Here are some quick bits from the trout world to ponder as you head into the weekend.
1) Reading, Writing, and Roll Casts? The American Fly Fishing Trade Association this week announced a partnership with the National Fishing in Schools Program that will enable local fly shops to build grassroots educational programs that reach into schools. The hope is that the effort might mirror the success of the National Archery in Schools Program, which is widely credited with cultivating new generations of archers by teaching fundamentals in schools. This is one of the sharpest initiatives AFFTA has undertaken in recent years, and we hope the program is hugely successful. Goodness knows, anything that helps expose young kids to the wonders of fishing is a timely and great thing.
2) ICAST a hit. This past week saw the world’s largest fishing trade show unfold in Orlando, and if attendance and new product introductions are a fair indicator of the state of the fishing world, things are definitely looking up. The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) expo boasted an attendance increase of 23 percent, and a host of innovative new products. Of particular interest to fly fishers are Simms new line for 2013, including some remarkably supple 5-ply Gore-Tex waders, rain jackets, and fishing apparel. G.Loomis is out with new NRX rod models, and St. Croix has interesting new models as well. Stay tuned for more detailed information to come once we’ve had a chance to test these products.
3) Orvis to sell tenkara rods. Whether you think tenkara (a traditional Japanese form of fly fishing that doesn’t involve a reel on the rod) is a fad or not, you’re definitely going to be seeing a lot more of it. Tenkara USA and Orvis recently struck a deal under which the megabrand from Vermont will sell tenkara rods through its various outlets. Tenkara rods are less expensive than most fly rods, and their simplicity makes angling for trout a unique and rewarding challenge. If you haven’t given tenkara a whirl, you should.
4) Hatch Happenings… We’re getting word that some of the West’s most prolific Pale Morning Dun hatches are starting to unfold. Let us know if you see something special …
5) TROUT magazine accepting stories for the fall issue. We’re in the final phases of putting together the Fall 2012 issue of TROUT magazine, which reaches all TU members throughout the country. Without spilling the beans entirely, we will tell you that the next issue will be noticeably “salmon flavored.” If any of our grassroots volunteers and chapter members have any news items for consideration in the Pocket Water or Actionline sections of the magazine, please feel free to forward a submission to me via email, kdeeter@tu.org. I’ll be accepting ideas through next week, then it will be on to the winter issue (hard to imagine in the heat of July).
Good luck fishing out there this weekend. Be sure to bring a friend along!
