Master Fly Fisher School

The Complete Fly Fisher and WorldCast Anglers present the Western Rivers Fly Fishing School, a one-week program for anglers seeking to elevate their fly-fishing skills to the next level. This program will benefit neophyte and expert anglers alike.

The Western Rivers Fly Fishing School is devoted to the art and science of fly fishing under the tutelage of master fly fishers. With a focus on hunting trophy sized trout, the program will include instruction on entomology, ecology, casting, fly tying and reading water. In addition, the week will include instruction on navigating watercraft on rivers and boating safety. Think of this course as a Ph.D in the western tradition of Fly Fishing.

Instructors include: Tim Rajeff, David Decker, Jim Hickey, Andrew Hanson, The Complete Fly Fisher staff, guides from WorldCast Anglers and Federation of Fly Fishers certified instructors.

The Complete Fly Fishing School 

Time on the rivers will follow each session of classroom instruction. Each day will include instruction on essential topics such as fly tying, knot tying, leader/tippet selection, fly casting, and proper use of all equipment (rods, boats and basic gear). Students will be able to re-visit topics as they choose and move at their own speed.

The cost is $2550.00 per guest

Download the brochure (pdf)

Arrival Day (CFF) Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

• Welcome, Introduction, Meet the Other Students and Instructor
• Cocktail hour and dinner
  

Day 1 (CFF) Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

• Fly Casting w/ FFF Instructors/Tim Rajeff and Katherine Hart Karen Rajeff [on-stream & on-field]
  • Review individual casting goals, set expectations
  • Review basic casting mechanics and theory good loops
  • Learn to cast off either shoulder
  • Review casts used while trout fishing
  • Reach Cast
  • Slack-line Cast
  • Parachute Cast
  • Tuck Cast
• Anatomy of Trout Streams [on-stream]
  • In-depth understanding of the needs of trout & how the stream meets those needs
    
• The Power of Observation [on-stream]     
  • using everything in the stream environment (water temperature, water clarity, current speed, depth, rise forms, insect activity, insect collection, stream bottom structure, etc.) to determine tactics & fly selection
• Advanced Entomology [classroom and on-stream]  
• Reading the Water [on-stream]
  • Reading riffles, runs, pools, flats, rapids, pocket water
    

Day 2 (CFF) Thursday, May 14th, 2009   

• Fly Casting w/ FFF Instructors/Tim Rajeff and Katherine Hart Karen Rajeff  [on-stream & on-field]
  • Review casting fundamentals
  • Distance casting / wind casting
  • Practice fishing casts
  • Practice casting off either shoulder
  • Casting from moving boat
    
• Choosing Tactics [on-stream]  
  • How to choose between nymphs, streamers, wets, & dries
• Choosing Flies [on-stream]
  • Once you’ve chosen the tactic, how do you choose the right pattern
• Fishing for Difficult Trout [on-stream &classroom]
  • Selective Feeding
  • Smooth Water Feeding
  • Feeding in Difficult Lies
  • Casting w/ accuracy
  • Distance casting
  • Specialty Casts
    

Day 3 (CFF) Friday, May 15th, 2009

• Fly Casting w/ FFF Instructors/Rajeff [on-stream & on-field]
  • Practice fishing casts
  • Cast using different equipment and different casting styles
  • Casting using large flies and sink tips
    
• Dry Fly Fishing [on-stream]
  • Matching the Hatch
• Efficiently and Effectively rowing and fishing from a Drift Boat [on-stream]
• Nymph & Wet Fly Fishing [on-stream]
• Streamer Fishing   [on-stream]
  
• Fighting and Landing Big fish

Day 4 (CFF) Saturday, May 16th, 2009

• Efficiently and Effectively rowing and Fishing from a Drift Boat [on-stream]
• Wade fishing 101 [on-stream]
  o How to be productive and self-sufficient on the water by yourself 
• Putting It All Together [on-stream]
• Awards and Banquet 

Day 5 (CFF) Sunday, May 17th, 2009

• Breakfast and Students Depart