Fly Tying Lessons

We believe there should be a logical, cost effective approach to tying lessons. Our approach is geared to tying patterns that are consistant fish getters, while buying materials in a cost effective manner, learning the most patterns in the least time and purchasing materials for specific productive flies. Not buying materials you willl seldom use, then figuring out what to tie with them. All sessions are conducted by Rod Rohrbach. Rod has fished, tyed and learned from renowned flyfishing personalities such as Gary Borger, Lefty Kreh, Gary LaFontaine, Ernest Schwiebert, Charlie Meck, Barry & Cathy Beck, Ed Jaworowski, Ed Schenk, Oliver Edwards, Bob Clouser, Jack Gartside, A.K. Best and Larry Duckwall. For more information about Rod and the shop click on the "About us" tab on our homepage. All lessons are available by appointment. Sessions are offered at $60.00 per session or $250 for all five sessions. Additional students are $30.00 each, up to a limit of three students. Classes between 9am and 5pm on weekends or holidays are an additional $20.00. For more information please contact the Little Lehigh Fly Shop by telephone at (610)-797-5599 or by E-mail at Rod@LittleLehighFlyShop.com. The outlines of the first five fly tying sessions appear below. Session 1 DISCUSSION OF FOOD ORGANISMS Mayflies Caddisflies Diptera Stoneflies Terrestrials DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLY PATTERNS & NATURALS TRIGGERING MECHANISMS Size Silhouette Behavior Color AL'S RAT We will learn: 1. How to place the hook in the vice. 2. Winding thread 3. Whip finnishing by hand 4. Proportion 5. Dubbing 6. Thread techniques Tools Vice,Bobbin,Bodkin, Bodkin Threader Materials Wax HOOK-SZ. 20 94840 BODY-Brown Monocord. Al Miller fished the "Little Lehigh" with his friend Dick Miller every fishable day for about 35 years until Dicks' death. During this time the fly evolved into what it is today. Al usually "sight fishes" the "Rat" casting it to a visible fish. He dresses his 7x leader to about ten inches from the fly and sometimes twitches it. When the fish are lying on the bottom he dispenses with the floatant. Rick Heiserman often fishes the "Rat" with a small split shot with great success. Dick Jones fishes it blind, across and downstream. He also is usually well rewarded for his efforts. I caught three fish over 18 inches on 5 casts, sight fishing on Spring Creek. I believe the fish take the fly for a midge pupa. If you stop by the shop we will show you the natural. Dr. Ernest Schwiebert told me the most important thing the presence of midge adults tells you is that there are pupa in the film. I believe the dark brown monocord provides an excellent silhouette for the fish. The "rat" works all day, all year. For many Little Lehigh regulars, it's the first fly they try every day all year. The "Rat" can be particularly useful during periods of "Behavioral Drift." Gary Borgers excellent book "Presentation" provides an excellent description of this phenomenon. Try the "Rat" at dawn when large numbers of midge pupa, Scuds and Baetis are in the drift. During Fran Goughs' Trico study the "behavioral drift" was apparent in the "Little Lehigh." Session 2 ANTS We will practice: 1. Proportion 2. Dubbing-wrap or dub 3. Thread techniques We will learn: 1. Winding Hackle (conventional and parachute)/finger snap Tools Vice,Bobbin,Bodkin,Hackle Plier Materials #18 94840 Black Angora Rabbit Black Hackle GRIFFITHS GNAT We will learn: 1. Working with peacock (2 ways) We will practice: 1. Winding Hackle Tools Vice,Bobbin,Bodkin,Hackle Plier Materials Peacock, Grizzly Hackle, #18 94840, Olive 8/0 thread Session 3 Tying the Henryville special If you can tie the Henryville you can tie anything. We'll learn hackling, wings & underwings. At this point the student will have tyed the hottest most consistant patterns on the Little Lehigh. He will also have gained the knowledge necessary to tie Wooly Worms, Wooly Buggers, flies with conventional or parachute hackles and many more. Session 4 We'll tie flies necessary to cope with the next hatch. Nymphs, emergers, duns & spinners. Session 5 Here we'll tie any fly the student requests.