Beginner Fly Fishing School | 2023
Overview
Our annual Beginner Fly Fishing school was hosted again at Gate Creek Cabins in picturesque Petersville, Alaska from June 16th to 18th. Our weekend consisted of beginning fly fishing basics, casting lessons, fly tying, lake fishing, and proper etiquette for landing and releasing fish, and a salmon cooking class. The ladies reported learning a lot while also building friendships with other female anglers.
Day to Day Report
Day 1: On Friday evening we arrived and got settled into our cabins, enjoyed appetizers and socialized around a bonfire. After a bit of socializing, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of prawns, chicken skewers, salad, and homemade sourdough, followed by smores for dessert.
Day 2: Our morning started with coffee and a breakfast buffet. Following breakfast, we jumped into our classroom style “beginning fly fishing 101” course. Our ladies learned all about the history of fly fishing, historical females that have influenced fly fishing, rods, reels, lines, leaders, fly fishing knots, flies, stream tactics, hook setting, playing & landing fishing, and water etiquette. Following the classroom portion of the day, we enjoyed lunch and then transitioned to the lawn for casting lessons and practice. The sun came out for the afternoon, just in time for the ladies to put all of their new knowledge into practice in float tubes on Gate Creek Lake. As soon as the ladies got into the water the excitement was high, everyone started hooking into beautiful Rainbow trout!! After a few hours on the water, we headed back up to the cabins for a bit of relaxing time before a salmon cooking class. Our salmon cooking class this year consisted of three different salmon dishes. Following dinner, the ladies participated in a fly-tying activity and successfully tied flies for the following day of fishing. Day two was full of learning, practicing, and excitement!
Day 3: On Sunday, we started our morning with coffee and another delicious breakfast buffet. The ladies were excited to get geared up and to try out their flies from fly tying the night before. We got on the lake quickly and enjoyed a sunny morning of catching more beautiful rainbow trout. After a morning of fabulous fishing, we enjoyed lunch followed by goodbyes and hugs.
