Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited

Introduction to and Essentials of Fly Fishing
2026-03-29 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Wilkins School Community Center, 7604 Charleston Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15218, United States
Each Spring, Penn’s Woods West TU sponsors a day-long course that covers the essential aspects of Fly Fishing, led by local expert Scott Loughner, PWWTU member Ed Barger, and other PWWTU members. The course is open to the public and free (thanks to generous support from PWWTU). Our free “Introduction to and Essentials of Fly Fishing” class with sessions from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M on Saturday, March 28 and on Sunday,  March 29, 2026 at the Wilkins School Community Center in Pittsburgh Regent Square neighborhood. Join us to learn about basics of fly fishing, including equipment needs, basic knots, flies and the insects they imitate, and basic fly casting. We even provide lunch!
Wilkins School Community Center
7604 Charleston Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 (Regent Square Neighborhood)
INTERESTED?
Contact Ed Barger (ed@pwwtu.org) for more information or to sign up for one of the sessions. Please use subject of “Free Fly Fishing School 2026” Don’t wait to sign up, as class sizes are limited to a maximum of 30 per session!
Note: Scott Loughner, our main instructor, is teaching additional classes at Community College of Allegheny County. Classes include

Learn to Fly Fish – a much expanded version of our one-day class
Intermediate Fly Fishing – A course that builds upon skills learned in the introductory course
Several fly-tying courses, including

Introduction to Fly Tying – A course teaching basic tying techniques, along with instruction on how to tie different types of flies such as dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, and streamers that imitate various stages of insect life, as well as bait fish;
Pittsburgh Flies – A course teaching how to tie flies created in the Pittsburgh area that are highly effective in local streams, rivers and lakes.
Tying Flies for Smallmouth Bass – A course targeting the tying techniques and patterns specifically geared to fishing for smallmouth bass;
Tying Streamer Flies – A course covering the proper techniques for creating streamer flies, which imitate the bait fish found in our rivers, lakes and streams
Tying with Deer Hair – A course covering techniques on how to create flies using this unique material; and
Stoneflies Bottom to Top – A course covering the techniques and fly patterns used to simulate the various life stages of these aquatic insects that are important food sources for fish

Details for these courses and others may be found at the CCAC web site covering community education courses related to sports and recreation,
https://shopcommunityed.ccac.edu/Courses/Sports_and_Recreations.aspx
We at Penn’s Woods West TU Hope that you find our introductory course interesting and useful, and that you have been able to use the information provided to increase your fishing skills.
We hope to see you at one of our future monthly meetings, held at the Barn facility of Christ Church at Grove Farm, 249 Duff Road, Sewickley PA, or at our upcoming Cabin Fever event, being held on February 22 at the Doubletree Hotel Cranberry, 910 Sheraton Dr., Mars PA.
Happy Fishing, and Tight Lines,
Ed Barger, Free Fly Fishing School Coordinator
Penn’s Woods West Trout Unlimited
Contact Ed Barger (ed@pwwtu.org) for more information.

Bar Flies Monthly Meeting
2026-04-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-25 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-22 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-24 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-28 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-26 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-23 18:00 - 21:00 and 21 more dates | Howard’s Tavern, 98 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15229, United States
The group meets the fourth Monday of each month (unless specified) at 7:00 pm at Howard’s Tavern, 98 Center Ave, West View, PA 15229. Some folks show up around 6 pm to get some extra time behind the vise. All are welcome and be assured it is a relaxed, low-key environment to learn and exchange fishing and tying stories. Let’s get those boxes ready for the season!
You can park in the lot, and Howard’s has a handicap ramp and entrance into the dining room on the side of the building. Drinks and a menu are available.
Website: www.howardstavern.com
For beginner tiers, or anyone else:
We’ll be doing a various demo ties, so come learn a few tricks and tips! We’ll have materials ready to go. Bring your equipment, and if you don’t have any – no problem. We’ll have some spare tools you can try out.

For the advanced tiers:
Open tying – bring whatever you want to tie up and your equipment.

NOTE: Good idea to bring your lamp or some sort of lighting and an extension cord.

See ya there!
