Fly Fishing I, OSU PAC 178, Fly Fishing I class
Michael Gorman, Instructor
Fly Fishing I PAC 178 Michael Gorman,
Instructor
This course is intended to acquaint
the student with the basic skills of fly fishing ---- rudimentary fly casting,
knowledge of nymphing, wet fly, dry fly techniques, essential equipment
appropriate to a given fish species, fly selection, knots, and simple fly-tying
methods. There will be a general overview of fly fishing for trout, salmon,
steelhead, warmwater species and saltwater gamefish. In addition to lectures,
demonstrations and discussions, there will be slide presentations and video
excerpts that will serve as learning aids in this course.
Upon
successful completion of FLY FISHING I the student will be able to:
*Execute and analyze a standard fly
cast.
*Identify adult aquatic insect groups important in the trout diet.
*Tie three basic fishing knots: double surgeon, clinch and nail knot.
*Name the basic components of an artificial fly, tie a simple fly, and identify
basic fly-tying tools.
*Discern the basic differences among these fly fishing techniques: wet fly, dry
fly and nymphing.
*Select appropriate fly rod/reel/line/leader/fly combinations for a given
species of freshwater fish in a given fly fishing situation.
*Name five streams or lakes in Oregon of fly fishing importance, their exact
location, fish species present, and appropriate time of year to fly fish these
with a reasonable chance of success.
WEEK 1
Slide presentation: Fly Fishing Around Oregon.
Review course outline & grading. Key fly fishing locations. General fly types:
wet, dry, nymph.
WEEK
2 Basic fly fishing equipment:
fly rods and lines. Fly fishing knots handout.
More basic fly fishing equipment: reels, backing, leaders, tippets.
WEEK 3
**Video excerpt from “Essence of Fly Casting”.
Outdoor casting session.
WEEK 4
Fly tying demonstration.
Class fly tying.
WEEK
5
The components and construction of a fly rod.
**Video excerpt from “Fly Fishing for Trout”.
WEEK 6 **Video excerpts: wet fly, dry fly, nymphing
techniques.
GRADING QUIZ & OPEN-NOTE MID TERM EXAM
WEEK 7
Slide presentation: “Fly fishing Lakes”.
The trout’s diet and aquatic entomology.
WEEK 8
Slide presentation: “Fly Fishing for Steelhead”. HLS introduction.
Slide presentation: “Fly Fishing for Salmon”. HLS continued.
WEEK 9 Video excerpts
on fly fishing for warmwater gamefish.
WEEK 10
**Video excerpts:
Fly Fishing saltwater gamefish.
Important fly fishing accessories: vest, waders, technical clothing,
tools, etc.
OPEN NOTE/OPEN BOOK FINAL EXAM.
GRADING FLY FISHING I, PAC 178
Instructor: Michael Gorman
email:
mfgorman13@comcast.net
758-1687 Phone message
1. Grading: the final grade, scored
on a 60-70-80-90 % (D-C-B-A) basis, is determined by the sum of the points
associated with the following criteria:
*Participation: 40 points. After the first week of the term, 2 point is
subtracted from a starting total of 20 for each absence from participation in
class.
*Grading quiz, week 5, Thursday: points.
*Timed open note/open book demonstration of knowledge during week 6 points.
*Summary of fly fishing outing taken during the current term, due beginning of
class,: points.
*Satisfactory completion of one of the projects listed in #3 below, due
beginning of class: points.
*End-of-term open note/open book demonstration of knowledge, week 10, Thursday: points.
Maximum point total: 250.
2.
Submit a type-written summary of a fly fishing outing taken during the
current term: 75 – 100 words indicating: 1) date and stream or
lake fished, and its general geographical location (5 points); 2) exact
equipment (rod reel, line leader, tippet) and flies (5 points); 3)
description of the fishing (not casting) techniques/presentations of the fly
used (5 points); and, 4) significant fishing “lessons” learned (5
points). 5) Use spelling and grammar checks on your summary (5 points).
6) Papers should include PAC course number and class meeting time, and papers should
not exceed more than half a page of 12-point typed text (5 points). Due at
the beginning of class . Only typed summaries submitted at the
beginning of class will be accepted. Late submissions will receive no
credit.
3.
Select, complete, and submit one of the following on or
before:
A. Typed summary of a fly fishing book (non-cartoon) of at least 100
pages, read during the current term. Include: 1) author, publisher and
publishing date, 2) a concise summary between 150 and 300 words, not
to exceed one page of 12-point text (5 points). 3) Refer to two or
more specific items of particular interest to you. 4) Use spelling and
grammar checks on your summary (5 points). 5) Papers should include PAC
number (PAC 178) and class meeting time as part of the heading. 6) At
the very bottom of the of your report type: “I have read this book in its
entirety during the current term”. Place your hand-written signature below it.
B. Typed summary and review (150 – 300 words each)
of two different fly fishing videos. In addition to the video title,
include the name of the host/narrator and video-production company. Then,
follow exactly the guidelines stipulated in Project A, above, as you write
your summaries. Students must locate the videos outside class and OSU. NONE
ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENT USE FROM OSU OR PAC DEPARTMENT. Try City of
Corvallis Library.
C. A custom fishing rod built by the student during the
current term.
D. A display of 12 different fly patterns tied by the
student during the current term. These will be mounted, labeled (in type, not
hand-written), and neatly displayed. Display method is the choice of the
student.
E. Collect 12 different aquatic organisms from ponds,
streams or lakes, each in its own glass vial (with 50/50 mixture of tap water
and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol) available from OSU Bookstore. Your instructor
will help with general identification. Create a typed sheet referencing each
numbered vial with 1) organism I.D., 2)water where it was captured, and 3)
general habitat.
F. Was the specific topic discussed complete? Explain.
What specifically was left incomplete, or no thoroughly explained?
Examples, if any. Attempts at humor --- did these work, or not?
Example. Suggestions in the humor department? Write some "general
remarks" about what you read.
Late submissions, for any
reason, will not be accepted for credit. All summaries and projects are
due no later than the beginning of class.
Note: Students absent from class, for any reason, are responsible for securing
notes from another student in class.
A few recommended books and
authors: A few
recommended video titles:
The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide by T. Rosenbauer
Fly Fishing for Trout, 3M
Fishing in Oregon by Casali and Dinesse
Strategies for Selective Trout, 3M
Western Hatches by Hafele and
Hughes Advanced
Strategies for Trout, 3M
Fly Casting Illustrated by F.
Amato Fly
Fishing for Bass, 3M
Lake Fishing with a Fly by Kaufmann and Cordes
Essence of Fly Casting, Kreiger
Steelhead Fly Fishing and Flies by T.
Combs Fly Fishing for
Pacific Steelhead, 3M
Statement of Risk:
Risk is associated with many of life’s activities, including PAC classes. It is highly
recommended that you provide yourself with a student health/accident insurance
policy. These are available through the University, private carriers, or
through a family policy. If uninsured, minor accidents or health problems can
lead to great expense. If you have a condition that might affect or be affected
by participation in this PAC class, you are encouraged to so inform your
instructor either verbally or in writing. Should you become ill or
injured during class time, please inform the instructor or have a fellow student
do so. If you must leave class because of illness or injury it is recommended
that another student accompany you.
Sharp hooks and tools used during this class have an obvious inherent danger.
Use common sense and precautions at all times. When on a fishing outing, common
sense and precautions are urged when using sharp hooks (wearing polarized eye
glasses is recommended at all times to protect your eyes and assist in safe
wading) and wading in swift currents or walking on slippery rocks. If you
perceive dangerous conditions that cannot be counteracted with common sense and
reasonable precautions, desist and/or speak with your instructor.
Focus Questions and Important Info to know --- Have in your notes!
*Name 10 Oregon streams or lakes
(and general locations) that have available year-round fly fishing
opportunities, and their general geographical location.
*Know something significant about the fishing and the general
location of the McKenzie, Alsea, Siletz, Metolius, Crooked, North Santiam, South
Santiam, Fall, lower Deschutes, the upper Willamette, and Middle Fork of the
Willamette Rivers.
*Identify/name the Top Six flies recommended in class. Be able to identify
an artificial dry fly from a wet fly from a nymph.
*Know: recommended fly rod lengths/weights for a given species of fish:
trout, salmon, steelhead, small warmwater fish, bass, smaller saltwater fish,
large to largest saltwater gamefish.
*Leader lengths --- ranges? Best overall? Monofilament vs. co-polymer vs.
fluorocarbon.
*Appropriate fly reel size for a given rod “weight”
*Different fly reel drag.
*Besides, recommended rod lengths and "weights", what qualities would you
look for in a good fly rod?
*What factors weigh into the retail price of a fly rod? Are all
rod-building graphite fibers the same? Appropriate number of guides on a quality
fly rod?
*Can you interpret "WF-6-F" as it relates to the attributes of a fly line?
DT-4-F?
WF-5-S? WF-5-F/S. Best choice in fly lines for streams? Lakes?
*Name three desirable attributes of braided Dacron as fly line backing.
*Leaders: appropriate length and diameter. How is diameter of tippet
commonly measured?
*Difference between leader and tippet. Correlate "X" number with inches.
Appropriate "X" number for hook size.
*Know the five guidelines for basic fly casting as discussed in class: Eat
The Apple With Care.
*What is a roll cast? How is it different from a
standard fly cast? When would you typically use a roll cast?
*Know the basic presentation method/strategy for dry flies, wet flies, and
nymphs.
*Best fly line for presenting stream nymphs; stream wet flies; stream
dry flies?
* Best fly line for presenting lake nymphs; lake wet flies; lake dry
flies?
*Best single fly line for fishing nymphs deep along a stream bottom?
Single best line recommended for fishing nymphs in lakes? What is
special about the Mastery Stillwater fly line? How quickly does it sink?
Interpret WF-4-S code. What do Type I, II, II, IV . . . refer to a they pertain
to a fly line?
*Can you tie a clinch knot, surgeon knot, and an Albright knot? In
assembling your backing/fly line/leader/fly system, where is each of the
aforementioned knots used?
*Black Bomber Leech: name materials and tools used to construct the fly.
Factoid: originally designed as a trout fly.
*What is a "hackle"? Bird (and gender) producing the most commonly used
hackles? From what bird do we get marabou feathers? What is a half-hitch knot?
*What is a "selectively-feeding" trout?
To a selectively-feeding fish, what is MOST important about
your artificial fly: color, size or shape?
*How is a fish stomach pump used? Minimum length of fish to prevent harm?
*Name the BIG FOUR aquatic insect groups. How would you
identify the adults of each group?
*What two readily-available liquids were recommended to be mixed for
preserving aquatic organisms?
*What immature aquatic insect may build a case/"home" from
tiny stones, sand, fir needles, leaf debris or small twigs?
*Which is the largest preserved aquatic insect we looked at
in class? What kind of lakes does it live in?
*What are some peculiar anatomical features and locomotion of
the dragonfly nymph?
*What is the difference between a nymph and a larva in terms
of incomplete and complete life cycle? Insect examples.
*Name 10 lakes to fly fish in Oregon as mentioned in class or
class handout.
*Why is it imperative to have a floating craft on most
stillwaters? What is the best (as recommended by your instructor) lake fly
line?
*What is a shock absorber leader? What advantage does
it give the angler?
*Besides the right fly line and right flies at the right
depth, what else is important to entice a lake trout to strike a fly?
*Monofilament vs. co-polymer vs. fluorocarbon leader.
Pros and cons of each.
*How do you use a fish stomach pump? Why would you use
it?
*Fishing glasses --- lens colors? What is polarization
and why is it important?
*What is a steelhead? Describe its life cycle briefly?
How is it's life cycle different from a pacific salmon?
*Name the five species of pacific salmon. Name
something unique about each. Which three are found in Oregon as sea-going
fish?
*Where will
you find chum salmon in Oregon? When is best time to fish for them?
*What rod/fly line weight is typically used for steelhead
fishing? What rod/fly line weight is typically used for Oregon salmon
fishing?
*What is the Hybrid Line System. Describe its
components. For what gamefish is the Hybrid Line System primarily used?
*Name 3 different "warmwater" gamefish in addition to the
smallmouth bass. Where can you find warmwater gamefish in Oregon?
*What rod/fly line weight is typically used for bass fishing?
Describe a bass popper fly.
*Describe the type of water and environment where you would
typically fish for bonefish.? Where in USA? Other locales worldwide?
*Which fish is known as the "Ghost of the Flats"? The
"Silver King"?
*What rod/fly line weight is typically used for bonefish?
What rod/fly line weight is typically used for tarpon fishing?
*Name three good reasons to wear polarized glasses
while fishing. What color lenses are best in low light, early morning or
late evening, or rainy times?
*Describe the two most common types (materials) of chest
wader materials? Advantages of each. Disadvantages. Which is
safest for an UNPLANNED swim?
*For good traction what material is needed on the soles of
your wading shoes or boots?
FOR INFO ON DROPPER FLY SETUPS GO TO FISHING
"FISHING TIPS" LINK.
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