Few things will get a fly fisher salivating or dreaming more than the thought of spring creek fishing.  Glossy magazines and sports art galleries are filled with images of fly fishermen knee deep in determination to catch a rising trout on a picturesque spring fed creek.  There is something about the size of scale in a spring creek.  Maybe it fits into our comfort zone better than a large river.  Maybe it is perhaps we can command all of its reaches with our casts.  Maybe it talks to us and reminds us to slow down and then extends an invitation to study its subtle nuances.  Maybe it excites and fulfills our senses in the most gentle of ways.  Or maybe…maybe the fishing can be just pretty damn good!!!!

This month we have invited Nelson Ishiyama, owner of Henry’s Fork Lodge, to be our guest speaker.  Nelson’s presentation is based on over 40 years of long experience fishing spring creeks in the West.  His focus will be on streams in California (Hat Creek & Fall River), Oregon (Metolius River), Idaho (Silver Creek & Henry’s Fork), and Montana (Armstrong, Nelson’s, and Milesnick’s Creek). He’ll cover the geology and natural history of spring creeks in general, effective fishing strategies, major insects, flies, and equipment. 

Nelson has been fishing the Henry’s Fork every year since he first saw it in the mid-60’s as a college student.  Since then, he’s had a chance to fish with a fly for everything from bluegills to billfish in some great places both mundane and exotic, and he’s still exploring.  His favorite place and home water is still the Henry’s Fork, without question.

He is into almost everything related to fly fishing – fly tying, fly casting, entomology, fly fishing history, fishing lodges and you name it.  As his wife, Terrie, and his 15 year old daughter, Julia, would tell you, his house is full of antique reels, bamboo rods, a library of fishing books and piles of old fishing magazines.

After about 20 years as a lawyer (please don’t hold that against him) he was fortunate to be able to make his hobby part of a business by starting Henry’s Fork Lodge in 1991.  Though he is involved in other family businesses, the Lodge is definitely his favorite.  He is at the Lodge for over half the season, commuting from the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives.

When he started Henry’s Fork Lodge, his past experiences at fishing lodges enabled him to incorporate the best from other lodges and to avoid what he didn’t like.  Above all, he wanted his lodge to offer the best of gracious, friendly personal service.  He is most proud of his staff for doing just that.  As a result Henry’s Fork Lodge has earned the reputation of being one of the premier fishing destinations in North America.

Nelson will be tying flies before the meeting at the clubhouse.

See you there.