Thirty years ago, Tony Marasco made room in his Scott TV repair shop to sell materials for tying flies.

"I did it so my Trout Unlimited students would have access to good material. There were no other shops in town," he said.

Over time, feathers, fur and thread led to waders, rods and reels, all of which began edging out the electronics stuff. And while Marasco still operates a TV repair service, it's the business of fishing -- a labor of love -- that keeps him going strong at age 73.

"I learned a good lesson when I opened this place," said Marasco of Fly Tyers "Vice" on Swallow Hill Road. "A guy came in here one day with a bunch of tackle I'd sold him and said, 'I don't know what to do with this. I don't know how to fish.'

"I felt so small, I could have crawled under a rock. It was opening day weekend and I couldn't take him out, but I told him to come back the following weekend and I'd get him started. Well, he never did. From that point on, I made sure that anyone who came in here could learn how to fly fish."

Students in his beginners fly-tying course receive 10 weeks of tying instruction plus a casting lesson and are treated to an outing to Slippery Rock Creek.

Like Marasco and other fly shop owners, Rich Roseborough of South Hills Rod and Reel in Dormont also devotes part of his fly-tying course to knot-tying, tackle and casting, and includes casting instruction with the purchase of every rod. "One of the reasons small shops have been able to hang in all these years against the big chain stores," said Roseborough, who has been in business 21 years, "is that they give customers individualized attention."

"It's the great thing about a fly shop, the personal touch you can't get when you mail order," said fly fishing guide Dale Kotowski.

Students in most beginner courses learn to tie nymphs, streamers, emergers and dry flies beginning with simple patterns and graduating to more advanced techniques.

"The first three weeks are hard," said Marasco, whose work has earned a spot at the Allenberry Resort's Fly Fishing Museum on the Yellow Breeches. "After that, it's a piece of cake if you practice, practice, practice."

For anyone serious about fly fishing, developing a relationship with a fly shop is essential. Organizations such as Trout Unlimited and Family Tyes also offer good mentoring opportunities.

"Tying classes are a wonderful way to introduce a child or a grandchild to the sport," said Joe Kline of Penns Woods West Trout Unlimited. "And it's a nice night out with fellow fishers."

Here's a rundown of courses:

FLY TYERS VICE, 2225 Swallow Hill Road, Scott Township, 412-276-2831. Beginner level -- 10 weeks, includes casting workshop and Slippery Rock Creek outing. Begins Sunday, Jan. 11 (1-4 p.m. or 6-9 p.m.) or Monday, Jan. 12 (7-10 p.m.). $45 - bring your own vice.

SOUTH HILLS ROD AND REEL, 3227 West Liberty Avenue, Dormont, 412-344-8888. Beginner/Intermediate level -- 7 weeks Begins Thursday, Jan. 22 (7-9 p.m.). $45 -- bring your own vice.

INTERNATIONAL ANGLER, 501 Freeport Road, Fox Chapel, 412-782-2222. Beginner level -- six weeks. Begins Tuesday, Jan. 13 (6:30-9 p.m.) or Saturday, Jan. 17 (7:45-10 a.m.). $40 -- bring your own vice. Intermediate level -- six weeks. Begins Thursday, Jan. 15 (6:30-9 p.m.) $40 -- bring your own vice. Advanced roundtable with Dave Schmezer. Begins Wednesday, Jan. 14 (6:30-9 p.m.). $10 per night -- bring your own vice. Demonstrations by tiers, including Dave Schmezer, Kieran Frye, Scott Loughner. Begins Jan. 3 and continues every Saturday morning through Feb. (10 am-noon) and is free .

HIGHLAND SPORTS, 4950 William Penn Highway, Murrysville, 724-387-2727. Beginner level -- 5 weeks, Begins Tuesday, Jan. 13 (7-9 p.m.). Intermediate level -- 5 weeks. Begins Wednesday, Jan. 14 (7-9 p.m.) $40 -- bring your own vice. Leader building with Scott Loughner. Saturday, Jan. 10 -- free demonstration (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.); $25 workshop (1-3 p.m.). Parachute flies with Kieran Frye Saturday, Jan. 17 -- free demonstration (10 a.m. - noon); $25 workshop (1-3 p.m.). Saltwater flies with Scott Loughner Saturday, Jan. 24 -- free demonstration (10 a.m.-noon); $25 workshop (1-3 p.m.). Epoxy flies with Scott Loughner. Saturday, Feb. 7 -- free demonstration (10 a.m. - noon); $25 workshop (1-3 p.m.) .

ALLEGHENY BAIT AND TACKLE, 200 Ross Street, Tarentum, 724-224-6888. Beginner level -- six weeks. Begins Monday, Jan. 6 (7-9 p.m.) or Tuesday, Jan. 7 (7-9 p.m.). $45 -- bring your own vice.

ORCHARD VIEW ANGLING, Route 19, Canonsburg, 724-743-3909. Beginner level -- 8 weeks. Begins week of Sunday, Jan. 11 -- classes offered Monday-Thursday evenings or Sunday afternoons. $45 - bring your own vice. Rod building instruction also offered upon request .

DeFRANK'S FLY SHOP, Chalk Hill Plaza, Chalk Hill, 724-439-5770. On-going Thursday classes for all skill levels (7-9 p.m.). $69 for 4 weeks - bring your own vice. Tutoring and $10-a-night classes also offered.

TROUT UNLIMITED, PENNS WOODS WEST, Doorway I, 10 California Ave., Avalon or Crescent Municipal Building, Crescent Township, 412-364-2412. Beginner level -- 10 weeks. Begins Wednesday, Jan. 14, Doorway I, Avalon or Thursday, Jan. 22, Crescent Township Municipal Building (7-9:30 p.m.). $45 - bring your own vice, tools, thread.

FAMILY TYES, Baldwin High School, north cafeteria, 4653 Clairton Boulevard, Baldwin Borough, 412-884-5866. Introduction to fly fishing, includes tying, casting, entomology, etc. Begins Wednesday, Feb. 4 with classroom instruction through April; outings follow. $30 -- bring your own vice (additional $45 for vice, tools) .