02 April 06 Today is graduation day for the Baghdad School of Fly Fishing – Class 06-01. But, I don’t think we’ll have class or a ceremony today. For the first time in two months it is raining outside. Now, a little rain never hurt any fisherman. In fact, some of the heaviest blue-wing olive hatches I’ve ever experienced have been in a light drizzle. Even a good downpour is sometimes refreshing. The problem is that this particular storm seems to be chock full of lightning. I am used to the squall lines that pass through in an hour or so. It’s been banging and crashing around here for hours. Graphite, being the key component of 100% of the rods we are using also makes for a good lightning rod. So, I think today we’ll stay inside and tie some flies.
This is a good time to update you on what’s been happening for the last month or so. First and foremost – we continue to get care packages from great people from the Fly-Fishing Forum. You guys and gals are the greatest! Hats off and a heartfelt thanks from all of us. I’d also like to say a special welcome and thank-you to two new corporate sponsors, Craig Matthews and the crew from Blue Ribbon Flies and Bernard Griffin from Griffin Enterprises. Both of these companies are giants in the sport. Craig’s innovative fly designs have changed the way we fish Western waters…or anywhere in the world for that matter (I fished a Matthew’s Sparkle Dun in the Weisent in Bavaria and had just as good a day as any I’ve had on my home water, the Bitterroot). Blue Ribbon videos and books are a must for every library and the web-site is just fun to surf around. Visit them at www.blueribbonflies.com for fine tackle and flies. Griffin vises are, arguably, among the finest around. They are the best value you can find in a quality vise and tools. Durable and dependable they are equally at home on a bench or in the travel pack. I learned to tie on a Griffin vise and I still have two of them and won’t ever trade them. Visit www.griffinenterprisesinc.com for “Quality Tools for the Quality Fly”. Both of these great companies have donated hundreds of dollars worth of equipment and materials for the club. Please show them your support next time you need quality flies, tackle and tools.
Our first class started 6 weeks ago. I share instructor duties with MAJ Vance Sperry and CPT Bob Ruckdeschel. Vance is a veteran of Utah’s great streams while Bob has honed his cast in the green tunnels of Rhode Island’s trout brooks. These guys bring a real passion for the sport and they are also talented instructors. I’m looking forward to a great year! For our first class we’ve had an equal mix of veterans who just wanted to knock the rust off their cast to beginners to the sport. We’ve had as many as 12 and as few as 5 able to attend (sometimes the war intrudes on fishing…darn it!!). Regardless, we’ve had a lot of fun going from basic casting to the point where all the guys can shoot line and make a pretty darn good presentation. We’ll take break now and start up again in two weeks. We already have 6 people lined up for the next class and we haven’t even sent out any fliers yet. I expect it will fill as rapidly as the first. We are progressing a little more slowly at the bench. But, we are still having fun. LTC Tracy Bannister is the Mayor of Camp Victory and has graciously donated his conference room for tying sessions on Tuesday nights. We are still working on the ultimate “Carp Killer” fly.
Speaking of carp, as most of the readers know, it is the main species of fish in our lakes. I exaggerated the size of a fish I caught once. But I do not exaggerate when I say there are some real torpedoes in here. There are a half-dozen in the 20lb class that hang out right by the front of the palace. Our “go-to” fly has been (drumroll….) a #12 Elk Hair Caddis?!?! Nope, I’m not kidding. I was given that tip by an old friend of Joel’s. I was present and witnessed SSG Gillespie hook and land, in successive casts, a six ‘pounder and then a 13# fish. It seems to work better if you let it absorb enough water to hang low in the surface film. I know in the ‘States Cottonwood seed flies work. I’m going to try CDC instead of elk hair next batch I tie and see what happens. Later in the summer, when the heat drives the fish down, I expect the good fly will be the bead-head Prince nymph…just like it was last year in Tikrit.
That’s it for this update. I expect to be able to do them more frequently. Until then…Tight Lines!! // Bill 
The current staff of the Baghdad School of Fly Fishing. The civilian is a reporter from the Chicago Tribune doing a story on the school. 
The first day of class Gotta know those knots! 
It may not be the Rockies, but it isn't bad for practice! Fish tale for the reporter- "It was this big!"
