NY State Trout Season Opening Festivities April 1, 2012

Sunday, April 1, 2012 is the 130th Trout Season opener in NYS.

Celebrating the 130^th Season Opening With an All Star Cast

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum (CFFCM) will officially launch the 2012 season with an All Star Cast at 9:30 AM on Sunday April 1. This year’s ceremony will be held in front of the CFFCM on the fabled Willowemoc Creek (Located at 1031 Old Rte. 17 between Roscoe and Livingston Manor, NY, accessed at either exit 94 or 96 on NYS 17/86).

This year’s celebration will be bigger and better than ever before with the return of Actor Olek Krupa, and a few others to cast in a new season. Hosted by the CFFCM’s 1st Family of Fly Fishing: Jeff, Erin, Alicia and Allie Phelan along with Aileen Gunther, Sullivan County Assemblywoman. Everyone is invited to participate in this First Cast of the season and all are encouraged to bring their own rod and waders to make it a memorable moment.

Following The All Star Cast, visitors can cast the bugs out after a long winter with some fine bamboo fly rods (no experience necessary). Bring your own bamboo rods or try what is there, everyone of all ages is welcome to join Mike Canazon and the Bamboo Boys, from 11 AM until 1 PM at the Livingston Manor High School Gym. This annual event is sponsored by the Livingston Manor Rotary Club.

In the museum, Ted Patlen will welcome in the new season with a fly tying demonstration and session though out the day and Agnes Van Put will ladle out her famous soups in the Gift Shop.

At 1:30 PM everyone will gather downstairs to officially cut the ribbon to the new Agnes Van Put Kitchen, followed by a ‘shovel in the ground’ ceremony for the construction of the Catskill Rodmakers Workshop and Heritage Craft Center. This construction will add 5,000 square feet to the Paul Dahlie Education Building and house The Wulff Gallery on the upper level.

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is recognized as the center of the fly fishing community. It’s all about fly fishing.

First Cast ceremonies have usually been the weekend after April 1st . This year it was determined to make it official on April 1st , the real ‘opening day’, considering it falls on a weekend and will not do so again for 5 years. The CFFCM welcomes all, fishermen or not, to visit this very special day in the Catskills