This update was forwarded by Randy Wilson and we thought we would pass it along:

“We are now less then two months from the Spey Clave and counting down. We presently have seven guest tyers that will be tying some of thier favourite salmon and steelhead patterns in the event tent through out the day. We have confrimation with six instructors that will be doing casting/fishing demos in Steve Rajeff, David Bishop, Courtney Ogilvie, Doug Swift, Larry Halyk and Rick Kustich. I am working on a few possible additions to the demos and will post them as the are confirmed. During the day we will have brief talks from the three Larrys. Larry Halyk will talk about On Stream Fishing Etiquette, Larry Mellors will discuss the Grand River Fisheries Management Plan and Larry McGratton will talk about The Friends of the Grand River and their on going efforts and projects on the river.

Mike Verhoef will be set up along the river bank with his rods and gear to work one on one through the day with people with their casting. Work and planning for this Clave began last Fall and it is slowly but surely all coming together. Look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Cheers & thanks,Randy

For more information on the Spey Clave please go to www.grandriverspey.ca/

Many who read yesterday’s blog entry may have thought to themselves, “The Conestogo River – they’re kidding?” We weren’t.

Long considered a warm water fishery, the Conestogo River was identified as one of 42 ‘best bets’ in the Grand River Fisheries Management Plan for the stocking of brown trout. If you are not aware, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources started a new 5 year stocking plan on the Conestogo in the spring of 2010 that added 14,750 brown trout, 13,000 yearling and 45,000 fry to the river. Stocking took place again this year and will continue in the coming years with the hope that these fish will be able to thrive in the cool waters between the Conestogo Dam and the town of St. Jacobs. Some of the partners who have been working behind the scenes on this valuable project include the Friends of the Grand, KW Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited Canada and the Grand River Conservation Authority. If you would like more information on the Conestogo River please contact MNR District Biologist Ken Cornelisse at 519-826-6849 or Brad Knarr of the Conestogo River Enhancement Workgroup (CREW) at 519-747-1824.

On a final note, we are told that the best brown trout fishing starts about .5 km downstream from the reservoir and there are good brown trout holes in the river as far as the the Solomon Bauman property… This is a nice stretch of river to drift so do yourself a favour: hire a guide and fish this river out of a drift boat.