The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are pleased to announce that “Fly Casting Clinics” and instructional courses will be offered at two Long Island State Parks.

The Long Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be conducting two clinics on “Basic Fly Casting” on Saturday, March 10th at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown, and Saturday, March 3rd at Connetquot River State Park Preserve in Oakdale. Clinics will be held rain or shine from 9:00AM – 12:00PM. The clinics are open to everyone 16 years and older. If you own fly fishing equipment, bring it with you, but it is not required to attend. Clinic topics will include: basic casting instructions, equipment needs and selection, conservation, and safety techniques.

The registration fee is $4 per person at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, and there will be no vehicle use fee in effect. There is no registration fee at Connetquot River State Park Preserve; however, a vehicle use fee of $8.00 per vehicle will be in effect. Reservations are accepted two weeks prior to each clinic.

The Long Island State Park Region also operates Nissequogue River Fly Fishing School at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve. The school offers a series of ongoing instructional classes for groups and individuals in basic to advance freshwater and saltwater fly fishing and casting techniques, stream entomology, and still water (pond) techniques. Please call (631) 265-1054 for current program and fee schedules.

To register for the clinics, or for further information on the school, please call Caleb Smith State Park Preserve at (631) 265-1054 or Connetquot River State Park Preserve at (631) 581-1005, Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30AM – 4:00PM.