Sunrise over HCFF Strawberry Fishout - photo by club member Jennifer Raney

 

Mentoring Program Sign Up

High Country Fly Fishers is pleased to provide a mentoring program for our members. New and inexperienced fly fishers will be paired with an experienced HCFF member for a few hours of free instruction on a local river or lake. You must be an HCFF member in good standing to participate. And Thank You! to our generous mentors!

All Things Middle Provo with Mike Leigh

Mentor:  Mike Leigh

Description: Mike fishes the Middle Provo every week, all year round, as well as other fisheries in the area. He is well versed in all the productive techniques, including Euro Nymphing.  He will tailor the session based on your experience level and what you would like to learn. 

Minimum Skill Level: Novice to expert.

Session Length: Mike and the students will decide on a case-by-case basis.

Number of Students: 1 – 2.

Equipment: Students must bring their own equipment including flies, leader, tippet.  Remember that the club has loaner equipment if that is necessary.  We will discuss current fly patterns to bring ahead of time.

When & Where: When will be determined, but where is usually the Middle Provo.  Other fisheries may be visited depending on water conditions.

All Things Provo River with Tom White

Mentor: Tom White

Description: Tom knows where the fish are and is willing to show HCFF members where, when and how to catch them.  Discuss your specific needs and wishes when he calls you.

Minimum Skill Level: Beginner to expert. All are welcome.

Session Length: Half-day.  We will meet on the water and you must provide your own drinks and snacks.

Number of Students:  1 or 2.

 Equipment:  A 4 or 5-wt rod and appropriate tackle, including your own flies.  If you are a beginner, just say so because there are Club loaner rods available for you to borrow.  Waders or boots can be rented through one of the local fly shops.

When & Where: Provo River

Attractor Fishing with Pat Ronneburg

Mentor: Pat Ronneburg

Description: What to fish when it’s not obvious what the fish are eating. Streamers, nymphs, wets or dries?

Minimum Skill Level: Novice level and above. Student knows the basic knots, casting, how to hook, land and release a fish on their own.

Session Length: About 2 hours.

Number of Students: 1 or 2.

Equipment: Students must have all their own equipment.

When & Where: This will be decided by students and mentor based on current conditions.  We’ll most likely focus on rivers, but may slip over to stillwater if there are some fun seasonal opportunities for bank fishing.

Fishing Dry Flies and Nymphs with David Winegar

Mentor:  David Winegar

Description:  I’ve been a guide in years past for both drift and walk/wade trips.  I’m interested in teaching entomology and how to study the river to catch more fish.  We’ll be fishing local waters like the Weber, Provo and Uintas.

Minimum Skill Level:  Beginner and up.

Session Length:  Up to 5 hours.Number of

Students:  1 or 2.

Equipment:  Students must provide their own equipment.

When & Where: Fishing should start in March or April.

Fishing Dry Flies and Nymphs with Jack Campbell

Mentor:  Jack Campbell

Description:  Fishing nymphs and dry flies in rivers.

Minimum Skill Level:  Beginner through intermediate.

Session Length:  Approximately 2 hours.

Number of Students:  1 only.

Equipment:  Jack can lend some equipment, if needed.

When & Where:  Beginning in March or April, depending on conditions.

Fishing Dry Flies and Nymphs with Larry Croft

Mentor:  Larry Croft


Photofly Larry Image

Description:  Effective fishing the Weber, Provo and South Slope of the Uintas. Rivers, streams and some stillwater, depending on conditions.

Minimum Skill Level:  Beginner through expert. All levels are welcome.

Session Length:  Flexible.

Number of Students:  1 or 2.

Equipment:  Larry can lend some equipment, if necessary.

When & Where:  March or April, depending on snow conditions.

Lefty's Fly Fishing Knots for the Right Brained

Mentor:  Lefty Carpio

Description:  In the realm of anglers, there exists a breed apart, those who defy the natural order, those who challenge the norm with an audacity born of necessity. Among these outliers, stands Rex Carpio, known simply as “Lefty,” a man whose tale unfurls like the line cast upon the rippling surface of the Jordan River.

Born under the sun of Tehran, along the banks of the Jajrud River, Lefty’s destiny was etched in the currents that flowed through his homeland. His kin eked out their existence from the bounty of those waters, shaping him in the crucible of fish and fate. But fate, it seems, held a capricious hand. A skirmish over a simple loaf of bread robbed him of his right hand, a cruel twist that could have spelled the end of his dreams. Yet, Lefty, ever the resilient soul, saw in this setback not an end, but a new beginning.

Across oceans and continents, he journeyed, drawn by the siren call of freedom and the promise of the Rocky Mountains. Utah Lake and the Jordan River became his sanctum, where the waters whispered secrets of liberty and the allure of the 21st Amendment tugged like a carp on a 5 weight rod.

In the shadow of those majestic peaks, Lefty’s legend took root and flourished. The denizens of the riverbanks marveled at his skill, as he guided his skiff boat down the Jordan’s winding course, a maestro orchestrating nature’s symphony. But it was not just his prowess with the rod that captured their awe; it was the artistry of his knots, woven with the deftness of a spider spinning its web.

For the left-handed angler, the world can be a treacherous place, a labyrinth of right-handed tools and techniques. But fear not, for Lefty extends a hand of fellowship, offering sanctuary in the form of “Fly Fishing Knots for the Right Brained.” Here, amidst the camaraderie of fellow southpaws, one can glean the wisdom of a master.

With a twinkle in his eye and a flick of his wrist, Lefty imparts the secrets of the trade. Terminal knots, slip knots, loop knots—they all fall under his tutelage. But it is his own creations, born of necessity and honed by experience, that truly set him apart. The three-finger knot, the two-finger-and-a-thumb knot, and yes, even the infamous middle finger knot—all bear the mark of a craftsman who knows no bounds.

And what of their strength, you may wonder? Fear not, for Lefty’s knots are not merely stout; they are indomitable. They hold fast in the tumultuous currents of both hemispheres, standing as a testament to the ingenuity of their creator.

So, heed the call of the river, my friends, and join Lefty on a journey of discovery. For in the world of fly fishing, as in life, it is not the hand you are dealt that matters, but how you choose to play it.

Minimum Skill Level:  Only lefties need apply

Session Length:  Half-day.

Number of Students:  1 or 2.

Equipment:   Nippers, bifocals or magnifiers

When & Where:  Someplace warm

Stillwater Kickboat Fishing with Bill Quapp

Mentor: Bill Quapp

Description: Bill will discuss the purpose and use of various sinking lines when trolling for trout.  The training will involve about one hour or so of coaching on the water.  Then, you will continue practicing the techniques for the rest of the day while hauling in your rewards. Additional tutoring during the day as needed.

Minimum Skill Level:  Experienced river and stream fishing skills.

Session Length:  Full day outing

Number of Students:  1 or 2.

Equipment: A motorized kickboat is ideal.  Some other floating craft may be suitable.  Safety gear, normal fishing gear, etc.  Sinking lines are needed — an intermediate sink rate (1 to 1 ½ inch per second) and a Type 4  sink rate (4 inches per second) are the most important. Bring any wet flies you have but Bill will help you select and may provide some if needed.  If you have any questions about equipment, call Bill.

When & Where:  Schedule will be mutually determined and when the wind doesn’t blow too hard.  The where is a function of time of year.  Lakes such as Starvation, Strawberry, Jordanelle, and Deer Creek are examples.

Stillwater Kickboat Fishing with Kevin Parsons

Mentor:  Kevin Parsons

Description:  The purpose and use of various sinking lines and the techniques of chironomid fishing.

Minimum Skill Level:  Mastery of fly fishing basics.

Session Length:  Half-day.

Number of Students:  1 only.

Equipment:  You must supply your own kickboat, safety gear and standard fly fishing gear and flies. Kevin can lend various sinking lines and some flies during instruction.

When & Where:  Various stillwater lakes and ponds in Utah.