Fly Fishers Complete A-Z Boot Camp
Taught by Jason Randall & Mac Brown
Where: Viroqua, WI
When: 2024 dates TBA
Cost: $1250.00
Cost includes meals, educational content, and materials used for hands-on classes or demonstrations (excluding personal materials and flies used for fishing). ‘Driftless specific’ flies will be available for purchase. Local lodging is available. Each angler brings all fishing gear unless otherwise arranged.
Book Now A-Z Complete Boot Camp
What is the Goal?
Becoming a competent angler requires dedication to the goal and a ‘can-do’ mindset. Having those, this intense, three-day boot camp may be your next step in that direction. Regardless of your skillset, you’ll finish this program as a much better angler. You’ll learn the systematic approach typical of highly skilled and competitive anglers. Training includes casting instruction, classroom presentations, ‘hands-on’ demonstrations to build skill proficiency and on-stream instruction including after-action analysis.
The Fly Fishers Boot Camp is designed to catapult your skills. The methods you’ll learn have been developed and used in college programs, Fly Fishing Team USA Youth training, and Guide schools and is now available to anyone seeking the next level in fly fishing. Jason and Mac will take you there in an educational setting where it is highly encouraged to bring a notebook and pen.
Proposed Curriculum for
Fly Fishers Complete A-Z Boot Camp
Thursday
4:30 pm- Meet and greet, Happy hour (BYOB) on the deck
5:30 DINNER
6:00 pm-presentation; The Five Core Components- Mac Brown
7:00 pm Presentation; Beyond Reading the Water- Jason Randall
Friday
7:00 am Breakfast
7:00 am Presentation Dry Fly Tactics and Tips; Beyond Basics- Jason Randall
9:00 am Casting clinic-Mac Brown
1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Presentation; Nymphing Class, part one-Jason Randall
2:00 pm On Stream fishing instruction- Mac Brown and Jason Randall
6:00 pm Happy hour, after action report and individual angler feedback
6:30 pm Dinner, relax, unwind, and debrief
Saturday
7:00 am- Breakfast
7:00 am- Presentation- ‘Wet Fly Tips and Tactics’ – Mac
8:00 am- Presentation- ‘Nymph Fishing Class, Part 2’- Jason
9:30 am- Demonstration-‘Leaders, Knots, and Rigging’ -Mac/ Jason
10:30 am- Presentation- ‘Streamer techniques’ – Mac
12:00 pm- Lunch
12:00 pm- Demonstration/ practice Rigging, Knots, and Leaders
1:00 pm- ‘On-Stream Instruction’ – Mac and Jason
5:00 pm- Happy hour (BYOB) & individual angler feedback
6:00 pm- Dinner
7:00 pm- Open fishing
Sunday
7:00 am- Breakfast
7:00 am- Presentation- ‘Advanced Nymph Euro nymphing’ –Jason
8:00 am- Demonstration- ‘Euro Nymphing Cast & Drift’- Mac/ Jason
9:00 am- Individual Break-out session/ individual skill focus
12:00 pm- Debrief & Conclude
1:00 pm Open Fishing with Mac and Jason
Meet the Instructors
Mac Brown
Mac Brown went down the path of education in fly fishing in 1986. He has a passion for sharing with others and loves teaching. The opportunities of fishing with so many talented angler legends have kept him on this lifelong journey of fine-tuning techniques to share with others.
It has been an absolute joy over the past 38 years to have a platform at conclaves, clubs, and fly fishing shows to be able to share these “gems” with others who are on a growth journey.
Mac started the fly fishing programs at Western Carolina University in the mid-90s. Mac coached competitive fly fishing for Team NC as well as the Team USA Youth Fly Fishing Team. His curiosity related to fly fishing gear led to many improvements with the added benefit of the materials lab during his term at WCU. He developed significant advancements including textured lines and the long rods used today in the late 1980s.
Jason Randall
Jason credits much of his passion for fishing to his father but learned fly fishing from other mentors. Believing the best way to honor the rich legacy he’s received, Jason was drawn to angling education. His numerous articles in outdoor publications and four fly fishing books have delighted and inspired anglers for the last twenty years.
Whether speaking to large audiences at national fly fishing shows or teaching small groups, Jason enjoys sharing his passion. “I love the interaction with other anglers,” says Jason, who believes that education is a two-way street and a constant effort. “You’re always learning.” He also appears at club events, banquets, and streamside programs.
Jason was blessed to join several of his mentors, Lefty Kreh and Ed Jaworowski as a TFO national advisor, contributing to the development of several nymphing rods.
elite angler boot camp
Topics Covered
Fly Fishers Complete A-Z Boot Camp
Basic loop control casting
Reading the water like a pro
Multiple methods for getting your flies in the zone
Advanced rigging
Suspension devices and when to use them
Fly patterns and keeping it simple
Gridding off water types
Line Control
Hookset
Playing Fish
Landing Fish
Plenty of angling time with critique and instruction
The camaraderie with a FUN group sharing this information
The 5 core components
Fly design advancements
Fish behavior
Specialized gear selection