We are considering adding a classified adds section to the web that will include items the members might have for sale and items members might want to buy.  Is this something you folk would like to see done?  Please let the leaders know your thoughts.

 

July promises to be a bonanza.  Coming right up is a trip to the Pelican.  This area has been the most productive for our club, and many of our members are expert at showing you the ins and outs of this fishery.  For those who want to kayak, there is an alternate trip to Deer Island to wade and kayak.  Something for everyone, thanks to the hard work of Bob Effinger and Rod Fields.

 

I'm sure all remember Jim Franks' memorable talk, and Dr. Bill Hawkins is talking at our July 8 meeting.  The Gulf Coast Research Lab has done us numerous favors, and hopefully will be our partners in many future endeavors.  We are extremely luck as a club and as citizens to have them in our midst.  We want to support all that they are doing.  Jim will be giving a talk at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center of Arts and Education on July 16th at 7:00 p.m., with refreshments afterwards.  Let's all plan to attend.

 

There will be another Fly Tying session at OSYC July 23 at 6:00 p.m.  Mike Sharpe is handling the details.  There will be another CMP session coming up - details soon.

 

I hope all had a wonderful 4th of July.

 

Syd Smith, Leader HOSSFLY