Inaugural Fly Fishing & Sporting Experience
Econfina Fly Fishing & Sporting Week
Experience the wild beauty of Northwest Florida through a curated fly fishing and sporting stay at Econfina Sporting Club. Guests will enjoy guided fly fishing instruction, shallow-water fishing sessions, lodge accommodations, Southern coastal meals, evening socials, optional outdoor adventures, and time to relax around the lodge, pool, and Barrel Bar.
Designed for anglers who want more than a standard fishing trip, this experience blends hands-on instruction, time on the water, sporting-club hospitality, local history, and the natural beauty of the Econfina wetlands.
Your host: Coleman Walker
Coleman Walker is a Colorado-based fly fishing guide with over 45 years of experience fishing throughout the Rocky Mountains, saltwater flats of the Yucatán and Belize, and the wilderness fisheries of northern Saskatchewan. Originally from Oklahoma City, Coleman grew up smallmouth bass fishing Oklahoma rivers and reservoirs before spending summers at his grandfather Tom Pierce’s Sportsman’s Lodge in northern Saskatchewan, where he developed a lifelong passion for pike, walleye, and destination fishing lodge culture.
Coleman is currently entering his 14th season as a head guide for Roaring Fork Anglers and Alpine Angling in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, Colorado, averaging roughly 225 guide trips annually between float and wade fisheries throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. His background combines technical trout fishing, client instruction, destination lodge experience, and saltwater sight-fishing knowledge gained from years spent fishing the flats of Mexico and Belize.
Today, Coleman is helping develop the fly fishing program at Econfina Sporting Club in Florida’s Big Bend region, bringing together western guide culture, technical saltwater fly fishing, and high-end sporting hospitality into an emerging Gulf Coast destination.
This Experience at a Glance
Fly Fishing & Sporting Experience packages begin at $4,950 per person based on double occupancy. Non-angling companion packages are available from $2,250–$2,750 per person. Space is limited to preserve a premium, small-group experience.
Choose Your Week:
May 3rd – 7th: Best for beginner or intermediate fly anglers.
May 10th – 14th: Best for advanced fly anglers.
Location: Econfina Sporting Club, Florida’s Forgotten Coast & Big Bend
Format: Multi-day lodge-based fly fishing and sporting experience
Arrival / Departure: Wednesday arrival, Sunday departure
Skill Levels: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced options depending on week
Primary Focus: Fly fishing instruction, guided flats and marsh fishing, lodge hospitality, and optional sporting experiences
Who This Experience Is For
This fly fishing experience is built for guests who want a guided, high-touch sporting trip with both education and adventure. It can work well for:
Beginner anglers looking to learn proper fly fishing fundamentals.
Intermediate anglers who want to improve casting, presentation, line control, and sight-fishing skills.
Experienced anglers interested in fishing the marshes, flats, rivers, and coastal waters of Northwest Florida.
Non-angling companions who want to enjoy the lodge, pool, meals, socials, optional excursions, and the relaxed sporting-club environment.
Small groups, couples, friends, and corporate or private parties looking for a premium outdoor experience.
What Guests Can Expect
Guests can expect a blend of structured instruction, guided fishing, lodge hospitality, optional excursions, and social evenings. Current draft details include:
Hands-on casting and fly fishing instruction on the lodge grounds.
Guided fly fishing sessions from technical skiffs, tower boats, and shallow marsh boats.
Instruction focused on casting mechanics, target casting, strip sets, line management, fly presentation, gear setup, sight-fishing fundamentals, reading tides, wind management, shot placement, fly selection, and line control.
Evening presentations, guide discussions, and social gatherings at the Barrel Bar.
Optional outdoor activities such as eco airboat rides, sunset cruises, side-by-side wetlands tours, sporting clays, spin-casting trips, freshwater bass excursions, nighttime fishing, and flounder gigging.
Fly Fishing Program Overview
The fly fishing portion should be positioned as both educational and experiential.
Guests begin with foundational instruction before moving into guided fishing sessions on the water. The program includes casting fundamentals, gear setup, fly presentation, shallow-water technique, sight-fishing skills, reading fish behavior, and applying those skills in real fishing scenarios.
Potential target species include:
- Redfish
- Speckled trout
- Cobia
- Tripletail
- Seasonal tarpon opportunities
Fishing may take place from technical skiffs, tower boats, and shallow marsh boats, depending on the day, tide, conditions, and guide planning.
Itinerary Overview
Arrival Day
Guests arrive by private vehicle, Tallahassee International Airport, or Perry Airport. Package pricing includes luxury transfers, with parking available at the lodge for guests driving in. Arrival day includes check-in, lodge settling, cocktails at the Barrel Bar, guide introductions, a welcome dinner, and a relaxed evening social.
Instruction & First Fishing Session
The first full day begins with breakfast at the lodge, followed by hands-on casting and fly fishing instruction. Guests then head out for a guided afternoon fishing session, with optional evening activities such as sunset cruises, eco airboat rides, evening fishing, or flounder gigging.
Technical Fly Fishing Day
The program continues with a morning guided fly fishing session focused on reading water, fish movement, wind management, tide awareness, advanced presentations, and line control. The afternoon can include rest at the lodge, pool time, merchandise browsing, or optional excursions such as freshwater bass trips, springs trips, side-by-side tours, sporting clays, or eco rides.
Final Fishing & Closing Evening
The final full day includes another guided morning fishing session focused on refining technique and building confidence. The afternoon is flexible, followed by a relaxed sporting-club evening, chef-led dinner, guest stories, photos, cocktails, and a closing social.
Departure Day
Guests enjoy a relaxed lodge breakfast before departure, with transportation available to Tallahassee International Airport or Perry Airport.
Inaugural Fly Fishing & Sporting Experience
The Great Wetlands of Northwest Florida
Florida’s Forgotten Coast & Big Bend
WEEK ONE
Beginner & Intermediate Fly Fishing Experience
Wednesday Arrival – Sunday Departure
WEDNESDAY — ARRIVAL DAY
“Welcome to the Wetlands”
Afternoon & Evening Arrivals
Guests arrive via:
- Tallahassee International Airport
- Perry Airport
- private vehicle
Luxury transfers included within package pricing.
Complimentary valet-style luggage assistance upon arrival.
Parking available at the lodge for guests driving in.
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Guest Arrival & Check-In
- settle into lodge accommodations
- cocktails available at the Barrel Bar
- meet the guides
- relax around the pool and lodge grounds
- merchandise and gear preview available
7:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
Casual Gulf Coast welcome dinner featuring:
- fresh local seafood
- Southern-inspired cuisine
- cocktails
- wine
- introductions to guides and staff
Evening
Barrel Bar Social
Relaxed evening social with:
- cocktails
- guide introductions
- trip overview
- fireside storytelling
Flexible bedtime encouraged.
THURSDAY — FOUNDATIONS ON THE FLATS
Beginner Fly Fishing & Wetlands History
(Afternoon fishing tide)
7:30 AM
Lodge Breakfast
Full Southern breakfast at the lodge.
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Casting & Fly Fishing Instruction at the Lodge
Hands-on instruction on lodge grounds:
- casting mechanics
- target casting
- strip sets
- line management
- fly presentation
- gear setup
- sight-fishing fundamentals
Master guides available for one-on-one coaching.
12:00 PM
Lodge Lunch
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Guided Afternoon Fly Fishing Session
Depart docks for guided fly-fishing experience.
Target species may include:
- redfish
- speckled trout
- cobia
- tripletail
- flounder
- seasonal tarpon opportunities
Fishing conducted from:
- technical skiffs
- tower boats
- shallow marsh boats
Focus:
- sight-fishing
- shallow-water presentation
- fish behavior
- marsh and flats techniques
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Flexible Open Time & Optional Activities
Guests may choose:
- pool relaxation
- homemade pizza at the pool bar
- cocktails at the Barrel Bar
- side-by-side tours
- sporting clays
- short spin-casting trips
- eco tours
- lodge lounging
- hammock and pool time
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Dinner Service
7:15 PM
Evening Presentation
“Stories of the Great Wetlands”
Special guest archaeologist/historian presentation covering:
- Paleo hunters
- Seminole history
- Osceola
- wetlands archaeology
- Gulf fisheries
- conservation
- Florida frontier history
Optional Evening Activities
Approximately 7:15 PM – 9:00 PM
Optional:
- sunset cruises
- eco airboat rides
- evening fly fishing
- flounder gigging
Evening
Barrel Bar Nightcap
Relaxed cocktails and conversation.
Suggested bedtime by 11:00 PM.
FRIDAY — TECHNICAL FLY FISHING
Reading Water & Hunting Fish
(Morning fishing tide)
7:00 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Depart Docks
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Guided Morning Fly Fishing Session
Focus:
- advanced presentations
- fish movement
- wind management
- reading tides
- shot placement
- fly selection
- line control
Master guide instruction throughout the day.
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Lodge Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Open Relaxation Time
Guests may:
- rest at the lodge
- enjoy pool and hammocks
- cocktails and casual lodge time
- merchandise browsing
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Optional Afternoon Activities
Possible options:
- freshwater bass trip on Econfina River
- Wacissa River freshwater excursion
- springs trip
- side-by-side tour
- sporting clays
- eco airboat ride
- pool and lodge relaxation
- short spin-fishing trip
Certain activities may rotate or be limited daily.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Dinner Service
7:15 PM
Master Guide Fly Fishing Discussion
Hosted by:
Coleman Walker
Headliner guide from Colorado
Topics may include:
- destination fly fishing
- technical casting
- flats strategy
- equipment setup
- fish behavior
- travel fishing
- modern fly systems
Interactive guest discussion encouraged.
Optional Evening Activities
7:15 PM – 9:00 PM
Optional:
- sunset cruises
- nighttime fishing
- dock-light fly fishing
- flounder gigging
- airboat marsh adventures
Evening
Barrel Bar Social & Nightcap
SATURDAY — SPORTING CELEBRATION
Executive Chef Dinner & Closing Evening
(Morning fishing tide)
7:00 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Depart Docks
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Guided Morning Fly Fishing Session
Final guided session focused on:
- refining technique
- confidence building
- practical application
- one-on-one instruction
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Flexible Open Time & Optional Experiences
Guests may choose:
- lodge relaxation
- pool and cocktails
- side-by-side tours
- springs trips
- eco tours
- sporting clays
- spin fishing
- freshwater bass excursion
- merchandise shopping
- photography opportunities
Saturday Evening
Suggested Lodge Wear Attire
Guests are encouraged to change from fishing attire into relaxed sporting-club lodge wear for the closing evening.
Not formal.
Relaxed luxury sporting attire encouraged.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Executive Chef Closing Dinner
Special Gulf Coast culinary presentation featuring:
- fresh seafood
- regional Southern cuisine
- chef-inspired dishes
- cocktails and wine pairings
Evening Celebration
Closing Sporting Club Social
Featuring:
- stories from the week
- guest awards
- photographs and video highlights
- cocktails at the Barrel Bar
- final gathering with guides and guests
Optional late-evening activities available.
SUNDAY — DEPARTURE DAY
Morning
Lodge Breakfast
Relaxed departure breakfast.
Airport Transfers
Transportation available to:
- Tallahassee International Airport
- Perry Airport
Multiple Tallahassee runs available if needed.
What’s Included
Your stay includes lodging, meals, airport transfers, guided fly fishing instruction, fishing sessions, licenses, lodge amenities, evening socials, educational programming, photography coverage, and use of lodge fishing equipment if needed.
Welcome Package
Each guest receives an exclusive Econfina Sporting Club welcome package. Current package items include:
- Econfina fly box
- Branded shirt
- Lodge hat
- Econfina mug
- Branded cooler
Additional lodge wear and merchandise will be available through the Econfina shop.
Customize Your Stay
Guests may enhance their visit with optional outdoor experiences, subject to scheduling, weather, and availability. Current options include:
- Econfina River freshwater bass trip
- Wacissa River freshwater bass trip
- Sunset cruise
- Private sunset cruise
- Eco airboat tour
- Side-by-side wetlands tour
- Sporting clays
- Additional spin-cast excursion
- Nighttime fishing excursion
- Flounder gigging experience
- One-on-one guide session
- Private single-angler boat upgrade
Lodge Gallery
Payment & Policy Overview
A 50% deposit is due at booking, with the final balance due at the conclusion of the trip. A 4-day cancellation notice is required. Liability waivers are required. Fishing and outdoor activities are planned rain or shine whenever conditions are considered safe by lodge management and guide staff. In the event of severe weather or unsafe boating conditions, alternative lodge experiences, educational sessions, excursions, or adjusted schedules may be substituted.
Availability is intentionally limited. The lodge can accommodate up to 14 guests, with a recommended group size of 10–12 anglers to maintain a premium guide-to-guest experience.
