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President's
Message
Michael Schweit
Fishing shows. I am sure you have attended one in your angling lifetime.
The SouthWest Council planted themselves at three so far this year,
enthusiastically promoting club membership and enticing the conventional
crowd to try the long rod. And yikes, did we ever tie flies! Turns out that
fly tying vices are eye level with children passing by the booth, and after
they see them, getting them to tie their first fly becomes a surefire way to
engage their whole family! Many thanks to Mike Lum of Fred Hall and
Associates and Chuck Furimsky of the Fly Show for helping sponsor our
presence.
In addition to club promotion, we have also been letting people know about
the SWC. Ten new people signed up at Pasadena alone, including one lifetime
member. And our professional community continues to grow. Larry Kurosaki of
bass fishing fame from Bass: the Movie and guide on Castaic and
Casitas has signed on as an FFF guide. He is extremely knowledgeable on the
local lake and surf scene and also a blast to fish with.
http://larrysflyfishing.com Conway Bowman
of Bowman Bluewater Guides and Outfitters has also signed on as a guide and
is the go-to man for bass fishing around San Diego and his specialty, mako
sharks on the fly.
www.bowmanbluewater.com
We urge our clubs and members to support these two fine additions to the SWC
family as Larry and Conway champion fly fishing and freely donate their time
and information to all of the SWC clubs.
In case you missed the news, the 5 Rivers Raffle has been drawn and 15 lucky
FFF members are going to Montana for 5 days of pampered trout fishing. One
extremely lucky person also won the grand prize to Chile to fish at Cinco
del Rios. Turns out the winner of the SWC and the Chile trip is in my home
club of Sierra Pacific and is my new best friend. Glenn Short has been fly
fishing for two years and just joined the Federation in August of last year.
As he is also a photographer, we expect to see some great shots from his
trips.
We have also had some changes at the SWC Executive Board. Long time
conservation chair Steve Kopp is getting married and moving out of the area.
The SWC thanks him for his time and service in coordinating information and
conservation efforts.
But the fish that comes off the fly allows it to catch another. Or two.
Andre Beltran has stepped into the vacant spot of Youth/Education chair.
Andre is a teacher and wants to bring his skill set to use in setting up new
programs and maintaining or enhancing what is already in place. John
Kitchens has volunteered to take over conservation and brings us his
knowledge of Southern California issues like water and the MLPA (Marine Life
Protection Act). Please join us in welcoming them to the SWC and if you have
any questions or ideas, please contact them.
Finally, remember one thing as you finish reading these words. We all got
involved with fly fishing so we could fish. Enjoy the spring time and get
out there for some water time.
Michael Schweit
President, Southwest
Council Federation of Fly Fishers
president@southwestcouncilfff.org
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