Intro to Spey Casting 101
Instructed by SPEY CASTING NORTH EAST
Brought to you by The Bear's Den Fly Fishing Co. & Farbank
Saturday May 17
Start time 10AM
Class forming now - strict limit of 4 students
Learn The Art Of Spey Casting
Farbank Rep Dave Steeves will be in attendance with the latest Sage and Rio Spey Gear
Farmington River, New Hartford, Ct
What we bring to the table
*Complete set of balanced equipment, rods, lines and reels
*Half day of professional instruction
*Booklet, Discussion & Classwork
*Basics of Equipment
*Basics of a spey cast, switch cast, single spey, circle spey, double spey
*Grass casting; learning the mechanics
*On the River Instruction; hands on - getting it done!
* Most important; we have fun and a good time helping you learn
What you bring
Waders, boots, appropriate clothing, your enthusiasm All other equipment is provided for you, along with snacks and water
Who We Are
Lisa Weiner
Growing up in a small New England town some of my earliest memories are fishing with my Dad. He would take me with him to local Trout streams . At that point I was only allowed to sit on the bank and watch. I loved to look through his fly boxes at all the different patterns. I was admiring the size of the bugs, the delicate hackles on the dry flies and the colors of the streamers. My dad didn’t tie his own flies and of course I never asked where they came from, or how the bugs were made. As a kid, I never thought to ask the questions, I would love to ask him now. I got my love and passion for the outdoors from chasing my dad to the river. I am so grateful for those experiences and cherish those memories.
Over the passing years I fished on and off. My husband Stark and I would take our five kids on adventures to the family pond as they were growing up. For our own adventures my husband and I would go out in the kayaks with a spinning reels and rods. We would paddle down the ponds in search of largemouth bass. He would always out fish me using rubber bait, while bombing the lillie pads for those explosive takes. I managed to do okay using a hula-popper. It was always so enjoyable to spend the summer evening together floating and dreaming.
Fast forward a few years, with the kids leaving the nest I had a little more time on my hands. My husband had gone on a fly fishing trip with his brothers. He had a great time and thought this was something he definitely wanted to do more of. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to give it a try myself in the spring. In the mean-time I wanted to learn more and start tying my own flies. I thought wouldn’t it be cool if I could tie the flies for him to fish with. That Christmas I was surprised with my first fly tying kit. I still have some of those first flies. They were big and ugly but I was doing it! They could only get better …..
That following spring we found an intro to fly fishing class, it was for ladies only. I signed up immediately. What a fun experience that was. I even landed my first brown trout on a fly rod. I still remember that fly. It was a Red Quill and it was during the Hendricks hatch. Talk about a life changing moment.
In 2011 I was introduced to Jerry Jahn of Spey Casting North East. The rest as they say is history. I jumped in with both feet. Coming back weekend after weekend or whenever he had spare time. Oh and did I mention this was at the end of November? We were out almost every weekend that first winter. It took a while as I was still new to fly fishing and had so much to learn. I love that I learn something each time I work with someone. It may be about casting, fishing, and a place they have fished that I have only dreamt about or places in common.
Since 2014 Jerry and I have been teaching two handed casting together. On weekends, when we are not teaching you can find us testing rods, fishing or even tying flies. We travel to do clinics from Long Island to Boston. I’m also a licensed Connecticut fishing guide and a member of the Sage Pro staff.
I have been truly blessed, by the great people that I have met on this beautiful journey. Some are no longer with us and will never be forgotten. I am thankful for my very patient and supporting husband Stark. He truly gets it and understands my passion and drive. I am also thankful for my partner and best bud Jerry. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky.
Dave Flint
Hello, my name is Dave Flint, I’m an avid fly dresser, fly fisherman, Spey casting instructor and all round outdoorsman. I grew up fishing in the small streams of Mass, and upper New England. Our family would go tenting each year in Maine and New Hampshire. As my brother was climbing mountains, you would find me hopping rocks along the mountain streams with fishing gear. I’ve been fishing since I was a young kid but didn’t start fly fishing until I was about the age of 13.
My first fly fishing experience was in the early 70’s on the Roach River in Maine. Our family tented each year in the area and I became friends with the local camp owner in Kokadjo. One morning I watched him fly fishing, carefully maneuvering a fly in and around the currents. After successfully catching a few fish, he handed me the rod and said,” give it a try”. He showed me the type of fly he used and how to fish it. I followed his instructions and before I knew it, the line was screaming off the reel - this was no small brook trout! After a couple of leaps and with help from my new friend, my prize was brought to net. Not only had I caught my first Salmon, but it was also my first time fly fishing. The following spring, armed with my new fly rod, I spent all my time hopping rocks in the clear mountain streams. I’d dip flies in the small pools; sometimes missing a rock along the way and putting myself in the pool instead. 50 years later and I am still hopping rocks and pools.
I started dressing flies in the 80’s after joining a local club, the New England Fly Tyers.
My love for dressing flies, especially Salmon flies, continues to grow. Each year, meeting new people, sharing ideas and learning new things, it’s awesome.
Through the years it’s been a privilege to contributed flies to several wonderful organizations such as the Miramichi salmon Association, Wounded Warriors project, North Atlantic Salmon Fund (certificate as Master Flytyer), and the NEFT Youth Outreach, among others. I’ve also supplied flies for some well-known books such as Rare and Unusual Fly-Tying Materials Vol. 1 & 2, Forgotten Flies and The Art of Angling Journals, along with Bonefish Fly Patterns. As well as teaching at NEFT (and local clubs) and co-produced the NEFT Video Manual of Fly Tying.
I get such a rush from tying/demonstrating at shows/events, interacting with the tyers, venders, and guests; because with that comes the opportunity to learn new things, new tricks and to share knowledge. And the opportunity to pass on my experiences and expertise to others. My passion for fly dressing has become a full-blown obsession.
All flies are enjoyable to dress but my favorites are Atlantic salmon and Spey flies, soft hackles and streamers run close seconds. I’ve done everything from commercial fly tying; sending Sports with my flies all over the world, to selling custom framed artwork with specialty display flies from Misty Morning Flies.
These days my focus leans toward dressing and fishing full dressed salmon flies, designing, and working new ideas into old world proven patterns and designing specialty framed art pieces for people.
We meet many people in this sport but few that make a lasting impression and fewer still whom become wonderful mentors and good friends. Some, we have fished over the same waters, gone to the same shows, even been there at the same time and not known it till meeting at a much later time in life. Very strange how life works. I can count those friends on one hand.
I’ve had the wonderful fortune to have good friends, Bill Wilbur and Jimmy Rusher. Billy is one of the best Salmon fly designers/ tyers in New England and has been an influential mentor. I’m grateful for his expertise and guidance (thanks Bill). Jimmy, as one of New England’s best longline instructors gave me a taste of Spey casting. Both have been good friends for many years. Jimmy didn’t know it at the time, but paved the way for me to find my new friends and team on the Farmington River; Spey Casting Northeast.
Both Jerry and Lisa are the best in the Northeast/ New England area at teaching the art of Spey casting. I’m honored and grateful to part this team. So, these days you will likely find me/ us on the water playing with a two hander and sharing what we love to do.
For me this sport is a way to immerse yourself in nature and relax, whether on the water or at the bench. It’s an old sport, and needs to be passed on, shared with, new enthusiastic blood. Please, share your knowledge and experiences with others, so they may enjoy them also. Especially share it with the children, for they are the sportsmen of tomorrow.
This is what we do, it is our passion, help them experience it.
