AWAY / Teaching / Use of assistants / Fishing

Great tips from my friend David Lambert. David is a very good teacher and writer and I always enjoy reading his articles. I like the idea of the questionnaire a few weeks ahead of any instruction, certainly gives instructors a 'heads up' on the students expectations and any foreseeable issues that may arise.

David makes a strong point on diagnostic ability and I agree. This is something our school works on all the time. When we know of a new instructor in the area or a potential CI, MCI, we invite them to attend a class. The candidate will shadow one of our current instructors, and only make comments to the CI they are shadowing. If they have picked up on an issue correctly with a student then they can make the appropriate instruction. This method avoids any embarrassment for the trainee and any confusion for the student. An 'on the job' training or apprenticeship.

You have had many great comments on the 2 minute instruction method. We have employed this system for the past 18 years. It is a method that instructors need to practice ! Instructors need to be aware and to make a point and move on, this can be a trap for an instructor, some students are very engaging and also working with the fast learners is more appealing to some than working with the new casters.

I particularly enjoyed reading the note from Will Turek on "Assimilation and Accommodation". This is a very understandable and enlightening note and I have added it to many of the same from you Gordy. It has always been a project of mine to get into the head of my students in the least intrusive way, make the wheels turn, and look for facial expressions. Now I have a better understanding of the process.

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We would not have had this valuable string of messages were it not for you !

Many thanks. We're all learning a great deal.

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Howdy Gordy and Gang

One of the aspects of teaching that Gordy and I use is "Teaching the Extremes" too hard too soft Too fast too slow. This is something that they can take home after the lesson

I encourage the student to make mistakes to see just what the line tells them

This is some of the "alone time" Watching from a distance I can see the student make a cast with too much power then too little. Watching the results in the flow of the fly line,

they see the differences. This is what happens in everything we learn.

I use this as my example.

When you started out driving your Dad said Stop the Car. YOU stomped on the brake peddle hard and he Kissed the dash. The next time you had to stop you eased on the brakes and hit the car in front of you. He kissed the dash again. Too hard too soft. YOU had to find the right amount of peddle pressure to bring the car to a safe stop. I tell them to change one thing at a time. This will let them see the difference the EXTREMES make. I can not tell them how many Zoomes it takes to make a 40 ft cast only the Effect of what they do can be seen and felt.

Time alone will benefit from casting wrong. Do not tell them that a cast was wrong if they are learning by this method They will see it for themselves.

Allen R. Crise
FFF-Master Casting Instructor

From time to time in the winter months I use one or more of the instructors in out area. I am fortunate to have several to choose from. I know them all adn fished with most, so my choice is usually someone I've grown accustomed to.

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OTHER DISCIPLINES / SPORTS

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Lewis Hinks comes up with a positive note on teaching :

Hi Gordy,

I have been away from my computer for a couple of days. Due to a number of circumstances I have become much more involved with my son's hockey team, and as a result have had to take some coaching certification courses. What sturck me during the 2 day certification course was the similarities between teaching/coaching fly casting and coaching hockey. I can see many crossovers between the 2 sports, from a teaching/coaching perspective. Identifying the skill/task, breaking the task into component pieces and developing drills/exercises for each component. Then putting all the pieces together to complete the task.

During our dicussions at the certification course, I was amazed at the the number of times I was able to relate a fly casting teaching experience with the hockey teaching/coaching discussions.

I guess the principles of coaching/teaching are essentially the same whether it be hockey or fly casting.

BTW, a number of the other coaches at my course approached me after the sessions asking about fly casting instruction.

Cheers,

Lewis

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Lewis,

You have self discovered a great truth.

We have learned a great deal about teaching fly casting from experiencing other disciplines. This includes ski instruction and golf.

Chuck Easterling introduced me to Harvey Pennick's LITTLE RED BOOK . Dusty Sprague sent me a copy about 3 years ago.

As you may know, Harvey has been considered one of Golf's most effective teachers. In reading his book, I was struck by the fact that if I substuted the term "fly casting" for "golf" throughout the text that it would have made a great read for fly casting instructors as far as the principles of teaching are concerned.

One example is Harvey's super-slow pantomimed golf swing. Works when used for the casting stroke as well.

Gordy

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FISHING

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From Philip Maher (In follow-up to Kirk Eberhards message and photo) :

Hi Gordy in relation to the loop of line and striking a fish. I have found that there is 3 very successful ways of hooking Atlantic Salmon.

1 I make a cast and get my fly swimming around as it swims I keep my rod at about 45 degrees this will then form a large bow of slack for the salmon to take with little resistance as this happens I drop my rod and when all the slack line is gone and I feel the fish I set the hook.

2 same as the picture large loop of line left slip as the fish takes.

3 I use this the most when fish are not taking right and when teaching a beginner. Cast as normal and as the fly is drifting in the current I set the drag on the reel tight enough to just barley hold against the pull of the water. This way when a fish takes he can take line straight from the reel with little resistance and even if the angler strikes the reel will just slip faster. The sound of a reel going z zz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and then just tighten up into the fish is a heart rendering moment for any angler.

Hope this is of some help

Regards Philip

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Philip.... Yes. the Z Z Z ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ As well as the "Hardy Screech" can be heart stoppers ! G.

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