.png){kind=logo}
Education
Build confidence. Deepen your skills.
Share the water with friends.
The best part of learning is who you learn with.
We share tips, stories, and time on the water. Because learning to fly fish is easier, more fun, and more meaningful when you’re not doing it alone.
For us, learning isn’t just about catching more fish. It’s about feeling confident on the water, understanding the gear and techniques, and sharing the whole experience with people who love it as much as you do.
Whether you’re picking up a fly rod for the first time or looking to fine-tune your skills after years on the water, we’re here to help you grow in good company.
Our members share what they know and fish alongside you as you learn. Together, you’ll build skills, pick up new techniques, and discover more about fish and the best places to find them.
And because we’re first and foremost a community, you’ll never have to figure it out alone — there’s always someone here to answer a question, offer a tip, or wade in next to you.
.jpg)
Learn from the Experts
Monthly Guest Speakers
Every month, we invite some of the most respected voices in fly fishing into our meeting room. Guides, authors, conservationists, fly designers, and other experts join us to share stories, strategies, and ideas you can use on your next outing. These talks cover a little bit of everything — from chasing sea-run cutthroat in the Sound to dialing in stillwater tactics or understanding how fish respond to changing conditions. They’re part education, part inspiration, and always full of insights you won’t find in a book or a video. And because this is a club, not a classroom, the conversation doesn’t end with the presentation. You’ll have a chance to chat with speakers afterward, swap stories, ask questions, and get their take on the waters you love to fish. Many members walk away from these nights with new techniques to try, fresh ideas, and a deeper appreciation for the sport we all share.
Tie Your Own Flies — and Catch More Fish
Beginning Fly Tying Class
There’s something uniquely satisfying about landing a fish on a fly you tied yourself. Our annual beginner-friendly fly tying course walks you through the essentials — from vise and thread to feathers, dubbing, and hooks. More importantly, it shows you how you can move beyond the basics to create patterns with your own signature twist. In class, you’ll work hands-on in a fun, laid-back atmosphere to learn not just how to tie flies, but why certain patterns provoke strikes. For example: • Flies that move like prey and ride at the right depth often out-fish “perfect” imitations. • Small changes in profile, color, or material can be the trigger that gets a take. • Once you’ve mastered fundamentals, tying becomes a creative gateway: experiment with patterns and variations until you’ve got your own go-to “secret weapons.” With experienced club members working beside you, you’ll not only pick up tying skills but also a deeper sense of how fish respond. You’ll discover what they’re drawn to, what they ignore, and how to adapt your flies as conditions change. Many participants say the class transformed their fly boxes — and the way they approach the entire sport. Whether you’ve never touched a vise or you’ve tied a handful of flies and want to go further, this class is a welcoming place to learn, experiment, and connect with others who love tying as much as fishing.
Build Confidence on the Water
Fly Fishing Clinics
Our fly fishing clinics are one of the most rewarding ways to learn — and one of the most social. Led by experienced club members, each clinic blends hands-on learning with the same camaraderie you’ll find on any good day of fishing. Most clinics are offered in two parts: a short classroom session at the Lake Ballinger Center, followed by an on-the-water workshop at a local lake, river, or beach. In the first session, you’ll get familiar with gear setup, knots, safety, and how to think through the day ahead. Then we take what we’ve covered and apply it in real conditions — fishing side by side with mentors who share what works and why. You’ll practice the essentials: setting up your rod and line, learning retrieves, controlling your drift, and reading the water to find where fish feed. If you’re on stillwater, you might start with trolling and line control. On moving water, you’ll focus more on presentation and current seams. There’s always time for questions, demonstrations, and those small tweaks that make a big difference. Every clinic is relaxed and supportive. No tests, no pressure, and plenty of tips. Some members use these sessions to brush up on fundamentals. Others take the opportunity to learn advanced tactics or explore a new fishery. Either way, you’ll leave with sharper skills, new fishing partners, and the confidence to take what you’ve learned into any water you choose.
Tips, Tricks, and Community
First Friday Follies
Part fly fishing roundtable, part coffee klatsch — Follies is where members trade real-world experience in a relaxed, open setting. We meet the first Friday of each month, and every session has its own flavor. One month it’s waders, knots, or battery setups for pontoons. The next, it’s pink salmon tactics, beach retrieves, or fly patterns that shine in stillwater. What makes Follies special is the mix of voices around the table. New fishers bring questions. Seasoned members bring hard-earned insight and hacks — the kind that come from years of trial, error, and shared time on the water. The result is a lively exchange of ideas: rigging shortcuts, clever DIY tools, gear comparisons, and small adjustments that make a big difference. There’s no lecture and no agenda — just practical talk, shared curiosity, and the occasional good-natured debate about what really works. You’ll leave with new ideas to try, a better understanding of your gear and your waters, and a few more people to fish with. Originally started by John Wendt and Dave McCutcheon, First Friday Follies is currently hosted by Steve Ruppert and Tim Bennett. Each session keeps our skills sharp, our conversations going, and our community connected. Join us next time – prospective members are always welcome! For more information on date, time and location, check our calendar.
Master the Most Essential Skill
One-on-One Casting Lessons
Good casting changes everything. It’s the foundation for accuracy, presentation, and success on the water. That’s why we offer free one-on-one casting sessions for members, led by a Fly Fishers International Certified Casting Instructor who volunteers his time as part of the club. Sessions are relaxed and informal — no pressure, no jargon, just time spent working on the skills that matter most. If you’re just starting out, we’ll focus on the basics like timing, loops, and line control. If you’ve been casting for a while, we can dig into things like hauling, distance work, or tightening up your accuracy. Most importantly, you’ll get real-time feedback from someone who’s fished for years – and happens to be one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet! He’s happy to share what he knows and help you get more out of every cast. Many members are surprised by how much their casting improves in just a couple of hours. Casting lessons are also available to non-members for a fee. If you’re interested, our casting instructor can be reached through our contact form.
A Social Club at Heart
Olympic Fly Fishers is a social club. This means we value the connection that comes from gathering in person—at meetings, during First Friday Follies, and on the water. It’s how conversations get practical and advice becomes skill. Whether you’re just curious about fly fishing or have fished for years, you belong. Ask questions. Offer what you know. Spend real time with people who care about the same things you do. That shared focus has made us one of the biggest, most active fly fishing clubs in the region. Because catching fish is fun. But connection is the point.
Be part of the club...
Join a group of anglers who love to share what they know, explore new water, and keep learning together. Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to grow your skills, you’ll find people here who make it easy to belong.
👉 See upcoming classes and clinics or contact us to learn more.