The AC Fly Fishing Introduction To Fly Fishing School is an on the water fly fishing school with an emphasis on learning. From the basics to netting a fish, our chosen instructors, who are also part of our world class guide team, will break down the barriers of learning to fly fish and focus their energy and time in giving you the tools to wade away from the class and into your future as a competent fly angler.
Introduction to Fly Fishing Schools will be a two day school consisting of 8 hours each day. This is a truly hands on, feet in the water, fly fishing school with a 1:3 instructor to student ratio. The first day will be stream side instruction. Day 2 will take you from the truck and to the river where we will execute everything that was taught and learned from day 1.
Day 1 will start with the basics in learning the necessary knots (clinch, surgeons loop, double surgeons knot) and cast (pick up / lay down, false cast and roll cast). We will let the Roll Cast take us to the water where we will then step off the banks of the river and into the underwater insect world for a sneak peak into fly fishing entomology. As fly anglers, we let the day and the water tell us which technique to pull out of our quiver for the best success (rigging- indicator or dry fly fishing). A quick 45 min break for a snack, hydration and some recap and you are getting closer to presenting the fly. Upon returning to the water, you and the instructors will walk the stream and learn where the fish live (reading water- riffles, runs, pools, pocket water, tail-outs, undercuts) and how to best get in position to make the right cast.
Day 2 will start with putting together your rod, picking a leader and getting ready to hit the river. Waders, boots (rent at The Ted Fay Fly Shop), sunglasses, sunscreen, vest and water bottles. Everything you'll need for the day of fishing. Before hitting the stream, we will do a little casting to revisit what was learned the day before. Again, we will move to the water for a little roll casting. While practicing your roll cast, look around and see what kind of insects are flying. Start thinking about your rig and fly choice. Once the casting portion is completed, we will then go into the vest and rig for success- indicators or dry fly, the goal is to pick the most successful technique and the proper fly to feed the fish. Now we can take what we learned about where fish live and how to position ourselves best to catch them. A stealthy approach being mind-full of our surroundings is paramount here. This session is slightly different than the day before as we are now learning how to wade in the water safely. Time to step out of the river for a quick snack, water and recap conversation. Let's take a look at our rig and make sure we are ready to fish! Put the snacks away and hit the stream for a couple of hours of fishing under the watchful eye our your instructor and let's get you hooked up!
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
- 8:00 - 9:30am : Knots and the vest- How to string up the rod, choose a leader and pick a technique. Choose a "way to fish" (nymphing or dry fly fishing), having all of the stuff in your vest and at your finger tips. Our goal is to simplify this. End with a dry fly rig and tie on a piece of yarn for the casting portion
- 9:30 - 11am : Casting (pick up lay down, carrying line, water load, roll cast). Casting sessions will end with roll casting which will bring you to the streamside. Since you are now standing in the water, working on your roll cast, this is a perfect transition into the next session- The Bug Life
- 11:00 - Noon : Entomology- From the trees to the stream bed (shaking trees and checking spider webs, looking along the river banks, turning over rocks, using a seine net). Be sure to collect as many different insects as you can and put them in a vial for students to take home. This is also a great time to talk about where the different insects live and where they end up during their hatching process (biological drifts, clingers and crawlers). Talking about this will lead you to explaining where to fish during a hatch.
- Noon - 12:45pm : Lunch. Guides will provide lunch and use this time to recap the infomation covered during the morning sessions.
- 12:45 - 1:30pm : Rigging for success- Now that you seen the bugs, and spent some time observing the stream, its time to decide how you want to fish- nymphing or dry fly fishing
- 1:30 - 2:30pm : Reading water- Riffles, pocket water, runs, tail-outs, seams, pillows, undercut banks
- 2:30 - 3:00pm : Getting the fly to the fish- Take a look around and see if you can make the cast. body position, type of cast, presenting the fly
- 3:00 - 4:00pm : Recap and talk about Day 2
Day 2
- 8:00 - 9:30am : Meet up and line it up- Take some time to help students as they line up their rods (folded line technique), tie on a leader (recap loop to loop) and choose a technique (nymphing or dry fly). Each student should be able to rig their own rods from start to finish.
- 9:30 - 10:30am : Some false casting- Just like the driving range, a few warm up strokes help free the minds and feel the moment. This is a fun time to try and hit a spot on the ground
- 10:30 - 11:30am : Stream side rigging- Head to the river and take a look. This will help you choose which technique you want to start with. Now that has been decided, the students will rig their own rods with the help of the instructor.
- 11:30 - 12:15pm : Lunch. Guides will provide lunch and use this time to recap the information covered during the morning sessions.
- 12:15 - 1:00pm : Send it! Wading a stream and how to do it safely and stealthy. Move slow and fish everywhere a fish could be- near and far
- 1:00 - 3:00pm : Fishing- Nymphing
- 3:00 - 4:00pm : Fishing - Dry fly
Price
$550 per student