Saturday, March 7, 2009

Fly Fishing News for the Week of March 9, 2009

Take the Clean Angling Pledge at www.CleanAngling.org

Come and participate in HDA’s first annual Spring Fling, and learn almost every aspect of fly fishing there is. On March 28th, we will have several clinics that will be held on our private waters. It’s an all day event! The cost is $150 and includes the private land use fees. Clinics will include; casting, nymphing (European and Indicator), pocket water, entymology, photography, and gear!!! Jarrett, Norm, Tad, Tom, Doug, and Everett will be instructing these various clinics. Bring your rod, reel, boots, waders, and an open mind to new techniques. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited, so call now to reserve your spot and for more info.

Youth Fly Fishing Photo Contest!! We would like to see the future of fly fishing grow and what better way than to get our kids involved. So we would like you to email pictures of your child with their fish. Here are the rules: fish must be caught and landed by child, fish must be caught with fly rod and artificial fly, child must be 12yrs or younger. Send you’re photo to hda@highdesertangler.com, and please limit your e-mail to one photo per day. You can enter daily if you like. So start shooting at every opportunity and pick your best ones! The HDA staff will be judging these photos. That being said, it’s not all about size, although it won’t hurt. Any species of fish counts. We want to see good times being had by the kids, good backdrops of where they were fishing, and massive fish catching grins!!! The grand prize will be a Ross Worldwide “Journey Series Youth Fly Rod,” either a blue rod for boys or a pink rod for girls. The contest starts now and the judging and results will be announced August 1st!! Get the kids out this summer and have a great time.

Truchas Chapter is proud to announce Dave Whitlock, the reknowned author, teacher, illustrator and fly tyer extraordinaire, has been confirmed as Guest Speaker for their 2009 Annual Banquet on Saturday, March 21st at the Inn at Loretto in Santa Fe. Dave's program will be EL SALTAMONTES: A CHILEAN HOPPER PARADISE as he takes us on an entertaining slide tour of Chile. It's a visual feast that includes the dramatic flight over the Andes, a stop at Puerto Montt, views of the mountains, the ranch, the alpaca, the local gauchos and the ox-drawn carts as well as some of the most exciting and explosive hopper fishing you can imagine. Festivities begin with cocktails at 6:00 pm with dinner served promptly starting at 7:00 pm.

Innovation has brought some real change in wading boots and shoes. In an effort to stem the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species, some wading boot manufacturers have developed new rubber soled boots that rival felt in terms of surefootedness. As a result, Simms and Cloudveil have quit using Aquastealth soles on their boots. Simms has a brand new StreamTread Vibram sole. Korkers also has a new replacement for Aquastealth. Simms has committed to phasing out their felt soles by the end of this year. This is good for you, the angling consumer, to get the latest in sole technology, or scoop up a felt soled or Aquastealth soled boot at a discount for those of you that really like these soles.

The Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited has started a youth education program. The program has several education projects in the works. They include Trout in the Classroom, summer camps, fly casting, fly fishing clinics, and field trips. Trout in the Classroom enables schoolchildren to raise trout in their classrooms, learn about the trouts lifecyle and ecosystems, to be later release into the wild. Lets face it; we've all seen and have complained about the litter problem on many of our local streams. This is a start in changing the hearts and minds of the people who matter most; the future stewards and community members of our local fishing resources. Participating in educating our youth during the school year is also another way to stay connected to our sport or craft during the off season, leaving summers wide open to you own fishing and time with family.Nothing happens until you get involved. Please consider volunteering in the Truchas Chapter Youth Education Program. To get involved, contact John Wright at twe@grappawireless.com.