The Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited has announced the dates of its 50th annual Fly-Fishing School to be held the weekend of June 12-14, 2020. The school will be headquartered again at Ranch Rudolf, located southeast of Traverse City on the Boardman River.  This is the same location that Trout Unlimited has held its summer fly fishing schools since the 1970’s.

The school is a nonprofit project of the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, a fisheries conservation organization.  The school is open to everyone; membership in Trout Unlimited is not required.

Instructors for the school are all members of Trout Unlimited who donate their time and talent. Most have been instructors for 10 years or more, and all have been specially trained for the school.  The ratio of students to instructors is usually 3 to 1.

Instruction is available at all levels, from beginners to advanced, and covers all facets of fly fishing, especially proper casting techniques.  Lectures and demonstrations cover such topics as selecting the right tackle, entomology and fly tying, and wading.  

The School will open with check-in on Friday, June 12 and continue through early Sunday afternoon. All necessary tackle is supplied by the school; not even a rod and reel is required for participation.  Students just need to bring rain gear and waders; you don’t even need a fishing license because the school is held on Michigan’s free fishing weekend.  Lodging at Ranch Rudolf is available, and special discounts are given to spouses or partners. All meals from Friday lunch through Sunday lunch are included in the package, as well as two nights lodging.  

The TU Fly Fishing School is completely noncommercial.  An all-volunteer staff makes the school one of the least expensive, yet most highly regarded in the nation.

Full information about the Fly-Fishing School can be found at http://www.tuffs.org.  You can also contact Jim Gibbs, school Coordinator, in writing at Michigan TU Fly Fishing School, 4740 Marsh Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. You can also send an email to [email protected].