Please join us this weekend in the Holiday Inn Burlington for the 35th Annual Fly Fishing Forum! Admission is only $10 (each seminar is an additional $17), doors open each day at 8am and WILSON’S will have a booth at the show to promote our 2011 fly fishing education program so please come by to say hello and sign up for our free draw for admittance to our fly fishing school!
Here are some of the seminars you can attend:
BILL SPICER
Bill started fishing more than 35 years ago and after trying flyfishing 25 years ago has never looked back. Bill is an accomplished tyer, author, guide, lecturer and teacher and a FFF certified Master Fly Casting Instructor. Bill is Host of The New Fly Fishing T.V. show and has been a regular writing contributor to the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine with his casting articles. Bill has travelled extensively across North America and fly fished for most species including salt water. Bill is a passionate angler and a fixture on most area streams and symposiums, lecturing and at tying tables.Bill has an intense love for casting but would sometimes rather teach than fish and his easy bgoing nature together with his ability to make his students understand has earned him a reputation as a teacher’s teacher.
Seminars:
Fly Fishing Newfoundland and Labrador for Atlantic Salmon and Giant Brookies (seminars 21 (Sat.) & 28 (Sun.))
This talk will focus on flies, technique and the beauty of these areas. Exciting footage from The New Fly Fisher show will be included in this lecture.
Fighting Big Fish (seminars 25 (Sat.) & 24 (Sun.))
Proper technique is essential for success in fighting big fish. With the aid of footage from The New Fly Fisher show bill will explain the do’s and don’ts of fighting big fish.
JACK IMHOF
Jack is an avid angler and lifelong resident of Ontario. Jack has been fishing in Ontario since he was five years old. And fly fishing since he was seventeen. Jack’s interest in fly fishing has taken him all over Canada and the U.S. as well as England and Argentina. Jack fishes actively for trout, salmon. bass, panfish, pike ans American shad and occasionally musky.
Jack has presented fly fishing shows over the years at many Canadian Fly Fishing shows in Toronto, as well as clubs across Ontario and Canada and has published articles in various magazines. Jack was an aquatic ecologist and research scientist with the Ontario M.N.R. for 30 years ansd for the last eight years has been national biologist for T.U. Canada.Jack’s other hobbies include photography and martial arts.
Seminars:
Prospecting for Trout (seminar 31 (Sat. only))
This presentation will explore the links between geology, stream productivity and distributions. The tools presented can help the knowledgeable angler to prospect for trout around the world and determine the watersheds that have the highest potential for trout.
Natural Tendencies of Rivers (seminar 36 (Sun. only))
Rivers flow and scroll across our landscapes in various forms and patterns. Each stream form creates distinct and unique opportunities for fish. Understanding these natural tendencies of rivers can help the knowledgeable angler read the water and determine what habitat he can expect and where he will likely find fish.
MIKE VERHOEF
Mike has been chasing anything that swims for three decades and is also now entering his eighth season of guiding in S.W. Ontario. Having a number of T.V. appearances and magazine articles to his credit, there is a good chance you will be familiar with Mike’s passion and knowledge of the sport.With his upbeat personality and vast insight we are pleased to have Mike at the Forum again this year. He is always good for sharing an interesting story or two, a few secret fly recipes and coutless photographs capturing his past adventures pursuing fish with a fly.
Seminars:
Is a Two Hander for You? (seminars 1 (Sat.) & 8 (Sun.))
With the recent interest (maybe even craze) in spey or two handed rods, Mike will simplify why you should consider adding one of these weapons to your arsenal. Whether you are experience, a beginner or even just considering using a two handed rod, this seminar will offer you some insight as Mike shares his experiences of introducing numerous folks to a two hander.
Swingin’ for Summer Smallies (seminar 5 (Sat.) & 4 (Sun.))
Not imbibing midstream but a tactic Mike has nick named “swigg’in”. It has something to do with the act of swinging and using a jig fly while pursuing stream smallies and is sure to interest you. Mike will share his insight on the gear needed, the flies used and numerous photos of world class smallies caught using this tactic, which Mike says also works for trout!
STEVE WASCHER
At a very young age Steve sat and watched his father tie dry fly patterns for Western N.Y. and N.W. Pennsylvania on his old Herter’s vice.Soon thereafter Steve began tying himself. Forty five years later, Steve still approaches fly tying with a zealous enthusiasm.He has learned from tyers such as Chris Helm, Oliver Edwards, Mike Martinek Jr. and a host of others and continues to explore the limitless boundaries of the fly tying spectrum that is offered and in addition to being a demonstration tyer has had articles published in numerous magazines.
Seminars:
40 Years of Tying Tips and Tricks (seminars 23 (Sat.) & 26 (Sun.))
Whether you are a new or seasoned fly tyer, Steve has a few tricks that will certainly enhance both your ability to tie better flies and improve the durability of your flies. Steve will utilize both a power point demonstration and a hands-on tying demonstration in order to completely cover all techniques thoroughly. Steve will cover the following techniques; mastering the “parachute dry fly”, “muddled with muddlers”, showing several quick and simple variations to this already great pattern, “midge magic”, Steve will help you take the frustration out of tying small flies. The topics that will be addressed are tailing, hackling and whip finishing.
Spinning Deer Hair the “Wascher Way” (seminars 27 (Sat.) & 22 (Sun.))
As a master of the art of spinning deer hair, Steve will demonstrate a wide array of tying techniques: properly tying in a weed guard, stacking deer hair ( various colours ), spinning deer hair, trimming deer hair and selecting the best materials and deer hair. You’ll surely gain a great deal of knowledge from this unique presentation.
SHELDON SEALE
Sheldon has been fishing all his life and fly fishing for more than 20 years. He is a past president and director of the IWFFC, a long standing member of T.U. and Friends of the Grand River. He has written many articles for the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine and other periodicals. He is an instructor at the Wilson’s fly fishing school and frequently demonstrates and lectures on fly fishing and fly tying at sports shows and clubs. He has fished all over Canada, in the U.S. and Caribbean but, most of all, enjoys introducing the arts and skills of fly fishing to the public.
Seminars:
So you want to go to the Yukon? (seminars 3 (Sat.) & 6 (Sun.))
Going on the trip of a Lifetime is an exciting proposition but where do you go, what do you need to take and how do you get there ? Having just come back from such a trip, let me introduce you to fly fishing the Yukon, what you need to take and your options for getting to the fish there.This seminar will help you plan your trip and make sure you have precisely what you need to tackle the giants of the Yukon.
Knots and Leaders for Special Conditions (seminars 7 (Sat.) & 2 (Sun.)) – was “Practical knots for the fly angler”
The single most important connection between you and your fish is a knot ( or two or three ) In this seminar, I will introduce the angler to a set of knots for every occasion and special condition. This will be a hands-on program with every audience member tying along. No Bimini Twist or Ligature Knots. These are simple but effective knots and, from arbor to shock tippet, this will help insure your knot is not the weakest link.
TREVOR NOWAK
Trevor is a fisheries biologist living in Campbell River B.C. with his wife and fishing partner, Erin. Trevor was born and raised in Southern Ontario, but moved out West When he was 18 to study natural resource conservation at the University of B.C. When he was 8 years old, he learned to fly fish for brookies and Browns in the small tributaries of Georgian Bay near his parent’s farm in Grey County. His father Wally, played a crucial role in developing Trevor’s Interest in the sport by teaching him that skipping class or failing to Complete homework assignments was fine, so long as they both got to go fishing.
Trevor has guided anglers in B.C.’s central interior and the Canadian Arctic. He has been manager and head guide at Plummer’s Tree River Lodge in Nunavut for eight seasons. While his fly fishing Roots remain in Southern Ontario, Trevor has become fond of pursuing northern Salmonid species such as lake trout and Arctic char. At home in Coastal B.C. , he has shied away from chasing flagship species such as steelhead and salmon, choosing instead to pursue resident cutthroat trout, bull trout and Dolly Varden char.
Seminars:
B.C.’s Other Hatch (seminars 11 (Sat.) & 18 (Sun.))
The freshwater portion of the Pacific Salmon’s life. The spawning migration of Pacific salmon plays a vital role in the health and survival of riparian ecosystems. Resident trout and char are just a few of the many organisms benefiting from the freshwater portion of the Pacific salmon’s lifecycle. Anglers who recognize this phenomenon can be very successful in bringing lots of big trout and char to the net. Trevor will summarize the important biological role that salmon play in freshwater ecosystems. In addition Trevor will review fly patterns and techniques anglers use to catch trout and char in salmon-bearing streams.
Feather Throwing for Lakers (seminars 15 (Sat.) & 14 (Sun.))
Fly patterns and techniques for lake trout. Despite the fact that lake trout are one of the most widespread game fish species in Canada and can reach weights in excess of 30 lbs., they are often overlooked by fly anglers. Years of guiding in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories has taught me that anglers are overlooking a species worthy of targeting with the “ long rod “ This seminar will cover life history, fly patterns and techniques for these amazing and diverse char.
LYNE TRUDEAU
Fishing has been part of Lyne’s summer Activities for a long time, especially cod fishing and digging for clams on family Vacations on the beaches of New Brunswick. On two fishing trips out West and in the Territorities, she carried a fly rod along with spinning gear but only caught fish on the spinning gear. On returning to trout Fishing in Quebec, she improved her fly fishing to gain that thrill that Spinning simply could not provide.
Lyne joined the Montreal Fly Fishing Club ( MMM ) in 1997 and quickly learned how to properly handle a fly rod and to tie flies. Since then, fly tying has become a real passion for her. Lyne has been on the club’s executive board in recent years and has been repeatedly invited to the Quebec-Granby Forum as an elite tyer where she participated in various activities and presentations, promoting her club’s activities. Lynne has written three articles on the Atlantic Salmon for the French Saumons Illimites magazine and has twice won Bronze medals in the World Salmon Fly Tying competition.
In 2010 her club joined with the Montreal Breast Cancer Society to raise money, with club members tying all types of pink flies and demonstrating fly tying in sports shops and shows. The project was a financial success and it was for this project that Lynne created the “Pink Lady Amherst” Fly.
Lyne will be our Forum Banquet guest speaker with an Atlantic Salmon presentation, as well as being one of our guest tyers for the Showcase of Fly Tyers.
WILLIAM GERRARD
William has been fly fishing for over 25 years . During that time, he’s enjoyed catching warm water and cold water species in Ontario and Quebec, but has also fisher further from home including Alberta, New Brunswick, Scotland, Ireland, England, the U.S. and Cuba.
William is a recognized fly tying instructor and has taught people of all ages how to master the art of fly tying. In 1999 William was manager of the Fly Fishing Canada Youth team at the International Fly Fishing Tournament in Ireland and since 2002 has organized the annual Winter Hatches Fly Tying Symposium.
Having developed an interest in knot tying as a youngster through Scouting, William began making his own leaders not long after he started fly fishing.He has a no- nonsense approach to knots and leaders; “ time spent fussing with leaders is lost fishing time.A few good knots that can be tied quickly will satisfy most fly fishing situations”. William’s workshop should help take the complexity out of fly fishing knots and leaders.
Seminar:
Leaders and Knots for Beginners (seminar 33 (Sat.) & 38 (Sun.))
Whether you’re a newcomer or you already have some fly fishing experience, figuring out line-to-leader-to-fly connections can be a daunting exercise.
JOHN VALK
The owner of Grindstone Angling and Outfitters, John has fly fishing for more than 40 yrs and guiding since he opened Grindstone in 1993. He can teach you anything from the beginning levels of casting To advanced stages of double hauling for distance or the right presentation To fool any wary trout or steelhead. In 1995 John introduced the first driftboat to the great rivers of Ontario. He spends over 200 days a year On the water and can work any casting situation to produce a positive outcome for his clients or students. John is also a professional licenced Guide in British Columbia and Alberta ans chases trout and migratory species all over Canada. His experiences in fly fishing have taken him from the great Atlantic Salmon rivers of the East to the Steelhead rivers in the West, and south for the mighty Tarpon and Bonefish.
Seminars:
Flyfishing the Trout Streams of Southern Ontario (seminars 13 (Sat.) & 16 (Sun.))
This session will be an informative presentation on the location of trout waters throughout southern Ontario, included will be the species by stream or river and some access points. Included will be the methods and technique for best opportunities with an inclusion of hatches and fly patterns.
Thinking Outside the Box – Southern Ontario Alternative Species (seminars 17 (Sat.) & 12 (Sun.))
Southern Ontario boasts some of the best fishing in the world for multiple species. This presentation will cover some of those species (other than trout) that the fly angler can target for their enjoyment. Locations, access points fly patterns and methods will all be discussed or shared with the attendees.
IAN COLIN JAMES
Ian was the first guide on the Grand River and at the 2006 Canadian Fly Fishing Championships on the Grand River he coached the Les Chiens d’Eau team to a silver medal. Ian is well known for his razor sharp humour and his down-to-earth fly-fishing methods. His classes are guaranteed to be both educational and entertaining. With almost four decades of fly fishing under his belt, Ian knows his stuff. Take his beginner fly-tying class and you won’t be disappointed. If you took his fly-tying class last year, take it again and you will probably pick up a few more pointers. Ian is the club pro at the prestigious Franklin Club near Mount Albert.
Seminar:
Beginner Fly Tying (seminar 35 (Sat. only))
Learn to tie your first fish-catching flies with Ian Colin James, and his highly trained assistants. Considered by many to be one of the top fly-fishing guides and fly-tying instructors in North America, Ian has been teaching fly tying for 29 years, so you know he has learned an instructional trick or two. Well-known for his “no guff” approach to teaching fly tying, and his quick Scottish wit, Ian will have you turning out productive flies for Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Carp, Steelhead and Salmon in no time. As usual Ian and his cohorts “Madison Avenue” Jack Bramm, Steve “Epoxy” Hunt, William “The Hatchling” Gerrard and Bruce “The Vise Guy” Rattray, will be running the class without a safety net, a script and more importantly a back-up plan.
You will tie 5 patterns: The Bellwood Caddis, The Puke Fly, The Baby Doll, The Dog Nobbler and a Cat’s Whisker.
All necessary tools and materials are provided. This session is limited to 35 persons and fills up quickly; book early to avoid missing out!
ELLIOTT DEIGHTON
Elliott has over 30 years of fly fishing and fly-tying experience and is an award winning tyer and instructor whose passion lies in spinning deer hair bass bugs, using synthetics and tying salt water flies. He is also an FFF certified fly casting instructor as well as an outdoor writer. In addition to the Izaak Walton Flyfishing Club publications, his work has appeared in Ontario Out of Doors and the Canadian Fly Fisher magazines.
Seminar:
Fly Casting for Beginners (seminar 43 (Sat.) & 44 (Sun.))
A beginner’s introduction to fly casting covering overhead casting, roll casting, and side arm casting with an emphasis on line control for stream fishing. This double session will be held outdoors, rain or shine, and equipment will be provided.
One of the events fly tiers in the Greater Toronto Area look forward to every year is the Winter Hatches Fly Tying Symposium. The event is being held on Sunday February 12 and it is changing to a new venue, the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre at 4 Credit Union road near Eglinton and the Don Valley Parkway. This year the fly tying instructors include Graham Bristow, Greg Herring, Ian James, Brian Primeau, Mike Verhoef and William Gerrard.
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