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2011 Gates Au Sable Lodge Fly Fishing Schools

Enrolling in a fly fishing school at Gates Lodge is one of the easiest and fastest ways to improve your time on the river. We offer instructional classes for absolute beginner's as well as specialty casting and fishing classes for those who would like to improve on their current skills. All of our classes are tailored with a relaxed atmosphere of both fun and education and are designed to accommodate both personal styles and abilities. Gates Au Sable Lodge is located on the banks of the famous Au Sable River, internationally known for its prolific insect hatches and great fly-fishing. Our goal is to teach you the knowledge and skills necessary to help you develop as a competent fly fisher. We're looking forward to meeting you.

To book a spot in any of our sessions, please call us at 989-348-8462, or send us an email at [email protected].

 

Dry Fly Basics

This class is geared towards those that have at those that have a basic knowledge of fly-fishing and want to enhance their skills and knowledge of the techniques of dry fly fishing. We have many techniques – such as downstream fishing – that are unique to our area and our style of dry fly fishing, but can be used anywhere in the world with great success.

- Dry fly tackle
- Leader set up
- Different types of dry flies
- Fly selection
- Upstream presentations
- Downstream presentations
- Mending your line

Attendees should bring their rods and reels and waders, as well as appropriate clothing, including sunglasses or eye protection, and a hat and rain gear if necessary. Snacks and drinks are provided. If you don't have a rod we will provide you with one for the class. Waders can be rented. Experienced Au Sable and Manistee guide, and Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor Mark Hendricks will be the head instructor for this class.

Dates: July 23
Time: 8 am (5-6 hrs)
Limit: 10 people
Price: $135

 

4 Hour Fly Casting Essentials

Casting is undoubtedly one of the most important of all the fly-fishing skills. You must be able to present the fly to the spot in which the fish is located in order to be successful. Although fly-casting may appear to be difficult, it's really not. There are a few basic things that you need to know about fly-casting in order to cast efficiently and they're a lot easier to learn than you might think. This class is for both beginners as well as those with some casting experience. Instructor Mark has some unbelievable tips to make even good casters that much better:

- The Basic Physics of fly-casting and how it differs from spinning or bait casting
- The Basic Fly Cast
- False Casting
- Controlling your loops
- Muscle memory - old habits vs. new techniques
- Roll Casting
- Reach Cast
- Mending the fly line
- Curve casts
- Casting in the wind
- Shooting line
- Hauling and double hauling

Attendees should bring their rods and reels and waders, as well as appropriate clothing, including sunglasses or eye protection, a hat and rain gear if necessary, as well as bug dope, and something to drink or snack-on. If you don't have a rod we will provide you with one for the class. Waders can be rented. Experienced Au Sable and Manistee guide, and Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor Mark Hendricks will be the head instructor for this class.

Date: July 30
Time: 9 am (4 hrs)
Limit: 10 people
Price: $85 per person

 

Fishing Wet Flies, Soft Hackles & Nymphs

Focused on learning the various basic techniques of wet fly, soft hackle and nymph fishing, this class is designed for those that have a basic knowledge of fly-fishing and want to enhance their skills in these specific areas. This class will help you catch fish anywhere, but is particularly good at teaching folks how to use wet flies to catch more fish on the rivers of Northern Michigan. This

- Tackle for fishing subsurface
- Leader set-up
- Different types of wet flies
- Fishing just below the surface
- Fishing mid-depths & near the bottom
- Fishing more than one fly at a time
- Various methods of wet fly & nymph fishing
- Casting weighted flies

Attendees should bring their rods and reels and waders, as well as appropriate clothing, including sunglasses or eye protection, a hat and rain gear if necessary, as well as bug dope. Snacks and water are provided. If you don't have a rod we will provide you with one for the class. Waders can be rented. Experienced Au Sable and Manistee guide, and Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor Mark Hendricks will be the head instructor for this class.

Dates: August 6
Time: 8 am (5-6 hrs)
Limit: 10 people
Price: $135 per person

 

To book a spot in any of our sessions, please call us at 989-348-8462, or send us an email at [email protected].