News Articles & Feature Stories

The term halcyon is characterized by happiness, great success and peace. Halcyon is also used to describe an idyllic time in the past. For those familiar with fly fishing, it can surely bring feelings of happiness and success, especially if one actually catches something. Hoosac Halcyon’s were very active 20 or so years ago when Headmaster Foster started a club for students who wished to spend more meaningful time outdoors. 

The Hoosac Halcyon’s returned to the river this past fall, once again taking an interested group of students to the Hoosic river for Coffee & Casting. This Sunday morning activity drew 5 eager students to see just what fly fishing is all about. 

Describing the differences between fly fishing and spin fishing is the first item to discuss as the rods and reels are rigged. Students are shown that traditional spin fishing relies on the weight of a lure to carry the line to the water, while fly fishing uses the weight of the line to carry the lure ( fly ) to the target.  

Once casting techniques were grasped, students then put on waders and boots before stepping into the current and casting an array of different flies to unsuspecting trout holding in the riffles and pools that are along Hoosac’s riverfront land just off campus. 

Dr. Mark Buckholtz has been fly fishing for nearly 5 decades, and can be certainly described as an expert on the subject. His perfectly tied flies and vintage silk fly lines accentuate just how serious he is about this artform (yes, artform) that dates all the way back to the Roman Empire. As the students took a break from casting, they all began to watch the seasoned angler effortlessly cast his nymph into the tailout of a long pool, watching with excitement when he proudly stated “ fish on! “ 

While the fish put a sizable bend in the rod, he readied the net and showed everyone what a 12’’ brown trout looked like before releasing it back into the blue green water that rushed at his feet. Seeing for themselves that it was indeed possible to catch fish with this new technique, requests for next time were made.  The entire group left with a smile on their faces. A favorite characteristic about fly fishing shared by the group was that it was fun to do even if they didn’t catch anything. Just being outside and putting their phones down for 2 hours was a new experience. It reminded them of the importance to stay in the moment with your eyes up instead of being glued to a screen. 

As the students walked back to the reality of campus life, the faculty members then set off down the road for a few more hours of fishing on the Battenkill river. This trip proved to be fruitful, with an 18” brown trout making it to the net. 

This spring will bring many more days of fly fishing before commencement. The club has also acquired new waders and boots for our hopeful anglers. 

While the Halcyon days of being phone-free are over, students have seen for themselves that they can achieve inner peace and happiness in a short period of time while in nature. Swapping a phone for a fly rod is a great way to achieve just that.