Quick Hits

The time of year has come again, when days are getting long, waters are warming up, and the spey hatch is blooming. For all those addicted to the great sport (?) of spey casting and double handed rods, here are two awesome events to attend in the upcoming months.

Michael & Young Flyshop's Annual Spey Day

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Over the past 5 years, M&Y's free spey day has grown and grown, while still maintaining a easy, low key atmostphere. For those of you unfamiliar with our spey day, there is nothing for sale at this event, which means all you have to worry about is how many combos you can manage to try throughout the day. This event is designed to appeal to everyone, whether you haven't even tried spey casting yet, want to learn the technique for your single hand rod, or have been using a double hander for years. No pressure, no expectations, just a great learning environment and an opportunity to try out rods and lines.

This year we are pleased to have Steve Rajeff and Steve Choate return to wow us with their demonstrations, and offer their tips and encouragement with our own casting. As always, a FREE barbeque lunch will be provided and there will be a draw for some great prizes; the one to watch out for is the Hatch Pulse 9 Mid Arbor reel, generously donated by Hatch Outdoors.

Location: Peg Leg Bar, Chilliwack, BC (directions)

Start Time: 8:00 am

~Vendors~

Sage

Scott

G. Loomis

Redington

CND

Winston

TFO

Echo

Airflo

Rio

3M Scientific Anglers

and more....

For more information, contact the shop via email - info@myflyshop.com or phone - (604) 588-2833

Sandy River Spey Clave

May 14-16, 2010

The mother of all spey claves, the Sandy River Clave is an action packed weekend with demos, presentations, and lots of gear to drool over. This year the Friday (May 14) is once again devoted to the ladies, with a number of great presentions by some incredible women - Kateri Clay, Amy Hazel, Mia Sheppard, Denise Maxwell, Dawn Fischer-Chou, Whitney Gould, Nicole Darland, Mary Ann Dozer, Katherine Hart, Anne Tatum,  and Rachel Andras. Oh, and me. The Saturday and Sunday will follow the usual format of great meals, great presentations, and lots of fun.

For more information please go  to http://www.flyfishusa.com/spey-clave.htm

I Have A Confession.

I often think that most fly fishers must have some degree of an obsessive personality. For some its with gear, collecting rods or reels one after the other. With others its tying material, with desk drawers and tupperware containers bursting with fur and feathers and more on the way home from the shop. Flies are a good one, especially my fanatical chironomid fishing buddies, some of who literally have thousands of bugs. Others find their obsession not in the material aspects of fishing, but in fish themselves and the waters they inhabit. Who can argue that steelheaders aren't obsessed? Or that you won't dream about that perfect trout stream for months after your trip, or yearn for that one shot at that elusive permit?

Obsession manifests itself in many weird and wonderful ways with fly anglers. I have to admit I am fully enthralled with fly fishing in its entirety. I love the fish, I dream about fishing and casting, I'm a broke but happy gear slut, flies fascinate me, I'm as much of a sucker for yummy tying material as the next guy, and I sink into a state of depression if I don't get out on the water often. But though I've always known it somewhere deep inside, I hadn't fully realized that I have a particular fishing obsession, that really has no bearing on my ability to fish.

Here is my confession: I am obsessed with hats. In particular, hats for fishing.

I'm moving next week, and tonight I had the intention of doing some packing. I had a couple hats to put back on my bookshelf that I turned into my hat rack, and in doing so took a good look at my collection. I realized that most were stacked two or three deep. So I took them down, one by one, and here is what I discovered:

I own 60 assorted hats, visors, tank hats and toques (beanies, I think, for my neighbours to the south).

I have 8 Sage ball caps and 1 toque.

I have 14 Loomis ball caps and 1 toque.

3 Simms, 3 Scott, 3 Ross Reels, and 5 Michael & Young Ball Caps.

A number of precious onsies, including a No Pebble Mine hat, a Trout Bums hat from the Patagonia movie party in Whistler, a camo Ruth's Chris Steak House hat (ha, I don't eat meat, but apparently this is heaven on earth for steak lovers - their sides, I can testify, are incredible!) and a Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society hat.

12 of them are in various states of camo.

9 are pink.

4 of those pink are Loomis.

Is it wrong that I want more?

I am obsessed.

Spey Rods, Spey Reels, and Lines - Oh My!

Have you ever been to a spey clave/spey day/spey gathering? I've been to several - all the M&Y ones and the past two Sandy River Claves. What are these events, you ask? Here is my interpretation: a gathering of like minded individuals to watch, learn, cast and meet new friends. There is an incredible mix of experience levels, from the rank beginner who has barely single hand cast let along thought about spey cast, to some of the best casters in the world. These events are not intimidating in the least - everyone is there for the same reason.

Last year's event.

The M&Y Spey Day started off small - around 50 anglers attended the first year and grew to nearly 200 in attendence throughout the day last year. As usual, we will be having this year's clave at Peg Leg Bar on the Fraser River in Chilliwack, around 20 minutes from the Sumas border crossing and 15 minutes from the Vedder River. The day will start at around 9am and wrap up between 4 and 5pm. This year the executive chef from Queen Charlotte Lodge has kindly volunteered to whip up some fabulous breakfast for everyone (be there at 9:30!) and as usual we will be providing a bbq lunch.

A crowd gathers to watch a demonstration.

Featured demonstrators this year are Tim Rajeff of Rajeff Sports (Echo, Airflo), Steve Choate (world champion spey caster) and Steve Rajeff (G.Loomis rod designer and undisputed best distance caster ever). The day's itinerary hasn't been finalized yet, but there will be several other demonstrations throughout the day.

Product reps such as Chris Seipio (G. Loomis, Airflo, Ross, TFO), Peter Morrison (Sage, Rio), Al Belheumer (Scientific Anglers), Jack Cook (Guideline), Pro Staffers Roger Baker (Scott, Hatch), Tyler Kushnir (CND), Dan McCrimmon (Guideline), M&Y staff Ryan Heitz, Dave O'Brien, Aaron Goodis, Tim Arsenault, Lawrence Vanderven, Steve Morrow and myself will all be on hand to help you out, whether it be matching a line to your rod, finding a new rod, trying a new cast, or just learning to cast in the first place. There will not be any product for sale at this event! The idea is to have a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere - so you don't feel any pressure to pull out your wallet. All the reps and pro staffers will have demo lines and rods to try, so make sure you bring your waders and boots!

Way Yin captivates the crowd.

Directions to Peg Leg Bar can be found here. If you have any questions call the shop at 1-800-663-6407 or email info@myflyshop.com