The Hendrickson Mayfly Written by Cameron Larsen
Mayflies are essential to trout fly fishing. There are still ultra purists who consider casting dry mayfly patterns upstream to rising trout ONLY form of fly fishing. I wasn’t brought up that way and find that way of thinking too limiting. For one thing it would severely limit my time on water, and would force me to get rid of about three-fourths of my beloved fly fishing gear. However, I must admit, there is a certain timeless quality to casting classic dry flies upstream to rising trout. And if that were available to me year round, well I might move to closer to ultra purist status. One of classic mayfly species is commonly called Hendrickson. But it’s Latin name is Ephemerella subvaria, and then there is Light Hendrickson and it’s Latin name Ephemerella invaria. But it doesn’t stop there, there are several species that entomologists have identified. But we as fly fisher’s have simplified that and lumped all these into Light Hendrickson and Dark Hendrickson. How Hendrickson mayfly received it’s common name is a bit of fly fishing lore. As told by Roy Steenrod of Liberty, New York: ‘“One day in 1916, while we were fishing Beaverkill below junction pool at Roscoe, a hatch of flies came on. We had never seen fish rise so freely for any fly as they did for this hatch. I caught one of flies and put it into my fly box, and after lunch that day at Ferdon’s I tied some patterns of fly as nearly as I could. We took fish with fly day in and day out, and for years it proved to be a killer and is so today. One day, while sitting on bank of stream perhaps two years after I had tied first patterns, matter was brought up as to which I would call or name fly. Looking at A.E., best friend a person could ever wish to have, I said, ‘the fly is Hendrickson.’ I saw at once that A.E. was pleased.’ The Dark Hendricskon or Ephemerella subvaria is one of, if not first substantial hatch on many rivers every spring. When water temperature hits 50 degrees fish begin seeing and keying on this mayfly. The males and females look very different, while Dark Hendrickson pattern is a great imitation of male, Light Hendrickson is probably closer to female. However, classic pattern described above is Dark Hendrickson, that worked so well all those years ago. And still does today.
| | Blind Skiers See The LightWritten by Stephen Michael Kerr
About three hours west of Denver lies Snow Mountain Ranch, one of top cross-country ski centers in United States. Known as "YMCA of Rockies", it boasts a large ski chalet and over 90 kilometers of packed and groomed trails. From January 30 to February 6, 2005, center will host 30th annual Ski for Light International event, a week that brings blind and mobility-impaired adults together with sighted ski instructors for cross-country skiing and fun social activities. Participants come from United States, Norway, and several other countries to either learn skiing for first time, or improve on previously developed skills. The first Ski for Light was held in Norway in 1964, and was so successful that a nonprofit all-volunteer organization was formed. Chapters began spreading to other parts of world, and program was first introduced to United States in 1975. The idea is to provide blind and mobility-impaired a chance to experience freedom and benefits of physical activity through cross-country skiing. At beginning of event, each skier is paired with an instructor/guide, according to experience level. Beginners are taught basic fundamentals of sport, while more advanced skiers work on improving their techniques and endurance. Skiers navigate slopes in pre-set tracks or grooves in snow, while their instructors ski on a parallel set of tracks. The guide advises when to change direction, speed up and slow down, and describes any changes in level and direction of tracks. Skiers with mobility impairments use sit-skis, while their guides give instructional tips and offer physical assistance if needed. In addition to cross-country skiing, mobility-impaired participants also have chance to learn sport of sled-hockey during week. The sighted instructors are volunteers from all over United States who pay their own way to attend, just like other participants. Duane Farrar, a blind skier and chairman of Ski for Light's Public Relations Committee, says their role is vital to success of program. "They are there because they love cross-country skiing and wish to share that love with someone like myself who otherwise might not have opportunity to experience sport and exhilarating sense of freedom that it brings," Farrar explains.
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