First Light, Rowley MA

These guys are great teachers!
See the link to their site in our Favorite LInks!


Fly Tying 2007/2008- First Light Anglers is happy to announce this year's fly tying lineup. In a break from tradition, we will be charging for classes this year, however, we will be providing all of the materials for each class. Students will be required to provide their own vise, tools and threads. First Light will provide the rest!

Cost- $15/per class or a season's pass for $150. There is a total of 21 classes.

Time: Every Wednesday night 6-9pm, at First Light Anglers

November 28th-Dust off the vise night! Nat and Derek will tag team this first class in an effort to accommodate all skill levels. We will try and run through the basics of saltwater fly tying by covering some basic patterns using both natural and synthetic materials. This is a great class for all skill levels, so if you or someone you know is interested in learning to tie flies come on in.

December 5th- Capt. Peter Yukins will be tying an eclectic group of striper flies including a lobster, a cunner, a pollack and a peanut bunker.

December 12th- A long time regular to fly tying, Rick Little, will lead this class on New England Trout and Landlocked Salmon flies. Flies to be tied will include: Montreal Whore Streamer by Dan Legere, White Marabou Streamer, Pink Floyd Streamer by Dan Legere, The Usual (Dry Fly) by Fran Betters, and a Soft-Hackle (as adapted by Jack Gartside).

December 19th- Leon Piasecki will return to tie some of his deadly synthetic patterns for both stripers and tuna. He primarily uses Slinky Fiber & Blend, Steve Farrar, and Mirror Image synthetics with a few bunny tails to create his baitfish patterns. Most recently Leon tied at the International Fly Tying Symposium in Somerset, NJ.

December 26th - No Class

January 2nd - No Class

January 9th- Patrick Brown will return to tie a handful of simple spey, salmon and steelhead flies.

January 16th- John Kelsey will start the 1st of his 3 part striper series. This first class will cover tiny striper flies. Most people do not realize how much of a stripers diet relies on small baitfish and crustaceans. John will walk us through a handful of his small wonders.

January 23rd - Dan Harrison, who guides the Millers and Deerfield rivers, will come teach a class on tying trout flies with foam.

January 30th- Crease Flies with George Sprague. George lives in Salem and has been commercially tying crease flies for the shop. His attention to detail is spectacular and large patterns make these flies very unique, not to mention his addition of rattles to these deadly surface flies. George will tie crease fly patterns meant to mimic peanut bunker, mackerel and herring. The larger crease flies have been deadly on the school bluefin! This was a great class last year and a great one for all skill levels.


February 6th- TBA

February 13th- Rich Murphy, local fly tyer and author of Fly Fishing for Striped Bass, will return to share some of his fantastic insights on the our local linesiders and the flies he has used so successfully to catch them. Rich uses a variety of natural and synthetic materials to create both large and small patterns.

February 20th- John Kelsey will return for his second class of the year to tie flat wing patterns for stripers. This class has become an annual affair and one that any serious saltwater fly tyer should not miss.

February 27th - Leon Piasecki will return to spin some of his favorite synthetics for saltwater gamefish!

March 5th - Mike Rice from Mud Dog flies will return to show us some of the great patterns he guides with on the Cape.

March 12th - Les Hilyard, author of Carrie Stevens: Maker of Rangeley Trout and Salmon Flies, will return to tie some more of these classic Rangeley streamers. Les has a fantastic knowledge of the history of these streamer patterns and his attention to detail is fantastic. Patterns to be determined.

March 19th - John Kelsey will return for his 3rd and final class of the season to tie his favorite “go to” Spring striper flies.

March 26th - Rick Little will return to tie some more freshwater patterns. This class will include: Hornberg Streamer, Lake Ternay Streamer (Ron McKusick), Philo Emerger (Jack Gartside), Art Flick's Hendrickson Nymph (Art Flick), West Branch Emerger (Eddie Rief), Rick's West Branch Emerger(adapted by Rick Little from Ed Rief).


April 2nd - The Montello brothers, Skip and Al, will host this diverse class by dividing it into two separate classes. Al will lead interested tyers through some of his favorite freshwater patterns. Skip will host a group interested in tying some of his favorite saltwater patterns. Both of these guys have an intimate knowledge of the local and greater New England fisheries and it always shows in their patterns. One thing for sure is that they are only going to spend time tying flies that they know have worked time and time again!

April 9th - Capt. Reilly McCue, a striper guide on the Merrimack river and Plum Island sound, will return to show us some of his favorite patterns for catching stripers locally.

April 16th - Pat Brown will return to tie some of his favorite Spring trout flies.

April 23rd - Saltwater patterns with Joe Calcavecchia. Joe is a custom fly tier for the store. He specializes in large deceivers, half & halfs, and his personal favorite the Striper Dragon. Come see how this professional spins them up.


April 30th - Local author and fly tyer, DickBrown will tie some of his favorite go-to bonefish patterns-one's that he's fished regularly in the Bahamas, Central America, and Los Roques. He'll also demo one of the hot new toadfish patterns that's been heating things up on the flats in Florida and the northern Bahamas.