Fly-Fishing Instruction in Memphis

If you live in the Memphis area and have been intrigued by the beautiful sport of fly-fishing, but thought that it was just for cold fast-moving waters, or if you considered it a gentleman's sport that costs a fortune to outfit for, things have changed considerably. For one thing, companies have been making better and better sinking lures to capture those bass that lurk in the deeper waters. New technology and equipment makes fishing the warmer lakes and ponds nearby a new thrill with fly-fishing. You can fly fish for just about anything these days and there are so many ponds, lakes and watersheds in the Memphis area that somewhere is always available for a new fishing experience. ShelbyFarms is a great place to fish.

The Millington Branch of the University of Memphis will have a class on fly-fishing this spring and summer INTRO TO FLY FISHING 6282, Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at their center on Navy Road. Classes begin June 4, and run through the summer, ending on August 9, 2007. Register for a month-long class or a two month-long session. Phone (901) 678-2991 at the Extended Programs center in Brister Hall to ask about registering-where to, how much, and what is needed.
Millington Center
6500 Navy Road
Millington, TN 38053

The Bass Pro Shop here in Memphis is a great resource for almost every sporting need you can imagine, from fishing to hunting and camping. It's an incredible place to browse and get information. They also happen to be having some classes on fly-fishing later this spring and in the summer. There's a May 12^th seminar on trout-fishing and its free. Class begins at 10 a.m. The shop has hosted a June 11^th fly-fishing class the second Monday of every month to learn about tying lures. They provide fly-tying materials and a take home pattern for all students. Contact them by phone or simply drop in. Their store is almost a museum and is a thrill to wander through.
6140 Macon Rd
Memphis, TN 38134
Phone: 901-213-5800

There will be a fly fishing exposition June 22-24, 2007 at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre. The event entitled, the Mid-South Fly Fishers' "Home Waters" Expo 06, introduce the Mid-South Region to the artful sport of fly fishing. This event is a must do for area enthusiasts because it will focus on fishing the warm waters of regional lakes, rivers, streams of our state and those nearby. It will also involve discussion and information about the nearby cold-water trout streams of Arkansas and eastern Tennessee. Hours of the presentations will be Friday June 22nd, from 3 until 6, Saturday June 23rd, from 9 am until 5 p.m., and Sunday June 24th, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their speakers are some of the best known and most highly rewarded fly-fishermen in the sporting world. Contact Mike Isom or David McCray at 901-606-9419 or (901) 483-3794 for more information about this great sporting event.

I include last the most important venue for learning the sport, the Mid south Fly Fishers Association. It has over 700 members and conducts classes year-round. People must become members to take the classes. July 12, 19, and 26, they will have fly plate classes at Eastgate Shopping Center from 6-8:30 p.m. Then, August 18, from 9-noon, there will be an Intro to fly-fishing class at the TWRA Building in Bartlett. You will need to call for more information about this. It would be a good idea to drop into the Spottswood location and have a chat with them about the membership and to pick up a brochure or printed material about more of their lessons and possibly get some private instruction information as well.
Mid-South Fly Fishers
Membership Director
4746 Spottswood Box 22
Memphis, TN 38117