What a year 2009 was! It’s in the books now, but it’s worth a look back at all we were involved in as a club.

After literally several months of planning, the club held and April 18th event at the Gulf Coast Research Lab aimed at expanding our club and offering the public a chance to try fly fishing HOSSFLY style. Just about everybody in the club was involved in putting this on and worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm to bring it off. As always General Arguelles and the Ladyfish had the timeline and job descriptions finely tuned, but we couldn’t have done it without the invaluable help of Dr. Bill Hawkins and his staff at GCRL who adapted to a nearly overwhelming response on extremely short notice.

But bring it off we did, with the addition of eventually over 100 new members to HOSSFLY. Throughout the spring and summer the folk involved in the “Mentoring Program” worked to teach our new members the basic nuts and bolts of fly fishing teaching fly casting, fly tying and on the water techniques. Reed and I with the help of Bob, Keith, Mike and Jim worked on casting and Mike and Bob held the tiller in tying while Jim, Rod, Don, Tom and Curtis leant their expertise on the water. Bob Effinger lined up multiple on the water programs nearly every week or so for all our members to ply their developing skills.

We learned about lines and leaders and tied some mono leaders as well as some furled leaders with Mike. Curtis continued to teach us how to tie knots (he’s still working on Rod), and we were graced with wonderful speakers from outside our membership to spice up our meetings. We (Bob Effinger, et. al.) held a fish fry to help the Ocean Springs Yacht Club meet its obligations and hopefully continue to host HOSSFLY.

In June, Don Gaddy offered HOSSFLY the use of his wonderful camp on Cat Island (the “Cat House”). We had a fine turnout and a fantastic time was had by all, fishing, eating, with a lot of “etc.” HOSSFLY style. Our continuing thanks to Don G.

The Ladyfish held their annual event, this time in Arkansas, and it was another great success. I missed a chance to go and cook the only thing I can cook, steaks – won’t let that happen again.

Something we had not tried in the past also came about. With the tireless work of Don Abrams, we managed to gussie up our web site into a functioning facility. We still have a ways to go, but its utility is obvious and if we keep after it we should be able to continue to communicate with each other most effectively from now on. Let’s remember to use our web site. Lots of good stuff there now, and there will continue to be valuable additions.

For years, and continuing, we have published the Tippet each month. I say “we” although it is Duke who makes it all happen. We have had some great issues this year largely the work of Don Abrams and Tom Herrington who regularly offered us their expertise and perspective. We need to remember that there is not a single HOSSFLY member who does not have something valuable to contribute, so let’s keep it going in 2010!

So there it is, 2009 over and done. It has been my great honor to be your Leader for 2009. I know I have learned a lot from all of you. This is a club of almost unlimited talent and opportunity – I can’t think of anything HOSSFLY couldn’t tackle successfully.

My thanks to you ALL.

Syd Smith, Leader HOSSFLY 2009