Fly Fishing Class and Tutoring: Mike Stafford

FLY FISHING CLASS

Fly Fishing for over 40 years now.... Wow I am old!!

My class focuses on 3 MAIN AREAS:

Casting - we begin at the individual student's starting skill level and build out from there to the double haul if they are capable.

Knowledge - We cover all gear including rods, backing, fly line, leader, tippet and of course flies. We discuss walking sticks, vests (good and bad) and much more. I make extra efforts to make sure that the students will be able to speak intelligently when they are in the fly shops. We also discuss how to spend your money wisely with shortcuts and substitutes.

Temperament – As I see it, if I teach all the skills and knowledge required to be successful and then when you get on the stream, you blow up on “little Johnny” because he drops his flies…then my class instruction is incomplete. My focus is also to make sure the students are prepared for the accidents and challenges that the stream will bring. I try to head off anger and the possible short sidedness of RUINING a trip to the stream because of lack of self control with fellow fishermen. I do this by stating real life situations that have happened to folks over the years. The sport is to be enjoyed and I try to remove these challenges by pointing out what MAY happen out there. Over the years I have received some very positive feedback about this component from folks that have broken their fly rods and experienced first hand, some of the challenges.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Mike Stafford - BIG BROWN TROUT

Mike Stafford

18 1/2 " Brown Trout

Former Student - Mike Stafford lands this beautiful male Brown Trout on a size 18 nymph with 5x tippet!!! He went downstream as the fish TOOK OFF in the current... Mike kept the rod high and tried to stay below the fish in the stream as best he could... then when it was TIME to net him, he was able to get the fish's head up.... and the fish was pushed down to him... into the net. PERFECT NET JOB. What fun!!! After a fight like that, the fish and Mike were both spent! HA.