Fin Clipping – Fall 2019
Again this year the IEFFC joined other groups at the WDFW Spokane fish hatchery to clip adipose fins from fish that will be planted in Lake Spokane. About 56,000 female triploid three to four inch rainbows raised by Trout Lodge Hatchery were processed over two days.
On Monday, September 23 the following IEFFC members clipped fins: John Bennett, John Bowne, Bob Harley, Keith Kuester, Dan Lobb, Bill Papesh, and Jerry McBride.
On Tuesday, September 24 the following IEFFC members clipped fins: Jim Athearn, Guy Gregory, Floyd Holmes, Jake Nelson, Dick Ralston, and John Ralston.
WDFW provided goodies for the morning break and lunch for all participants.
Thank you all that helped out.
Bayley Lake Spawning Channel
On Saturday, September 21 a crew of nine from the IEFFC went up and performed our annual spawning channel cleanup. The purpose of the cleanup is to enable fish from Bayley Lake to spawn during spring runoff and then return to the lake to live another year.
We met at Zips in Chewelah for breakfast and then proceeded to the lake. As he has done for many years Bill Papesh led the way down the channel wielding his trimmer “from hell” mowing down grass, brush and tree limbs that were in his path. The loose material was raked up and deposited out of the channel and then new gravel was put down on the spawning beds. This year we had two young guys on our crew that really gave us old guys a boost. New IEFFC member Reid Ashley brought his friend Sam Edmunster along.
After we got done with the work we went fishing. The lake had a heavy algae bloom so unfortunately the fishing was not very good. But, it was a truly beautiful day, the lunch that Bob Schmitt made for us was very tasty and hopefully we made fishing at Bayley next year a little better.
Back Row L to R: Jerry McBride, John Bennett, Chet Allison, Reid Ashley, Sam Edmunster, Scott Fink and Bob Schmitt
Front Row L to R: Jim Athearn and Bill Papesh
Rocky Ford Signs
On June 18, 2019 three signs were installed at Rocky Ford Creek near Soap 
Lake, WA.
This project got its start in March 2018. Byron Jones of the Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers (WVFF) watched in frustration as a person at Rocky Ford badly mishandled the release of a fish. He talked with Harry Lane, president of their club and they decided that some signs with educational information on how to properly release a fish would be helpful. Harry contacted our club and asked if we would be interested in partnering with them on some signs.
The IEFFC board of directors was supportive of the project and in addition to our club and the WVFF we managed to bring in the Dry Side Fly Fishers and the Washington State Council of Fly Fishers International (WSCFFI) as partners.
We agreed on a final concept. The clubs would construct three 4’x4’ signs mounted in angle iron frames, one for each parking lot. Information on the signs included WDFW rules for Rocky Ford, information on how to properly play and release a fish and a link to a video from KEEPEMWET that shows how to play and release a fish. WDFW approved the concept, the WSCFFI gave us permission to use their written information on playing and releasing a fish and KEEPEMWET gave us permission to reference their video and use their logo.
Our club took the lead on providing the signs. The frames were made in Floyd Holmes’ shop. Floyd did the welding and painting. After that the signs were mounted in the frames and the completed assemblies loaded in Jim Athearn’s trailer for transport to Rocky Ford. The following members helped at various stages in this project:
Jim Athearn, Phil Beck, Scott Fink, Lee Funkhouser, Floyd Holmes, Bob Johnson and Jerry McBride.
Each of the partners put in $615 to fund the $2460 cost of the project. The three fly clubs installed the sign they sponsored on June 18. The IEFFC provided lunch for all of the participants.
This project was well supported by individuals we worked with at several organizations.
Chris Donley, Chad Jackson and Mike Schmuck at WDFW, Bill Wheeler, President of the WSCFFI, Virgil Redwine, President of the Dry Side Fly Fishers, Harry Lane, President of the Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers, and Bryan Huskey, KEEPEMWET Fishing.
Kid’s Fishing 2019
Kid’s Fishing was again a great success and IEFFC was well represented with helpers on both Friday and Saturday. Floyd Holmes was in charge of the IEFFC representation and did an outstanding job. 
Friday was the special event for the Ronald McDonald House kids and it was well attended. The children had a wonderful time and the parents and friends also enjoyed themselves. Helping on Friday were IEFFC members Bruce Morgan, Jerry Harms, Lee Funkhouser, John Bennett, Bob Schmitt and Phil Beck.
Saturday brought us to the main event and over a thousand kids. Fishing was 
sometimes difficult as the bright sunshine pushed many of the fish away from the shore meaning most fish were caught from the docks. The kids still had a great time. Assisting WDFW on Saturday were IEFFC members Bruce Morgan, Lee Funkhouser, Randy Shaber, John Bennett, Jim Athearn, Bryan Harman, Eric Delbo, Floyd Holmes, Phil Beck, Paul Coopwood and Doug Arndt.
Thanks to all who helped.
2019 Big Horn Show
We need to give a big thank you to the 18 volunteers who did a great job at the Big Horn
Show this year showing kids (and some adults) how to tie flies and sharing our enthusiasm for the sport of fly fishing. Our club was wonderfully represented by Leon Buckles, Bruce Morgan, Ray Kranches, Lee Funkhouser, Stephen Aspinwall, Dan Lobb, Gordon Olson, Randy Shaber, Jerry McBride, Bill Papesh, Bob Burton,
Bryan Harman, Skip Cavanaugh, Lowell Tveit, Phil Beck, Bill McElroy, Bo Brand
and Jim Athearn.
This was probably our busiest year, in part because show attendance
in general was up plus our booth was one of those listed on the kids’ passport program. That meant every one of them stopped by the booth to get their stamp and many then lined up to try their hand at tying. Bill Papesh brought some hats to hand out which is always popular.
I would like to give extra thanks to Leon, Bill P, Phil and Bill M for taking care of setting up and tearing down the booth while I stood around and watched. Leon generously provides the tables and chairs for us and he stores all of the other items that we use every year. Most importantly, he is there every day, all day to help me make sure everything is
taken care of and running smoothly and he is a fountain of knowledge for all the tough
questions we get.
We are signed up again for 2020 in the same booth (85) so mark your calendars to save some time to volunteer or just come to the show and visit with us. Show dates will be March 19 – 22.
IEFFC Legacy Committee Scholarship
At the February meeting Jim Turner, from the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club Legacy Committee, announced the Eastern Washington University IEFFC Legacy Committee Scholarship, which will be given out to a deserving student starting this fall.
The scholarship will be a $1,000.00 amount and will be awarded to a Junior or Senior enrolled in the Biology program with a preference to those in the Fisheries Department. The Legacy Committee was pleased to have Laura Thayer, from Eastern Washington University, present at the meeting. Laura has been instrumental in setting up the scholarship.
Jim Athearn will represent the IEFFC by sitting on the selection committee, along with the faculty members designated by EWU. We will invite the 2019 recipient to a fall meeting so that IEFFC members can meet and talk with the individual.
Puncheon Project for Upper St. Joe River
The forest service recently installed a total of 300 feet of puncheon
(pronounced pun-shun) otherwise known as a plank road on the upper St. Joe trail above Spruce Tree Campground.
IEFFC went in with the North Idaho Fly Casters to purchase the 5″ twisted spikes used to nail down the individual planks. The puncheon sections will keep hikers and pack horses out of the mud which will reduce the amount of mud that gets washed into the St. Joe.
Toys For Tots 2018
The Toys For Tots event was again very successful with four 
large bags full of toys and a $1,000 check being given to the Marine representatives. The members of the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club have always been extremely generous in regards to this program and this year was no exception.
Sgt. Faudy Familia and Corporal Nate Medellin came by Frankie Doodles during a recent Liar’s Club luncheon to gather the toys. The donations this year have been coming in at a rapid rate and they apologized that they could not attend our meeting. Just that day they were picking up donations at 100 sites.
The program will help those families that are not so fortunate have a better Christmas. A huge thank you goes out to all the IEFFC members for their generosity.
a Certificate of Recognition for our contributions to the WDFW mission. It is nice to receive this recognition and know that our efforts are worthwhile. We will continue to work hard with our partners in preserving our fisheries and providing education to those who use these resources.