Another fine event at the Long Beach Casting Club for those who braved the SoCal ninety degree temps. The Double Haul Ball is a free all day event to help promote saltwater flyfishng techniques to those willing to learn. Special thanks to all those who volunteer each year and continue to help us educate our local want to be saltwater fly fishers and helps folks like myself become better casters. Hell, Bob Middo coined the phrase, “The Classic Al” for my forward cast which basically collapses at the very end because I tend to shock the rod on the forward cast. The boys made a few adjustments on me and before long the Qman was back to throwing darts by the end of the day. This is why the DHB is awesome, there is no place to hide, they will find your faults and correct them. I am always learning and grateful.
I want to thank all the excellent fly casting instructors like Bob Middo, John Van Derhoof, Jim Solomon, Michael Maloney, Bill Heard, Ray Bianco and Doug Spieske for making it look easy. I want to thank all our fly tiers: Alex Cady, Mike Centofani, Matt Abrams, Steve Holowell and Kevin Green for sharing their effective fly patterns with us. Thanks to Gary Bulla for joining me on our Surf presentation at the pond and Bob Middo for joining up on the Tackle Talk. Special thanks go out to Alex Ramirez and his lovely assistant Kesley Gallagher. Alex is the regional rep for Smith Sunglasses, Sage and Redington rods. Alex brought his rod racks full of fun flyfishing rods for everyone to cast. The Sage Salt was a crowd favorite this year. Thanks to the Wilderness Fly Fishing Club, Larry & Cecilia Carrol for hosting lunch and Southwest Council FFF president, Michael Schweit for keeping everyone in line, grin. We can’t forget Chris Murphy and his student ensemble, The Black Tree Band who lighten the day each year with beautiful bluegrass music during lunchtime, they are amazing! Check out Chris’s website for touring dates! Hope to see some new faces out there next year.
The One Surf Fly is coming soon! photo by Al Q.
The Black Tree Band. photo by Al Q
from left: Michael Schweit, Kesley Gallagher and Alex Ramirez. photo by Al Q
Lunch time! photo by Al Q
Bob Middo demonstrating the dynamics of a shooting head. Photo by Al Q
The might Quinn showing Jim Solomon and her dad, Al Q how to cast! photo by Janet Chang Quattrocchi
Mike Centofani working the fly tying table. photo by Michael Schweit
Rich Kanner grabbing a casting stick as Alex Ramirez watches on. Photo by Michael Schweit
Bob Middo casting! photo by Michael Schweit
Kevin “Krabby Paddy” Green having fun. photo by Michael Schweit
flies, sand & surf 
Q, Good times. I wish I could have stayed longer. Glad I left when I did. Traffic was a total bitch going down to see my mom. Thanks for putting this on. I am going to Marriots this coming Tues or Wed. Need me to pick up anything for you?
John