Clinic in Mendoza, Argentina
I am in Mendoza, Argentina, having just finished a clinic in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Mendoza Fly Shop. I arrived Friday, sans my fishing bag, but with my carry ons that included my computer and other materials for the days demonstrations and discussions. Friday night, at the shop I got together with the staff, including owners Benito and Pablo Perez. Benito is the father of angling entomology in Argentina, having spent many months each year collecting and identifying the aquatic insects of the rivers, here. We talked fishing, drank some very fine Malbec wines, for which Mendoza is world-known, and ate impanala, a small, fried meat fold-over. Very, good, indeed.
Today, we left the hotel at 7:30 am, and went to a local restaurant where we were to hold the clinic. Casting started at 10 am after some time to talk about the 20th anniversary of the shop. I discussed curving the line in a variety of forms, both casts, and mends, and tossed in a good dose of casting instruction on the three-point grip, overhead cast, the elliptical stroke, across the head casting, and much more. After a great lunch of impanala, vegies on a stick, chicken sausage, cheese and ham foldovers, followed by very hearty bowls of stewed beef (served with wine, of course—I didn’t have any because I dared not fall asleep). Then we spent 2 hours discussing nymphing and dry fly fishing, before a break for a snack of sweets—very nicely made strawberry tarts and other such items. This was followed by a fly tying demonstration on spinning loops.
Then came the diploma presentation, many, many photos, much hugging, hand shaking, and on and on. The people of Mendoza are very open and warm, and so the day went very positively and ended that way, too.
Tomorrow we head south toward Patagonia to worry the fish just a wee bit. Many photos of the trip on my return.
Toasting the river, the fish, the 20th anniversary of the shop, my first trip to Argentina, and anything else we could think of.
The very Patagonia-style restaurant where we held the clinic.
There was a fountain flowing into a little stream running under the floor of the seating area.
A large painting of Penaphlebia mayfly dun by Benito Perez, owner of the shop.
The crowd was very attentive and we all had a great time at the clinic.
The day ended with presentation of awards, raffle items, and many photos and handshakes, hug, and photos.
Gary welcome to Mendoza, we have enjoyed your clinic a lot, a world class one!. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion in fly fishing. I hope you hook nice trouts in Patagonia. Pictures please!
Congratulations to the Perez Family for 20 anniversary!
Regards to all fly fishermens!!!
Hector Peralta
Member of the A.M.P.M. (Asociación Mendocina de Pesca con Mosca)
http://www.ampm.org.ar
Mendoza,Argentina.
Gary has been a pleasure being able to meet in person. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I wish you a very good stay and good fishing in Argentina.
Just thank you very much and see you soon.
Felicitaciones Gary!!!
Excelente exposición de sabiduría.
Nos encantaría poder tener tus libros y videos en español, ya que no todos los dias lo tenemos a Polo como traductor jaja..
Un fuerte abrazo y esperamos tenerte pronto entre nosostros.
Hernán Pérez
Dear Gary I was very fun during your clinic and I did enjoy very much proffiting your clear teaching. Thank you very much for your visit and hope to can in the near future be in an other clinic with you again.
Kind regards,
Eduardo
Thanks Hector. I appreciate all the wonderful support here in Argentina. It was great fun doing the clinic. I will post pictures soon. All my bet, Gary
Dear Gary, thank you very much for sharing such beautiful moments in Mendoza Argentina, our family and staff are deeply grateful for having learned so much, and above all share unique fishing days, your simplicity, humility and knowledge make you to be a great man, many thanks Perez and Mendoza Family Fly Shop
PICTURES OF CLINIC
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151323984092401.1073741825.724492400&type=1
All my thanks to the crew sat the Mendoza Fly Shop–Benito and Pablo, Polo, Exequiel, and Diego for all your generosity and kindnesses while in Argentina. GB