You don't have to travel to Big Sky Country or even outside of Naperville to do what fly fishermen have been doing for centuries. Local fly fishermen like Ted Bernhard are doing just that beyond the hustle and bustle of downtown Naperville.

"Fly fishing is all waters," Bernhard said. "You can fish a fly in a pond, the DuPage or the Fox River. There's lots of places to go fishing."

In the unique sport of fly fishing, as opposed to conventional fishing, fish are caught by using artificial flies that are cast with a fly rod and a fly line. The fly line (today, almost always coated with plastic) is heavy enough cast in order to send the fly to the target. Artificial flies can vary dramatically in all morphological characteristics (size, weight, color, etc.).

Artificial flies are created by tying hair, fur, feathers, or other
materials, both natural and synthetic, onto a hook with thread. The first
flies were tied with natural materials, but synthetic materials are now
extremely popular and prevalent. The flies are tied in sizes, colors and
patterns to match local terrestrial and aquatic insects, baitfish, or other
prey attractive to the target fish species.

"That's the whole idea. To use small light lures to attract the fish. It's
more challenging to see if you can fool the fish," Bernhard said.

You don't have to be an expert to fly fish and have fun, Bernhard insists.
The key, he says, is to cast the rod between ten and two and then to make a
quick snap at the back before casting out to the river.

Bernhard spends part of his retirement teaching young folks how to fly fish
through his involvement with a growing fly fishing club called the DuPage
River Fly Tyers, or D.R.i.F.T. The group's mission is to educate people on
how to fly fish and tye flies. But they are equally passionate about
conservation and education.

D.R.i.F.T. Conservation Projects:

* Rock Drop at Shabbona Lake - Habitat Construction.
* Lunker building on the Kickapoo River - Stream Restoration.
* DuPage River Cleanup - Environmental Cleanup.

D.R.i.F.T. Education Projects:

* Youth education programs at local schools and shows.
* Fly tying demos and guest lecturers on conservation, fly fishing and
fly tying.
* Funding for the International Fly Fishing Center in Livingston,
Montana.

Through this involvement with D.R.I.F.T., Bernhard takes time to help Boy
Scout Joe Crotty earn his fly fishing merit badge. Crotty finds catching
the fish the most exciting thing about fly fishing, but for Bernhard it
isn't about catching the fish.

"It's fun and wonderful to be around nature at the same time," Bernhard
said.

DRiFT meets every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. from September to May at The College
of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. To learn more about D.R.i.F.T., visit their website
at dupageriversflytyers.org.

Dolly McCarthy Reports.