Can’t Travel to Grand Rapids for FlyFest? FFI is bringing some opportunities to a device near you! 

The following classes are available via Zoom.  Requires a $10.00 registration fee and class fee as listed below.

 

 

LINK TO REGISTRATION PAGE:  

https://www.flyfishersinternational.org/FlyFest

Select level of Zoom Sessions Only

 

 

 

 

All times are displayed in Eastern Time

FT01Z | FTG Fly Tying Skills Program

Al Ritt

No class fee

Friday 08:00 – 10:00 AM

We will review the goal of the Fly Tying Achievement Awards. We will talk about the requirements for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Fly Tying Skills awards.

FT04Z | Improved Photography of Your Flies

Eric Austin & Sam Matalone

$75.00

Friday 08:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The class will consist of two parts. Part one is a lecture of understanding the essence of a high quality picture of a light. Part two will be a 2 1/2 hour hands on workshop. This course will discuss both SLR cameras and a stronger emphasis on using “cell Phones” Participants using their own “Cell Phone” will be able to utilize several of the workstations which we will have setup to take pictures of their flies. ( it is recommended that participants bring a few flies they would like to photograph).

FFS01Z | Mayfly Mania

Ann Miller

$100.00

Friday 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Ann’s presentation “Mayfly Mania” will provide anglers with useful tools and tips for identification of Upper Midwest mayflies. ID skills will help anglers get to genus and species (in some cases). Her new hatch guide, Pocketguide to Upper Midwest Hatches, was published in March 2023 with Stackpole Books and includes a new section on terrestrial insects.

OT02Z | Guiding Across the Globe

Katka Svagrova & Bryant Dunn

$50.00

Friday 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Katka Svagrova, world champion competitive fly fisher, and Bryant Dunn, international outfitter, join to recount the adventures & challenges of guiding.

FT11Z | Dubbing Brushes Overview

Rick Weisburg

$50.00

Friday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

This will be an overview of various dubbing brush styles and materials used to make them.

OT01Z | Successful Clubs and Councils ZOOM

Todd Heggestad, Rick Flink, Steve Jones

No class fee

Friday 02:00 – 04:00 PM

Enjoy a presentation and discussion on the topic of successful club and council practices.

FFS05Z | Trout Bum to Saltwater Slayer

George Sylvestre

$35.00

Friday 02:30 – 03:30 PM

Recently, saltwater fly fishing has been gaining popularity.  Anglers looking to fish the salt often have skills they use when fishing freshwater, but did you know there are salt specific skills you can learn to make your experience saltwater fly fishing more successful.  This workshop will show anglers how to build on the skills they already have to ramp up their game for the salt!

CAST21Z | How Fly Casting Works

Bruce Richards

$100.00

Saturday 08:00 – 10:00 AM

PowerPoint presentation that explains loops, how loops work and how to make great loops. In caster friendly language the physics of fly casting is explained. A deep understanding of the mechanics of fly casting is necessary to be a great caster, or instructor.

FFS10Z | Fly Fishing the Inland Oceans

Gerald Darkes

$75.00

Saturday 09:30 AM – 11:30 AM

This program will give an overview of fly fishing the near-shore and open waters of the Great Lakes.  This will be a look at the lakes themselves, the species available, equipment and flies needed, and a review of key locations for specific species.  This will be a PowerPoint presentation followed by a hands-on look at equipment and flies.

FT08Z | Flies of the Region

Ray Schmidt

Saturday 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

A look at historic and current fly patterns of the region.

FFS08Z | Where are they and what are they doing?

Dave Peterson

$50.00

Saturday 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM

This workshop will focus on understanding freshwater fish behavior to become a better fly angler.

FFS11Z | Fifty Best Flies for the Upper Great Lakes

Gerald Darkes

$35.00

Saturday 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM

This seminar will cover 50 “key” fly patterns for Great Lakes and Upper Midwest area fly anglers.

FT12Z | Dubbing Brushes Overview

Rick Weisburg

$50.00

Friday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

This will be an overview of various dubbing brush styles and materials used to make them.

OT03Z | Putting the “I” in FFI

Bryant Dunn

No class fee

Saturday 02:30 PM – 03:30 PM

This presentation will focus on the “I” in FFI, specifically the history, present, and future of Fly Fishers International across the globe.