Program: Honestly, we’ve lost count of the number of spring schools and warm up weekends we’ve hosted. Each year we welcome 10 students who range from “never touched a fly rod or caught a fish” to “I can cast, but I’d like to cast better, or farther, or differently, and even a few who just like the food.” No matter where you fall into this range, we’ve got you covered. Our instructors are all Juliana’s Anglers Sporting Club (JASC) members who want to share their love of fly-fishing with other women. We have designed the program with two distinct tracks.
The first track is for our beginners. By dividing the program we are able to give new anglers the attention they deserve. We start with the basic equipment and how to don it and use it. We work our way through trout and what they eat as well as the places they live, such as streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Then we head outside (rain or shine) to learn fly casting. Along the way we answer as many questions as you can ask. Our goal is for you to head home with your head swimming with new ideas and planning your next adventure.
The second track is for our more experienced anglers, many of whom are returning attendees. That program is very flexible, depending upon the needs of the students. We spend more time outside reading the water and understanding the places within the water where fish live, as well as studying the way water moves to become more proficient at presentation. We practice different techniques like double hauling, tight line nymphing, and salt water fly fishing. Every year is different and we adjust the curriculum accordingly.
Schedule and lodging: We begin by meeting for dinner Thursday night at Old Drover’s Inn in Dover Plains, NY. (90 miles north of NYC.) This gives us a chance to get to know each other before the work begins. Following dinner we all head three miles down the road to Ten Mile River Preserve (TMRP), a private hunting and fishing club, also in Dover Plains. TMRP will be our home from Thursday evening through Sunday morning. TMRP has 3000 acres of land, 3.5 miles of private trout water along the Ten Mile River, a casting pond, and a blue-gill pond with large mouth bass. Everyone stays on the grounds throughout the program. Students share double rooms with private baths in the main lodge.
Meals: All of our meals will be served at TMRP, with the exception of Thursday’s dinner. Both the beginners and more experienced anglers eat together. TMRP has an exceptional chef who does his best to keep us well fed. Coffee, tea, water, soft drinks, and snacks are available throughout the day.
What is Included: All meals, soft drinks, lodging, fly fishing instruction in the classroom and on private water, flies for fishing, and a one year membership to Juliana’s Angler Sporting Club.
What’s not included: Your personal fly fishing gear. Each participant must have her own kit, including: Waders with a wading belt and boots, wading staff, fly rod and reel w/appropriate line, leader, and tippet. JASC does not have a store of fly fishing equipment. We are happy to offer suggestions regarding gear purchases and/or rentals at fly shops. Each angler needs to have her own gear at arrival, there is no fly shop at TMRP.
Tuition: $1050.00