Tie-A-Thon fly tying sessions

This year, Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited is partnering with Orvis Grand Rapids to host fly tying sessions to benefit Tie-A-Thon!

This is the 20th year for Tie-A-Thon, a group based in South Bend, IN. Tie-A-Thon collects donated flies to support programs focused on healing and education through fly fishing. This has grown into a national movement uniting fly tyers of all skill levels for one shared purpose – to give back through the art of fly tying.

This milestone year, Tie-A-Thon is proud to support five exceptional organizations whose missions use fly fishing to promote healing, growth, and education:

• Reel Recovery – based in Massachusetts, helping men living with cancer find renewal through fly fishing retreats and fellowship.

• Casting for Recovery – National – headquartered in Bozeman, MT, supporting breast cancer survivors through healing fly fishing experiences across the country.

• Fishing the Good Fight – based in Colorado, advancing men’s mental health awareness and connection through fly fishing.

• Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth, and Families – located in North Carolina, empowering youth through outdoor education and fly fishing programs.

• Lee University Fly Fishing Education – located in Tennessee, integrating fly fishing into higher education as a tool for stewardship and personal growth.

Fly tyers of all skill levels are welcome to help us meet our pledge of 200 flies per pattern. Each of our fly-tying sessions will focus on one pattern, but we also collect donated flies that were completed outside of those sessions.

Our tying schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, January 22 – pheasant tail nymph, hook size 18-14
• Thursday, February 26 – elk hair caddis, hook size 18-14
• Thursday, March 26 – soft hackles, hook size 16-14

Bring your own vice and supplies if you have them. Supplies for basic patterns will be provided by SWMTU and others will be available to purchase at Orvis GR. Variants of the pattern (i.e., weighted nymphs, euronymphs, different body colors) are happily accepted. Fly tying instruction will be available.

Please register online as space is limited. Contact Paige Werner at [email protected] with questions or if you need to cancel after reserving your spot.