"The Essence of Fly Fishing Nurtures The Whole of Our Being"

 Both Schools Closed in 2001
FLY FISHING SCHOOLS and EDUCATION

   As mentioned in past columns I have two beginner fly schools this year with only a little space left. One school is near Yosemite at the famous Mariposa Hotel Inn. (Which happens to be just a little haunted!!). For more info contact Lynn (800) 317-3244 or http://www.yosemitehotel.com. The other fly fishing school will be held near Redding California at Shingletown. The magical Weston House B&B is a special place for all nature lovers. Contact Angela at (530) 474-3738 or http://www.westonhouse.com. The schools are two days long, mornings only for beginners. I provide everything except a fishing license which you must buy. For more information contact Dan Fallon (415) 332-3803 Sausalito, California.

   Those who have been calling and E-Mailing me in regard to either my Yosemite fly fishing school this spring or the Shingletown school. Can get more info and exact dates by contacting the world famous Yosemite Hotel Inn B&B at ( 800) 317-3244 or on the web www.yosemitehotel.com and speak to Lynn. The Shingletown beginner fly school is held at the tranquil Weston~House B&B, contact Angela at (530) 474-3738 or on the web www.westonhouse.com . These beginner class's are two mornings, I provide everything except a license. Contact Dan Fallon at (415)332-3803 for more details. Both of these schools are also geared specially for woman who wish to enter this hallowed ground...
 

   Due to an unanticipated demand in regard to my two-day fly fishing beginners school held during the period May till June 10th 2001. I have begun a second school in Northern California in a little town called Shingle Town near Redding.. Contact Angela at (530) 474-3738 website http://www.westonhouse.com This wonderful quaint Bed & Breakfast can be viewed via an outstanding website.

The two-day Yosemite School for beginners consists of a day of classroom work and then a morning on the Merced River. I provide all equipment rods & reels. Students buy their own license. The Yosemite Fly fishing School is held in Mariposa California 32 miles from the Park entrance. The historic Mariposa Hotel Inn is offering a two-day accommodation and fly fishing school package very reasonably priced. The hotel is quite famous for its Hummingbirds by the hundreds and its many resident ghosts. Contact Lyn at (209)966-4676 - toll free call! -800--317-3244 or website - http://www.yosemitehotel.com.

This two day school is situated close to the park and is perfect for helping first timers get a real classroom to water discourse on how to assemble, cast, present and catch trout. Day one consists of morning class leaving afternoons to enjoy the scenery. Day two consists of morning on the water actually throwing flies and possible catching fish. Only a few openings are left, class’s restricted to five students at the most. Contact Dan Fallon at ( 415) 332-3803 Sausalito California for further information.
 

   If you learn how to imitate dying wounded insects as they twitch and move every which way. This alone will double your catch and release numbers for certain. If you have no idea what dying bugs actually look like? Then stop fishing for a couple of hours and spend time watching bugs take the last flight and twitch and squirm their way into the next life. This time spent watching and learning will help you more then reading all the fly fishing books and columns in the world. I tie my streamers to look very buggy because the bugs I see everyday look hairy and weird. I have never seen any insect that looked anything like the perfectly tied insects you see at most shops. Please believe me when I say fish eat what looks natural to them. They do not eat bugs that look perfectly tied and neat and trim to the human eye. Take a walk down the isle of your local fly fishing store and carefully look at all the perfectly tied creations which make their owners so happy! Those flies are so well tied and trimmed because everyone ties them to look exactly like all the other standard perfectly tied patterns in the world. Now, I'm not knocking my expert fly tying brothers and sisters out there for tying those bugs so perfectly. It is just that in the natural world very few if any bugs look like the ones you have stuffed in your vest pocket. If your learning to tie flies and wish to create patterns which look exactly like the bugs out on your local rivers and streams. Here is a suggestion, take a field trip and capture as many bugs as possible and take them home to study and observe. Then take photos of them from many angles and even make drawings if your capable.

   Now take those bugs and place them in a aquarium and watch them develop and pass through the stages leading to the final buzz. If after watching and studying you still think perfectly tied patterns resemble real life insects, call me collect from anywhere in the world... The art of tying patterns which look more like the real thing takes as much energy and practice as tying the look alikes. In fact here is another suggestion, if you really want to excel in this difficult sport. Take blown up photos of as many local bugs as you can find that live on or near your favorite rivers and streams. Study them and then sit down and practice tying patterns that precisely match the photos. In the beginning you will notice the natural colors are nowhere near as blatant and rich as the patterns your used to tying. The real insects out there are hairy and rather odd looking things with legs and wings which are not always perfectly sized and matched. I do not take credit for these revelations, but, I have made an effort to truly imitate what I see on the waters I fish.
 

   It is no secret one of my favorite fly fishing destinations is Yosemite National Park and the mighty Merced River. In the years I have fished this magical place and written about its many wonders. Many of you have asked why I haven’t guided or held fly fishing schools there? Ok, you win, in the spring of 2001 in conjunction with the world famous often ghost riddled Mariposa Hotel Inn. I will be hosting two-day fly fishing schools and guide service on the Merced river and in the park. The Mariposa Hotel Bed & Breakfast is one of the oldest most respected well-kept B&Bs in California. Those who are lucky enough to stay with Lynn the proprietor will enjoy several dozen Humming Birds joining them for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the panoramic back porch. It is well known this jewel of an historic hotel has many permanent guests in the guise of gossamer ghostly comers and goers! I will instruct very small groups of five or less in the basics of this sport and then lead them to local waters to test their new skills. I invite everyone especially older folks and ladies who might have reservations about taking the first steps into a new life-style. My phone number and e-mail address are at the end of all my monthly columns. Pick up the phone, let’s change your life forever together... The phone number for the Mariposa Hotel in Yosemite is 209-966-4676. Fax is 209-742-5963. E-Mail: hotelinn@yosemite.net.
 

   In January I had the honor and privilege of speaking to an esteemed group of lady fly fishers at none other then Fanni & Mel Kriegers lovely home next to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The Golden West Fly Fishing club is one of the oldest and most respected woman's clubs in the United States. What a thrill it was to discuss a wide variety of issues facing our sport with this highly motivated group. Fannie Krieger President of the club was most gracious and served a potluck dinner to remember. I was taken to task on many subjects as expected and had quality back and forth moments with several members. One hot button was my quest to break all fresh water light tackle records in the next five years. One member said, "Oh boy, this is just the sort of male trophy hunting that gives the sport a bad name?" I explained how I felt only a very small percentage of fly fishers could even attempt such a quest and that I did not feel if properly played the fish suffered. I do respect the views expressed by all present that evening. In attendance were about thirty members and a little girl about to embark on her fly fishing life. I salute these ladies and their undying respect for and work in river, stream preservation. We need many more clubs like this to spread the good word. I was most pleased to spend few moments with Mel & Fanni and thank them and the club for making me feel quite welcome. Those clubs within 100 or so miles of the San Francisco area need only contact me and I will make every effort to arrange to speak and show slides of my adventures in the USA or around the world. Simply call (415)332-3803 or e-mail me via this monthly column. My e-mail address is at the end of each column update.
 

   Within the often crowded stream of would be conservation oriented organizations "The Wild Salmon Center" stands out in a league of it’s own. This group of talented science minded experts are working to establish a system of sanctuaries for native salmon, steelhead, and trout. I have studied their mission statement and will attempt to define it. The WSC believes the effective and reasonable way to save salmon and their ecosystems. Is to locate rivers around the Pacific Rim, which still have the most healthy and vibrant natural stocks. The theory being it is much less expensive and more effective to attempt to preserve and maintain them now, while they are still thriving. This common sense guiding philosophy has been applied to teams of researchers that have begun scientific studies of areas like Kamchatka Russia, ten coastal watersheds in Oregon and Washington states and may isolated areas around the Pacific Rim.

I fully agree with this strategy and mindset in regard to possible salvaging of the very little left in healthy thriving wild salmon stocks. The idea of spotlighting the last wild salmon hotspots as they are referred to by WSC officers. Will be most interesting to follow and report on as this vital work continues.

One can obtain more information by calling The Wild Salmon Center main office in Portland Oregon. Phone: (503) 222-1804 or website: http://www.wildsalmoncenter.org

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