Walter & Group....
On teaching youngsters, by Troy Miller:
The best thing I can
advise when teaching youngsters (difficult or not) is to get on their level – in
every way. Speak using words that they can easily understand (yes, I can
teach casting without using the word “momentum”…J). Paint vivid
pictures that they can see. Use rod and flyline laying on the grass.
Use a markerboard or easel with flipchart. They love cartoons and really
do learn from them.
Most importantly, if
you are able, get down on your knees so you are PHYSICALLY on their level.
They can see you better when they’re at the same level, you can “go for a ride”
with them, or they can with you. Most importantly, you’re considerably
less intimidating to them when you’re not a giant. Make some silly, goofy
casts. Even ones that are horrible, and explain that everyone makes bad
casts sometimes. Also explain that the line won’t do anything that the rod
doesn’t tell it to. The line gets all of its instructions from the rod,
and the rod gets its instructions from you. Show them continuous tension
casting and let them try to swing the line in circles for at least 15 seconds
without hitting the ground. Then 30 seconds. Then a minute.
The show how stopping the rod makes loops. Then teach them to connect the
dots to steer the cast. Do everything you can to keep it fun.
Honestly, I’m trying to
remember a kid student I’ve had that was “tough”. Not all of them learn at
the same pace, but if you try to remember what it was like to be a kid, it’s
pretty easy to connect with them.
Regards,
Troy
Miller
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In past years I have been amazed at how Al Crise bonds with kids of all ages and gets results. These kids always have a good time learning when he's at the helm. I think one of his secrets that he doesn't talk about is his funny hat ! Sometimes I've heard him use some Texas country jargon that I, frankly, don't understand.....BUT THE KIDS DO ! Here are some tips from him. Long but worth reading...... G. :-
Teaching
Kids to Fly Cast.
Tips from Al
Crise.
Set up before you leave
home.
My “3-Rs” Rods,
Reels, Ready
Outline of
class; This is more for the help, I call Coaches, Before the class I meet with my coaches
go over the outline to ensure that we are all using the same terms and that they
understand the cast that we will be doing. Keep it Simple Sam.
At the area to give the lesson I
walk down the area to do the casting on. Holes, backcast area, walk through
paths, Trees, power lines, anything that might cause trouble. I put up my signs,
(Caution Back Cast Area) at points that might
allow some outsider to walk in. Most important is the wind and its
directions.
I have a teaching
I
will run out a rope for the ‘base line’. I use a bright colored 100 foot rope
for the starting/standing line. I use hula-hoops for targets. 30 inch bright
colored. Each student has one in front of their casting station. At 30 feet. Why? They are Self-rewarding when they
are able to put the yarn fly in the ring they will often say "I DID IT" Did
what? They, all by themselves, made a cast. Now I have a Fly Casting venue; a
Starting line and targets. This makes staging the students so much easier. I
often set a second set of targets at 50 feet for adults or advanced
student/kids
My range of rods and reels are from 7ft
to 9 ft most often a 8-1/2 for kids. Little kids get the 7 ft. My rods are in 5
and 6 weight. I do have a couple 8 wts for the power casters. (more on that
latter)
My use of a smaller or shorter rod for
kids can be looked at it this way; the long rods are harder to stop, and that is
what we have to teach first. Two STOPS.
My
6 wt rods are the smaller rods. They load faster and easier for the smaller
casters.
My fly lines have 3 black marks at 30
ft. This is one of the easiest ways of getting the line out of the rod and a
loop forming. I have a single wider mark at 50 ft. 7-1/2 foot leaders, Red Yarn
flys.
Start
of class
With
kids you have to get a rod in their hands; Remember this; if the rod is in their
hands they can not hear. Holding it makes them part of the class. So try not to
give important instructions while they are waving the rods
around.
Start of Class
I start with the Reels on
the rods but the line wound up to just 1 foot of leader out of the reel. Yarn
Fly tied on the end.
Each student will have a
rod or if you have a large group or boy scouts you can put partners together one
will cast first then the other trading back and forth.
Talk a very little about
the rod. Butt, reelseat, grip and striper guide. Show how to hold. Stop talking
too much talking at this time is not good. Get them swinging the rod. Give them
some time to just feel what that long rod feels like. Make some casting moves
just give them 5 minutes.
I have them thread up the
rods with the line folding back 6 inches of fly line. Ensure that they skip the
hook holder. Show that they can set the butt on the grass or a hat and WALK way
from the butt to reach the tip of the rod as they run the line loop up. Pull out
8-9 ft of line. Hold the line/leader knot in the line hand for now. Boy they
feel like this is getting some place now….
Lay the rods on the
ground. Remember that they can not hear with the rod in
hand.
Show the movement of the cast. Pantomime
the cast. Make sure the start is down. The hand moves up to the ear. Try: Answer
the phone; Pick up. Hello, It’s is for you”. As they move forward, to hang up.
Back to Start. Repeat about 3 or 4 times. Check that elbow and see if it is
coming up.
Pick up the rods. Hold the
line/leader knot, now they are swing the rods. Watch for the start at the ground
with the tip. Stop going up Stop going forward. Stop, Stop not Flop, Flop
Now it is time to turn
them loose, pull off about 20 ft of line. This should put the three dots on the
rod some place. Enough for now, with the dots just off the
reel.
This is the learning by
extremes Too hard too soft, too fast too slow. Give them time to try this. Check the Pause and starts. Is the hand
coming up. GIVE lots of praise.
This is where problems start showing up.
My hardest to stop is the starting point. Rod tip at the ground this is a FLY
CAST. Start a Fly Cast here. START. START should ring in to drop the tip to the
ground about the 3 time you say Start.
The next is the one that just whips the
line with out the pause. Impress the group that the pause is needed because we
are casting a 30 foot weight not a bobber. You will get on that just whips and
whips the rod. until they have knots on knots. After the third time I have them
try to take the knot out themselves. Sitting on the ground not casting is a
lesson that get in a hard head.
For the pause I use the following
Chant.
START; ONE/ “
The numbers 1 and 2 are
STOPS “
REST time. Take a break,
rods down.
Talk about Something: I gather a big
group into a smaller area.
Getting the line out of the rod easy way;
Sideways loops in front of you.
The leader and tippets.
The way to put the rod
together.
They will hear everything you say
if you say it wrong they will remember that first. These kids are in school and
quizzing is normal for them. ASK questions, wait for hands up to answer. They
are sponges for information. They will sometimes ask questions you have to be
ready for. No Bad questions no dumb questions all have to be answered or fenced
to a latter time but do not forget it.
This should be 5 to 10 minutes. Back to
the Rods.
YOU will be surprise at
how much better they are doing this time.
This time you are looking for them to do
it right. Enforce the right with praise.
Now is the time to work with each student
one on one. This is special time to bond with the student. Praise, praise and
more ‘att-a-boys’
Do not let them do it wrong require the
correct but do it with suggestions. Such as; Try this, or Have you tried this?
Lead them to self-discovery.
Problem kids.
Here is one student that is having
troubles.
Just
does not care. DAD sent me. I would rather play my Game
Boy.
“Can
you move that yarn fly to that ring? It takes a talented
thumb.”
Show how
their thumb is the key to making it cast.
Every
one is so much better than me.
Well let me show you what you have to do
to get better than they are.
Show the “tricks” to make the cast a
long stroke or longer pause. Not
the power.
I know
how. I have a spinning rod at home.
Repeat the ‘long weight thing’ that you
now have to cast. Slowly wait for the
line to get way back.
That is
not how uncle Bob showed me.
Did he have
one of the old fiberglass rods that required some different ways of casting.
These new Graphite rods need a younger mind to
cast.
Can I
cast a bigger rod or a smaller this one is not working?
Lets see if
I can help you make this one work. Show me what you are doing. Have you tried to
move your elbow up? That might help. Some times a shorter rods do work.
Longer heavier rod for the HE-man caster
will save a rod and makes them feel better the casting.
You will
have to try new words. New ways and compare to what they know. They do not know
what a buggy whip is, or a Albright knot until you teach
them.
Keep them busy but REST time is needed
every 20-30 minutes for 5 to 10.
Cast, talk,
cast, talk, cast Recap what you taught in just high
lights.
Quiz and
then rewards. I use hard candy like life savers individually wrapped. But the
best reward is landing the fly in the hoop at 50 ft or Catching a
fish.
One thing I do at every class is to teach
‘fighting and landing’ a fish. I have the fear of a young boy running up the
beach dragging his catch behind him saying “Mr. Crise taught me to cast” I
missed the important part ‘Catching’
Show them how to strip and how high to hold the rod tip. I use a water bottle tied to the leader set on the ground 40 ft away. This works will for how hard is it if the rod is to high or breaking it off if too low. How to net or lip a fish. Unhook and release the fish unharmed and WHY.
Just keep smiling and having FUN this is
why we do it.