FLY FISHING
GUIDED
Fly CASTINg
INSTRUCTION
Fly casting is not as complicated as it looks, the gear doesn’t have to be ultra expensive, and we can fly fish for all species - NOT just trout!
It only takes a brief introduction to basic techniques to get you in the game.
We’ll go over single or two-hand casting to get you up to speed and into fish. Casting instruction involves explanations of rigging and “fly fishing 101” and is appropriate for anglers of all ages.
SMALLIES
ON THE FLY
Guided Fishing:
The smallmouth bass may be the best freshwater fly rod fish on the planet for its willingness to attack flies under a wide variety of conditions, and for its ferocity when hooked. We are fortunate to have excellent angling opportunities for smallmouth in our region, and we can target them in a variety of ways.
Wade trips are available in the spring in shallow bays of Lake Erie and many of its tributaries. Springtime is an especially productive time of year, as many of our big Lake Erie fish come shallow, within range of our flies. Seven and eight-weight rods are the norm, with lighter options occasionally in play.
SWINGING
Guided Fishing:
Each year hundreds of thousands of steelhead run Lake Erie’s tributaries in search of spawning grounds. Opportunities abound from October through April to connect with these migratory fish that average around 5lbs, but often grow much larger.
Swinging flies for steelhead is an extraordinary way to spend a day. These fish violently strike swung flies throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Together we’ll cover basic spey casting techniques and strategies to get flies in the zone and discuss best practices for presenting them in a variety of water conditions. It is fly presentation, after all, that ultimately determines success on the water.
All steelhead trips are 1 on 1, walk-and-wade, providing us with flexibility to hop from spot to spot (or even between rivers) to run our flies through the most productive locations on any given day. We employ switch rods in lengths between 11 and 12 feet paired with short skagit heads and sink tips, and carry a range of battle-tested fly patterns to entice the most aggressive fish in the system. Single hand rods can also be used to swing flies when preferred or when conditions dictate.
