California’s fly fishing heritage finally gets its own spotlight as Turtle Bay — an aquarium/adventure museum in Redding, CA — hosts The Art of Deception from January 28, 2012 to April 15, 2012.

California fly fishing gets its due at Turtle Bay Exhibit

From the exhibit web page:

Fly Fishing: The Art of Deception celebrates the beauty, the mystery and the historical significance of north state fly-fishing. Explore a pastime rich in history, artistry, and one that has spawned a worldwide industry unlike any other.

Fly-fishing is much more than a sport – it is an art, a craft, and a science. People have been casting imitation insects upon the water, hoping to hook a big one, for thousands of years. From bamboo to graphite, horsehair to nylon, barbed hooks to “catch and release,” this exhibition explores the biology, history, and technology of this popular pastime. Meet some of the insects fly tiers work so hard to imitate, and take a close look at how those imitations are made. Get up close and personal with the life cycle of trout. Learn the unique history of our local Rainbow Trout, the most famous and widely distributed trout it the world, and discover why the Lower Sacramento River, right outside our door, is such a special place in the fly-fishing world.

This original exhibition will provide visitors of all ages with an in-depth look at why fly-fishing is about more than just catching fish. It is a family-friendly way to experience the great outdoors and learn about the environment, while helping to promote habitat and species conservation.

Exhibits include the life cycle of salmonids, fly tying exhibitions, an indoor casting area — even a display about the bamboo fly rods Northern California’s rightly famous for.

• Live fly tying demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday, January 28 through April 15th, from 12 p.m to 3 p.m.
• The Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers Fly Tying Expo – February 18 & 19 (10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
• Indoor casting area
• The Tech Corner: indulge your passion for antique gear while seeing the latest and greatest technologies

The Art of Deception chronicles a part of the fly fishing heritage California is rightly famous for, and if you find yourself in the Redding area, it’s worth a visit, even for the whole family.

For more information, click here.