George Dunham of the Western Mass Fly Fishermen shows Ella Carrington of Thorndike how to tie a fly. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – The Westfield River Watershed Association and the Western Mass Fly Fishermen Club co-sponsored a fly fishing clinic Saturday at the Westfield River turnout in Huntington, across from the Huntington Health Center.
A couple of dozen people attended, including children who came with their grandfathers to learn more about one of their passions. The kids were game, trying their hand at casting rods and tying flies.
The day began with a collection of river larvae and invertebrates, led by Watershed Association Vice President Mark Damon of Westfield, who teaches environmental biology at Westfield State University and Holyoke Community College. Showing the larvae to Jaxon Flynn of Enfield, Conn., Damon said there were damselfly, dragonfly and dobsonfly larvae, water-penny and riffle beetles among the samples collected.
Not all of those interested in learning about the sport were children.
Jaxon Flynn of Enfield explores larvae with Westfield River Watershed vice president Mark Damon of Westfield. (Photo by Amy Porter)
“I’m here to learn about fly fishing,” said Susan Zidek Kruse of Southwick. Kruse was sitting at a table with Harold Norman of the WMFF, as he tied realistic looking flies for trout, pumpkin seed and bass.
On another picnic table, WMFF member George Dunham was using chicken hackle feathers to teach Ella Carrington of Thorndike, who came with her brother, sisters, father, and grandfather Edward Carrington of Westfield to the workshop. Dunham called his flies “impressionistic.”
“Some of the realistic flies, you can’t hardly tell the difference between what they tie and what’s real,” he said, encouraging Ella to tie a nice smooth body, with no lumps. He said the fish will still take a bite on it.
“A lot of times, the flies are tied for the fisherman,” he added.
John LaFrancis explains the art of fly rod casting to Emma Carrington of Thorndike. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Nearby, John LaFrancis, Jaxon’s grandfather was showing the Carrington children how to cast a fly rod. “It’s all about feeling the rhythm you establish with the pole,” he said.
Brian Conz of Russell, president of the Westfield River Watershed Association and professor of geography, planning and sustainability at Westfield State, commented on the good attendance at the clinic. He said the event had long been organized by Bill Rose, an avid fisherman and former president of both co-sponsoring organizations, at his favorite spot on the Westfield.
Conz also pointed out a PVC tube that Rose had assisted a Boy Scout in placing for an Eagle Scout project. The tubes have been put at sites along the river to dispose of old lines, lures and hooks, so they aren’t left behind for fish and other creatures to get caught up in.
Westfield State geography professor Brian Conz, president of the Westfield River Watershed Assoc., that co-sponsored the clinc. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Rose, who passed away suddenly in April, was on the minds of most of those attending. “He was the nicest guy you’d ever want to meet,” said Dan Moraski of WMFF and Pioneer Valley Trout Unlimited, of which Rose was also a member.
The Watershed Association is planning to put in a memorial for Rose at the river turnout in Huntington, to be announced. Other upcoming events include a Source-to-Sea Cleanup on Sept. 28 at various locations in Westfield. More details may be found at www.westfieldriver.org.
