Bob Sheedy’s Lake Fly Fishing Workshops

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 Seasons

Seasons tracks a lake (impoundment) through a full season -from ice out to ice up. Even ice-free regions have seasons and are more strongly affected than colder zones. Moreover fly fishers tend to travel rather extensively. In all cases this in-depth presentation systematically unravels the secrets  of stillwater fly angling, for trout and other species, acquired over authors 52 years of on-water experience.

 In most climates where salmonids thrive, twelve distinctive “seasonal” increments make up a lake’s progression—(of course waters in more temperate zones will have less if they do not freeze or cool below 39.2 degrees F). During each seasonal progression, trout, or other fish species, will concentrate in specific areas of the lake, when FEEDING.

 We examine first, the first warming of the shallows, predominately Beaches and Back Bays. We then cover the spring turnover and its effects, before the second warming of the shallows and the stratifications seasons. We cover emergence of weeds and then how to tackle full weed lines, the characteristic of weed lines and how to exploit them.
We discuss how to approach and work fish in shallow areas, when feeding along weed lines and when along breaks and structures in the lake structure

As summer approaches we have to address natural lake stratification, dissolved oxygen issues, how to work them into your favor and the techniques for addressing these and other summer issues—known as fishing in the doldrums. We examine thermoclines and how to work them into our favor with deep water and constant depth presentations and surviving summer by being aware of the opposite shore season. And we cover techniques required when the lake lacks a thermocline. We follow this into the fall hatches, and then toward the frozen water periods when trout and other species begin to feed heavily.

 We offer educated opinions for successful fly patterns that have been tested world-wide and have greatest effect during each stage of seasonal progression. We cover the strategies; tackle arrangements and equipment required for addressing each season.

This presentation (and others) is done with state of the art computer projected PowerPoint and for the full workshop, projected video clips. It lasts about two hours with an intermission. Attendees are encouraged to bring a notepad and be prepared to get as many points down as possible. This is a jammed-packed, analytical information session that is going to change the way you look at what was formerly simply acres of unbroken blue ripples with nothing apparently happening. We peel back the surface and give our attendees a look into the Stillwater fly-fishing world that takes great strides in solving the mysteries for them.

Even if you’ll never cast a fly, don’t miss out on this great angling opportunity. If you would like to gain more success when approaching Stillwater fisheries for trout and species such as walleyes, smallmouth and largemouth bass, pike, etc. then you’ll want to attend this workshop!

Forage

Forage is a new presentation, that examines forage items peculiar to stillwaters, their habits, preferred locations in lake and how they move. Many fly patterns are designed and tied to emulate various stages in the development of aquatic stillwater species but amazingly few people have seen them move, crawl or swim. Forage opens the underwater world through PowerPoint, video and a lecture that reveals the underwater world in astonishing detail. Not only does it show prospective color shape and size but we detail the various presentations required to capitalize on the viewers newly gained knowledge. Don't miss this presentation. If your club or organization wants a lively evening, this is one you should book early!

Introduction to Lake Fly Fishing

Making the fly fishing transition from streams to lakes often overwhelms folks looking for a less-crowded environments. Gone are the undercuts, logs, rocks and back-eddies that formerly disclosed the likely holding choices for trout, bass and even walleyes. Instead of known lies, many acres of uniform rippling blue greet the hopeful at the launch site. There are no known lies, no rises, and few other indicators to yield a starting point.

Or is there?

The program, "Introduction to Lake Fly Fishing" is designed to assist in unraveling the mystery. In short order the neophyte learns to isolate portions of any stillwater, more likely to hold fish at any given time of day or year. Learn how to read and work weedlines, physical structures and currents in windswept zones. Learn how to employ sonar to isolate structure, bottom substrates, edges and lanes in a weed line and to maintain a contour over deeper water. Yes, we cover the lines, rods and reels required to be a successful lake fisher but we also teach students how to avoid the money pit and isolate the truly effective equipment and tackle to ensure a good day on the water. If you wish to excel at this new and fastest-growing area of the sport then you'll want to sign up for this program.

Conservation through Economic Development

Sounds like a bit of a oxymoron, doesn't it? This program addresses the overcrowding and fragility of river fisheries, offering an alternative in development of resilient wetlands, stimulating localized economic activity through sportfishing. In no way a "pie-in-the-sky" pipe dream, the presentation bases on an actual working model in Western Manitoba, Canada and demonstrates the success in developing a world-class fishery known throughout North America and beyond. The program takes the viewer through inception, planning, evaluation, lake and impoundment surveys, food prints, "fishability" and through to the total development including protection and promotion. Local communities leaders and government should be invited to attend, since they reap the greatest benefits when working through a partnership with fly fishing entities in the immediate region. This program is of great interest to Trout Unlimited chapters and other conservation groups.

Two Day Fly Fishing School

There are two types of Two-Day Schools:

Bob Sheedy Bio

There's a rather humorous, longer biography at : Bob's bio. For those wishing an abbreviated bio to place in a club newsletter or flyer, you'd perhaps desire a more refined version at: Bob's Bio Short

This page is perpetually under construction. Not everything that we do will ever be listed here.  Email and we'll arrange to call you.

Email:

flyfisher@mwflyfishing.net for more detailed information.