Casting session for June 16 location will be at Seneca Creek State Park.
You MUST RSVP for this clinic!
We are excited to welcome fly casting instructor and globe-trotting fly fishing host John Bilotta to lead our June 16th casting clinic!
Where: Seneca Creek State Park • 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
John will be showing us how to advance our skills in the roll cast and expose us to single and two-handed spey casting moves and how they can be adapted to single-handed rods on the waters we fish regularly. John will also share some of his experiences in fantastic destinations and describe the trips he hosts each year with fishing lodges and guide services in Argentina, Belize, Quebec, Alaska, and other locations.
The Monday, June 16 clinic will be held at Seneca Creek State Park at 11950 Clopper Road (back up the road and on the opposite side from the IWLA Lake entrance where we usually meet). We are meeting at the park to give us more room, and to allow John to demonstrate a range of techniques in a safe, open setting along the Clopper Lake shore.
The session will be on the Lake “Expo Field” down the path from “Tire Playground” parking lot next to the sand Volleyball courts. Park and walk down to the Lake open area where we will be set up. This is two left turns after entering the park off Clopper Road. Call or text me if you have questions. Click here to view a map of the park.
Additional early help session
John and I will be at the park at 4:00 p.m. to work with individual casters who want to come early. John will begin his demo and presentation in our regular 6-8 p.m. slot. Consider coming early as John and I will be answering casting questions and covering some different casting tips, tricks, and trouble shooting. We may use the dark background from the big pines across the parking area to shoot video of individual casting moves, faults, and fixes.
About John Bilotta
With three decades of experience as an instructor and guide, John is an internationally recognized casting instructor and guide, certified by Fly Fishers International (FFI) as a Masters in single and two-handing casting instruction, teaches and hosts anglers, other instructors, and guides in many renowned fishing destinations through his company Georgetown Fly Fishing, John lives in Annapolis and is currently co-teaching an Orvis course in saltwater fly fishing.
John mentors guides and casting instructors in various countries and has shared his love for fly fishing across different landscapes and cultures from India to the United States, Greenland to Argentina, Chile to Mexico, Christmas Island to Belize, and elsewhere. He has mentored several of the instructors who have helped SVTU and IWLA fly fishing courses and clinics down through the year, each one excellent examples of the quality of mentoring and the design of the FFI Certification international program.
Please RSVP for this session by June 13!
Please let Dave know you will be attending this session
RSVP Dave Cleaves (301.525.2332 text/mobile) if you plan to attend the spey casting clinic, the early help session, or both so he can get a head count. Dave has made arrangements with SCSP patrol for this event, and he needs to keep them updated. Send me your RSVP by Friday, June 13th.
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About Our Membership
Our core membership area stretches from the Washington Beltway to Hancock MD and includes western Montgomery, southern Frederick, and Washington Counties. We also welcome members from anywhere outside this geographic area.
When you join TU, you are a member of a national, council (state), and local organization. SVTU is a local voice. The Mid-Atlantic Council (MAC) speaks for cold water at the state level. National TU works with Congress and agencies at the national level.
What Our Chapter Does
SVTU supports the national vision in the following ways:
- Our chapter helps both financially and with volunteer hours to assist with restoration activities on Beaver Creek in Washington County
- Our volunteers help with maintenance activities on Little Seneca Creek in Montgomery County, southern Catoctin brook trout streams in Frederick County and maintenance of warmwater streams like Great Seneca Creek and areas of the Potomac River
- Youth fly-tying and fishing education events, adult fly tying, and assistance to Project Healing Waters events with our partner organizations
- Social events and our Fly Fishing 101 for members and guests
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Chapter News
The SVTU chapter has lost some of our members. You can read about them at the “In Memorium” page.
Partnerships
SVTU received both the Maryland Division and National IWLA “Honor Roll Award” for our working partnership with the Rockville Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America.
The Adaptive Caster is a series of articles written by Dave Cleaves an FFI-certified fly-casting instructor.
New Article: Winter Casting Practice—Tips & Resources
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President: Noel Gollehon
Vice President: Joe Walther
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