OAFS Fly Fishing Schools

2012 Dates

August 17th, 18th and 19th

School begins Friday evening, continues all day Saturday and finishes up Sunday afternoon. This class is suitable for both new fly fishers and those with who would like to increase their existing skill levels.

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

All tackle (rods, reels, lines, leaders and flies) is supplied, or you can use your own. Please bring your own waders. Students will receive a 10% discount on any purchase at the Old AuSable Fly Shop during the class. This class is a hands-on experience. You'll learn by doing. Instruction will be a combination of one-on-one with our instructors and in group session.

All of our instructors are full time guides or shop employees. They all make 100% of their living in the fishing industry. They are all professionals, and this will show throughout the class. We do not have any part time guides or instructors.

There will be an emphasis on casting, 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).

At the end of the course participants will have the knowledge 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.

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 per student.

More Great Schools!

Custom Schools

Due to the popularity and over-booking of our Fly Fishing Schools here at The Old Au Sable, we would like to extend a special invitation for private groups to book an exclusive Old Au Sable School/Workshop.

The set-up is simple. Find at least two people that would like to learn more, something, or anything about fly fishing and the Old Au Sable will create an exclusive, custom fly fishing class just for you. The class will be two full days, include some meals, and will only cost $295 per person.

This is the perfect opporunity to learn for the first time amidst the comfort of your friends and family.

It's also a prime chance to take your fishing to the whole next level. Ever throw an ariel mend? Know how to properly work a streamer? Just want to learn the ins and outs of nymph fishing? Here's your chance.

Give us a shout @ 989.348.3330 and we'll set you up.

One Day Intensive School

The One Day Intensive School is geared for individuals who are short on time but desire the same amount of knowledge. It's a long day with morning spent in the class room, a day learning techniques on the water and an evening float. Lunch and dinner are included in the package which runs $500 for the day (based on two students).

This class will get you moving forward, quickly. It's a great way to spend a day if you are new to fly-fishing and are spending some time in the area. By the end of the class you will have the necessary skills to fish confidently and comfortably for the remainder of you vacation. Email us for a detailed itinerary at andy@oldausable.com

Fly Tying Schools

Whether you are new to fly tying or have been tying for years we can help. Ever wonder how to tie a parachute correctly with white deer hair? Do you wonder why your hen wings spinners never come out correctly? Do you have questions about articulated streamers? We can help with everything.

Our staff has been production tying for over 30 years combined and we would love to teach you what we know. Not only have we perfected the dry flies for our local rivers but have also mastered tying large articulated streamers, night flies, foam bugs and nymphs. We can design a school based around your knowledge and what you would like to focus on or we can run a simple beginners class to get you well on your way to tying fish catching flies.

The cost of the class is $250 per day for up to two tyers, arrangements can be made for larger classes. Two day classes are recommended for beginners to get the necessary skills to start tying clean, durable, fish catching flies. Classes will include lunch and all materials needed for the class.

Streamer Class 101

Have you been wondering how all those big fish are caught in early spring and fall? 98% of them come on streamers. Sometimes big, sometimes small, sometimes bright, sometimes dark; knowing the difference of what fly to choose can play a large part in your success. This introductory course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to choose the right fly and present it correctly to catch some of the biggest fish of your life.

You don’t have to have a drift boat and an 8wt to catch large trout on the AuSable and Manistee Rivers, plenty of large fish live in the upper reaches. This course will cover the basic techniques need to fish the smaller waters and cover the differences between fishing large and small rivers. The course will have a class room component to cover basic theories, rigging techniques and cover gear that is typically used.

Streamer fishing in one of the best presentation techniques to catch large fish all over the world, this course will get you started to catching more and bigger fish. Once you have mastered this technique you will find it very exciting and fun. The course runs from 9am to around 6pm. We will have an hour lunch break and spend the afternoon on the water putting our techniques to use on a float trip. The cost is $200 per angler.

Streamer Class 201

This is much more in depth than 101. We will briefly cover what is touched on in 101 but will look into gear more in depth. What rod models work best and why to use several different sink tips. We will also dive into specific retrieves that tripper strikes and how to use them. Also how to design flies to get the desired action.

Effective streamer fishing is not throwing flies at the bank and pulling them off. You will learn how to read water so that you are consistently fishing over fish regardless of water level and clarity or time of day. This course will prepare you to fish any river in the world with streamers. The course will conclude with an afternoon on the water fishing out of drift boats on the Manistee or AuSable River. It will be spent in a classroom atmosphere in the morning and we will have an hour break for lunch.

The cost is $200 per angler and the class will run from 9am to around 6pm.