BEGINNER FLY FISHING WORKSHOP

Two days. Real skills. Real rivers.

Learn to fly fish over one complete weekend in Alexandra, Victoria. Just two hours from Melbourne.

Designed specifically for complete beginners, our two-day workshop takes you from your first introduction to fly fishing through to putting those skills into practice on the river.

No previous experience is necessary and all essential fly-fishing equipment is supplied.

Over the weekend you’ll learn the fundamentals of casting, equipment, knots and flies, discover how trout behave and where to find them, explore the insects they feed on, and then take those skills to the river for practical fishing and streamcraft.

$490 per person for two full days
Maximum 5 participants per instructor
All essential fishing equipment supplied
Only one Beginner Workshop each month

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Your Workshop at a Glance

For help choosing a workshop or discussing whether it suits you, call or text Anthony on 0418 995 611.

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How Much Fishing Will You Do?

The main fishing session takes place during the second half of Sunday, when you take the skills you’ve been learning and put them to work on the river.

With your instructors alongside you, you’ll begin reading the water, choosing where to cast, presenting the fly and managing your line in genuine fishing situations.

Saturday also includes a shorter streamside session focused on the aquatic insects trout feed on and how they relate to the flies we use. The remainder of the weekend combines explanation, demonstration and plenty of hands-on practice.

This is a teaching workshop rather than two days of guided fishing. By the time you begin fishing on Sunday, however, you’ll have spent the weekend developing the casting and practical skills needed to understand not just how to make a cast, but where to fish and why.

Sunday’s fishing session is included in your workshop. No additional guided fishing booking is required.

How the Weekend Works

Saturday — Build the Foundations

We begin with the basics: how a fly-fishing outfit works, how the rod, reel, fly line, leader and fly fit together, and the essential knots you’ll need to get started. There is plenty of time to ask questions, practise each step and become comfortable with equipment that may be completely unfamiliar when you arrive.

Casting begins on grass, where you can concentrate on the fundamentals without having to manage moving water at the same time. We work through grip, stance, line control and the essential casts used in everyday trout fishing. Your instructor demonstrates each exercise first, then works with you as you practise.

Later, we head to the river for a streamside session looking at the aquatic insects trout feed on. Turning over a few rocks and seeing the insect life for yourself begins to make sense of something that can seem mysterious to newcomers: why we choose one fly rather than another.

 

Sunday — Develop Your Casting, Then Go Fishing

Sunday begins by building on the casting skills introduced the day before. We work on timing, accuracy and line control, with the emphasis on developing a useful fishing cast rather than simply casting further.

We then start bringing the different parts of fly fishing together: reading the river, recognising where trout are likely to hold, approaching the water without accidentally disturbing them and working out how to present a fly naturally.

During the afternoon, it’s time to go fishing.

With the instructors alongside you, you’ll put the weekend’s lessons into practice on the river—choosing suitable water, making the cast, managing the line and learning how to achieve a natural drift. Rather than simply watching someone else fish, you’ll be making the decisions and casts yourself, with help when you need it.

We finish the weekend by reviewing what you’ve learned, answering any remaining questions and discussing what to practise next. Catching a trout can never be guaranteed, but you’ll leave with a much clearer understanding of how to approach a river and begin fishing for yourself.

River locations and the exact timing of individual sessions may change according to weather and river conditions.

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What You Will Learn

Casting for Real Fishing

Learn the essential casts you’ll actually use on the water: the pick-up-and-lay-down cast, roll cast and controlled false casting. You’ll work on timing, accuracy and line control, with your instructor helping you recognise what a good cast feels and looks like.

The emphasis isn’t on casting enormous distances. It’s on being able to put a fly where you want it with enough control to go fishing.

 

Equipment, Knots and Choosing a Fly

Understand how a fly rod, reel, line, leader and fly work together and learn the essential knots needed to rig your own equipment.

You’ll also begin learning how to choose a fly by connecting the artificial flies in your box with the insects and other food trout actually eat. All fishing equipment is supplied during the workshop, so you can learn what everything does before deciding what equipment you might eventually want to buy.

 

Reading the River

One of the most important fly-fishing skills has very little to do with casting.

You’ll learn to look at currents, seams, riffles, runs and pools and begin recognising the places where trout are most likely to hold and feed. We’ll also cover how to approach the water, where to position yourself and why a few quiet observations before you cast can make such a difference.

Putting It All Together

On Sunday afternoon, casting, fly selection, reading the water and line control finally come together.

You’ll learn how to present the fly and achieve a natural drift, how to recognise a take and what to do when a fish is hooked. We’ll also cover the fundamentals of playing, landing and releasing trout, along with safe and considerate behaviour on the river.

Learn From Working Fly Fishing Guides

Goulburn Valley Fly Fishing Centre has been teaching people to fly fish since 1994. Over more than three decades, thousands of anglers have taken their first steps in fly fishing with us, while our instructors have continued to work professionally as guides on the Goulburn and other trout waters.

That experience shapes the way we teach.

We don’t teach casting as an end in itself. We teach it in the context of actually going fishing: where to cast, why you would make that cast, how to manage the line afterwards and what you’re trying to achieve with the fly.

Our instructors demonstrate each skill and then give you time to practise it yourself. Rather than overwhelming you with corrections, we concentrate on one or two things at a time and help you understand why something worked when you got it right.

The aim isn’t to turn you into an expert in one weekend. It’s to give you a sound foundation, enough confidence to practise independently and a much clearer understanding of what to do the next time you stand beside a trout stream with a fly rod in your hand.

Who the Workshop Suits

Complete Beginners

You don’t need to know anything about fly fishing before you arrive.

Many participants have never held a fly rod before. You don’t need to understand flies, knots, casting or fishing equipment, and you don’t need to own any gear. We start with the fundamentals and build from there.

People Who Have Tried Fly Fishing Before

Perhaps you’ve bought a rod, watched a few videos or been fishing with a friend, but still feel as though there are pieces of the puzzle missing.

The workshop gives you a structured foundation: casting, equipment, knots, flies, reading water and practical fishing so the different parts begin to make sense together.

Anglers Returning to Fly Fishing

If you fly-fished years ago and would like to start again, the weekend is an easy way to refresh your casting and rebuild confidence before heading back onto the river on your own.

Come on Your Own — or Bring Someone With You

You certainly don’t need to organise a group. Many participants book individually, and learning alongside other beginners is part of what makes the weekend enjoyable.

You’re equally welcome to come with a friend, partner, colleague or family member. It can be a great way for two people to learn something new together, or for an existing angler to introduce someone else to fly fishing.

A Note About River Access

The weekend includes outdoor casting practice and time beside the river. Ground can be uneven and some wading may be involved, so please contact us before booking if you have mobility concerns or other requirements. We can talk through what’s involved and whether the group workshop will suit you.

For younger participants, please contact us to discuss their age and experience. Experienced fly anglers looking for help with a particular technique may be better suited to private instruction.

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Fishing Equipment Is Supplied

You don’t need to buy fly-fishing equipment before coming to the workshop.

We supply the rods, reels, fly lines, leaders and flies you’ll need during the weekend, along with course notes and drinking water. Waders are also supplied for the river sessions.

For a beginner, this is an important part of the workshop. Fly-fishing equipment can seem confusing when you’re starting out, and there is little sense in buying a complete outfit before you understand what the different components do or what will suit the kind of fishing you eventually want to pursue.

During the weekend you’ll use properly set-up equipment while learning how the different pieces work together. You’ll also have plenty of opportunity to ask questions about rods, reels, lines, leaders, flies and other equipment before making any purchasing decisions of your own.

What You Need to Bring

Your booking confirmation will list the meeting point, daily times and anything else you need to know before the weekend.

Wear comfortable clothing suitable for changing weather and outdoor conditions, and bring:

• Hat and sunglasses
• A belt — required to secure the thigh/hip waders we provide
• Comfortable footwear suitable for outdoor use
• Clothing appropriate for the forecast

If you already own suitable fly-fishing equipment you’re welcome to bring it, but you do not need to own any fishing gear to attend.

We provide the fly-fishing equipment, flies and waders required for the workshop.

You will also need a current Victorian recreational fishing licence unless you are exempt. Details of the applicable licence requirements are provided before the workshop.

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What Past Participants Say

For many people, the Beginner Workshop is their first real introduction to fly fishing. Here’s what some of our past participants have said about the experience.

“The Beginners Workshop truly equips you with the fundamentals of fly fishing. The instructors are incredibly patient and welcoming, and the course suits people of all ages and experience levels. The follow-up fishing reinforced everything beautifully.”
— Anne

“All the essentials were condensed and simplified, and by the end of two days I felt confident heading out on my own. What really stood out was the ongoing support. They genuinely care about your progress.”
— Jess

“We were casting competently in a surprisingly short time. The relaxed learning environment made all the difference. We’re already planning our next trip.”
— Jamie

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Workshop Dates

We run one Beginner Fly Fishing Workshop each month, with a maximum of five participants per instructor.

Choose the weekend that suits you and book your place online. If you’re unsure whether the workshop is right for you, call or text Anthony on 0418 995 611.

Month	Workshop dates
October 2026	Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 October
November 2026	Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November
December 2026	Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 December
January 2027	Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 January
February 2027	Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 February
March 2027	Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 March
April 2027	Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 April
May 2027	Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 May

$490 per person

Two full days of instruction, supplied fly-fishing equipment and flies, course notes, waders for the river sessions and Sunday’s practical fishing session are all included.

The workshop fee is payable in full when booking. Please read the applicable booking and cancellation terms before confirming your place.

 

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Continue Learning After the Weekend

The workshop is designed to give you a foundation you can continue building on long after the weekend is over.

You’ll take home course notes covering the key skills and concepts from the workshop, giving you something practical to refer back to when you begin practising and fishing for yourself.

And our help doesn’t finish on Sunday afternoon. If you’re unsure about something you’ve learned, need some advice about equipment or simply have a question after your first few trips on the water, you’re always welcome to get in touch.

Where Do You Go From Here?

For most people, the best next step is simply to practise, go fishing and enjoy being a beginner.

As your casting develops and you spend more time on the water, you’ll naturally discover the areas where you’d like some additional help. That might be casting, reading a river, choosing flies, improving presentation or simply gaining more confidence fishing independently.

GVFFC offers private casting lessons, streamcraft tuition and guided fishing on the Goulburn River, so when you’re ready to take the next step we can build on what you learned during the workshop.

For participants who would like to make a longer weekend of it, a full day of one-to-one streamcraft and fishing instruction on the following Monday can also be arranged, subject to instructor availability. This is entirely optional and is booked separately from the Beginner Workshop.

Other Dates and Private Groups

Can’t make one of the scheduled workshop weekends? Private beginner instruction can be arranged on other dates, subject to instructor availability.

We can also arrange customised workshops for private groups, clubs, families, friends or colleagues who would prefer to learn together. For groups of five or more, contact us to discuss suitable dates, group size and the best format for your needs.

If you’re travelling to Alexandra for the weekend, we’re also happy to suggest local accommodation options.

Call or text Anthony on 0418 995 611 to discuss private dates or group bookings. 

Ready to Get Started?

If you’ve been thinking about learning to fly fish, this is a very good place to begin.

Spend two days with us in Alexandra learning the essential skills, understanding the equipment and putting it all into practice on the river.

You don’t need any previous experience. You don’t need to own a fly rod. Just choose a weekend that suits you and we’ll take care of the rest.

$490 per person · Two full days

Maximum 5 participants per instructor · One workshop each month

Have a question before booking? You’re very welcome to get in touch.

Call or text: 0418 995 611
Email: gvflyfishing@gmail.com