<\/p>\n
For those not in the know, casting may very well seem the soul of fly fishing. Rhythmic and mesmerizing with a sense of art yet purpose, it draws us like trout to fly.<\/p>\n
But because there seemingly is an art \u2013 a symmetry \u2013 to it, there can be a sense of anxiety and intimidation for fly-fishing wannabes.<\/p>\n
A rite of spring in area fly-fishing circles is trying to remedy that \u2013 to educate those not in the know, while also providing value to fly anglers of all skill levels.<\/p>\n
And to give something back.<\/p>\n
The Duranglers fly-fishing shop on Main Avenue in Durango will host the annual Duranglers Fly Fishing Festival this weekend. It kicks off with a social and presentation Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Durango, followed by a full day of activities Saturday.<\/p>\n
Most of the action is at Duranglers on Saturday morning. But casting demos over three hours at Santa Rita Park on the Animas River on the south edge of town promise to be the biggest draw.<\/p>\n
There, veteran fly fishermen and industry reps Erik Johnson and Frank Smethurst will provide casting tips and demos of a wide variety of single- and two-handed rods.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a locals event. People come from the surrounding communities, but they\u2019re mostly local. It\u2019s locals appreciation,\u201d said Tom Knopick, who has owned and operated Duranglers with John Flick since 1983. \u201cAnd it provides valuable education. Hopefully our customers will feel they got something of value. It\u2019s a great opportunity to get to know us, to learn a lot and get hands-on experience and meet fly-fishing experts. There will be people who show up and maybe have never fly-fished before and those who have. There will be value for everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of fly-fishing shops do a spring event,\u201d added Knopick, who said this is the fifth annual festival. \u201cSpring is when people are itching to get outdoors \u2013 spring fever. We have year-round fishing here, but spring is when they get the itch. It\u2019s a nice time to have an event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following a social from 6:30-7 p.m. Friday, former Durangoan Jamie Allen will kick off the festival with a presentation \u2013 \u201cTransitioning from freshwater to saltwater\u201d \u2013 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree\u2019s Animas Room. Allen moved from Durango to Florida to realize his dream of becoming a saltwater fly-fishing guide.<\/p>\n
Saturday morning at Duranglers, Scott Harkins, a sales rep for Simms fly fishing gear and apparel, will present \u201cDress for success: Layer for all seasons\u201d from 8:30-9:15, followed by Patagonia rep Dave Allen\u2019s \u201cPatagonia packs, bags and wading boots\u201d from 9:30-10:15 a.m.<\/p>\n
Then it\u2019s on to Santa Rita Park, with Johnson\u2019s \u201cAdvanced casting for saltwater and big game species\u201d from 11 a.m. to noon, \u201cLunch on Duranglers\u201d \u2013 catered lunch and conversation with Allen \u2013 at noon and \u201cCasting with Erik and Frank\u201d from noon to 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first few programs will be in the shop, then we like to have outdoors stuff \u2013 at Santa Rita Park: How to get more out of the rod, casting, tricks (Johnson) will talk about,\u201d Knopick said. \u201cAnd he\u2019ll have all the rods available to cast. Probably 40 to 50 of them. And with Frank (Smethurst), rods will be available for anyone to cast and he\u2019ll be there to give casting instruction. Two hours to play around.\u201d<\/p>\n
The festival then heads back to Duranglers, with Smethurst leading \u201cPrecision rigging for Southwest Colorado\u201d from 2:30-3:30 p.m., and the grand-prize drawing at 4 p.m. \u2013 for a free guided float trip with Duranglers on the Rio Grande.<\/p>\n
A number of door prizes, giveaways and store specials also are in the mix, and the first 30 people at Duranglers on Saturday morning each get a \u201cfree bag of swag.\u201d Doors open at 8 a.m.<\/p>\n
A popular conclusion to the festival has been the Fly Fishing Film Tour, which has been held in conjunction with the festival the last four years or so, Knopick said, and features short fly-fishing films. Showings are at 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Durango Arts Center, Knopick said, and tickets are $13 and may be purchased at Duranglers.<\/p>\n
The annual Duranglers Fly Fishing Festival is Friday and Saturday. It kicks off with a social and presentation Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Durango, followed by a full day of activities Saturday. For more on the festival, visit Duranglers, 923 Main Ave., call (970) 385-4081 or visit www.duranglers.com.
\n For more on the film tour, go to www.flyfilmtour.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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