The North Shore area of Lake Superior provides some highly prized fly fishing opportunities. Many inland lakes are stocked with rainbow, brown and brook trout, and are accessible by float tubing. This course is for the fly fisher who wants to learn about equipment selection, knots, casting and fly fishing in general. Students will learn how to identify fish, how fish forage, equipment use and how to choose appropriate flies. This course includes extensive float tube practice on inland lakes. Each day begins at North House Folk Schoool with lecture and discussion, then moves outdoors to apply learned skills. We’ll fish several selected inland lakes using float tubes to seek trout and/or bass. This course is designed not only to teach skills to fish northern lakes but to provide a foundation for fly fishing lakes and streams anywhere. Course materials provided by the instructors will include fly tippet, leaders, a fly box with a selection of flies, and other useful gear.

Students who do not own a float tube, a fly rod/reel, waders, fins or a sink-tip line should contact North House to discuss borrowing the limited amount of free loaner equipment. Note, this course is largely field based. Weather permitting, students will spend large amounts of time in remote locations without cell phone reception and a long distance from emergency services. People with medical issues or other concerns about going to remote areas should inform an instructor at the beginning of class.

You will need the following tools for this class:

• Minnesota fishing license (trout stamp required for ages 18-64; see regulations for other exceptions)
• Fly Rod and Reel (a 5 to 7 weight is a preferred weight for our fishing needs)
• Floating line (weight should match the size reel you have)
• Sink Tip Line (weight should match the size reel you have)
• Chest High Waders (the preferred waders are ones that require a separate pair of wading boots as
• opposed to the neoprene type of waders with the boots attached)
• Pair of fins (that cover your wading boots)
• Float Tube
• Personal Floatation Device (PDF)
•  **Students who do not own a float  tube, a fly rod, a reel, waders, fins or a sink tip line should contact the instructor to discuss borrowing the limited amount of equipment we have available for class. Information will be provided upon registration.**

• Polarized glasses
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunblock