June 10 - June 14, 2026
Enrollment Capacity: 14 students
Blending scientific principles with practical techniques, this course will deepen your understanding of the science behind each cast. Students will explore the interconnected world of fish behavior, aquatic foodwebs and ecosystems, and the physics of fly fishing.
In this course, students will:
- Explore the biology of fish and how it influences their behavior and feeding patterns.
- Understand the life cycles of aquatic insects and how to match your fly patterns to the environment.
- Dive into the physics of casting, including how water currents and fly presentation affect your success.
- Learn sustainable fly fishing practices to help preserve the waters we love to fish.
- Gain a deeper appreciation for the ecosystems that support fishing, with an emphasis on conservation efforts that protect freshwater habitats.
You will leave with enhanced technical skills, a broader understanding of freshwater ecosystems, and a deeper connection to the underwater world of the fish that you catch.
**Open to all skill levels, from beginner to advanced anglers.**
Course modules include:
- Hydrology and Trout Conservation seminar
- Aquatic Entomology and Fly Fishing: Collecting and observing aquatic insects
- Fly Fishing on Moving Water: A field trip to a trout stream
- Phenology of Fly Fishing
Instructors
Carl Haensel is a fly fishing guide, biologist, conservationist, photographer, educator and author. He teaches post-secondary courses on ecology, biology and geology for teachers and educators and is passionate about outdoor education. Carl is the author of two books about fishing in Minnesota: Fly Fishing Minnesota and Minnesota Fly Fishing Maps.
Jade Thomason has a degree in conservation biology and is an editor, artist and writer. Her background is in forest ecology and entomology, and she has been a long-time collaborator with Minnesota Trout Unlimited.
See Carl and Jade’s website for more information about them and their work.
All registered students will receive a copy of Fly Fishing Minnesota as part of the course.
2026 Program Schedule
Wednesday, June 10
- 3 p.m. - Check-in (Biome Center - building 75)
- 4-6 p.m. - Station orientation and course welcome (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- 7-9 p.m. - Hydrology and Trout Conservation: A seminar on the connection between stream flow and fly fishing (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 9-10 p.m. - Optional group campfire
Thursday, June 11
- 7-8 a.m. - Breakfast and pack a bagged lunch (Dining Hall)
- 8-10 a.m. - Fly Casting Gear, Physics & Skills: Gear and technique overview, practice dry casting (Parmelee Field)
- 10 a.m.-noon - Fly Fishing for Panfish on Lake Itasca
- Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch
- 1-2 p.m. - Break
- 2-3 p.m. - Aquatic Entomology and Fly Fishing: An introduction to aquatic insects and foodwebs (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 3-5 p.m. - Aquatic Entomology and Fly Fishing: Collect and observe aquatic insects (Lake Itasca shoreline and Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 lower)
- 5-6 p.m. - Break
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- 7-9 p.m. - Optional fly tying instruction (Dining Hall) or independent fishing
Friday, June 12
- 7-8 a.m. - Breakfast (Dining Hall)
- 8-11:30 a.m. - Morning fishing on Ozawindib Lake by canoe
- 11:30 a.m.-noon - Return to Itasca
- Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch (Dining Hall)
- 1-2 p.m. - Break
- 2-3 p.m. - What Makes an Angler: How to navigate gear, knots, & rigging on your own (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 3-5 p.m. - Phenology of Fly Fishing & Fish Biology (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- 7-9 p.m. - Optional independent fishing
Saturday, June 13
- 7-8 a.m. - Continental breakfast (pack a bagged lunch)
- 8 a.m.-1 p.m. - Fly Fishing on Moving Trout Water (Straight or Kabekona River)
- Ecological and functional roles of insects in running water
- Observations of stream hydrology and fish habitat in situ
- Running water fly fishing demo
- 1-2 p.m. - Return to Itasca
- 2-4 p.m. - Break
- 4-5 p.m. - Stillwater Trout Fishing Techniques: Coldwater hydrology and fishing coldwater lakes (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 5-6 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- 6-10 p.m. - Fishing Long Lake by canoe
Sunday, June 14
- 7-8 a.m. - Continental breakfast (pack a bagged lunch for the road)
- 8 a.m. - Checkout
- Optional fishing independently on the Kabekona or Straight River on the way home (with tips from instructors on good spots to stop!)
2026 Program Cost
Program cost is inclusive of tuition, meals and lodging. There are two options for lodging, with different price points:
- $1,500 with 'faculty cabin' lodging option
- $1,150 with bunkhouse lodging option
Mobility, Accessibility, and Field Preparedness
Itasca Station is working hard to break down barriers to field participation. As we work to make progress, the station is committed to identifying barriers to access and communicating accessible aspects of our programs/facilities to help individuals identify whether they can safely participate. Those with mobility concerns should reach out to station staff ([email protected]) before registering.
All participants must be comfortable putting on and walking in waders, climbing up stream banks, and walking for a distance of at least 0.5 miles without needing to sit and rest. Optional field trips require the ability to enter/exit a canoe from shore, to sit in a canoe for an extended period, and to paddle a canoe. Please be aware that during extended field trips, bathroom facilities will not be easily accessible. Participants should be prepared to use the natural surroundings. We will ensure appropriate guidance on how to do this discreetly and respectfully for everyone involved. Restroom breaks will be scheduled during transit to/from field sites.
Station dining, housing, and classroom buildings are spread across our 10-acre campus in Itasca State Park (see station map). Participants should be prepared for substantial daily walking. Parking is limited to designated areas; therefore, all travel between cabins, classrooms, and the dining hall is done on foot. This routine movement typically adds up to nearly a mile of walking per day, in addition to any walking required for course activities.
See our Life at the Station webpage for information on accessibility at the station.
What to bring
Participants in the Science of Fly Fishing need to bring a Minnesota fishing license with a trout stamp. Participants are encouraged to bring their own gear (waders, wading boots, rods, life jackets). Flies and terminal tackle (leaders, tippets, slipshot) will be provided. For those who do not own gear, rods and life jackets will be available for loan and waders/wading boots will be available for rental on site. See the Science of Craft homepage for a general packing list.
This course is part of our Science of Craft program. Check out the program homepage for details about our cancellation policy, meals, lodging, a general packing list, and recreational opportunities available during the course.
Questions? Reach out to us at [email protected]