March 1st Banquet-the prizes

Man, we outdid ourselves this year; well, Montefusco did.

We have some of the best prizes for auction in recent memory.  If these items dont make your casting hand shake, let me know, as Ill be happy to slap the stupid off you.

Just check out this list of offerings...

SILENT AUCTION (8)

1.    Dick Hepper Framed Salmon Fly

2.    Dick Hepper Flies – Box 1

3.    Dick Hepper Flies – Box 2

4.    Starbuck’s Basket

5.    Wine Basket 

6.    Seasonings Basket

7.    JP Ross Fly Box 

8.    JP Ross Fly Box

LIVE AUCTION (11)

1.    John Marci NJ Wild Trout Trip

2.    Bill Sjovall Guided Surf Trip

3.    Jeff Kurt Personal NJ Trout Tour

4.    Hand made Fly Box with Hepper flies

5.    Hand made Fly Box with Hepper flies

6.    Guided Steelhead Trip

7.     Guided Striper Trip

8.    DeBruce Club (on the pristine Willowemoc river) Tri

9.    8 ft J Marci Bamboo rod

10.   Matt Grober personal fly tying instructional session

There is something for everyone.  So mark your calendars and bring tons of cash, so you can bid heavily and buy me some beers.

Got out again on the South Branch

This time of year, you take what you can get, when you can get it.  Last weekend, I took a few hours on Saturday.  I nymphed for two hours or so and was able to land two nice, wild fish.  One a 12" brookie with a nicely kyped jaw.  The other a healthy 10" brown.  They both took a jig head hairs ear.

As I am going to be in Pennsy tonight, Im going to try my luck in the Easton area on the way home Saturday morning.  Nothing fancy, just some time to be alone and see what might happen. The possibilities are what keep us casting.

South Branch excursion

I picked up Bryson and Alex yesterday and we scooted over to the South Branch.  We started out in my favorite stretch.  All three of us nymphed.  Bryson topped the list with 9 fish, the best of which was a 16" brown that was just beautiful.  Alex was good for 5 fish.  No standouts for him though-he was stuck in the slot. I had one wild brown and a nice 16" holdover rainbow.  I may have brought up the rear on volume, but I was pleased with my time. 

We then went to another spot downriver for an hour and the action turned off like a lightswitch.  Nada, zippo, blank.  Oh well, by that point the sun was going down and it was getting cold.  I am really starting to feel the cold, where I didnt in years past, I am getting old.  The seeping waders couldnt have helped.

The best flies of the day were the sexy walts worm and a zug bug.  Tie some up!

See you on the water.

Its so on! The banquet of the year...

..and the only Hacklebarney banquet of the year.

March 1st, 7:30pm at Il Giardino in Cedar Knolls.  We have the whole banquet room downstairs to ourselves.

The food is good, the auction prizes will be great and we should have some celebrity guests this year.  Everyone is free to ply me with wine; you may just get lucky.

The main prizes this year will include...

The West Branch trip with Ben Turpin, with two days of guided float fishing and an overnight stay at East Branch Outfitters.  This trip is worth $1000 bucks and was won last year by Pete Romano, who made the most of his time with Ben.

The other main prize will be a custom bamboo rod (A blond 8 foot 5 weight with two tips, garnet colored wraps and silver hardware) made for us by chapter member John Marci.  This rod will have all the beautiful accoutrements you would expect from a soon to be classic.  I saw John's presentation on bamboo rods and let me tell you, this guy knows bamboo!

We will also have many other Trips, Lessons and items up for auction to keep your check writing hand limber.

So book your seats now.  Wives are welcome too.  Last year, I brought my wife and so did mike Russo.  Just keep reminding her it's for charity. 

You wouldnt want to be left out in the cold!