Two-Day Fly Fishing Workshop

Learn the Skills. Put Them to Work on the River.

A practical weekend in Alexandra, Victoria, with all fishing equipment supplied and fishing on Sunday afternoon.

Learn to cast, set up your equipment, choose a fly and recognise water worth fishing. Over two days, our instructors help you build the foundations, then put them into practice during a fishing session on the river.

The workshop is designed for complete beginners, people who have tried fly fishing and want a clearer understanding, and anglers returning after time away. You do not need your own equipment or previous fly-casting experience.

Come on your own, bring a friend or introduce someone to the fishing you already enjoy.

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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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View Workshop Dates & Book

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How Much Fishing Will You Do?

The main fishing session takes place during the second half of Sunday. You will use the skills covered over the weekend to fish the river, with instructors helping you choose suitable water, present the fly and manage the line.

Saturday also includes a shorter river visit focused on aquatic insects and how they relate to the flies we use. The rest of the weekend combines explanations, demonstrations and hands-on practice.

This is a teaching workshop rather than two full days of guided fishing. The difference is that, when you begin fishing on Sunday, you have already practised casting and started to understand where to fish and why. Sunday’s fishing is included in the workshop; you do not need to book the optional Monday session to take part.

How the Weekend Works

Saturday — Build the Foundations

We begin with the equipment and how it fits together: the rod, reel, fly line, leader and fly. You will learn how to set up a basic outfit and practise the essential knots, with time to ask questions and repeat anything that is unfamiliar.

Casting practice starts on grass, where you can concentrate on the movements without also having to manage moving water. We work through grip, stance, controlling the line and the basic casts used in everyday fishing. Your instructor demonstrates each exercise, then helps as you practise.

The day also includes a short streamside session looking at the insects trout eat. Seeing them in the river helps make sense of fly selection and connects the equipment and casting to the fishing itself.

Sunday — Develop Your Casting, Then Go Fishing

We return to the casting skills introduced on Saturday, working on accuracy, timing and managing the line. The aim is a useful, controlled cast rather than distance for its own sake.

We also bring together the decisions you make beside a river: where trout may hold, how to approach the water and how to get a fly into position.

During the afternoon, you put those ideas into practice while fishing. The instructors work with the group, helping you recognise promising water, choose an approach and improve the way the fly moves with the current. This is your opportunity to fish with guidance, rather than simply watch someone else demonstrate.

We finish by reviewing what you have learned and what to practise next. Catching a trout is never guaranteed, but the weekend is designed to give you a sounder starting point for the fishing you do afterwards.

The choice of river location and exact session timings may change with weather and river conditions.

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What You Will Learn

Casting for Real Fishing

Practise the basic pick-up-and-lay-down cast, roll casting and controlled false casting, then work on accuracy and managing the length of line. We explain when each is useful, so the practice has a purpose when you reach the river.

Equipment, Knots and Fly Selection

Understand how the parts of a fly-fishing outfit work together, learn the knots needed to get started and connect common flies with the insects and other food trout eat. You can try the supplied equipment before deciding what you might eventually buy.

Reading and Approaching the River

Learn to recognise different currents, runs and pools, and consider where trout are likely to hold. We cover observation, positioning and approaching the water without unnecessarily disturbing the fish.

Fishing the Fly

Bring casting and line management together to present the fly effectively. We explain how to recognise a take, what to do when a fish is hooked, and the principles of playing, landing and releasing trout, alongside river safety and consideration for other anglers.

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Learn From Working Fly Fishing Guides

Goulburn Valley Fly Fishing Centre has been introducing people to fly fishing since 1994. Our instructors draw on their guiding experience to explain the practical decisions that matter when you are fishing for yourself.

The teaching combines demonstrations with time to practise. Rather than giving you every possible correction at once, we concentrate on manageable changes and help you understand what is improving.

The aim is not simply to copy a movement for the weekend. It is to understand enough about the cast, the equipment and the river to continue learning afterwards.

 

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Who the Workshop Suits

Complete beginners are welcome, including people who have never held a fishing rod. The workshop also suits anglers who have tried fly fishing but would like a more organised foundation, and those who want to refresh their casting, knots and river skills after a break.

People regularly enquire on their own, so there is no need to arrange a group before booking. It is also an opportunity to bring a friend, colleague, partner or family member who has been interested in trying fly fishing.

The weekend includes outdoor casting practice and time beside the river, where the ground may be uneven and wading may be involved. Please discuss any mobility concerns or other requirements before booking so we can advise on suitability.

For younger participants, contact us to discuss their age and whether the group workshop is the best format. Experienced anglers seeking help with a particular technique are also welcome to ask about private instruction.

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Fishing Equipment Is Supplied

Your workshop fee includes two full days of tuition, the fishing equipment and flies needed for the course, course notes and drinking water. Waders are available for the river sessions, so there is no need to buy an outfit before attending.

You can learn on equipment that is already set up for the exercises, then discuss what would suit your own fishing before making any purchases.

Your joining information will confirm the meeting point, daily times and what to bring. Wear clothing suitable for changing weather and bring a hat and sunglasses for the outdoor sessions.

You will need a current Victorian recreational fishing licence unless exempt. Check the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s requirements before attending.

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What Past Participants Say

“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

The following workshops run on Saturday and Sunday. Choose a date below, then book online or contact Anthony to check places and discuss any questions.

A$490 per person

Book three or more places together and the price is A$440 per person, a saving of A$50 each. The tuition, supplied equipment and Sunday fishing session remain the same.

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 provided course notes give you something to refer back to, and you are welcome to contact us with questions as you begin putting the skills into practice.

For participants wanting more individual time on the river, a full day of one-to-one streamcraft instruction on the following Monday can be arranged, subject to instructor availability. This is a separate booking that builds on the workshop, rather than a requirement to complete it.

Private lessons and guided days can also be arranged later, when you have had time to practise and know what you would like help with next.

Other Dates and Private Groups

When the scheduled weekends do not suit, contact us about private beginner instruction or a customised workshop. Group workshops for five or more people can be arranged on other dates, with the format and price discussed separately.

For visitors staying locally, we can also help with accommodation suggestions.

 

Ready to Get Started?

Choose a workshop date and spend a weekend learning the skills, understanding the river and putting it all into practice. You can arrive without your own fishing equipment and leave with a clearer idea of how to begin—and what to work on next.

Book online, or contact Anthony to discuss the course, your experience and any arrangements you need.

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