My first days tuition
I have been posting here for a little while now, but as yet have not actually been out fly fishing. I very much wanted to get off to as good start without forming bad habits, so have resisted the temptation to have a waggle until I had some tuition.
My background is a coarse fisher of 2 years, and I was joined in my venture into fly fishing by castaline, a coarse fisher of...well let's just say considerably longer. I am not quite sure what either of us expected fly fishing to be like, but with a little trepidation, a lot of excitement, and after an impatient wait the day finally arrived to meet up with Frank from this forum for a few hours instruction and our foray into "fluff chucking" as the coarse boys call it.
The day was Tuesday just gone, the venue the Court of Noke stretch of the Arrow at Pembridge. We specifically requested this venue as both John (Castaline) and I intend to fish rivers for coarse fish, not stillwaters for trout.
We met just after 10am, and Frank spent a bit of time while we were getting into waders and setting up rods talking through some basic theory of diferrent types of lines, line care, shortcuts for setting up etcetera to set us off in good stead. We then moved onto the river itself, and Frank told us about the overhead and roll cast, the foundations for all the other variants, and made it clear that today was going to be about getting us off to a good start in these two disciplines.
We started with the overhead, and a very clear and concise description and demonstration of the phases of the cast. With a bit of wool tied to the end of the leader we were soon giving it a go under close supervision, and I think it is fair to say we both realised there was a lot more to it than we though - you become vary aware of your limitations when the bit of wool hits you on the back of the head and you remember there would normally be a hook in its place!. I in particular struggled to get to grips with the finesse required and kept putting too much power in to the cast. I was also targetting the water and stopping the rod too low, and not turning over the fly until the line had aready hit the water. I also had a grip that Frank had never seen before! He was certainly going to be challenged to earn his money today!
John was better than I, but exhibiting wristbreak and a wide brimmed hat adorned with flees, something that Frank could do little about.
Frank showed his mettle at this point and gave me a lot of confidence, explaining not only the do's and dont's but the theory behind it with practical demonstrations. This made us both start to have self awareness in our casting, and with his close guidance we both gradually improved. With frequent breaks to discuss further theory, and general tips to break the casting rigour, we moved onto and through the rollcast, returning to the overhead, all the time enjoying being in the water on a day far more clement than most of late.
By the end of the session we were both turning the fly over nicely on most casts, and had made great bounds forward although still clearly on the first rung of the ladder so to speak.
Throughout Frank hinted and tantalised us with other techniques without ever making us think we should run before we can walk. I feel we have solid foundations now in place and feel I came on a massive amount in my technique in only 3 or so hours and Frank should take great credit for this.
We had a little go at fishing, watched Frank take a grayling on his very short demonstration, and finished the day with a couple of hours fishing after the lessons ended.
After a couple of years mainly sat static on a chair fishing matches or for barbel, to be thigh deep in a river, mobile, searching the water (and feeding the odd flee to the Tree God) was an absolute joy. Neither John or I had a take, and neither of us much cared.
All in all a great start to the sport, public thanks to Frank for excellent instruction and I look forward to many , many hours of practice and good fishing. Apologies for lack of photos but a fault in the camera put paid to the pics that we did take.
I have no prior connection to Frank, but neither John or I would hesitate to recommend him as an instructor/guide in the area.
Thanks for reading.
__________________
Around the steel no tortur'd worm shall twine,
No blood of living insect stain my line;
Let me, less cruel, cast feather'd hook,
With pliant rod athwart the pebbled brook,
Silent along the mazy margin stray,
And with fur-wrought fly delude the prey
Last edited by codenamemilo; 19-02-2009 at 10:33 PM.
Reason: Anachronism
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