Category: Events Notices

Westfield River Watershed Association’s 2026 Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing Clinic

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date September 7, 2026

A reminder of the upcoming Westfield River Watershed Association’s 2026 Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing Clinic. If anyone is planning to attend, please let John LaFrancis know by phone 860-597-6334 or by email JLaFrancis@wmffclub.org

The Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA) and the Western Mass. Fly Fishermen (WMFF) will honor their late president with the free Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing clinic Saturday, October 17 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The clinic will take place on Route 20 in Huntington, Mass., in the turnout on the Westfield River, across from the Huntington Health Center, 73 Russell Rd, Huntington Ma, in the rest area. Children and teens are welcome with the supervision of an adult at this family-friendly event.

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Events Notices

Beginner’s Fly Fishing Enfield CT & Longmeadow MA

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date September 5, 2026

Introduction to fly-fishing for the Beginner

This presentation is designed to introduce the basic equipment and knowledge needed to start your journey into the world of fly fishing. It is not intended or would be able to teach you to fly fish. However, it will lay out basic knowledge, information and hopefully answer many of the questions to get someone started in the sport.

The topics that will be presented and discussed are:

Basic equipment

Fly Rod
Fly Reel
Fly Line Backing
Fly Line
Leader
Tippet
Waders
Wading Boots
Fly Assortment
Line Nippers
Basic Knots

Suggested Additional Equipment:

Fishing Vest
Fly box
Wading staff
Sun Glasses
Wading Jacket or Rain Jacket
Fly Line Dressing
Fly Floatant
Landing Net
Bug Repellant

Two locations and dates:

Fly Fishing for Beginners the program/presentation to be held at the Enfield Central Library on September 22nd at 6:00 PM.

Enfield Public Central Library
104 Middle Rd
Enfield, CT 06082
860-763-7510

The Enfield program will be WMFF hosted event in conjunction with the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership’s 2nd annual CRW Week Celebration that will be running from September 18th – September 27th.

Fly Fishing for Beginners the program/presentation to be held at the Longmeadow Adult Center on September 30th at 6:00 PM.

Longmeadow Adult Center
211 Maple Rd
Longmeadow, MA 01106
413-565-4150

Thank you.

John D Lawor
Secretary WMFF
jlawor@wmffclub.org

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Events Notices

WMFF on the Farmington – Take 2

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date September 1, 2026

On the morning of August 18, 2026, a group of WMFF members met at the Local Fly Co. in New Hartford, CT before striking out on the Farmington River, engaging in the passion of fly fishing. It again was a lot of fun and full of challengers trying to hook the fish of the Farmington. Another shout out to Chris Parisi of The Local Fly Co, who spent his time offering his wisdom and guidance of the Farmington River.

John Lawor waiting for the strike.

Jen working the rod and the river.

Chris coaching and guiding Courtney,

John LaFrancis (L) and John Lawor fishing ‘n living on the Farmington.

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Events Notices

WMFF Helps Clean Up the Lower Swift River

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date July 25, 2026
1 Comment on WMFF Helps Clean Up the Lower Swift River

On July 18th, the WMFF joined forces with Trout Unlimited Pioneer Valley Chapter, Friends of the Swift River and TempCo Fly Fishing to clean up the lower Swift River along the Greenbelt Conservation Area & Universal Access Loop Pavilion in Bondsville/Palmer MA.

The group of men, women, and children teamed up for three hours of hard work with the goal of making the Swift River free of unnatural objects that can negatively affect wildlife. In the end, the effort was successful in removing a lot of trash (filled up many large trash bags) and estimated 15 car tires, one still on the hub/rim!

Special thanks to:

Cambria Spring and Matthew Tempesta for organizing the event;
John Lawor for getting WMFF involved;
John LaFrancis, who lugged his grill to the event, purchased and cooked the food that fed the crew.

The Clean Up Crew.

Codi and John getting wet and dirty.

The Tire Extraction Crew searching for tires.

Calvin finding a sleeping bag and blanket, but thankfully no person.

Codi going out on a limb collecting miscellaneous trash from the river.

Don working the Swift River in search of trash.

A collection of the tires extracted from the river.

John and Dennis at the grill feeding the crew.

The results of hard work of making the river a little bit cleaner.

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Events Notices

WMFF Visits Thomas & Thomas

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date July 18, 2026
1 Comment on WMFF Visits Thomas & Thomas

On July 15th, a group of curious WMFF members and guests visited the famous Thomas & Thomas Fly Rod factory in Greenfield MA. Special thanks to John Lawor for arranging the tour, and a shout-out to Connor Quigley, rod designer and product manager, for providing insight to the development and creation of the top fly fishing rods in the U.S., perhaps in the world.

History of Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods.

Connor discussing carbon fiber rolling pic 1

Connor discussing carbon fiber material used for creating the rods.

Connor discussing carbon fiber rolling pic 5

Connor showing the fiber material.

Connor discussing carbon fiber rolling pic 4

Connor discussing the mental mandrel and the rolling process.

Demostration of how carbon fiber roll is cut

A demonstration on who the carbon fiber material is cut.

Demostration of applying clear wrap - resin prior to curing in the oven

Demonstration and discussion on the taping and curing phases.

Connor explaining the various rod sections and weight.

Members in the famous T&T bamboo rod shop.

T&T team member adding the cork rod handle to the rods.

Connor discussing how the rod spine is learned and applied

Connor discussing the rod spine and adding guides.

Connor discussing guides and colors applied to the rod

Connor discussing the finishing of the fly rods, including adding custom color.

Discussion outside the finishing-coating stage of the rods

Discussion on the final phase of the rod – the coating, plus a Q&A session.

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WMFF on the Farmington River

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date July 7, 2026
1 Comment on WMFF on the Farmington River

WMFF’s outing on the Farmington River

On June 24, 2026, a group of the Western Mass Fly Fishermen ventured out to the Ovation Pool on the Farmington River in New Hartford CT. It was a good turnout with four first-timers on the Farmington River.

The members were: John LaFrancis, Don Vacon, Derek Darley, Courtney Booher, Jennifer Putnam, and Scott Seifel. Special thanks to Chris Parisi of The Local Fly Co., who offered his shop as meeting place and pointers on working the river.

Below are photos from the event, courtesy of Chris and Scott.

John LaFrancis, Chris Parisi, and Derek Darley strategizing the Farmington River

John LaFrancis, Chris Parisi, and Derek Darley strategizing the Ovation Pool on the Farmington River

Courtney Booher working the Farmington River

John LaFrancis, Jennifer Putnam, and Scott Seifel fishing the Ovation Pool.

Scott Seifel bending the rod with a catch!

John LaFrancis, Jennifer Putnam, and Scott Seifel reeling in the catch.

Jennifer and Scott after catching a brown trout pic 2

Scott admiring a nice brown trout he caught.

Jennifer and Courtney after fishing the Farmington River

Jennifer and Courtney enjoying the afterglow of having fished the Ovation Pool.

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Classes Events Notices

Fly Fishing for Newbies

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date April 24, 2026

WMFF’s own John Lawor is conducting a Introduction to Fly Fishing at the East Longmeadow Library.

For those of you that are new to fly fishing or have just started your journey into fly fishing.

Intro to Fly Fishing

Wednesday, April 295:30—7:00 PM
Community Room
East Longmeadow Public Library
60 Center Square, Suite 2,
East Longmeadow, MA, 01028

An experienced member from the Western Massachusetts Fly Fishermen will lead an informative introduction to the world of fly fishing.

Fly fishing is a specialized angling technique that uses a lightweight, artificial “fly”—composed of feathers, fur, or synthetic materials—to catch fish, typically by imitating their natural food sources like insects, nymphs, or baitfish. Unlike conventional fishing, it uses a weighted line to cast the nearly weightless fly.

Fly fishing is often considered a challenging, artistic, and immersive sport.

To register online visit the East Longmeadow Library’s website or click this link to register.

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Events Notices

2026 March Expo

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date February 7, 2026

The 2026 WMFF March Expo
is coming soon!

Please check out the 2026 March Expo webpage for details:

2026 WMFF March Expo

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Events Notices

CRSA 48th Annual Dinner

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date January 16, 2026
Sticky post

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Events Notices

Westfield River Watershed Association’s Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing Clinic

Post author By Scott Seifel
Post date October 1, 2025

A reminder of the upcoming Westfield River Watershed Association’s Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing Clinic. If anyone is planning to attend, please let John LaFrancis know by phone 860-597-6334 or by email JLaFrancis@wmffclub.org

The Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA) and the Western Mass. Fly Fishermen (WMFF) will honor their late president with the free Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing clinic Saturday, October 18 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The clinic will take place on Route 20 in Huntington, Mass., in the turnout on the Westfield River, across from the Huntington Health Center. Children and teens are welcome with the supervision of an adult at this family-friendly event.

Please read the Springfield TV Station WWLP-22News piece on this special event:

Bill Rose Memorial Fly Fishing Clinic

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Introduction to fly-fishing for the Beginner

Two locations and dates:

Intro to Fly Fishing

Wednesday, April 295:30—7:00 PMCommunity RoomEast Longmeadow Public Library60 Center Square, Suite 2, East Longmeadow, MA, 01028

The 2026 WMFF March Expo is coming soon!

Wednesday, April 295:30—7:00 PM
Community Room
East Longmeadow Public Library
60 Center Square, Suite 2,
East Longmeadow, MA, 01028

The 2026 WMFF March Expo
is coming soon!