Private Fly Fishing Lessons
Learn to Fly Fish. Improve the Skills You Already Have.
Private instruction for one or two people at Alexandra and the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. All equipment supplied and practical fishing included.
Learn the foundations, then put them to work on the water.
Start with the foundations, return to fly fishing after a break, or work on a technique that is holding you back. Our private lessons combine practical instruction with time to practise, with the session directed towards your experience and the fishing you would like to do.
For beginners, the lesson introduces the equipment, useful casts and the decisions you make beside the water, before bringing those skills together during a practical fishing session. For anglers with some experience, we can concentrate on the areas that need attention rather than repeating everything from the beginning.
Attend on your own for one-to-one instruction, or bring a friend or partner and learn together. Your lesson remains private to your booking.
Lesson Options and Prices
| Private lesson | Duration | Total session price |
|---|---|---|
| Half day | A minimum of four hours | A$590 |
| Full day | Approximately eight hours | A$790 |
Both options accommodate one or two people. Prices are for the entire session, not per person. You can attend on your own or share the lesson with a friend or partner for the same total price.
Fishing equipment, flies, drinking water and our beginner course notes are included. There is no need to buy equipment before attending.
A deposit of A$100 secures your booking, with the balance payable on the day.
Half Day or Full Day? Both Include Fishing.
Both half-day and full-day introductory lessons include practical fishing with your instructor. The casting and preparation beforehand give you a starting point; time on the river allows you to put those skills to work.
The balance depends on your experience and what you would like help with. For a complete beginner, we start with the foundations. For someone returning to fly fishing, we can spend less time on familiar material and concentrate on the areas that need attention.
Half-Day Lesson
A minimum of four hours — A$590 for one or two people
A half day brings together the essential equipment, basic casting and practical fishing. We introduce the skills you need to begin, give you time to practise and then help you apply them on the water.
It is also a useful option for anglers wanting a refresher or help with a particular difficulty. We agree on the priorities rather than trying to cover every aspect of fly fishing in one session.
Full-Day Lesson
Approximately eight hours — A$790 for one or two people
For a full-day beginner lesson, we usually spend roughly half the day on casting and the foundations of fly fishing, followed by the other half on the river. This gives you time to develop the basic movements before putting them into practice while fishing.
The river session brings together choosing water, approaching it, selecting a fly and managing the line through the current. You do the fishing, with your instructor helping you recognise what is happening and make useful adjustments along the way.
For complete beginners who have the time, the full day offers a more substantial introduction. There is more room for repetition, questions and connecting the practice exercises with real fishing situations.
The structure remains flexible. A lesson booked specifically for casting correction or preparation for a particular trip may follow a different balance, agreed beforehand. Catching a trout cannot be guaranteed, but practical fishing is part of the standard introductory lesson—not an additional booking.
Starting From the Beginning
You do not need previous fly-fishing experience or your own outfit. We begin by explaining how the rod, reel, fly line and leader work together, then introduce the skills needed to control and deliver the fly.
Casting practice starts with manageable exercises. Your instructor demonstrates the movement, watches you practise and helps you work through the next useful adjustment. The emphasis is on control, timing and accuracy—not trying to cast as far as possible.
At the water, we look at where trout may hold, what they are likely to eat and how to approach a promising piece of water. The practical fishing session gives those ideas a purpose and helps identify what to work on next.
Refreshing or Developing Your Skills
A private lesson is equally useful when you already fish but want help with something specific. Perhaps your casting has become inconsistent, your fly is being pulled unnaturally by the current, or you find it difficult to decide where to begin on an unfamiliar river.
We start by discussing your fishing and observing what you are doing. The lesson can then concentrate on the changes most relevant to you, whether that means improving accuracy, controlling the line or approaching fish more effectively.
Anglers returning after time away can revisit equipment, knots and casting without assuming that everything needs to be relearned. Those preparing for a fishing trip can work on the presentations and practical skills they are likely to need.
Please mention a particular technique or destination when enquiring so we can recommend an appropriate session and instructor.
What We Can Work On
Casting and Line Control
Develop the basic casts used in everyday fishing, improve accuracy and learn to manage the line before and after it lands. For beginners, this includes the pick-up-and-lay-down cast, roll casting and controlled false casting. For returning anglers, we can assess an existing cast and work on specific difficulties.
Equipment, Knots and Fly Selection
Understand how to set up an outfit, practise essential knots and make sense of leaders, tippet and flies. Looking at the insects in and around the water helps connect fly choice with what trout actually eat.
Reading Water and Presentation
Learn to recognise promising currents, runs and pools, consider where fish may hold and decide how to approach them. We bring casting and line management together so the fly reaches useful water and behaves as intended.
Fishing Skills
Work through recognising a take, setting the hook and the principles of playing, landing and releasing trout. Safe movement beside the water and consideration for other anglers form part of the instruction.
We select the content around your needs and the available time. There is no expectation that every lesson must cover every topic.
Learning Together
Friends, couples and family members can share a private lesson, with one instructor working with both participants. You learn together, practise the exercises and receive feedback as the session develops.
You do not need to be at exactly the same level. However, please tell us when one person is a complete beginner and the other is seeking more advanced instruction. We can discuss whether a shared session will meet both people’s needs or whether another arrangement would work better.
For individual bookings, the instructor’s attention is entirely on your lesson.
Practical Instruction Since 1994
Goulburn Valley Fly Fishing Centre has been guiding and teaching since 1994. Our instructors draw on that experience to connect the practice exercises with the decisions you make while fishing.
A casting correction is more useful when you understand what it changes. A discussion about insects makes more sense when you can relate it to the flies in your box. We explain those connections as the lesson develops.
The aim is to leave you with a clearer understanding of your fishing and a manageable set of things to practise afterwards.
Equipment, Course Notes and What to Bring
We supply the fishing equipment needed for your lesson, including rods, reels, lines, leaders and flies. Waders can also be supplied where required. Let us know what you need when booking so we can prepare the equipment and discuss sizing.
You are welcome to bring your own outfit for us to look over. For beginners without equipment, there is no need to purchase anything before the lesson. You can learn with the supplied gear and discuss what would suit your fishing afterwards.
Our beginner course notes are included, giving you a reference to revisit after the session. Alongside the practical instruction, they help you return to the main ideas as you continue learning.
Drinking water is provided. Please bring your lunch and snacks, a hat, sunglasses and clothing suitable for changing weather. Your booking confirmation will set out the meeting arrangements and what to bring.
Location, Transport and Scheduling
Private lessons are based in the Alexandra and Thornton district. We select the teaching and fishing locations around the session, conditions and your requirements, and confirm your meeting point and starting time beforehand.
We generally travel between lesson locations in a GVFFC vehicle. You are also welcome to use your own vehicle if you prefer. We will discuss the arrangements when organising the booking.
Lessons are available throughout the year, subject to instructor availability, with the fishing venue chosen to suit the season and applicable fishing rules.
Outdoor practice and fishing can involve uneven banks and wading. Please mention any mobility concerns or other requirements before booking so we can discuss suitable arrangements.
Private Lesson, Workshop or Streamcraft?
A private lesson suits someone who wants individual attention, a session on a suitable date or instruction directed towards particular needs. It can be a first introduction or a way to develop existing skills.
Our two-day beginner workshop covers the foundations in a group setting over a scheduled weekend, including practical fishing. It offers a different way to learn, with more time spread across two days and the company of other participants.
A streamcraft lesson places greater emphasis on applying your skills on the water: recognising trout lies, choosing an approach and improving presentation. For someone mainly wanting to spend the day fishing with assistance, a guided session may be more appropriate.
You do not need to know which category fits perfectly. Tell us about your experience and what you hope to achieve, and we will help you choose.
Book Your Private Fly Fishing Lesson
Choose a half-day or full-day lesson and book online, or contact Anthony to discuss the instruction you need. Let us know whether one or two people will attend, your previous experience and any equipment requirements.
You do not need to know exactly which skills to work on before booking. Tell us what you have tried, what you find difficult or what you would like to achieve, and we will help shape the session.
A deposit of A$100 secures your booking. The remaining balance is payable on the day. Please read our booking and cancellation terms before confirming.
For questions before booking, call or text between 8 am and 10 pm, seven days a week.
Call or text: 0418 995 611
Email: gvflyfishing@gmail.com