TUNE UP for Spring!

Team 7x is offering group and individual fly fishing lessons now thru Opening Day of fishing season in April. If you belong to a group or club at your workplace, contact us to discuss an agenda for your winter meetings! We'll cover the basics and tailor instruction to the abilities of your group. Casting lessons, fly tying,(equipment supplied) and proper gear setup can all be part of 3 to 6 session program one night a week.

For indoor fly casting, we'll supply all the equipment and we require an open high ceilinged area. We'll come to your location in Eastern Connecticut or Rhode Island. If you're interested, we have sample agendas that we've developed for several groups; contact us to customize a program for your friends, club members, business associates and newcomers to fly fishing.

We encourage youngsters new to fly fishing and those who always tell us, "Well I always wanted to fly fish...BUT"

NOW'S THE TIME...the winter's long and cold...we'll have you casting tight loops with your hand tied flies by the time OPENING DAY rolls around!

A special thanks to the great group of folks who joined us on a dreary Saturday, Sept. 24th at Charlie Brown Campground on the Natchaug River. We had fun and hope you enjoyed casting the great SAGE rods, reels and lines with us!

Drag free!

RI bans felt soles---BUT WHO KNEW??

UPDATE 2/21/2012...RIDEM will recind salt water felt sole ban! 

As of 1/1/2012, RIDEM's regulations prohibit felt soled wading shoes in both fresh and SALTWATER. Amazingly this new regulation somehow appeared without the slightest advance notice and little public comment. Leaders of RI's largest fishing groups, RISAA and others had no knowledge of this when I asked for their position. 


A total of THREE states as of this date have banned felt, but SALTWATER? In fact many states recommend washing felt soled boots and other wading gear in a SALT SOLUTION to control invasives. NO didymo has been confirmed in RI fresh waters, and the banning of felt in the salt is patently absurd. What's worse is that few anglers know of this regulation which is NOW in effect.

       No question that felt soles are safer than rubber. RIDEM has made no effort to educate wading fishermen and women in properly cleaning equipment and in moving from one stream to another where didymo may be present.  In RI no presence has been confirmed unlike CT, NY and others who HAVE NOT banned felt soled wading boots but have taken a broader approach of angler education. Felt soled boots are OK for use in Yellowstone National Park even after several years of whirling disease closed some areas of the Yellowstone to fishing. If anyone can confirm a comment period, hearings or other advance knowledge of this regulation, prior to its implementation, PLEASE LET US KNOW!

APPARENTLY EVEN RIDEM IS KEEPING THIS A SECRET!  I've asked the Director to suspend implementation of the regulation, pending more study, education, and public comment.  No response...
Drag Free in 2012!

FROM the REGULATIONS on RIDEM website:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS 
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 
FISH AND WILDLIFE 
RHODE ISLAND FRESHWATER AND ANADROMOUS
FISHING REGULATIONS for the 2012 – 2013 SEASON 

1.17 It is prohibited that any person use foot gear with external felt soles in any state waters, inclusive of freshwater, tidal, or marine. This shall include any waters shared with adjacent states in which any Rhode Island Fishing Regulations apply.