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Magazine Articles
Affluent, July | August 2006
reprinted with permission
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The Art of Fly Fishing Lures People In and Gets Them Hooked
 Ron Lauzon has fished using flies for nearly a half century. Eleven years ago he gave up a thriving graphic design career to design and live out his river-based passion.These days, Lauzon's emphasis isn't on catching fish himself,nor does he simply show people how to cast and hook. Instead, the FFF certified fly casting instructor, guide and outfitter has created and opened a school that takes the art of fly flshing to new levels. |
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Lauzon is the only person operating a year-round, full-time fly fishing and guide school in the Pacific Northwest. He started out as Pioneer Guide Services where he led groups on fishing expeditions in summer months. |
The company grew and he changed the name to Ron Lauzon's Fly Fishing School. Today, the business has expanded and evolved to include multiple outdoor recreation courses at ML Hood Community College and several Parks and Recreation departments. As the instructor at Fly Fishing and Guide Schools of Oregon, Lauzon designs fishing excursions to lakes and rivers in Oregon throughout the year, while his summers are fully devoted to teaching, guiding and promoting the sport. "I keep learning so that I can continue to provide my clients with a lot morethan the
average fishing guide."
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Lauzon pursues perfection in the sport of fly fishing, though he admits it is a never-ending process. Along the way, he has assisted more than a thousand people with learning the basics of the sport, and others who want to understand the intricacies of his angling techniques. "Fly Fishing not only puts people in touch with the environment, it becomes a lifelong journey," Lauzon explains. "You can't learn it overnight because it always asks for more."
Whenever fly fishing has asked Lauzon for more, he has willingly responded. As a result, he is considered an expert in how to lure and catch salmon, trout and steelhead. He has also compiled a 200-page workbook on the subject and teaches advanced classes for those in the process of becoming certified fly fishing guides.
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Lauzon became intrigued with fishing as a young boy, casting into lakes alongside his father. At age 12, he went river fishing with a next door neighbor and got hooked on the sport. "Fly fishing is captivating," he says. "Over the years I have studied with many experts in the field and carefully observed different methods so I have a lot of tools to offer my students. With a variety of techniques and tips under my belt, I can match people with a system that will work for them.
"Currently, Lauzon plans and initiates private, group and corporate tours that include treks throughout the Portland area, Mt. Hood territory and the Columbia River Gorge. He teaches traditional and all other forms of fly fishing, using single and two-handed rods, and specializes in Scandinavian spey casting. |
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Lauzon also instructs people on how to run drift boats and rafts in the world-famous Deschutes and other Oregon waters, including Clackamas, Sandy, John Day and McKenzie rivers and various lakes. "Fly fishing is a whole new world. It brings new challenges and many rewards." |
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