Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy June 21 - 28, 2025
Since 2002 the week long academy experience has propelled students on a journey that created more confident and effective fly fishers as well as creating future conservation stewards of the aquatic. Take a look around its website and discover what youth encounter and learn about in a week of fly fishing education and fun. It is an investment in the future as a conservationist and a qualified fisher of flies. The camp donors include Trout Unlimited and Fly Fishers International and many others.
Click on the image to connect to the academy website and registration.
Time on the river, putting fishing/casting skills to practice.
Winter Fly Tying Sessions
We are inviting all fly tyers to winter join us at any or all fly tying sessions this winter. Whether you are a beginner or experienced tyer, have equipment and material or not, come to learn, share, and answer questions others may ask. You may come to tie flies, get advice or just watch. We hope this social and learning event will be fun and enjoyable for all.
Each of the three sessions will meet a different members' homes. Emails will arrive with dates, addresses, and other information. Watch for them in you mailbox.
Members meet to tie flies and socialize.
BLAINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL FLY FISHING CLASS
Wednesdays, March -May
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Contact Klaus Lohse or Frank Koterba for information and/or to help instruct.
4CFF volunteers support a Blaine Middle School teacher who has a passion for fly fishing and wants to introduce the sport to his students, hoping to pass it on run an after school fishing program. Over the course of eight sessions, his students learn about conservation issues, fly tying, fly casting, and bugs. Upon completion, celebrate a graduation with a casting course challenge followed by a Saturday fishing event at Sliver Lake.
Club member, Mr. Lohse, is the club's long time program coordinator who has been assisted by a variety of club members over his tenure. A casting curriculum has recently been developed by a club's certified casting instructor in cooperation with the classroom teacher.
Students meet afterschool to learn to tie flies and cast fly rods.
4CFF CASTING INSTRUCTORS TEACH AT TU YOUTH CAMP IN SHELTON
4CFF members Molly Semenik, Master Casting Instructor and Marion Hiller, Certified Casting Instructor wrote a youth fly casting curriculum and taught fly casting to students at The Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy, a youth education program of the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited and generously supported by Fly Fishers International and donations from supporting Washington fly clubs.
Molly and Marion gave hands-on fly casting instruction to the 16 students, ages 11-13 year old who were "very eager to learn" fly fishers. Some came with fishing experiences while some had never fished our held a fly rod. Casting lessons focus on fishing on nearby small rivers and on Panhandle Lake where the camp was situated. Students learned basic casting skills that included, roll casts, pickup, lay down casts, false casting, change of direction river casts, shooting and mending line. While some students chose to fish on the lake during free time, others chose to hang out tin the casting field to learn more advanced casting skills from Molly and Marion.
The Academy sponsors a week of fly fishing training and activities for 12-16 year-olds who are new to, or are interested in improving their fly fishing skills. Students receive fly casting and tying classes, plus many other fly fishing topics that cover everything from what fly to use, how to read a rise form, how the gear all works together, understanding of how the watery world works and why it’s important to maintain and improve our fisheries. The Academy experience will propel students on a journey to becoming confident and effective fly fishers as well as future conservation stewards of the aquatic.
Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy
Panhandle Lake, Shelton, WA
June 18-24, 2023
A day on there river to practice casting and fishing skills
4CFF CASTING INSTRUCTORS TEACH AT NOOKSACK SALMON ENHANCEMENT ASSOCIATION YOUTH AT FISHING CAMP
4CFF members Marion Hiller and Frank Koterba, FFI Certified Casting Instructors and instructing assistant Klaus Lohse provided hands-on fly casting instruction to students attending NSEA's Fishing Camp,
Fishing Camp is a blend of science and outdoor recreation as campers participate in activities such as fly tying, fly casting, fish identification, water quality testing, stewardship projects, and of course time on the water fishing in our local waterways, an all-inclusive outdoor experience, with all gear, food, transportation, and supplies provided designed to meet youth 12 - 14 years old or entering 6 - 8 grade in fall 2023.
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
Members teach local youth with NESA educational staff.
Education Opportunities
Fly Tying: Surviving the Winter Blues
Several times during the winter and early spring members host a 3-4 hours social and fly tying event where techniques and fly patterns are shared, and questions are answered amidst fly tying vises, feathers, hooks and snacks.
Fly Casting Opportunities
Casting instructors host events that provide participants the opportunity to gain insights, learn skills, share with others, and improve one's own casting ability and that replicate real fishing experiences. Better casting skills open more fishing opportunities with less frustration.
A Fly Fishing Classroom
Over the years 4CFF has been providing fly fishing classes for middle school, high school and college students, and the general public of all ages that include fly tying and casting.
Several times a year members host a fly tying table at Yeagers Sporting Goods in support of local Boy Scout Program and other youth sponsored events.
Fishinar Workshop
The Fishinar is an all day workshop where participants learn from knowledgeable speakers who present the latest about fly fishing topics. Just a few topics covered in the past were tying demonstration of the Jack Salstrom wiggle bug and dubbing techniques, fishing success with chironomids, and demystifying fly lines, with an emphasis on Spey lines.