Fishing is the focus at fair

"To the sky, release," Laurie Adams of ODFW told the little kids at the practice pond. Meanwhile, at the big pond, John Judy, fly fisherman, author and guide, instructed the bigger kids, those over age 20: go up the river, down the river, cast.

Saturday's eighth annual Metolius River Bamboo Rod Fair was an opportunity to meet and greet the industry's rod makers, fly tyers, and booksellers.

There was a table representing the local Hero Quilters, who make quilts to send to injured servicemen in the hospital. Event coordinator Roger White said he felt it was important to give these women a voice at the show.

Back-to-back speakers talked about how to fish, where to fish, and what's being done to preserve and restore fish habitat.

On the main floor rod makers demonstrated their skill so fishermen could see how it's done, from making rods to making flys. Even the kids got lessons in fly-tying and making all the important knots. As Captain Caddis, Bob Mullong, would say: if you can't knot your string, you can't fish.

Roger and Kathy White, owners of the Camp Sherman Store and sponsors of the event, year after year manage to bring together all the right people to educate and inform adults and children alike.

Young Dillon Maley has been tying flies with his parents, Rocky and Deanna Maley of the Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild, for only four months. He may not be as skilled as those who have been doing it longer, but with book in hand, he knew which materials, which colors, and which technique to use to make the fly that would get the fish caught.

There are many one-person operations in the rod- making industry. People like Dave Dozer, who learned from Bellinger, long-time and well-known rod making company. Dozer buys his metal hardware from Bellinger and builds just 10 rods a year. His wife, Mary Ann, is a fly- fishing guide and a certified fly-casting instructor. She also works with kids through the Angler Education program in their hometown of Corvallis.

Bellinger owner, Chet Croco, was proud to see his student working the table across from him. Teaching others to build rods pays off in the long run because it puts more people in the industry, Croco believes. He makes 30 to 40 rods a year.

Jen and Ryan Allard were there with their canoes. Formerly known as Navarro, they have moved to Bend, and are now known as Rogue River Canoe Company. They make lightweight composite canoes of cherry with ash trim and Kevlar or fiberglass. They brought a new, light- weight, part synthetic Sawyer paddle this year, and one with an extendable arm so you can stand and paddle increasing your stroke from three feet to six.

Dave Holloman of the oldest rod company, E.F. Payne Company, who is moving his operation from Sisters to Bend, was there showing off his original equipment, made with tools from over 100 years ago. He hopes to found a fly- fishing museum at his Bend operation.

Most of the rod makers have been set up at the rod fair since its inception eight years ago. People like Joe Bradley of J. L. Bradley Bamboo Rod Company, who considers himself a very traditional rod maker. He has added a line of hollow rods, but, he says, whatever you take away on the inside you have to add on the outside, so the weight is not that different. There is only a change in flexibility.

Chris Foster, Laurie Adams, and Captain Caddis, along with more than a dozen fly tyers were the stars for the kids on Sunday. Kids who caught a fish on the pond entered a drawing for a chance to win a rod and reel kit donated by TFO Fly Rods and Cortland. Six kits were given away during the two-day event.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife provides an outreach for angler and hunting education. The BOW program, Becoming an Outdoor Woman, where Adams also teaches, was set up so women could learn on their own, away from the guys.

The important thing, says Foster, is to get the kids outdoors, ideally with their parents. Their focus is on families. ODFW offers a variety of classes on technique, the watershed, food cycles, ecology, and habitat improvement. Some are free, some have a cost. A lot of the materials are for all ages.

"There are less and less people spending time in the outdoors," said Foster. "People have to be interested in the resource for it to be protected."