OAFS Fly Fishing Schools

2010 Dates

May 21 22, 23

July 16, 17, 18

The school starts on Friday afternoon, is a full day Saturday and concludes on Sunday afternoon. The class is suitable for new fly fishers and those with some experience who would like to increase their skill levels. The two instructors, Peter Jones and Bob Andrus, have taught many classes and been involved in fly fishing and teaching since the mid 70’s.

Classes will take place at the Fly Shop and at local rivers and lakes, and the school will provide dinner on Friday, breakfast, lunch and dinner Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.

All tackle, rods, reels, lines, leaders and flies are supplied, though students are expected to bring their own waders. Students may, of course, use their own tackle if they wish. Students will also receive a 10% discount on any purchase at the Old AuSable Fly Shop during the class.

Instruction will be a combination of one-on-one with instructors, group lessons and media presentations. There will be an emphasis on casting, which is an essential part of becoming an effective fly fisher, participants will also have an introduction to rivers – wading, fly presentation, and basic entomology (bugs to most of us).

The main objective is that by the end of the course participants will have the knowledge to be independent fly fishers. Participants will be able to:

· Choose appropriate rods, reels, lines, leaders and flies

· Assemble their tackle

· Tie the recommended knots

· Be able to cast a fly and go fishing

Our overall goal for the class is to teach good practices and to help you become effective fly fishers. Accommodation is the responsibility of each student, there are many choices in the Grayling area and we will be happy to make recommendations if you need them. Some communal lodging on site will be available to students at a discounted rate. Any questions or for a course itinerary call Andy at 989-348-3330 or email at andy@oldausable.com. The cost for the class is $295.00

Meet Your Instructors

Bob Andrus

Bob arrived in Grayling in 1975 to teach in the Grayling school system and pursue his passions of trout fishing and grouse hunting.

Since arriving in Grayling, Bob has been active in numerous resource protection organizations including Trout Unlimited where he has served as president of Grayling’s Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter and chairman of the Michigan Council. Bob is a recipient of the Michigan Council’s Order of the Caddis and National TU’s Distinguished Service Award.

Bob was instrumental in the formation of the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee, a partnership of over thirty resource advocacy agencies and groups that are dedicated to the protection and improvement of the Au Sable River system, and has served as its chair since 1990.

For over thirty years Bob has taught fly casting, fly tying, and fly fishing classes and has guided on the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers since 1995.

Peter Jones

I can’t think of a time when I wasn’t at least a little consumed with thoughts of fishing. Fishing on surf beaches, on lakes, ponds and rivers for anything that came along. I started fly fishing in Wales when I was thirteen. I was well into my second season with a fly rod when I caught a suicidal brown trout of about five inches.

Fly fishing became for me the main focus in the early seventies, with weekend trips to the South and North Branches of the Au Sable. These rivers along with the Manistee will probably always be the main love of my fishing. There are side trips out to the Catskills, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, Ontario and Pennsylvania, but my main fishing life is here, fishing the AuSable and Manistee river systems.

I started offering one day trout fishing classes for a nature center in Saginaw, and then taught fly fishing and fly tying classes for Trout Unlimited. I also taught trout fishing classes in a local Community College, and offered weekend retreat fly fishing classes for several years. I enjoy the teaching part of my fly fishing life, along with rod making, fly tying, casting, and the literature that goes with it.

A favorite author is Robert Traver and borrowing a couple of his phrases “Trout are only found in beautiful places” and “Trout fishing is just about the most fun anyone can have standing up”, fairly well sums up a lot of the attraction that fly fishing holds for me.

Fly fishing is a time for sharing with friends, and having some fun as well as the peace, sights and sounds and restorative powers of being on water. Home waters are fine . . . maybe the best. Although it is pleasure to step into an unfamiliar stream and find out some of its secrets, it is better still to be able to share this experience with friends.

Tight lines,

Peter