Saturday Seminars are back at the Blue Quill Angler! Starting Saturday, February 1st, the BQA brings in experts from all over Colorado to present about the different fly fishing opportunities that our state has to offer. These presentations provide a great chance to learn about different fisheries and tactics from some of the best around!
These presentations start at 10AM MST every Saturday through March, and they are completely FREE for everyone that shows up. There is no need to register or anything, just show up, enjoy a cup of coffee and learn from some of the best guides and industry experts in Colorado!
Saturday, February 1st, 2020
Taylor Edrington
“The Seasons of the Arkansas River: N. America’s Longest Gold Medal Trout Stream”
Taylor Edrington is the President of Royal Gorge Anglers in Canon City – the oldest fly shop and guide service on the Arkansas River. The Arkansas River is the longest Gold Medal River in Colorado, and Taylor will fill you in on how to be successful on this river. Taylor will discuss change in flows and water temperature throughout the year and how that drives bug activity and corresponding trout activity. Taylor will key on specific techniques, rigs, patterns, and mindsets that will help anglers boost productivity on the Arkansas and other similar freestone watersheds.
Saturday, February 15th, 2020
Pat Dorsey
“The Secret Season – Winter Fly Fishing”
Head guide and co-owner of the BQA, Pat Dorsey will be presenting the ‘Secret Season’ – winter fly fishing. Pat will give you all the ins and outs of fooling picky fish in the colder winter months. Pat has spent nearly the last 30 years mastering techniques that consistently fool fish during the winter. Often times in the winter, a small change in tactics is the difference between catching fish and not. Pat will focus on discussing tips and strategies anglers should use that will help to their winter fishing game to the next level.
After Pat’s presentation, he will be holding a fly tying clinic, focusing on tying small dry flies. This clinic is limited to 6 people, and cost $50 per person. Call the shop to reserve your spot – (303) 674-4700.
Saturday, February 22nd, 2020
Kerry Caraghar
“Fishing Close to Home – Clear Creek”
Kerry Caraghar put it best when he said, “Let’s face it; we don’t always have a full day to go fool trout with a fly. Consequently, one of my favorite spots to fish close to the Denver metro area is Clear Creek. Clear Creek is one of the most overlooked trout fisheries on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, offering fishing access points at mountain elevations on down to the Mile High City. These access points offer anglers the option of fishing before, after (or even during) the workday.” Kerry’s presentation will go over everything Clear Creek- where to fish it, how to fish it, effective flies, and access points throughout the river.
Saturday, February 29th, 2020
Mike Goldblatt
“Greenback Cutthroat Recovery Project”
Mike Goldblatt is the Program Director for Evergreen Trout Unlimited. Mike has been involved with ETU for 35 years, and a board member for 25 years. Mike will be presenting on a very special conservation project – restoring the Greenback Cutthroat trout. The Greenback recovery project is a cooperative effort involving Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, Colorado Trout Unlimited and other organizations with the goal to produce self-sustaining populations of the only cutthroat trout native to the South Platte system. Local to Evergreen, ETU is working to restore populations of Greenback Cutthroat Trout to the upper Bear Creek drainage.
Saturday, March 7th, 2020
Landon Mayer
“Guide Flies: Quick Step Ties that Catch Fish”
Landon will teach you through the why, where, when, and how of creations like, *New the Radiant Mini Jig Leech, Tails Up Trico, Titan Tube Midge, Mayer’s Mysis, and more. In addition to the step ties, Mayer will share tips that make the imitations tied for the water. Covering timing, rigging, and presentation. Matched with an exciting presentation, this is an afternoon you don’t want to miss.
Saturday, March 14th, 2020
Steve Parrott
“Euro Nymphing”
Co-owner of the BQA and former Fly Fishing Team USA member, Steve Parrott will be presenting on Euro Nymphing. Author of 3 different Euro Nymphing DVDs, Steve Parrott has been a leader in popularizing Euro Nymphing in Colorado. Steve will be focusing on all things Euro Nymphing – line control, drift strategies, rigging, strike detection, etc. Over the last several years, anglers have discovered how effective this style of fly fishing can be here in Colorado. Learning these techniques will make you more efficient while fishing subsurface flies, and give you a better understanding on what your flies are doing under the water.
Saturday, March 21st, 2020
Joe Shafer and Jerry Vigil
“Successful Tips for Stillwater Fly Fishing”
Longtime Blue Quill Angler guides, Joe Shafer and Jerry Vigil, will be presenting on stillwater tactics. Joe and Jerry lead the BQA stillwater program, in terms of guided trips and classes. This presentation will be for those that love fly fishing lakes, and even for those with little stillwater experience that want to get a better understanding of how to catch trout in stillwater. Joe and Jerry will cover everything from equipment, rigging tactics, flies, presentation methods, how to select your lakes and reading stillwater. This presentation will give you a strong base of knowledge that will jump start your 2020 season fly fishing lakes.
Saturday, March 28th, 2020
Ron Belak
“Fly Fishing the Backcountry of Argentina, Alaska and Colorado without Busting your Butt”
Author Ron Belak will present “Fly Fishing the Backcountry of Argentina, Alaska and Colorado without Busting Your Butt”. The show will focus on places to go and how to fish without having to expend the physical exertion often associated with forays into the backcountry. The backcountry allows anglers to get away from the crowds while enjoying spectacular scenery and catching some large trout. The alternative to long hikes, of course, is horses, drift boats and airplanes. Ron will walk, or perhaps motorize, us through locations to fish in the Flat Tops of Colorado, the Patagonia region of Argentina and the Kenai Peninsula and Lake Iliamna areas of Alaska.
Saturday, April 4th, 2020
Derek Kehmeier
“Gunnison Gorge”
Derek Kehmeier is from Black Canyon Anglers, based 30 minutes outside of Montrose on the western slope. Established in 1985, Black Canyon Anglers is a fly shop, guide service and the only riverfront lodge on the Gunnison river. They specialize in wilderness float fishing, walk/wade fly fishing and classic whitewater rafting adventures. Black Canyon Anglers’ signature trip is a float trip down the Gunnison Gorge, just downstream of the Black Canyon. Known for its trophy trout, this 1-3 day float should be at the top of the list for fly anglers everywhere.
