Musky School 2026
- rivergoatoutfitter8
- Feb 1
- 6 min read
Similar to the smallmouth masterclass I attended in March of 2025, Blane Chocklett co-hosted a musky school with Mad River Outfitters (Josh and Rob) that was supported by Virginia Trophy Guides. Over a 5 day period we sat down to learn about some of the most effective methods for targeting river musky on the fly, casting techniques (and practice), tying a hybrid changer with some of Blane's new Chocklett Factory support discs and game changer hooks ftom Ahrex followed by 4 days on the New and James Rivers with Blane or Josh, Braden, and Joe from VTG on the sticks. I showed up ready to learn, put in the work and had the opportunity to meet, hang out with and fish with a great group of dudes from all over the country.
Each day started the same. I would get up early to enjoy some coffee and breakfast in preparation for logging as many casts as it took to get through the day or finding a musky on the end of my line and being ready for the fight. After grabbing boxed lunches, we would pile into our vehicles and head to our takeout or rally point with our guide for the day. I continued to fuel my mornings with a Phorm Energy drink and Level-1 bar or protein stick from 1st Phorm. In the evenings I started the ride home with a Phormula-1 post-work(out) shake and creatine. Back at the house we enjoyed delicious meals, tied flies and enjoyed the company of the likeminded individuals congregated for the week of all things musky before racking out and doing it all again.
Day 1 on the water, I fished the New River with Joe on the sticks and Jake (my fishing buddy for the school) . The morning was COLD but we rigged up and hit the first hole of the day hard and proceeded to fish deliberately through the rest of the day adjusting for wind and the low water conditions. I had zero action all day but after lunch Jake had a fish come off a few strips in and had a follow to the boat not long before we took out for the day. If we learned anything this day, it was to strip set harder and we were pretty good at catching bottom!
Days 2, 3 and 4 we fished the Upper James. Day 2 we were on the boat with Blane. We were also accompanied by Josh and Rob from Mad RIver Outfitters who provided comedic relief, constructive criticisms and all the hype from their raft. The morning was cold but we got to our spot and Blane gave us the rundown. We would be fishing (relatively) deep and slow with large flies - this was the game plan every day with little deviation. The morning consisted of a lot of casting practice and picking Blane's brain about a lot of things with the occasional quip from the homies nearby in the raft when we'd junk a cast or catch the bottom again. This continued throughout the day and was a welcomed break to the monotony. Cast, strip, figure 8 or oval. Repeat again and again... Then, right before lunch my line got really heavy and it definitely wasn't the bottom, which I had become accustomed to hanging up on.
Fish on!!! The fight was nerve racking. Every time this musky got near the boat it grew and would go on another run. I wasn't convinced I would land this fish. Eventually, I was able to get it close enough for Blane to net it. The chaos subsided and the stoke went through the roof! Years of hunting for this apex river predator had finally paid off big. REALLY BIG. I had an obvious new personal best musky (fly or gear). I held on to the net while we parked the boat near the bank to hop out for a quick photo op before releasing her to play another day. I could barely pick this absolute unit of a fish up, let alone get a grip near her tail. It was unreal and I got to share the experience with some new friends and one of the best net men to ever do it... but our day wasn't over.
Since we had already parked the boat near shore, we went ahead and broke out our boxed lunches. We had a wrap, some chips, cookies, a loaded ranch potato salad that was amazing and continued to celebrate. One of the guys in the group was even nice enough to bring mini bottles of fireball for everyone to enjoy after catching a musky. I drank mine, it was not great. I would have preferred the jaw breaker or some red hots. I'm not typically one to be at a loss for words, but as I sat on a log and ate my lunch trying to wrap my head around what had just happened, my responses were short. Before hopping back in the boat, I raised my hands to the sky to give thanks and released a Ric Flair-esque, "WOOO!!"
Back in the boat, Blane rowed us in to position. Jake was getting ready to start casting and I was just cracking open a refreshing beverage. I proceeded to take a sip for me and poured a splash out "for the homies" (musky) . Jake reloaded for what we're pretty sure was his second cast but no more than third following lunch and he was hooked up and this time it stayed pinned and he got it to the bag! At this point the skunk is totally off the boat and we're all riding the highs that come with catching these amazing fish.
The rest of the afternoon we kind of shifted gears and worked on two-handed casting and changing out some flies for a little different size and presentation. We were still fishing, but not with the same intensity as before. We were relaxed, happy and laughed through hanging up in the trees above the water instead of something on the river bottom. Collectively, we touched 2 more fish before calling it a day. Rob had one that didn't stay pinned right before he and Josh headed back to the house. Then, as the sun was setting and the boys loaded their raft up, I was pulling my last strip for my retrieve before turning into an 8 or oval and got absolutely whacked under the boat. This fish wasn't large, but boy was this little male mean! The fight was short and sweet. We snapped a quick photo and got him back in the water. A perfect way to wrap up a very exciting and successful day of fly fishing for musky.
On days 3 and 4 I rigged up and fished, but not with the same intensity as I had previously. I was a little beat up from slinging big flies and casting heavy rods and lines. My stripping hand was sore, swollen and crampy while my casting shoulder was achey. I enjoyed more conversation and snacks on the river. I got to catch up on how the Alaskan summer season went on the Naknek for Braden and Josh from VTG . Jake and I stayed pretty good at catching bottom and we did not see any musky. Personally, I was a lot of things those days but mostly I was just riding the high from day 2 and trying to be an active part of the team as we pursued more musky, instead of taking it easy back at the house by the fireplace while sitting in my boxers eating chicken wings.
I can't thank Blane, the guys from Mad River Outfitters and Virginia Trophy Guides enough for the resources they pooled for executing a week of learning and fishing like this. If you're serious about angling and learning to be/get better, I would urge you to seek out opportunities like this one or even attending a guide school. Invest in yourself and your interests or passion. Your dividends will be knowledge, skills and a better understanding but maybe one time it's a fish of a lifetime too.
***If you'd like to pick up some Phorm Energy or you're interested in the other products from 1st Phorm to fuel your outdoor adventures, you can shoot me a message with questions or visit my affiliate link below. I'd be honored to help you build a solid foundation for longevity in the outdoors space.
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