Due to the health risks created by the COVID-19 virus, our chapter cannot in good faith offer our customary face-to-face fly-tying course in the Spring of 2021. For obvious reasons, there is just too much close contact between student and mentor when trying to teach a beginner to tie trout flies, and we don’t think we can effectively teach these techniques virtually.
However, for those folks who are already beyond the beginner’s level and have mastered fly-basic tying methods, who already have all their own tools, and who are knowledgeable enough to purchase tying materials that are needed for specific patterns, our chapter wishes to offer them an advanced tying course, done virtually.
The course will be offered free, but you must be advanced registered. Thus, the program can be taught in a more personal way, manageable with questions and with interaction.
Here are the specifics:
DATES: Thursday evenings, February 18 through March 25, 2021. (Six meetings in total.)
TIMES: 7:00pm start time, each session lasting about 1 hour.
HOW: GoogleMeet. You MUST have a computer with a camera and microphone in order to participate. For registered participants, information for each weekly session will be sent out in advance of each class meeting via email.
WHAT: Each session will involve the tying of one specific trout fly. The session will begin with an instructor leading a discussion of the fly: how, when, where to fish it, water type, history of fly, etc. Then through the use of a provided weblink, a video will be shown with specific tying instructions, followed by a live “chat” between instructor, mentors and students about the materials used, alternative tying methods, with follow-up questions and answers.
HOW to REGISTER: Registration is available right here on the website. Follow the button, below, to view the registration form. The course will be limited to a total of 15 students, first-registered/first included in the class. Online registration will open on January 4, 2021. Only tyers who consider themselves at an intermediate level (or higher) will be considered for the class. Students who are accepted will be notified, and when the class fills, registration will be closed.
COST: FREE, but you MUST be registered and accepted into the class, first.
After each weekly session, the videos will be posted online, including to our blog, YouTube channel, and Facebook page. All the interactive discussions and Q&A from class will NOT be included in the public posting.
At the Doc Fritchey chapter, we are excited to be offering this virtual fly tying course and hope that our area fly-tyers enjoy our course. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me — Rich DiStanislao — at 724-664-3122 or by email at rdistani@comcast.net.
