Not Your Traditional Guide Service

More Like A Fly Fishing School

Mission: To create mindful, independent fly anglers through various lessons and species.

Philosophy: IFFC believes in using fly fishing to empower lives and strives to make it accessible to everyone.

Every outing is a near life experience. We can promise peace, connection, simplicity, excitement and mystery. After all, that’s what fly fishing is all about.

View fullsize We were able to get Dennis out on the water today. Kicked things off with an hour presentation on fly fishing and followed it up with some casting work. Then we hit the water for some guided lesson time. - Thanks for a great day Dennis. We appreciat
View fullsize Extraordinary game fish at any size. You don’t have to catch a 20’ to have fun, or feel good about yourself. They all fight above their weight class. - #flyfishing #illinois #smalliesonthefly #smallmouthsyndicate #explore #roam #adventur
View fullsize John getting after it. It was his first-time fly fishing in moving water and he handled all the variables quite naturally. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. - Thank you for letting us be a part of your fly fishing journey John.
View fullsize John with a solid crappie during the Stillwater section of our Fly Fishing Crash Course. - Our Fly Fishing Crash Course is an eight hour experience. It is perfect for beginner / intermediate fly anglers. We go from classroom, to stillwater, to mov
View fullsize Pretty nice little Tuesday!! Today we started to add the roll cast, double haul and two-hand retrieve into Jarod’s bag of fly fishing tricks. - Thank you for letting us be a part of your fly fishing journey. - DM or contact us thru the website
View fullsize Away we go!! Could not have asked for a more beautiful day on the water. - There are some spring and summer dates still available for carp, smallmouth and trout specific guided lessons. DM or contact us thru the website in our bio. - We look forwar
View fullsize We had fun yesterday in the wind and rain. It’s always a great feeling to be without the opinions, attitudes and conclusions that separate us from the nature of experience. - The fish were the only things we took pictures of but we watched dee
View fullsize Stillwater Reconnaissance Mission. The wind and dark water made things quite difficult out there. Bubble lines and detritus were the focus of the day. - Only 1 spot remains for our Carp School on Saturday, June 1st. DM or contact us thru the websit
View fullsize Today was the first day of the rest of Rade’s life. - Thank you for letting us be a part of your fly fishing journey. - #flyfishing #illinoisflyfishingcompany #illinois #castinglesson #casting #craft #intuition #sacred #straightlines #smoothac
View fullsize Illinois Hat Trick. - Entering the water with no expectations is powerful stuff… Anything is capable of making you feel connected to the excitement and mystery that surrounds us. - #flyfishing #illinois #explore #roam #adventures #flyfishing

Why You Succeed With IFFC.

  • All too often the attention is solely placed on the number of fish put in the net. Our focus is on the process and journey of being a fly angler. The fish are a bonus.

  • On the water learning speaks for itself. Guided lessons, schools and our private mentorships give you the repetition and enriched environment to best accommodate your learning and skill development.

  • When you make an investment in IFCC, we make an investment in you. We allow unlimited texts and emails asking questions, showing progress and troubleshooting.

Testimonials

  • "A big thanks to Ike for the casting lesson, not only is he very well informed, but he is interested in seeing success and making the class enjoyable. I have taken my newfound casting skills to the water several times since with improved accuracy and distance. I had the opportunity to spend time on the water fishing with Ike and was memorable and informative as well. Anyone even mildly interested in fly fishing should drop Ike an email and take a class. I learned more about fly fishing in a few hours than I have from numerous other sources combined. Thanks again Ike!!!"

    Pete - Lombard, IL

  • "Guiding is a hard job because it requires people skills not just fishing skills. Ike has that in SPADES! He's one of the fishiest guys I've ever met but also has that EQ side to him that allows you to get comfortable in hard fishing scenarios and really pushes your fishing game to the next level. His tips are practical and fishing with him is really a holistic experience not just a transaction. Couldn't recommend him more. Best guiding experience I've had thus far."

    Pablo - Chicago, IL

  • "Ike is the go to person for fly fishing knowledge in the suburbs of Chicago. Ike can take an intimidating sport and reduce it to a level that makes all of his students feel comfortable, no matter the skill level. A fly fishing class with Ike guarantees fun, laughter and a better understanding of the incredibly fun and rewarding pastime of fly fishing."

    Ray - Virginia Beach, VA

  • "Thank you for everything you've done for me and all new fly fishing anglers. Personally you helped me start fly fishing and I am so grateful for that. You've always been kind and welcoming to me. I am glad to have met you."

    Harrison - LaGrange, IL

Owner / Coach

Ike Rhodes believes in the healing power of water. As Jim Harrison wrote, “The natural world seems to absorb the poison in me.”

An Illinois native, Ike has been a spirited fly angler for over ten years. Within the last six seasons, Ike has introduced over three hundred people to the sport of fly fishing. As a former fly fishing instructor at the Orvis Fly Fishing School in Kohler, Wisconsin, Ike is more than capable in making sure you reach your desired expectations.

Experienced and trained in First Aid and CPR, Ike is enthusiastic about providing education, instruction and guidance to fellow fly anglers.