School Agenda

Below is a description of a typical three-day agenda for the novice and intermediate schools.  The advanced school agenda is determined by the needs of the advanced students.

The actual agenda for the current school is in the packet each student receives at check-in and is posted prominently at all entrances to the facility.

Friday
9:30 – 10:30: Arrive, register, and check-in for lodging.

9:30 – Noon:  Check-in your fly fishing equipment or be assigned loaner equipment as needed.  Also, during this time we have tables set up to start learning knots.

Noon – 1:00 pm:  Lunch is served at the Ranch.

1:00 – 2:00 pm:  Introduction to the school and the first lecture on fly fishing dynamics and equipment.

2:00 – 4:00 pm:  Practice casting on the lawn, ponds and knot tying.  This is your first opportunity to get a fly rod in your hands and to start casting. 

4:00 – 5:00 pm:  Discussion of tackle types, casting principles, vests/packs, and various gadgets.  This is an informative and interactive segment.

5:30 – 6:30 pm:  Dinner (no one has ever left this weekend hungry!)

6:30 – 7:30 pm:  Casting and/or knot practice.  Intermediate group learns some casts beyond basic loop control.

7:30 – 9:30 pm:  Students’ Choice

During this time period we have a number of activities available such as:

• Fly Tying – We have two sessions per night for up to seven students at the fly-tying table.
• Presentations – Learn more about trout and their habitat, as well as warm water fishing.
• Fishing – Instructors may be available to accompany Intermediate students in the river.

Saturday

7:30 – 8:30 am:  Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30 am:  Video – Anatomy of a Trout Stream

9:50 – Noon:  This is one of the most popular segments of the school where you will go through four stations in the stream and see demonstrations on Dry Fly, Nymph/Wet Fly, Streamer techniques, and a bug station where we will show some of the aquatic life that is key to the trout’s habitat. 

12:15 – 1:00 pm:  Lunch

1:15 – 5:00 pm:  Intermediate group works on in-stream practice

1:15 – 1:30 pm:  Leader Presentation

1:30 – 1:45 pm:  Basic Fly Presentation

2:00 – 2:30 pm:  Casting demonstration at the ponds

2:40 – 5:00 pm:  In-stream instruction.  Students try out their casting skills in the Boardman River.

6:00 – 7:00 pm:  Dinner

7:00 – 9:00 pm:  Students’ choice.

During this time, we have a number of activities available such as:

• Fly Tying – We have two sessions per night for up to seven students at the fly-tying table.
• Presentations – Learn more about trout and their habitat, as well as warm water fishing.
• Fishing – Instructors may be available to accompany students in the river.
• Lawn Trout – Students (and sometime instructors) team up in pairs for a good-natured competition in casting skills. Prizes are awarded to those who participate.

Sunday

8:00 – 9:00 am:  Breakfast (a light one since lunch isn’t!)

9:00 – 10:00 am:  School Review.  This is an excellent time to ask questions about any of the topics covered in the school.  We will highlight additional sources of information so you can continue to learn after leaving the school.

10:00 – 11:30 am  Students’ Choice  (Casting, knots, in-stream instruction, etc.)

11:30 – Noon:  Return school equipment

Noon – 1:00 pm:  Lunch

1:00 – 2:00pm:   Graduation & Trout Unlimited Presentation

Each student will get a Certificate upon completion of the school. We will discuss Trout Unlimited and why we feel it is important to join. Membership keeps this organization moving forward in its goals of cold water fisheries management and preservation.