Two weeks before the season opens on the West Branch of the AuSable, the river is in its best pre-season condition in many years. Most of the ice is out and the water level is normal. Everything looks like there might be some good fly fishing early on and a couple weeks of warm weather in April may just produce some dry fly fishing. This year could well be a repeat of the early fly fishing we saw two years ago when the Hendrickson appeared the last week in April and fish were already taking dries the third week of April. Normally, the dry fly fishing doesn't get under way until the first week of May. Barring a quick reversal in conditions, we can expect stonefly nymphs, mini-muddlers and beadheads to produce right from the get go on opening day. I will be doing the daily river update beginning the first of April which will give you water levels, temperature and the stream conditions on both the AuSable and the Saranac. This year you will also have access to a new fly pattern every month along with the most productive patterns for that time period. New patterns not already listed will have the recipes so those of you who tie will have the correct pattern to download for your fly Cookbook.

For those who visited us last season, you saw that we had updated the format of the shop, did a lot of remodeling and added a host of new merchandise. This year we are going even further with new products, great prices and a range of great new fly rods and equipment at very low prices. My custom rods will still be on special at all our clinics and barbeques. FREE fly casting lessons will be available every day upon request along with any other helpful information you might need. Once the season is underway, we are usually open until about 11 every evening. We always provide free coffee and snacks while you browse through our new lines of merchandise or wait for a custom fly to be tied for you. One of the new features that you will like especially well is an embroidery department headed up by my daughter with a state of the art embroidery machine. She will put a logo of your choosing and your name on a hat or shirt while you wait. There will be literally hundreds of logos to choose from. A Rainbow trout, Brown Trout or a colorful Mayfly or AuSable Wulff will certainly catch the eye.

Another new feature will be the addition of a salt water section featuring flies for all species of salt water fish - all custom tied. This past season in Florida Keys was a very productive one with good catches of a variety of fish on flies. New salt water rods ranging all the way up to 14 weight will be available or can be custom ordered at big savings. Another feature we are contemplating is a book section that not only will feature my own books but those of many other well known writers to enhance your own library.

Stop in and see our new look and new merchandise - you will be in for a pleasant surprise and oh yes, I know what some of you are thinking. Don't make the shop too fancy or looking like it's an Orvis shop. It won't have an antiseptic look. You can still come in with waders dripping and feel right at home. We will still have the ole line of BS along with lots of good honest information to give away that will make your trip more enjoyable and successful.

Dates for the 2002 clinics are:

• May 25
• June 8 & June 22
• July 13
• August 17 & August 31
• September 21
• October 12 (Pig Roast)