Experience the Art of Fly Tying

Over six hands-on sessions, we’ll teach you how to tie flies that actually catch fish. No experience? No problem. We start with the basics—how to hold your tools, wrap thread, and work with materials—and build from there. You’ll get one-on-one guidance in a relaxed, small-group setting. All the gear and materials are provided, so you can just show up and start tying. You’ll learn a mix of beginner and intermediate patterns that cover a wide range of fishing situations in both moving water (rivers, creeks) and stillwater (lakes, ponds). These patterns were chosen because they’re proven producers across Washington and beyond—just ask any local shop. Here’s what you’ll be tying… San Juan Worm Mimics aquatic worms that get washed into the water during high flows—simple, effective, and always a good fallback when nothing else is working. Bead Head Caddis Larva Caddisflies are one of the most common aquatic insects. This version sinks fast and is deadly on trout in rivers and lakes. Woolly Bugger The Swiss Army knife of flies. It can imitate a leech, baitfish, or big nymph—and it flat-out works. Mohair Leech Especially useful in stillwater, this buggy pattern pulsates in the water and gets eaten by everything from trout to bass. Classic Soft Hackle A timeless pattern that imitates emerging insects. The soft, flowing fibers breathe life into your fly with every twitch. Griffith’s Gnat Great during midge hatches or when fish are sipping small stuff on the surface. Simple, delicate, and surprisingly deadly. Pheasant Tail Nymph A mayfly nymph imitation that belongs in every fly box. It’s a go-to pattern year-round, especially in freestone streams. Foam Beetle This terrestrial fly floats like a cork and gets crushed when fish are keyed in on bugs falling from overhanging trees. …plus one or two surprises! We often throw in a bonus pattern or two depending on the group and local conditions. By the end of the class, you won’t just know how to tie—you’ll understand why each pattern works, when to fish it, and how to tweak it to make it your own.