First of all let me state... I AM PANTS AT FLY CASTING!
but I have enthuisiasm.

Its winter,the seasons over and we dont even have the excuse of Grayling We should be should be casting!

Now am I the only one who looks with envy at the Glasgow casting club meeting every sunday?
And now with the Aberdeen Outcasts rubbing are our noses in it with You Tube videos for goodnesake!
There are Casting clubs springing up in the far corners of the UK. Yet here in Mecca of still water fishing we seem to have nothing comparable.

I have sent this email to the BFCC

I have been reading about the Glasgow casting club and the Aberdeen outcasts, and wonder if the the resources exist to do such a thing around the east of England,Surely with Grafham just to the south and Rutland just to the north, Peterborough( the show ground for instance) or Stamford would be idealy suited to provide a park or sportshall location for groups to meet on a regular basis to hone there skills.
Do the BFCC have any casting coaches or people training to be coaches around these areas who would be willing to do such a thing.

I am no great caster but am happy to orginise and co-ordinate such a project.

Surely between Grafham, Rutland, Pitsford, Eyebrook , and Elinor, With places like Peterborough, Corby, Stamford, Kettering, etc, that has to be heaps of suitable venues.

Are there any people out there who are instructors.... or learning to instruct, who would be willing to help out at these sessions?
And are there any guys( or ladies) who live within this region who would be interested in a regular weekly or bi-weekly meet at some venue to do this?

Can anyone think of suitable venues, (parks, sportshalls, Rowing lakes etc)

If theres enough interest I will happily go off and visit some of the other casting clubs to see their set ups and talk to them about they're experiences ( and see if they have any local Grayling fishing).

Also if someone is in a better position than me to Kick start this or wants to talk about it, PM me and I will send you my phone number and I am happy to help in any way I can ( i'm not a silo)..

I just would like to see it happen. ( and be able to practice my woeful casting this winter).

At very least if there are enough people who feel like this, and we cant get a coach or two involved and a cosy sports hall and coffee machine we can start to meet up and help each other out at least.

If your interested please let me know where you are and we can try and find a venue convieniant to the most people.

all the best WP

WP,

I am a member of the Glasgow Casting club. I think your idea of using rowing lakes is a great idea. I have in the past rowed at Holme Pierrepoint Nottingham, Peterborough and on the River beside Boston (Witham?). You will often find that rowing venues are almost deserted in the afternoons. Of the above Holme Pierrepoint would be my choice and has an advantage in that it is beside the Trent for practising river technique. However as it is the National Watersports centre it may also be the busiest. I seem to remember the Witham has high banks so may be the least suitable.

Having the water is an advantage as it will encourage the speycasters to come along too and a lot of salmon roll/spey techniques in general use are very applicable and easily tranferable to single handed casting but are vastly underused.

Best of luck.
Malcolm

I'd be interested in coming along if it's not too far. I'm in north Hampshire.

James.

Endrick
I drive past the Peterborough one a few times a week, and i have yet to see a boat on it!
It's in dip between tree lined hills so the wind would be minimal, It does look the ideal venue from the over pass. But it really depends on whether there is a demand in this area. I am tempted to post notices at Rutland, Grafham ,Elinor and Eyebrook, to see what the feeling in the area is.

James 9118
Thanks so much for the reply
I dont know where in North Hampshire you are, but it takes me 3 hours to get to stockbridge, so I would guess, thats a bit too far for an hour or twos practice . There has to be a casting club in the Hampshire/Wiltshire/Berkshire/Surrey area surely. Is it really only the Scots and the Northerners that do this?

Yes its appears that it does seem to be Scots/North, I'm on Middx/Surrey border and there doesnt seem to be much locally and as you say 3 hours drive for an hours practice is a bit too far.

Having said that I do have access to a private sports ground which has a few acres of rugby/footall pitches and a bar that are available, so if anyone was interested and all we need is a few acres and a bar then I could provide the site if there was any interest.

P.S To make it clear the Sportsground is Middx/Surrey border rather than East of England, so apologies Whitegoatie its prob too far, I have confused things by posting here as I'm not in East of England, and should have started another thread.

I like this idea. On occasion I have a practice on a local playing field, it usullay ends up with kids kicking their balls at me, or dogs charging around and getting in the way and without guidance as to what I am doing wrong it is a bit pointless anyway.

Ferry Meadows in Peterborough could be a good venue for a casting club.

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http://www.rutlandwaterflyfishers.co.uk/

that should be enough to get things started, all you need is a place and time, the rest will happen, not sure about the BFFC thing, i think informal regional casting clubs will soon eclipse them, perhaps thats why casting clubs had a natural place north of the border.