Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Great Seminar

I just returned from Boise Idaho where I participated with Jack Dennis, Jeff Currier and Pete Erickson putting on the Traveling Fly Fishing Road Show.  Although the attendance was less than we expected we still had a great time.  Participants were exposed to a wealth of information including Euro nymphing, stillwater tactics and techniques, warm water, casting and knot tying.  I even slid in a little fly tying.

Feedback we received from those who attended was extremely positive.  Jeff, Pete and I are already planning bigger and better seminars for 2011.  This was the first time we had worked together and it clicked!  I will be seeing Jeff again in a few weeks as we will both be at The Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton California.

Jeff Currier at work.  Check out Jeff's website, especially his artwork.

Jeff provided seminars on saltwater fly fishing, warm water fly fishing and entertained everyone with his travel show about his recent experiences traveling across Africa. If you ever have a chance to see one of Jeff''s presentations do it.  His experience and knowledge is vast and his images are fantastic.  Check out my Favorite Links to visit Jeff's Blog or main website.  His artwork is stunning.

  
Pete Erickson demonstrates a few of his favorite knots

Pete and Jeff provided a comprehensive Euro nymphing seminar.  For those who haven't tried this deadly method you should.  Born from the world fly fishing championships this method out produces typical strike indicators tactics in use today.  I recommend you pick up a copy of Jack Dennis's Euro Nymphing 2-disc DVD set.  Pete and Jeff have participated successfully at the world championship level and they are included in this DVD along with the dean of Polish Nymphing, Vladi Trezebunia.  I recommend you pick up a copy of this DVD from Jack website.

 Pete was also kind enough to get me out on the water as we visited the nearby Owayhee River.  A unique stretch of water located just across the state line in nearby Oregon.  Pete and I had hoped to Euro nymph the river but the low cool flows had the fish sipping tiny midge pupa and adults in the surface film in slow moving pools.  Tossing size 22 Palomino Midges attached to 6X tippet was the order of the day.  We broke off more than we landed.  Pete managed to land a few of his fish including a magnificent 20 plus inch brown.  I shook hands with a large brown that shook his head twice before I bust him off.  I christened them NBA fish as they weren't impressed with us much as if telling us to, "Get that weak ass stuff out of here!"

Pete's skill and expertise on moving water is unbelievable.  It was a great experience for me.  Plus we had far to much fun bantering back and forth as the predominantly brown trout population shunned most of our presentations.  The Owayhee is a river I must return to!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Idaho Bound

This weekend sees me on the road again in Boise, Idaho participating with Jack Dennis and his Fly Fishing Road Show.  The 2-day event runs from 9-6 both days and features a number of key speakers including Pete Erickson and Jeff Currier.  Both Pete and Jeff  have a wealth of experience with each representing the U.S. at the world fly fishing championships.  Jeff has also had the luxury of tossing flies at some of the words most unique species.  This weekend's show promises to be both entertaining and educational.



If you are in the Boise area make a point of taking in in some or all of the presentations.  I will be providing a healthy dose of stillwater.  Other subjects include Euro Nymphing, Streamer Techniques and unique underwater footage of the trout's world.   There will be books and DVD's available as well including my recently released Stillwater Selections.

For more information please visit Jack's website, or read the recently posted article in the Idaho Statesman.

I hope to see you there!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Seminar Updates

Well the 2010 show season keeps rolling along.  Last weekend I provided an all day tying session for the Central Alberta Fly Tying Club in Red Deer.   The class was a complete sellout with over 26 people choosing to spend the day with me.  We focused upon a cross section of fly patterns from my latest book, Stillwater Selections.


A typical instructional day lasts from 9am-4pm and features a blend of PowerPoint seminars and on camera tying instruction.  I use a video camera as a teaching tool to project my patterns onto a screen providing students with an easy to follow and see guide to the pattern.  This enables me to provide detailed instruction for everyone that was traditionally challenging for a large audience.  You have to love technology when it works for you!
 
 


The next couple of months are busy.  In the coming weeks I will be in Boise Idaho, Pleasanton California and Abbotsford B.C. (about 1 hour west of Vancouver).  Please visit the calendar section of my website for further information.

I will also be hosting a weekend stillwater school in partnership with the Fishin' Hole here in Alberta from May 28-30 at the Lazy M Ranch located in the Caroline/Rocky Mountain House region of the province.  If you are interested in joining me for this fun educational weekend please contact Brian Wiebe at the Fishin' Hole.  Brian can be reached at 780-475-0555 or via email at north@thefishinhole.com.


Stay tuned, as I will be providing further information regarding additional weekend seminars and hosted trips as they become finalized.  If your club or group is interested in one of of my weekend, all day or evening seminars please contact me at flycraft@shaw.ca.