Canadian Cane, May 26-27, 2009

[mikeo]

Canadian Cane, http://www.canadiancane.com/, is hosting it’s eighth gathering on the Grand River on May 23 - 24, 2009 at Belwood Lake Conservation Area near Fergus, Ontario. The registration fee for 2009 is $80.00. Includes 2-day admission and lunches, breakfasts and a Saturday night Spaghetti Dinner (get together). Total registration is limited to a first-come, first-serve basis. This is a non-profit event run by local rodbuilder volunteers.

If interested contact Carl O’Connor (email:carloconnor@rogers.com), 13121 Keele Street, King City, Ontario, Canada. L7B 1G1; tel: (905) 833-4119.

Canadian Cane Bamboo Rod Builders are a group of split bamboo rod makers loosely connected to each other through the Planing Form newsletter, the Rodmaker’s List on the internet, and seminar/workshops such as the Canadian Cane Gathering. The Canadian Cane Gathering is one of several workshops held in various parts of North America. The first North Eastern Gathering was held in 1n 1998 at Belwood Lake Conservation Area, on the Grand River, near Fergus, Ontario. Over fifty people registered, and there were rod builders from the States, Nova Scotia in the east, and British Columbia in the west. Previous Gatherings have been held in British Columbia, New York State, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The main focus of these workshops is to promote the craft of hand-planing split bamboo fly rods and to share information. Some of the finest rod makers in North America will be attending.

The Gathering is not just for the experienced rod builder. Seminars for all levels of experience will be offered. If you are curious about building your first cane fly rod, come and talk to others who have gone down the road of bamboo rod building, and survived. If you are an experienced cane rod maker, come and enjoy the sharing of ideas and craft skills of other rod makers. Want to know what constitutes a fine cane rod? Come and learn about the craft and try out some of the rods that will be brought by their makers.

This year’s Canadian Cane Gathering will be held at Belwood Lake Conservation Area, on the Grand River, near the town of Fergus. All seminars are held in Hampton Barn. The casting pond next to the barn is stocked with Rainbow trout and closed to the public for the two days, so there will be opportunity to try out the rods and perhaps catch a trophy fish! The Grand River is only a few minutes walk away. Many of last year’s registrants fished early morning and the evening spinner fall.

The general format of the Gathering will consist of specific topics, such as rod finishing tips, an open panel of experts who will answer your questions, and similar advanced craft topics.

Why should you think about attending this event? Like other fly fishers you are probably aware of a growing interest in cane rods. Tonkin cane has excellent engineering and aesthetic qualities and has a long history as a premium rod building material. Come and learn why.

Canadian Cane, May 23-24, 2009, will be another well attended event at Belwood Conservation Area, Fergus, ON.

[mikeo]

Please take note the dates should read as May 23-24, 2009!!!!