Thanks for the great info, Wes... Very, very informative... I'm thinking very seriously about trying to make it up there... Still have to get an "ok" from the "Boss/Financial Advisor" though... LOL... Course I think she'd LOVE to go to Oregon for a week... She was born in Vancouver, WA...
Rodney... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wes Wada" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:33 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] Sandy River Spey Clave > DANG! i would LOVE to go to that spey/clave. My wife has been talkin' with Simon Gawsworth (sure hope i spelled that right, lol) about doing one here > off our properrty maybe in 2007. The water here is the single widest place on the Willowemoc, is easy wading, and runs the right direction for most > of the cast. So it's perfect for teaching spey casting. When and if it happens, i'll let y'all know. I think the closest one to us has been in New > Hampshire.......and it's always when something else is going on. How do they do that conclave for free like that? Anyone know? mark Hi Mark, Simon Gawsworth would be able to tell you quite a bit about the operation of this event, as he has worked with Fly Flshing Shop owner Mark Bachmann in a number of capacities for several years including master class multi-day float trips down the Deschutes River. The Spey Clave is the largest event of its type in North America, running two days in May on Oregon's Sandy River and a park a good distance above river level. This will be the fifth year it has been held. I attended one two years ago with my Portland friend Bill, who is a speycaster. Other than throwing a line around during the event, I have not used a spey rod for river fishing. It is quite a happening, attending by about 400 flyfisher folk the first day, and a smaller crowd the second. There is a huge representation by manufacturing vendors, all the big names in spey gear. My guess is the vendors' exhibit fees are where I think Mark gets most of the money to run the event free to the public. There is also a food trailer that would make a little dough, and Mark gets a lot of goodwill and future business at the shop from budding spey enthusiasts. Spey gear ain't cheap!! Mark has created a hugely successful operation (which y'all should visit some day if you are near the Mt. Hood region and the town of Welches). Their online flyshop has great service, and they offer some unique products. Back to the event: in the park above, you can cast any combination of spey rod and lines by numerous manufacturers. There are times when there are fifteen casters throwing lines on the grass by the picnic pavillion. The pavillion itself has the typical trade show displays. Down the trail to the river are the scheduled on-water demos by europeans such as Gawsworth and Andy Murray, and U.S. luminaries like Steve Rajeef (U.S. All-Round flycasting champion for 34 straight years and world champion for 13). There are guys at this event who can cast a spey line the proverbial country mile. Also, if you plan your time right, you can get a free 30-minute private lesson from one of the guest instructors. There are camping sites within the park itself, lodging in the town of Sandy nearby, and Portland further west. The Sandy River runs river left at the demo site, and it's a great setting since in season this IS a steelhead and salmon river. Doesn't take a whole lot of imagination... Here's Mark Bachmann's contact info: The Fly Fishing Shop, P.O. Box 368 - 67296 East Hwy 26 Welches, Oregon 97067, USA Voice: (503) 622-4607 or 1(800) 266-3971 Wes Wada Bend, Oregon -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.8 - Release Date: 2/14/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.8 - Release Date: 2/14/2005
