2026 Classes

Please see details for each class below the table. Reserve seats by visiting the shop or calling us at (207) 363-9269. Thank you!

Note that some instructors are willing to provide a second class if the first fills, so please call to get on a waiting list if you see a class you are interested in is full.

We will create a separate table with the threads students will need to bring for each class, as soon as that information becomes available.                               

BEGINNERS FLY TYING CLASS

Fly tying is a rewarding aspect of fly fishing; catching fish on a fly one has tied themselves adds greatly to the satisfaction of fly fishing. This class is designed to take a student with limited or no tying experience and teach them how to tie effective patterns on their own. The student will learn about the tools required to tie flies and the selection and preparation of materials. You will be taught all of the proper techniques to take a bare hook to the finished fly. From there the class will go on to tie a few proven patterns for fishing in freshwater. The basic techniques learned in this class will be applicable to all types of fly patterns. The instructor for this class is Registered Maine Guide Aaron Broaddus. Aaron's profession as a middle school teacher allows him summers off to pursue his passion of fly fishing, fly tying and guiding people into the great outdoors in search of fish.
Dates: This is a 2-day class (both on Sundays) ~ February 1st & 8th, 2026
Time: 9 am - 1 pm
Instructor: Aaron Broaddus
Cost: $40 per student (covers both days)

FULL DAY TYING CLASSES

Please note the following information concerning our Full Day Tying Classes:

• Students must have at least an intermediate level of fly tying experience to participate
• The classes run from 9 am - 4 pm
• Payment in full is required to hold a space
• Full day classes are $75
• Students must provide their own lunch
• Classes are limited to 13 students
• All tying materials (except thread) will be supplied
• Students need only bring their vises, tools & thread (demo vises will be available for students who wish to try out a different vise -- just please let us know in advance)

Leslie Hilyard ~ CARRIE STEVENS FLIES
Leslie is the author of "Carrie Stevens" and owner of The Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies which was founded by Mrs. Stevens in 1923. Leslie will lead a discussion on all things Mrs. Stevens, touching on pattern origination, the development of her famous Stevens Method, and the impact it has had on streamer design right through the present day. The class shall be instructed to tie four patterns, all using her famous method. Also on display will be over 65 of her original flies from Leslie's personal collection.
Date: Saturday, January 17th, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Cost: $75 per student

Tom Gagnon ~ TROUT FLIES
Tom Gagnon -- or "Young Tom" as many of you know him from his years at the shop -- grew up in southern Maine fishing and tying flies for the variety of fish species and waters New England has to offer. As an employee of the shop, Tom tied thousands of patterns for our displays, from classic Atlantic salmon patterns to our exclusive locally-developed striper flies and everything in between. Now a full time fly fishing and waterfowl hunting guide based in Montana, Tom takes a creative and unorthodox approach to his tying, which is based more on his experiences on the water than the “bin appeal” of standard patterns. As a student in his class, you can expect to tie a variety of dry and subsurface patterns aimed at solving specific angling conditions and variables. You’ll be using a wide assortment of both artificial and natural materials, some of which are custom-dyed by him. While these are flies Tom is using in Montana, you can expect both the patterns and tying techniques used to be effective on your home waters.
Date: Saturday, February 14th, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Cost: $75 per student

Ben Whalley ~ STRIPER FLIES
Ben is a lifelong learner with a science and engineering background, that has a serious addiction to fly tying. It was really no surprise when he left his corporate career to guide full time and tie flies. It's clear his time on the water and at the vise is paying off with Ben continuing to raise the bar with bucktail flies that imitate baitfish found in Maine waters. The goal of this class is to provide tyers tips and techniques for tying flies with bucktail, understanding effective fly design, and putting those elements to work by tying up some of Ben's favorite flies.
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Cost: $75 per student

Graham Haley ~ (TROUT FLIES) SPRING THRU FALL: INSECT LIFE CYCLES -- PATTERNS & TYING TECHNIQUES TO IMITATE THEM
Graham Haley is a registered Maine fishing guide, running float trips on the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers. He always has two nets on the boat, one for the fish and one for catching bugs. Whether it’s guiding or fly tying instruction, the emphasis is always on education - building a better understanding of the ecosystem and an appreciation of its complexities. His philosophy - “it’s only nerdy if you’re not catching fish.”  Although we’ll be going into some detail, there's no prerequisite amount of knowledge needed to join the class - both newcomers and seasoned angler/entomologists will find something of value. Though this will be a highly educational presentation, please note that this class is intended for fly-tyers, and is centered around practical fly-tying instruction. You must be tying flies to attend.
Date: Saturday, March 7th, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Cost: $75 per student

2-3 HOUR FLY TYING CLASSES

Fly Tying Jamborees are 2-3 hour classes that are taught by local guides, fly shop employees, production fly tyers and local tiers who excel at the art of fly tying. They will teach students to tie fly patterns that they have confidence fishing. I'm excited about the lineup of tying classes we are offering this year. We have many returning instructors that have new flies to teach. These tyers have so many killer patterns up their sleeves that their classes never become stale. Each one of them spends almost as much time at the vise as they do on the water. They are constantly creating new patterns or tweaking old ones to fool more fish. Their knowledge of tying materials and flies is surpassed only by their ability to bend those materials to their will and fish those flies effectively in their respective waters. No matter where you fish -- around the corner or around the world -- our instructors will have something new and informative to contribute to your tying and fishing knowledge.

Please note the following information concerning our Jamboree Classes:

• Students must have at least a basic knowledge of fly tying to participate
• The classes run from 1:00 pm till 3:00 pm
• Payment in full is required to hold a space
• Jamboree classes are $35
• Classes are limited to 13 students
• All tying materials (except thread) will be supplied
• Students need only bring their vises, tools & thread (demo vises will be available for students who wish to test drive a different vise -- just please let us know in advance)

Eric Roach ~ STRIPER FLIES
Date: Saturday, January 3rd, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: $35 per student

Travis Johnson ~ TROUT FLIES
Date: Saturday, January 10th, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: $35 per student

Joel Watson ~ STEELHEAD FLIES FOR SWINGING
Date: Saturday, January 24th, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: $35 per student

John Cooper ~ STRIPER FLIES
Date: Saturday, January 31st, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: $35 per student

Evelyn King ~ TROUT FLIES: STILLWATER AMMO
Date: Saturday, February 7th, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: $35 per student

Kurt Lister ~ PIKE & MUSKIE FLIES
Date: Saturday, February 21st, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: $35 per student

Victor Trodella ~ FRESHWATER BASS FLIES
Date: Saturday, March 14th, 2026
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Cost: $35 per student

ELDREDGE BROS. FLY SHOP 20th ANNUAL FLY FISHING EXPO
We cordially invite you all to our 20th Annual Fly Fishing Expo on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, 9:00 am till 4:00 pm here at Eldredge Bros. Fly Shop. All of us here look forward to seeing you at this festive event, rain or shine. Please keep an eye on the "Expo" page on our website for developing details.