Events
- Check out the info on our upcoming trip to Argentina...
- Davy Wotton Wet Fly & Caddis Clinic May 5th-6th, 9AM-5PM both days, $300MAY06
Learn how to effectively fish Caddis & Wet Flies from a guy who might be the best living wet fly fishermen in the world, Davy Wotton aka the "Welsh Wizard". Now residing in Arkanasas & running a successful guide business on the White River system, he will be doing yet another one of his popular 2-day clinics for us, with one full day of Caddis from top to bottom (larva, pupa & adult), and one full day of assorted wet fly/soft-hackle techniques/presentations, fly selection, leader rigging, etc. Learn deadly European style wet fly fishing methods, rigs & flies that were perfected over centuries and are unknown to most Americans. Clinic cost is $300 (+ tax), paid in advance, non-refundable, it happens rain or shine, high water or low. Call shop at 860-672-1010 to book a spot, lunch is included. - Davy Wotton Wet Fly & Caddis Clinic May 5th-6th, 9AM-5PM both days, $300MAY05
Learn how to effectively fish Caddis & Wet Flies from a guy who might be the best living wet fly fishermen in the world, Davy Wotton aka the "Welsh Wizard". Now residing in Arkanasas & running a successful guide business on the White River system, he will be doing yet another one of his popular 2-day clinics for us, with one full day of Caddis from top to bottom (larva, pupa & adult), and one full day of assorted wet fly/soft-hackle techniques/presentations, fly selection, leader rigging, etc. Learn deadly European style wet fly fishing methods, rigs & flies that were perfected over centuries and are unknown to most Americans. Clinic cost is $300 (+ tax), paid in advance, non-refundable, it happens rain or shine, high water or low. Call shop at 860-672-1010 to book a spot, lunch is included. - Opening Day Tag Sale 4/21/12, 8AM-5PMAPR21
We will be having a really big Tag Sale on Opening Day, there will be all sorts of stuff- you name it, and there will probably be some of it there. We have accumulated a lot of collections, and we have a bunch of stuff in the attic we need to clear out, so there will be bargains galore. So after you fill your belly at our Free Opening Day Pancake Breakfast from 7-11AM, check out our Tag Sale afterwards. - Free HRO Opening Day Pancake Breakfast, 7AM-11AMAPR21
This event has become an annual tradition for us, and all are welcome to attend. Stop by and we will feed you pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, orange juice & donuts before you head out fishing. If you are here in the afternoon, author Ron Merly will be doing a book signing for his new "Flyfisher's Guide to CT" from noon-4PM. He did a great job on it. - Book Signing- Ron Merly, "Flyfisher's Guide to CT"- noon-4PMAPR21
Come out for Opening Day of CT fishing season, attend our annual Free HRO Pancake Breakfast, and then chat with Ron & have him autograph your copy of his new book. I'm glad someone finally did a great guide for flyfisher's in our state, and nobody is more qualified than Ron Merly, the current state record-holder for sea-run brown trout. - Early Season Nymph & Streamer Clinic w/ Adam, 3/24/12 10AM-2PM- $50 per personMAR24
Adam is HRO head guide and a veteran Alaskan guide (still guides there every Summer), and has guided also in Brazil & out West. He has fished extensively in many different places, and is a recent convert to Great Lakes Steelhead. Adam is the real deal, a local guy who eats, sleeps & breathes fishing and guiding. March & April normally see challenging fishing conditions for many- cold & often high water, not too many hatches, and lethargic trout. The antidote is a well-fished streamer or nymph, that's how we get our clients into early season trout. Adam is well-versed in both techniques, and he will show you some of his specialized methods, rigs & flies that he uses to consistently get his clients into fish. Learn how to read the water and adapt to the conditions. Benefit from his years of experience guiding & fishing in diverse geographic regions, he truly is a student of the sport and loves to teach it to others. Clinic cost will be $50, paid in advance, non-refundable, rain or shine. Call the store at 860-672-1010 to book a spot. - Euro/Czech Nymphing Clinic w/ Torrey, 3/17/12 10AM-2PM- $75 per personMAR17
The clinic focus will be on the short line/short leader techniques developed & tweaked by the Poles & Czechs in international FF competition. With practice in Euro-style nymphing, the strike detection is extremely high, and the hook-sets are fast- much better than with indicators. Torrey will show you how to construct special leaders (one of the keys to success with this) with droppers & sighters, as well as proper fly pattern selection. Tackle, special knots, strike detection, anchor flies, sighters, reading the water & locating suitable spots, etc. will all be covered. Clinic will be part indoors, part outdoors. While there are some similarities between this and high-stick/short-line USA techniques, make no mistake, this takes it to another level, using weighted flies, no tradtional indicator , long rods, and specially constructed leaders with “sighters”. Those of us using these European methods have seen our catch rates & strike detection go way up. Open your eyes to a deadly way to catch trout in our hard-fished streams, fish that strike indicators miss. Cost is $75, paid in advance, nonrefundable, rain or shine. Bring a pad & pen to take notes and write down leader formulas. Torrey has spent the past several years working hard on perfecting these deadly methods- this is a do not miss clinic!
- Free Housatonic Bulls Bridge TMA Orientation w/Torrey, 3/10/12 10AM-2PMMAR10
Similar to the orientation I'm doing the weekend before (3/3/12) on the Upper TMA, this one will cover the lower Housy TMA down south off Rt. 7 below Bull's Bridge (another smaller covered bridge). This 2.5 mile TMA is hugely underfished in my opinion, yet offers fishing that can rival or sometimes exceed the Upper TMA. Access is far more limited in this 2.5 mile C&R area, which is in part why it generally receives little pressure. One key thing you will learn is all of the public accesses, some of which are NOT obvious. Another valuable piece of info will be an explanation of the flows (there is a bypass canal that pulls water off right at the damn, an original streambed, and a powerhouse that dumps water back in part way down the TMA)- what the CFS means in practical terms, and how to best adapt your fishing to the flow conditions. Make no doubt about it, this TMA is well stocked and holds trophy trout (up to 24"+), some of which probably never see a fly in their lifetime, and hatches are quite similar to the Upper TMA (which is famous for it's hatches). This will be another interactive orientation where I encourage lots of questions. A fair amount of walking will be involved, so make sure you wear proper footwear/attire, bring a beverage to stay hydrated, and are capable of hiking in a mile on a relatively moderate trail. A plethora of topics will be covered, see details on 3/3 orientation for Upper TMA to learn more. Bring a notepad & pen. - Book Signing- Ron Merly, "Flyfisher's Guide to CT"-1PM-4PMMAR03
Ron has written a brand-new, excellent & much-needed guide to the state's flyfishing opportunities, and nobody is more qualified than him. Come attend my Free Housatonic River Orientation from 10AM-2PM, then visit with Ron, get an autographed copy, and ask him all about fishing in CT. He holds the CT state record for sea-run brown trout. - Free Housatonic TMA Orientation w/ Torrey, 3/3/12 10AM-2PMMAR03
Our most popular event every year, I'll once again be doing a driving tour of the Upper Housy TMA, covering from just above the Rt 7/Rt 4 concrete bridge all the way to Push-Em-Up. We will make multiple stops along the way, and you will be taught pool names, accesses, hatches, high water/low water spots, trout stocking/holdovers/wild trout info, seasonal changes, effective flies, history of the TMA & PCB's, etc. This is a flexible event where I encourage lots of questions. I recommend bringing or buying (I'll have here for sale) the HFFA's "Fishing the Housatonic River Trout Managment Area" guidebook. I'll also have Ron Merly's excellent new book "Flyfisher's Guide to CT" book also available for sale, it has a nice section on the Housy, Ron is a Housy regular and a damn good fisherman (state record holder for Sea Run Brown Trout). Bring a pad & pen so you can take notes. - Free Rigging & Knot-Tying Clinic w/ Torrey 2/25/12 10AM-1PMFEB25
Knowing how to tie the proper knots for different situations & rigging your leader for different flies and techniques are both important skill sets that many people overlook. I'll teach you the 10 second knot that "changed my life", LOL. You only need to learn a few basic knots, and I'll focus on the important ones. I'll also show you different ways you can set up your leader for different flies/techniques- nymphs, dries, streamers & wets. The "X" system, tippet diameters & breaking strength are subjects that many people are misinformed & confused about, I will cut through the BS and help you clearly understand how it all works. Finally I'll touch on the different types of line (flurocarbon, standard mono & copolymer mono) and the pros & cons of each. Bring a notepad & pen. - Free Winter Fishing Clinic w/ Torrey, 2/18/12 10AM-noonishFEB18
Free Winter Fishing Clinic w/Torrey, 2/11/12 10AM-noonish
This clinic is in place of Jim Plante's cancelled Streamer Tying Clinic originally scheduled (he had family obligations arise). Winter is one of my favorite times of year, mainly due to the solitude you can often find on our often heavily-fished Northeastern trout streams, but also due to the bigger trout you sometimes catch. If you learn how to adapt to the conditions, you can have some surprisingly productive fishing. I'll cover things such as how to dress to be comfortable (VERY important), dealing w/ iced-up guides, effective Winter patterns, productive techniques, where fish migrate to in cold water, etc. I'll try to keep this clinic on the briefer side (ending noonish), that way you can try the techniques out right after the clinic (high is forecasted for low 40's & Housy is in great shape!). Bring a notepad & your fishing gear (if you intend to fish afterwards), this clinic will be strictly indoors. - Free Winter Fishing Clinic w/Torrey, 2/11/12 10AM-noonishFEB11
Winter is one of my favorite times of year, mainly due to the solitude you can often find on our often heavily-fished Northeastern trout streams. If you learn how to adapt to the conditions, you can have some surprisingly productive fishing. I'll cover things such as how to dress to be comfortable (VERY important), dealing w/ ice-up guides, effective Winter patterns, productive techniques, where fish migrate to in cold water, etc. I'll try to keep this clinic on the briefer side (ending noonish), that way you can try the techniques out right after the clinic (Mother Nature permitting). Bring a notepad & your fishing gear (if you intend to fish afterwards), this clinic will be strictly indoors. - Free Steelhead Fly Tying Clinic w/ Torrey, 2/4/12 10AM-2PMFEB04
I've been fishing & tying flies for the Great Lakes Steelhead fishery for 25+ years now, it just might be my favorite fishing of all. I did a stint as a guide in the Salmon River, NY area when I got out of college. Come to this free clinic and I'll show you some of my most productive patterns, the majority of which are quick & easy to tie, as you tend to lose a lot of flies. Whether you are planning your first trip up there, or are a veteran Great Lakes Steelheader, you should pick up some good flies & fishing advice. Please have at least basic tying skills, and bring your own vice, tools & assorted threads- I'll provide the hooks & tying materials. Class will start at 10AM and run until about 2PM, give or take. - HRO Store Christmas Pary 12/17/11DEC17
HRO store Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 17th. Not sure on exact start time yet, probably around noonish or 1PM. All are wecome to attend, there will be plenty of tasty free food & drink, and of course, lots of holiday cheer. Come socialize & do a little holiday shopping.
- Free Great Lakes Steelhead Clinic w/ TorreyDEC03
12/3/11 from 9AM-12 noon-
I (Torrey) have guided & fished for Great Lakes Steelhead for 25+ years, they are truly one of the greatest and most accessible trophy trout fisheries in the world. I'll you get started with the basics you need to be successful there: equipment, flies, rigging, best techniques, leaders, tippet, Switch & Spey rods, fighting big fish, etc. I'll even open my own personal fly boxes and show you some of my pet fly patterns. If you've always been curious, now is the time to get started correctly. The Salmon River in NY, where I primarily guided & where I mostly fish, is only 4 hours away from here. Come pick my brain about that fishery and then give it a go. What you will learn is also applicable to lake-run Browns & Salmon. Please call if you plan to attend, so we have an idea of how many people to expect. - Beginner Fly Tying Clinic with Jim Plante, Saturday November 19th 9AMNOV19
Our own guide Jim will get you started out right. He is a signature fly designer for Rainy’s Flies, and also endorsed by Regal Vises. Jim will go over essential techniques & show you how to tie some basic flies that cover different styles- a nymph, dry flies (Catskill and Comparadun), a soft hackle, and a basic streamer like a wooly bugger. If you have a vice, bring it, but if not Jim can provide up to 2 vises to borrow. You will need to bring/buy basic tools (bobbin, scissors, bodkin, whip finisher, hackle pliers) and some basic assorted threads. We will of course have vises & materials for sale. Jim will provide the materials (other than thread) & hooks to tie the patterns during the class. Cost will be $75, paid in advance, nonrefundable, and clinic will run all day, ending sometime in late afternoon (4 or 5PM or thereabouts). After this class and a little practice, you will be ready to attend our free tying clinics on Saturdays in January & February.
- Beginning Fly Tying w/ Jim Plante 11/19/11NOV19
More info will be added shortly, with exact start/finish time and pricing info. This will be a full day class - "Advanced Trout Tactics" w/ Danny MarinoOCT29
10/29/11 from 9AM-4PM w/ one hour lunch break-
Danny Marino, captain of the 2011 gold medal winning US Youth Fly Fishing Team, and recent individual silver medalist from the 2011 World Youth Fly Fishing Championships in Italy, teaches you some of the deadly techniques he's learned personally from fly fishing greats Joe Humphreys, George Daniels, Vladi Trezbunia and others. Danny's experience in multiple international fly fishing competitions has taught him flies, rigs & techniques not commonly known or practiced by many in North America. These specialized techniques will help you take fish in places you would once pass by, and catch fish that others are unable to. You'll learn all the knots, leaders and rigs that will have you fishing like a world champion in no time. The class will cover 3 different "secret" techniques over the span of 6 hours, with a portion of the time spent on the river so bring all your gear (rod/reel/waders/flies). We will take a one hour break in the middle. I recommend bringing a notepad & pen. Clinic cost is $75, paid in advance and non-refundable, and we are limiting it to 6 people total to keep a good instructor to student ratio. Clinic happens rain or shine, so please bring a raincoat. - Free Housatonic River TMA Orientation w/ TorreyOCT22
Free Housatonic TMA Orientation with Torrey, Saturday October 22nd, 9AM until about noonish- I've been fishing this river for over 25 years, and I'll be doing yet another of our most popular free events ever, the river orientation. I'll show you access points, give you pool names, talk about hatches, flies, seasons, river history, high water/low water spots, etc., and also answer any & all questions regarding this fishery. This will be very informal and I welcome and encourage questions. Foliage color will be at it's peak, and the fishing should be good to excellent. You will be done by noon, giving you plenty of time to fish in the afternoon, prime-time. Just show up at the store, it's free, and there is no need to sign up. I will have HFFA's book "Fishing the Housatonic River Trout Management Area" books for sale, and I recommend bringing a pad & pen to take notes, there will be a lot of information.
