Salmon Gets Top Billing
by Patricia Kutza

When it comes to feathers, glitter and neon colors, the Redding, California- based The Fly Shop (www.theflyshop.com) can outfit you for the jazziest of Mardi Gras'.  Yet it is farthest from the mind of those avid fishermen and women who make their pilgrimage to this haunt, billed as the largest store of its kind in the United States.  They are searching for the best fly, the one that hooks their fish and of course in the doing of it, keeps them 'hooked' on this popular sport!

A.T. "Woody" Woodland, one of the Shop's team of Certified Casting Instructors, says the Shop's huge collection of flies attracts customers from around the globe.  Their business is also getting a boost from two major trends in this fishing niche, the increasing participation of women and the emergence of salt water fly fishing. 

My weekend spent in Redding certainly validates what I sensed to be true:  There is no fervor equal to that of fly fishermen and women.  And there is definitely little truth to the belief that folks need to travel to the Pacific Northwest to get their fill of salmon and trout.  I joined approximately 8,000 other salmon-lovers last Saturday at the Return of the Salmon Festival in nearby Anderson.  At the Coleman Fish Hatchery you could see Chinook salmon spawning, fish tagging and dine nearby at a scrumptious salmon bake.

While much of the conversation centers on this season's record run, the salmon are sharing billing with Redding's other main attraction, the new Sundial Bridge.  There's a lot of  "I Told You So" being battered around as this Bridge is now almost unequivocally embraced as the driver for Redding's revival as a tourist destination. It's a far cry from the time, during its planning stages, when naysayers swore that the concept was ludicrous and a big waste of money.

During the glorious afternoon I walked this spectacular Bridge, I was in great company.  There was a wide swath of tourists and townspeople, folks of all ages admiring the architecture, watching the drifter boats riding the strong currents of the Sacramento River flowing under the Bridge and enjoying McConnell Arboretum/ Gardens and the Turtle Bay Museum, all conveniently located within the Turtle Bay Exploration Park (www.turtlebay.org).

The Sacramento River is a mecca for some of the most experienced fly fishing lovers on the planet. But even the best were once newbies. Patient and knowledgeable river guides, such as Shasta Outfitters (www.shastaoutfitters.com), are available to teach beginners as well as seasoned veterans how to maximize their fishing fun.

Another legendary waterway, Shasta Lake, is less than a half hour's drive away.  With over 360 miles of shoreline it is the premier address for houseboating.  Lest anyone think that houseboating is synonymous with glorified camping, listen up.  In recent years, houseboat designers have paid close attention to the leisure preferences of the luxury set.  At Shasta,  Shasta Lake Resorts (www.shastalakeresorts.com) is filling this demand for top-of-the-line houseboats, outfitting them with such amenities as onboard hot tubs, satellite radio and TV systems, faux fireplaces, penthouse quarters and gourmet galleys.  

For more information:  www.visitredding.com