Having just read Steve partons peice in Tff,I have to say that I am in agreement with most of what he says.Why it happened to me the same way.So it is happening all over the country.Rediculous.

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Kevin

For those of us who haven't seen it, what's the jist Kevin?

16 yr old coaches in fly fishing.

It should not reflect on GAIA or AApgai as it this is nothing to do with them or its and the coaching is completely seperate from the associations of Instructors.I read they are welcomed as associated members,not full members,or as instructors unless they have done the technical assessment in casting etc,where they then become full members,quite rightly.But coaches at 16 yrs old ,I cant and wont ever go along with.More b......y politics causing more confusion to the detrement of those who spend alot of time and money and their life to promote the sport and gain qualifications,not to be eliteist,but to help other anglers acheive what they want from their casting etc.

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Kevin

I dont read any of steve partons columns kevin,


i was on a course recently, exams at the end of it, the guy lecturing us was 25 years old, a professor!!!!!!!!!, jasus,

Blimey! I bet Mr Parton didn't hang back on this one.
He's a funny guy
Fishing sucess/enjoyment is mostly about experience (more so than technique or "skilz" at the coach would probably put it) & how much of these can a 16 year-old have?
The only people a 16 year old with a few years experience should be coaching is other youngsters IMO.

A Professor at 25?

Degree - 18 to 21,
Masters - 21 to 23,
PHD - 23 to 25 (If you're quick!)?
Professor........

Are you sure he wasn't an Assistant or Associate Professor?

Mind you, as ably indicated on this forum, age is no indicator of intellect.

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Trinity college lecturer in social and economic studies,
yep professor just turned 25,
got talking to him as he fly fishes and he told me ,
shocked wasnt the word

I have to say,i dont mind youngsters gaining skills in fly fishing and all for this.But this coach system is a cloudy issue for the general public and only confuses what is a clearly laid path for Instructors,of which coaches are purely this coaches and not Instructors.There is a difference.

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Kevin

Prompted by Kevin's thread I screwed up my courage and bought a copy of Total FlyFisher - luckily the newsagent put it in a bag and I didn't meet anyone I knew.

I've not fully digested the Steve Parton artirant yet but I have spotted, page 16, a letter from none other than Ron Clay! 'Yobs 'N' Blobs' is its title and it's a less than subtle swipe at the competition scene ( a brave act in TFF I think!). However, and unusually he manages to mention ..... Dick Walker!

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

I wouldn't want a 16 year old to teach me how to cast, but why not?

After all, Jenson Buttion is a lot younger than me and i'd gladly take racing driving lessons from him, and an 18 year old soldier can gladly show me how to shoot?

Not sure what the problem is with teenage instructors, i'm sure technically they're excellent, what they may not have is the years and years of experience in watercraft but you don't need that to learn to cast!