Upcoming Steelhead/Spey Events Around the Alley

Waiting for Winter's Thaw


Another steelhead season is almost at hand! And I for one am especially looking forward to the coming thaw. Finally having finished my master's degree at KSU, I'll be back on the water this Spring guiding and swinging flies with clients, and offering private and group instruction through Midwest Spey School.

If you're anything like me, however, that means it time to kick it into high gear and start making preparations for the impending ice out. Luckily, there's still plenty of time to get gear sussed out and crank out a goodly amount of flies. Or in my case repair Skagit heads, build extra sets of sink tips and tie custom leaders.

In any case, whether you're playing catch up or have been diligently prepping since being forced off the rivers last December, you might want to take advantage of upcoming Steelhead and Spey events throughout the region this Spring. Doesn't matter if you're new to the steelhead game or an experienced veteran, there's bound to be something to catch your interest and improve your knowledge of the sport. At the very least it might take the edge off cabin fever!

Be sure to mark the following dates on your calendar.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 26th 2011 The Backpacker's Shop will be hosting their Spring Steelhead Seminar. This is a FREE event open to the public. The event will feature Will Turek of SAO/Midwest Spey School presenting on two-hand rods and spey casting, Jeff Liskay presenting on steelhead techniques, Jerry Darkes and Greg Senyo of SAO tying steelhead patterns for the Great Lakes, and Ben Hunting presenting the latest gear and equipment offerings for 2011.

The event will run from 10 am to 4 pm with a meet and greet starting at 9am. The Backpackers Shop is located at 5128 Colorado Ave (Rt. 611), Sheffield Village Ohio 44054. For more information, call the the Fly Fishing department at the shop 888-303-3307.

Saturday, March 19th 2011 The Backpacker's Shop in conjunction with Will Turek of SAO/Midwest Spey School will be offering a 4 hr spey casting class followed by a 2 hour gear/personal shopper guided tour of necessary equipment and tackle for spey fishing the Great Lakes.

Class will be held on the Vermillion River. Only 6 spaces are available for this one, so best to contact Tom at the Backpackers early if you're interested. 888-303-3307.

Saturday, April 16th 2011 St. Joe River Castapalooza fly casting and fly tying event will be held in South Bend, Indiana. This is a FREE event open to the public. If you're interested in getting your hands on the latest two-hand rods, reels, and spey lines this is the perfect event for taking them for a test drive on the river free of charge! Casting and tying demos will be held throughout the day.

For more information, download the PDF here: http://tinyurl.com/6cq96vu

Saturday, April 23th 2011 Grand River Castapalooza fly casting and fly tying event will be held in Madison, Ohio. This is a FREE event open to the public. If you're interested in getting your hands on the latest two-hand rods, reels, and spey lines this is the perfect event for taking them for a test drive on the river free of charge! Casting and tying demos will be held throughout the day.

For more information, download the PDF here: http://tinyurl.com/4sbnb47

Special Spring Event

April Vokey and Silver Friend

Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders in conjunction with Steelhead Alley Outfitters and Midwest Spey School are sponsoring a special event to cap off the Spring 2011 steelhead season featuring a guest appearance by April Vokey of Fly Gal Ventures. Don't let her good looks fool you! April is an accomplished fly tyer two-handed steelhead angler who makes a living guiding clients into steelhead and salmon on the Dean River in British Columbia, Canada.

Monday April 25th  OCBS will host a FREE early evening meet n' greet/tying demo Chagrin River Outfitters open to all OCBS club members and the public. April will demonstrate her techniques for tying attractive and effective intruder style streamer patterns. Private fly tying class will follow the meet n' greet. OCBS membership, event fee, and sign up required for tying class.

Tuesday April 26th  April Vokey and Will Turek of SAO/Midwest Spey School are teaming up to present a private, full day, on-the-water spey casting and swung fly technique clinic. OCBS membership, event fee, and sign up required. *FREE OCBS membership is included in event fee for new members.

NOTE: Fly tying class and spey clinic are OCBS club sponsored events, OCBS membership is required to participate. Non-members interested in participating are welcome and encouraged to join OCBS and help support the club's continued efforts to promote fly fishing education and conservation in Northeast Ohio.

A limited number of spaces are available for each event. For additional information on how to become an OCBS member, availability, and event fees contact OCBS member Will Turek: willturek@midwestspey.com