Skip to main content
Founded in 1947, the Pasadena Casting Club is a group of fly fishing enthusiasts dedicated to the art of angling and casting, conservation, education, catch and release philosophy, and camaraderie through Club meetings, outings and events.
HomeSeptember 2014

Fifth Annual Blue Ribbon
Fly Fishing Panel:
Experts to Answer Your Questions

7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Pasadena Casting Club Clubhouse




(The above photograph is not intended to be a depiction or likeness of any of the panel members participating in this meeting. Mongo was unwilling to leave Montana although an invitation was extended.)

Many of us have been fly fishing for years, but our techniques and tackle may be far apart. So we’re sporting Gore-Tex outerwear and nano-tech rods, but the reality is our applicable knowledge of technique is still stuck in the Light Cahill era. This meeting is the solution to bring you current with the most effective techniques used by the top anglers around.

Rather than focusing on specific waters, we want to talk about new innovations in technique and tackle, and how to put them to use on the stream, particularly in challenging situations. The format of the evening is that one of the experts is given a topic to discuss briefly and to share his views. The other speakers can then chime in, and questions flow organically from the audience. I will moderate to help guide the discussions and keep the questions on topic. Audience members will be able to ask questions and also guide the discussion onto topics of interest. If you have any topics you want addressed, consider emailing them to me ahead of time at quant@pacbell.net.

To introduce a little “young blood” into this program, we are happy to welcome PCC member Jacob Gorman to the panel for the first time. After a number of years in the trenches at Orvis Pasadena, Jacob was recently named the Manager of their fly fishing department, with access to the corporate jet. When not at work, Jacob is out fishing, and if you ever ask him a question, he knows his stuff, and stuff you should know. Although Jacob has helped just about every member who visits Orvis, if you can’t put the name with the face, think of someone who looks so young you think he’s ditching high school—that’s Jacob.

Tom Ishkanian is no stranger to PCC members. Tom has been a serious fly fisherman for over four decades, and his previous programs have been standing room only. Many of us remember Tom as the founder and former manager of Sport Chalet’s fly fishing department. In recognition of his contributions and skills, Tom was awarded the coveted Ross Allen Merigold Complete Angler Award several years ago and is a life member of PCC. Get Tom talking about fly fishing and he gets twitchy and uppity just like a sinner at an old time tent revival meeting— but there ain’t no exorcising the demons from within him.

Co-Owner of Fishermen’s Spot, Ken Lindsay is also familiar to many PCC members. Ken started trout fishing as a wee lad in his hometown of Dunmurry, North Ireland, and hasn’t looked back. Ken came to California when he was 18, first visiting Fishermen’s Spot in 1970. As an employee of Andre Puyans and Dave Inks in the ‘70s, Ken learned vast amounts about fly tying materials, fly casting, knots & rigging, fly tying, and entomology. Following that, he spent 15 years as a manufacturer’s rep for companies such as Cortland, Mustad, Simms, Lamson, Fisher, Thomas & Thomas, Umpqua, and Pflueger.

As a kid in Pasadena, Steve Posner started out fly fishing in local waters and fly tying professionally. We were both childhood rivals and best friends, but his fly fishing skills have grown exponentially over the intervening decades. As much as I hate stroking his ego, Steve knows his fishing. This past May, wading at PCC-donor Kelsey Bass Ranch, Steve landed a largemouth bass in the 14 pound range, photographically documented, which hasn’t brought him the fame he expected. We will also use this evening to recognize Steve officially for his landmark achievement (before he does something dangerous to get noticed).

Join us Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. at the PCC Clubhouse. Bring any questions you might have, and be prepared to have your abilities turbocharged. Consider bringing your fly rod and showing up early to get some casting practice in.


Seymour Singer
Program Chair