Spring Orvis Days

By Jeff Hoffmann

Orvis Chicago (142 East Ontario) has some great seminars and events coming up this weekend, including a FREE fly-fishing school! Here is the schedule, with details:

SATURDAY, MAY 8
12:00 p.m. - Discover the Pacific Northwest's Pristine Waters on the Yakima River
A year-round destination for wild rainbow and cutthroat trout. Emerging Rivers Guide Service will be at Orvis Chicago talking about fishing Washington's only blue ribbon trout stream

1:00 p.m. - Swinging Flies for Big Fish
Steelhead will chase down 5-inch long leech patterns when presented on the swing. David Heyman will explain some of the theory and method involved in swinging presentations.

2:00 p.m. - Summer Run Steelhead on the St. Joe
The Indiana and southwest Michigan tributaries see the largest run of Skamania steelhead in the Midwest. Late July through August is the time to wet wade for these acrobatic bruisers. Learn the ins and outs of catching these fish during the late summer months.

3:00 p.m. - Bucket Mouth Heaven
Jay Anglin of Anglin Outdoors will come in to show pictures of the private world-class water he guides in northern Indiana. He will also be on hand to talk about steelhead and smallmouth on the St. Joe.

SUNDAY, MAY 9
All Day FREE Fly-Fishing School

9:00 a.m. to 11:00a.m. - Mother's Day Casting Clinic
We will hold a casting clinic for anyone who wants to learn or improve their casting technique. The class will be held at the Peggy Notebaert Museum in Lincoln Park and will be limited to the first 12 people who sign up.

1:00 p.m. - Fly Fishing 101: Equipment Selection and Rigging
Learn the basics of fly fishing all day starting with how to select a rod, reel and line for your fishing needs and how to tie essential knots to get you out on the water.

2:00 p.m. - Fly Fishing 101: Entomology and Fly Selection
Learn about what trout eat and the flies we use to imitate these foods.

3:00 p.m. - Fly Fishing 101: Reading Water
Learn about the habitat in which fish live and how to locate them in various kinds of water from lakes to streams.