One of the best ways to gain an introduction to the sport of fly fishing is to enroll in a fly-fishing school. Unlike hasty casting instructions from a guide moments before you float a river, fly-fishing schools teach you how to cast, they familiarize you with how to read water, what fish eat, and how to select and present the proper fly. All are factors that can be overwhelming on someone's first day on the water.

Because of their relaxed atmospheres and the amount of individual attention students can receive, fly-fishing schools are becoming more popular with women. At times the lessons from an overzealous boyfriend or husband can lead to frustration and turns women away from the sport. Fly-fishing schools try to minimize aggravation by answering questions, providing reading material and employing qualified, knowledgeable professionals.

Schools offer a degree of instruction a person could only receive if they spent several days one-on-one with a seasoned guide. Since class sizes are usually kept at a minimum, a beginner can progress at their own speed and get personal attention as needed without having to keep pace with a large group.

Learning the basics of the sport at a school also offers a window of time to absorb what you have learned before venturing on a fishing trip. Time to assess and evaluate equipment, time to practice casting on a lawn or pond, and time to review class material. Elements taught in schools like presentation, reading rivers, entomology, and knots are keys to increasing an angler's chances of success and crucial to building a beginner's confidence before their first excursions to the water.

Don't select a school just because it is close to your home. There are dozens of quality schools across the country and it is only through research and careful evaluation that you will be able to choose one that's right for you. They can make your next trip to the water more enjoyable and introduce you to a lifestyle that has more rewards than just catching fish.

To get a better background as to what schools provide, the above links are a condensed list of assorted schools in the nation as well as what makes them stand out. Keep in mind that this is for information only and not an evaluation of the schools.

For information on other schools and schedules from fly shops and guide services across the country, CLICK HERE.

ORVIS
The Orvis name and reputation will forever be linked to the sport of fly fishing. The company opened its first school in 1965 in Manchester, Vermont and have since opened eight others nationwide. Each school offers casting lessons by expert instructors as well as lectures on entomology, knots, fly selection, presentation, and equipment. Class size is 4:1 and costs $490 for a 2 1/2 day course. The number of classes they offer each year combined with their numerous locations should minimize any inconveniences when registering. For more information and class reservations call 800-239-2074 ext. 728 or visit www.orvis.com.

Kelly Galloup (left) has assembled some of the most recognized names in fly fishing for his school.

SLIDE INN FLY-FISHING SCHOOL
This school will be held on the banks of the Madison River from August 11th-15th, 2003, and feature five of the best known fly fishing experts in the world today. Instructors are Kelly Galloup, Mike Lawson, Craig Mathews, Mike Mercer, and Bruce Richards. Five days with a different instructor each day. you will spend four hours each day with a different instructor working on their particular area of expertise. After which you will break for lunch and have the rest of the day to work on what you have just learned, or just go fish.

Tuition is $1,500 and includes five days and six nights lodging and meals. There are also guides available to float any of the rivers in the area including the Henry's Fork and the Madison. The school is limited to 12 students.

The Slide Inn will also host two one-day schools (may 27th & Sept. 25th, 2003) with possibly the most knowledgeable still-water angler in the world, Denny Rickards. Denny will instruct students on pattern selection, where to fish lakes, presentation, and other techniques that will help you become better stillwater anglers. The cost of the school is $100 per person with a maximum of 12 students.

For information call 406-682-4804 or email slideinn@3rivers.net.

"Follow the leader" is an exercise used by Dave and Emily to illustrate proper casting technique.

DAVE & EMILY WHITLOCK
SCHOOL OF FLY FISHING
Dave and Emily Whitlock combine more than 50 years of fly-fishing experience and 30 years of fly-fishing education to teach anglers at their fly-fishing school in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Aside from designing and directing the L.L. Bean fly-fishing school for 10 years, Dave has taught around the world, authored books and articles, produced videos, and hosted lectures on fly fishing. Classes are conducted on actual trout waters using equipment provided by manufactures

Dave teaching fly casting.

like Sage, Simms, Renzetti and Scientific Angler. The three-day courses cost $650, are only offered in the spring and fall, and limited to an occupancy of eight, so early reservations are a must. A private day with Dave & Emily is also available for the experienced anglers who would like to refine their skills. For more information go to www.davewhitlock.com/school.htm or call 888-962-4576.

RALPH & LISA CUTTER'S
SCHOOL OF FLY FISHING
Ralph has united his underwater research, years of guiding, and personal perspective on fly fishing to create innovative techniques and fly patterns used worldwide. Lisa is one of the most well known female anglers in the world with instructional techniques that have been described as 'cutting edge.' Both are certified FFF casting instructors and have been teaching since 1981 with over 80% of their new clients referred by previous students. They conduct a two-day school where most of the instruction is on the water. Both beginner and advanced classes are limited to four students and include fly-fishing instruction, text, gear, and lunches for a cost of $499. Though they offer several enrollment dates throughout the spring, summer and fall, reservations fill fast. Go to www.flyline.com/classes.htm or call (530) 587-7005 for more information.

REEL WOMEN
Women have often criticized men (i.e. husbands & boyfriends) for their sometimes 'mean' or 'yelling' approach to fly-casting instruction. The methods are often responsible for steering women away from the sport. Reel Women in Jackson, Wyoming, recognized the need for a different approach to fly-fishing instruction and reacted by offering courses conducted by women, for women only. Aside from covering subjects that include casting, knots, equipment, and entomology, they stress the importance of personal confidence and the power of observation. The $450 cost includes two days of instruction, use of Orvis equipment, lunch, and text. The number of classes offered is limited and early reservations are recommended. Go to www.reel-women.com/school_basic.html or call (208) 787-2657 for more information.

MEL KRIEGER
Mel Krieger's pupils not only become better anglers, some go on to be guides, instructors, and champion casters. Thirty years of teaching has honed Mel's program into a finely-tuned, informative, enthusiastic course that is internationally recognized as one of the most professional offered. In addition to gaining an overview of the sport, the two-day seminars include lodge accommodations, meals, and the use of equipment manufactured by Sage, Winston, Abel and Cortland. Cost of the course is $590 with an optional third day of guided fishing offered at an additional charge for those that want to apply what they have learned. Two three-day sessions are also offered at a cost of $790. Most classes are held at Antelope Creek Lodge, a private angling retreat outside Redding, California, with the exception of one seminar held at Silver Creek Outfitters in Sun Valley, Idaho. Go to www.flyfishschool.com/seminars.htm for seminar dates and locations or call 800-669-3474 for more information.

WULFF SCHOOL OF FLY FISHING

Joan Wulff demonstrating the mechanics of casting.

Joan has not only won casting championships and performed amazing exhibitions of distance and style, but she has dedicated herself to assisting others in their desire to learn more about the sport. Her books, articles, and videos break down the mechanics of fly casting to simple steps that beginners can understand and advanced casters can use to improve their techniques. The school is located in the Beaverkill Valley on 100 acres and includes a specially designed school building as well as frontage on the Beaverhead River.

The trout-fishing course is an all-encompassing trout course, good for beginners and experienced trout fishermen alike. In addition to theory and practice of casting on ponds and in the river, you'll learn about stream entomology, fishing knots, reading water, tackle know-how, fly selection, approach and presentation, wading, playing, landing and releasing fish. Lee's Trout On a Fly and Joan's Fly Casting Techniques are provided as textbooks.

The fly-casting course is a follow-up to the trout course. It is not recommended for absolute beginners, because of its intensity. The course is designed to improve any angler's casting skill in fresh or salt water because we can instruct individually and move at each student's learning pace. The course includes tackle know-how, casting patterns for stream coverage, accuracy, shooting line, and--depending on the student's interest and ability--distance casting with the use of single and double hauls, oval casting, handling heavy flies, short and long rods, and shooting-heads. Fly Casting Techniques is provided as your textbook.

Tuition for the courses is $450 and does not include lodging or meals. Brand name equipment is provided for those that need it but students that would like to use their own are welcome to do so. For more info go to www.royalwulff.com/schools.html or call 845-439-5020 for more information.

Bert Darrow has taught fly casting since 1978.

BERT DARROW'S
Bert Darrow is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructor and has conducted fly-fishing classes every year since 1978. Some of his students have gone on to become fly-fishing instructors and licensed guides. He has also worked with the "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" workshop in their fly-fishing program. His two-day course is located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains and begins with lessons on entomology, equipment, casting, reading the water, and wading safely. On the second day, students will apply the lessons by fishing for wild trout on a Catskill river. Lunch and equipment is supplied for students. Cost is $375, though group and corporate rates are available on request. Private lessons are available and limited to two people. For information or reservations call 845-658-9784, Email: BDFlycaster@aol.com, or write Fly Fishing with Bert Darrow, P.O. Box 153, Tillson, NY, 12486.

RIO & SIMON GAWESWORTH'S
SPEY CASTING CLASSES

Simon Gawesworth Spey Casting.

RIO's head of instruction, Simon Gawesworth, has been teaching spey casting for over 20 years and is recognized as one of the top spey casting instructors and demonstrators in the world. For 2003, Simon and Jim Vincent from RIO Products will offer classes of beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels that will cover the basics of spey casting. Though the programs predominately feature two handed spey rods, a number of classes will focus on spey casting with single-handed rods. The classes are conducted over two days and are limited to a maximum of six students. Courses will take place on the Snake River near Idaho Falls, or at one of the many RIO authorized dealers throughout the U.S. Visit www.rioproducts.com or call 208-524-7760 for more info on class dates, rates, and reservations.

ORVIS GUIDE AND
RAFT CERTIFICATION SCHOOLS
This five-day school is for those individuals that aspire to become fly fishing guides. The course is taught by Bill Perry, owner of Fly Fishing Outfitters. Perry has taught an accredited Fly Fishing course at Colorado Mountain Collage for the past several years and has taught over a dozen guide schools in years past. Classroom and field training will begin each day at 9:00 a.m. and finish around 5:00 p.m. All aspects of professional guiding will be covered in this course. We have arranged preferred rates at the Comfort Inn, downtown Avon CO, where class meets daily for attendees. Session 1 is April 26th to April 30th, session 2 is May 17th to May 24th, session 3 is June14th to June 18th . Cost is $500.

The raft certification course is an intensive five-day course for those individuals who aspire to become certified as a raft guide in Colorado. The course is taught by Bill Perry, owner of Fly Fishing Outfitters. Perry, an accomplished oarsman, has over 15,000 commercial river miles and has taught the class for the past six seasons. The course will provide you with the hours and training needed to be a float guide in Colorado. You will spend a minimum of 50 hours in a boat and learn all aspects of boating safety and oarsmanship. Classroom and field training will begin each day at 7:00 a.m. and finish around 6:00 p.m. No prior rafting experience is needed and no special equipment is required. Session 1 is May 10th to May 14th, session 2 is June 7th to June 11th. Cost is $500.

For more information on either school visit www.flyfishingoutfitters.net or call (800) 595-8090.

Joe Humphreys 2nd Annual Small Stream Angler Seminar
Joe Humphreys, a nationally acclaimed fly fisherman, author and educator, will teach a three-day seminar on Small Stream Angling Techniques, August 1st - 3rd, 2003 at Potosi Hot Springs Resort, in Montana's Tobacco Root Mountains. Joe Humphreys has authored numerous books & articles on the sport of fly-fishing including Trout Tactics and On The Trout Stream. He is nationally known as one of the foremost educators in angling. Over the past 19 years he has also directed the angling program at Pennsylvania State University. Potosi Hot Springs Resort will serve as the base camp for seminar participants.

Classes are limited to ten participants. The cost for the 3-day program is $750 and includes all guiding & instruction. As part of the class, each student will also receive a brand new 8-foot, 4-weight rod with a reel and line. For more information on this class call 888-685-1695 or go to www.potosiresort.com.