855-509-9724 
FLY FISHING
Join flyfishing entrepreneur, artist and musician Vaughn Cochran, the founder of the famed fly fishing brand Blackfly Outfitters and James Dumas of Drum Man Fishing Charters as they co-host your introduction to fly fishing gear and casting. Learn about the equipment you’ll want for various fishing conditions, and most importantly, how to cast like a pro and “put it on the plate” when chasing your favorite species. Both St. Augustine locals, you’ll also hear firsthand their suggestions on how to fish the area’s marshes for redfish and sea trout. The class starts with a convivial evening at Vaugh’s popular Blackfly, the Restaurant sharing fish tales with Vaughn, James and newfound fishing friends.
- DATES
Monthly, 2024, Dates and locations to be announced - BASECAMP
Guy Harvey Resort, St. Augustine Beach, FL - CLASS SIZE
9 anglers maximum. - TUITION COST
Pending
CLASS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY – 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Meet at Blackfly, the Restaurant, one of St. Augustine’s most popular restaurants, and co-owned by your instructor Vaughn Cochran for cocktails and dinner in their private dining room. Get to know your instructors and classmates and enjoy some of the great fishtales that Vaugh and James love to tell about their time on the water. The stories of Vaugh’s days living in Key West, fishing and playing with Jimmy Buffet in the original Coral Reefer Band are sure to be memorable!
SATURDAY MORNING
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Meet at the hotel for a morning classroom session, learning the fundamentals of fly fishing. Jim will instruct you on the differences between fresh water and saltwater fly fishing, the various types of gear you’ll commonly use, fly selection, how to read the water and of course tips and techniques to help you master the art of casting.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
2:00 – 5:00 PM
After lunch, meet at the hotel entrance. We’ll walk across the property to the large casting pond in front of the hotel, where we’ll spread out and put our casting techniques to work. Jim and Vaughn will personally coach you on casting basics or for more experienced anglers, methods to improve casting performance. After class, those interested are encouraged to retire to the hotel’s “Liars Lounge” – that’s the bar – for some after-class antics.
OTHER STUFF TO KNOW
- Lodging
Lodging is not included. We have arranged special rates at the Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine Beach for anglers attending the Fly Fishing Academy class. - Gear
Equipment is included; you are welcome to use your personal fly rod outfit if suitably rigged for the Saturday afternoon casting session as determined by James and Vaughn. - Reception
The Friday evening reception is included in your tuition; any food and beverage on Saturday is not included. - Cancellations
Tuition is fully refundable with 30 days or more prior notice of cancellation; any shorter notice will result in forfeiture of tuition.
SPECIAL NOTE: THE SCHEDULE AND COURSE
LOCATION ARE SUBJECT TO FINAL CONFIRMATION
WITH THE INSTRUCTORS.
LOCATION ARE SUBJECT TO FINAL CONFIRMATION
WITH THE INSTRUCTORS.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
From his earliest days fishing the canals of South Florida, and later exotic locales such as Costa Rica and Belize, Outpost Pro James Dumas settled down in Northeast Florida some 20 years ago, captivated by the vast Matanzas watershed with one of the most scenic and productive inshore fisheries in the world for light tackle angling. His passion is sight fishing tailing red fish and crushing top water trout in the extremely shallow waters of the local watershed. He operates his Drum Man Fishing Charters, working as a full-time fishing guide, fishing most days. He is a close friend and angling companion of Vaughn Cochran, co-instructor for this Academy clinic.
Vaughn Cochran is an artist, musician, fly fisherman, businessman and conservation advocate. A native of St Augustine, Florida, he is a Signature Member of the renown American Society of Marine Artists. Vaughn’s work ranges from boldly impressionistic seascapes to vividly contemporary interpretation of marine life, popularly known as his “Bright” collection.
With paint brushes in one hand and a fishing rod in the other, his career has always toggled between the arts and fishing. From his Key West days in the early 70’s fishing by day with Jimmy Buffet and playing music with him by night as a member of the Coral Reefer Band, to his current co-ownership of the internationally acclaimed Blackfly Lodge in Abaco, Bahamas (accepting bookings by referral only!) and Blackfly, the Restaurant in St. Augustine, he and his wife Jean are zealous guardians and acolytes of the Blackfly lifestyle.
Images from the Tacklebox
