Cape Fear Flyfishers Meeting Minutes—March 21, 2018
Business Meeting
Treasurer Scott Ewing reported we currently have $7,741 in our checking account with an understanding that close to $3,000 of that is escrowed Fly Fishers International annual dues to be paid in June.
Two new members were welcomed in March: Tom Cosgrove and Harry Oakley
Mike Freeman won the fly drawing
Upcoming Programs/Activities/Seminars/Trips
Bristol trip (April 22-26) has 16 members participating. Final plans are underway for fishing assignments, lodging and transportation. Jim White is coordinating.
The smallie trip to the New River is July 23-27 (Fishing July 24-26). Jim White is also coordinating this trip. Currently we have 9 signed up with 2 of the 9 uncertain. We’ll need to finalize numbers by May 1 to reserve the appropriate number of boats.
Asheville Spousal Trip is October 7 – 12. We will be using Hunter Banks / Asheville for our guide service and a room block has been organized at the Residences at Biltmore for lodging. Reservations are underway. 21 members are planning to participate.
Patagonia trip is tentatively scheduled for February 2-9, 2019. 5 members have confirmed… We have room for more! Joe Rinaldi is coordinating.
Dan Smith is working with the Boy Scouts to help them obtain their merit badge in fly fishing. A two day event will be held during the mornings of April 3 and 4 for this. Three scouts have signed up.
Pond Fishing will continue on through May 23 on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (except on the third Wednesday of the month which is our meeting day) at the St James Woodlands Park pond. You do not have to be a resident of St James to participate. A reminder email will be sent before each event.
Hold the date: The CFF Annual Picnic is June 20 from 5:00 -9:00 pm at the St James Woodlands Park. More details to be sent out soon…
Dan Smith is holding the next fly tying 101 seminar on April 10 from 9:30 – 12:30 The cost of the class is $57 and you will leave with a set of tools and material to practice at home. Space is limited so contact Dan ASAP if interested.
Featured Program
This month’s program focused on “Boats for Fly Fishing” Emma Thomas of the Adventure Kayak Company discussed kayaking opportunities, three club members (Capt. Rob Thompson, Jim White and Jack Collins) presented their boats and discussed advantages of each. And finally, Dave Patterson, General Manager of The Freedom Boat Club, presented alternatives to boat ownership. Following summarizes their discussions:
Adventure Kayak Company – Emma Thomas 807 N Howe Street, Southport 910-454-0607 http://www.theadventurecompany.net/
Adventure Kayak Company has a full offering of kayaks and kayak supplies for rent or sale and is adding kayaks for fishing to their inventory. Check out their kayak tours as a great source for learning local water…a very enjoyable way to entertain visiting guests or family as well. Emma had a drawing for a neat “KAYAK” cap…won by Capt Rob Thompson!
Capt. Rob Thompson (along with Adam Spiliotis of Southport Yamaha)
“My boat is a 16’6″
Skimmer Skiff with front and rear deck and side gunnels with optional fly rod
holders. Drafts 3-4″ 40hp Honda tiller with power pole, minnkota 55ftlb 12
volt, all custom wiring led lights under the gunnels and poling platform. 18′
Pole Cat Push pole fiberglass. Hull was $4800 $5600 with all the options
listed”
Rev Jim White
“My boat is a 1988 Alumacraft 1640 Special (16’ long and 48” wide bottom). It has a flat bottom and a 25 hp. 4-stroke Yamaha with tilt and trim. I bought it years ago when I had young children because it is carpeted and has a floor so the kids wouldn’t burn their behinds sitting down on hot bare aluminum or have ribs to trip over while moving in the boat. It has a side console since I have a bad back and didn’t want to have to turn sideways to run the motor. It also has a flounder gigging rail that brother Charlie welded up for it. We have lights for the rail but really aren’t very good flounder giggers but I kept the rail on for fly fishing. In addition, I have a poling pole.
The advantages of the boat are: cheap to buy and run; light so don’t need a huge car/truck to trailer it (I used a Camry for many years); it can go in real skinny water (4” with 3 people); it is wide enough to be stable; running up on oyster rocks will not cut into the hull; and jon boats last forever.
The disadvantages are: it is bumpy and wet in waves with the flat bottom; it is not a speed demon; poling a boat has a learning curve; needs to be hosed off well after use; and it has a riveted hull instead of a welded one and rivets can pop out- though none has on this boat despite some heavy use.
The bottom line, there are lots of reasons I have had it for 30 years! “
Jack Collins
“My boat is 2004 Spider
K-16 Classic Peenoe Flydeck. I picked it up at Boat House Marine about six
months ago. I was looking to make a change from my Jackson Cude12 Fishing Kayak
when I ran into this boat. I was able to buy it for a price equivalent to kayak
upgrade. The boat is 16 feet 2 inches and 52 inches wide. The bottom is coated
with kevlar to protect from oyster shells. It has 2004 9.9 HP Yamaha, a
Minn-Kota 55 Riptide bow mounted trolling motor, and a poling platform. It does
well in shallow and narrow water either trolling or poling. The boat has proved
the opportunity to explore water that would have been a challenge from the
kayak. Haven’t had the opportunity yet to do much fishing but I am looking
forward lots of time on the water this spring and summer.“
Freedom Boat Club – Dave Patterson, General Manager Southport Marina, 606 W West Street, Southport 910-612-0969 dpatterson@freedomboatclub.com
The Freedom Boat Club is the world’s largest member’s only boating club with over 130 locations throughout the United States and growing. It provides a simple and inexpensive alternative to boat ownership. With a one-time entry fee and fixed monthly payments, members of the FBC receive unlimited boat usage through online reservations as well as spur of the moment boating at Southport, North Myrtle Beach, Pawley’s Island, Murrells Inlet, Mt Pleasant, and Seabrook Island. Members also have access to the over 130 other locations four times/year per location. Their fleet is comprised of a wide variety of boats, including deck boats, pontoon boats, bow riders, inshore fishing boats, offshore fishing boats and sailboats.
Their “Freedom Plan” with 7 day access is $5,900 one-time Entry Fee and $299/mo dues. The Monday-Friday (no weekend access) Plan is $4,500 one-time entry fee and $249/month.
Note that our CFF members Big Jim Larson and Dennis Hill are members of the FBC.
Respectfully submitted by Ed Smith, President