Here are some photos of the ‘Colonial Heights Middle School Fly Fishing Club’ at one of their fly tying sessions.

Seven other  FFV members helped club leaders Rick Ridpath and Chuck Davis with teaching the session.

Click on each photo for a larger view.

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Several awards were given at the 2014 FFV Annual Banquet.

Phil Johnson was awarded the ‘Nat Burgwyn Lifetime Achievement Award’ by FFV president Steve Lewis.

FFV charter member Clint Peters was awarded a lifetime membership.

FFV conservation vice president Jay Armstrong awarded Matt Balazik the ‘Taylor Turner Conservation Award’ for his work with Sturgeons.

PHW volunteer David Hall was given a ‘Brent Golladay Memorial Award’ for his service to Project Healing Waters.

Dan Genest presented Mark Sargent with a ‘Brent Golladay Memorial Award’ for his service to the sport of fly-fishing.

Phil Johnson awarded Ray Babineau the ‘TFO Volunteer of the Year Award’. Ray was chosen for all of his great contributions to the region since becoming involved with PHWFF.

In the past two years, Ray was instrumental in developing the much need training in this region that has improved the skills of the Program Leads. 

Ray has also stepped up to become the Regional Coordinator of PHW for Virginia .

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On Saturday, February 1st The Colonial Heights Middle School Fly Fishing  club members presented a thank you plaque to Greg Bulkley ,GM at the Ashland,VA Bass Pro Shop. Bass Pro Shops has been a very big supporter it the club in supplying rods,  fly tying vises, & tools to this club . This is the second year the club has been offering flying skills training events to about 30 students at the school. This is an after class program. 

FFV members Chuck Davis , Rick Ridpath are the founding teachers . Phil Johnson supports Rick and Chuck on a regular basis. 

We encourage all FFV members who would like to help Rick and Chuck give them a call. They have planned fly fishing events were they will need help!

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Southwest Virginia Trip Monday, May 5 to Saturday May 10

NOTE DATE CHANGE FROM Dan: Due to the fact that the Southwest Virginia camping trip would end up falling on Mother’s Day weekend, I am going to move the start date for the trip from Wednesday, May 7 to, Monday, May 5.

After a one-year hiatus, the Southwest Virginia fishing trip is back. Witness a blizzard sulfur hatch on the South Holston River or a yellow sally storm on White Top Laurel. Plenty of places and streams to fish in both Virginia and Tennessee.

We will be camping at Beartree campground. You can come for the full trip or as many days as you like.

The trip is limited to 16 club members or guests.

Figure on $25 a day. That includes dinner and a campsite to be shared by two tents. Breakfast and lunch will be on your own. So for all four nights that would be $100 per person.

You are not officially on the trip until your payment has been received. If your payment has not been received by March 1, your spot will be offered to anybody on the waiting list.

There are no refunds. Once you have paid it will be up to you to find someone to take your place on the trip if for some reason you need to cancel.

Once the trip is filled and payment received, I will provide more details on the trip.

Send your payment, made out to Fly Fishers of Virginia with a notation for SW VA trip to Dan Genest.

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The FFV 2014 Annual Banquet is approaching!

Our speaker this year will be Kelly Galloup.

Kelly Galloup started his fly fishing career at the age of 13, tying flies for the local tackle shop, and began guiding at the age of 16. He owned and operated the Troutsman fly shop and guide service in Northern Michigan for 20 years. He sold the Troutsman and moved to Montana where he now owns and operates The Slide Inn lodge on the banks of the Madison River. Kelly is the author of two books: Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners, and has numerous DVD’s on tying and fishing. He has over fifty nationally recognized fly patterns that are sold worldwide, and is also a line and rod designer for Scientific Anglers and St Croix rods. Kelly has been published in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country and is one of the Editors a large for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly was also the host of Fly Fish TV on the OLN and VS’s Network. Kelly is one of the most sought after speakers in the country and spends much of his winter months speaking for clubs and Sports shows. In 2003 Kelly received the living legend award from the FFF, and in 2007 the Charles E Brooks memorial life award.

There will be a free Saturday afternoon session that will center around fishing streamers and Kelly will also tie some of his famous articulated flies!

Please remember that this is a “Sit Down Dinner” and we MUST have your paid reservation no later than Wednesday, January 22. We have to give the Salisbury Club a hard count that day so they can buy the food. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS so get your dinner reservations in the mail today.

Here is the Annual Banquet Dinner Reservation Form

Here is the January, 2014 Singing Reel

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Potomac Riverkeeper, Inc. is home to two Riverkeeper programs:one for the Potomac River and one for the Shenandoah River.
The Shenandoah River is the largest river that flows into the Potomac River. Shenandoah Riverkeeper uses community action
and enforcement to protect and restore water quality in the Shenandoah Valley for people, fish, and aquatic life.
Jeff Kelble, the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, patrols the water, educates the community, and advocates for a healthier Shenandoah
River. Jeff knows how an unhealthy river can hurt the local economy and the health of the local residents. In 2005, after fish kills
ruined his fishing guide business, Jeff closed his 6-year old business and joined up with Potomac Riverkeeper Ed Merrifield.

Jeff’s job is to investigate pollution in the Shenandoah and start a dialogue with the polluters. If the polluters do not listen,
or do not stop polluting, Jeff is ready to use the citizen suit provisions of the Clean Water Act,
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other environmental laws. Contact Jeff to learn more!

Here is a link to the November 2013 SingingReel

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