Fly-fishing group aims to teach art to others
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In the right season, you might find them thigh-deep in a local lake or river, rod in hand.
You'll want to watch as each raises the rod, then rhythmically waves it forward and back, forward and back, each time letting out a bit more line until he has just enough to settle the fly on his hook in the water near his target.
Fly-fishing is a picturesque style of angling that goes hand-in-hand with the art of fly-tying.
The 100-plus members of DuPage Rivers Fly Tyers, or DRiFT, spend a good portion of their time out of the water crafting lures and teaching others to do it, too.
Art Mazzier, a member of DRiFT's executive board, says the group soon will begin sharing its fly-tying skills with veterans at Hines VA Hospital. Fly-tying and fly-fishing are relaxing, even therapeutic, Mazzier says, and similar programs for veterans have been well-received around the country.
Mazzier recently told the Daily Herald about DRiFT and the group's auction that will help fund the veterans program and other education and conservation efforts.
Q. What is DRiFT's mission?
A. We are a non-profit membership corporation whose mission is to cultivate and advance the art, science and sport of fly-fishing.
Q. What do you do?
A. We work to provide the art of fly-fishing most consistent with the preservation and use of game fish resources. We also endeavor to be the voice of organized fly-fishing. We promote conservation of recreational resources. We work to facilitate and improve the knowledge of fly-fishing and fly-tying. Finally, we strive to elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy among anglers.
Q. Whom do you serve?
A. We serve the entire area of DuPage County and areas outside of the county.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. We began in 1991 when about 20 fly-fishing devotees gathered to form the club now known as DRiFT. We have grown to our present membership of more than 100.
Q. What kind of success have you had?
A. We have added several programs that have met with great success. We meet every Tuesday at the College of DuPage, where we engage in the art of tying flies, later to be used for fly-fishing. We also have a youth fly-tying program where we introduce young anglers to the sport of fly-fishing and fly-tying. In cooperation with the Boy Scouts, we work with Scouts toward earning merit badges in angling.
Additionally we assist in the cause of conservation by donating funds and participating in hands-on work programs in which our members volunteer for stream and lake restoration and upkeep.
A new program, in its early stages, is working with wounded and disabled vets at Hines Veterans Hospital. There are a number of logistical problems to be worked out, but we are confident this program will be a big success as it has been in other parts of the country.
By involving the majority of our members, who have already volunteered to participate, we will be working with the wounded vets to begin fly-fishing and fly-tying. Professionals have indicated this program has been very therapeutic in helping the vets recover from their injuries. We feel really upbeat about this program.
Q. What challenges does the organization face?
A. Fundraising is always a necessary issue as programs need resources to be maintained.
Q. What do you wish the community knew about DRiFT?
A. We would like the community to know we welcome and encourage anyone interested in learning fly-fishing, fly-tying and participating in conservation projects to join with us.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. We have an excellent Web site, dupageriversflytyers.org. The site gives information on meetings and further information about the club. We also want to extend an invitation to anyone who may have an interest in our club to join us for a meeting on any Tuesday between the middle of September and the middle of May (check the Web site for the time and room location at the College of DuPage).
DRiFT Auction
The DuPage Rivers Fly Tyers uses the proceeds from its annual auction to fund conservation and education programs. On the auction block are new and used fishing gear and tying equipment including rods, reels, fly lines, fly-tying tools, flies, boats, waders, books and DVDs. A hand-crafted bamboo rod is the prize in a special raffle.
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Villa Park VFW, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park
Cost: Free
Call: Ted Bernhard at (630) 983-5605 or Steve Culen at (773) 582-5574
Vital statistics
Annual budget: $10,000 to $15,000
Sources of funding: Membership dues, annual raffle, annual auction
Number of volunteers: The entire 100+ membership is active and participates in various club activities