News and Updates

Wednesday Night Fishing Will Begin This Week at Dodd Park

When:  Wednesday May 25th.
Where: Dodd Park in Dowagiac MI (map).
Time:  6:00 P.M. to ?
Directions:

Eric Wroblewski

From Niles, MI. take M-51 north to Kinzie St. Left (East) on Kinzie to Creek Rd. Right (North) on Creek Rd. to  Dodd Park.

From the Edwardsburg, MI. take Dailey Rd. North to White St. Left (East) on White St. to Anderson Rd. Left (South) on Anderson Rd to White St. Right (East) on White St to M-51. Left (South) on M-51 to Kinzie St. Right(East) on Kinzie St to Creek Rd. Right (North) on Creek Rd to Dodd Park.

**Note About Weather**
Sometimes the weather will change at the last minute which does not allow for a last minute update. Please use you own judgement before heading out.  You can always call me on my cell (574-202-0255). Please do not email me with last minute questions as I may have already left  to go fishing.

I hope to see you there,

Thanks,
Todd Ezzell

Trout 101 June 4th & 5th

So you want to learn to catch trout on small streams – now is your chance to learn from some of the best in SJRVFF.

Trout 101 classes will be held June 4th and 5th – this is Saturday and Sunday. The class will be limited to 12 students and will cost $50.00/ea. We will hold a classroom educational seminar on June 4th, Saturday, from 10:00am to noon. The class will be held at the small cabin at the Elkhart Conservation Club off Sheridan Street in Elkhart. We will provide lunch after the class and have an on-stream seminar before fishing.

Later that evening we will take half the class to the Dowagiac Creek and the other half to the Little Elkhart waters. You will need both a Michigan and Indiana license. On Sunday we will switch the students and the water for the final day of fishing. We will fish rain or shine.

Also included in the class are a dozen flies for the water.

You will need to bring all your fishing gear and waders. We will go over what you will use for this small stream fishing.

This class is for any level of experience. On the water two students will be paired with one guide for an on stream wade fishing experience.  Since most hatches are in the evening fishing into the dark will be likely. A flash light or head lamp will be needed.

To sign up please contact Todd Ezzell – 574-522-0735

SJRVFF is Featured by Project Healing Waters

We are pleased to be featured on the Project Healing Waters website. First and foremost, we want to thank all of the active military service personnel and veterans that serve our country so valiantly. SJRVFF is proud to donate flies from our Tie-A-Thon to such a worthy organization. Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. For more information regarding their organization and the programs they offer, please visit http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/.

MAY 2011 MEETING

May 18th at 6:00pm this meeting will again be held at the Elkhart Conservation
Clubʼs small building (map). The club will provide food and there will be a
FREE raffle. Make sure to bring a rod with you (3 wt.) if you would like to
do some fishing on site at Cobus Creek. We will also have fly tying and casting
demos, and of course, a guest speaker. Hope to see you there!

Opening Day Outing

The SJRVFF Opening Day Outing will take place on Saturday, April 30th at Bobbie LaBar’s farm on Dowagiac Creek. This is an all day event – there will be coffee & doughnuts for the early birds at 8:00 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon.Lunch will be provided by the club, along with water & soda. The club will not be providing beer or wine – you’ll have to bring your own. The drawing for Feenstra Guide Trip will take place at 1:30 p.m.
To get to the LaBar farm from South Bend, take either M-60 or M-62 to Cassopolis, MI. Then take O’Keefe Road north out of town for several miles. Right after you cross the creek turn left onto Engle Street. The farm will be about a mile or so down on the left side of the street. You can also take M-60 to the traffic light in downtown Cassopolis, MI Then take M62 North and West 4.1 miles to LaGrange. Immediately north of LaGrange M62 veers to the west – go straight on Twin Lakes Road .4 miles to Engle St., turn east (right) on Engle .9 miles to Sleepy Hollow Farm. The address is 23683 Engle St. (Map)

Castapalooza Saturday, April 16

Jerry Darkes of Scott Rod Company will be at Leeper Park with a slew of rods to cast on the St. Joseph River. On the St. Joe River at Leeper Park in South Bend, Indiana 9:00am – 3:00pm.

  • Ongoing Fly Casting Programs: Single, Switch and Two Hand Rods.
  • Featuring regionally-known fly casting instructors and pro anglers Jeff Liskay, Jerry Darkes and guests.
  • Fly tying demos by top local tiers.
  • Displays by local retailers. Equipment from top manufacturers: Scientific Anglers, Scott Fly Rods, Nautilus Reels, Patagonia, Echo, Freedom Hawk Kayaks and more.

Next Meeting on the 6th floor – April 20, 2011

6:00 PM April 20th Annual Club Auction will be held on the 6th floor of the Chase Bank building (Same as the March Meeting- map). The money we raise is used to support the Clubʼs activities throughout the year, including the outings, fly tying classes, the stream improvements, the donations for stockings in our local waters and speakers.

BYOB
Due to a temporary technicality with its liquor license, The Cellar Door can no longer serve alcoholic beverages until further notice. Members of SJRVFF may bring in their own alcohol to consume. The Cellar Door regrets this and will inform us when the license is reinstated. As always, please drink responsibly.