Our March speaker will be Chris McCotter of McCotter’s Lake Anna Guide Service…

 

Chris will be speaking on the fishing opportunities available at Lake Anna with a little history thrown in as well as the future outlook. VDGIF has stocked Hybrid Stripers and this could prove to be a fantastic fishery. Although most of his clients use conventional tackle he welcomes flyfishers.

 

 

The founder of McCotter’s Lake Anna Guide Service has fished Lake Anna for the past 30 years and began guiding 20 years ago. Long since over his competitive fishing days, McCotter’s passion now lies in teaching others, a philisophy obvious after just a few moments on the water. From the tournament contender to the father and son out for some quality time, McCotter has taken care of them all. He is the most experienced fishing guide on the lake.

Clients have caught largemouth bass up to 10 pounds with C.C. and countless striper and crappie. The MLAGS founder has been featured in BASSMaster, Fishing Facts, BASSIN’, CRAPPIE, InFisherman, Virginia Game & Fish, Woods & Waters and many other magazines. McCotter’s vast storehouse of Anna knowledge comes from living on the shores of the lake with his family since 1986. His dedication and stewardship to Anna is also evident from his directorship of the annual Fish Structure Enhancement Program. He and his fellow volunteers have created or enhanced 12 Fish Structures in Lake Anna. (Call him if you want to help.) Another project McCotter initiated, the annual Lake Anna Cup Invitational, grew to 76 teams in 2009 and has become one of the most prestigious events on the lake to win.

“We are totally immersed in guiding and caring for Anna. That’s it. My philosophy was to fish one lake, try and master it and then teach others. What makes Anna so special is that if you can learn to catch fish here, you can catch them anywhere.”

McCotter is a founding member of the Concerned Bass Anglers of Virginia, a member of the Virginia Outdoor Writers Association and his sponsored by High Point Marina, Anna Point Boat Sales, Nitro boats, Mercury outboards, Pure Fishing (ABU Garcia, Berkley, Fenwick, Spider, Mitchell) Lowrance/Eagle electronics, Dave’s Tournament Tackle and Fishing ProTech.

You can follow his day-to-day guiding at Facebook/McCotters Lake Anna Guide Service

 

 

 

Also, don’t miss our….

March Special Afternoon Session

 

Shad & Stripers in Downtown Richmond

4pm-6pm at the Salisbury Club

 

Join your fellow flyfishers for a seminar/open discussion led by Rob Thomas on the fantastic spring fishery that occurs in our own backyard. We will discuss the tackle, flies and techniques needed for a successful day on the water. A map will be provided to mark the “hotspots”. Learn all the rules and regulations as well as identification of species. Historically the Shad show up mid-March and stay until the first of May. Stripers sometimes stay into June. And there are big Stripers in the River. 2011 there were 14 citations(20lbs or greater) issued and 2012 saw 8 citations. We will also have a demonstration on tying some “favorite” flies for Shad and Stripers. 

 

**All seminar participants will be entered into a drawing for a dozen flies that have proven deadly for this fishery.**

 

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Our 2015 Annual Banquet speaker will be Pat Dorsey…

A native of Colorado, Pat has been guiding for over 23 years. He spends approximately two hundred days a year on the water, enjoying a unique quality of life both personally and professionally. “I am blessed to be able to make a living as a fly fishing guide and I will never lose sight of how fortunate I am to really love my job.”

Pat is Guide Director and a partner in the Blue Quill Angler fly shop. He oversees and trains more than 20 guides and helps to set the standard for integrity and professionalism in the Blue Quill Angler guide operation. Pat, also, writes the central Rocky Mountain stream report that monitors stream flows and conditions on the Blue, Colorado, South Platte (Cheesman, Deckers, Spinney Mountain Ranch, and Elevenmile Canyon), North Fork of the South Platte, and Williams Fork rivers.

Pat is proud to be a Simms Guide Ambassador. “I cannot imagine guiding without Simms apparel; their gear is simply the finest and most durable stuff available.” Pat is also a member of the Sage Fly Rods Advisory Team. “My favorite rods are the Sage TCX 9’ 4 weight and 9’5 weight VXP. I feel confident putting these rods in my clients hands as I know we will get a quick hook-set with enough suppleness in the tip to protect light tippet.”

Pat is the Southwest Field Editor for Fly Fisherman Magazine. You can find his articles archived here. In 2005, Pat authored the book, A Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River, a complete how-to fly fishing manual for the entire South Platte River drainage. It encompasses a thorough look at each section of the river detailing the hatches and recommended fly patterns for each of the four seasons of the year.

Pat didn’t stop there, in 2009 he authored Fly Fishing Tailwaters, a comprehensive book on how to fish tailwater fisheries. In 2010 a companion book to Fly Fishing Tailwaters hit the shelves, Tying and Fishing Tailwater Flies, which is jam-packed with how to tie Pat’s favorite “guide flies”. This book includes 500 step-by-step tutorials, as well as, helpful tips and illustrations on how to rig and fish them.

Pat is an accomplished fly tier and has originated a number of very effective patterns such as the Mercury series, UV scud, Limeade, Cherry-Limeade, Paper Tiger, Top Secret Midge, Medallion Midge and the famed Black Beauty. Although Pat no longer has the time to tie flies commercially, he once produced over 28,000 flies in a year. Pat is a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. Pat’s signature flies are available at the Blue Quill Angler. Pat is also a Pro Team Member for Whiting Farms. Many of his flies incorporate Whiting Farm products.

Another one of Pat’s interests is photography. He produces many digital slide presentations used in his speaking engagements at fishing clubs throughout the United States. He is a Celebrity Speaker for the International Sportsmen’s Exposition in Denver and is very active in Trout Unlimited and the conservation of cold-water fisheries.

Pat is the proud father of three wonderful boys, Forrest, Zach, and Hunter. He also has two step children, Nicole and Michael Richardson. They, like their dad, enjoy fly fishing. Pat’s wife, Kim, is an avid angler and often appears with Pat at trade shows and other speaking engagements. Kim and Pat, also, host a yearly trip to Alaska Sportman’s Lodge each September with a group of his clients.

We will also be having an afternoon session with Pat. He will tie some of his tailwater patterns and also talk about fishing tailwater…more info to come!

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Our November 20th dinner meeting will feature FFV member Colby Trow of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing.

The November meeting is fast approaching. Our Dinner speaker will be FFV member Colby Trow. He will be speaking on fishing for Musky. We will also be having a raffle for a Musky Trip with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing.

We will also be having two afternoon speakers. First up, will be Matt Thomas from the Homestead. He will be talking about trout fishing the mountains of Virginia staring at 4:15pm.

Matt will be followed by Harry Robertson and Mike Kelley discussing the the great jungle fishing to be had at the Rio Indio Lodge in Nicaragua. FFV member Mac Myers will also be on hand sharing his experience there this past Spring

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Our September 18th dinner speaker will feature FFV member Mike Buss. Mike will give a presentation on saltwater fly fishing opportunities in the coastal areas of Virginia.

Mike is very active in the ‘Virginia Costal Fly Anglers’ club and is its current president.

Mike will be accompanied by Larry Clemens.  Larry is co-author of a two volume set, “Flies of the Chesapeake”. 

There will be a fly tying session in the afternoon (4:30 PM until 6 PM).  Mike and Larry will also be able to take orders for anyone who may want a copy of the volumes.  They are $25 each.  They will tie a couple of the flies in the books during the fly tying session.

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Our July17th dinner speaker will be Bruce Ingram.

It has been ten years since Bruce has given us a talk, so we are looking forward to his visit!

Bruce will give both the afternoon and evening presentations.

Bruce Ingram has been a freelance writer/photographer since 1983 and has sold some 2,100 articles to magazines and some 2,400 photos.  Ingram regularly writes for such magazines as Virginia Wildlife, Wildlife in North Carolina, Whitetail Times, Turkey Country, Outdoor America, Quality Whitetails, Game and Fish Publications, and many others.  The Outdoor Writers Assocation of America has honored Ingram with six writing awards.

Bruce is also one of the few people who have floated the entire lengths of the freshwater James, the entire New, entire South Fork of the Shenandoah and Shenandoah and upper Rappahannock, the South Branch of the Potomac, and the Main Stem of the Potomac above Great Falls.

Purchase Bruce’s books prior to the FFV meeting!

https://sites.google.com/site/bruceingramoutdoors/book-ordering

Bruce Ingram’s books on the James, New, and Shenandoah/Rappahannock cover all float trips available on these rivers, plus information on access points, rapids, fishing hot spots, and trip planning. Basically, paragraph by paragraph, mile by mile, Ingram takes you on a trip down these rivers, so that when you go on your own excursions, you can have safe, pleasant experiences.  Designed for float fishermen, paddlers, birders, and wildlife watchers, these three where to go books are the most detailed works available.

Prices include taxes and shipping.  Please specify the individual the book should be dedicated and signed to.

James River Guide…$17.75
New River Guide…$18.75
Shenandoah/Rappahannock Rivers Guide…$20.75 (new edition)
Fly and Spin Fishing for River Smallmouths…$19.75
South Branch and Upper Potomac Rivers Guide…$20.75
 
Ingram’s fourth book, Fly and Spin Fishing for River Smallmouths, covers how to catch smallmouths on fly and spinning rods throughout the year, plus such topics as conservation easements, riparian zone creation/protection, taking kids fishing, canoe camping, birding by canoe and much more.

The South Branch and Upper Potomac book covers from the Smoke Hole section of the South Branch downstream to the Upper Potomac just above Big Falls.  The format is similar to the other where to go river guides.  

Send check or money order to Bruce Ingram at 1009 Brunswick Forge Road, Troutville, VA 24175.  Prices listed above include tax and shipping charges.

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FFV members, we will have a full afternoon and evening of varied entertainment at our Thursday, May 15th dinner meeting!

Our evening dinner speaker will be Captain Gary Dubiel.

Gary is the originator of the popping cork craze and inventor of the float-n-fly rig for Neuse River and Pamlico Sound giant red drum! You may have seen him on ESPN 2, WFN, UNC-TV, NBC Sports, the Sportsman Channel, Discovery Channel (Europe), a local or national fishing show, the Saltwater Sportsman’s National Seminar Series, or perhaps in any major sports fishing magazine.

Our afternoon session at 5 PM will feature Captain Chris Newsome of Gloucester, Virginia. Chris is going to give a talk on ‘live chumming’.

The festivities will kickoff at 3pm with a Casting Rodeo hosted by Green Top Sporting Goods. Representatives from Green Top will have a variety of Temple Fork rods available for you to try out casting. Also, Brad Whittaker, a Tempe Fork sales representative will be on hand to answer all your questions about Temple Fork rods.

Here is the May 2014 Singing Reel

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