Our May membership meeting is going to be combined with the following event. There will not be a Wednesday night meeting.
Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association - Tribute to Gary Lafontaine.
Saturday May 10, 2025 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Salmon River, Gulf Road, Picnic Area
Join us for the 3rd Annual Tribute to Gary Lafontaine
This event is in honor of Connecticut's most famous fly tier, past CFFA member, Gary Lafontaine. Born in 1945, Gary started fly fishing at age 8, and published his first article at age 15. Winner of the Arnold Gingrich Memorial Award for Lifetime Writing Achievement, he published several books, with his “Caddisflies”, gaining national atten- tion. As a dedicated member of CFFA he inspired many members to try innovative approaches to tying and fishing for Trout and other species. In1996, he was awarded Angler of the Year by Fly Rod and Reel Magazine. Gary left this world at the age of 56 due to Lou Gehrig’s Disease. We celebrate his legacy.
Schedule for Day
9:00am Fly Tying - This is an informal gathering of fly tyers. Everyone is responsible for their own table and materi- als. Fly tiers are welcome to bring a chair, folding table, vice and materials to tie flies. The theme of the day is Caddis patterns but any and all flies can be tied.
11:00am Tribute to Gary Lafontaine – Come and share a few words of your memories of Gary and his influence on fly fishing.
Fishing and conversation available all day. Bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol allowed in state parks). Grills are available. All trash must be taken home.
Participants responsible for their own food and beverages.
***If raining we will not tie flies, but will still gather and fish. Contact: Rick Liegl
Trout Fishing in CT- an overview and updates from CT DEEP Fisheries Division
Pitkin Community Center 6:30-9pm
30 Greenfield Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Connecticut offers an abundance of trout fishing opportunities for all skill levels and interests, and trout fisheries across the state continue to thrive. However, fisheries management goals and approaches are adaptive as angler demographics and desires shift, fishing access is gained and lost, and environmental conditions change. This evening’s presentation will cover a range of topics relevant to Connecticut trout anglers and will highlight several Fisheries Division coldwater management programs.
Pete Aarrestad
Director
Fisheries Division, Bureau of Natural Resources
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127
p: 860-424-4171 c:860-770-8271 |
Pete Aarrestad is Director of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Fisheries Division. In this capacity he oversees six major program areas; Fish Culture, Inland Fisheries Management, Aquatic Resources Education, Diadromous Fisheries Restoration, Habitat Conservation and Enhancement, and Marine Fisheries Management and Monitoring, including interjurisdictional management of marine species. Pete served as Director of the Inland Fisheries Division from 2010 through 2016, when the Inland and Marine Fisheries Divisions were merged to form the Fisheries Division. Pete holds a BS in Biology from Eastern Connecticut State University (1985) and an MS in Natural Resource Management (fisheries focus) from the University of Connecticut (1992). He has provided leadership in numerous governmental and professional organizations, having served as President of the Instream Flow Council and Chair of the Northeast Fisheries Administrators Association. He previously represented the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on the National Fish Habitat Board. He is currently one of two CT members on the New England Fishery Management Council. He also currently serves as DEEP’s member on the Farmington River Coordinating Committee (the oversight board for the Upper Farmington River Wild & Scenic section). A lifelong resident of East Hampton, Pete’s home river is the Salmon River, where he annually seeks tranquility while fishing, mostly in the fly fishing-only section.
CFFA Fly Fishing Expo And Banquet
9:30 - Spey Casting Northeast
Lessons on single hand spey casting
10:30 - Bob Romano
Favorite Flies of the Rangeley Lakes
Patterns preferred by the region’s notable fly tiers and local guide
11:45 - Fly Fishing International
Fly casting basics and more with
Ray Ramos and Patrick Grenier
1:30 - Steve Culton
Fly fishing Ct.’s small streams
B-Mar Flies - Bruce Marino *
Deerspring Lodge *
Tom Inglis Fly Tying *
Project Healing Waters *
DEEP *
Dan Trela Custom Fly Rods *
Nick Masi Ent. Fly Tying Materials and Beads *
Casting For Recovery *
Spey Casting Northeast *
Charley McCaughtry Artist *
Thames Valley T.U. *
CT River Salmon Association *
Red Brook Tenkara *
Estruary Magazine *
New Hampshire River Guide Dave Kolesar *
Fly Fisher's International *
Housatonic River Outfitters *
Lakewood Camps - Rapid River Maine *
New England Fly Tyers *
Team 7x Fly Fishing*
Big Fish Designs*
Backwoodsbarker Flies (Mike Barker) *
Hooksetters Union Fly Fishing (Jeremy Clapp)*
Connnecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association Monthly Meeting
TUESDAY 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public
Place: Pitkin Community Center at 30 Greenfield Street Wethersfield, CT 06109
“Annual Fly Fishing Movie and Pizza Night”
We invite you to start the new year with a fly fishing movie. Pizza served along with the movie.
The Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association is a certified non-profit 501C3 organization and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the pleasures and traditions of fly fishing and to conserve game fish waters.l
More information is available about CFFA at: www.ctflyfish.org and
our facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/CTFlyFish
