JACKSON, Wyo. — Budding anglers can learn the ways of fly fishing with free seminars by Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School (JHFFS) and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) this summer.
For five more Saturdays (July 5, July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 16 and Aug. 30), kids can learn the basics of casting, fly selection, entomology, trout facts and more from seasoned JHFFS instructors.
The program made its debut in Jackson in 2022 as the IGFA looked to expand its youth program beyond its prior focus on saltwater fishing in locations like Florida.
“The main focus is to make it super fun, so when parents say, ‘Do you want to go fly fishing?,’ kids are excited about it,” JHFFS Head Instructor Brian Shott told Buckrail in 2023. “Make sure the fun is at the front and then trickle in the education.”
Shott said the program aims to create a love of fishing in kids, thus inspiring “the next stewards of our resources” to protect waterways.
Even if a young angler has attended one of the seminars before, they are welcome to come back and dig deeper. Shott says the JHFFS operates with the mantra that “fly fishing is the endless pursuit of unattainable perfection,” making it advantageous for kids to practice their cast with instructors multiple times.
Interested families must register in advance on the JHFFS website, or call (307) 699-3440. The seminars will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Drop-off will be at Stilson at 3:30 p.m.
