Ithaca Fishing Day

 Ithaca fishing day is this Saturday.  Here is some info about it.  I will be there until probably from 8 (Doors open at 9:00am) until 1:00 helping out.
Ithaca Fishing Day looks like it is really going to build on the successes we have had over the past three years!  As you must all know by now, this event invites the community to come and experience a day of fishing and cold water environmental education.  The event is free to the public and any proceeds raised benefit our Chapter’s youth environmental education activities, primarily our Trout in the Classroom program.
 
As always, we will feature special programs by noted local authorities on a variety of interesting topics, free fly-casting (beginning at 11:00 am) and fly-tying instruction, as well as offer unique opportunities to learn fishing and fly tying tips from masters from around the region.  A variety of local and regional vendors will be on hand with a wide variety of their goods for sale.
 
As of this date, Mad River Fly Tying, Badger Creek Fly Tying, JW Trout, and Top Line Lures and Tackle have confirmed their attendance.  Carl, Mike and John all sell a variety of unique supplies that are useful in fly fishing and fly tying.  New this year, is Top Line Lures and Tackle, who specialize in custom jigs and other conventional tackle, as well as taxidermist Kevin Raymond  from Just Fish Taxidermy who specializes in fish mounts.
We have five confirmed exhibitors, including: the Izaak Walton League of America Cortland Field Archers; the Twin Tiers Five Rivers Chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers; the New York State DEC, the Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Project and members of our Trout in the Classroom Program.  
 
Members of the Twin Tiers Five Rivers Chapter of the FFF will assist us with providing introductory fly tying lessons and will also have members tying flies throughout the day.  They will also have some fly fishing and fly tying materials for sale for the benefit of their Chapter.
 
Joe Cambridge and Carol Farkas will be providing casting instructions (beginning at 11:00 am) and many of our members will be sitting down at the vise throughout the event to provide fly-tying instructions to any and all who are interested.  Most notably, Ed Thomas will be tying (and selling) flies throughout the days with all proceeds being donated to the Chapter to support our youth activities.  Finally, Phil Koons will be demonstrating his knowledge of stream ecology with specimens collected at local streams.  He will also be providing information on entomological reference books and materials that may be useful when preparing to fly fish.
We have two scheduled seminars at Ithaca Fishing Day.  At 11:00 our own Chris Stull and Richard Andrews will give a talk titled, “An Introduction to Fly Fishing in the Finger Lakes.” This presentation offers an overview of fly fishing and is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about the sport.  At 1:30, DEC Fisheries Biologist James Everard will talk about “Fish Identification in the Finger Lakes Region.”  I have not seen this presentation but am interested in hearing James talk.
Not that anyone needs a reminder but I will offer one anyway, this event is the major fund raising activity for the Chapter’s youth related activities, primarily the Trout in the Classroom program.   We are having one fly custom built (size and weight to be determined) that will be paired with a Cortland Line Company reel and line for our major raffle.  We also feature an extensive raffle table that gives everyone the opportunity to walk out of the event with some new gear to try out on those Spring-run rainbows.   This year the raffles are being supported by several local and regional businesses including: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Eastern Mountain Sports, Badger Creek Fly Tying and Wegman's Grocery Store.
 
For those of you interested in purchasing a fly rod, the Chapter will have a selection