Fly Fishing Clinic on April 18

As spring continues, the staff here at MMR has been busy preparing projects to promote beef sales and educational opportunities for owners and area residents.    MMR Beef has organized a sponsorship for Rocky Mountain PBS to promote our first sales year of USDA organic certified calves.  We have also produced and published the first in a series of newsletters on our grass-fed beef; this month’s issue includes information on the environmental, health, and nutritional benefits of consuming grass-fed beef over other types of meat products.  Contact Montana at canterbury@maytagmoutnainranch.com if you would like to receive a copy.  We have also been working with local associations in Westcliffe, and now have plans in place to participate in the weekly Westcliffe farmer’s market this summer, which has an organic and sustainable focus.

Next weekend, April 18th, MMR will be hosting a free fly fishing clinic for all owners and their guests.  This clinic is designed to get us ready for the beginning of the world-famous Caddis Fly hatch on the nearby Arkansas River.  Whether you are looking to learn new skills or just brush up on old ones, our friend and neighbor Jim Yourishin will be able to help you.  The clinic will begin at 9AM; please email Jen at jcole@maytagmountianranch.com as soon as possible if you have not already informed her of the number of people (and the number of fly rods) you will be bringing on Saturday. The schedule for the clinic is as follows (session details will vary based on the experience and desires of those attending):

Classroom discussion of:
* Basic entomology (streams and ponds)
* Trout feeding habits
* The flyrod and line vs spinning (what you throw)
* Knots with color-coded guides and practice

Casting practice on the lawn:
* Roll Casting
* False Casting
* Line Introduction

Pond Session:
* Tying on the fly
* Introducing line to the cast
* The retrieve plus variations
* Hook setting and fish playing

Advanced Session:
* The Dry Fly and casting