If you’ve been searching for fly fishing lessons near you and you’re within driving range of Chattanooga, TN or Blue Ridge, GA, you’re in the right place. Tanasi Outdoors offers on-the-water fly fishing lessons for beginners, skills clinics for intermediate anglers, casting instruction, and technical coaching on euro nymphing and drift-boat rowing all taught by guides who fish these rivers six days a week.
Every lesson is private (one or two students per instructor), tailored to what you actually want to work on, and taught on real water with real fish in front of you. No parking-lot casting drills unless you want them.
Our 3-hour Intro Cast & Wade lesson combines 1.5 hours of casting instruction with 1.5 hours on the water learning to read the river, wade safely, and fish with confidence. It’s the perfect introduction for new fly anglers and is priced for up to two people.
Private lessons are our most popular and flexible offering. You choose what to work on distance, accuracy, or specific bugs — and we design the lesson around it. If unsure, we’ll watch you cast for 10 minutes and suggest one key improvement.
If you’re catching fish but unhappy with your rod, a casting lesson can help. We break down the cast into timing, hand path, wrist discipline, and loop shape, providing drills that work even when tired. We also cover specialty casts like reach, curve, tuck, and the double haul.
Euro nymphing is the best way to catch trout in cold, clear water. It’s a challenging technique to learn online since you need to feel the sighter and drift in-person. We teach euro from rig setup to water selection. After a full-day clinic, students can rig, fish, and land trout independently.
Tanasi offers unique one-on-one rowing lessons on the same waters our guides row. Improve your anchor technique, fish feeding, reading flows, and navigating technical sections. Book a full day and bring your boat or use ours.
For groups of 3–6 (think: bachelor party before the bachelor-party-trip, a family learning together, or a weekend women’s clinic), we run focused half- or full-day group clinics. The ratio is tighter than a classroom and better per-angler than private lessons. Ask us when you call to book.
Most lessons are taught on the Lower Toccoa River tailwater or a local Chattanooga-area creek depending on conditions and what we’re working on. For casting-only lessons we can meet at a large field closer to town if that’s more convenient.
Lessons run year-round. Our busiest lesson seasons are February–April (pre-season skill prep) and September–November (fall technique tune-ups). Weekday lessons are usually available within 1–2 weeks; weekends book further out.
Polarized sunglasses, a hat, a water bottle, and layered clothing appropriate for the day. If you have your own fly rod and you want to learn on your own gear, bring it — otherwise we provide everything.
Half-day and full-day lesson pricing is published on our [rates page](/rates/). All rates include equipment; there are no add-on fees.
Private lessons are 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 (two students, one instructor). Group clinics are 3–6 students per instructor.
If conditions allow, yes — we teach on real water with real fish. But the primary goal of a lesson is technique and long-term skill. If you want a lesson where “catching fish” is the #1 priority, book a guided trip and let us teach you between fish.
Nothing required. If you want to get a head-start, watch a few basic overhead cast videos from Orvis or Trout Unlimited. Do not try to pre-learn knots from YouTube we’ll teach you the knots you need.
Call or text (423) 715-9623 to talk through options, or use the booking form to check availability and hold a date. Spring and fall weekends book 4–6 weeks out don’t wait.
