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Jerry Darkes

Jerry Darkes Fly Tying Classes

 


Jerry Darkes Fly Tying Classes

Saturday, February 11th

Saturday, February 25th
Saturday, March 11th


We are thrilled to have special guest tyer Jerry Darkes offering a series of classes based on his popular book, “Essential Flies for the Great Lakes Region”. He will be conducting three “masterclasses” at the shop this Winter. Register for one or take them all!

Jerry Darkes has been a friend and supporter of Mad River Outfitters for nearly 30 years. He is a fly tackle sales rep, instructor/guide, and writer with over four decases of and is recognized as an expert of Great Lakes steelhead and warmwater fly fishing. 



Top Steelhead Flies

Saturday, February 11th, 2023. 11 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. at the shop

Patterns Covered:

Drift Patterns
* Sucker Spawn/Egg Cluster Fly- variations explored
* Steelhead Stone
* Dr. Mike’s Caddis

Swing Patterns- will show on both shanks and tubes
* Grapefruit Head Leech
* Marabou Spey
* Crafty Leech


Register for this Class HERE!

Top Trout Flies


Saturday, February 25th, 2023. 11 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. at the shop

Patterns Covered:

Nymphs
* Pink Squirrel
* Bob’s Swimming ISO

Dry Flies
* McCoy AP Dun- Brown Drake
* Regan Spinner- Rusty Spinner
* Sandwich Beetle/Cricket


Register for this Class HERE!


Top Streamer and Warmwater Flies


Saturday, March 11th, 2023. 11 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. at the shop

Patterns Covered:

General Purpose Streamers- Trout and Warmwater
* Circus Peanut

Bottom Crawler
* Rough Dub Crayfish

Sub-Surface
* Bad Hair Day
* Rabbit Diver

Surface
* Gurgler
* Foam Popper


Register for this Class HERE!

* Students are required to bring their own vise, basic tools and appropriate threads (exact listing will be provided)


** Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools will provide the hooks and materials for each pattern 

** Previous tying experience and basic fly tying skills are recommended for these classes

**Class is limited to 10 students. We will break for 1/2 hour around 1:00 p.m.

Please give us a call at the shop if you have any questions. 614-451-0363




833 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 

[email protected]

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Sandwich Cricket: Fly Tying Tutorial

We brought in Jerry Darkes on the YouTube Channel to give you a brief tutorial on how to tie the Sandwich Cricket.



Sandwich Beetle by Jerry Darkes


Materials
• Hook: TMC 5212 size #10
• Thread: UTC 70D, black
• Underbody: Dry fly dubbing in black
• Foam: 2mm foam sheeting, black with a brighter color such as orange or yellow.
Glue together as a single sheet using a spray adhesive. Cut into strips between 1/8”–¼” (4mm-5mm) wide.
• Legs: Montana Fly Company Barred Sexi Floss- medium size, in olive, tan, or brown.


Tying Steps

1.

Start the thread and lay a thread base on the hook shank. Take the thread to the bend
of the hook.
2. Lay a length previously prepared foam strip over the top of the hook with the back end
extending slightly past the bend of the hook.
3. Make few wraps over the foam, then gradually increase pressure while making more
wraps to hook the foam on top of the shank. Be sure to keep the foam strip on top of the
shank.
4. Finger dub several inches of body dubbing on to the thread.
5. Dubbing completed.
6. Lift up the foam and start wrapping the body.
7. Wrap the body to just behind the eye of the hook, then pull down the foam strip and
secure to the top of the hook with additional thread wraps.
8. Trim off the foam sticking out to the front leaving a short length extending past the hook
eye.
9. Completed body.
10. Cut a 2” length of the medium Barred Sexi Floss. Double that over and cut to a 1”
length. Tie this in the middle on one side of the body.
11. Tie in the other 1” Barred Sexi Floss on the other side of the body.
12. Trim each side to 4 or 5 barred sections in length.
13. Take the thread to the front of the body, tie off and cut the thread. Restart the thread
where the back part of the foam is tied down.
14. Repeat the same procedure for prepping and tying in the rear legs as in front. Tie in
one side.
15. Then tie in the opposite side.
16. Trim the legs to length then whip finish and cut the thread.
17. Put a touch of glue at each point where the legs are tied down.
18. The finished Sandwich Cricket. The bright foam on the top allows the fly to be easily
seen on the water.

Check out this video from Brian Flechsig last year on using beetles and crickets for trout!


2-Day Intermediate Fly Fishing School

2-Day 
Intermediate Fly Fishing School


October 13th and 14th, 2018



These schools take over where our intro classes leave off. Take your skills to the next level! These 2-day intermediate fly fishing schools will be held at Sunnybrook Trout Club near Sandusky, Ohio. Centrally located for students from Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati! 

Day 1
* Intermediate Fly Fishing
* Gear for Specific Techniques
* Fly Casting Part I, II, III- Fly Cast Review
* Lunch (included)
* Knots and Leaders II
* Fly Casting Part IV- Advanced Casting Techniques and Video
* Fishing!!

Day 2
* Understanding Fish
* Advanced Entomology and Fly Selection
* Video Casting Review
* Lunch (included)
* Fly Casting Part V- More Advanced Casting Techniques
* Fly Fishing the Midwest and Beyond
* Fishing!

Included: All equipment necessary, class information packet, lunch on both days, professional instruction, fishing

Not included: morning and evening meals, lodging if needed

Cost: $450.00 per student. Includes instruction, gear, info packet and outline, lunch & fishing. (See below for 20% OFF Coupon)

Upon completetion of the course students will also receive a coupon packet good for significant discounts and special offers at Mad River Outfitters and/or www.madriveroutfitters.com should you decide to purchase some gear.

Pre-Requisites: Some experience and a basic understanding of the topics covered in our 1-Day and/or 2-Day Schools. This class is designed to take anglers from the beginner stage and introduce intermediate and advanced concepts and techniques.

Recomended Gear: None. We have you covered although at this stage you probably have some gear and you are welcome to bring it along.


* Fantastic fishing, lodging and dining available on these 2-day excursions. Lodging booked separately through Sunnybrook Trout Club. For more information please see www.sunnybrooktroutclub.com. A detailed information packet will be provided upon sign-up that should answer most questions on these arrangements.

 
Brian Flechsig and Jerry Darkes- Instructors

Brian is the founder and operator of the Midwest Fly Fishing Schools and is highly regarded as one of the best fly fishing instructors in the country.

Jerry is a well known guide, author, lecturer and industry rep….in addition to being a lead instructor for the MWFF Shools.

Together they bring with them nearly 90 years of fly fishing expertise and experience.

You won’t find a better way to “up your skills” than with these two!!


ENJOY
20% OFF


As a thank you to past students and our loyal customers, register for this fun and exciting class now and get 20% OFF.

Use Coupon code: intermediate

* insert this code on the 1st page of the shopping cart and the discount will be applied- please call if any questions
REGISTER NOW








Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

[email protected]

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Fly Tying- The Sandwich Beetle

The Sandwich Beetle

The Sandwich Beetle is a very simple fly that I have been tying for quite some time here and it has served me well. As a guide and instructor, we are always looking for easy and quick flies that produce. This one fits the bill on all three fronts!

As an instructor for the Midwest Fly Fishing Schools, Brian and I do alot of teaching at Sunnybrook Trout Club and Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club here in Ohio and this fly works extremely well at both places. In fact, Brian wanted me to run this fly here so that he could learn how to tie it properly and stock his boxes for the coming season. Now I don’t have to fill his box each time we are teaching together! 

BTW- This fly works as well on Bluegill and Panfish as it does trout!!

Again, pretty simple fly that works! Hope you enjoy.

Jerry Darkes- April 2017

* We have been working with Jerry here at MRO for nearly 25 years now. He has been a rep for multiple companies for years as well as a guide, instructor and trip host here in the shop. He is a accomplished author and lecturer and is very well known in the Midwestern Fly Fishing Circuit. 

He is a great friend at the shop and we are honored that he was willing to do a “guest spot” video tutorial for us. You’ll be seeing more of him here.

Books by Jerry:

“Fly Fishing the Inland Oceans” – Click Here

“Tying Essential Bass and Panfish Flies” – Click Here



Sandwich Beetle Fly Recipe:

Hook:  Daiichi 1310 or equivalent, #14  Click Here
Thread:  UTC 70D, black  Click Here
Underbody:  Natural or synthetic dry fly dubbing, black  Click Here
Foam:  1.5mm -2mm foam sheeting, black with a brighter color such as orange or yellow.
              Glue together as a single sheet using a spray adhesive.  Cut into strips between 1/8”– 
              ¼” (4mm-5mm) wide. Glue- Click Here Foam- Click Here 
Legs:  Montana Fly Company Speckled Sexi Floss- size fine, in brown, olive, tan.  Click Here


1. Secure the hook in the vise.

2. Start the thread and lay base of thread on the hook shank.

3. Take the thread to bend of the hook, then finger dub several inches of the underbody material on to the thread.

4. Wrap the body up close to the hook eye, then wrap back to the middle of the hook shank.

5. Cut a section of the foam strip approximately ½” or 15mm in length.


6. Put a drop or two of Super Glue or ZapAGap on the center of the black side of the foam.

7. Lay the foam on top of the hook so the glue lines up where the thread is hanging down.  Keep the foam on top of the hook.  Wrap the thread over the foam with enough tension to compress the foam into noticeable segments.

8. Cut a 2” length of the fine Barred Sexi Floss.  Double that over and cut into 2- 1” sections.  Tie these in one one side of the body.

9. Repeat the procedure for the opposite side of the body, then add a bit more dubbing to the thread.

10. Wrap the dubbing in front of the foam, up to the hook eye.


11. Whip finish or half-hitch the thread, then trim.

12. Cut the legs to length of approximately 3 color sections.

13. Put a bit of glue on each side over the thread where the legs are tied in.

There you have it. The Sandwich Beetle. Play around with the colors of the foam and legs and see what works best for you. Throw this over some trout or panfish this season and have fun!



Watch the Video!






Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

[email protected]

www.madriveroutfitters.com


Steelhead Season!

Friend, rep, guide, author etc….Jerry Darkes took an evening’s worth of R n R to do a bit of product testing at the mouth of the Chagrin River on October 19th.

Here is a lake-fresh male steelhead that hit a new pattern he and Jeff Liskay have been throwing in river mouth and breakwall areas. Tied on the Eumer Jighead tube with a healthy amount of the new Krinkle Mirror Flash (coming soon). The “Flash and Fall” pattern is proving productive and it too will soon be available at MRO. You can see the size 2 Daiichi hook firmly stuck in this chromers jaw and the fly has slid down leader, making unhooking the fish quick and simple.

JD was casting Scientific Angler’s new Coastal Express line. A long, quick strip with a pause allowing the fly to “fall and flash” is triggering strikes. Pat Kelly has been using on Muskies recently and swears by it for the cooler weather!


Congrats to our friends Mamie and Kelly. A few pics here from an MRO guide trip on 10/20/10 on Elk Creek in PA. We set them up on a guide trip with Patrick Robinson of SAO and they had a great time (of course).


MRO serves as a full booking agent for guides like Patrick Robinson, Jerry Darkes, Jeff Liskay and more! See our website for full bios on all of our guides.

Stay tuned for more news and updates. Any day now we will be posting a page with links to all the cool new stuff out there for Steelheaders.

* Click Here for information on our Steelhead Guide Trips

* Click Here to check out our “Steelhead Central” page- cool links and charts

Mad River Outfitters

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

Lake Shawn Overnight- August 21st- 22nd

MRO Presents:

“Warmwater Overnight”

Saturday and Sunday

August 21st- 22nd

Join MRO and our guest hosts Jerry Darkes and Walter Shockley for a fun and informative overnight trip down to Southern Ohio’s incredible Lake Shawn. Hybrid Stripers, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass and Hybrid Bluegill are in our sights. Most are excited about the stripers and should be….they are awesome. Lodging in the on-site cabins as well as three meals included in the price of the trip!

Jerry Darkes has been a friend, rep , guide and consultant to Mad River Outfitters for well over 15 years now. He also happens to be one of the best known names and celebrities in the Midwestern fly fishing circuit. His articles, DVD’s and seminars have helped hundreds of anglers better their sport over the years.

Walter Shockley has become a quick friend of Mad River Outfitters and is just a simple pleasure to be around. His no B.S. approach to fly fishing and life in general is contagious. He is also the founder of http://www.ohio-kayak-fishing.com/ and obviously holds a special passion for fishing from Kayaks.

Jerry is the rep for Freedom Hawk kayaks and he and Walter will have a few of the boats for people to try. There are also john boats on the premises to use and float tubes/kick boats will be on hand to try as well. Jerry and Walter will also be doing some basic instruction on flies, rigging casting etc.

Lake Shawn was born in 1962. For the past 48 years the property has been owned and
managed as a sporting lake offering some of the best bass fishing and hybrid striper fishing in Ohio. The property consists of over 108 total acres and 30 acres of crystal clear deep water. Some areas of the lakes are as deep as 40 feet providing a perfect habitat for numerous varieties of sport fish. Lake Shawn is located in southeastern Ohio six miles west of Powhatan Point on State Route 148 in Belmont County, approximately a 2.5 hour drive from the cities of Cleveland and Columbus and 1.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh, PA.

The lakes are stocked on a year round basis with a variety of sport fish. All fish are raised on site and great care is taken to preserve the abundance of fish currently thriving in the lakes. It is not uncommon in a days fishing to catch large numbers of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch, crappie, catfish, bluegill, trout and large hybrid striped bass. All fishing is catch and release and overnight accommodations are available in our rental cabins.


Excited about the Hybrid fishing!!!

Great Largemouth!


Monster Hybrid Bluegill

Did we say stripers?

Here are a few details on the trip:

* arrive Saturday the 21st around 11:00 a.m.

* basic welcome/instruction/Freedom Hawk kayak demos

* fishing until dinner

* fishing until dark

* campfire/fish stories

* lodging in gorgeous on-site cabins

* fishing until breakfast

* fishing until lunch/instruction

* fish until 3:00 p.m. departure
* Introductory price of $295.00 per angler!!!!

Details on 2011 will be posted soon!

As always- give us a call at 614-451-0363 or e-mail at [email protected] if you have any questions or to sign up for this trip!