Weekly Meetings

We meet every Tuesday evening from September through May at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Tuesday nights are the opportunity to learn something new! Typically, one of our members will teach us how to tie a new fly pattern...or demonstrate a new technique. Several times a year, "celebrity" fly tyers and other fly fishing experts join us to share their knowledge and expertise. Past guests have included prominent tyers such as A.K. Best, Bob Clouser, Oliver Edwards, April Volkey and Pat Cohen. We also welcome speakers of local interest; in fact, you just might learn how to find Muskies on the Fox River (yes, our Fox River)!

The DRiFT Board Of Directors is meeting regularly to discuss preparations for the 2020/2021 Season

We do not yet have information of what our meetings will look like this September. Our Board is in contact with College of DuPage, and they do not yet have a policy on what live meetings will look like on campus. The DRIFT Board will continue to monitor the situation and keep the membership updated as things evolve. We will provide any updates, as necessary, through email, on our website (www.driftorg.com) and through our Facebook page.

Clearly we are in uncharted waters, and I am sure we are all looking forward to a return to normalcy.

Lanning Hochhauser, President and the DRiFT Board of Directors

CANCELLED: Tim Scott - Founder of the tie-a-thon

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - 7:00 PM - COD, Technical Education Center (TEC), Room 1038B

Please join us for this very special meeting. DRiFT and The Tie-a-thon have formed a strong relationship over the past several years. We have tied thousands of flys each year for a worthy cause. For the first time, we will be presenting the thousands of flys tied by DRiFT members directly to Tim.

The Tie-a-thon was founded by Tim Scott of South Bend, IN and with Terry Wittorp of Dowagiac, MI in the fall of 2006 when Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (KVCTU) needed flies for their Youth Camp. The Tie-a-thon concept asked tyers to produce 100 flies of one pattern and donated them so the kids could fish. When the first Tie-a-thon wrapped up, in the spring of 2007, tyers donated 2,500 flies to KVCTU. From that first event, tyers were interested in continuing the Tie-a-thon, and 13 years later, tyers have donated over 131,500 flies to 16 different non-profit organizations and good causes which use fly fishing for either therapy or education.

Tim Scott has been fly-fishing and tying for 26 years. He and his wife Karen are 26-year residents of South Bend, Indiana, where they live a block and a half from the St. Joseph River and where Tim chases smallmouth and steelhead. Fly fishing and fly tying has been the center of Tim’s spare time, when he is not working as the Director of Material Management for a Goshen Indiana Tier 1 automotive parts supplier. Tim is also a three term South Bend Common Council member and the President of the Council, but he still finds time to fish about 75 days out of the year and tie flies almost daily. He and his wife travel often to Colorado, Michigan and their home state of Missouri, where fly-fishing is always part of their trips. Tim has a photojournalism degree from Mizzou and has been published in the Drake and Catch magazines.

Visit The Tie-a-thon Facebook Page!

CANCELLED: Kyle hazelwood -- Hairwing broara Salmon Fly

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 - 7:00 PM - COD, Technical Education Center

Make plans for a very special evening and a unique tie. Club member Kyle Hazelwood will lead us on the challenging and satisfying opportunity to tie a classic Hairwing Salmon Fly!

It has been quite a few years since we've tackled one of the classics at DRiFT, so make sure not to miss it. We are securing all of the special materials used to tie this fly. All you have to bring is yourself...and the desire to tie something truly unique.

CANCELLED: winter smallmouth -- Midwest waters Angling co.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 - 7:00 PM - COD, Technical Education Center

Our good friends Mike Allen (a very long-time member, by the way) and Kurt Nelson will be here to help keep your fishing season extended throughout the year. They'll be sharing a very interesting presentation on how to catch those Smallies in the winter. Yes, the winter!

If you haven't noticed, Mike and Kurt have been growing a dynamic and expanding guiding business. They specialize in Illinois waters within a couple hours of our area.

Check out their website: www.midwestwaters.com

CANCELLED: MEG GALLAGHER -- LANCE EGAN'S THREAD FRENCHIE

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - 7:00 PM - COD, Technical Education Center

Many of you who have gotten to know long-time member Meg Gallagher, you've realized that she is one experienced and informed fly tier and fly fisher! This week she'll be up front to demonstrate that for us first hand. Meg has provided some great background from the fly creator himself:

"Standard Frenchie style nymphs have one problem: Pheasant tail is very fragile. Even when you super glue the pheasant tail to the body and counter wrap it with wire, Frenchies tied with pheasant tail are left without much durability. We tolerate the lack of toughness since they work so well!

I'm constantly tinkering with flies, and am always looking for quicker ties that are durable and still catch fish. The Thread Frenchie is one of those patterns. It is easy to tie, dense (which is a good thing in this case), durable, and fish love it. One great thing about jig style nymphs is that you can use various bead sizes on the same hook without crowding the hook gap.

Though I designed this pattern for use on a Euro-style nymph rig, you can use it with an indicator setup or as a dropper below a dry fly. I've found this sleek little pattern is deadly behind a Bionic Ant, Chubby Chernobyl or hopper. Test the Thread Frenchie on your next outing. I'm confident it will become a staple for you as it has for me."

- Lance Egan

CANCELLED: Ray Bley -- Fly Fishing Manager Orvis Chicago

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 - 7:00 PM - COD, Technical Education Center

Join us for a special guest presentation from our good friends at Orvis Chicago.

Ray Bley is a Chicago area fly angler and fly tier. He grew up fishing the lakes and rivers throughout the City and Suburbs. Ray’s passion is targeting the the warm water species of the Midwest, especially smallmouth bass. Ray has developed his baitfish pattern to cater to the smallmouth in our local waters.

You're sure to pick up a ton of valuable information and insight from this one...Ray shares a lot of his insight and experience!

Visit Orvis Chicago: https://stores.orvis.com/us/illinois/chicago

CANCELLED: FRED HESS -- LIGHT TANK KLINKHAMMER

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - 7:00 PM - COD, Technical Education Center

Encore performance! Fred Hess will be the first member this season to lead a tie-along twice. And boy will it be a great pattern! Thank you, Fred.

Many of you may be familiar with the famous Klinkhammer pattern. If you are not, it has been recognized as one of the most innovative and effective patterns ever designed. And as usual, Fred will be sharing his unique perspective with the Light Tank variation! Looking forward to it.

Cancelled: Spring Pizza Party & Fly Exchange -- Pal Joey's

CANCELLED: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 - 7:00 PM - Pal Joey's

It will be the end of another season at DRiFT, but we'll be closing the year with a bash. Our year-end Pizza Party and Fly Exchange it the perfect final "meeting."

We'll have free pizza, salads and soft drinks (there is a cash bar)! As usual, we'll have door prizes, special raffles and maybe a few other surprises. Don't forget to tie your six flies and bring them along to trade as you get ready to make Summer fishing plans with your DRiFT buddies!

Weekly Meeting Schedule