Panorama by Chuck Vaugeois Photography © photo
From Rod of Fishing with Rod…
Thanks very much once again for committing to last Saturday’s event. It was great to see a strong fly fishing component at the show. When I was planning this event, my target was to see 2,000 people walking through that door. The final attendance count was 1,916, plus another 60 or so visitors so we are right on target. Overall the reception was very good. I think this event serves as an excellent family activity where young families can come out for the day without spending a single dollar and go home more informed about recreational fishing. As the event evolves, I hope to see it attracting more advanced anglers too by offering presentations that they may find useful. The Fraser Valley Salmon Society is committed to put this on again next year because there obviously is a demand for it. Through this educational approach, we can create the next generation of anglers, solve regional fishery issues…
I took some video footage at the event and you can see it at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Have a great spring and summer, and we will be in touch again later this year to discuss Chilliwack’s All about Fishing 2017!
Best Regards,
Rod
From Pete Caverhill…
Guys – I just wanted to say thank you for volunteering to attend this event on behalf of the Osprey Fly Fishers of BC – fly tying and fly casting. We all went into this with no idea how it would be or what it would involve.
For me, at least, it was an eye opener. Chilliwack could be considered the heart of fishing country in the Lower Mainland (and maybe even BC?). It is mainly all about the Fraser River and what it offers in terms of salmon and sturgeon (and of course the other fish as well).
I would never have thought – 1000 people through the doors by 11:00 am! So much of the attendance was families with young children. Yikes – at the Yarn Fly Rod (fly casting) location, all morning we had kids waiting (sometimes 10 deep) to come and try to make the wool line go through the hula hoop targets. The majority of participants were sub- eight year old little people (the youngest maybe 4 years). there were a few teenagers and adults.This went on throughout the day but to a lesser intensity later on. I had imagined that the yarn rods could be used to get non-fly casters to feel and see what fly casting was all about in a way that could/would translate into casting with a real fly outfit. Well… not so much! What this was, was a ton of kids who wanted to have a go at throwing these wool ‘lines’ through the hula hoops – a game! They may not have even had any understanding that what they were doing was a facsimile of ‘fly casting’. Parents stood by taking pictures/videos with their cell phones. The kids had a bucket of fun and maybe later, when their parents are showing pictures of the kid’s wool rod exploits, they will explain… “This is casting with a fly rod. It is something that you can do when you are older to have fun and appreciate the outdoors.”
For me, Chilliwack was another learning experiment in the world of fly casting. Yarn Indoor Practice Fly Rods? – their utility? For kids they may be a fun thing – a game. For older people wanting to become better fly anglers, they will have utility along with the theory and instruction of fly casting – another tool!
I’ll finish this off with real thanks to several member of the LOONS who stepped up to help me with the kids at the wool rod station – without Marie Boyer (especially!), Jim White and Richard Mayer, we’d have been in deep doo doo trying to deal with the huge rush of kids who wanted to try the wool rods.
Thanks!
Pete
For slideshows on Chilliwack’s All About Fishing, click here
The LOONS Flyfishing Club
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