Fly Fishing Events News

Article source from The Fly Fishing Information Center

 

Learning to tie basic fly fishing knots is easy. Here is a complete list of knots and instructions to get your started with a new outfit or polishing up on your skills.

There are many different kinds of fisherman's knots. These are the basic knots used in rigging a fly fishing outfit that you should be familiar with. These fly fishing knots will cover just about every situation you will encounter where a specific knot is needed.

Learn these basic knots and have some fun. It makes sense to practice tying these knots at home, before you are on the river. Remember that fishing knots are the typically the weakest connection between you and the fish. Many beginning anglers lose fish due to poorly tied knots. Tying knots is something you need do right, not fast. Speed comes with time. Practice makes perfect they say.Here we will walk you through setting up a new outfit.

 

Getting Started with a New Outfit

Before you start putting line on your reel, find out how much backing you'll need by reading your reel instructions. Some fly lines are longer than others and some will reduce the capacity of reel because of the diameter of the belly. As a general rule of thumb, less backing is used on reels that will have Double Taper (DT) fly lines than Weight Forward (WF) Lines. This is because a Double Taper has a more even diameter in the belly than a WF line. If you purchase a reel at Flymart, they will load the reel up with backing and make these connections for you. If you are rigging your own outfit, this page will give you every thing you need to know to get going.

Assemble Your Gear

Once you have all your gear in front of you, collect the components and spread them out on a flat surface with good lighting. A pair of nail clippers is the only tool you'll need to assemble them. Even if you've done this before, you might want to spend a little extra time practicing the knots we recommend before you actually put the line on the reel. A leader, a piece of rope, or best of all, some old fly line make it easy to practice tying the knots you'll need to securely join the components of your system. One other thing, most new reels are set up for left-handed retrieve, so if you reel from the right, you'll have to change the set up. This is usually a simple process and instructions should be found in the reel box. The illustrations that follow show the easiest knots favored by experienced fly anglers.

 

Fly Fishing Knots to Know

Here are some of the basic fly fishing knots used when assembling your new outfit. Below are links to each of the knots discussed with detailed instructions on how to tie these simple and effective fly fishing knots.

 

Arbor Knot

Used for connecting your backing to the fly reel (step 1)

We start assembly at the reel by securing the backing to the spool. Backing is used to provide capacity to your reel as most fly lines are less than 100 feet long and a large fish would certainly end up running off with your fly line. Most backing comes in #20 or #30 LB strength and is made from Dacron.

Arbor Know Instructions

 

Albright Knot

For connecting your fly line to your backing (step 2)

Next you will connect your fly line to your backing. This step requires a knot that can securely attach your expensive fly line to your backing. Since both materials are different (Dacron to plastic) the most common knot here is the Albright knot. The Albright knot slides easily through your guides when hopefully, you have a fish strong enough to "take you into your backing" on a drag screaming run.

Albright Knot Instructions

 

Nail Knot

For connecting your leader to your fly line (step 3)

Attaching your leader to your fly line is the next step. Your leader is designed to turn your fly over when casting. The nail knot provides a clean and effective connection that leaves the leader in a straight connection from the fly line. This is important for casting accuracy. Some anglers prefer a Dacron or Mono loop here and some fly lines already have a loop connection built into the end of the line. If yours already does then you can attach your leader with a loop to loop connection.

Nail Knot Instructions

 

Double Surgeons Knot

Used to connect your tippet to your leader (step 4)

Next thing to attach is your tippet. The double surgeons knot is suitable when connecting two similar diameters of monofilament together like the tippet and leader end. The tippet is the section of mono fishing line between your fly and your leader. Leaders are typically knotless tapered (pre-made leaders) or knotted tapered made by you. By adding a tippet section you can extend the life of your tapered leader by simply replacing a worn section or changing the tippet diameter for a smaller or larger fly. Tippets can also help control drag, the effect of water currents on your fly, and assist in getting a drag free drift.

Double Surgeons Knot Instructions

 

Improved Clinch Knot

A knot for connecting your fly to your tippet. (step 5)

Finally you attach your fly to your tippet. As the final step it is also the most frequently performed by anglers. It is critical to insure you have a strong knot here or you will certainly lose flies and fish. There are many choices for attaching your fly to your tippet. The most important for you is consistency. Learn a few different knots for this and practice until perfect. We will not cover every knot for every condition, as this has already been done before in many good books and videos.

Improved Clinch Knot Instructions

 

Effective Knot Tying Note

Few knots are 100% of the line's rated strength but if you moisten all knots before drawing them tight, tighten them slowly, and test every knot by pulling on it hard, you will reduce the chance for knot failures and maybe losing that fish of a lifetime. Be sure to replace leaders, tippets and lines when they show wear or abrasion.

 

Don't be a Jerk Never discard used monofilament anywhere but in a trash receptacle or recycling bin.

One of the worst things left by some anglers is trash. When making knots on the river or outdoors be sure to save your clippings in your pocket. Bring along a small sandwich bag to stuff all the unused mono into and put it in your vest. There is absolutely no excuse for littering and fishing line counts as trash. Do your part and be responsible.

Mono, especially the new fluorocarbon lines, will stay in then environment and continue to harm other fish, mammals and reptiles because of some peoples carelessness. NO EXCUSE. If you see mono laying around, pick it up and put it in your bag. Mother nature will thank you and the fish gods will reward you for your efforts.

 

About Your Fly Line

New fly line is a wonder of technology. It will float, sink, or float and sink. It will stay soft and pliable. Resist wear from rod guides and tips. And it will do all this under all kinds of conditions. Heat, cold. wet, dry, freshwater, saltwater. Line performance, however, depends on the condition of the coating.

Protecting Your Fly LineThere are a few things -all part of fly- fishing -that can damage your fly line: Stepping on the line, casting without a leader, pinching the line between the spool and frame of your reel or cracking the line like a whip when casting. Some common liquids contain solvents that may damage the coating. Suntan lotions, insect repellents, fly floatants, fuels and some line cleaners. Remember that DEET will damage fly lines so you are best off using a aerosol insect repellent and try to keep it away from your hands and line. Cleaning Your Fly Line

The one thing you can't avoid that will decrease performance of your line -and, in particular, a floating line -is dirt. Dirt gets on your line because of algae. It's found in all the waters you'll fish and simply builds up on your line through normal use. Over time, the algae will pick up dirt and absorb water. Sometimes, dirt gets on your line in other situations like stripping your line when you're fishing from shore. Or after you've handled a fish. You'll know when this happens because your line won't float as well or slide as easily through the rod guides.

This is easy to fix. We suggest using a Scientific Anglers cleaning pad, available at any Scientific Anglers dealer. Otherwise, you can wash the line with a few drops of mild soap -no detergents (they might damage the coating) -on a soft, clean, damp cloth. cleaning the fist 30 -60 feet of the line (the part you use the most) will take care of the problem.

 

Fly Line Storage

The safest place for your line is on the reel. Just make sure when you store it the line isn't exposed to direct sunlight, chemicals or solvents, or excessive heat, like you find in the trunk of your car or behind the furnace. Sometimes, after it's been stored awhile the line may have memory and may coil. Just stretch it slowly -you'll feel it give -and your line will perform perfectly.

 

About Fly Casting

With your balanced fly fishing outfit in hand, there's one more thing to consider before heading off to your favorite waters. Fly Casting.

It has often been said, "The worst time to practice casting is when you're fishing." The excitement of working on feeding fish makes it pretty tough for most of us to do our best casting, let alone think about practicing! So get instruction and practice before you get into the field.

Consider taking a fly fishing class or instruction available from just about any fly shop around. They will take the time to get you familiar with casting basics and this will help you get off to a great start.

Guides also provide much needed instruction to help you learn the art of fly fishing. There are many Fly Fishing Shops and guides whom teach basic fly fishing classes both off the water and on. Call your local fly shop or FFF chapter for more information.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

She's So Fly encourages you to visit The Fly Fishing Information Center's website at http://www.flymartonline.com/index.php - for more helpful information.

 

By Sherri Russell

Get in shape for fly fishing and get in shape for life!

 

Entering the ages of 40 to 50 can be a rough time for us women. Our metabolisms began to slow down way back in our 30's, but not our appetites for food and life.

 

We get trapped in our jobs and lifestyles, and exercise usually takes a back seat to new challenges and responsibilities. I struggled with obtaining the motivation to exercise and get in shape myself until a fishing friend told me about a product called Isagenix that she was taking...I was skeptical, but decided to try it never the less because she believed in the products and she looked great.

 

My life now involves many Isagenix nutritional supplements and cleanses products called Isagenix Cleanse For Life and walks or other light exercises. I am now in shape for fly fishing and I am in shape for life!

 

As male or female fly anglers, we like to tromp through the woods to get to a fish filled lake and we hike along the primitive shores of a bubbling creek to find the right spot on that perfect fly hatch, or we wade out in thigh-high, cool stream waters with our fly rods and other various gear necessary for the day. But, if we aren’t in shape, our muscles will feel it big time the next day. Even worse, we could loose our balance, slip and fall and hurt ourselves while out in the woods from physical exursion.

 

Getting in shape—

 

· increases your stamina and strength to enjoy a longer day of fly fishing

 

· improves your balance while wading out in a stream

 

· adapts your body to exertion in the heat by improving temperature regulation,

 

· decreases soreness and stiffness after an outing of rod casting

 

· help prevent injuries from the outdoor activities during warm and cold weather

 

Isagenix offers many nutritional products, but the one product that changed my life was the Isagenix 9 day cleanse and fat burning system. The Isagenix 9 day cleanse allowed me to safely lose some nagging unwanted weight coupled with some light exercises.

 

Over time, impurities from the environment, your food and water build up and cause your body to function less efficiently. Cleanse for Life helps rid your body of unwanted impurities with gentle cleansing herbs while infusing it with vital nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. So, your body can function more effectively. Cleanse for Life helps you to have more energy, think more clearly and safely lose weight.

 

I encourage all of you fly anglers to challenge yourself to better health and get in shape for fly fishing for yourselves and your families!

 

Vist http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm for a list of EPA events around the country related to Earth Day, April 22^nd – events are going on around the month of April…some events include free trips to zoos, and much more!

Commit to Protect the Environment - Why Commitment Is Important

This Earth Day, EPA is reaching out to people of every age, race, and economic status to “own” the environment, to commit to environmental protection as one of your top priorities.

Why is this important? Because many people don’t see “environmentalism” as an important issue in their lives. When actually having clean air to breathe, water to drink, and a neighborhood safe from toxics is important to ALL of us!

We are also focusing on commitment to Environmental Justice this Earth Day. Environmental Justice will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards.

And you can demonstrate your commitment by joining in the Earth Day video project and sharing your thoughts on Earth Day!

Here are just a few EPA Earth Day related events around the United States listed below:

Earth Day Events and Volunteer Opportunities in New England

The following links may provide helpful information for opportunities to celebrate Earth Day in and around your community. These events range from family-friendly to volunteer cleanup opportunities that may be more physically strenuous.

EPA recommends that you check with each organization listed to confirm that events are taking place at the time and place listed below. Event descriptions were prepared by the sponsoring organization. Some events may require an admission fee.

• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

 

• On Friday, April 22, EPA will participate in Earth Day New York's events in Times Square, New York City.
• Also on Friday, April 22, EPA will exhibit at the Disney Earth Day Fair, 10am-3pm, Disney/ABC Corporate Headquarters, 47 West 66th Street, Cafeteria event space, New York City.
• Stop by our display at Rutgers Ag Field Day , in New Brunswick, NJ, on Saturday, April 30.

Rutgers Day

On Saturday, April 24th, EPA employees ran a booth at the annual Rutgers Day fair at Rutgers University. Children learned about storm water and runoff by playing with EPA’s 3-D “enviroscape” display. Parents left the booth with educational brochures on a variety of topics. For more information, visit the Rutgers day site. 

Green For All Community Garden Planting

To kick-off the Earth Day celebration on April 23rd, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson dug into the dirt at a community garden in West Harlem, New York. She was joined by many participants, including EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck, actor Anthony Mackie, and representatives from Green For All and the community garden.

North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System and EPA "Green" MOU Signing

On the eve of Earth Day, EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck and North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System (NSLIJHS) CEO Michael Dowling signed a “green” agreement. Under the agreement, NSLIJHS will incorporate a number of environmentally-sound practices into daily operations at the 12 hospitals it manages across Long Island and in New York City. Read the press release.

2010 Environmental Quality Awards Ceremony

On Friday, April 23rd, EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck presented plaques to the winners of the 2010 Environmental Quality Awards. Guest speaker Chief Oren Lyons delivered an inspiring speech to the awardees. Read about the New York, New Jersey winners.

 

Ocean City, New Jersey Earth Day Festival

On Sunday, April 18th, EPA employees traveled down to Ocean City, New Jersey for their annual Earth Day Celebration. EPA handed out literature and coloring books, and answered questions from local residents.

Earth Day New York

EPA participated in a two-day Earth Day festival hosted by Earth Day New York outside Grand Central on Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24th. EPA encouraged people of all ages to pack a “waste free lunch.”

Earth Day Party for the Planet
Date: April 22
Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: The National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Eco-Craft
Recycling is great, but reusing is even better! Find out how to turn newspaper into a plant pot and take home your own. You'll make a pot, fill it with soil and drop in some seeds—when you get home you can put it right into the ground.

Meet the National Zoo's Green Team
Talk to members of the Zoo's Green Team and learn about the Zoo's Green Achievements. See examples of how we're putting sustainability into practice in our exhibits, food service, gift shops, horticulture, water use, and even our coffee!
Stop by and get your free sticker.

Recycle at the Zoo
FONZ has partnered with an outside company to collect and recycle Zoo visitors' cell phones, batteries, and accessories. For many working cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, calculators, Apple laptop computers, gaming devices, and external drives—FONZ will get money to support conservation! All other devices will be recycled under strict environmental guidelines, keeping hazardous materials from reaching landfills and harming human and environmental health. Bring all materials to be recycled to the front desk in the Visitor Center.

What Else You Can Do to Make a Difference
Find out about simple daily actions you can take to enjoy a more environmentally friendly lifestyle: get our Green Tips. We have lots of information about how to reduce your lunch waste, how you can make sustainable seafood choices, how to conserve water, and much more.

Wilmington Earth Day Celebration
Date: 04-21-2011
Time: 11 am - 2 pm
Location: Rodney Square, 10th & Market Streets, Wilmington
Fee: Free
The Wilmington Earth Day Celebration is an annual festival held outdoors in Rodney Square featuring dozens of "green" vendors from throughout the tri-state region. This event is a terrific opportunity for city-goers to gain insight into everything from gardening to hybrid automobiles -- all while on their lunch breaks. The many vendors on hand will be offering a variety of products and tips for the home, workplace, and roadway.
For More Information:
Cheryl Jackson
800-445-4935 Ext 112
http://www.delawareestuary.org/news_earthday.asp

Oregon Ridge Nature Center
Date: Sat Apr 23, 2011
Time: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Location: 13555 Beaver Dam Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030 (Get Directions)
Great For Teens, Groups (any size)
Interest Area: Environment
Minimum Age 7

Join us to work for the Earth! We will plant trees, clean up the park and work on trails. Ages 7+ Registration is required. Please call us at 410 887 1815.

2011 Earth Day Work Days at the Silver Lake Nature Center
Date: April 30, 2011 / May 1, 2011
Time: 9:00am–2:00pm
Location: 1306 Bath Rd, Bristol, PA 19007

We will be cleaning up our watershed, the Mill Creek-Otter Creek Watershed, by picking up litter and debris on and around Magnolia and Silver Lakes, as well as the channel in between the two. This will be done by kayak, canoe, and on foot. Those who volunteer four consecutive hours of time and service during one or both of our EARTH DAY WORK DAYS, will be provided a free lunch. Participants are strongly encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, clothes that they do not mind getting wet and muddy, and to also bring a refillable water bottle.

We will meet at Silver Lake Nature Center's Visitors' Building, located at 1306 Bath Road, Bristol, PA 19007, at 9am for task assignments and light refreshments. Make sure to pre-register!
· Features: Free, Open to All, Outdoor, Volunteer
· Website: http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org
· Phone: 215-785-1177 EXT 14
· Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

West Alabama

University Of West Alabama Honors Earth Day 2011

5k run, fishing tournament, canoe races, prairie stroll, frisbee golf tournament, lake and nature trails cleanup,
tree planting, tree seedling giveaway.
Location: University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama
Date and time: Saturday, April 23 - 12:00 noon

Earth Day at the Children's Zoo, Saginaw, Michigan

Go Wild! Celebrate Earth Day Event at the Children's Zoo in Saginaw Sponsored by the Mid Michigan Waste Authority. Join us for a fun-filled day of games and activities focused on protecting our environment! The first 500 visitors with a recyclable beverage container will get FREE admission!
Location: see website for directions
Date and time: Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10am - 2pm
Contact: see website
More information

Green Street Fair, Plymouth, Michigan

To promote global interest and personal well-being, the Green Street Fair blends companies, artisans, entertainers, workshops and speakers together in a friendly and family-oriented outdoor environment. Consumers who attend the Green Street Fair will be encouraged to learn the advantages of taking strides, large or small, towards living a healthier and greener life.
Location: downtown streets of Plymouth, Michigan
Date and time: May 6-8, 2011
Contact: see website
More information

 

Timberdoodle Festival

Timberdoodle Earth Day celebration at the Hartley Outdoor Education Center which is sponsored by the Saginaw Intermediate School District and is located on 300 acres of forest, wetlands, meadow, ponds and a creek. The Hartley site is home to Coal Mine No. 8 Historical Site and Museum, Schroeder Log Cabin, Fowler one-room school, Murphy Farmhouse & Henige Log Cabin, and Farm Learning Center. Join Hartley Outdoor Education Center for our annual Timberdoodle Festival. Spend the day or a couple of hours enjoying the various activities planned throughout the day at the main center and the Murphy Farm.
Location: Hartley Outdoor Education Center, 12633 Beaver Road, St. Charles, MI
Date and time: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Contact: 989-865-6295
More information

 

Earth Day Little Rock 2011

This year’s 8th Annual Arkansas Earth Day Festival is being produced by Arkansas Earth Day Foundation on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  It will be an exciting day in North Little Rock, where crowds of people will gather on the Riverfront/ North Shore Riverwalk grounds to take part in the largest statewide festival to celebrate Earth Day. 

http://www.arkansasearthday.org/

 

Earth Day Baton Rouge 2011

Louisiana Earth Day transforms the downtown Baton Rouge area into an informative and fun-filled experience from the river along North Boulevard and throughout the governmental complex!  Visitors find a wealth of information that addresses our quality of life in Louisiana.  The very latest innovative developments on green, sustainable living, including stewardship of Earth’s resources, alternative energy sources, home construction, coastal restoration, climate change, etc., will be presented through many different venues.

http://www.laearthday.org/

 

Earth Day Oklahoma City 2011

Earth Fest at Martin Park Nature Center

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 16th, the Martin Park Nature Center in NW Oklahoma City will celebrate with Earth Fest, a series of Earth-friendly educational seminars composting, home energy audits, storm water recycling and more.

Rethink:Recycle:Redesign

The 3rd Annual Rethink:Recycle:Redesign will be part of the OKC Festival of the Arts featured at the Six-Day Cellars venue. Get more information on the official site.

http://www.rethinkrecycleredesign.org/

 

Earth Day Dallas 2011

On April 22-23, 2011, Earth Day Dallas, a not-for-profit organization and other community leaders, hopes to catalyze a “green” movement in Dallas by staging the inaugural Earth Day Dallas Festival in the heart of downtown.

Events will focus on entertaining, inspiring and educating Dallasites with various ways to think, work and live green by showcasing emerging green technology, providing eco-friendly family activities, presenting enlightening lectures from environmental leaders, a variety of music and much more.

With more than 200 civic, corporate and not-for-profit partners engaged, organizers forecast the 2011 celebration will go down as the biggest and most impactful Earth Day celebration in the history of Dallas!

http://www.earthdaydallas.org/

 

Earth Day Event, Sac and Fox Tribe of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska
Information on Clean Water Act, Clean Water Act and solid waste, as well as publications for children. About 150 students, teachers, volunteers (parents), and Tribal personnel are expected to attend.
Location: Tribal Community Center in Reserve
Date and time: Thursday, April 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact: Teresa Ausberger, 785-742-4705

 

Earth Day Highway 20 Cleanup, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas
Tribal members and EPA staff will clean up sections of the highway. Kansas Department of Transportation partners will assist by picking up bagged trash.
Location: Volunteers will meet at Goldfinch Road in Horton
Date and time: Friday, April 22, 8:30 a.m. to noon
Contact: Luke Terry, 785-486-2601 (ext. 1)

2011 Mountain Area Earth Day Fair
April 23, 2011
Evergreen Lake House, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
29614 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen, Colorado

Stapleton United Neighbors (SUN) Sustainability Committee Earth Day Event
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Stapleton Central Park, 1–5 p.m.
8601 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Denver, Colorado

Billings: Party for the Planet at ZooMontana
Friday, April 22, 2011 10:00 am—3:00 pm
2100 South Shiloh Road, Billings, MT; 406-652-8100
ZooMontana’s three grizzly cubs will be making their public debut this Earth Day! Admission is only $3.25 when you bring an aluminum can or used cell phone! The Billing’s Heights’ Lions Club will be hosting a BBQ, selling both hamburgers and hotdogs, provided by Costco Wholesale, throughout the afternoon, raising additional funds for the Zoo. A portion of the proceeds from the Summer Snow group, who will be selling flavored shaved Ice, will also benefit the zoo.

Helena: Environmental Discovery Day, April 28, 2011
North lawn of the Montana State Capitol, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Targeted age range: 8–14 years old (4th–9th graders)
Environmental Discovery Day flyer

Missoula: Wilderness Yard Sale- Everything's Free!
Saturday April 23, 2011, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute will be having a FREE yard sale in their building parking lot, located on the UM Campus on Beckwith street. Come see what you can find!

Zion Canyon 7th Annual Earth Day Celebration - Utah
Saturday, April 23, 2011
1212 Zion Park Boulevard, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

2011 Earth and Ocean Festival at Keauhou, Hawaii- http://www.kona-kohala.com/2010-Events/2010-earth-day-fair-at-keauhou.html

Help Keep Phoenix Beautiful on Earth Day 2011! - http://phoenixrecycles.org/

Tacoma-Pierce County Children's Water Festival – Washington - EPA's Dive Team presents "Diving into Puget Sound" as part of the 4th annual event, which features a day of water education for participating 5th grade classes. Held at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.
Friday, April 29, 2011
For registration information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 253-798-7683.

 

During this year's Midwest Fly Fishing Show in Michigan, one of my purposes of attending this year was to meet this years show guest "fly tyer", Mr. Al Ritt in person. Al is a member of my pro staff fishing team for http://www.fishingforacause.com/. You see, Al resides in Colorado and I live in Michigan, so we have not had a chance to meet in person until this event. (read more about my meeting Al and that event here)

One great advantage to attending any fly fishing trade show is that you can personally talk to all the vendors and discover what type of fly fishing you may want to experience next...you can create your own experience in advance - for example at the Midwest Fly Fishin Expo, I reserved a fishing trip with an expert guide, Brent Borcherdt of http://www.riverscoutflyfishing.com/  to dry fly fish for brown trout on the AuSable river in Michigan this May.

I then asked Al to use his expertise and design a few custom tied flies for this trip. I simply asked Al to talk to Brent (my dry fly fishing guide) during the show and find out what the hatch was going to be during my trip in May on the AuSable river - and then use his expertise and come up with a pattern that he felt would be effective in landing a monster brown trout.

I just received my dry flies in the mail from Al and they look marvelous!  I love them and I hope the brown trout share the same enthusiasm when I cast them out to entise them during my planned guide trip with Brent.

Here are photos of some dark hendricksons tied up by Al for my trip in May - which should be prime time for northern Michigan's hatch:

Al currently operates his own business, Al Ritt Flies. His focus is on fly fishing education through fly tying classes/lessons and guided fly fishing services.

More information about Al's guide services and classes are available on his web site, http://www.alrittflies.com/ . Al's fly designs are available from Montana Fly Company dealers, his own web site http://www.alrittflies.com/ and through http://www.myflies.com/ .  Friend him on Facebook.


Al does custom orders, just let him know qty, size and pattern!  Request your custom order at http://www.alrittflies.com/

On April 14th, 2011  She's So Fly will be attending The GET MOTIVATED Seminar at the VanAndel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mi....recommended for Company owners, Executives, Marketing, Sales, Professionals, Human Resources, Self Employed and More!  

She's So Fly recgonizes that times are tough for many, so we do all we can to learn more to inspire and motivate others to act and do for their interest such as: Fishing, Hunting, Personal, Family, Career etc.  You can read spot lights of motivational articles on the Fishing and Outdoors blog by She's So Fly like this one: How to pick yourself up during tough times

 

The GET MOTIVATED Seminar Information:

Seminar Dates and Locations include:  http://getmotivated.com/about.aspx

 

Grand Rapids, April 14

St. Louis April 27 
Cleveland May 11 
Dayton May 18 
Kansas City May 31 
Seattle June 7 

 

What is The GET MOTIVATED Seminar?

The GET MOTIVATED! Seminar is America’s #1 Business Seminar, highly acclaimed by CNN, 60 Minutes, 20/20, TIME magazine, PEOPLE magazine and every major newspaper from coast to coast. This one-day blockbuster seminar will give you ground-breaking strategies to sharpen your business skills, ignite your motivation, accelerate your effectiveness and increase your income! Millions of people attend our events with one good reason: there is nothing like it anywhere! Our world-renowned speakers appear LIVE ON-STAGE to provide you a full day of hundreds of proven ideas, formulas and success keys. GET MOTIVATED! is guaranteed to help you and your organization reach new heights of success. You'll be inspired, enlightened, motivated, trained and entertained by America's foremost success experts!

 

(Listed above are the speakers for the Grand Rapids, Mi Seminar - the speakers vary per seminar, so be sure to check the website to see who would be speaking in your area)

 

What Will I Learn?

Business leaders, Fortune 500 companies, educators, business owners, salespeople, medical professionals, and people from every walk of life have rely on the GET MOTIVATED Seminar as their tool to recharge. The topics we cover include time management, team building, leadership, personal development, goal achievement, sales training, negotiation skills, financial management, investing, relationships, health and fitness, spiritual success, business strategies, motivation, customer service, communication skills, productivity, and much, much more!

Attending the GET MOTIVATED Seminar is one of the best career moves you could ever make! At The GET MOTIVATED Seminar you will gain amazing new skills that will change your life!

 

• How to be Better, Faster, and Different than Your Competition
• The Top 3 Skills High Achievers Must Master
• 7 Ways to Keep Your Customers Coming Back for Life

Why Should I Attend?

Here are just four of the THOUSANDS of great reasons you should attend the GET MOTIVATED Seminar:

1. BUILD YOUR SKILLS, INCREASE YOUR INCOME... AND GAIN REAL JOB SECURITY

In today’s economy, it’s critical that you continually increase your value to your employer. If you are a business owner, the need is even greater — the profitability of your company (and your very survival) is at stake. You have to outsell, outsmart and out-produce the competition. The GET MOTIVATED Seminar will help you get the edge on you competition! You will get the secrets to becoming an indispensable asset, attaining greater job security, securing career advancement and increasing your income exponentially! By attending the GET MOTIVATED Seminar you will gain profit-producing strategies, cutting-edge career skills and personal development tools that will increase your productivity and effectiveness… enabling you to exceed both your personal and professional goals!

2. NETWORK WITH THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS

In addition to gleaning indispensable, career-building tools from the success experts, you’ll also have an amazing opportunity to network with other success-minded professionals who attend The GET MOTIVATED Seminar. In business, achieving success often is determined by “who you know.” GET MOTIVATED gives you the rare privilege of developing professional relationships with other key business leaders and rising stars like yourself. The results? Just watch your career and business grow!

 
Thousands of people attend each power-packed, full-day extravaganza! This show is so HOT it sizzles! Your life will be changed and you will leave refreshed, ready to rise to the top of the pack and achieve your dreams. Everyone who’s anyone will be there! Will you? You can bet your bottom dollar that your competition will be at this event — and they’re bringing their whole team for the best business training on earth! Will they outpace your business? You can't afford to miss this! Call 1-800-880-7058 to reserve your seats today!

3. HAVE FUN, RECHARGE AND FOCUS ON YOUR SUCCESS

You spend your entire life focusing on others — making everyone else’s life better! This is one day where you can have fun, reflect, recharge, plan, focus on your goals and take your life to the next level! Bottom line: it’s all about YOU! We promise you this — you’ll have a FANTASTIC day!

4. RETURN TO WORK WITH NEW DETERMINATION AND MOTIVATION

From time to time we all need to pull back from the maddening pace and take a personal day to rekindle the fire of determination. The GET MOTIVATED Seminar is your opportunity to do just that! We call this the Slingshot Principle: when you pull back it looks like you’re losing ground, but that’s what it takes to really fly! The GET MOTIVATED Seminar is a power-packed, daylong catalyst that will catapult you to greater levels of achievement, prosperity and success!

 

 

 

Join us weekends, May through July, and learn fly-fishing basics, FREE.

Fly fishing 101 Now’s your chance to learn fly fishing basics in one of our free fly fishing 101 classes. Free lessons on fly casting and outfit rigging. Fly Fishing 201 If you’ve already completed Fly Fishing 101, you’re ready for the next step. Join us for a short outing on local water for a chance to catch your first fish! A nominal fee for the outing may apply. Contact your local store for more information on the outing. Event Dates May 21 May 22 May 28 May 29 June 11 June 12 June 18 June 19 July 02 July 03 July 09 July 10 Event Dates June 04 June 05 June 25 June 26 July 16 July17 If you're looking for a great way to get the family together outside, our FF101 class is the perfect event to get started. Fly fishing is a sport the whole family can participate in. All ages are welcome to attend the event, but those under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Bring the whole family and learn what this great sport is all about. Upon Completion of the Courses You will receive special in-store offers valid toward purchase of Orvis products and a Free Trout Unlimited membership a $35 value. Space is limited in these classes, Please RSVP to one of the participating locations in your state to reserve your space.

 

Every Drop Counts!

We live in a watery world, with the average American lifestyle fueled by nearly 2,000 gallons of H2O a day.

What may come as a surprise is that very little of that—only five percent—runs through toilets, taps, and garden hoses at home. Nearly 95 percent of your water footprint is hidden in the food you eat, energy you use, products you buy, and services you rely on.

Find out your water footprint, then pledge to dry it out, joining other nationalgeographic.com users who have already committed to saving thousands of gallons.

So far there have been 7,617 pledges and a total of 1,396,709 gallons of water pledged. The more we save, the more water we leave for healthy ecosystems and a sustainable future.

Water-saving facts and tips

Water calculator sources and credits

Why Care About Water?

The National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative is a multi-year global effort to inspire and empower individuals and communities to conserve freshwater and preserve the extraordinary diversity of life that rivers, lakes, and wetlands sustain.

Rivers and their tributaries are the veins of the planet, pumping freshwater to wetlands, lakes and the sea and supporting thousands of species, including us. Learn more about these critical aquatic ecosystems and how to protect and restore them.

Lower your water footprint by making small changes to your dishwashing, gardening, eating, and consumption habits. Then see how local conservation connects to the preservation of rivers and wetlands globally. Visit National Geographic's water footprint calculator (link is above).

 

Note from She's So Fly - Please let us all try to do our part and preserve water for future generations to come!

 

 

By David Figura/The Post-Standard The Post-Standard

 

The following is a press release from the Oswego County Tourism Office:
The Tug Hill/Black River Chapter of Trout Unlimited in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will sponsor a two-day fly fishing seminar for women May 14 and 15 on the Salmon River in Altmar.

Instructor Lindsay Agness said the seminar is geared exclusively for women who want to improve their fly fishing skills.

“It will cover instruction from beginner to advanced stages of fly-fishing, fly fishing tips and tactics, and hands-on instruction pertaining to Lake Ontario tributary-style fishing, which can also be applied to many other streams, creeks and rivers,” said Agness.

The seminar takes place in a relaxed atmosphere at the NYS DEC Salmon River Fish Hatchery, 2133 Co. Rte. 22, Altmar. Students will learn how stream entomology applies to tying flies that fish species may consume, beginner and intermediate fly-tying, and how to rig and make advanced fly casts using traditional fly rods and reels.

“There will be highly skilled experienced female and male instructors on hand to provide guidance so everyone has ample opportunities to learn,” said Agness. “The course will encompass indoor and outdoor classroom settings as well as actual fishing in the Salmon River for trout and other freshwater species.”

Classes will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

The deadline to register is April 30. Registration is $20 per day and $35 for both days. Participants must be age 18 or older and have a current New York State fishing license. Class size will be limited to 20 students.

The seminars will be held rain or shine. Participants should dress for the weather and bring bug repellant and sun block as needed. Waders are recommended but not necessary. However, anglers should wear adequate hip boots if not wearing waders, as the water temperatures may still be chilly in mid-May. Equipment will be available at the seminar, but those who have a good working fly rod set-up should bring it.

Pre-registrations can be e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text39812 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with “Women’s Fly Seminar c/o Lindsay Agness TU” in the subject line. Checks should be made payable to “Tug Hill/Black River Chapter of TU” and mailed to Lindsay Agness, TU Seminars, 60 Monroe St., Honeoye Falls, NY 14472. Those with questions may e-mail Agness at the above address.

For current fishing conditions and Oswego County visitor information, go to the county tourism Web site or call the Oswego County Tourism Office at 1-800-248-4FUN or 315-349-8322.

 

This year's Midwest Fly Fishing Show in Michigan had a great turn out.  One purpose of attending this year was to meet this years show guest "fly tyer", Mr. Al Ritt in person.  Al is a member of my pro staff fishing team for http://www.fishingforacause.com/.  You see, Al resides in Colorado and I live in Michigan, so we have not had a chance to meet in person until this past weekend.

Al was busy tying many flies during the shows two day event.  Custom flies are what bring many fly anglers to this show.  I personally love to learn what new patterns that the expert vendors come up with, because I simply don't have enough time in my busy work schedule and personal life to learn this special art in an effective manner...soo I really appreciate and respect Al's talents and expertise!

Al currently operates his own business, Al Ritt Flies. His focus is on fly fishing education through fly tying classes/lessons and guided fly fishing services. More information about Al's guide services and classes are available on his web site, http://www.alrittflies.com/.  Al's fly designs are available from Montana Fly Company dealers, his own web site http://www.alrittflies.com/ and through http://www.myflies.com/.

One great advantage to attending the Midwest Fly Fishing Show in Michigan is that you can personally talk to all the vendors and discover what type of fly fishing you may want to experience next...you can create your own experience in advance - for example, I reserved a fishing trip with an expert guide, Brent Borcherdt of http://www.riverscoutflyfishing.com/ to dry fly fish for brown trout on the AuSable river in Michigan this May and then ordered some custom tied flies for this trip from Al.  I simply asked Al to talk to Brent during the show and find out what the hatch was going to be during my trip in May on the AuSable river - and then use his expertise and come up with a pattern that he felt would be effective in landing a monster brown trout.  I am very excited to see what he comes up with!

I want encourage communication during any trade show.  Don't be shy to approach and ask vendors to communicate with each other and help create a custom experience for you...they will be glad you did and happy to help you out...they are not all in competition with each other...they actually appreciate the fact that you are interested in all aspects of fly fishing - besides it is typical for trade show vendors to make their stay reservations at the same hotel near the event location, so they can all network after show hours etc.

So all of you fly anglers... if any of you ever see Al at a fly fishing trade show, please go up and talk to him and ask him questions about his product / services and learn more about fly tying patterns etc, he is a great guy and would be happy to assist you and make you a few custom flies!

Al Ritt Bio:
Growing up in Michigan I fished as long as I can remember. While living in northern California in the early 1980's I began fly fishing almost exclusively, just shortly after I began tying flies. In 1989 I moved to the northern front range of Colorado where I currently reside. Most of my fishing is in Colorado and Wyoming for trout, but I also enjoy traveling and have made multiple trips to Ascension Bay in Mexico for bonefish and permit, Alaska for trout and salmon, and several states for various trout and warm water species.

While working in the robotics and industrial automation field most of my career, I have also worked for 2 large outdoor equipment retailers and for a local fly shop. Currently I work for PEAK Fishing handling Sales, Marketing, Service, and Product Development for their fly tying and rod building product lines. I've taught fly tying since 1995 both for area fly shops and independently for individuals and small groups. I've also guided and taught fly fishing since 2004. I am currently a pro team member for PEAK Fishing, Whiting Farms, Fishing For A Cause and Flymen Fishing Company. My fly designs have appeared in several books including Colorado Trout Flies by Todd Hosman Streamside Press), 100 Best Flies for Montana Trout by Thomas R Pero (Wild River Press), Modern Midges by Rick Takahashi and Jerry Hubka (Headwater Books) and 100 Best Flies for Colorado Trout by Thomas R Pero (Wild River Press). I have written articles for Fly Fishing and Tying Journal and Hatches Magazines.

Currently I also operate my own business, Al Ritt Flies. The focus is on fly fishing education through fly tying classes/lessons and guided fly fishing services. More information about my guide services and classes is available on my web site, www.alrittflies.com . My fly designs are available from Montana Fly Company dealers, my own web site www.alrittflies.com and through www.MyFlies.com.

Note from She's So Fly:  I would like to personally thank Al for all his efforts in making the sport of fly fishing more successful and interesting!

View photos of some dark hendrickson dry flies Al tied for my trip here