[MJC]

Well the first Clearwater Spey Clave is now history. I must say it went off much better then even I could have dreamed. We had beautiful weather and the river looked great.

There were 95 people registered. We think there were actually about 125 in attendance.

I owe many people a great BIG thank you for all the help that made this event a complete success. First on the list is Mrs. Red Shed, the most important part of the team. The Wheeler family, Dale (Ollie), Amanda, Josh, and Mariah, the planners, organizers, gear haulers, sign makers, greeters, cooks, and goodwill ambassadors for the Red Shed. Also my daughter Kelly Brumley who did design work and printing and my friend Jan Aiuppy who helped expedite many chores. Last but certainly not least were Bill and Sheila McDonald, the park caretakers. Without them this event would not have been possible.

Next are the demonstrators. Bruce Kruk, Jack Cook, Larry Aiuppy, Mike Kinney, Brian Styskal, John Dobson, and Tom Larimer. These guys are who the people come to see and I think they did an exceptional job. Our freinds, "the Meiz" and "Homer Two Hand" out due to illness were missed by all and we wish them a speedy recovery.

There was not as much tackle as we were promised but we still had quite a lot.
Larry Aiuppy-Echo, Airflo, Snowbee
Brooks Montgomery-St Croix, Scientific Anglers, Lamson
Jack Cook-Scierra, Guideline, Clan Rods
Mike Kinney-Meiser Rods
Bruce Kruk-Loomis
Brian Styskal-Burkheimer Rods
John Dobson-Scott, Kaenon Eyeware
Chris Kelly (Atwell & Associates)-Sage, Rio, Action Optics

There were several door prizes given away. They were furnished by:
CND Spey USA-Wheatley Swing Leaf Fly Box
Red Shed Fly Shop-Combi Rod Racks
Snowbee USA-Breathable Wading Jacket and Breathable stocking foot waders
Brooks Montgomery/SA-Spey Lines
Atwell & Associates-Chris Kelly/Rio-Spey Lines
Action Optics/Peter Crow-Eyewear
Scott Rods/John Dobson-Sweatshirt
Kaenon/John Dobson-Eyewear
Terry Edelmann-DVDs
Dr.Slick/Skip Gibson-Forceps

The WSC was represented by Michael Mathis of Spokane

The last group I would like to thank were all the attendees, without whom this event would be non existent. My thanks to everyone that came. I had a great time visiting with you all and I hope we will see you all again next year.

Peace and Love from the Left Bank, Poppy

 

[t_richerzhagen]

Great Time

Thanks for the effort. 100+ at the rest stop near Lenore, ID - WOW what a start. Making it even better, there were fish to be caught.

 

[fisshman26]

wow!

Just got back from the Clearwater, just as the fishing was getting good, bummer, hated to leave such a pretty river but hated leaving Mike and Linda even more. You will not meet finer people!
The clave was awsome, meeting Mike Kinney and Brian S and seeing them cast were the highlights for me personally along with meeting so many of the speypages gang in person. The food and atmosphere from the crowd was amazing (Linda makes some of the best cookies I have ever had )
Great seeing everyone and I am looking forward to the next Redshed speyclave.

 

[billfish]

Fantastic!

Got back late last night and absolutely had a great time! Thank you Poppy and everyone else who helped put on this event. The cookies where great too!

I enjoyed all of the presentations and tried out quite a bit of new stuff to add to the list of future equipment. I worked on my Circle V while fishing yesterday and really like that cast!

A special thanks to the guys from Salmon, ID! I enjoyed camping and hanging out with you guys and hope you're out hooking up on your float today!

Bill

 

[speyman]

Thanks to Pops and Linda

Our hosts were the most gracious folk you would ever want to visit. All who drive to the end of the earth to see the Red Shed are treated like family. The event was fun and full of useful information. Folks of every casting and fishing preference would come away with more knowlege than they arrived with.

Sign me up for next year.

BTW - the fishing was good also. I found a spot my last AM which I am going to call 'pocket water'. It is a run with a seam only about 90' out and the run is only 50 yards long, hardly worth bothering with on the Clearwater. That said I rose two in that little pocket and loved every minute of it.

Cheers and thanks Poppy and Linda!

 

[Norseman]

What a great bunch

A tip of the hat to Mike, his wife Linda, their daughter and son in-law too, oh and not to forget Mariah and Josh...those little guys helped out more than most adults did. Hey Josh....are you drinking your morning coffee black yet????? :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

. I have not met such great folks in a very long time. I was treated like a longtime friend of the family and hated to go back home.

Mike: I am looking forward to the new Loomis Deveron...what an awesome rod.

A note to Tracey Allen too.....the local guide who went out of his way to make us feel right at home......I am having a problem getting rid of my accent now though....hehehehe

I spoke with many of the reps and some of the legends of the Northwest. Mike Kinney a special thanks for the little extra favour you afforded me....I will treasure it in my collection.

Bruce Kruk....thanks again buddy......that was the best trip of my life. If was the entire package....good food. GREAT people. And some chrome baby!!!!

The Red Shed will be getting a lot of my business....even with the exchange it is cheaper that the prices up here in the North.

And finally I an no longer a Spey Virgin.....my first fish to the spey on a full floating line with a wet fly......I am still running the grab over and over again in my head.....THE TUG IS THE DRUG.

See you all next year at the second annual Clearwater Speyclave.

P.S.
Linda....will the cookie and coffee bar be ready by then?....I will have to bring the stretchy pants if you get it up and running :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

You Folks were the best

Paul

 

[Big K1]

Thanks Poppy!

Even though I missed most of the clave due to a fishing illness. I had a great time with good friends. I am a little bummed out I missed the BBQ and cookies. Lets see, fish or eat? I think I made the right choice!

Thanks again Poppy and Linda!

 

[juro]

I'd love to see photographs of the river and clave if anyone has them.

 

[Jacob]

Yes, pics pics! :lildevl:

 

[FLGator]

What an awesome experience... It was great meeting so many wonderful people and putting faces and names with handles.

Mike, Linda and the gang from the Red Shed did one heck of a fine job putting on an outstanding gathering. Thank you to all of the guys brave enough to get on the water in front of a hundred pairs of prying eyes. You all were amazing. Teaching with class and pulling off some amazing casts and breaking them down to the basics.

This is a great community to be a part of and I'm looking forward to next years event already.

Chris

 

[MJC]

Mrs. RedShed has some pictures but she is to busy right now to get them down loaded. Hopefully by this weekend.

 

[Norseman]

Clearwater Clave Pictures

I have quite a few loaded onto the digital camera. I will try to post some this coming weekend as I am working afternoon shift for the next four days

They are quite large format, so I will have to reduce the size to fit on the site. Hope they will look OK reduced in size

Paul

FLGATOR ( Chris ) sent you an e-mail last night

 

[Brent Comer]

MJC,

Thanks for putting on such an excellent event! I had a great time. Also, thanks to the Red Shed clan for the lunch and hospitality.

Kevin, I owe you copius amounts of Lagavulin. Thanks for putting up with me and my dad for almost five days. :chuckle:

I have pictures of most of the folks that gave presentations, also pictures of some of the scenery. I'll post them as soon as I get a chance. :smokin:

 

[Kevlar]

Thanks for letting me tag along, Brent. I almost missed out on a great clave if it wasn't for you and your Dad. Bringing the Lagavulin was the least I could do. Your Dad has a great sense of humor. It was fun listening to your and your Dad's banter back and forth. :chuckle: I'm much abliged to Poppy and his crew for putting on a first rate clave. I learned a new cast, the snap V, from Larry Aiuppy's presentation and I used it the next day fishing.

Thanks again,

Kevin

 

[link]

Just got back from the Clearwater Clave late last night - had so much fun we didn't want to leave. What a great gathering of the clan it was!
Thank you Poppy and Linda. I appreciate all your hard work. I had the time of my life. And a huge thank you to Mike Kinney for a superb class. I'm at the next level and fired up. I'll be out on my home water practicing this afternoon.

link

 

[t_richerzhagen]

Great Time

at the Clave and a great time of year to be on the river. Thanks to Mike and company for a great time. The Class by Mike Kinney is very worthwhile.

 

[Norseman]

No longer a virgin

Ok here is the first pic I have access too. ( I left my camera in Bruce's truck so I won't get it til weeks end.)



I still have this grin on my face and have not been able to get rid of it. My wife says I look like a baby with gas when I am asleep !!!!!!!!

Full floating line and a wet fly swing.....

Not a monster.....but its my first steelhead on a spey rod.


Paul


Trace........thanks for giving me first crack on this run

 

[speyman]

Well done Paul

There were a lot of those smaller but beautifully colored hens. The ones I saw were extremely fat and seemed to be in great condition.

Here to a long and illustrious career ahead of you!

 

[t_richerzhagen]

Any Steelhead

is a good fish. The neat thing about the Clearwater, is that you never know when the next one will push 20# or more. If it is a big one, your tackle better be right. That grab with the hook point broken off on a rock could just be the fish you are dreaming about.

 

[sinktip]

Ted,

That sounds like the voice of experience????? I know I have experienced that

'tip