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Flycasters of San Jose

Generations of people passionate about the tranquil sport of fly fishing. Members gather, share, learn, and volunteer through meetings, classes, outings and conservation activities.

Welcome to Flycasters of San Jose

 

Flycasters of San Jose is a large and active fly fishing club with a diverse set of offerings catering to fly fishers of all backgrounds and skill levels.  Whether you want to learn to cast or enhance your casting skills; tie flies; build a fly rod; get involved in teaching grammar school students about the life cycle of trout; or, go on a fishing trip with a group of anglers from the club--Flycasters has you covered!

Flycasters is a non-profit social club dedicated to promoting the sport of fly fishing and protecting the waters where we fish.  Founded in 1965, Flycasters is a club for all anglers who want to learn more about the art of fly fishing and improve their skills and techniques.

By joining our club, you will have fun, make new friends, build your skills, and find many opportunities to contribute to our activities.  Hope to see you at one of our upcoming meetings!

Club Benefits/Activities:

    Monthly Newsletter on club news and events
    Monthly Meetings with expert presentations
    Casting Instruction
    Fly Tying Classes
    Rod building classes
    Fly Fishing Outings (Fishouts) to a wide variety of destinations
    Youth Education ("Trout in the Classroom" program)
    Conservation Initiatives and fundraising
    Equipment Raffles
    Annual Summer Picnic
    Annual Banquet and Conservation Fundraiser

It's simple to join: click on the "Join" button in the upper right-hand corner and follow the instructions. 

Ken Imatani
President, Flycasters of San Jose



Our fly fishing club is indebted to the acclaimed photographer Val Atkinson for allowing us to use the stunning images shown below in the slideshow.  Val is the master of capturing with a camera the tranquility and sublime beauty of the rivers in northern California that our members count among their favorite places to fly fish.

You can view the complete set of photos in this series, called "5 Rivers in Northern California," and many of Val's other images, by going to his website: Val Atkinson's Website   Many of his images are available for purchase.


FLY FISHING 101 

FREE SEMINAR 

November 12 and 26

The information will be presented over two nights:

 

Tuesday November 12th:

  • General Flyfishing equipment
  • Overall Fly rod/line setup
  • Fly Rod basics
  • Fly linesTippetsLeaders

Tuesday November 26th:

  • Flies & Entomology (Bugs)

6:30pm start time each night

Willow Glen Library Community Room

1157 Minnesota Ave San Jose CA 95125

This is NOT our usual meeting room - please take note

Register for Fly Fishing 101

Fly Fishing 101 Flyer


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Essential Fly Fishing Knots

Hosted by Dick Powers and Mason Seim

The knot you use to tie on your fly is critical. You can have the right setup, be in the right place, and get the big bite, but you won’t get the fish in the net if your knot fails. The basic knots you need to land your fish will be taught.

Introductory Class will include:

• ClinchKnot

• Non-SlipMonoLoop(KrehLoop) 
• SurgeonsKnot
• PerfectionLoop
• NailKnot


Tuesday - December 3, 2024 6:30-8:30 pm
West Valley Library Community Room

Our usual meeting room

A $10 Fee is required.
Tools and materials required for class will be provided.



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ROD BUILDING CLASSES JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2025

 

The cost of the seminar will be $40.

Make your checks payable to Flycasters, Inc.

And  




Topics to be covered will include:

  • An overview of rod building 
  • Selecting a fly rod blank 
  • Marking the spline
  • Tools and materials used in building fly rods
  • Attaching reel seats
  • Building and attaching cork handles
  • Guide spacing and wrapping
  • Finishing coats - marking your fly rod - slow drying motors
  • Resources and answering questions

 

Tom Key and Albert Yi will be teaching the rod building class. Tom is an expert rod builder having built numerous bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite rods over the years. Albert has many years of experience in rod building and is a true calligraphy master, his finish work is second to none.

 

The seminar will take place over 6 nights - Tuesday's and Thursday's beginning January 21st and 23rd and then continue after a two (2) week break --- the break between the first sessions and the following classes will give members time to buy blanks and materials they need to build a rod. Continue 

February 11th and 13th and finally February 18th and 20th.

 

 

Sessions begin at 6:30 PM, at the Bass Pro Shops

5160 Cherry Ave., San Jose, CA 95118

 

Class size is limited so sign-up ASAP. Sign up begins now!

Register Now



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LEARN TO FLY FISH - HANDS ON, INTERACTIVE CLINIC


Learn To Fly Fish



December 7th, 2024 from 8:15am to Noon

Instructor: Ray Chin Gold Level Caster - FFI Fly Casting Skills Development Program
Co-Instructors:  Will Dea and Lilip Lau

Location:  Casting Ponds Los Gatos Creek Park


You will learn the following:

- Basic Nymph and Dry Fly Leader Set Up
- How to Cast with Good Loop Control
- Multiple Fundamental Casts 
- Knowing what is a Good Presentation
- Mending the Line for Good Fly Presentation to Catch more Fish
- Reading the Water to Catch More Fish (without a Guide)
- How to Determine which Flies to Use Under Different Conditions
- How to Hook, Fight and Release Fish

Class Size is Limited to 12 people

If you have any questions, please contact Ray Chin.



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  New 2024 Seminar Schedule 
 Seminars 2024


The Latest issue of the Flylines   FLYLINES 11-2024


2024 FLYCASTERS FISHOUT SCHEDULE 
Fishout schedule

2023 FLYCASTERS CLUB AWARDS
2023 Club Awards


Covid-19 Policy and Guidelines

NCC/FFI Newsletter can be found here.


SUBMIT FISH CARD
 
FISH CARD  


November 13th Meeting

Wednesday evening 

Ryan Johnson

EEL RIVER - 3 FORKS - DRIFT & SWING


 

Ryan will be presenting on fly fishing the Eel River for winter steelhead. He will talk about the ins and outs of catching these grey ghosts while giving you insider tips from two decades of fishing on the north coast.

Foggy coastal mornings, tall redwoods, chrome steelhead, and legendary stories, will make for a great entertaining evening.



 

Wednesday evening November 13th

Meetings are held in the West Valley Branch Library

1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose

(Just around the corner from our old location at Payne and Saratoga) 

Zoom details will be emailed to club members

Meeting Date: Wednesday November 13 @ 6:30pm

Meeting Format:  In person  / Zoom
See menu item at top of this page for meeting details: About Flycasters-->Meetings

MONTHLY BREAKFAST GATHERING AT 

HOLDER'S COUNTRY INN

10088 N WOLFE RD., SUITE 130 - CUPERTINO  95014

8:00am -- Saturday  November 9th  





Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events

Forums

Choose from over a dozen different forums to discuss a wide variety of topics of interest to club members.  Below are just a few of the topics you will find in the Forums area.

 


Destinations

Discuss interesting places to fish with fellow members.  Get or provide tips, explore all types of fly fishing adventures, and find others who want to join you for fly fishing trips.


Steelhead

Do you enjoy pursuing steelhead, the "fish of a thousand casts"?  Whether you use single-handed rods or prefer spey casting, enjoy casting adult winter steelhead or Fall "half pounders," this forum is for you.


Salt Water Fly Fishing

If you enjoy traveling to warm destinations and catching saltwater species such as bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook, and others, this forum is for you.

Member Photos and Slideshows

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Gil's Steelie
Larry's Bow
Slideshow
Patagonia 2023
Slideshow
Trinity 2022 - Matt and Roy
Slideshow
stripers 2022
Slideshow
Rogue River fishout 2022
Slideshow
Lower Sac: March 2023
Slideshow
Brazil Peacock Bass Trips