OCR Text |
Show Fly tfeshainig pleasurable claims 3-yeeor SnsflrueSror . "J r . ' ' 4 M v,- 7 I fV.v: ;4 HIM GEAN SNOW gives fly casting instruction during a seminar sponsored by the Vernal Fly Fishing Club. Snow is a 30 vear casting instructor. "I stock 'em, fool 'em, hook 'em and after a good run let them go for the next guy," said Gean Snow, 30-year fly fishing instructor about the pleasurable experience of catching a fish on a fly. "Few people disagree, who have seriously tried fly fishing, that it is a more pleasurable method of fishing," Snow added. Snow was on hand during a four-hour fly fishing seminar sponsored by the Vernal Fly Fishing Club at Merkley's Park last Saturday. During the seminar, Snow, owner of the Angler's Inn in Salt Lake City, demonstrated different casting techniques which allow him to cast a feather-like artificial fly up to 70 feet with amazing accuracy. During the life of the Salt Lake Fly 'Fishing Club, Snow won several state fly and spin casting championships. "You learn more in tournament casting than in any other practice," Snow commented. He explained that competition casting is based on the ability to cast a fly or lure inside loops at varying distances. "I missed one loop in national competition to end up with 97 percent," Snow said. "There was a 14-way tie for first with 100 percent." Although Snow prefers fly fishing, he says he likes all kinds of fishing, having fished Flaming Gorge, High Uinta Lakes and Green River in this area. He boasts of catching 63 different species of fish by fly fishing including several salt water species in Panama and Alaska. Snow said that during the 30 years he has instructed fly fishing, he has never found anyone who, with a little practice and balance, couldn't learn to fly fish. "The easiest to teach are kids and women," Snow said. "Men who have already learned bad habits are the hardest to teach." Snow stated that another reason people prefer fly fishing over other methods is that fly fishing is more fish preservation oriented. "Most fish caught on flies are hooked on the lip and are easily released, especially if a barbless hook is used," Snow said. "There is little or no future in Utah especially for stream fishing unless there is a no-kill attitude among fishermen." About 20 fly fishing enthusiasts were at the seminar and were able to examine top fly fishing equipment, tie three types of flies and receive personal casting instruction. The Vernal Fly Fishing Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the Lamplighter Restaurant. Clay Johnson is the president. |