On Monday, Great Bay Trout Unlimited (GBTU) hosted its second annual Fly Auction at Weeksie's Pizza in Dover, NH. Local businesses and fly fishing enthusiasts generously donated boxes of flies, reels, books, guided trips, float tubes, fly tying materials, and certificates that were sold in the live and silent auctions held on Monday night. GBTU also held a raffle for a custom handcrafted 7'8" #4 bamboo fly rod donated by D J Duggan of River Stixs Rod makers in Pepperell, MA where 50% of the raffle would be donated to Casting For Recovery, "a non-profit, support, and educational program for women who have or have had breast cancer".
Founded in 1996, their foundation has spread throughout the country, relying on local organizations to help promote their program. Scientific studies have suggested that techniques involved in fly casting gently massage the joint and soft tissue mobility. Of course, it also connects women with the natural and spiritual healing found in the outdoors.
During the GBTU event, I found some great deals on fly tying books and even won a live auction bid on 3 beautifully hand tied salmon flies in a Walnut frame dressed by Mark E. Favorite of Rochester, NH. But to end the night with a bang, I was the luckiest supporter of the night when my name was drawn for the grand prize; the handcrafted 7'8" #4 bamboo fly rod with case. Completely speechless as expected from a first time raffle winner, I awed over my first bamboo fly rod that would soon be added to my collection. To make the night even more ironic, my girlfriend picked the winning raffle ticket. I plan to contact Dan Duggan (rod maker) in the near future to commend him on his outstanding artistic creations. I will be heading down to Carlisle, PA on April 10 to fish the many famous limestone spring creeks for wild browns and brookies!
Tight Lines!
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