School of wet rocks (prerequisite)

 Hi all,

I received some really good feedback on my "School of wet rocks" post.  I made an assumption that most young people are as experienced with fishing as I was at that age.  I think many of the students might do best with a type of fish and type of fishing where they will have immediate success (like poppers or top water stuff for bluegills or sunfish).  As I look back, that is where I started - as a kid, where I could see all the bluegill nests and cast to them, with jigs and then later with a fly rod and poppers or top water things.  So, here's the prerequisite to the previous post:

a) Fly casting in the field.  Demonstrate until each student can cast at least 20 feet in front of them and leave the line straight out in front of them.  I have 5 setups, may need a few more cheap rigs depending on how many students enroll.

b) Find a pond with some places to backcast (maybe dock) and take them fishing.  Bring worms and some spin gear and bobbers etc. in case the fly stuff isn't immediately successful.  Make sure they catch stuff so they get "hooked."

c) Lunch

d) Then some more casting lessons, and see if there's an afternoon hatch on the river.  If not, back to the bluegills we go.

Eventually, transition to trout and the river.

Have a great day,

Mark

School of wet rocks

 Hi all,

I just had a brainstorm, as usually happens post coffee but before breakfast.  I want to give the experience I had of learning to fish the Farmington to some kids who have never fished before, or never fly fished before.  I live next to the west branch of the Farmington, and I know enough about tying and fishing that I can help them catch some fish.  

I have ties to the Grange and the Riverton Fairgrounds, so I may be able to use those spaces for tying and casting practice, and then some of the best fishing in the Farmington is right around that area.  

The typical day at such an establishment: kids are dropped off at around 7, with their own rods and reels and waders at the Grange Hall.  I make sure each kid has at least 10 flies:

a) A few muddlers

b) a few wooly buggers

c) A few marabou unnamed streamers (unnamed but highly effective)

d) Black Ghost

e) Marabou grey ghost

f) Elk Hair Caddis

g) adams

We walk across the street to the Farmington, where we fish the morning hatch until the fishing dies down.

Then, casting academy in the field for a few minutes (no flies on so nobody gets a new earring).

We study the river for a few, and have a contest for who can find the most flies and put them in a jar to imitate.  When we get back to the grange, we all look at the flies, try to identify them and then look up what species they are on the internet, and what flies are usually used to match them.  

Each student gets to tie a few flies they think will work.

We fish the afternoon hatch after a healthy lunch provided by the Riverton Inn or the Grange.

Pickup around 3, unless the hatch is amazing and the kids (and maybe their parents) want to fish some more.