Chicago Winter Happenings

Winter's back.  Our local water is frozen over and it's tying and outdoor shows for the next couple months.  Chicago has a lot of options to try to keep yourself busy and stave off cabin fever. Here's a few of them:

Tying Classes and Demos

This winter if you're looking to improve your tying game -besides hanging out with us of course- there are a bunch of classes coming up at the shops here in Chicago.  With different days and times available there should be something fitting for everybody.  Check out the options and make sure you tell them you heard about it here!


Orvis Chicago
The Chicago branch of Orvis will be offering free beginning fly tying classes at their downtown store.  Saturdays beginning Jan 18th- Feb 22.  They also plan on having fly demonstrations during the week through the next couple months by some great local guides and tyers.  Call or stop by the shop for more details.
LINK


Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters
The crew over at Chicago Fly will be offering a full schedule of tying classes from January through March.  Everything from beginner Intro courses to more advanced Musky, Nymphing,  and Trout Streamer courses are being offered.  Whatever you're into, they have a class for you.  They also have a roster of special guests doing presentations. Check out the website or call the shop for more info.
LINK





Chicago Area Outdoors Shows:
While Chicago doesn't have a fly fishing specific show aside from the Early Show back in November, there are a few shows over the winter with at least some fly fishing aspect to them.  Anyway they're a good way to break up the winter.

Chicago Muskie Show
January 10-12
Palatine
LINK

All Canada Show
January 9- 12
St Charles
LINK

Chicagoland Fishing Travel and Outdoor Show
This show seems to have the most fly fishing in it with a Fly Fishing Pavillion featuring manufacturers, guides, and tiers.
January 23-26 2014
Schaumburg, IL
LINK

Chicago Outdoor Sports Show
January 22-26
Rosemont, IL
LINK

Tinley Park Fishing Show
A surprisingly good, huge show featuring clubs, guides, gear, and anything fishing.
Feb 8-9
Tinley Park
LINK

December Wrap Up

Monday was cold.  And snowy.  So a handful of us hung inside the nice warm bar. As usual it was a great time.  Good fishy conversation, some good brews, and a bunch of flies.  We saw some red fish flies, some poppers, and some chunky baitfish.  Seems as if some of us are already thinking about warmer weather!
Our next meet up is January 13.  Until then- here's some pics.

December 9

December 9 is our next meet up.  Same time. Same place.  6:30 at Galway Bay in Chicago.   Whether you want to tie, just want to to hang out and meet other fly fishers, or are interested in learning more about fly tying or fishing we'd love to have you.  Come when you can and leave when you have to just come have a drink with us and lets talk fish. This month is another free tie so bring a vise and some materials and fill some holes in your box or tie for your next trip.  Hope to see you there!

Jerry Darkes at Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters

Author of Fly Fishing the Inland Oceans Jerry Darkes will be at Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters (Chi-Fly) this Sat Nov 16 from 2pm - 5 pm.  This is a great book that I think a lot of us have already purchased that gives a ton of insight into fishing our greatest local water including locations, fly selection and techniques
.Darkes will be signing books from 2-4 and will be giving a slideshow presentation on the Great Lakes from 4-5.
For more information check out Chi- Fly's event page HERE.  Go check it out and support another local Chicago event and grab a copy of a cool book featuring a ton of fishing within a reasonable drive from Chicago.
While you're there check out their schedule of upcoming fly tying classes too.

November Wrap-up

Well November had a bit of a small turn out that we'll blame on the weather.  That was a nasty sloppy first snow of the year!  But we made the best of it and had a good time hanging out anyways.  A few flies were tied and a few drinks downed.
Monday December 9 will be our next meet up.  We'll have more details later.  Hope to see you there!
Here's a few pics from Monday night:

ISA Early Show

The ISA Early Show was Saturday out in Batavia and Tim and I were there repping Chi- Tie.  This was a cool show spotlighting a whole lot of local tiers, guides, and shops. We had a great time tying a few flies and meeting a lot of new folks.  Hopefully we'll see some of you in the future.  I gave a couple demos of some of his go to bass flies while Tim was showing some great steelhead flies. There was also a ton of interest in all the giant musky flies we both had laid out.

It was cool to get to meet and network with other Chicagoland tying clubs including DRIFT and NIFT.  There were a lot of awesome tiers there putting out everything from tiny trout nymphs to big musky flies.  I even finally joined ISA. Check them out as they're a great organization doing a lot of important work in the area helping protect and conserve one of our favorite gamefish. 

Thanks to John and the ISA for having us out and putting us in a great spot. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and talked with us.  And thanks to everyone for continuing the support and hanging out tying with us.  Now enjoy some pics that Tim was able to snap during the day.  See you November 11!
- Dave K

Since we were right on the river, we had to go fish after...

November 11

Next Chi- Tie meet is November 11! Come on out.  As always we promise a good time.  Bring a vise and a box of fur and feathers or bring nothing and come have a beer with us.  Either way we'll be happy to have you!  We'll be at Galway Bay tying around 6:30 till whenever.  This month is an open tie so fill your box with whatever your fishing now!  Hope to see you there.
And don't forget- we'll be at the ISA Early Show this Saturday Nov 2.  This is another great local event focused on fly fishing and tying and we can't wait to hang out.

ISA "Early Show" Nov 2

November 2-  3rd Annual ISA Early Show-  Batavia, IL

Tim and Dave will be representing Chi- Tie at the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance "Early Show" Nov 2.  Come hang out with us.  We'd love to meet more cool area fly fishers and tiers.  This is the first show to kickstart the expo season and the only one dedicated entirely to the local scene.  There will be local tying clubs, vendors, guides, and speakers.  Chi- Tie friends P.J. Smith and Austin Adducci are slated to give presentations.  We're looking forward to it and we hope to meet you there! 

Here's what ISA has to say about it- check the website for more info.

The Early Show - 3rd Annual

Join the ISA Bassbuggers and DRiFT as they host the 3^rd annual Early Show, Chicagoland’s only local fly fishing and fly tying show!

This year’s program will include: regional vendors, fly tyers from many of the Chicago area fly fishing clubs, regional guides and several free guest speaker presentations. Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructors will be available for on the water instruction, along with on the water spey casting demonstrations.

Come and sit down with some of the area’s best fly tyers as they demonstrate their talents tying a wide variety of warmwater, coldwater and specialty fly patterns. Bring the kids and have them take advantage of the free youth fly tying program. View the actual bugs that fish eat under a high-powered microscope.

Show Features:

•  25+ Regional fly tyers – sit and watch them create a fly for the waters they fish

•  FFF certified casting instructors will provide free on the water casting instruction

•  Regional fishing guides will be on hand to book trips

•  Free guest speaker presentations all day long

•  Entomology program with real bugs that can be viewed under a microscope

•  Free youth fly tying sessions with all the materials provided

•  Area vendor booths with products for sale

•  Many Chicago area clubs will be in attendance

The show will again be located at the Batavia VFW Post 1197 on the banks of the Fox River in downtown Batavia Illinois. Food service will be available.

Mark your calendar now for the first fly fishing show of the Fall season.

Admission is $10.00 for adults - kids under 10 are free.

  

Show Location:  VFW Post 1197

                        645 River Street

Batavia, IL. 60510

Show Date:        Saturday, November 2, 2013

Show Time:        8:00 am to 5:00 pm

October Wrap Up

October featured Sean Hansen of Orvis Chicago and Rushing Waters doing a demo for us of one of his Intruder style variations.  (Hopefully we'll have a step-by-step up soon.) We had a great time tying some up and hanging out and talking about the fishing we've been doing lately.  Orvis was even kind enough to donate enough material for everyone to try their hand at a few Intruders.  So thanks Orvis! And thanks Sean for joining us.
Next meet is Monday November 11 and we hope to see some more of you there.

A couple of us need another beer!

Intruders

The crew

PS- We now have stickers! Come out next month and get one!

October Update

It's steelhead season and time to get your chrome box together. Get ready to tie up some swingable patterns at this months Chi- Tie. Monday October 14th we'll be joined by Orvis Chicago fly fishing manager and Rainey's fly designer Sean Hansen. Sean will be doing a demo of one of his Intruder style variations. He'll also have some materials along if you'd like to try it out for yourself.
Come on out and join us. It's sure to be a good time as usual! Hope to see you there.

October meet

October 14th is our next meet up.  Whether you want to tie flies or just want to join us to talk fishing and have a few beers, we hope to see you there.
6:30pm at Galway Bay.

September Wrap Up

Here we go! Another great Chi- Tie meet up.  We downed a few drinks, managed to tie up a handful of flies and just generally talked a lot of fishing for a few hours.  A couple guys even managed to sneak in some harbor fishing down the street before hand.  Seems like we're all looking forward to some fall fishing.  We saw flies tied with Salmon, Musky, and even East Coast Striper in mind.  Hope everyone gets plenty of time on the water in the month and hope to see you in October.  

Cheers!

September 9

It's almost September and that means it's about time for another Chi-Tie session. We're looking forward to grabbing a beer, tying some flies and talking fish. Whether you're tying or just hanging out we hope to see you there!
Monday September 9. 6:30pm. Galway Bay, Chicago.

Carp Class by Orvis

Orvis Chicago will be doing a free carp class! If you've ever wanted to explore this great fly fishing opportunity this is a great way to get started. An on the water instructional will be held Sept 7&8 on the DuPage River in Warrenville,IL.
Carp are a great species to target. They get big (20+ lbs), fight like hell and are everywhere. They're especially plentiful here in Chicago's park ponds, the River and the Lake.
For details go to Orvis.com/Chicago or call the Orvis store to reserve your spot. Cost is free but reservation is required. And make sure you tell them you heard about it from Chi Tie!

August Wrap Up

Our meet up in August just passed and we had some new folks join us for a great time.  A lot of laughs were had, ridiculous stories were told, and a general good time was had by all.  Some of us managed to tie up a couple of flies and one guy was even able to sell one to a drunk! We had a few tiers and a few who just came by to hang out and have a drink with us.  Which is always welcome!
Mark your calendar September 9 is our next meeting.  Come on by to tie or just have a beer with us.  Everyone is welcome!
Until then here's a few shots of the action.

Hope to see you next month.  September 9. Until then- Tight lines, Cold beers, and Clean ties!