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The Virginia Fly Fishing Festival is among the biggest events of its kind.
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Anglers in the greater Washington, DC, area have a great fly-fishing weekend coming up. First, tomorrow is the annual Jim Range National Casting Call, sponsored by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. The event is designed to provide government decision-makers with the opportunity to fish for shad in the Potomac River and learn about the importance of fisheries conservation. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, the 11th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival will be held on the banks of the South River in Waynesboro, Virginia. My friend Beau Beasley, the event’s executive director, always puts together a great program for novices and experts alike.
Over on Field & Stream’s
Fly Talk blog, Kirk Deeter has taken it upon himself to rank the
top 12 fly-fishing states in the nation—a brave move, and one that’s sure to bring out the dissenters. I won’t ruin the surprise; go see which state he chose as number 1.
Didymo, or rock snot, is much in the news these days, and it seems that the invasive algae have spread to
yet another famous river—the Farmington in Connecticut. “This find is very troubling,” DEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette said in a press release. “Extensive blooms of this organism can harm the river ecosystem and decrease its recreational and economic value.”
A couple of weeks ago, we noted that Florida fisheries managers had taken the first steps toward making bonefish a catch-and-release species. On April 7, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it official: as of July 1, anglers will no longer be able to keep bonefish. The rules will also allow anglers to temporarily possess a bonefish where it is caught so they can photograph and measure or weigh the fish to document a possible record catch.
In the Asbury Park Press, Joseph Sapia writes an excellent description of what Opening Day of fly-fishing season means the Garden State’s true die-hards. “I took my first fly cast in that run right there,” said Bologno, noting a spot near the gorge’s southern parking area. “I caught my first trout (at Ken Lockwood Gorge) on my birthday, 10 years old. It took me a full year to catch a trout on a fly rod.”
The Federation of Fly Fishers have created an excellent online exhibit that explores the scientific discoveries of Lewis and Clark through the fishing they experienced during their Voyage of Discovery. “Undaunted Anglers – Fishing with Lewis and Clark” describes the journey as “the grandest fishing trip of all time” and is pact with fascinating stories and historical data.
