Yesterday, I attended the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show for the Pennsylvania State Tying Championship and I took first place in the Pro Division. What an impressive show, if you're looking for an adventure into the outdoors and want to meet some of the outfitters, this is the place to do your research. I was able to visit with some old friends and made some new ones.

Mark & Michael Klimkos from the Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Chairman of the PA State Fly Tying Championship

Mark's winning Wiggle Hex was featured in the January/February 2009 issue of American Angler. Look for another feature article on this awesome fly in the Spring issue of Fly Tyer Magazine.

DeFrank’s Flies Master Tier and Owner Mark DeFrank recently took third place out of 360+ entries in the Fly Tyer Magazine 30th-Anniversary International Fly-Tying Championships. 

The Championships were conducted with the cooperation of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. For this contest, each tier was required to submit two flies: one mandatory pattern and one “tiebreaker” fly of the tiers choice. The selection of mandatory flies included the Royal Wulff, Hair-Wing Blue Doctor, and Flashtail Whistler.  The tiebreaker could be an established pattern or an original fly. The only real rule is that the tiebreaker fly must be a pattern that would be used for actual fishing. For his mandatory fly Mark tied the Royal Wulff and his Wiggle Hex was submitted as the tiebreaker.
A panel of judges, chosen by the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, selected the top 20 mandatory flies. The top 20 tiers, which included Mark, then progressed to step two: the judging of the tiebreaking flies. The 20 top tiebreaking patterns were mounted and on display during the 2008 Fly Fishing Hall of Fame festivities at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center the weekend of October 18, 2008. The visitors to the festivities, which included some of the biggest names in fly fishing and tying, casted their votes for the winning tiebreaking flies.

Upcoming events

Tying Class - ONLY $15 Due to the weather, class was rescheduled to be held on 2/23/10 click the link for more details we have a couple of openings left. I can still take a couple more students for tomorrow nights class...to hold your spot, give me a call at 724-317-8582 .

Woodlands World Tying Demo - Mark will make another appearence in 2010. Exact date TBA. This event will be FREE and open to the public. He will be tying flies geared towards hot patterns for Steelhead. Bonus Feature will be Tying Tube Flies!!. Learn more on the events page.

Spring Steelhead School 2010 - March 26, 27 and 28, 2010 - If you have been thinking about giving fly-fishing or Steel heading a try but have felt intimidated by everything involved. Fear no more. Spend a weekend at one of our schools and you will leave with the confidence and knowledge to catch the ultimate fresh water game fish. Steelhead! Learn more on the events page.

BOOKED FULL!

Spring Steelhead School #2 2010 - April 9, 10 and 11, 2010 - Because of demand, we have scheduled a second Spring School! Don't hesitate, it will book full. If you have been thinking about giving fly-fishing or Steel heading a try but have felt intimidated by everything involved. Fear no more. Spend a weekend at one of our schools and you will leave with the confidence and knowledge to catch the ultimate fresh water game fish. Steelhead! Learn more on the events page.

BOOKED FULL!

Our Show Schedule for 2010

Jan 16th NCFF Fly Fishing Show at Lakeland Community college in Kirkland Ohio  With Mark, Don, Jeff, and Chris

Jan 23rd Cleveland Home and Garden Show I will be set up in the Lake County Visitors Bureau booth.  The show is at 1200 Babbit Rd in Euclid Ohio.  Don will be at this one.

Jan 30th Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show In Louisville Ky. Mark DeFrank is a featured tier and will be doing a presentation on Tube flies.  We will have a booth and Jeff Novak will be there.  Don Mathews will be putting on a presentation about Steelhead Alley. 

Feb 5th, 6th, and 7th Akron Sportsman Super Show  At the Summit County Fairgrounds.  We will have a booth all three days of the show.  Don, Chris and Jeff will be helping out.  Mark DeFrank will be on hand tying tube flies with the testing tank. Don will be putting on his Steelhead Alley presentation.

Feb 13th Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Mark will be competing for the Pennsylvania State Tying Championship!

Feb 14th Cleveland Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show Booth #1101 Located at 1200 Babbitt Rd Euclid Ohio.  Don will be at this one.

Feb 23rd Tying class with complimentary pizza ONLY $15 ... check out the events page for details.

March 5th, 6th, and 7th  Niles Sportsman Show   At the Eastwood Expo Center in Niles Ohio.  We will have a booth all three days of the show.  Mark will be on hand doing tube flies with the testing tank, Jeff, Travis, Dick will be helping me in the booth.  Don will be doing his power point presentation on "Steelhead Alley"

March 22nd   Western Reserve Fly Anglers in Brimfield Ohio at Field High School   Don will be putting on his power point presentation

Dunbar Sportsmens Club Tying Classes will begin on Februaury 1st, 2010. Learn more on the events page.

Fly Fishing School 2010 - May 21, 22, & 23, 2010

Do Trout still elude you? Entering the fly fishing realm can sometimes throw a beginner into a spiral destined for disaster where they finally call it quits.

Let us help you cut the learning curve. Come join us for a weekend Fly fishing School on the scenic Casselman River in Western Maryland.

Taking reservations now!

All inclusive starting at only $350

Just a few openings left!

Booking Fly Fishing Guide trips now for 2010

Starting with March 1 - June 15, 2010

We have a catch fish or fish FREE policy, the same as our well know Steelhead Guide Trips.

Me and our team of guides would like to invite you to come enjoy some of the best Rainbow, Brown, Brook and the elusive Tiger Trout fishing Western PA & Western MD have to offer, with the Casselman River, MD being our prime fishing waters

A little history of the Casselman River

George Washington crossed the Casselman River (named after an early western Pennsylvania settler) in 1755 with General Braddock's British troops near present day Grantsville. The first Amish and Mennonite settlers in Garrett County established homesteads along the Casselman River, and horse-drawn buggies and wagons are still a common sight along the Casselman River today. Coal was discovered in the watershed during the 1800's, the subsequent acid mine drainage into the river eliminated most of it's aquatic life. Through the efforts of abandoned mine reclamation, the river has been reborn and now supports a diverse fish and macroinvertebrate community. Recreational trout management in the Casselman River was initiated in 1989 and has become one of Maryland's most popular trout fishing destinations.

Casselman River Physical / Habitat

The Casselman River is a fairly wide stream, and has quite a variety of habitat types. Anglers will find long productive riffle sections, deep runs, large deep holes, and even some pocket water. The streambed consists of mainly cobble-size stone, and wading is a bit easier than compared to other Western Maryland rivers.

Fishing the Casselman River

We are blessed indeed to have such a jewel of a fishery in our back yard. The Casselman has great fishing at Grantsville and flows 3.2 miles holding approximately 8,000 brown & rainbow trout with the occasional brookie, to the Pennsylvania border, and continues to wind through some of the most majestic mountains ones eyes could gaze upon, to the Confluence of The Youghiogheny River (The Yough as we call it). From there flows 9 miles of trophy trout waters. Sheer beauty will capture your breath! Although the river has stunning landscapes it is very difficult to wade and not for the faint hearted angler.

Check out Mark's newest Steelhead assortment - a sampler pack of some of his most popular signature patterns as well as some old standards - all at a great package price!

All of these patterns Mark uses on a daily basis while guiding along The Great Lakes Steelhead Alley.

Heat up your fly box with some of Mark's new Hot Bead Estaz Eggs!

Mark's Bleeding Clouser

Mark uses Pseudo Hair in place of Bucktail on his Bleeding Clouser. The Pseudo Hair provides better movement and undulation in the water to entice more strikes.

More colors coming soon!

FLOW CHARTS

OHIO USGS FLOW

Salmon River