The Speaker Series

The Maryland Fly Fishing Speaker Series is excited to announce our upcoming lineup of speakers for Saturday, March 18. Visit our website for times.

Brian Shumaker, owner of Susquehanna River Guides, who will be sharing his expertise on fly-fishing for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River is a fertile limestone river and home to one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the East. This majestic river is rich in food, with rock ledges and wide shallow riffles laden with nymphs, crayfish and other foods. This environment ensures prolific hatches and rapid growth rates and holds the promise of thrilling smallmouth fishing! Off the river, Brian is active with various organizations, including Smallmouth Alliance and Trout Unlimited, and has been a guest speaker for many local and regional organizations. This is a can’t miss presentation for those of you that love to fish for smallies!

Marc Aroner, the founder of the Spinoza Rod Company. With over 50 years of experience as a professional rod maker, Marc will be sharing his stories and insights on the craftsmanship and business of bamboo fly rod making. His presentation will be an hour of “story telling” on his experiences over the past 50 years of being a professional rod maker and what it takes to run a successful business in the fly-fishing industry. The Spinoza Rod Company is the product of four decades of classic rod building experience with a renewed emphasis on the craftsmanship from bamboo’s early golde era

Bryan Donoway, owner and operator of Flys in Disguise, who will be sharing tips and tactics for catching trout on the Gunpowder River, as well as information on access, regulations, and identifying seasonal hatches. Flys in Disguise provides professional fly-fishing instruction and guided fly-fishing trips along the banks of the Gunpowder River in Northern Baltimore County located in Central Maryland. The Gunpowder River watershed consists of several tributaries that provide cold clean water as well as Prettyboy Reservoir that supplies municipal water to Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Being a tailwater system, the Gunpowder River offers a unique fly fishing experience only short drive from Baltimore and DC metro regions. Bryan’s presentation will focus on tips and tactics used for catching trout on the Gunpowder River. He will discuss access, regulations, seasons and identifying seasonal hatches of insects and the flies that are used to imitate them while trying to fool wary trout in the cold water.

Capt. Chris Karwacki of Chesapeake on the Fly, who will be discussing saltwater fly fishing on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Chesapeake on the Fly is a full saltwater fly fishing and light tackle guide service that runs charters on Tangier/Pocomoke Sounds and the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Chris is a third-generation angler who has spent his entire life fishing the Chesapeake and the coastal bays of Maryland and Virginia. During the mid-90s he began fishing Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds almost exclusively in order to pursue the speckled trout and striped bass that thrive in the surrounding islands, marshes, and grass flats of the region. To Chris, there is nothing more rewarding than providing a high-quality experience for his anglers. Join Chris and learn more about saltwater fishing on the fly!

John Shaner, a national known speaker and fly fishing educator will be giving a presentation on fishing the Beaverkill. “The Beaverkill: The Story of a River, Its Fishing, People, Hatches, and History”  Along with tips for fishing the Beaverkill/Willowemoc system in New York State.  The Beaverkill, is a tributary of the East Branch Delaware River, a main tributary of the Delaware River, approximately 44 miles long, in the U.S. state of New York.

 

Our speaker series is designed to be informative and enjoyable. A wide variety of topics for everyone to gain insight and knowledge from these professionals. As always, the series is free and runs throughout the day.