North Carolina Fly-Fishing Clinics Offer Unique Opportunity to Catch Trout
OutdoorHub 11.27.13
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, along with Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation, will conduct four fly-fishing clinics open to the public starting in January.
The clinics will be held at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center on Raeford Road and will begin with a one-hour overview on the sport of fly-fishing, followed by interactive classes and on-the-water instruction.
Four basic fly-fishing clinics are scheduled for Jan. 4, 18 and Feb. 1 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Basic clinics are ideal for participants who have very limited or no experience with fly-fishing. Instructors will discuss and demonstrate proper fly-fishing techniques, such as casting, rigging and knot tying.
To make this unique fishing opportunity in eastern North Carolina, Wildlife Commission staff will stock two ponds with 1,000 catchable-sized brook, rainbow and brown trout on Dec. 20. The trout were raised at the agency’s Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in Transylvania County.
In addition to stocking the ponds, the Commission will provide loaner rods, reels and tackle to participants in all clinics.
Clinics are limited to the first 40 people, and pre-registration is required.
Clinics fill quickly, according to Kristopher Smith, center director, who expects the same rush to register this year.
“This program provides an incredible opportunity for people who live four to five hours away from the mountains where we traditionally find freshwater trout,” Smith said. “By bringing these fish to Fayetteville during the colder months, we hope to encourage others to learn how to become fly anglers.”
Interested anglers should contact the Pechmann Center at 910-868-5003. A registration fee of $5 for each participant will be collected the morning of the clinic by the Fayetteville Cumberland County Parks and Recreation.
Starting Jan. 8, the Commission will conduct fly-fishing clinics for soldiers from Fort Bragg’s Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion from 1-5 p.m. These free clinics, which are open only to soldiers and their families, will be held on the second Wednesday of each month through March.
For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.
