Fly fishing education at Boy Scout camp Tahuaya, September 16, 2009 - Kent Conner

Area Boy Scout leaders gathered again this weekend at Camp Tahuaya for a series of short classes designed to familiarize the leaders with outdoor activities related to scouting merit badges. The scout leaders were organized into four groups with about twelve people per group. On Sunday the groups rotated through four teaching stations (kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, and fly fishing), spending about ninety minutes at each station. Al Desjardin and Kent Conner, representing the San Gabriel Fly Fishers, were there on Sunday to man the fly fishing station and give an introduction to fly fishing. During the first portion of the class we discussed the difference in fly casting and either bait or spin casting. Then Al gave a quick explanation and demonstration of fly casting. The San Gabriel Fly Fishing club provided six rods to use for practice. Most of the class session was spent practicing their casting technique. We had people who had never picked up a fly rod to some fairly adept at casting. After casting for about an hour, we had a question and answer period. Most of the questions were about the cost to start fly fishing.

The scout leaders enjoyed the classes and were generous with thanks for our help. Several people said they plan on taking up fly fishing as a hobby. The function leader said the feed back from the participants was very positive. They appreciated getting to do something right away rather than listening to someone talk for twenty to thirty minutes as they had been doing all weekend

We had several people express an interest in possibly joining our club. I also got a contact with a local Boy Scout Troop which will need some help in teaching Fly Fishing in order for the boys to earn a merit badge

Fly Casting Education with Georgetown's 2008 Outdoor Family Workshop - Al Desjardin

Texas Parks and Wildlife and the City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation hosted the third annual Texas Outdoor Family Workshop. Located in parkland near the Challenge Course off of Booty Road, the workshop offered families the opportunity to learn about a variety of outdoor activities from camping to kayaking. Two San Gabriel Flyfishers - Al Desjardin and George Kurhajec - provided a beginners session on fly fishing to several families. The weather was great and a good time was had by all.

Fly Casting Education with Georgetown's 2007 Outdoor Family Workshop - Keith Lovin

The City of Georgetown held its Outdoor Family Workshop on Saturday, September 22. They requested someone to provide instruction in fly casting. Bob Brooks, Tommy Griffiths, and I volunteered. The workshop is a two day program designed to give families an opportunity to learn various outdoor activities including such things as a ropes course, wildlife identification, recognition of animal tracks, shooting, survival techniques, fly casting, etc.

The clinic was held at Booty's Road Park Pavilion just downstream from the dam at Lake Georgetown. We offered two hour and a half sessions and instructed a total of 13 students ranging in age from about ten years to young adults. We enjoyed having excellent students all of whom seemed eager to learn the delights of casting a weightless fly with the grace and elegance that a nine foot graphite rod makes possible.

Fly fishing education at Boy Scout camp Tahuaya, September 16, 2007 - Don Johnson

Area Boy Scout leaders gathered this weekend at Camp Tahuaya for a series of short classes designed to familiarize the leaders with outdoor activities related to scouting merit badges. The scout leaders were organized into four groups with about twelve people per group. On Sunday the groups rotated through four teaching stations (kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, and fly fishing), spending about ninety minutes at each station. Brooks Bouldin and Don Johnson, representing the San Gabriel Fly Fishers, were there on Sunday to man the fly fishing station and give an introduction to fly fishing. During the first portion of the class Brooks and Don gave a description of flies, lines, leaders, rods, and reels and then gave pointers to books and web sites that provide further information. Then Brooks gave a demonstration of fly casting. The Boy Scouts had provided some rigged fly rods and Books and Don brought a few of their own, and, after Brooks’ demonstration, each of the leaders took a rod out onto the lawn to try their hand at casting. Brooks and Don circulated trying to give at least a few minutes of one-on-one help to the novice casters.

The scout leaders enjoyed the classes and were generous with thanks for our help. We didn’t turn out any expert double hauling fly casters, but several people said they plan a deeper investigation into fly fishing as a potential hobby. Some folks were from the Georgetown area and said they might show up at a future meeting of the San Gabriel Fly Fishers.