The warm weather has brought on the afternoon hatches on our local streams and the fish are hungry! Time to hit the vise and fill fly boxes with dries…what are your favorite spring patterns?
Dry Fly Season Is Here
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Project Healing Waters Volunteers Needed
Wes Hodges, who spoke at our February meeting, and Dave Sisson of the Salem VA Project Healing Waters (PHW) program are looking for regional TU folks and other fly fishers who would like to help with PHW outdoor activities, which kick off at the end of March. Some of the activities include outdoor fly casting instruction, fly fishing on the New or regional trout streams, and trips to the South Holston and Rose River Farm. They need volunteers who can serve as instructors or guides for veterans learning to fly fish.
If you’re interested in helping out, contact Angelo Biviano via the form below and he’ll get you in touch with Wes and Dave.
Fly Tying Sunday
Lynn Hayes will be hosting fly tying at his place on Sunday, March 11th at 1:00pm. Please shoot him an email at lehfish@yahoo.com if you’re planning to come so that he can plan accordingly. Lynn lives 2 miles past the Pembroke bridge on Mountain Laurel Ln., brick house. The goal is to have as many members as possible show up and donate a portion of the flies they tie for the Spring Thaw Out banquet. We’ll be using these flies as part of the gifts/prizes for attendees, so this is a great way to support our fundraising efforts. Bring your own tools and supplies.
Contact Lynn if you need directions or have any questions.
Big Stony Creek Work Day
Join fellow NRVTU members for a work day on Big Stony Creek at 9:00am on Saturday, March 31. We’ll be transplanting St. John’s Wort in the Glen Alton pasture. Meet on the side of Big Stony Creek Road about 1.5 miles after the Glen Alton Lane turnoff. If you’ve never been to this area, follow these directions and look for a group of cars on the side of the road. Workers will need waders or high boots and a pointed shovel. Lunch will be provided. Come out and help improve one of our local cold water fisheries!
Please RSVP via the form below so that we can get a headcount for lunch. Also, if you’d like to help out but don’t have a shovel and/or boots/waders just make a note below and we’ll see if we can find extras.
March Chapter Meeting
The next NRVTU chapter meeting will be on Wednesday, March 7th at 7:00pm in the Mongomery County Government Center, 755 Roanoke St. in Christiansburg. The banquet committee (and anyone else who is hungry) will meet at 6:00pm at Due South BBQ. All are welcome.
Dargan Coggeshall from the Virginia Rivers Defense Fund will be giving an informative talk about why the VRDF is so important. If you aren’t familiar with VRDF and the precedent-setting case they’re fighting on the Jackson River, read up here. Anglers on other rivers in Virginia could soon find themselves in a similar predicament if this attempt to privatize the Jackson isn’t turned back. Come out and learn more about how VRDF is fighting for the rights of all the anglers/hunters/paddlers in the state to use our public rivers.
Spring Thaw-Out Banquet
Join NRVTU on April 21st at 6:00pm for an evening of fun, food and fellowship at the Spring Thaw-Out Banquet! Bring your friends and family out to Sinkland Farms and have a great time for a good cause. Funds raised at this event will support our efforts to protect and restore coldwater fisheries in the New River Valley.
We have some AWESOME raffle items to give away, a live auction and a silent auction. We’ll also have a delicious catered dinner, live bluegrass and a very special guest MC/auctioneer…Ken Farmer from Antiques Roadshow!
This banquet is going to be a blast, so get your tickets now and spread the word to your family and friends. Admission is $35/person or $50/couple. RSVP before April 7th and get a free raffle ticket! You do NOT need to be a TU member to attend. All are welcome!
For more information or to make your reservation, contact Pete Jackson at 540.763.2188 or highpond1@hotmail.com.
Directions to Sinkland Farms:
I-81 Exit 114
2 Miles South on Route 8 Towards Riner/Floyd
3020 Riner Road, Christiansburg, VA 24073
Orvis Friday Film Festival
Every Friday, Orvisnews.com posts the Friday Film Festival. It’s a weekly collection of fly fishing videos from around the web. Orvis does all the searching for you, so you can just catch the highlights. Kind of like Sportscenter for fly fishing videos. Ryan Peterson’s “One In Winter” was my favorite from this week. Reminds me of my days in Oregon. Check out the full Friday Film Festival for 2/17.
One in Winter from ryan peterson on Vimeo.
