Below is our club calendar of upcoming events. This calendar changes often so check back frequently.
Should you want to add an event to the calendar, please submit your request on the Event Request Submission Form found here.
DUE TO CONCERNS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS TO SHELTER IN PLACE, THE FOLLOWING EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THIS DECISION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS IN EFFECT AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF APRIL, 2020.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) program classes for disabled veterans are being held by GGACC volunteers, in cooperation with SF VA Medical Center, every other Wednesday from 10:30AM to 1:30PM at the Anglers' Lodge located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Classes include fly casting, fly tying, and other fly fishing related activities, and will utilize the main meeting room in the lodge, the kitchen, and the West casting pond.
These classes are open to ONLY those disabled veterans and disabled active service personnel identified, selected, and determined to be qualified "participants" by the SF VA Medical Center, as well as to only those GGACC members who have volunteered their time and skills to assist with the club's PHWFF program.
The classes are free for all qualified vet participants, but are limited to 16 registrants. Registration for this program is by appointment via the contact person: Henry Little hplittle@gmail.com
Club members wishing to volunteer their services to help with, or to make a donation in support of, this PHWFF program should contact: Henry Little hplittle@gmail.com
DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF ANGLERS LODGE DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, BEGINNING IN APRIL, 2020, AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, ALL GGACC BOARD MEETINGS WILL BE HELD ONLINE AS VIRTUAL MEETINGS (via Zoom). These virtual meetings will start at 9:00AM on the scheduled date (usually 2nd Saturday of the month).
This is the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors for the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club, for which the meeting room in the Anglers Lodge is reserved from 8-9am. If you have new business to present to the Board, please contact us at ggaccdirectors@gmail.com
GGACC members are welcome to attend.
DUE TO COVID-19 HEALTH RESTRICTIONS ON CONGREGATING AND HOLDING GROUP EVENTS IN THE PARK, THE MAY 13TH, MAY 27TH, AND POSSIBLY SUBSEQUENT SCHEDULED DATES FOR THIS EVENT ARE CANCELLED PENDING THE FUTURE NOTICE OF THE LIFTING OF THESE SAFETY RESTRICTIONS.
Note: This (mostly alternating) Wednesday evening casting event is FREE and open to the public. No prior registration required. Just show up each night with your own fly rod and yarn fly (no club rods will be issued for this, but George may be able to provide a loaner rod if arranged in advance-- see contact info below). The May 13th and June 24th evenings this year are Fly Fishing Crash Courses, which nights will basically be Cliff Notes for fly fishing. Knots, rigging, casting, reading water, and fly fishing techniques will be taught at three different stations.
"In Search of the Perfect Cast" is an after-work casting session dedicated to teaching fly anglers how to improve their casting technique through deliberate practice and drills. It all began when a few casting nerds started to get together at the casting ponds to discuss the subtleties of the fly cast. In keeping with tradition, you will find good people, great advice, and camaraderie as you practice your casting skills with like-minded anglers.
Our class is designed to accommodate fly casters at all skill levels in advancing their fishing abilities. We focus on teaching foundational techniques and concepts that you can further explore on your own time, in future classes and on the stream. We will explore techniques ranging from the fundamentals of loop shape, timing, and trajectory to the finer points of single hand spey casting techniques. You will have the opportunity to play with equipment ranging from the modern graphite fly rod to the traditions of bamboo and fiberglass.
Your lead instructor, George Revel, is a FFI Master Certified Casting Instructor, Past President of Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club, California Trout Ambassador, National Casting Champion, and owner of Lost Coast Outfitters - The San Francisco Fly Shop. (george@lostcoastoutfitters.com)
CLASS STARTS AT 6:45PM AT THE GOLDEN GATE ANGLING AND CASTING CLUB ON THE FOLLOWING (mostly alternating UON) WEDNESDAY EVENINGS:
May
May 13, 2020 (Fly Fishing Crash Course) May 27, 2020
June
June 10, 2020
June 24, 2020 (Fly Fishing Crash Course)
July
July 8, 2020 July 22, 2020
August
August 19, 2020 (skipped 2 prev. wks. due to music festival)
September
September 2. 2020
September 16, 2020 (the last class)
Rondy: Yamsi Ranch
Dates: May 28-31, 2020
Leader: Erik Duisenberg mailto:erik.duisenberg@gmail.com
Number of anglers (including leader): 11
Description: Located at the headwaters of the world famous Williamson River, Oregon’s premier Fly Fishing Destination for trophy Brook Trout reaching 24” and Rainbow Trout stretching up to 31”. This rondy includes 3 days fishing (arrive noon on the first day, fish evening, fish two days, fish morning on the fourth day, leave noon on the fourth day), 3 nights lodging, board, and fishing access to the miles of private headwaters flowing out of the springs on the Yamsi Ranch Property. The ranch itself, located 1 hr northeast of Klamath Falls OR, is a working cattle ranch covering some 5000 acres, and the Williamson meanders 7+ miles down the ranch meadows property, all of it private, and all of it fishable. Think of 1⁄2 the width of Hat Creek, with 10x the fish! (http://yamsiflyfishing.com)
This trip includes:
Beds - in the main house, or in the nearby bunk house. There are some private rooms and some shared rooms. We will try to meet everyone's preference while being fair.
First day orientation, arrive noon on the first day, fish evening, fish two days, fish morning on the fourth day, leave noon on the fourth day.
Guides can be arranged for 1-4 people at $250 per day (total - so shared cost)
The Williamson is fed by six springs, five of which are located on the ranch, producing 45 cubic feet per second year round. The springs stay a consistent 42 degrees and are not affected by snow melt or summer heat. The deep pools and undercut banks created by this slow meandering stream, along with fallen trees, rocks and weeds offer incredible habitat for monster rainbow and brook trout. The river ecosystem lends itself to fine dry fly fishing and excellent nymph fishing. The fishing can be technical, but the fish population is large enough that even a novice will hook up. Fishing is most often done from the banks, although waders are suggested for crossings and navigating the marshland.
Note: The ranch is remote, and off the grid. The nearest town is Klamath Falls which is a two hour round trip. Power is generated on site and turns off every night. Cell service can be spotty, and wifi is available but limited.
Suggested Gear: 0-6 wt single handed fly rods, with floating lines. Or your favorite nymph rig, waders & boots. Anglers are also responsible for personal items, liquor, flies, and an Oregon fishing license.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $1075. If 8 or more people sign up (excluding leader), you will receive a $105 refund, and we’ll have the river to ourselves.
Other expenses will be travel expenses, guide gratuities, BYOB, and an Oregon Fishing license. Flies are often available at the ranch, although you may want to bring your own.
Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds. In the event that a member is, for any reason, unable to attend, he may resell his slot (rod) to another GGACC member (by first pulling from the waitlist if one exists). It is the sole responsibility of the member to manage this transaction. This is not the responsibility of the leader or club.
Rondy: Yuba River Shad - 2 Handed Rods
Dates: May 31, 2020
Leader: Ryan Stahl mailto:ryan.w.stahl@gmail.com
Number of anglers (including leader): 6
Description: A day of Shad fishing with a Two Handed Rod on the Yuba River below Daguerre diversion dam. We'll take jet boats up to access the good waters below the dam. Then wade and swing flies for shad. Typically this is a super fun high fish count day.
In the unlikely event that flows are high, the guides will bring single hand rods in case we need to fish from the boats.
Note: The guides we use for this all have different approaches. The three boats will go to different places. All are good - just different. We can discuss as we get closer. Also please, if the shad are holed up and you are on the sweet spot, share the spot with your fellow member, so everyone can catch fish.
This is a day trip and most people are likely to drive up and back on the day of the rondy (roughly a 2 hour drive time back to the Bay Area). Our guides will provide flies, drinks, and lunch. Their website is https://www.reports.kienesflyshop.com/lower-yuba-river
Suggested Gear: 6-8 wt spey rods with Skagit and sink tips. The guides will have shad flies.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $250.00.
Other expenses will be transportation and guide gratuities.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED BY DECISION OF THE GGACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS MONTHLY EVENT WILL RESUME ONCE IT IS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE CAN CONGREGATE SAFELY AGAIN WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO COVID-19.
Fun and friendly casting competition held in conjunction with the Oakland Casting Club and San Jose Flycasters, but open to any registered person who would like to participate to test their skill against others or to just take part in the training to be offered as part of these casting games this year -- all are welcome, including beginning casters!
The casting games at the GGACC casting ponds have been scheduled to be typically held on the third or fourth Sunday of each month from 9:30am to about 2pm. But be sure to check the calendar each month for the actual date for this event. These events will have priority use of the Lodge locker room and the center and east casting ponds during these hours.
There is a $1 entry fee required for each casting event that you choose to compete in -- to be paid to the event host. Registration is by appointment via the contact person below.
All GGACC Casting Games will be conducted under ACA rules and will be ACA "registered" events (UON).
To REGISTER, or for further information or rules explanation, please contact: Alice Gillibert alicegillibert@comcast.net or Chris Korich ckorich@gmail.com
Fireside Environmental Speaker Series
The GGACC Conservation Committee is pleased to invite you to our virtual speaker event:
"Steelhead: Diversity and Behavior
Lessons from the Elwha Dam Removal”
Thursday, June 4th, 6 pm PST
A presentation by John McMillan
John McMillan, Science Director for Trout Unlimited’s Wild Steelhead Initiative (www.wildsteelheaders.org) will give a presentation about our favorite Mykiss, the Steelhead Trout. John will bring his vast research, deep knowledge and amazing underwater photographs of these ghostly fish to our membership shedding light on what makes steelhead different than salmon, how behavior helps drive diversity and ultimately, how diversity has helped steelhead respond to dam removal in the Elwha River basin. We guarantee you will enjoy John’s photography, videos, and easy-to-understand approach to conveying complex topics in a way that everyone can understand.
We invite you to cook up a pot of chili, grab a beverage, sit back and enjoy the discussion.
This presentation is for GGACC members exclusively. If you would like to invite a fishing buddy, they can sign up to become a member through our website at www.GGACC.org for access to this event in addition to all of our programs and events throughout the year.
REGISTRATION: Members can register on this page by clicking on the “REGISTER” button. Registrants will receive a 2nd email just prior to the talk providing a Zoom link to join. This will be a separate email than your emailed registration confirmation. You must be registered by the day before this event to be assured of receiving the emailed Zoom link. Registration is limited to the first 90 members to sign up after which a Waitlist will generate. Registrants may cancel their registration up to the day before the event to allow others from the Waitlist to be automatically registered in their place.
For more information about this event or for suggestions about future conservation speakers, please contact Stephen Starke, Chairperson, GGACC Fireside Environmental Speaker Series, at sstarke@comcast.net
If you are having difficulty in connecting to this Zoom meeting using the link emailed out to the registrants shortly before the event, email Sarah Trenschel at sarahtrenschel@gmail.com
Rondy: Pit River Walk & Wade
Dates: June 5-7, 2020
Number of anglers (including leader): 12
Description: Camp, walk, and wade the infamous Pit River, a great wild trout fishery. (It's tough, but not as tough as the rumors make it out to be.) We'll focus on Pit 3, but may see action down to Pit 4 and 5 flows permitting. Please note the following: (1) This Rondy is unguided (although Ryan and two co-leaders will take you out to various locations on the river for each fishing session and make recommendations on flies and fishing techniques). (2) You need to be ready for some tough wading in which we'll cover a lot of water and get a bit beat up. (3) We'll be camping at Burney Falls Campground (which Ryan has reserved) and you MUST camp with the group to go on this Rondy. Communication in the area is spotty, and coordinating meeting locations is not possible outside of the campground.
Suggested Gear: 5 wt single handed fly rods, with floating lines. If you'd like to nymph, then bring a 4 wt 10 footer if you have it. A more complete gear list - including fly recommendations - will be emailed to registrants separately.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $45
Other expenses will include transportation and food
Rondy: Upper Sacramento River Walk & Wade #1
Dates: June 9-10, 2020
Leader: Mike Downing mailto:mdowning1567@aol.com
Number of anglers (including leader): 9
Description: The Upper "Sac" is everything a freestone trout stream should be: It has riffles, pocket water, long runs, and deep pools. It is a wonderful "walk and wade" river that flows 37 miles from Lake Siskiyou to Shasta Lake. Rondy leader Mike Downing will lead 8 club anglers to show them good places to enter and fish the river. We will meet on the first day at 7:00AM at the Ted Fay Fly Shop, located in downtown Dunsmuir. Then we will make a short drive to the river.
Suggested Gear: 4-5 wt single handed fly rods, with floating lines for dry flies and nymphing, 4X-6X leaders, 5X-7X tippet (Mono or Flourocarbon), split-shot, indicators, and flies. Full wading attire and staff. Weather is always changeable - Be prepared..
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $25
Other expenses will include travel, lodging (there are several motels and campgrounds in the area - more information will be forthcoming), meals, and perhaps, the purchase of a few flies while in the fly shop (to help support the grateful owner Bob who personally ties most of his flies).
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY DECISION OF THE GGACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THESE MONTHLY LESSONS WILL RESUME ONCE IT IS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE CAN CONGREGATE SAFELY AGAIN WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO COVID-19.
The Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club's (GGACC's) Monthly Free Fly Casting Lessons are open to both Club members and the General Public. These free fly casting lessons are generally held on the 2nd Saturday of each month year-round from 9:30 AM - 12 Noon at the Golden Gate casting ponds. These lessons are followed by a free small lunch courtesy of GGACC. Free loaner equipment is also available on a first come, first served basis, but please try to arrive by 8:45 AM to take advantage of this limited free equipment.
A few points to consider –
Classes target four different skill levels (the classes are held concurrently):
Please pre-register for these casting lessons in order to help determine the number of needed instructors and for lunch planning purposes. To register, simply click on the large "Register" button to the left of this event description (or above it if using your smartphone).
Finally, if you are interested in joining the casting instructor group or training for Fly Fishers International (FFI) "Casting Instructor" (CI) certification, please contact Willy George.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED BY DECISION OF THE GGACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS PROGRAM WILL RESUME ONCE IT IS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE CAN CONGREGATE SAFELY AGAIN WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO COVID-19.
Cost: free. This event is open to the public to register.
Unless there will be no program offered in a particular month, this event is typically held on the 2nd Saturday of each month following the free public casting lessons that month. Attendance may be limited to the maximum seating available for a particular program, so please register in advance of the event.
The program description will be posted here as soon as it has been set.
All participants are requested to register for this event beforehand (whether or not there is any limit shown on the registration for this event) in order to gauge the expected size of the audience.
For further info about this event, contact:
Steve Fuerstenau sfuerstenau@yahoo.com
Rondy: Fall River
Dates: June 29-30, 2020
Leader: Steve Swett mailto:steve@libertypainting.biz
Description: This will be a guided 2-day Rondy on the Fall River in California. The trip is set up to provide a good intro to Fall River fly fishing, to connect people with a group of excellent guides, and to others from the club who might want to go back in the future on their own. The Fall River, fed by aquifers coming from the snows and glaciers of Mount Shasta, is the nation’s largest spring system, and one of the richest spring fed rivers in the world. It is also the finest spring creek fly fishing opportunity in California, and one of the best in the United States. Nearly impossible to wade, and bordered almost entirely by private land, we will be fishing from 3 boats with two anglers and an experienced guide in each. Participants will switch boats and fishing partners each day to get to know each of the guides, and more of the club members. Information on lodging options will be sent out to participants, who will make their own arrangements, and we will meet for dinner together each night after fishing. Those that wish to share a room should have a good chance to communicate with the others in the group beforehand.
Suggested Gear: 5 or 6 wt single handed rods, ideally two rods, one rigged up to fish dry flies and the other with a very slow sinking line for fishing below the surface. The guides themselves can provide gear if needed.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $500.
Other expenses will be lodging, food and guide gratuities.
Rondy: North Fork Stanislaus River Backpack
Dates: July 10-12, 2020 (although dates could change to August 7-9 due to snowpack)
Leader: John Anderson mailto:jca35otl@gmail.com
Description: The goals of this North Fork of the Stanislaus Backpacking Rondy are to: Give anglers a chance to catch some beautiful wild Rainbow & Brown trout; fish in an area that gets very little pressure; backpack through some really gorgeous terrain; have fun together; sit around a campfire (five miles from the nearest road) and tell fish stories; and sleep on the hard ground -- unless you bring a pad!
This two-night backpacking trip starts Friday at 12 noon with a 5 mile hike down into the (North Fork) Stanislaus River Canyon. There are no hiking trails in this area that are maintained by the Forest Service, so anglers will have to do some bushwacking. The camp site is located on the river and overlooks a 100 yard pool that holds some nice trout. There is surplus fire wood, so we can have a camp fire. We will camp at the same site for two days.
This rondy does involve a challenging hike down a steep river canyon so participants should be experienced backpackers and be fit enough to climb out of a 1000' canyon with a pack. The hike in and out should take about 3 hours each way.
Participants must bring their own gear and already know: How (and what) to pack for a weekend; how set up your own tent; how to cook outdoors; how use a water filter; and how to read a map and use a compass. There will be a pre-meeting to discuss the needed gear and other logistics (date tbd).
Suggested Gear: 2-5 wt single handed fly rods, with floating lines.
Other expenses will include your own transportation and food/supplies.
This extremely popular fish-out is what most of you have waited your 3 years in the LTFF program for: The Intermediate Class's trip to Montana always seems to be the highlight for most students in the program and is the one trip that just about everyone who goes each year ends up pleading to get the chance to go again.
But we can never promise that and I can never take more than at most 11 from the class each year. So, if you can possibly be one of the lucky 11 students that gets to go this year for 3 days of fabulous guided drift fishing (after arriving Friday, July 10 and not leaving before Tuesday, July 14), you'll want to do it. These dates are the weekend following the July 4th weekend (which is never a good time to fish this river due to the crowds).
We will be float (or drift) fishing on a famed tailwater stretch of the upper Missouri River for 3 days (on Saturday -- Monday this year) out of Craig, Montana each day. The dry fly and nymph fishing for the big strong rainbow and brown trout in this incredibly abundant fishery is world renowned. (Our club president Willy George loves this place and often stays in his camper there for up to 2 weeks at a time to fish the "Mo" at this time of year, as he has done for probably 20 plus years.)
We will be fishing with the HeadHunters Fly Shop's guides, some of the very best you'll ever experience. They will supply all the gear required including fly rods, leaders, flies, etc. However, you are welcome to bring your own gear if you desire, especially if you can stick around to walk/wade fish this river with some of us for a few days more and fish one or more of the other famous rivers in the area on your own, or with a guide that maybe a couple of you will line up afterword to float or wade/walk with.
Sandals or water shoes, rather than waders, are advised on these Missouri River drift boats for most of the warm sunny days at this time of year which, like most areas flanking the Rockies, may offer also a brief afternoon rain shower. However, if you don't bring waders (only bring them because you need them for something else), DO remember to pack a pair of rain pants along with a good-quality rain jacket. One cold, all-day-long rainstorm on our first day on the river a couple years ago taught us this lesson, and there's always the possibility of a cold hailstorm blowing through.
The online registration for this fish-out will be opened on Wednesday, February 12, at 12 noon.
There will be an initial information meeting on Saturday, Feb. 8 around 3PM for all those current LTFF Intermediate students who are possibly interested in attending his fish-out and a subsequent more official Pre-fishout Meeting on Saturday, February 15, at 12:30PM for all those who registered for this fish-out on Feb. 12 and anyone waitlisted.
The transportation options, logistics, gear, licensing, the fish-out rules, etc. will be covered in this second Pre-fishout meeting, so do try hard to be there if you can. I will send out some notes to those who can't make it, but you should look at the pre-meeting as a good opportunity to coordinate your travel plans or to discuss teaming up for traveling and fishing in the area, or for arranging to share a car rental from one of the local airports.
We have rented the Jumping Rainbow Lodge, a large house that is situated right on the river about 8 miles from Craig. We have rented this house for many years now because it makes a great home base for us and there is nothing in town or in the area nearly as big.
The tiny town of Craig, MT is located on Interstate I-15 about halfway between the cities of Helena and Great Falls (it's about a 50 mile drive northeast from Helena and a little shorter drive southwest from Great Falls). If you are planning to fly there, the airports in those two cities are the closest possibilities, but there is also Bozeman, MT which is about a 2-1/2 hour drive away and Missoula, MT, which is probably just about as far. Flights fill up quickly, so start looking at your options and checking available flights and prices now before the first pre-meeting to be able to discuss your preference for driving there or flying to one of these airports.
If possible, you want to arrive at the rental house sometime on Friday afternoon, July 10, (since I should be able to get us into the house around 3PM) and you won't need to leave there until 10AM, Tuesday morning, July 14, since we've also rented the house for that Monday night to allow for a full day's fishing on Monday. Some of you may wish to stay on for a few days of wade fishing the Missouri or local creeks and other rivers, in which case, we'll try to extend our reservation in Jumping Rainbow Lodge, if possible and if there's enough interest, or locate other nearby lodging that's smaller. Additional nights will be charged accordingly.
We will cook our own group dinner on Friday night, but our dinner on Saturday and Sunday nights will be catered (which will provide left-overs for Monday night). Lunches will be provided by the guides on Sat.-Mon., and we will have enough food in the house for a quick breakfast each morning and for hors d'oevres and adult beverages for happy hour each afternoon. Volunteering for helping to cook breakfasts and some kitchen clean-up will be covered in the pre-meeting.
The total fee for this event this year is again $1,450, which covers the all 3 days of the top-notch guided fishing and gear, 4 nights in the lodge, and all meals and beverages (including wine and beer) for most of those 4 days. It DOES NOT cover your transportation expenses, a Montana fishing license (with a req'd. small conservation fee), or the guides' gratuities.
Those who have gone on this fish-out before have had some of their best fishing days ever, and had such a grand time together, that they would go again in a heartbeat if we'd only let them. So, if you regrettably can't make it, you may be making someone else very happy.
For lodging reasons, this trip is limited to only 11 Intermediate students, so sign up as quickly as you can so that you don't miss out! Registration will open at 12:00 NOON on Weds., FEBRUARY 12.
Cost: $1,450.00 payable online as a non-refundable registration fee (unless there is someone on the waitlist to replace you).
Contact for more info: JOHN MURPHY (jmurphy7599@gmail.com)
Rondy: Emigrant Lake Backpacking Rondy
Dates: Monday July 13 through Sunday July 19, 2020 although DATES COULD CHANGE DUE TO SNOWPACK
Leader: Richard Gamer 415-321-0545 mailto:rishgamer45@gmail.com
Number of anglers: 3
Description: This high country backpacking Rondy spans seven days, which includes driving to and from the trail head. Emigrant Lake, the largest lake in the Emigrant Wilderness, is 3 miles long and at approximately 8500’ elevation. There are plenty of wading access points and the trout are a good size, with most being over 12” long.
The first night will be spent near the trailhead. Two days each way are required for hiking to and from Emigrant Lake. We will spend 3 nights at Emigrant Lake providing 2 full days of fishing. The trail is very well maintained, and the round-trip total distance is approximately 32 miles. Elevation gain is approximately 3000’ from the trailhead.
The trip is open to experienced backpackers only and participants should be in good physical condition. Your leader (club member Richard Gamer) is a very experienced backpacker, having backpacked throughout the Sierras during summers for the past 40 years.
A pre-trip meeting will be schedule for mid June. This meeting will cover the logistics of where to meet, possible carpooling, what to bring, more about what to expect, etc.
Suggested Gear: All the backpacking gear to support yourself including tent, sleeping bag, pad, stove, cooking gear and utensils, water filter, light, etc. Your favorite mountain lake/steam fly rod and reel with flies. Wading shoes and staff. Clothes for all possible weather (think rain and cold). All the food and beverage for yourself.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $25 which does NOT include the cost of your own food, transportation, and other consumables. You will need to provide your own equipment. Some items may be shared.
Rondy: Yuba Stripers
Dates: July 19, 2020
Number of anglers (including leader): 4
Description: New for 2020 we are going to chase the big stripers up into the Yuba river.This is an exciting different experience than the Delta. It can be more sight fishing for bigger fish. Striped Bass are "hot" fish meaning that they provide a very noteworthy strike and resulting fight. We will be 4 experienced anglers for a one-day guided boat trip. The guides we are using are great their website is http://www.offthehookflyfishing.com/
Suggested Gear: 8-9 wt single handed fly rods, with a variety of lines. Note: The guides will supply the gear if needed, which typically includes 9 ft. long 8 or 9 wt fly rods with a variety of lines including floating, intermediate, and T-14 sinking lines. They will also supply the terminal tackle and flies. Lunch and water is provided by the guides.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $300
Other expenses will be guide gratuities.
The Angler's Lodge, casting ponds, and both the lower and upper parking lots are CLOSED for the period from Monday, August 3rd to Tuesday, August 11 to allow for the set-up and takedown of the Outside Lands Music Festival held over the 3-day weekend of August 7-9 this year.
Note that this closure of our GGACC facilities is being enforced by park police, with clear signage of this closure expected to be posted this year at each entrance.
http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/the-park/neighborhood
Rondy: Upper Owens River & Hot Creek Walk & Wade
Dates: August 6-9, 2020
Leader: Paul Kromhout mailto:pkromhout@comcast.net
Number of anglers (including leader): 7
Description: Walk & Wade on the Upper Owens and Hot Creek near Mammoth Lakes, CA. The Upper Owens is a meandering stream running through meadows just south of June Lake Loop, running through the valley east of Mammoth. Hot Creek runs below private waters just east of the Mammoth airport. This is much more walking, rather than wading, as these streams are fished from the bank and at Hot Creek, wading is actually prohibited. This is catch and release fishing only.
The Upper Owens in summer as it flows through cow pastures, may offer grasshopper dry fly fishing, as well as dry-dropper opportunities. Rainbows and browns are resident and migrate back and forth from Crowley Lake to the Upper Owens. 3, 4 and 5 weight rods are suitable. Waders are recommended, but wet wading with boots is okay as muddy, wet sections need to be crossed.
Hot Creek is a small creek fishable below private waters down to the thermal springs below. Dry fly and nymph droppers work well on this water. The creek is small and relatively shallow, but holds some excellent fish. Again, rainbows and browns.
These waters do not require long casts. Precision is rewarded as streamside vegetation is present and with the very clear waters, spooking fish is a concern. Stealthy approaches and sometimes casting from a crouch are helpful. At both Upper Owens and Hot Creek one needs to be able to do some hiking over rough terrain and through sometimes marshy meadows.
We plan on camping in semi-primitive campgrounds on Upper Owens Road off Highway 395 near Mammoth Lakes. This location is a significant drive from the SF Bay Area. You should consult your regular sources for the routes and driving times that best suit your needs. Allow most of a day for a drive from San Francisco over Donner-Hwy 80, Echo- Hwy 50, Sonora Hwy 108 or Tioga- Hwy 120 passes.
While we plan to camp, there are many lodging options including motels and condos available in nearby Mammoth Lakes and possibly, June Lake. For those who prefer restaurants to camping food, Mammoth offers many choices. For campers, you will need to provide your own tents, food and supplies. There are places in Mammoth to secure any provisions you may need.
Suggested Gear:
3, 4 or 5 wt rods, floating lines, tippet and flies. Wading staff unlikely to be needed on these waters. There are some fine fly shops in Mammoth for any required supplies.
Other expenses will include transportation, camping fees, meals/food, fishing licenses.
NOTE: DUE TO GG PARK CLOSURE FOR THE OUTSIDE LANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL ON AUG. 7-9, 2020, THE GGACC'S AUGUST FREE CASTING LESSONS WILL BE HELD ON THE 3RD SATURDAY (August 15) FOR THIS MONTH ONLY.
Rondy: 20 Lakes Basin Backpack
Dates: August 16-21, 2020 (although dates could change due to snowpack)
Leader: Brad Bradford mailto:bradford@realpropserv.com
Description: This Eastern Sierra Rondy is a 5-night backpacking trip to fly fish a small watershed located on the North East border of Yosemite. This Rondy is limited to 5 experienced backpackers (6 including the leader). We will fish mostly lakes along with the flows between the lakes. The loop trail is about 10 miles with several lakes along the route. The fishing will be mostly casting from the lake shores with some “wet” wading.
The plan is to meet at the permit station or at Saddlebag Lake on 8/16 and walk to the first lake and camp. We will likely camp at a couple lakes for 2 nights each and a 3rd lake for one night. 8/21 we will hike out. The elevation is about 10,000’ the whole way with small areas of elevation gain and loss. Acclimating to the elevation will be the biggest challenge. Pack light!
You will need all the normal backpacking gear to take care of yourself on the trail. We may share some gear such as stoves, water filters, etc. Bring your favorite fly rod for fishing deep-shored lakes and small rushing creeks. There will be opportunities to fish with dries, nymphs, and streamers.
You must also be an experienced backpacker and have the ability to hike with your pack up to 4 miles a day on rough trails. The leader is an experienced backpacker. However, the expectation is that all participants in this Rondy will be self-sufficient. There will be a pre-meeting to discuss logistics, gear, shared food, etc. The date for this pre-meeting is tbd.
Other expenses will include your transportation, permits, food/supplies.
RIO-Sage-Redington-Simms 5th Annual Product Demo Day at GGACC on Saturday, August 22, 2020, from 9 AM - 3 PM
Tune Up Your Gear & Casting with RIO and GGACC
Fly lines are the most overlooked but clearly are one of the most important pieces of your fly casting system. This is true for both single-hand and Spey rods. Discover which fly line is right for you and your rods at our fifth annual RIO Line Demo Day at the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club ponds in San Francisco. RIO Products experts along with local RIO pros will be on-hand with an assortment of RIO single-hand and Spey lines for you to demo on your own rods or on Sage and Redington rods that will be provided for the event. You are welcome to use the ponds to cast Spey lines so bring your waders and boots.
Come and Try Out All of the Latest Sage and Redington Rods
Back for their second year as part of this product demo event, two of the leading manufacturers of fly rods, Sage and Redington will be on hand with all of their single-hand and two handed fly rods for you to try out.
Try-on Simms Waders at the Golden Gate ponds.
For the third straight year, Simms will be joining our product demo day activities and will feature their complete line of waders, boots, and performance clothing in essentially all sizes for both men and women.
Participants will be eligible for hourly raffle prize drawings (must be present to win!). Free pig roast luncheon featuring pulled pork sandwiches will be provided. The event runs from 9 AM until 3 PM and is free and open to the public.
Participants will receive special discount coupons for RIO fly lines and Simms waders redeemable at participating fly shops.
Questions? Contact Willy George busygeorges@aol.com
This is a calendar placeholder for a likely GGACC Women's Program event on Saturday, August 29, 2020 with times still to be determined. More information will be provided when received from Sarah Trenschel or Bill Gallogly. The opening of registration for this event, likely limited to 6 women members, will be announced by email blast.
Rondy: Lyell Fork Backpack in Yosemite National Park
Dates: September 9-13, 2020
Leader: Steve Hegedus mailto:steveheggie@gmail.com
Description: This Yosemite high country Rondy is a three night backpacking trip to fly fish (walk & wade) The Lyell Fork of The Tuolumne River over approximately 18 miles round trip. This Rondy is limited to 3 experienced backpackers (4 including the leader). On the first day we will backpack from the trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows and up Lyell Canyon to establish our first night of camping about 8-9 miles from the trailhead. The Lyell Fork meanders through Lyell Canyon across open meadows and forested areas. On the remaining days. we will work our way back down the canyon and relocate our campsite at least one other night, depending on conditions. On the final day, we will pack out at least 4 miles while still allowing time to fish along the way; the park service does not allow any camping in the first 4 miles of the trail. The Lyell Fork has wild rainbow, brown and brook trout.
While this is a three night Rondy, anticipate being away from home for at least four nights. The plan is to spend the night of September 8th in nearby Lee Vining (about 20 miles from the trailhead) to allow for some acclimation to the elevation, then begin the hike the morning of the 9th in Tuolumne Meadows. The hike starts at an elevation of 8,600' with a net elevation gain of about 400' over the 8-9 mile first day hike. While the trail is relatively level, with some rolling up and down sections, all participants should be in requisite physical condition to backpack at elevation.
You must also be an experienced backpacker and have the ability to hike with your pack and gear. The leader is an experienced backpacker, however, the expectation is that all participants in this Rondy will be self-sufficient. There will be a pre-meeting to discuss logistics, gear, shared food, etc. The date for this pre-meeting is TBD.
You will need all the normal backpacking gear to take care of yourself on the trail. We can share some gear such as stoves, water filters, etc. In September, expect lower flows with spring creek-like fishing conditions using long leaders and dry flies. Deeper pools and undercut banks can offer nymph and streamer tactics. Greg Vinci's 'Flyfisher's Guide to California' has a chapter on the Lyell Fork and is a good resource to prepare yourself.
Lastly, the application date for the wilderness permit lottery is at the end of March 2020 and the date for this Rondy will be confirmed around that time. If we do not get a permit for a Sept 9th start date, I will apply for an alternate three nights in the window between September 9th - 26th. At times, the Park Service may restrict the number of backpackers on a permit and should that occur, those who registered for this Rondy first will have priority.
Suggested Gear: 3-5 wt single handed fly rods, with floating line.
Cost: The registration fee for this Rondy is $25.
In addition, at the time of the trip, we will split the costs of the Yosemite National Park $30/vehicle entrance fee and the $25 wilderness permit fee.
Other expenses will include your transportation, food/supplies, gear and the lodging in Lee Vining before the trip.
GGACC's Program Information Day & Members' Free BBQ will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at the GGACC Angler's Lodge. Since this date is also our monthly Free Casting Lessons from 9:30am to 12 noon, plan to join us for casting in the morning and a great social / information event and free BBQ in the afternoon.
This is not only a Club social event, but also an event where the current GGACC Board members and Program Chairs will be on hand to discuss the various GGACC programs that they are individually leading. Programs such as the Learn to Fly Fish program, the Rondy Outings program, Rod Building, Fly Tying, Skills Building, Spey Education, Tournament Casting, Spey-O-Rama, Membership, Bay Area Youth Fly Fishing (BAYFF) Program, Casting Instructor Certification Program, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program.....and the list goes on.
The Members’ BBQ this year will feature BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, and Cornbread. While this food and an accompanying beverage will be free to all current members, the event may also be BYOB - "Bring Your Own Beverage."
Please REGISTER for this free event (click on the large Register button) to help us get a good headcount for how many to expect so that we don't run out of the delicious BBQ meal with all the trimmings.
If you are able to help us put on this event (and we definitely need volunteers to make this event happen), please contact Xav Carbonnet xcarbonnet@yahoo.com
We hope to see all you current and prospective members on September 12th.
Rondy: Putah Creek Clinic #2
Dates: September 13, 2020
Leader: Patrick McDermott mailto:patmacster.fishing@gmail.com
Number of anglers (including leader): 13
Description: This Rondy will be structured as a "clinic", where Patrick will share what he knows about his favorite local river. This is not a fishing trip (although you will have time to fish it on your own after the clinic). The plan is to meet at the river where Patrick will share techniques, tackle choices, and the various access points. After the talk, you will have time to fish on your own. We'll also meet for a BYOB lunch midday.
About Putah Creek: Putah is a catch and release tailwater fishery located about 1-1/2 hours from San Francisco. It is the closest wild trout fishery to the Bay Area and has some of the largest wild Rainbow trout in California, where 30+ inch fish are caught every year. The following are helpful links:
https://putahcreektrout.org/fishing/
http://www.yolocounty.org/general-government/general-government-departments/parks/parks-information/putah-creek-fishing-access
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=11454000&agency_cd=USGS
Suggested Gear: After the presentation, should you want to fish on your own, you will need: 5 or 6 wt, 9' or 9-1/2' fly rods with floating fly lines. 3, 4 & 5x tippet, split shot, indicators, wading staff (mandatory as some of the wading is difficult), sturdy waders, wading boots (felt soles with studs are recommended), rain jacket, plenty of water, and your lunch. Patrick recommends the following flies: Two-Bit Hooker size 16-18, Bead head Pheasant Tail Nymph 16-18, Zebra Midge 20-22, and any Soft Hackles 16-18.
Additional costs will be your lunch and parking fees
Rondy: Alaska
Dates: September 17-19, 2020
Leader: Michael Souter mailto:mks@luminae-souter.com
Number of anglers (including leader): 10
Description: This Rondy is a 3-day guided float fly-fishing adventure on the scenic and famous Kenai River in Alaska where we will fly-fish for big Alaska size Rainbow and Dolly Varden Trout. Guides will drift through miles of scenic water in custom built power drift boats where we will nymph flesh and egg patterns or swing flies for Trout and Dollies. Swinging opportunities will depend on water levels but bring your Spey rod if interested. Boots with felt soles are not allowed in Alaska and studs are not allowed in boats so rubber soles are required. There will be 2 anglers per boat/guide which is a real treat here (every other guide on the Kenai has 3-4 anglers per boat!). Guides will provide top-quality fly-fishing gear and flies but not Spey rods. Snacks, water and a hot lunch will also be provided each day.
We can meet and carpool from Anchorage airport to the Kenai River, which is about 100 miles south of Anchorage (2 hours) or just meet there depending on preference. Lodging options will be discussed in the future. Our guides will meet us each morning then shuttle to launch site for an exciting day of fishing.
As we get closer, we will have a meeting to discuss more details including equipment, lodging, car pools, accommodations, etc. In the meantime, you can get more details and check out the fish photos on the Silent Run website at http://silentrunak.com/
Here are some things not included that you should budget for in addition to the rondy fee:
Suggested Gear: 7-8 wt single handed fly rods, with floating lines. 7-8 wt two hand rods.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $1,075
Other expenses will be lodging, transportation, guide gratuities, etc as listed above.
Rondy: Sugar Creek Ranch Stillwater
Dates: September 18-21, 2020
Leader: Dick Yerian mailto:ryerian@gmail.com
Description: New for 2020. We're going back to an old friend - Sugar Creek Ranch. From the website https://www.theflyshop.com/adventures/sugarcreek.html :
"Those who have experienced Sugar Creek Ranch at its best over the last 20 years will recall the property’s unique 114 acre landscape with its tailing piles of river rock dug up from the adjacent Scott River during the gold mining days. When the gold miners broke through the water table, these eight picturesque ponds – mostly hidden from view as small jewels in a rocky desert – started bubbling up from newly exposed cold-water springs. This cold, gin-clear water provides ideal habitat for the large rainbow trout that call these lakes home. Sugar Creek itself winds through the property and each lake, further infusing cool, oxygen rich water into the ponds, as well as spawning habitat for the resident rainbows. Set at 3,000 feet, the ranch remains relatively cool in the summer, the lakes remain ice-free and fishable all winter, and the climate and fishing is simply majestic during the spring and fall season."
We will arrive at the property after 3:00 PM and can fish the first night. Then full day of fishing Saturday and Sunday. Then fish Monday morning as long we are off the property by 2:30 PM. So a full 2.5 days of fishing. There are no guides. We will fish it ourselves. And our leader has been there many times.
Accommodations will be on the property in the main lodge/house. 2 anglers per room. We will have the whole house, which has a full kitchen and 2 bathrooms. We will all need to bring our own food and beverages, although as things get closer we can organize around some meals. It is a bit remote but there are a few restaurants and a grocery about 10 miles away in Etna.
Suggested Gear: 4-5 wt single hand rods. Floating and intermediate lines. Flies: We will get the guide intel before the trip, but fish will take dries, nymphs and streamers depending on conditions.
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $450.00. (We must have 6 anglers to get this price. If for some reason we don't get 6 the cost will increase modestly)
Other expenses will be transportation and food/beverage.
Rondy: Klamath River Steelhead Walk & Wade
Dates: September 25-27, 2020
Leader: Tony Tredway mailto:tonytredway@yahoo.com
Description: This is a Rondy to the beautiful Klamath river where will be fishing either single hand or two hand rods for Steelhead. Details are still being ironed out but we hope to return to the Klamath River Lodge http://www.klamathriverlodge.com/ which is where we stayed last year.
There will be a pre-meeting (TBD) this summer to discuss plans including logistics, lodging, gear, etc.
Suggested Gear: This is a cast, swing, mend, and hang-on Rondy! Long casts are a plus, but you'll find fish within 50 feet. Either 6-8 wt single hand rods, or 4-7wt spey rods, with floating lines, are recommended. Waders, boots with felt or studded soles, and wading staffs are a must! It's slippery. Don't forget to get a 2020 Steelhead card in addition to your California fishing license.
Other expenses will be transportation, lodging and food. More details to come.
Rondy: Upper Sacramento River Walk & Wade #2
Dates: October 3-4, 2020
Leader: Dick Swanson mailto:grsa@comcast.net
Description: The Upper "Sac" is everything a freestone trout stream should be: It has riffles, pocket water, long runs, and deep pools. It is a wonderful "walk and wade" river that flows 37 miles from Lake Siskiyou to Shasta Lake. Rondy leader Dick Swanson will lead 8 club anglers to show them good places to enter and fish the river. We will meet the first day at 7:00AM at the Ted Fay Fly Shop, located in downtown Dunsmuir. We will make a short drive to the river.
Suggested Gear: 4-5 wt single handed fly rods, with floating lines for dry flies and nymphing, 4X-6X leaders, 5X-7X tippet (Mono or Flourocarbon), split-shot, indicators, and flies. Full wading attire and staff. Weather is always changeable - Be prepared.
Rondy: East Walker River Walk & Wade
Dates: October 8-11, 2020
Description: Walk & Wade the East Walker River below the Bridgeport Reservoir dam and across the Nevada border. We'll fish the section immediately below the dam and downstream to the Rosachi section on the Nevada side. Streamers, nymphs and dries will all be on the menu. We'll be looking for Rainbows and big Browns. The East Walker is a year-round stream and produces some very large fish. This Rondy is unguided. Paul will take you to a few different places on the river and demonstrate various rigs for pursuing these well-schooled trout. This Autumn trip is intended to avoid the heat of Summer and miss the high flows of the early snowmelt months. While more moderate flows mean potentially easier wading and, hopefully, more active fish, participants should be in robust condition for wading as the river bottom can be rocky and slippery. Dates may change depending on stream flows.
We intend to camp at Bighorn Campground in Nevada. There will be a nominal $15 per car fee/per day for camping. The East Walker is in the Eastern Sierra at about 6000 ft. In late October, it will likely be cold at night and may be cold in the daytime, as well. Participants should be prepared for cold and perhaps, wet, weather.
Suggested Gear: 5wt or 6wt 9ft fly rod. A 10ft nymphing rod rigged for straight line indicator fishing is especially effective. Either floating or DT line for nymphs and dries and a sink-tip line for streamers. Waders, boots, wading staff, hat and glasses are a must. Camping gear as required. Our camping may take place on roads requiring reasonably high ground clearance. Please plan to coordinate your drive with someone owning an appropriate vehicle. If the weather is wet, 4wd will be your friend.
Supplies: While we will certainly attempt to coordinate efforts, participants should plan to bring an independent supply of water, food and personal items. The town of Bridgeport has a few stores, restaurants and motels and is a short drive from our fishing area. Bridgeport is a 5 hour drive from San Francisco, depending on traffic and route. Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport is a go-to spot for everything, including Nevada fishing licenses ($19 for 1-day, approx. $7 each extra day; $81 for 365-day non-resident).
Cost: The fee for this Rondy is $25.00.
Other expenses expenses will include transportation, camping fees, meals/food, fishing licenses.