2008 SCHOOLS

Full payment is due to confirm your reservation. This tuition is refundable less a $50 handling charge, up to one month before the school begins. The following schools are in Virginia unless otherwise stated.

 

*INTRO to FLY FISHING SCHOOL

2 days from 10 to 6, including lunch.

 

A comprehensive 2 day school giving the student sound casting habits, and covering stream entomology (bugs), fly selection, reading water, catch & release fishing techniques, knots, equipment, wading safety, and etiquette. $385 2008 Dates:

 April 12-13 (cancelled)

 May 17-18 (2 spots),31-June 1(1 spot)

1 Day Crash Course - $300

 June 7 (3 spots),14 (full)

 

*DOUBLE HAUL SCHOOLS

 

  

This class will demystify this fun, popular, and necessary cast!  Prerequisite - false casting and shooting line. 4 hours $200.

            May 24

              and

By Appointment - Livingston, Montana   July, August, Sept.

 

        *CASTING SCHOOLS

      

1 day school, 10 to 5 PM, including lunch. Intermediate to advanced. $300

Dates: 

April 6 (full), and 20 (full)

and

Livingston, MT July - Sept. by appointment

 

Don't take this class unless you are prepared to work really hard! You'll cover presentation casts, salt water casts, accuracy drills, and distance.

 

 

*TWO-HANDED ROD/SPEY ROD SCHOOL

Learn to  handle these big rods with ease! The afternoon will be spent on the Shenandoah River. 1 day school 10 to 5 PM, includes lunch. $300

By Appointment

 

 

*INSTRUCTORS’ PREP FOR 

FFF  CERTIFICATION:

 

 photo by King Montgomery

 

 

Full day from 10 to 5 PM, $300

by appointment

 

 

 

*WOMEN’S SCHOOLS - MONTANA 

A comprehensive 2 day school giving the student sound casting habits, and covering stream entomology (bugs), fly selection, reading water, catch & release fishing techniques, knots, equipment, wading safety, and etiquette. $385.

Dates: July     August

 

 

*Yellowstone Park - 1 Day schools

8 hours with fishing. $350.

 All of August by appointment

ltd. to two students   

 

 

       *BUGS, FLIES, & KNOTS:

    

   A Double Humpy?!                     Flies!                                                

 

 

        

                  Poor Marie Louisa!

 

A 3 hour course to fine tune the basic knots and make bugs and fly selection fun and easy!

 $50 By Appointment

 

 

 

 

What makes The Topping School of Fly Fishing stand apart from so many others?

Why might you select my school versus another? Let's face it! Practically every fly shop, fishing club or longtime angler or guide are offering Fly Fishing Schools. It is really confusing and somewhat intimidating to decide who to take lessons from and what school will suit your budget and goals.

There are many great teachers out there, but there are even more nice people who are good guides and THINK they know how to teach! There is a huge difference between knowing how to guide, and how to teach. How can you know who is REALLY qualified?

The FFF (Federation of Fly Fishers)Certification Program is a start.  It is THE ONLY certification program for instructors worldwide!!!

If an “instructor” is not FFF Certified, it might be because they haven't passed the testing. An average of 50% do not pass on the first attempt. You wouldn't put yourself, your loved one or your children into a ski, scuba diving or golf school with uncertified instructors, would you? So why would you want to in a Fly Fishing School?!!!

VERY IMPORTANT!!! ALL our instructors have a passion for teaching and are certified by the Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Instructor Certification Program. No matter what school you select, please be sure to establish if your instructors are certified or not.

Contact the FFF Web Site, http://www.fedflyfishers.org/ to get the contact information for a certified instructor in your area.

Most of my schools are taught on my specifically designed casting pond near Upperville, in the Virginia Hunt Country. Portions of certain schools are also taught on the Shenandoah River nearby. The classes are limited in size.

 I will be conducting my Virginia Schools in my Fly Fishing School House. The School House will be the nucleus of all class activities such as knot tying, slide presentations on entomology, etiquette, reading water, destinations and so on...Each class will have the opportunity be video taped and their casting will be analyzed. Equipment can be provided.