Long Rods, Long Casts and Free Lunch, Too
Fans of Spey rods and Spey fishing don’t need convincing to get together to compare notes, try out rods and brush up on their casting. It’s not as though you have to, say, give them a free lunch or anything.
Nonetheless, there will be free food June 21 at Spey Nation VII, the annual conclave of two-hand fly rod enthusiasts in Pineville, New York, on the shore of the famous Salmon River.
A free barbecue has always been part of this growing festival, but this year, a new fishing lodge in the area is putting on the spread.
The Tailwater Lodge in Pulaski, New York is among a long list of sponsors for the event, which includes practically every major fly rod, reel and line company and the top regional guides, outfitters and fly shops.
The camaraderie of Spey Nation makes it feel like a Woodstock for the steelhead-and-salmon set (trout, bass and saltwater, too). But there are two big reasons most people go: to hear talks and watch demonstrations by some of the best Spey casters in the country, and to be able to try out a wide range of rods and lines on the water.
Spey fishing has a relatively steep learning curve, so the chance to soak up so much knowledge on one summer day is a big draw.
Admission is free, but there are lots of raffles – and as always, proceeds will go to the Atlantic Salmon Fish Creek Club, an all-volunteer group working to restore Atlantic salmon to the streams of central New York State, where they once thrived. Lake Ontario was historically the home of the largest landlocked freshwater population of Atlantic salmon in the world, and tributary streams from Watertwon to Rochester were where they spawned.
The Fish Creek club has been plating juvenile salmon in the stream after which it’s named, a scenic waterway in the lush and remote Tug Hill Plateau section of New York.
Experts giving presentations at Spey Nation VII include Travis Johnson, Josh Linn and Andrew Moy. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation fishing access site in Pineville. Watch Speynation.com for details.
Nonetheless, there will be free food June 21 at Spey Nation VII, the annual conclave of two-hand fly rod enthusiasts in Pineville, New York, on the shore of the famous Salmon River.
A free barbecue has always been part of this growing festival, but this year, a new fishing lodge in the area is putting on the spread.
The Tailwater Lodge in Pulaski, New York is among a long list of sponsors for the event, which includes practically every major fly rod, reel and line company and the top regional guides, outfitters and fly shops.
The camaraderie of Spey Nation makes it feel like a Woodstock for the steelhead-and-salmon set (trout, bass and saltwater, too). But there are two big reasons most people go: to hear talks and watch demonstrations by some of the best Spey casters in the country, and to be able to try out a wide range of rods and lines on the water.
Spey fishing has a relatively steep learning curve, so the chance to soak up so much knowledge on one summer day is a big draw.
Admission is free, but there are lots of raffles – and as always, proceeds will go to the Atlantic Salmon Fish Creek Club, an all-volunteer group working to restore Atlantic salmon to the streams of central New York State, where they once thrived. Lake Ontario was historically the home of the largest landlocked freshwater population of Atlantic salmon in the world, and tributary streams from Watertwon to Rochester were where they spawned.
The Fish Creek club has been plating juvenile salmon in the stream after which it’s named, a scenic waterway in the lush and remote Tug Hill Plateau section of New York.
Experts giving presentations at Spey Nation VII include Travis Johnson, Josh Linn and Andrew Moy. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation fishing access site in Pineville. Watch Speynation.com for details.
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