Learn to tie flies and how to spot a good stretch

Whether you’re a seasoned fly fisher or a novice who doesn’t know a tippet from a hackle, the 30th annual New Mexico Trout’s Fly Fishing Conclave is a not-to-be-missed event.

The conclave set for March 2 features presentations on fly-fishing and fly tying , raffles for equipment and guided trips, a catered lunch and clinics covering knot tying, casting and fly tying. Guest speakers are Pat Dorsey and Landon Mayer, renowned Colorado fly-fishing experts, authors and guides.

“The New Mexico Trout annual conclave is an opportunity for fly fishers of all ages and skill levels to enjoy a day dedicated to increasing their knowledge of fly-fishing by addressing all aspects of fly-fishing – from knots to fly tying, to casting to techniques on the stream,” said Dave Patton, a New Mexico Trout board member who heads up Project Healing Waters. “Our presenters are fly-fishing experts that love what they do and will make every attendee a better fly fisher.”

	If You Go WHAT: 30th Annual New Mexico Trout Conclave WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Sandia Prep, 532 Osuna NE COST: $35 for N.M. Trout members; $45 for nonmembers. Kids 14 and younger, free MORE: Go to newmexicotrout.org and click on “events” and “NMT Conclave” to register online

Dorsey, a Colorado native, has been a fishing guide for more than 22 years. He specializes in fishing tailwaters – the rivers or streams below dams.

Tailwaters offer anglers several advantages, Dorsey said in a recent interview from his home in Parker, Colo. Those include a consistent flow of clear water and stable water temperatures year-round. Those conditions promote a variety of aquatic and insect life that promote great trout fishing.

The quality waters below New Mexico’s Navajo Dam are a prime example of a tailwater fishery, said the 49-year-old guide.

“On tailwater, you get clear water that allows more sight fishing, where you get to cast to specific fish in a lot of cases,” he said. “Tailwaters tend to have reliable dry-fly fishing and good hatches. As a general rule, the flies are much smaller in a tailwater than in a freestone stream.”

Smaller flies mean lighter tackle, and a more technical aspect of fly-fishing, Dorsey said.

Freestone refers to a river or stream with fast-moving water that inhibits the growth of vegetation and a bottom that is free of stones. Though the faster water creates a less diverse aquatic insect population, it often results in fewer – but larger – trout.

Dorsey said the conclave will have something for every level of fly fisherman.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that knowledge leads to success. The more the angler knows about the trout, the river, hatches and specific tactics required to catch those fish, the better angler they will become,” Dorsey said. “So my goal at the conclave will be to elevate an angler’s skills and knowledge.”

Mayer, 33, specializes in “sight fishing.”

“Sight fishing is the art of stalking and hunting trout by way of fly, in which you not only see the fish take the fly, you see everything – how to approach a fish, how it actively feeds. It’s a really rewarding way to pursue larger fish on the fly,” Mayer said from his home in Florissant, Colo.

Conclave attendees, he said, will receive detailed instruction that they can take to their favorite fishing spots.

“Hopefully, everyone will leave with information they need to be a better fly fisher,” he said.

New Mexico Trout is a 501c(3) nonprofit that supports cold water fisheries through conservation projects and educational, youth and volunteer service programs, including Project Healing Waters, a program for U.S. military veterans.