Saturday, March 20, 2010

Ed's Fly Fishing News for the Week of March 22, 2010

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This year's Spring Fling has been postponed until April 3rd because of our latest snow storm. We still have room for anyone that wasn't able to come this Saturday. HDA’s second annual Spring Fling is geared to help you learn almost every aspect of fly fishing there is. We will have several clinics that will be held on our private waters. It’s an all day event and space is limited! The cost is $200 per person and covers the private use fees. Clinics will include; casting, nymphing (European and Indicator), pocket water, fly fisher’s entomology, photography, and gear!!! Jarrett, Norm, Tad, Tom, Isaac, 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.

There are still some great deals on lots of stuff here at the fly shop. We have older styles of Cloudveil waders at incredible prices, Simms felt soled boots priced to move, and flies starting at 25 cents apiece! All of this is to make room for the new gear for this season. We are getting in more daily, so come check out the deals and what's new for 2010!

Yes it's back and only in Santa Fe! We are offering Tai Chi Fly Fishing classes this spring. This spring we have made a few changes in how we are building the class. Jeff English and I have built 4 one hour sessions, all built around the principals of spiral energy and balance, that will build on each previous class, as well as be of value standing alone. As you may remember me saying last time, I have noticed a considerable personal growth in confidence in and on the water, as well as a more relaxed comportment after a full day of fishing. The four classes will be run on the four Saturdays in March and April, 2-3 pm, indoors at Jeff English' studio. We plan to limit the class size to 6 - 10 people. Advance registration is required. The cost is $20.00 per session. To make reservations or for more information, please call Doug Brown at 505-660-9906, or the High Desert Angler at 505-988-7688.

Norman Maktima, head guide at the High Desert Angler, and Team USA member will be teaching some classes on European style nymph fishing and loch style stillwater flyfishing techniques. The European nymphing class is a two day event starting on Saturday April 10th, with a three hour classroom day and a full day on the water Sunday April 11th. The cost is $150 and includes a book on Czech Nymphing. The loch style stillwater class is on Saturday May 15th. The first day will be another three hour classroom day with the on the water follow up the next day Sunday May 16th. The cost of this class is $200 (a slight increase for this one to cover the extra costs of the boats). The time and places for both on the water class days will be TBA. The Saturday classroom day for both classes runs from 9:00 am till noon. Please contact Norman Maktima in the shop at 800-988-7688 to sign up or for more info.

The Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited has announced the date for their annual banquet. It'll be at the Inn at Loretto on Saturday April 10th. The Guest Speaker will be Brian O'Keefe. If you've seen cover photos on Field & Stream; Outdoor Life; Fly Fisherman; Fly, Rod and Reel; Fly Fishing Salt Waters; Fly and Fish Magazine; Outside Magazine and Mens Journal, then you've probably seen some of Brian O'Keefe's work. A fly fisher from a very early age, Brian has traveled the world in search of good fish and for the past twenty years, great photos. He is a master level certified fly casting instructor (FFF), dynamic speaker, and a tackle rep for Scientific Anglers in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. We are very pleased he will be visitng from his home territory in Oregon to be speaker at our annual Banquet. Expect great raffle and silent auction prizes, good food and excellent company. Stay tuned: We'll have more on Banquet plans as they develop.