Fork's Foundation Class

Rosman, North Carolina

Fork's Foundation Class

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Date

Tue, Oct 14

Travelers

2

Adventure Photos

About This Adventure

Join the Fork’s Foundation Class for an exciting day of fly fishing tailored for young anglers aged 10-16! Led by expert guides, students will engage in hands-on lessons covering casting, gear setup, and fish ethics. By day’s end, they'll gain essential skills and confidence to embark on their fishing adventures.

Welcome to the Fork’s Foundation Class! This course is designed to lay a strong foundation in fly fishing, specifically curated for 10-16 year old anglers. Students will enjoy a day of fun, hands-on instruction, led by Headwaters’ experienced and licensed fly fishing guides. Diving into basic entomology, casting lessons, fish identification and fish handling ethics, gear overview, rigging and more. Students will leave the day with a solid grasp of fly fishing “101’s” and be on their way to becoming an independent angler.

Students will meet at 10am at Headwaters’ fly shop. After everyone is checked in, students will then be shuttled over to Headwaters private property for the hands on, outdoor course. Parents are welcome to drop the student(s) off, or hang around if you’d like! A flowing schedule (listed below) will keep students engaged throughout the day until 3pm pickup time.

Any equipment needed for the day will be provided. Kid's need to bring a packed lunch and refillable water bottle. Upon completion of the course, students will receive a voucher for discounted retail available at Headwaters Outfitters that can be put to use for rods, reels, and other essential fishing gear.

DAY SCHEDULE 9:45: Meet at Headwaters Outfitters Fly Shop 10:00am: Shuttle To Headwaters Private Property/Water 10:15: An overview of the day will be presented to students as well as an intro to “what is fly fishing?” 10:30-11:00: Gear Overview (Rod, Reel, Fly Line, Leader, Tippet) -Explain rod weights, reel sizes etc -Identify fly line, Leader, tippet sizes and what their purpose -Rigging the rod; putting rod together, reel on rod, selecting and putting on leader 11:00-11:30: Casting & Line Management Lesson -Casting Accuracy -Single Haul and Roll Casting 11:30-12:15 Rigging Lesson/Knots -Dive into how to appropriately set up different rigs -Show students how to tie essential knots for rigging. -Students will set up their rod to fish before moving to the next station using knowledge from previous station on fly selection 12:15-12:45: Break For Lunch 12:45-2:45: Final On water lesson: Fish Identification, fish handling and ethics, applying skills while fishing 3:00pm: Travel Back to Headwaters Fly Shop

IF WE HAVE TIME: Entomology Lesson -Overview of mayfly, caddis and stonefly -Find them in the river, ID Them -Match the hatch with guide fly boxes, explain why and how the flies match and why you would choose that fly to fish with -Identify the differences between dry flies, nymphs and streamers

Adventure Tips

Bring Appropriate Footwear

Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes or boots to comfortably navigate slippery stream banks.

Stay Hydrated and Sun-Protected

Even on shaded streams, pack water and apply sunscreen to avoid dehydration and sunburn.

Practice Casting Space Awareness

Maintain ample distance from fellow anglers during casting to avoid accidents.

Respect Catch-and-Release Ethics

Handle fish gently and release them promptly to ensure their survival and ecosystem health.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Brook trout
River otter

History

Fly fishing in the Southern Appalachians dates back to the early 20th century and helped shape local conservation efforts.

Conservation

Headwaters Outfitters emphasizes catch-and-release practices and supports stream restoration projects to preserve native trout habitats.

Mastering Fly Fishing Basics with Fork's Foundation Class in Rosman, NC

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