Entries Now Being Accepted For Blue River Fly Classic 2018

This will be our seventh annual event and it is amazing how fast these events have gone by and how they have grown.  Of course we would love to see our biggest event to date this March at Blue River.  Please help us make this happen.

Great raffle item this year in the way of a Thompson 50 caliber black powder rifle. And, we have a ton of other items up for auction all to raise funds 100 percent of which goes to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

Blue River Fly Classic 2018

General Information

Date Of Event: March 3rd, 2018

Place: Blue River Public Fishing And Hunting Area

Time Of Event: 7:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m.

Starting Point: Main Parking Lot Campground Area Blue River

Blind Pairings Will Be Prior To Start Of Event

Entry Fee: $35.00 Per Contestant

Purpose:

The purpose of the Blue River Fly Classic is two-fold. First, the mission of this event is create a day of greater fellowship among the fly fishing community on Blue River. Secondly, this event is designed as a fund raising event with the totality of monies raised by entries fees going directly to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife in support of the Catch and Release section at Blue River. Funds will be monitored by and through the Blue River Association.

Rules:

*A same pattern will only be used. . NOTE: Contestants will be given one fly.  An additional fly can be purchased (see below).

*All contestants will receive the same pattern and the pattern will remain a mystery until the start of the event. When a contestant loses the fly (or flies) then that contestant is out. If the contestant loses the fly (or flies) and wishes to continue fishing for the sake of fishing then that contestant must turn their score card over to the person they are paired with.  One additional fly can be purchased and used for this event for $10.00.

*Contestants will be allowed to retie their fly, but must notify their partner they are doing so.

*Dry flies as strike indicators will not be allowed.

*Scored fish are fish brought to hand. Each contestant must alert their partner when a fish is brought to hand.

*Each contestant is responsible for keeping their own score card.

*Each contestant should devise a way for measuring fish that are caught. Length of each fish scores additional points.

*This entire event is based on the honor system.

*Deadline for entering is February 10th 2018.

A copy of the general information, rules, and entry form will be available January 1st, 2018. To obtain an entry form contact fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com  An entry form will be sent to you as an attachment. Print the entry form, fill it out, include payment and mail both in. You will receive a confirmation email once your entry is received.

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.  Prizes will be announced at a later date.

There will be a number of give-away prizes also in a random drawing.

Blue River Fly Classic

Entry Form
Date of Event:  March 3rd, 2018
Entry Deadline:  February 10^th, 2018

The Blue River Association nor any individual or organization assumes responsibility for damage, injury, or other problems which arise directly or indirectly from anyone’s participation or involvement, in any way, in this event.

Name:_________________________________________________

Mailing Address:_________________________________________

City:____________________  State______________ Zip Code_________

Email:__________________________________________

Cell Phone*_____________________________________

*This is the cell phone you will be carrying the date of the event.  Contact reasons only.

Check appropriate boxes:

____Entry Fee enclosed (Please check or money order only) IMPORTANT:  Please make check or money order payable to the Blue River Association.  Entry fee is $35.00.

____I would like to buy raffle tickets for the Thompson 50 caliber black powder rifle.  Tickets are $2 each or 6 for $10. Please write number of raffle tickets you want here and include the amount in with your entry fee. _____________tickets.

____Yes, I would like to buy one additional mystery fly for $10.00.  Include the $10.00 in with your entry fee.

____ Indicate tee shirt size:*  M  L  XL  XXL Other________

* We are hopeful of acquiring tee shirts for this event.  If we are successful in doing so we would like to know the size you would wear.

____ Sorry, I can’t make the event but would like to make a contribution.

Total enclosed:___________________

PLEASE NOTE:  Make check or money order payable to Blue River Association.  However, mail completed entry form along with fees to the following address.

Barry C. Shrader
Blue River Fly Classic
700 E. Wynnewood
Sulphur, OK 73086

I will deliver all entry fees to the Blue River Association where they will be held until the event is completed.  Once the event is completed the Blue River Association will issue payment to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife in support of the Catch & Release area at Blue River. z

Great Start To The Next Fly Classic

Thanks to a really classy move by Larry Simmons of Gainesville, Texas this years Blue River Fly Classic is off to a great start.

Larry has donated a Thompson Centerfire 50 caliber black powder rifle that will be offered by way of raffle tickets.

Raffle tickets will be $2 each or 6 tickets for $10.  100% of the funds raised by the Classic are donated to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.  The winner of the black powder rifle will be announced at the 7th Annual Blue River Fly Classic on March 3, 2018.

To obtain raffle tickets you can email Barry Shrader at fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com Be sure and include your mailing address and phone number.

And Another Voyage

"He wants to dream like a young man 
 With the wisdom of an old man
 He wants his home and security
 He wants to live like a sailor at sea"

Last night I was making the final check and squaring away of my fly angling gear for opening day of trout season at Blue. I was working on the said task while answering the calls by the front door from the ghouls and goblins that were seeking Halloween treats for their bags.  Although there wasn't a heavy turnout, I had a good sort of mysterious creatures.  There were wizards and warriors, sorcerers and witches, clowns and creeps, and a varied collective of nightmare maker hopefuls.  As I passed out the last bit of candy, I turned the porch light off and made my way back to the handiwork I had scheduled previous in the evening.

In my harbor home there is a small room that serves primarily as a fly tying studio.  It is a place where creativity comes alive and possibilities are born.  For me... it is also a vessel of amazement and wonderment as my mind often travels freely here.  My dogs love to be in this room laying at my feet just so they can spend time with their master friend and that is certainly a two way enjoyable avenue.  As I looked out the window at more trick or treat spooks walking down the street, I realized that in a hour or two I would begin my sixty-fourth trip around the sun.

I am confident that I have assembled a fine, fine corps of mariners. As I surveyed them in the fly box I realized they are an impressive lot.  Each will gladly answer the call to go to sea and serve their duty.  I expect all to actively engage the waiting trout that have now chosen their lies from which and where and of course when... to strike.

My gifts... the pretty, colorful, shiny and believable offerings... will fool many a trout and result in a  dilemma, or to phrase it "between the devil and the deep blue sea".  At least I am hopeful of such an outcome.

This morning I pulled anchor and sailed from my harbor home at least two hours before the sun would peek over the eastern horizon.  As soon as it became light enough for this angler to navigate the river I struck out downstream toward the Island.  There were southerly winds this morning that had a slight bite...nothing vicious at all.

I first called to duty the brown bugger who would serve as the top column fly and sister zebra midges who would take the trailing position.  Standing at a fairly fast chute I sent this combo out to sea with an upstream cast, held the rod high, and watched for the strike.  On the first strike the sisters would find a feisty little bow, but in the end at the chute the brown bugger would find nine bows and the sisters only two.

It was time to wade upstream to the Island and once here it was easy to see the current condition of this river - low and clear.  For the disciples of the fly there will be many sight fishing opportunities until nature decides to make a change.  The river is clear as pure grain alcohol.

At the Island I relieved the brown bugger and sisters of their sea duty and called a Walt's Worm to serve.  Walt's Worm has an incredible fall rate and this seems extremely attractive to the trout.  On the first cast came a bow and within a quarter of an hour a dozen bows would come to hand courtesy of the fine seaman I chose to serve.

It has become a tradition for this angler and Scott Dittner, as fine a seafarer as I know, to always fish together on opening day.  Although, we met on a trail we did not angle next to each other today.  Activities outside of fly fishing would call my day on the river short and I bid farewell to Scott along with Steve Wolf and Ralph Fullenwider, both seasoned brothers of the fur and feather.

The river was quite busy today with probably 30 or more anglers in the crossing area alone.

Blue River Fly Classic Schedule For March 4th

The deadline for entering the Blue River Fly Classic 2017 is tomorrow, February 15th.

This years event is shaping up to be a dandy with a lot of interest.  Here are the details of what will take place on March 4th.

We ask all contestants to be at the beginning point by 6:50 a.m. on March 4th.  This event starts promptly at 7 a.m.  The rules will be read first.  Then the winner of the Guess The Mystery Fly will be announced and the winner will announce the identity of the Mystery Fly.

The score card will be explained and then pairings announced.  All contestants will be required to return to the base camp no later than 12 o'clock noon to turn in their score cards.

There will be three individual awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  This year there will also be a top team score winner.

Lunch will be served while organizers are adding scores. Raffle and auction items by silent auction or other means will be offered.  Winner of these prizes will be announced.

There will be three Spirit of the Blue awards awarded this year and the Keeper Of The River award will be announced.

T shirts will be handed out as the event comes to an end.

Everyone is asked to bring a chair to sit in and their choice of drink.

Look for the large vendor tent, the Blue River Fly Fishers flag, and Ralph Fullenwider's Bluebird motor coach, the "Ruff Diamond".

Guess The Mystery Fly Game - Clue #5

Here is the fifth clue in the Guess The Mystery Fly Game.  We require an exact name, color, beadhead or not, and size of hook of the Mystery Fly.

Submit your answer in the comment sections of the Prairie Ocean Fly Fisher blog, or by email to fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com, or in the comment section of the Blue River Fly Classic Facebook page.

Clue #5.  Although the material on this Mystery Fly has been dyed, the color is not tan.

Good luck!

Guess The Mystery Fly Game

This is the forth clue for this year's Guess The Mystery Fly Game.

We want an exact answer including the name of the pattern, color, beadhead or not and size.  Submit your answer either here in the comment section, or by email at fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com, or in the comment box of the Blue River Fly Classic Facebook page.

Here is today's clue.  "Although the most popular version of this fly is with the material in it's natural color there are some patterns that use dyed material.  The majority material used in the construction of this fly is reported to have been used for the first time over 300 years ago.  However, this Mystery Fly uses a "dyed" material, not the natural color."

Good luck!

Guess The Mystery Fly Game - Clue #3

Here is clue #3 in our Guess The Mystery Fly Game.  Once again we are looking for an exact name of this pattern including color, whether it has or does not have a beadhead, and even hook size.

Submit your answer either in the comment section of this blog post, or email it to fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com, or submit your answer in the comment section of the Blue River Fly Classic Facebook page.

Here is the clue.  The original pattern of this fly has undergone many additions or variations over the years including the addition of flash materials and even rubber legs at time.  However, the original form is still the most popular and considered by many as the most popular fly in the world.

Good luck.

Guess The Mystery Fly Game - Clue #2

Here is clue #2 in our Guess The Mystery Fly Game and remember we are going to require the exact name, including color, whether it has or does not have a beadhead and even size of hook.

Submit your answer by one of these three ways.  Send your answer by email to fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com, or submit your answer in the comment section of this post, or go to the Blue River Fly Classic page on Facebook and submit your answer there.

Here is the clue:

The technique of fishing this pattern, along with others in its classification, became popularized by print publication shortly after 1900.

Good luck.

Barry

Guess The Mystery Fly Game 2017 - Clue #1

It's time to play the Guess The Mystery Fly game for the Blue River Fly Classic 2017.  You can submit your guess one of several ways.  You can leave your guess here in the comments section, or email your guess to fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com, or submit your guess in the comment section of the Blue River Fly Classic Facebook page.

One guess per person per clue.  This year we will require an exact description or name of the fly including color and whether or not it is a beadhead fly or not.

Here is clue #1.  It can be said that this fly is truly a classic, but it is not a dry fly.

Good luck!

Barry