Class Schedule as follows

ONE DAY FLY FISHING SCHOOL

This class will cover basic gear selections, knot tying, fly casting, basic entomology / fly selection, and of course a question and answer session.  Class will start at 8:30am and end between 4:30pm and 5pm.  Lunch is not included but a 30 – 45 min lunch break will start around 12:15pm.  Cost is $135 per person.   Dates available are April 6th, May 12th, June 15th, July 13th, Sept 22nd.  Call the shop or email info@davidsonflyfishing.com to register.

TWO DAY FLY FISHING SCHOOL

The two day school is a continuation of our one day school. After you have completed the ONE DAY SCHOOL, you will start the next day reviewing knot tying, fly casting, and followed up by how to read water, fish behavior, and wading safety.  After lunch you will gear up and spend the afternoon fishing with one of our guides on our private stretch of water on the Davidson River. Here you will apply what you have learning over the past two days and moving on to become more successful on your own.  If you do not have your own gear we will provide you with the gear needed to complete the course.  Class will begin at 8:30am and end between 4:30pm and 5pm.  Lunch is not included but a 30-45 min lunch break will begin at 12:15pm.  Cost is $300 per person.  Dates available are April 6th & 7th, May 12th & 13th, June 15th & 16th, July 13th & 14th, Sept 22nd & 23rd.   Call the shop or email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com to register.

ON THE WATER WITH KEVIN HOWELL

Learn a variety of tactics from one of the best. These classes are FREE. Dates and ciriculum are as follows:

March 16^th 2012 -Nymph Fishing 101-

Join National Champion Kevin Howell for a 4 hour discussion on nymph fishing.  Kevin will cover suggested rigs, flies, indicators and then put your waders on and get in the water with him as he walks you through reading water and fish behavior.  Class will start at 8:30 and end between 12 and 12:30.  Best of all it is totally free to attend.

April 21^st 2012 – Sight Fishing -

Join National Champion Kevin Howell for a 2 hour discussion on sight fish.  Kevin will cover everything from sight fishing on the flats to casting to rising trout in a mountain stream.  Kevin will also cover new casting techniques for accuracy and speed.  Class will start at 8:30 and end around 10:30.  Best of all it is totally free to attend.

May 11^th 2012 –Dry Fly Fishing-

Join National Champion Kevin Howell for a 2 hour discussion on fishing dry flies.  Kevin will cover, fly selection, and presentation.  Kevin will also cover casting, mending and line management which will allow for drag free presentations.  Class will start at 8:30 and end around 10:30.  Best of all it is totally free to attend.

July 6^th 2012 –Switching from Trout to Bass-

Join National Champion Kevin Howell for a 4 hour discussion on how to switch from trout fishing to smallmouth bass.  Kevin will cover, rod, line and fly modifications.  Kevin will also cover fly casts for the bass angler as well as reading water.  This class will be held on a bass stream.  Class will start at 8:30 and end between 12 and 12:30.  Best of all it is totally free to attend.  You must call the shop register and get directions to meeting location.

October 12^th 2012 –Finding Fall Trout-

Join National Champion Kevin Howell for a 2 hour discussion on finding fall trout.  Kevin will discuss the migratory patterns of trout in fall and winter months.  Kevin will also cover the best tactics for fishing in the fall and early winter.   Class will start at 8:30 and end around 10:30.  Best of all it is totally free to attend.

November 16^th 2012 –Beginning Saltwater Fishing-

Join National Champion Kevin Howell for a 4 hour discussion on how to get started fly fishing in the big pond.  Kevin will discuss saltwater rods, reels and lines.  Kevin will also cover basic fly selection, best saltwater fish to target with a fly rod, as well as recommended saltwater trips for the beginner and intermediate saltwater angler.  .  Class will start at 8:30 and end between 12 and 12:30.  Best of all it is totally free to attend.

Winter lake fishing has been fishing really well lately with the mild weather we are having  thus far. Break out your sinking lines and take advantage of your local hatchery supported lakes in Western North Carolina for some great trout fishing. For more information on lakes to fish or guided trips call the shop and ask for Bill.

Trout have to eat to survive. While we all stopped fishing because the weather got cold, the fish still have to eat; therefore fishing can be even better in the cold. I enjoy winter fishing probably more than any other time of the year. There are fewer people on the river and the fish I catch are generally larger.

1. This is the clearest water of the year. You will need to approach holes cautiously. Fish will spook easier this time of year than any other time. Watch so that your shadow does not fall over the fish you are fishing for.
2. S L O W down. While most anglers fish just as fast as they do in warm weather, the fish are lethargic and will not run the length of the pool to attack a fly. You may literally have to drift the fly over the fish three times to make him eat it.
3. Know what the fish are feeding on. There are not a lot of insects available to the trout in the cooler water, mainly midges, stoneflies, and a few baitfish or crayfish. There are also some worms available after it rains.
4. Larger flies are the key. Fish either large flies that imitate stoneflies, or fish midge larva and pupa, generally sizes 20 and smaller. I typically fish a size 8 Kevin’s Stonefly, with a #20 chocolate WD 40 trailing the larger stonefly.
5. While it is tempting to fish very small tippet, don’t. There is usually increased water flow, so I typically fish 4x fluorocarbon to my lead fly and 5x to my dropper. This results in fewer lost fish, and fewer lost flies on the bottom.

As we change into a fall fishing pattern there are several things that fishermen can do to increase there catch through out the day. That may be slightly different than the techniques that they were using for summer time fish.

Fishing is good throughout the day, you do not have to fish early or late. Trout will feed all day as they are trying to feed up for the winter, and for spawning in late November in our part of the country.

Terrestrials are a very good fly to use in the fall. However fishing an ant or beetle or hopper in the early morning when it is cool and they are not as active is probably not going to produce as many fish as if you fished the same fly later in the day.

Go big or go home, large trout especially browns like to make a good meal out of eating smaller fish this is especially true in the fall a large trout is capable of eating another trout half his size. So fish large streamers yes even in clear water for larger browns and rainbows.

Fishing dark colored mayfly nymphs and caddis pupas in the morning are a good choice. Then transition to the dries as the day warms up.

Do not be afraid to impair action to your fly until the water gets below 50 degrees. Fall trout tend to more aggressive, so skating flies, stripping flies, or adding some type of movement to your fly may result in more aggressive strikes.

Sampler Class    September 24th 2-3 hours   $20 per person

One day Emerger Class    August 21st  $150 per person

Two Day Predator School   September 25-26  $325 per person

FREE BEGINNERS CLASS    August 27th   1 hour   5:30pm – 6:30pm

For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

Join DRO in one of the most popular fly fishing schools in Western NorthCarolina.  In this school, participants will learn everything from casting techniques, knot tying, gear, and basic fly selections.  The second day is spent on the river with guides from DRO learning water safety, mending, and other techniques that can only be demonstrated on the water.  After lunch on day 2. you will break up into groups and enjoy an afternoon of guided fishing practicing what you have learned.   Cost is $325 per person. For more information or to sign up call 1( 888) 861.0111.

Class Dates: April 24th – 25th at 8am

The decision to hire a guide is sometimes a hard one, but it is also a great way to learn new water or methods. It is also a way to safely navigate new water. However, if you have ever hired many guides I am sure that you have had, what I commonly call, “the trip from Hell, with said guide at the helm. Here are five things that you should look for to ensure a quality guide. In the next edition, I will address five things that you need to do for your guide to ensure that you have a good trip.

1. Does your guide have a reputation? The fly fishing industry is a very small place and you are only a couple of introductions away from anyone that you want to know. Find out if any of your buddies have ever fished with the guide, or has ever heard of him. Chances are if he or she is a good guide then someone you know has fished with them or at least heard of the business they are with.
2. Book your guide well in advance. I am not talking about a week, I am talking about 6 months, it is not uncommon for Walker or I to have clients scheduled anywhere from 6 months to one year in advance. The best guides go first, the longer you wait the less the chance that you are going to get the guide that you want.
3. Never book the cheapest guide in the area. Usually there are several guides in a given area, most of which are close colleagues. Therefore their prices will be similar, the guy with the lowest price, (you know the one with the low ball bid) is probably a fly by night operation. Or is trying to book trips with no thought of long term stability or you returning as a client. It is just like the car dealer with the cheapest parts – you are going to get what you pay for.
4. When looking to book trips in foreign countries find out if you guide speaks English or if you need to have a basic understanding of their language. There is nothing worse than blowing a large fish because you could not communicate with your guide. Some of the best guides in Central America speak little English, but they are the guy’s you want to fish with – so be sure you can speak a little Spanish.
5. If you are going to be fishing in the big blue pond then be sure that the guide’s boat is appropriate for the conditions that you are going out in. For instance a Panga is a great boat for Central America, but I do not want to fish out of Panga off of Hatteras in November for Stripers.

Tying the Parachute Adams from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.