The Mid–Island Castaways Fly Fishing Club is gearing up for another season of fun in the water, pushing into May due to strong enrollment.
The Castaways Club has expanded its offering of courses for those interested in fly-fishing and has several courses this year. Last year’s beginner’s course in fly-tying, which ran from January to April, was so popular that it has been brought back at the request of several members.
Beginning May 2 and running to May 25, classes meet May 2, 4, 10, 18 and 25. An intermediate course has been added as well. Other fly-tying courses aimed at winter steelhead and lake fishing have been added for this spring.
The four-week Fundamentals of Fly Fishing course, which was formerly taught in the fall, has been moved to May.
This course covers an introduction to fly-fishing equipment, fly-tying, fly-fishing knots and fly-casting and entomology.
The Fundamentals of Fly Fishing courses are designed for people who are absolute beginners. Over the years, the number of students in the course has grown to such an extent that there is now an enrollment cap of 30 people. Increasingly, women and couples find the course a good place to learn how to fly-fish.
This year the club is offering a two-part course in the techniques of river fishing and a two-part course in the skills needed for fly-fishing on lakes.
For those who aren’t really sure if fly-fishing is their thing and would like to find out, without investing too much money or time, the club is offering an Introduction to Fly Fishing. This is a three-hour course, which only costs $20 and requires no equipment or prior fly-fishing knowledge.
In addition to the fly-tying and beginner’s courses, there are also casting courses for intermediate and advanced casters. Some courses feature the use of single-handed rods and others feature the two-handed or Spey rods.
This year the club has created a new course for those who fly-fish, but haven’t fished for a while and feel a bit rusty.
The spring tune-up (Faults and Fixes) course ensures that students will have the benefit of learning from International Fly Fishing Federation (IFFF) certified instructor Aaron Goodis, who will be teaching several other courses in the line-up as well.
Individuals intending to take the course should click the Workshops and Courses button on the website and scroll down to May.
Each month has courses on various aspects of fly-fishing that are aimed at people with different interests and skill levels.
There are a limited number of loaner fly rods available for students. The rods are given out on a first come first serve basis.
Students with questions about the course may contact Bruce Morrison, chair of the education committee by phone at 250-248-5914 or by e-mail at rbm123@shaw.ca
