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Walter & Group...
[GH] From Bob Stouffer:
Dr. Gordy
Youngsters vary widely in their ability and desire to learn fly casting. Have seen very young fly fishers do very nicely.
Recently taught the best of the best. Best youngster (nine years old) and best dad. Although you could tell that the father was proud of his son's desire and progress, he was not the parent who tries to push, tries to un-tangle the child's line and tries to teach. The Father was quite comfortable learning himself. Rare. Both progressed and both were happy. Neither left the lesson a great caster, but I could tell that I will see them again.
Keep the parents separated from the youngsters. Very close age grouping.
Groups of youngsters (say a Boy Scout Troop or a Girls Club) can be hell. They are always struggling within the group for their place in their social hierarchy. That is primary. Learning is secondary. I would rather teach a group of people who have never before seen each-other. Separate the groups so that the body-language of one group does not alter the body-language of the next group.
It is not the age, it is the willingness and desire.
Motivation is the key.
"My arm is tired" is the end of the session.
Bob Stouffer
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[GH] Bob,
It's obvious you have had lots of experience doing this.
Gordy
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[GH] Some personal observations on teaching kids of different ages by Ward Nicholas:
HI Gordy
I just finished working with some children as young as 4 and 5. This was a come and try fishing day. With the youngest group it was more about play and them enjoying the experience. I used our standard 7wt rods and only used the top section. This did work but I have now also bought a 5wt 6”7’ rod and I am looking at converting some other small spin rods.
As the children got older in the 8-10 range they were more successful but I still went to the smaller rod if the child was slight build or statue. But I did noticed that once they reached the 10-14 and up stage they experienced fly casting better and did move onto a good technique they could use to fish with.
Ward
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[GH] More on teaching kids from Gary Kell:
Thanks Gordy..... I do have a few techniques and tools I use that seem to work with kids I'll share too.
1). To eliminate "down" time which is a "no no" when teaching kids under 14, I have designed a leader and fly that reduces time rigging and re-rigging rods for different exercises. I take either 10mm or 1/2 inch pompoms purchased at a craft store and pull 0 or 1x tippet through them with a needle and tie a improved clinch. Then I tie a loop into the other end making it about 4 to 6 inches long. My leaders are 7 - 7 1/2 foot 1x with a loop in the end. Before class begins I rig the rods and add the pompom fly by slipping loops. Then I can tighten the line so that the pom pom sticks in the tip top without going through. ( the 10mm pompom will go through large diameter tip tops so use 1/2 inch) This way no line slips back through the guides. I can have student do other exercises with the rods before pulling out any line. It's also very easy to see and because of it's density works pretty good in windy conditions. Drawback is when wet- it gets too heavy .... so this is a dry lawn tool only!!
2) I borrowed a tool from Jim Valle's tool box and often start the kids by having them wave the rod around their body in different ways emphasizing the use of their forearm and shoulder.
3) To that technique I've added a game of "fly rod salute". I teach them the fly rod salute which is the rod position at the back cast stop with hand by their ear. During step 2 exercises, I yell "salute" and they are supposed to instantly assume the position. This really emphasizes the use of their forearms as an extension of the rod. I have much less problem with over-wristing when I get to the overhead cast. And it is easy to remind them ...by yelling don't forget the fly rod salute!
4) I borrowed another tool but I'm not sure who came up with it ....maybe you do Gordy..... it might have been Floyd Franke??? That is the analogy of answering the cell phone..... this re-enforces the use of the forearm and also helps with timing. Phone rings ....bring rod up to ear in stop position answer "Hello" which is the pause then return rod to forecast stop position repeating "It's for you"! There aren't many kids today that don't know about answering a cell phone!!
5) As many instructors do, I also have small children use two hands which adds a lot of leverage and I find some really get into it and use it as a weapon!! Kids will be kids.... I just try to focus their energy to hitting targets ... the instructor is the best target.... just be sure to have your eye protection and hat on!!
Gary Kell
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[GH] Years ago (before cell phones) I witnessed Jason Borger use the "answer the phone position" for his class of students at a Conclave. It was only a matter of time before it became, "answer the cell phone".
I like your FLY ROD SALUTE !
Gordy
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[GH] Gary Davison comes in with one of his great, "short answers":
Gordy,
When it come to teaching kid's at a young age the key requirements that comes to mind are Targets, Challenges, and Competition.
Gary
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[GH] From Guy Manning :
I started working with 2 young brothers at 11 & 12 in 2001. They both went on to become the youngest CIs ever (ages 13 and 14), a title they lost just last year. George and Dusty Revel both became ACA Jr. National Champions in successive years and were sponsored by Orvis for a while. Dusty is currently majoring in water engineering at Humboldt State University, George earned his BA/Marketing and is now General Manager and head of new media marketing for Leland Flyfishing Outfitters in the San Francisco area. George earned his MCI 3 years ago and is the youngest MCI on record. Here is a promo he made with Leland's for improving distance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBKgdd6QA9g
It has good footage of Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club for people those who have never seen it.
You ask:" I'd like to know if any fly rod company offers such light short (and inexpensive) rods specifically for teaching youngsters".
Leland's makes a 7'9" Red Truck Emerger rod for children, cost is $199 Rod, reel and line. Or, $120 Rod only.
They also offer a trade in program where they will Ebay your old gear and you get store credit toward anything they sell. Details here:
It is a good way to defer some of the expense of getting the kids into the sport.
Guy Manning
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[GH] Guy,
Many thanks.
Incidentally, that video of George making his distance casts is excellent. Good for Master candidates to add to their collections of teaching videos. Some of our very best competition distance casters such as he got their start early in life as child students.
On rods for young kids: I have also used the tip section of a 2 section fly rod and a fly line which I've cut down to 40'. The ersatz "handle" is made with duct tape would until the diameter is just right for the child's small hand. The line is coiled on the grass. The youngster is taught to "shake some line out of the rod tip" as the lesson begins. One of the reasons this works for me is that there is no reel involved to act as a counter weight. This helps avoid fatiguing the little arms.
Joan Wulff uses her "Fly-O" .... a short, light rod with a length of highly visible package yarn as a fly line. This can be used indoors as well. No reel to complicate the moves.
Gordy
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[GH] From Troy Miller:
Good morning Gordy –
As you know, I have three children of my own. Each was a relatively accomplished fly angler by age 8. To me, the key was developing early desire and then filling in the skills based on the child’s own initiative. You can’t want it for them.
I started with my Bethany just before she turned 3 years old (almost 17 years ago). I took her flyfishing for grayling on the small streams along the Denali Highway. We started by picking wild blueberries and lying on the tundra on a beach blanket while watching the clouds float by. I carried with us a 7’9” Sage LL in 3-weight that I had built a few years prior, about the time she was born. The intent of that rod would be to teach my child to flyfish, and she will inherit the rod when I go to the big river in the sky.
The teaching/learning was NOT structured. I don’t believe you can make a lesson plan when teaching young children to flyfish. You teach from your heart, not your mind. You respond to what you see, adapting your instruction quickly as needed. Beth first watched daddy make soft roll casts and catch “pretty fishies” on a lead wing coachman wet, on the swing. Yes, grayling are exceedingly forgiving – JUST what you want when planting the seeds with a child. Kids just wanna play, and you need willing partners. After Daddy caught several, Beth reached out her arms and said “I WANNA DO IT!” The first success – generating the desire. For the next 30 minutes, we caught 30 grayling, with Beth holding the rod and Daddy going for a ride with her. She got to reel all of them in and by the 15th, wanted to remove the hook and release them. After another snack of blueberries, she was ready to roll cast and catch them all by herself. I wish so much that I had some video capturing these moments, I’d give 10,000 bucks for it…
Don’t think that young kids are incapable of learning to flycast and flyfish. They just have to want it for themselves. And a mellow, loving parent is the first best chance at lighting that fire. There can be no anxiety in the process if you hope for them to stick with it. JMO
Regards,
Troy Miller ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[GH] From Scott Swartz:
While on the subject of youth…
For those wishing for more teaching opportunities with youth remember the Boy Scouts Fly Fishing Merit Badge.
You must apply with the scouts to become a counselor for the badge (have some expertise on the subject and have background checks for working with youth). Be aware it involves many aspects of fly fishing and not just casting. I still laugh when I recall teaching a troop how to filet fish. I cast net mullet for the job and brought them to an overnight camp out. Each boy is suppose to “clean and cook” a fish. What should have been 20 filets ended up being about 50 or 60 “medallions” but when they came off the grill every last bite was gone in no time.
Scott
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