Big fly fishing show this weekend near Helen

The two-day show offers demonstrations and seminars on virtually every aspect of the sport. The activities are designed to improve participants casting and fishing abilities, while catering to all skill levels from novice to expert. Some programs require a fee, others are free.

After the classes,  anglers have the opportunity to put their new knowledge to the test at Unicoi Lake and Smith Creek in the park, or to visit other nearby streams.

The genesis of the FFF was a 1965 conclave of western fly casters in Eugene, Oregon. The group has since expanded to include chapters throughout the country, organized into 15 regional councils. The Georgia Women Fly Fishers and the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club are local affiliates of the FFF. The organization’s mission is the betterment of the sport of fly fishing through conservation, restoration and education.

The FFF is not tied to any one fish. Group members work to preserve and pursue all types of fish with a fly rod. Their quarry run the gamut from glamor species like trout and salmon to the common carp, including both salt and freshwater fish.

This year’s line up of conclave presenters is headlined by Gary Borger, Jim Casada and Tom Travis. Borger was the casting consultant for the Robert Redford movie “A River Runs Through It.” Casada is a true sage of the Smoky Mountains, having fished its streams and written about the area for more than five decades. Travis is internationally recognized for his angling and fly tying skills.

Jimmy Jacobs is the editor of Georgia Sportsman magazine. He can be contacted at jimmy.jacobs@imoutdoors.com.