Fly Fishing Class and Tutoring: FORMER STUDENT --- BRIAN WESTPHALEN -- 24" AND 26" BROWN TROUT

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.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

FORMER STUDENT --- BRIAN WESTPHALEN -- 24" AND 26" BROWN TROUT - same day

26" Brown Trout

THEN 30 MINUTES LATER

24" Brown Trout

BRIAN WESTPHALEN - former student - Had a "day he will always remember". Brian was fishing a size 16 homemade nymph down deep... with an indicator. He fished for a short period of time and decided to DEEPEN his presentation to get down to the fish... Shortly after he made the adjustment, he was hooked up with what he believed to be a carp!!! 5 Minutes later he was able to get a look at the fish and said "this is not a carp, it is a big trout". A 26" Brown Trout. After moving downstream to net the fish, he was able to keep the fish upstream from him in order to use the current to NET the fish!!! What a great day for him. But that was only part of the story... 30 Minutes later he hooked into the 24" Brown Trout and repeated the fight all over again. Making it look easy, he netted #2 lunker for the day. I am very proud of this accomplished fly fisherman. Great Job Brian Westphalen. Both were released in CALM WATER , to allow them to gain their strength back and rest then swim away as they were ready.