Though perhaps best known for his streamer patterns, Rich Strolis has also developed numerous nymph and dry fly patterns that flat out catch trout. On Saturday, March 5, at 9 am, Rich will share some of these in a Zoom class presented by the Deerfield Fly Shop. In this six-hour class, he will lead you through a selection of time-tested patterns that have proven effective here in New England and beyond. With a few alterations in color and size, these patterns should cover a majority of your insect hatch matching needs in New England throughout the course of the season. Limited to ten students, Rich will teach this class as he does his in person classes–going step by step through each fly and waiting for all tyers to complete each step and answer all questions before moving on.
The class will require an advanced beginner to intermediate level of tying skill, but will provide information and insights valuable to the most experienced of tyers as well. Rich will lead the class step by step through some of his best insect patterns as well as some other flies that have proven effective over the years, including: Shucked Up Emerger, R-F Caddis, Dust Bunny Winter Stone, Morgan Midge Variation, Classified Caddis Pupa, DDT Nymph, Quill Bodied Jig, and Shimmer Stone. Other patterns may also be tied if time allows.
Students should have their own vise and tools, including scissors, dubbing whirl, bobbin and whip finish tool in addition to a compliment of threads in a variety of colors (in size 70 and 140 denier or 8/0 and 6/0—all thread and tools are available at the Deerfield Fly Shop). All materials will be provided in kits that Rich himself will put together and mail to all participants prior to the class. Bring an open mind and any questions you might have. Rich will go over hook choices, material choices and substitutions and most importantly, how to effectively fish these patterns.
Tuition for the class is $125 and includes the material kits. Advanced registration with payment in full is required by Feb. 23. Contact [email protected] or call 413-397-3665 to register. This class is limited to 10 students and will fill up quickly!
From right down the road in Connecticut, Rich Strolis honed his craft as a guide on the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers and then shifted to commercial fly tying as his patterns started to gain national attention as consistent fish producers. He has fished his patterns all over the world and continues to torment the big browns of the Housatonic and Farmington! He is a signature designer for the Montana Fly Company and is on the pro staff at Thomas and Thomas as well as Regal Vise. The author of the well-received book Catching Shadows: Tying Flies for the Toughest Fish and Strategies for Fishing Them as well as numerous articles in the fly fishing magazines, Rich is a sought after tyer and educator, so we are very pleased to have him here at the Deerfield Fly Shop.
