Our EDUCATION classes/programs offer something for everyone
Bass Bugs — Tuesday, August 24th
This general education class will have participants tying bass bugs. The club will supply all the required tying materials, including foam body blanks that are available from retail and catalog stores. Living in a warm water area of the country gives us an opportunity to fish these flies all year long. Our local ponds are a great place to put these flies to work if you want to fish minutes from home. We have bass in excess of 2 lbs. in most of these ponds that can give you a great fight on a 5 wt. outfit. Fished in combination with a nymph like a Hare's Ear you can extend your catch to a wide variety of sun fish. In our hot weather this combination works great at "first light" and as light gives way to dark. The temperature may be high, but the burning sun has done its work, and the fish are almost always ready for an evening snack.
Contact Ron Robinson at 602.867.8820 if you have any questions.
Fall Fly Tying Classes Coming Up In September!
Summertime heat getting you down, and you need to find a way to cool off? Well then — what you need is to get yourself involved in the beginning fly tying classes starting on September 1st and continuing on the 7th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 21st, 23rd, 27th and 29th. We have come up with some great new patterns for new tyers, and even the not so new. So I hope you plan to join us, and I look forward to seeing you at the classes to learn the art of fly tying and to have a great time with other club members. You don't need to have tools or materials; we supply all the materials you will need. Simply bring your enthusiasm with you! The classes will start at 7:00 pm at the Sunnyslope Community Center.
If you have questions, please call me at 623-566-7946.
Brian Mazoyer
Free Fly Casting Clinic on Saturday, September 18th
This casting clinic will be held at Steele Indian School Park from 9 until 11 a.m. Those new to fly casting as well as those interested in improving their casting technique, will find helpful, FFF certified instructors to assist you in becoming a successful fly caster. We will have casting equipment available, or feel free to bring your own setup.
Things to Consider when Fly Tying
We are generating a list of items that should help your fly tying. We are looking for some of the simple, general and basic suggestions to make our fly tying more fun and improve our quality of flies. Some suggestions are: a) Have a comfortable chair and good lighting at your table. b) Keep a background color that allows good visibility of the material being used. c) Invite some friends over to share materials, new techniques, lies and drinks. Send your suggestions to Ron Robinson at Robinsonrs@cox.net.
One Night at Fly Tying Class...
A funny thing happened at one of the last fly tying sessions. Juanita Cason was working hard to follow each of Sara Yeager’s instructions. While Juanita toiled away Sara came by to inspect. Juanita was proud of her work. Sara was impressed. But as Sara inspected, she happened to tug at the flies wings and PULLED THEM OFF! Sara was horrified
at what she had done, and yet the more she looked at it, she could not hold back a fit of laughter. Juanita was also infected by the laughter. To make up for the misstep, Sara composed the following poem for Juanita.
Juanita’s Wingless Wonder
By Sara “pull your wing off” Yeager
I feel such sadness for your poor little flies,
Who must, without wings, live out their lives.
Whilst lying in your fly box, how dejected they feel,
Surrounded by flies looking so beautiful and real.
The other flies laugh and make fun of their looks,
Saying, “The only thing in common is our barbless hooks!”
“You’re naked and skinny, why no fish will bite…
Something so “wingless”; why you can’t even take flight!”
But, little do they know that much greatness awaits.
For your “wingless wonders” are a trout’s favorite bait.
So at the water’s edge; next time I shall ponder,
And the fly I’ll choose will be Juanita’s “wingless wonder!”
If you ever have questions about any of our classes,
feel free to give me a call at 602-867-8820.
Ron Robinson, Education Chair
NOTE: Many of our activities are held at Steele Indian School Park;
you may want to save this map.
Click HERE for a Map of Steele Indian School Park
The Arizona Flycasters Club has a very comprehensive education program. It includes both classroom and "in field" instruction by qualified members. Our classes are continually revised to include the latest information, innovations and techniques. The program has a great deal of flexibility
so that we can offer any classes our membership wants. Currently we have approximately fifty instruction events per year. This includes special seminars by nationally know fly fishing experts.
Our current class list includes the following:
• Basic Fly Tying - two sessions of 8 classes each in the spring and fall.
• Intermediate Fly Tying - eleven classes distributed over the entire year.
• Fly Casting - five formal classes throughout the year and special classes given on request.
• Rod Construction - one class, 4 sessions, early in the year.
• Net Construction - hope to offer the opportunity in the near future.
• Lanyard Class - one class given in the spring.
• Fishing Moving Water - one class given in the winter.
• Fishing Lakes - on lake classes given during monthly club trips.
• Equipment Selection and Maintenance - at least one class each year.