Ties to Chicago history exhibition opens August 8.
If you love fly-fishing, want to know more about this alluring sport, or are curious about Chicago-area history, Monee Reservoir Visitor Center soon will host a unique exhibition that ties all these interests together. The “World’s Finest: Fly-Fishing Tackle” exhibition opens August 8 and runs through October 31.
“Fly fishing is truly an art,” said Jessica Prince, the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s facility supervisor for Monee Reservoir. “It’s beautiful, it has a nature element, and it’s also outdoor recreation.”
The exhibition, the first to be hosted by Monee Reservoir Visitor Center, was created specifically for the site by the Manchester, Vermont-based American Museum of Fly Fishing. Museum staff picked items relating to the Chicago area and fly fishing that will appeal to a wide variety of visitors.
Many of the rods, reels, flies, photographs, and books on display date back to the 1800s and the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The exhibit also highlights influential anglers, all of whom exhibited at the exposition. The exhibition also will interpret flies and the feathers used to create them.
“I hope people who come to see this exhibition get a better appreciation of fly fishing,” Prince said, “and maybe some of our anglers will try fly fishing and learn something they didn’t know before. I’m excited, and I hope other people get excited about it.”
In addition to the exhibition, Monee Reservoir will offer free exhibition-related programs including:
I Spy Something Fly, from August 8 through September 17: Grab an I Spy worksheet to guide you through the exhibit. Get up close to this custom collection of items to see how many fly details you can spy. Turn in a completed worksheet at the concessions window for a prize. All ages.
Fly Fishing 101, from 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, August 12: Orvis instructors will provide basic instruction on fly casting, rigging, fly selection, and more. Equipment for the workshop is included. Ages 12 or older. Register by August 9.
Fly Fishing 101, from 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 23: See description above. Register by September 20.
Try-It, Ty-It Fly-Tying Workshop, with three 90-minute sessions at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 30: The Forest Preserve has partnered with Trout Unlimited so participants can try a hand at fly-tying. This workshop is intended for those with limited fly-tying experience, including beginners. General fly-tying techniques will be shown, and basic trout fly patterns will be demonstrated. All equipment and materials are provided by Trout Unlimited. Register by September 27.
Spot it on the Fly, from September 19 through October 31: Grab an I Spy worksheet to guide you through the exhibit. Get up close to this custom collection of items to see how many fly details you can spy. Turn in your completed worksheet at the concessions window for a prize. All ages.
Monee Reservoir Visitor Center is at 27341 Ridgeland Avenue, west of Rt. 50 and south of Pauling Road, in Monee Township. Exhibition, I Spy Something Fly, and Spot it on the Fly program hours are: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays in August; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays in September; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays in October.
The exhibition is brought to the Forest Preserve, through funding provided by The Nature Foundation of Will County.