The 6-Day Women's Fly Fishing School is scheduled for Sun-Sat, June 13-19, 2021. This unique and comprehensive fly fishing school is led by Shalon Hastings, a fly fishing guide and owner of Fly FisHer Adventures. See below for details on itinerary, equipment, costs, and registration. Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 13, 2021.

School Overview:

Introduction, history and overview of fly fishing, including the influence and significant role women have played in the sport
Streamside entomology and bug identification
Reading water and conservation
Introduction to fly shops
Equipment and gear introduction and use
Knot tying
Fly casting mechanics
An introduction to fly tying
Guided river and stream instruction
Drift boat and walk and wade excursions

2021 School Dates

June 13-19, 2021 (Sunday-Saturday)

Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 13, 2021

Fly FisHer Adventures

This unique and comprehensive fly fishing school is led by Shalon Hastings, a fly fishing guide and owner of Fly FisHer Adventures. Ms. Hastings guides and leads numerous fly fishing clinics on many of the legendary fisheries in the world including the Missouri, Blackfoot and Little Blackfoot rivers, as well as many of the smaller streams and lakes throughout Montana. She volunteers her time to serve on Mending Waters Montana Board of Trustees and the Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited chapter. She is also the founder and steering committee board member of Last Chance Fly Gals, a local women’s fly fishing networking group in Helena, Montana.

Montana Licensed Fishing Guide #34, 159 operating under Iron Fly Outfitting, LLC #23084

Itinerary:

Day One:

Registration
Social Hour: Meet and Greet
Dinner
Program Introduction and Overview
Movie Night: “A River Runs Through It”

Day Two:

Breakfast
Overview of Fly Fishing
Entomology: The Identification of Aquatic Bugs
How to Read Water
Netting and Handling Fish
Lunch
Stream Conservation
Casting Introduction and Instruction
Introduction to a Fly Shop
Dinner

Day Three:

Breakfast
Introduction to Fly Fishing Gear and Equipment
Introduction to Knot Tying and Commonly Used Fishing Knots
Fly Tying Demonstration
Lunch
Fly Tying Instruction
Casting on Water Instruction
Dinner

Day Four:

Breakfast
Smith River Walk and Wade Fishing
Reading Water
Entomology and Bug Identification
Casting and Mending Line
Netting and Landing Fish / Catch and Release Methods
Lunch
Fly Fishing on Own
Streamside Barbecue Dinner

Day Five:

Breakfast
Missouri River Drift Boat Excursion
Matching the Hatch
Casting and Mending Line from a Drift Boat
Lunch on the River
Fly Fishing on the Scenic Missouri River
Dinner at the Ursuline Retreat and Conference Centre

Day Six:

Breakfast
Walk and Wade Fishing on Area Streams and Creeks
Techniques Covered for Fishing Smaller Water
Stream-Side Box Lunches
Afternoon Fishing on Own or With Personal Instruction
Dinner at the Ursuline Retreat and Conference Centre
Slide Show Presentation of the Week’s Adventures

Day Seven:

Breakfast
Departure

Date and Fees:

Clinic Date: June 13-19, 2021 (Sunday-Saturday)
Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 13, 2021

Class Fee: $1,750.00 Class Fee Without Overnight Accommodations: $1,640.00

Class Fee Includes:

Six nights’ accommodations at the historic Ursuline Retreat and Conference Centre in Great Falls, Montana
Seventeen meals including on-the-water box lunches and on-site breakfasts and dinners.
Snacks and beverages
Transportation to and from destination points including rivers, streams, fly shop and casting pond.
Classroom and on-the-water instruction
Guided drift boat excursion on the blue ribbon fishery, the Missouri River
Guided walk and wade excursion on the scenic and diverse Smith River
Guided walk and wade excursion on area creeks and streams
Guide and staff tips
Fly tying materials
Free use of waders if necessary (we recommend bringing your own waders and wading boots, as we do have a limited number of various sizes of waders and boots on hand).
Fly fishing starter package including: lanyard, fly box and flies, nippers, hemostat, tippet material and floatant.
Printed reference material

What to Pack:

To be prepared for the best and worst of weather in Montana, we suggest the following:

Montana fishing license
5 or 6 weight fly rod and reel and WF line
- For those wishing to purchase a rod and reel combo, we have in place an exclusive program with our partner, North 40 Fly Shop to offer an affordable, entry-level rod and reel combo package. The Redington Crosswater Combo Fly Rod is a 4-piece easy-to-cast, medium-fast action graphite fly rod, ideal for the new fly angler. The 4-piece models offer flexibility for the angler on the go! Cost: $140
Waders and wading boots (We recommend bringing your own, but we do have a limited number on hand in varying sizes. First come first serve!)
Rain jacket or shell
Wicking and/or dry layers for walk wading
Sun shirt or long sleeve shirt
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Comfortable pants and shorts
Hat and sunglasses
Long underwear
Knit hat and gloves
Water shoes such as Chacos, Tevas
Reusable water bottle

A finalized itinerary will be distributed one week prior to the start of each clinic reflecting the best options for the week.

Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times are subject to change due to weather and stream conditions.

Registration, Deposit, Cancellation

A 50% deposit is required upon registration to reserve your place in the either the 6-day or 3-day program. Registration deadline is 30 days prior to the start of the program. The remaining balance is due on the first day of the clinic. Cancellations made at least 30 days prior to the scheduled date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made within 30-15 days prior to the scheduled date will forfeit 50% of the cost of the deposit. Cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the scheduled date of the program will forfeit the full cost of the program. If we have to cancel a trip for reasons beyond our control (weather/conditions), you will receive a full refund. In most situations, we will reschedule the program on a mutually available date.

Registration and payment may be can be made over the phone by calling the Ursuline Retreat and Conference Centre at (406) 452-8585, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..