Where flyfishers gather
OTTAWA HAS clubs for bass
and muskie anglers, for sure, but
another organization caters to
fishers with a passion for that
long, nimble rod and gracefully
arcing line with a creation of
feathers and bug-like material on
the hook. The Ottawa Flyfishers
Society (OFS) was founded in
1983 in response to an increasing
interest in catching fish on flies
rather than the more common
hardware or live bait.
Dennis Nazarenko calls the
organization “a great place to ex-
change experiences and flyfishing
knowledge” with anglers of all
skill levels of any age and gender.
He’s club president, and sees it
as a source for newcomers to
Ottawa looking for a local place
to fish, and locals hankering for
a “group outing for trout, or are
dreaming of distant fly-fishing
destinations, or interested in
tying your own flies.”
Monthly meetings at the
Champlain Club House of Island
Park Drive feature a guest
speaker focused on anything
from local fishing tips to far-off
fishing hotspots such as New
Zealand, Hawaii, Labrador and
Yukon (name a place, and a
member has probably been
there). Speakers also cover
entomology (what kind of insects
attract your target fish?) and how
to cook your catch should you
decide to keep one or two for
dinner (though most members
are catch-and-release anglers).
Species highlighted range from
trout and salmon, to bass and
bonefish.
Colin Mckeown, the host
and producer of the popular
The New Flyfisher TV show is a
This trio of OFS members are
ready to explore by float tube one
of Manitoba’s parklands lakes for
rainbow and brown trout. Left to
right : Wade Cuthbertson, George
Hendry, and Dennis Nazarenko.
www.fishhuntandride.ca
past-president of the club and
has arranged for presentations
and seminars by some of the big
names in Canadian fly-fishing,
such as Bill Spicer, Phil Rowley
and Brian Chan.
The club organizes tying
flies events between regular
club meetings from fall
through the winter. “You
go through a lot of flies in a
season, so tying your own not
only saves money in the long
for the selected patterns at
a nominal fee. Beginners are
always welcome.”
As an added assistance to
fly tiers, the club maintains a
library of DVDs on basic fly tying
techniques as well as casting
fundamentals. You can play
them over and over until you
get it right.
One evening a week during
summer, Todd Bealor guides a
gaggle of fly anglers to places
OTTAWA
FLYFISHERS
MEETINGS
Regular meetings are the first Tuesday
of the month from September to June at 7
p.m. in the Champlain Field House, corner of Clearview and
Cowley aoff Island Park Drive
Fly tying meetings are the third Tuesday of the month,
same time and location.
Summer fishing outings occur from June to August with
location dependent on water conditions and weather.
Members are contacted by email.
Winter fly casting instruction and tips are on offer from
February to March at an Ottawa high school gym. Location
varies from year to year.
More info at www.ottawaflyfishers.com or
[email protected]
run but it’s a great pastime
when the snow is flying,” says
Bruce Clarke, the angler in
charge. “All you need to bring
is your vise and tying tools
and we provide the materials
along the Ottawa and Rideau
rivers and occasionally Dows
Lake for shore fishing for
warm-water bass, panfish and
pike. Waders are required, but
the central location means the
GRANT
HOPKINS
outings familiarize anglers with
local fishing opportunities – and
save a lot of gas money.
If trout are your primary
interest, the club organizes
group trips at special rates to
the Kenauk Nature Resort near
Montebello, a favourite in spring
and fall. Baroux, near Mont
Tremblant, and the Bing Retreat,
near Westport, are other quality
trout spots members explore.
Club members get together
for distant destinations in
New York state, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Manitoba and the
Maritimes. If you have the time,
there is no shortage of places to
enjoy new angling adventures
with your buddies.
Fly casting does require more
practice than spin or bait casting,
so the club rents an Ottawa high
school gym for a few evening
hours a week during winter.
Anglers show up to tune up their
casting and try out new rods and
lines, making the agonizing wait
for spring more bearable. Casual
instruction and casting tips are
available for any newcomers.
Conservation is another club
focus. Members monitor Otta-
wa’s numerous creeks through
City Stream Watch and explain
the world of fly fishing to eastern
Ontario conservation authorities
at their annual aquatic workshop
on the Rideau River and a youth
fishing camp on the South Nation
River.
If you are an experienced fly
fisher looking to link up with
others, a novice wanting to learn
more, or perhaps volunteer for
hands-on conservation, then the
OFS may be the place for you.
Annual membership is only $35.
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FISH , HUNT RIDE | 13