By Bill Land

 

     The 2008 Old Reel Collector Association (ORCA) will move a bit west “young guy”, ladies and old geezers alike, to the foot of historic and the majestic Pikes Peak region of Colorado Springs, in the colorful state of Colorado. I am looking forward to hosting and putting on the best show I can for ORCA. I believe my city will be a great place for “east” and “west” (including Hawaii) as well as Midwest collectors to come together for an old-fashioned mountain man reel rendezvous.

     I am sure that old grizzly fur trappers and dusty prospectors got hungry enough to include trout in their lean winter diets. I wonder when the first crank reel of some sort was tied to a sturdy aspen or skinny pine lodge pole and some sort of lure was dipped into the cold clear glacier-fed mountain streams to catch a fat trout to squeeze into their campfire frying pan. Or were rods, reels and lures forgotten in the desperation of hunger and they just splashed their bare hands in to the sub-freezing winter streams in a mad attempt to catch trout by hand as in the story of “Jeremiah Johnson,” based on the true story of Phil White’s early years in the west, played in the movie by Robert Redford.

The Show

     The bar is set high by all our previous ORCA show hosts, but I think there will be something for all to enjoy. We will follow a somewhat familiar schedule with the blocked rooms available at the Clarion Hotel Downtown at 314 W. Bijou Street starting Tuesday, June 3, for those who like to come to the show for early room trading. Registration will start Wednesday, June 4^, and the convention itself will start Thursday, June 5. On that day the trout fishing contest will run till noon, followed by two seminars in the afternoon, room trading and registration the rest of the day, the annual ORCA member’s dinner and more room trading in the evening. Activities for wives and family will be considered for Thursday according to what interests are indicated by applicants. 

Friday ,June 6 will start with “Breakfast with the Board,” then one or more morning seminars, lunch on your own, the “Stu Lawson Ugly Reel Toss” and the casting contest, then registration and room trading the rest of Friday afternoon. An ORCA dinner (perhaps trout as one menu choice) will be offered Friday evening followed by the early show set-up (all in the hotel).

Saturday, June 7 the show will open 7:30-9 a.m.,  members only, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m, open to public (auction of public and members’ tackle held during show, only members may bid).

At this point, it’s likely the seminars will include:

A round table discussion with some of our “in the know” members about what will be the collectible or reels of value in the future.

Cleaning reels techniques, chemicals, etc.

Digital picture taking, cropping, etc., techniques.

Colorado rod, reel and tackle history

The fishing contest

     Of course, it will be a trout fishing contest on the pristine Eleven Mile Canyon section of the S. Platte River! Fly or casting, pre-1950 rods and reels, catch and release, lines, leaders, lures and flies to be determined. Look for more on the rules and license information at www.orcaonline.org 2008 ORCA Convention button on the home page and in future issues of The Reel News.

Hotel and registration information

The Clarion Hotel Downtown

314 West Bijou, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905

Phone: 1-800-477-8610, Fax: 719-477-0894

Please use the promotional code “ORCA” when calling or booking your room reservations! Web site: www.clarioncs.com

Blocked rooms available until 5/13/2008.

Cost: $80/night, single, double, triple or quad, +9.4% state & local taxes. Rates include a daily full hot breakfast buffet and a manager’s cocktail reception Sun-Thur.

Rooms still available at ORCA $80rate after cut-off date based on availability.

Local attractions for all

     Colorado Springs should be a great place to visit in early June, with temperatures in the low 70s. I would really encourage all to think about taking a little extra time before or after the ORCA convention for a family vacation, a second or first honeymoon, or a little time for yourself to explore, fish, gamble, prospect, raft or visit friends and family in the area.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway and Highway to the top

United States Air Force Academy

Garden of the Gods

The Broadmoor Hotel and Golf courses

Royal Gorge bridge and Railroad

Victor and Cripple Creek low stake casinos

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Coin & money museums   

Cave of the Wind

The Flying W Chuck wagon Supper & Western Show

Historic Old Colorado City shopping

Mining Museums

The Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame

Florissant Fossil Beds NM

Santa’s Workshop/ North Pole amusement park on Pikes Peak

Ghost town museums

World Figure Skating Museum

Hiking, biking, horseback riding, 4 x 4 trails

Hot air ballooning, river rafting, helicopter tours, rock climbing

Check out http://www.coloradospringschamber.org or http://www.experiencecoloradosprings.com for other Colorado Springs area attractions.