Walter & Group........
From Robert Shigley:-
Hi Gordy;
Great topic for discussion. I
introduce the use of the line hand immediately. What is the rod had going to do
and what is the line hand going to do? Now hold the rod with your rod hand and
strip out about three full lengths of line with the line hand but hold onto the
line with the line hand. Now here is what we do
next....
robert
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In support of that school, we have an informative message from Ally Gowans including a couple of neat teaching tricks :-
Hi
Gordy,
Introduction of the
line hand by Jim V is similar to how I teach and for the same reasons –
elimination of variables. I do however have a slightly different order; first I
demonstrate and teach keeping the hands equidistant during the casts to ensure
constant tension. This is an easy exercise, much easier than casting with one
hand providing that the line does not slip and if it does and there is a problem
holding on to it, tie it loosely around the students thumb with a slack loop to
the holding position between thumb and forefinger until they have mastered that.
Then I teach a simple retrieve from behind the “line finger” - the second finger
on the rod hand. Now that they can retrieve line I teach them to shoot line
through their fingers, without dropping the line completely (ring made with
forefinger and thumb). I do not encourage use of the index finger for holding
line – its job is to help stop the rod quickly.
Best
wishes,
Ally
Gowans
See my web sites http://www.letsflyfish.com and http://www.flyfish-scotland.com
Spey school date for
2008 - June 13-15 see http://www.letsflyfish.com/speyschool_scotland.htm
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Comment: I had trouble teaching this to my 6 year old grandson. So I began by having him watch me while I landed small fish by retrieving line with the line hand and the index finger of the rod hand as my, "slide".
Of course he wanted to land one just as I did .... so I made the cast and the retrieve, hooked one ... and let him land it just as, "Grandad Gordon" did. Thrilled him no end.
Then, after repeating the process several times, I made the cast and had him retrieve, make the strike and land the fish.
After that, it was no problem teaching him the use of the line hand when actually casting. Now he can do it all.
We often have to do things differently when teaching children.
I must give the fish some of the credit.
Gordy
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From Dan Pangaldi :-
Gordy,
Thank you for re-delivering this message and
getting us back on board.
The reach cast is always a great
topic. I will perform the cast with one continuous motion or
it's not a cast, it's a cast and mend. Stopping the rod
reaching and slipping line is cool but not technically a reach
cast.
We discussed this concept on the dock at L&H when
you assisted me with the curve cast. Continuous motion...constant
tension.
Thank you,
Great info.
Dan
Pangaldi
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Dan ... Yes, indeed. Both Lefty and I made that point during that meeting in New Jersey.
Gordy
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