Fly Casting with Custom Tied
Saturday, May 25, 2013
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

George Hammond, licensed Pennsylvania Fishing Guide, of Custom-Tied Flies and Guide Service will be teaching how to tie four types of flies. You'll learn how to tie a nymph, dry fly, wet fly and a streamer. Nothing adds to the fly fishing experience like fooling fish with something that you made with your own hands! Bring a bagged lunch and plan to enjoy the day!

Cost is $45.00 for Members, $55.00 for Non-members

Pre-registration required.

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When I arrived at the creek, I walked down to the water's edge, slapping a few bushes along the way. I was excited to see bugs, from yesterday's hatch, take flight. As I looked down the creek to the head of the first pool; I saw a trout rising to feed on the emerging insects. The downstream breeze on my face was favorable. I was stoked.

I put on my gear and removed a tan emerger mayfly pattern from my fly box. A few steps to the stream, a couple of knots, and I was daring that fish to grab my bug. This day that had started with a grimace about frost on my windshield had quickly turned into a cry of joy as that first fish latched on and ran with my fly. This feeling was the culmination of a process that began many weeks ago in February when the close of the extended season ended my trips to this stream. It is a process that begins much the same way every time I am privileged to get a line wet.

Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve is perched between Middle and Swamp Creeks. Both streams support healthy populations of mayflies, stone flies, and caddis flies. They also both sport crayfish, sow bugs, cress bugs, and fresh water shrimp. This is all food for Pennsylvania's State Fish.

With its greenish back and white tipped fins the Brook Trout is not really a trout at all, it's actually a Char. That doesn't really matter to the thousands of anglers a year that hunt these fish throughout our great Commonwealth.

The PA Fish and Boat Commission (PAFBC), in conjunction with educational programs all over the state, has instituted a program entitled, "Trout in the Class room." This program teaches our youth about the life cycle of our state fish, from egg to adult, and the environments they inhabit. "The Hill" offers many other opportunities for the budding angler to learn about streams, environments, insects, and fish. Information about all of our programs is available at our web site www.strawberryhill.org. On May 25th and August 3rd we are offering a chance to learn how to cast flies to fish. On 9 November we are offering a chance to learn how to tie your own flies. They are being taught by one of our Local Fly Fishing Instructors, B. George Hammond of Custom-Tied Flies and Guide Service. www.custom-tied.com.

Chasing trout in our Commonwealth's water ways is a wonderful way to spend a day, morning, evening or afternoon. These fish require fresh, cold, well oxygenated water and cannot tolerate pollution of any type. It so happens that the places they call home is some of the most beautiful terrain in the state. Lush meadows filled with red winged black birds, turtles, and blue skies; quiet dense forests populated by squirrels, mink, turkey, and deer. The angler will experience the true meaning of life holding on to the handle of a fly rod. Using imagination and ingenuity to present an imitation of food with accuracy and poise is nothing short of spine tingling. Give us a call and sign up for a course. We will show you the gate way to a whole new side of life. Welcome to spring in Pennsylvania.

Article by: George Hammond