2-Day Intermediate Fly Fishing School

2-Day 

Intermediate Fly Fishing School

October 13th and 14th, 2018

These schools take over where our intro classes leave off. Take your skills to the next level! These 2-day intermediate fly fishing schools will be held at Sunnybrook Trout Club near Sandusky, Ohio. Centrally located for students from Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati! 

Day 1
* Intermediate Fly Fishing
* Gear for Specific Techniques
* Fly Casting Part I, II, III- Fly Cast Review
* Lunch (included)
* Knots and Leaders II
* Fly Casting Part IV- Advanced Casting Techniques and Video
* Fishing!!

Day 2
* Understanding Fish
* Advanced Entomology and Fly Selection
* Video Casting Review
* Lunch (included)
* Fly Casting Part V- More Advanced Casting Techniques
* Fly Fishing the Midwest and Beyond
* Fishing!

Included: All equipment necessary, class information packet, lunch on both days, professional instruction, fishing

Not included: morning and evening meals, lodging if needed

Cost: $450.00 per student. Includes instruction, gear, info packet and outline, lunch & fishing. (See below for 20% OFF Coupon)

Upon completetion of the course students will also receive a coupon packet good for significant discounts and special offers at Mad River Outfitters and/or www.madriveroutfitters.com should you decide to purchase some gear.

Pre-Requisites: Some experience and a basic understanding of the topics covered in our 1-Day and/or 2-Day Schools. This class is designed to take anglers from the beginner stage and introduce intermediate and advanced concepts and techniques.

Recomended Gear: None. We have you covered although at this stage you probably have some gear and you are welcome to bring it along.


* Fantastic fishing, lodging and dining available on these 2-day excursions. Lodging booked separately through Sunnybrook Trout Club. For more information please see www.sunnybrooktroutclub.com. A detailed information packet will be provided upon sign-up that should answer most questions on these arrangements.

 
Brian Flechsig and Jerry Darkes- Instructors

Brian is the founder and operator of the Midwest Fly Fishing Schools and is highly regarded as one of the best fly fishing instructors in the country.

Jerry is a well known guide, author, lecturer and industry rep....in addition to being a lead instructor for the MWFF Shools.

Together they bring with them nearly 90 years of fly fishing expertise and experience.

You won't find a better way to "up your skills" than with these two!!

ENJOY

20% OFF

As a thank you to past students and our loyal customers, register for this fun and exciting class now and get 20% OFF.

Use Coupon code: intermediate

* insert this code on the 1st page of the shopping cart and the discount will be applied- please call if any questions
REGISTER NOW

Click Here to register on our website for this school!

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Graplrz- Sunglass and Eyeglass Retainers

GRAPLRZ are revolutionary sunglass retainers. Each is made from woven stainless steel cable, industrial grade silicone and anodized aluminum. Stylish, durable, comfortable, and with a lifetime warranty, they're ready for adventure.

GRAPLRZ have travelled around the world. Whether hunting, fishing, backpacking, hiking, or surviving in the great outdoors, GRAPLRZ are for you. We are intent on designing and selling only products of the highest quality, made with the finest materials here in the U.S.A. GRAPLRZ has grown organically, and continues to be a family-owned venture. GRAPLRZ are no longer just products, though. They represent the travelers, explorers, climbers, and adventurers who wear them.

GRAPLRZ SUNGLASS RETENTION SYSTEM WILL QUITE LITERALLY HOLD YOU TOGETHER.

Graplrz come in 9 cool colors: Red, White, Orange, Blue, Black, Aqua, White, Pink and Yellow.

Click Here to check out Graplrz on our website!

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Fly Tying- Clouser's Swimming Nymph

Clouser's Swimming Nymph- Carp Version

As stated in the Carpin' DVD that we did many years ago, the Clouser's Swimming nymph was always at the top of any list as far as "go-to" carp flies. Still is, and we have folks calling and stopping in all the time looking for them. They have become hard to find, especially with a bead, which we all know is very important to a carp angler as it causes a hook to ride up. A few years back I started playing around with the way I tied these and came up with this "Carp Version". I certainly hesitate to call this my own, as it is the exact recipe of the original, but I just tweaked a few things on the way that it is tied and am convinced that it is an improvement over the original, as a carp pattern.

The cool thing here is that you can play around with the bead and the colors on the flash, body and hackle to create a multitude of different variations....using the same template.

So here you have it...The Clouser's Swimming Nymph- Carp Version.

Brian Flechsig- August 2018

Clouser's Swimming Nymph- Recipe:

Hook: Tiemco 2302 #8 or #10- Click Here

Thread: UTC 70- Click Here

Bead: 5/32" Copper- Click Here

Weight: .020" Lead Wire- Click Here

Tail: Black Barred Gold Variant Rabbit Strip- Click Here

Flash 1: Krystal Flash- Orange Pearl- Click Here

Flash 2: Flahsabou- Copper- Click Here

Rib: Medium Gold Oval Tinsel- Click Here

Wing Case: Peacock Herl- Click Here

Legs/Hackle: Hen Back Feather- Click Here

1. Install the bead onto the hook and insert the hook into the vise. You can go ahead and start your thread as well as I like to have a thread base under the lead wraps so it's not as likely to spin on the hook.

2. Make 7 or 8 turns of lead wraps behind the bead and then wrap your thread through and build up "thread ramps" on either side of the lead.

3. Cut off a hunk of rabbit fur off of the Zonker strip and tie in the tail. I usually like the tail to be about the same length as the hook shank, as always. Wrap over the butts right up to where the lead starts so you now have a uniform underbody. Make sure to wrap back onto the bend of the hook so that the tail stands good and upright when this fly is at rest of the bottom of the stream.

4. Add in a few strands of Krystal Flash on each side of the tail as well as a few of Flashabou. You can add more or less if you like but I usually don't go much more than two strands each here. Carp typically don't like too much flash.

5. Tie in the Medium Gold Oval Tinsel at the "bend".

6. Dub a nice tapered abdomen with the Craw Dub and then spiral the Oval Tinsel through for the rib.

7. Now you will tie in a bunch of Peacock Herl to be used for the wing case. Lash it down all the way to the bead which helps create a larger underbody for the thorax. At this point, you can measure the length of the abdomen versus the thorax and make an adjustment if needed. I usually find myself wrapping back a bit so as to make the thorax a bit longer and thus more prominent.

8. Now you will tie in the Hen Back feather at the same point as the Peacock Herl. I do this by the TIP of the feather. Grab the very tip of the feather and stroke the main fibers back forming a nice little triangle that you can grab with the thread to tie in. Lay this little triangle under the hook shank and tie it in......like butter. 

9. Dub your thorax with the Crawdub and wrap the Hen Back Feather forward. I usually get about 3-4 wraps with the feather and get into the fluffy filoplume a bit right behind the bead. Not a bad thing.

10. Fold the Hen Back back and out of the way, and bring the Peacock Herl over the top to form the wing case. Tie it off tight right behind the bead.

11. Make a few security wraps of thread behind the bead so the Hen Feather doesn't come loose. Then, finish with your favorite method....mine being my fingers.

Voila- you now have a carp version of the famous Clouser's Swimming Nymph!

Let us know how this works for you! 

Watch the Video:

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Proprietary Simms River Camo

Proprietary Simms River Camo- Developed by Veil Camo

Veil Camo originated in 2012 out of a strong drive to make meaningfully better camo for outdoor enthusiasts and those who need it most. At the core of their philosophy, Veil goes far beyond creating aesthetically pleasing patterns. Using a scientific approach, Veil strives to implement technological advances in the way camouflage is designed and functions. When looking specifically at fishing, Veil knew that they would develop a more advanced solution for anglers around the world.

Simms River Camo uses mother nature's own mathematical signature in every step, layer, nook and cranny of the design process. Using theories like fractal math, chaos math, and the Golden Mean, the river Camo pattern is designed to distort the fish's ability to detect shape and movement.

Research

To inform the design process Veil dug into reasearch and data surrounding various species of fish and their abilities to see and interpret the spectrum of color, contrast, shape recognition, movement, as well as the effect that water and weather conditions have on all of these variables.

Research Findings

* Fish are able to see a wider spectrum of color than humans

  - More red and blue sensitivity

  - Less green sensitivity

  - See well into UV

* Sensitive to movement and shape recognition

* Objects seen above water often appear back-lit and dark against a light background the deeper the water.

* Objects seen underwater are increasingly more black and white, the darker the conditions

* Very poor visual acuity- 20/200

Pattern Highlights

* Strong breakup with both large and small shape distortion that blends to work at any distance

* Shape and distortion influenced by both the environment of the Rockies and the way water manipulates light.

* Color palette is tuned for the river envioronment of the Rockies and the fish's ability to see perceive color.

Simms River Camo Products for Fall 2018

Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders

Simms Bulkley Jacket

Simms Kinetic Jacket

Simms Rogue Fleece Hoody

Simms Intruder BiComp Shirt

Simms Ebbtide Shirt

Simms Solarflex Hoody

Simms Solarflex Crewneck

Simms Trout Camo Beanie

Simms Bass Icon Trucker Hat

Simms Bottle Opener Belt

Click Here to view all the new Simms River Camo Products

Click Here to view all new Simms for Fall 2018

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

featuring Simms River Camo- developed by Veil Camo

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Fly Tying- Andros Island Gotcha

Andros Island Gotcha

This is the only fly I use on our Andros Island trips.....period. Been the case for many years now. We have also been tying and selling this fly for a dozen or more years and have now heard from bonefishers around the world and I'm convinced it's one of the best there is for large bonefish.

This "variation" was shown to me about 15 years ago or so by friend Cole McVay while on one of our annual trips to the Andros Island Bonefish Club. His dad is actually credited with the original Gotcha fly so Cole was pretty familiar with the fly to say the least. Over the years I have tweaked it a bit by adding the Arctic Fox wing and also adding the UV resin for a bit of weight and a ton of versatility.

It is a BIG fly. Too big according to some guides in the Bahamas, but they are also most likely not putting their clients on double digit fish like we do regularly. Maybe they should try it?

If you are headed to Andros, or anywhere that big fish are found, make sure this fly is in your box!

Brian Flechsig- July 2018

Andros Island Gotcha Recipe:

Hook: Gamakatsu B10S #2- Click Here

Thread: Flat Waxed Nylon- Shell Pink- Click Here

Tail: Pearl Mylar Cord- Large- Click Here

Body: Pearl or Peach Sparkle Braid- Click Here

Eyes: Spirit River I-Balz 5/32- Click Here or Medium Gold Bead Chain- Click Here

Wing: White or Tan Arctic Fox- Click Here

Overwing: Pearl Krystal Flash- Click Here

Body and Head Coating: Loon UV Thin- Click Here

Glue: Zap-a-Gap- Click Here

1. Start your thread just behind the eye and wrap a thread base to about halfway down the bend. Then wrap your thread forward again to 1/4" or so behind the eye.

2. Take your section of Mylar Cord and double it over and tie it in where your thread is hanging, a bit behind the eye. Closed end behind the eye and the loose ends extending back off the hook shank, making the tail. Wrap back down the bend then back up to the tie in point. Cole taught me to double this up like this to create a bulkier body and also a fuller tail. Wrapping down the bend a bit creates a curved or "shrimpy" profile.

3. Tie in the I-Balz at the tie in point using the "figure 8" method. I also wrap around the base of the eye as well for added security. Then, Zap-a-Gap it and repeat the process. You don't want these to rotate! Also be sure that you leave plenty of room for the fox wing, krystal flash and a pretty pink head.

4. Tie in a long strand of the Sparkle Braid right behind the eye and then wrap the thread over it, back to the tail. Wrap the thread forward now and take it in front of the eye. I lay a base of the Sparkle Braid along the body to again create a more bulky body. Nobody likes a skinny shrimp. Now you wrap the body all the way up the hook, figure 8 around the eyes and tie off in front of the eyes.

5. I now take my scissor points and fray out the Mylar Cord of the tail. Make sure to get it all "pulled out".

6. Now you will coat the body with the UV Resin and cure it. This has greatly increased the durability of these flies and also adds a little weight so that they sink a bit faster. Large bonefish are usually found in 3-4' of water and most "store bought" bonefish flies are not heavy enough.

If I am tying these production and a bunch at a time, I will whip finish here and set aside. If you are tying 1 fly at a time, go ahead and turn it upside down in the jaws now.

7. Tie in a clump of the Arctic Fox for the wing, just in front of the eye and wrap over the butts, creating the head of the fly. You want this to be pretty healthy and also extend back a bit further than the tail.

8. Add some Krystal Flash for the overwing. I usually tie in about 4 strands and then use the "foldover" method which ultimately gives me 8. You will have to trim the 2nd bunch that you fold over to match the 1st bunch. Watch the video on how we do this.

9. Finish the head! I usually just coat the thread with some Zap-A-Gap and make a few turns in front of the wing letting some soak into the wing and eyes. There is no real need for a knot at this point but do whatever you are comfortable with. I then of course coat the entire head with the UV Resin and cure it.

That's it! Those who have fished Andros with us know this fly. I hope that you get to know it as well.

Watch the Video:

Join Brian Flechsig on Andros Island

February 16th- 23rd, 2019

Click Here for the details

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com