8. schools fly fishing, classes, Arkansas White river with Davy Wotton

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Davy Wotton Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Schools

davy wotton
Fly fishing class on the river

Schools & Classes
general info | fly fishing | fly casting | fly tying

My Fly Fishing Philosophy
To be a successful fly fisher you must have a strong understanding of the quarry you pursue, its habits, diet, and location at any given time of the seasons. You must know how to select an approach to the fish, be able to choose the right fly pattern for the conditions, and be able to present (cast) that pattern in a manor your quarry finds natural and convincing. Getting the fish to strike is only part of the contest. You must be able to play the fish successfully in many different current and obstacle conditions.

My Goal For You
My objective is giving you the best possible experience, to help you become a convert to the world of fly fishing if you have not already become one. If you have then you will benefit from the new knowledge and skill you will learn. Above all else, regardless of your skill, come and have fun! I love fly fishing, have done it all my life, and most enjoy helping others have fun on the water with rod and fly!

I Teach Basic to Advanced Fly Fishing Classes
My fly fishing schools teach all levels of skill from basic to advanced. I offer a broad range of classes so that no matter what type of fishing you prefer, I have a class for you. Classes are normally conducted on the water. Topics on all levels include casting, tackle, how to play and handle fish, the foods fish feed on, reading the water, fish habitat, and proper fly presentation for given conditions. I teach classes for all types of water from fresh water to salt water fly fishing. I tailor each class for the skill and knowledge level of my students from entry level to advanced. Classes are kept small, usually no more than two to four persons. However, large groups are welcome!

Costs
Costs for my classes range from $250 to $500 per day per person, depending on your requirments. Please contact me directly to formulate a schedule that will suit for your needs or those of your group.

General Information About Classes

How to Choose A Class That Is Right For You
Take a look at the class topics below to determine what you are most interested in learning at this point in your fly fishing sport. Ask yourself: What would you most like to improve - casting, presentation, approach, pattern selection, understanding more about fish habitat, feeding habits, and food fishes eat? How much time do you want to spend in learning these new skills - a half-day, full day, or two or more days? Give me a phone call, tell me what you saw here that interests you, and I'll help you plan it from there.

How Many Persons Per Class
Fly casting schools are available for both private individual and groups. Cost is subject to duration and client requirements. Classes are given either on an hourly or daily basis. For the specialist classes I recommend a maximum of two persons per class. This allows a greater degree of personal attention. For the entry levels I can accommodate a group of up to 10 persons.

Seasonal Instruction for Over-Coming Fishing Pressure
Many of our nation's rivers and streams, indeed many around the entire world, cannot maintain the fish populations we have seen in the past. All good fisheries must endure ever-increasing fishing pressure. To catch the ever more educated fish, fly fishing strategy has changed significantly, as have fly patters and casting techniques. When these new strategies are applied to seasonal conditions you'll enjoy success all season long in waters many others may not enjoy such good luck!

In the colder winter months fly fishing tactics are comparatively easy to those used later on in warmer periods. In early season resident fish are hungry, and newly stocked fish understand little of their new surroundings. Both are eager to grab anything that looks like food. Naturally a number of these fish are caught and removed. Those that survive become aware of the fly fisher and his methods. They soon learn to seek out hiding spots and to totally ignore the general manner in which most anglers attempt to catch them, be they bait, spin, or fly fishers.

As the water warms up natural insect activity increases. This heightens the fish's awareness of the environment and what is good to eat. Thus, the fly fisher's approach must be coordinated with the fish's behavior and feeding patterns. Your manner of approach to the fish's position in the water and your fly presentation will dictate your level of success.

River Fishing Instruction
River fishing demands special leader systems and casting techniques for presenting and keeping your fly under control over long, drag-free drifts. With the right drift control you'll learn to catch fish in conditions many would consider impossible.

Casting
Throwing a long line is important to many optimal fly fishing conditions. The Reach cast, the Slack Line cast, the Tuck cast, and the Curve cast are just four of the essential casts you'll want to learn if your goal is achieving a high level of fly fishing success. Also essential are using the correct leader design and tippet sections to suit prevailing conditions and for exacting fly presentations.

Presentations
Accurate presentation of the fly is just as important as casting. Knowing how to fish both a dry fly and a nymph without drag is imperative for angling success. Drag imposes an unnatural appearance to the fly and therefore fish reject it. By understanding fish location, feeding habits, and the creatures fish feed on, you will understand the best pattern to use, and how to best present the artificial bait in the most natural way. Floating line techniques are, overall, the most enjoyable. Nymph fishing is a demanding and absorbing method of fly fishing. Loch techniques are thrilling because you see the fish move across the water's surface to your fly.

Different Bodies of Water
Saltwater. Fresh water. Warm water, cold water, river, stream, brook, creek, pond, reservoir, lake. Fly fishing techniques are numerous, and to a point, your choice will depend upon approach.

Rim Shoals White River
Wade fishing at lower Rim Shoals trophy area, White River

Fly Fishing Schools

1. Basic Entry Level Fly Fishing
Learn all basic skills and knowledge needed to begin fly fishing.
Class highlights:

Fly Fishing Equipment - What You Need To Know
About The Species You Fish For
Fly Fishing Techniques
Casting & Fly Presentations
Practical On-Stream Fly Fishing

2. Intermediate Level Fly Fishing
For those who have established some fly fishing skill and now want to move on to new skills and techniques. Class highlights:

How To Read Water - The Approach
Correct Choice of Presentation - Wet or Dry?
Correct Casting Technique
Achieving Drag-free Drifts
Advancing Nymph Fishing Skills
Surface & Sub-Surface Technique

3. Fly Fishing Presentation Skills
The class teaches how to approach a given fishing situation and the best options for catching fish in that situation. This is an on-water class during which you will be fishing. Class highlights:

Correct Fly Line Selection
Leader Configurations
Airborne Casting Techniques
Controling Fly Lines & Drag-free Drifts
How To Present Nymphs - Wet, Dry, & Emerger

4. Fishing Soft Hackles & Wet Flies
A specialty school covering all aspects of learning about the art of wet fly and soft hackle fly fishing. Class highlights:

What You Need To Know About The Flies Used
Forming Correct Leader Configurations
Reading The Water for the Best Approach
Fishing From Upstream & Downstream Angles
Floating & Sunk Line Techniques

5. Dry Fly & Emerger Fly Fishing
A specialty class covering how to fish emergers and dry flies. You will learn how to fish large and small patterns. Class highlights:

Specialized Leader & Tippet Construction
Casting Drag-Free Drifts
Fishing Small Midges
Emerger Techniques
Fishing Large Dry Fly Patterns

6. Nymph Fishing Strategy
Nymph fishing skills are a must. The majority of trout you catch will be with a subsurface presentation. A must for every fly fisher! Class highlights:

Fishing Shallow Water
Fishing Deep Water
Fishing With & Without Strike Indicator Systems
Floating & Sinking Line Techniques.

7. Fly Fishing With Streamers & Bait Fish
Fishing streamers presents many options that imitate bait from fish to crawdads. Learn the many presentation techniques you'll want to be accomplished in for using these highly effective patterns. Class highlights:

The Best Presentation Techniques
Best Fly Lines For Streamer & Bait Fish Patterns
Leaders For Streamer Patterns
Proper Retrievals

Practical Fly Fishing School
These courses cover all aspects of fly fishing for species of freshwater fishes on streams, lakes, and still waters. I also cover saltwater fishing for those who want it. A wide range of skills and presentations are covered. Each presentation requires a different approach, some more than others require a greater level of technical ability. This is typically a one day on-the-river course covering:

Reading The Water
Correct Methods of Presentation
Leader, Tippet, & Specialized Leader Systems
Fishing Soft Hackle & Wet Flies
Fishing Dry Flies & Emergers
Shallow Water Nymph Techniques
Deep Water Nymph Techniques
Fishing Streamer & Baitfish Imitations

Fly fishing and fly casting classes are available on an individual, corporate, or group basis. Outings are on still and running water. You may have a selected period of time dedicated to casting, fishing, or fly tying. The minimum period of time per person is two hours. Courses are also offered by Half-Day (four hours) and Full Day (eight hours). Course fees vary based on the length of the class, location, and prevailing international currency exchange rates. Please contact me to discuss your specific class desires.

Casting Schools

Fly casting is without a doubt one if not the most important of all fly fishing skills. Good casting skills enable you to take on any fishing situation from casting long distances, to precise presentations, and dealing with adverse wind conditions. Knowing in your own mind that you can do it when the situation demands it adds immeasurable pleasure to your fishing experiences. With this in mind I have several casting classes at different skill levels. Casting classes give you both theoretical and practical understanding of basic to advanced casting skills.

Please choose from the options below or feel free to phone me to discuss your needs. The following describe some of the topics covered in each class.

Basic Level Casting Instruction
The basic level class covers instruction for all basic skills and knowledge needed to start fly fishing. Highlights include:

Overhand Cast - False Cast
Roll Cast
Loop & Line Control
Basic Fly Presentation & Lift Off
Proper Leader & Tippet Design
Fly Line Profile & Attachment

Intermediate Level Casting
For those who have established some fly fishing skill and want to learn new skills and improve on technique. Highlights:

Achieving Distance - Line Release & Control
Advanced Roll Cast Techniques
Single Haul vs. Double Haul
Line Mending Techniques Above & On Water
Slack Line Casts
Advanced Tippet & Leader Design

Advanced Level Casting

Full Line Extension Casts
Long Line Release - Double & Single Haul
Change Of Direction Casting
Airborne Casting: Tuck, Switch, Reach, Across, & Angled Casts
Presentation Casts: Line Mending, Rolled, & Spiral Pick-ups
Long Range Line Control
Advanced Dry Fly & Nymph Fishing Techniques

Salmon-Spey-Doubled Handed Rod

Overhand Cast
Roll Cast
Single & Double Spey

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