Salmon School

A year long long fishing intensive for teens and adults

​Welcome to the Salmon School, a year-long adult and teen’s introduction to the art of angling. We’ll embark on a pursuit of knowledge and experience as we ply the thin division between our terrestrial reality and the nearby aquatic world. We will build from the ground up, first working to understand the fundamental organic and human-made variables of angling before journeying across western MA with rods in hand. Instructed through the lenses of ecological and moral accountability, the Salmon School equips participants with the necessary skills and information to voyage on a lifetime of not only successful and adventurous fishing, but also dedicated stewardship and conservation of the global fishery. The program is specifically geared towards individuals with limited to no angling experience, however, there will be more than a bit for everyone.

• Grapple with the science & philosophies that inform fishing
• Gain skill and confidence in angling, and begin to develop your ever-evolving style of fishing
• Gain exposure and skill across many styles of fishing, learn dozens of presentations and target species with conventional and fly-fishing gear
• Pursue many species of hypnotically striped and spotted sport fish across every make and model of the region’s very best fisheries
• Understand the fishery’s unique challenges in a swiftly changing climate, position our role as anglers both positively and negatively and get to work protecting, preserving, and restoring our precious waterways and their inhabitants!

Where: Varied locations across western Massachusetts, including brooks in Amherst, lakes in Belchertown, rivers in Charlemont, tributaries in Sterling and many places in between.

When: TWO SUNDAYS per month in spring & fall, ONE SUNDAY per month in summer & winter. NOTE THAT TIMES VARY ACCORDING TO THE SEASON, THE FISH, AND OUR FOCUS!
​

• May - June (9am-2pm): 6/11, 6/24
• July - Sept (3pm-8pm): 7/9, 8/6, 9/3, 9/17
• Oct - Nov (1pm-6pm): 10/1, 10/15, 11/5, 11/19
• Dec - Feb (12pm-5pm): 12/10, 1/7, 2/11
• Mar - Apr (9am-2pm): 3/10, 3/24, 4/7, 4/21

​
Ages: Teens and adults. Participants 10-13 need to be accompanied by an adult.

Equipment: Fishing is a gear-heavy practice and sport. This program will provide some amount of gear for shared use during the program, but bringing your own gear is highly encouraged. We will provide a full equipment checklist during registration. 

Price: $650-900 sliding scale for 95 hours of instruction with additional homework. Select a price that fits your income. Please get in touch for payment inquiries. Limited work trade available.