Paint Creek Fly for Hope 2014

Year 6 of Fly Fishing, Friendship, Good Humor, Good Times!

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Year-By-Year at the Paint Creek Fly for Hope

2009 - This is the year that marked the beginning of the Paint Creek Fly for Hope event. However, on its inaugural date, June 20th, the Paint Creek was blown-out by a very severe over-night rainstorm raising the creek to dangerous levels and cancelling the event. Despite their disappointment, the organizers rescheduled the event for September 26th. Created to foster friendships, sportsmanship, the simple enjoyment of fly fishing, raise funds and focus a spotlight on Paint Creek and its story, the inaugural Fly for Hope event was finally a success.

  • Winning Team - Mark Piasecki and Mark Schwalbach
  • Winning Fly - European Bead-Head Nymph
  • Fly Casting Contest Winner - Mark Piasecki

 

2010 - This was the kind of total event we had dreamed of. Although it got sticky hot by noon, the sky was mostly clear and Paint Creek was in perfect condition—clear, sparkling, not too high, not too low. The final minutes of the trout tournament were spiced with excitement as news arrived at the pavilion that Team 1 (Piasecki-Abbott) and Team 2 (Reister-Watson) were in a fish to fish shoot-out upstream near the Wall Pool. It was close—neck-and-neck down to the final minutes and it was obvious that just one good fish could steal the title. But Team 1 pulled it out winning with 48 inches of total fish points for a total team score of 78. Team 2 landed 36 inches of total fish for a 66 total team score. Awesome fishing!

  • Winning Team - Mark Piasecki and Ken Abbott
  • Winning Fly - European Bead-Head Nymph
  • Fly Casting Contest Winner - Brett Watson

 

2011 - The Paint Creek Fly for Hope 2011 was in a word “magical”. The sky was mostly clear and Paint Creek, as if by magic, came down from near flood stage a mere week before to near perfect condition—clear and sparkling. Team 1 (Mark Piasecki (again!) - Shawn Chalker) pulled it out winning the trout tournament with 107 inches of total fish points for a total team score of 137. Team 2 (Chris Reister - Brandyn Versteegden) landed 70 inches of total fish for a 100 total team score. This was Mark’s third trout tournament victory! He is unstoppable!

  • Winning Team - Mark Piasecki and Shawn Chalker
  • Winning Fly - European Bead-Head Nymph
  • Fly Casting Contest Winner - Scott Sievers

 

2012 - This year's event was the best in its history. The program introduced great new innovations such as the Kids Bluegill Tournament (which was a huge success!), the Caddis Cup, "Buy a Fly" and "Buy an Inch" options. Many sincere thanks go out to our Special Guests folksinger Alan Cayn and Kate Fox from Casting for Recovery for gracing our event and making it extra special. All-in-all it was a wonderful, hopeful and fun time!

  • Winning Team - Brett Watson and RJ Prossner
  • Winning Fly - European Bead-Head Nymph
  • Fly Casting Contest Winner - Kyle Krause
  • Caddis Cup Winners - Brett Watson and RJ Prossner

 

2013 - We like a close tournament and this year's was very close. Fishing conditions were very tough and everyone had to work hard for fish. But Team Willow Reels – Paul H. Young TU ended up with 77 inches of total fish (112 total points). Team 2 Team Fishingporn.com (Charley Vee, Dallas Owczarski) landed 61 inches total fish (96 total points). Team 3 Team Stealthporn (Scott Eckland, Don Dziuk) came back with 74 inches total fish (89 total points). Congratulations to Kyle Krause who won the Fly Casting Contest with an amazing 11 for 15 target ring hits! That's an all-time record!

  • Winning Team - Chris Reister and Brett Watson
  • Winning Fly - "Depth Charge", Bead-Head Nymph
  • Fly Casting Contest Winner - Kyle Krause
  • Caddis Cup Winners - Chris Reister and Brett Watson

  

2014 - We like game-changers and the Paint Creek Restoration Project made it happen - the structure of the creek was perfect. But when it comes to outdoor activities you can't choose your weather. The day began rainy and, although it stopped, it remained very windy all day. The sun eventually peeked through and the trout tournament was saved but the casting contests simply could not take place. Paint Creek flowed hard and colored, but fish were caught and we had trout tournament winners!

  • Winning Team - Dave Desmyther and Jeff Clyma
  • Winning Fly - "Dynamite", Bead-Head Nymph
  • Castapalooza Fly Casting Contest Winner - Too windy for contests :-(