Instructor:
John A. Jackman
Professor & Extension Entomology Specialist
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
315 HPCT
College Station, TX 77843-2475
Phone:  979.845.7026
Email: j-jackman@tamu.edu

Credit Hours:  Three (3)
Class Location:  Heep Center, West Campus, Texas A&M University
Click here for a printable campus map [PDF])
Time:  Lectures: T 12:45-1:35 p.m. ; Labs: T, Th 2:20-4:10 p.m.
Prerequisites:  Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

Course Description
This course will be a blend of aquatic entomology and fly tying techniques. Lectures cover topics in aquatic insects, fly fishing, water quality and conservation. Basic entomology will focus on identification of insect orders and a few important genera, insect anatomy, and biology with special attention on the aquatic insect groups. Insect biology and behavior will be covered to improve the anglers' understanding of how to select and present insect imitations. Specimens of insects will be brought to the class or collected as part of the course.

Fly tying techniques will be taught in laboratories with a hands-on approach. Participants will tie the basic fly patterns in various styles that will provide a foundation for tying most flies in the future. Fly tying is a skill that should incorporate a knowledge of insects and other aquatic organisms. Fly tying is also an art form that produces imitations of natural organisms. Combining the skill and the art form, allows anglers to produce useful and attractive lures. Suggested assignments will be provided to improve your tying speed, increase the durability of your flies and allow you to tie a variety of patterns and sizes.

Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

Grading

Examinations: There will be three cumulative examinations over the entomology and fly tying material covered in the lectures and laboratories.The first two written exams will be during a scheduled laboratory time and they will be worth 100 points each. The final written exam will be at the time scheduled for the final by the university. The final exam will be worth 200 points.

Class Participation: Students will demonstrate their fly tying skills by completing flies assigned in the laboratories. Each fly will be recorded as part of the class participation score. Fly completion, demontration of skills, and quality of construction will count toward the score.

All required assignments and examinations must be complete and submitted to the instructor. Late work will be penalized. Final grades will be calculated based on the total points received during the semester.

Approximate grading scale
90-100% = A
80-89%= B
70-79%= C
60-69%=D
0-59%=F (not passing)

Text
No text book will be required for this course. Original course materials will be posted on the website for this course, currently located at: http://flyfishing.tamu.edu/. Supplemental resource material can be found on the Web and links to various support information are provided on the course web site. Optional reading lists of fly tying books are also available on the web site.

Equipment
Fly tying tools will be available for use during the lab sections. Expendable fly tying materials, such as hooks, feathers, fur, thread, etc., will be provided from the student fees for use during the laboratories. Students may want to purchase their own fly tying tools and materials to allow them to practice outside of the laboratory hours.

OVERVIEW OF CLASS SESSIONS

NOTE TO STUDENTS*:
The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. “Handouts”, means all material generated for this class, which includes, but is not limited to, syllabi, quizzes, exams, in-class materials, review sheets, and problem sets. Because these materials are copyrighted, no student has the right to copy these handouts, unless permission is expressly granted.

As commonly defined plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, works, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, THE STUDENT IS COMMITTING PLAGIARISM IF HE OR SHE COPIES THE WORK OF ANOTHER PERSON AND TURNS IT IN AS HIS OR HER OWN, EVEN IF PERMISSION BY THAT PERSON HAS BEEN GRANTED. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Offenders of this policy will be punished according to University policies, which may include being expelled from the Institution. In addition, there will be no cheating of any type tolerated in this course. All exams will be proctored and all excused absences will be checked.

If the student has any question regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section “Scholastic Dishonesty”.

* Statement from the Texas A&M University Faculty Senate - January 9, 1997

The Americans With Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for person with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If a student believes he or she has a disability requiring an accommodation, he or she should contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building (845-1637), and the instructors, so that such accommodations can be made.

Academic Integrity Statement

The Texas A&M University Honor Code, based on the long-standing affirmation that "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do" is fundamental to the value of the A&M learning experience and requires that Aggies will not involve themselves in any form of academic dishonesty. According to the Office of the Aggie Honor System, academic dishonesty consists of cheating, fabrication, falsification, multiple submission, plagiarism, and multiplicity. Clarification of each of actions may be found at the Aggie Honor System website at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor. This list, however, is not exclusive of any other acts that may reasonably be termed academic dishonesty. The penalty for a violation of academic dishonesty in this class shall be an "F" in the course and filing of an Honor Code Violation Report with the Office of the Aggie Honor System. Less severe penalties may be imposed if the circumstances warrant.