More Lessons

My good friend Ian James has always advised me that it’s a good idea if one can do it, to go out with other guides/casting instructors – perhaps two different ones a year if one can do it.

He’s right.  You can always learn something new – and sometimes dramatically so – when spending time with a pro. They all will have their own “style” and methods of coaching  – and it’s likely you’ll come away with a bit more skill – or at the very least, some different insights to help you become a better caster.

As most might gather after reading my site and blog, I’ve got more experience wading small rivers and casting under those circumstances.  I’m mostly a “self taught” caster – and after 15 years, developed some bad habits.  With some pointers over the years from Ian James, I’ve become a proficient caster on the smaller rivers I fish – which generally don’t usually require casts more than 40 to 50 feet – and 30 feet being the norm – with no false casting – just a good backcast and putting the fly where I want it.  And most of the time, using a 9′ rod rigged up with 5 or 6 wt. WF floating line.

When I joined a club recently that has three small lakes with some really nice rainbow trout, I knew I’d have to learn to become more proficient with longer rods rigged up with varying lines including full sink, sink tips, and intermediates. On the advice of well known Irish fly angler David Hall, I picked up a 10 1/2 foot Greys rod when I was in Belfast in June.  Couldn’t wait to try it out when I got home on the lake – and started practicing with a 7 wt. sink tip line.

At first, I thought the rod was a bit “clumsy.”  Actually, it was me that was a bit “clumsy.”  Well – to be fair to myself – that Greys rod does have a bit of a soft tip and probably is more suited to a full sink than a sink tip line.  But after a bit of practice and adjustment from my more normal small river fishing, I was casting, at times, some good distances.

Then along came Neil Houlding. Tonight, I had the pleasure of having four hours of coaching in a rowboat with Neil.  His “style” is different than Ian James’ style – and of course, we were fishing totally different situations.

Within a few minutes with Neil, I had far better confidence and was able to cast any line against a good stiff breeze on the forward cast.  Then came lots of practice with an intermediate.

I do have to say that my arm and shoulder is a bit sore after the session – but that’s more from my trying to focus on adjusting and probably at times, “working at it” too much.  Different strokes, a bit of a different style, but during the session, I was easily and comfortably at times casting 70 to 80 feet with the intermediate line on a 9 foot rod – when I was “in the groove.”

But more importantly than distance, Neil stressed over and over the importance of working within one’s comfort zone and working on the exact right timing and stroke.  If you are working within your own comfort zone, you’re likely to catch more fish than the angler that is trying to outwork him/herself with lots of false casting, aiming for distance.  Your fly will be in the water longer, overall.

But don’t get too comfortable – test your comfort zone a bit, work on that timing and stroke, getting it just right.  And work at it being effortless – which is probably for some of us, the hardest thing to do as odd as it sounds.

Towards the final hour, I was probably casting worse than I was the hour previous.  But that’s ok. After getting something “down right,” other issues crop up – especially when sitting on non-cushioned thwart boards.  And after spending all that time before getting it just right, the arm and shoulder gets fatigued – and the fatigue can take over psychologically.  But if you can get your mind to visualize over and over what you should be doing, that will go along way to overcoming the fatigue and being ready for the next outing.

More tips and ideas another time.  But to end, I’d like to reiterate how much more you will get out of fly fishing if you get your lessons from more than one person.  I’ve had a great opportunity this year myself to have spent some time with a beautiful fly caster in Stevie Munn of County Antrim, Northern Ireland – and now Neil Houlding.

Combined with the great lessons and tips I’ve received in previous years from Ian James, I’m far more confident in getting past my comfort zone and putting together some different things I’ve learned from all of them.