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News - Central Oregon Fishing Reports
Written by Gabe Parr   
Saturday, July 24 2010 12:59
Flyfishing 101 from Orvis and Trout Unlimited.  What would be better than introducing a new person to flyfishing while at the same time speaking to them about conservation of the resource they will be using?  I can't think of a better program out there, especially since we are lucky enough to have the only 18 hole casting course in North America.  The Casting Course at the Old Mill in Bend was created by a partnership with Orvis and the property owners of the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon.

Over the past few weeks an initiative created in partnership with Orvis and Trout Unlimited has fostered this unique program nationwide.  Trout Unlimited currently has over 400 chapters nationwide, and Orvis has over 100 locations participating in this program.  While all of us were hoping this program would be successful, I don't think anyone expected the type of success it has had. Here in Bend we thought this program would allow us to expose this sport to a target rich environment, and to date we have had an average of 20 people per day each weekend this July.  I have heard that some of the Orvis stores throughout the nation have had as many as 50 people per day, and that Trout Unlimited has taken in over 700 new members from it.  Did anyone expect this to be this successful as well as this much fun?  I was certainly skeptical from the beginning.  The satisfaction I have personally taken from this has been the ability to engage with youth and a diverse group of individuals from all walks of life who have always thought of taking it up, but thought it would be too difficult to learn.

Young and old, rich and poor, it doesn't matter.  Fishing is fishing.  You want to be out there on the river or lake relaxing and taking it all in - that is the bottom line (so to speak).  All it takes to get excited about this program is to see a kids face light up when he or she starts to get in tune with a fly rod.  Those of us who have been doing this for a little while feel it, but how does someone pass that feeling along?  Teach, tutor, volunteer some time and find that same feeling oozing out of the person next when they get a perfect pick up and lay down on a fly rod.  I have seen it, I have felt it - and I am getting addicted to how it makes me feel.

More than once this month, I have heard from people how their grandfather left them a fly rod, or they got one for a birthday and its been sitting around collecting dust until now.  All they wanted was some one to show them how to use it.  That is what this program is all about.  Let's take away the mystery for them, remind them why they love the outdoors and fishing.  It is a state of mind and a feeling of peace we are hoping to give them and share our experiences with.

As a Trout Unlimited volunteer, it has been even more rewarding because we are able to pass along the message of conserving this resource to a new person who is now excited to engage this new favorite resource with some knowledge and respect for it.  With a little help from us they learn more about fly fishing, and we impart an important message.  Now it is up to all of us that have welcomed in these new members of our conservation family to continue to encourage them to be part of our group.  My message to each person I talked to was simple, "Get involved however you feel you can.  Even if its not with our organization.  If there is another group in your area that wants to make sure future generations have a wonderful natural resource to walk around in, help them by volunteering or engaging them in some way."

Again, here in Bend we are lucky.  We have a unique casting course that has been built in to the landscape to simulate real world casting problems and skills you might need when you are out there.  You want to perfect your Roll Cast?  We got holes for that.  You want to improve your Double Haul or Single Haul along with its accuracy?  We got holes for that.  You want to test out and improve your D-Loop or other Spey Cast?  We got holes for that.  Trying to get your Curve Cast dialed in for that spot you just haven't been able to reach?  We got holes for that too.

With the success of this program, some might say. "Great, now there's going to be a bunch of newbies crowding my spot!"  Too bad you feel that way, because I feel exactly the opposite.  My feeling is, "Great!  Now I have that many more people I might be able to go fish with some day!"  Not only that, but because we are introducing these people to the sport, along with speaking to them why its important to protect and respect this resource, we are creating a mindset of stewardship and responsibility while showing them how to have a good time out there on the water.

If you would like to find out more about The Casting Course at the Old Mill you can click here.  Also, we are having a Casting Fundraiser on this course August 13-15 where the top tournament and professional casters from around the world will be showing up to take a bite out of over $10,000 in cash and prizes by clicking here. 
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Last Updated on Friday, December 03 2010 20:49
 
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