February 8th Spring Opener Fundraiser – Bob Clouser on “Bass, Both Species, Top to Bottom” and “Clouser’s Top Tips” and Much, Much More!

Bob Clouser is a long time high profile smallmouth bass fisherman and is the creator of the famed Clouser Minnow fly pattern.  The Clouser Minnow is known world-wide and has caught more varieties of fish than any other fly.  Bob has also developed numerous other innovative and highly productive freshwater and saltwater fly patterns.  Based in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Bob teaches fly tying, fly casting and fly fishing.  His very popular freshwater and saltwater fly fishing/casting schools are held at various locations around the country using visual aids and casting weighted flies and lines.  Bob also gives lectures, tying demonstrations and presentations nationwide.  Because of his extensive knowledge, Bob is sought after for his fly fishing presentations on top tips for both smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing.  Bob has been featured in many fine fly fishing and fly tying videos and DVD’s.  He is also a prolific and highly regarded author of fly fishing and fly tying articles and books. Bob’s articles have been published in national and regional magazines as well as in freshwater and saltwater publications.  The books he has published are “Clouser’s Flies” and “Fly Fishing for Smallmouth in Rivers and Streams”.  Bob has been presented numerous awards for his strong conservation work.  You can read more about Bob at his website Clouser’s Fly Shop.

The Badger Fly Fishers are extremely thankful to the American Family Insurance Co. that its Spring Opener will once again be held at the American Family Insurance Training Center, Building A, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI.  The facility is outstanding and a perfect location for our event.  The Spring Opener fundraiser helps support local conservation projects.  As a result of attendees’ participation and support of this event the Badger Fly Fishers have been able to donate over $89,000 to improve Wisconsin’s fisheries through education and stream restoration projects.  A comprehensive list of these projects is included on the What We Do page.  The Spring Opener runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 8th.  The event includes 20+ fly tyers that provide hands-on expert instructions, a trade show with 20 or more vendors, a chance to win fabulous fly fishing related equipment in bucket raffles and a silent auction that provides the opportunity to bid on spectacular fly fishing equipment and guided fishing trips.  Here is a link to a list of the magnificent bucket raffle and silent auction items.  This list includes some fantastic, unique and rare fly rods and other prizes that you will definitely want to see and want to bid on.  Admission for the day is only $10 for adults.  Children under 16 are admitted free.  An on-site lunch is available for a nominal charge.  The following is the schedule of activities for the day:

•   8:00 – Registration opens, fly tying begins and commercial exhibits open.
• 10:00 – Bob Clouser’s presentation on “Bass, Both Species, Top to Bottom”.
• 11:15 – Kid’s bucket raffle organized by the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance.
• 11:30 – Lunch service downstairs begins and continues until 12:45.
•   1:30 – Silent Auction Ends, Bucket Raffle Drawings.
•   3:00 – Bob Clouser’s presentation on “Clouser’s Top Tips”.
•   4:15 – Event Ends.

The Spring Opener event poster includes some additional information, a map with driving and parking directions can be found at this link and more information is available elsewhere on our website.  Please plan to attend this very important fundraising event for the Badger Fly Fishers that helps support the local conservation projects that all of us fly fishers enjoy and appreciate.

Cordially,

Buzz McFly