WCCC to Offer Fly Fishing Workshops
“The great charm of fly-fishing is that we are always learning,” said Theodore Gordon, a writer that enjoyed fishing in the Catskills region. Those who are interested in learning how to fly fish or how to improve their skill at it are invited to participate in two fly fishing workshops in October, hosted by Washington County Community College’s Outdoor Adventure Center.
This is the third time this year that the college has held these particular workshops, and they have been repeatedly proven popular with the community. The first set of workshops was held in the spring, and the second was in the summer. The fall series will take place on Friday, October 13th, and on Saturday, October 30th.
The fall is the ideal time of year to fish for salmon, according to Todd Cushing, the instructor that will be leading both workshops. Cushing, who runs the Plumbing and Heating program at the college, is also a registered guide in the Grand Lake Stream area.
The workshop on Friday, October 13th will run from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and it will take place entirely at the college. It will be a dry-land workshop instructing participants on their casting techniques. It is perfectly suited to beginners, but those who have some experience fly fishing will be given specific instruction on improving their techniques. All equipment will be included. The minimum age requirement of the dry land workshop is 8 years old, and the maximum number of participants is 12. The fee to participate is $20.
On Saturday, October 30th, participants will meet at the college to travel together to Grand Lake Stream. The day-long workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Upon arriving at the stream, participants will learn how to find fish in a river environment, how to present the fly, set the hook, and land a fish. The minimum age for this workshop is 12 years old. Participants wishing to attend the stream fishing workshop must have attended a dry land casting workshop (such as the one on Oct. 13th) in the past. The maximum number of participants is 8. The stream workshop will cost $40.
All necessary equipment will be provided for both workshops.
The fly fishing workshop series is part of the Outdoor Adventure Center’s efforts to expand its offerings beyond the traditional programming it has conducted. “We’re branching into new areas. This was one where there was a lot of interest,” said Scott Fraser, Director of the Outdoor Adventure Center. He adds that there are now fly fishing poles and waders available for the public to rent at the center.
Fly fishing is catching on at the campus itself with the man-made pond having been recently stocked with 100 brook trout. It is designated as a fly-fishing only pond; right now, it is only open to students. There are typically a few students out there on Fridays and Saturdays, Fraser reports.
To register for either or both of the fly fishing workshops, visit www.wccc.me.edu/oac and click on “Fly Fishing Workshop” on the left. For more information, contact Scott at 454-1031.