How to become a really good flycaster!

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Croassed Arrows	How to become a really good flycaster!		Lead	[-]
Posts: 3 07/02/2009 15:05	Tags : None I've just joined this wonderful website, but as you can see I've already screwed up by misspelling Crossed. Can someone help me unscrew it? I live in northern Colorado, by the Cache La Poudre River and would like to become a really good flycaster to help me become a better flyfisherman. Over the years I've done a bit of flyfishing, but now that I am retired I want to become really good at it. After all, I have over forty miles of beautiful river along the highway that the DOW is gracious enough to stock for me. How should I go about it? I've got Joan Wulff's wonderful video and her excellent book on fly-casting accuracy, but good athletes develop their skills more with ongoing personal instruction. After all, what we think we are doing and what we actually are doing can be very different, so a trained eye can help us progress - that's why Tiger Woods still has a trainer. Are there any flycasting clubs these days? Do any of you know of any good instructors in this part of the country that I could visit with occassionally? Thank you in advance for your help. "Take A Veteran Out Fishing"
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uniphasian		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2005 07/02/2009 15:32 Moderator	There's no better way than to go fishing. Especially if you care to fish with someone who is a good caster already. Watch what they do, and how they do it. One of the best videos I ever saw on fly casting was Mel Krieger's "The Essence of Flycasting" It really explains the mechanics and gives you a solid foundation for fly casting in a way that will really open your eyes. http://www.amazon.com/Essence-Flycasting-Mel-Krieger/dp/B0000AR8NV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1246563014&sr=8-1 - Uni
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Bob M		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 18 07/02/2009 15:41	The Federation of Fly Fishers offers a lot classes. You can become a master casting instructer through them if you wanted. They have affiliated clubs in a lot of areas and are easy to find. It's not difficult to find a class through Orvis and local shops. Lefty and others have demonstrations and articles covering the slight differences used for casting cane. Thereafter, it's through the same route that you get to Carnegie Hall: Practice, practice, practice. I'm not inclined to equate casting skills with fishing skills although, in general, they are directionally related . The nice part is you can often practice both at the same time. It sounds like you have a good venue to do just that. Absolutely concur with you on "Take a veteran out fishing". Down here in Atlanta we have an organization called Fly Fishing For Vets and it recently became affiliated with Healing Waters. We could all collectively 'give back' for a long, long time and still remain in their debt.
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JeffK.fiberglassflyro...		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 25 07/02/2009 15:54	I would say feedback from a pro is crucial to detecting flaws in your casting. You cannot always see what you are doing wrong even if you see how Mel Kreiger or Joan Wulff does it om a video. I don't know your area, but start with clubs, guides, and FFF (fly fishing federation) certified instructors. After that it is practice, practice, practice. While fishing isn't casting, casting skills sure help. However, different fishing situations require different skills. Small stream fishing requires you to hit plate fished targets from a cramped space. Lake and ocean fishing puts a premium on distance and being able to handle wind. Bone fishing is helped by speed - as soon as you spot a fish you need to get your fly in front of it before it vanishes. Upper Delaware R fishing requires a good reach cast. Most fly fishermen I know eventually get good at what they do every day, but few people are good at everything. Know what you want when looking for instruction/coaching.
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Croassed Arrows		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4 07/02/2009 16:49	Thanks already, guys. I'll contact the FFF, which I haven't been familiar with but just heard that their natl HQ is moving not far away to Loveland, CO. re "Take A Veteran Out Fishing", that is an offshoot that I am working on from a program that I just started last year among traditional bowhunters (longbows and recurves.) We put together a traditional bow camp for elk hunting and managed to take 7 veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars out for a free week hunting elk last September. We are doing it again this year by raising money through donations and raffles. Right now, we have a Randall knife raffle going on leatherwall.bowsite.com. The vets we are hosting have an amazing 2 or 3 deployments already and this program is an attempt to help them relearn how to have fun after facing so much bad times. "Take A Veteran Out Fishing" can have the same positive effect for veterans and it can reach far more veterans around the country for a half day or an occassional day in the waters. Maybe you can make it happen in your own neighborhood. I won't hassle anyone about this, but I will mention it sometimes because I really care about the people that we send to war.
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jbenenson	Keep your eyes on the prize	#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 8 07/02/2009 17:30	Croassed, Please don't get caught up in the "expert casting" syndrome. You can learn to double haul and throw a tight loop sixty feet or more, but the most important thing is catching fish. I can teach somebody the basic fly cast in ten minutes but what's most important is 1) putting the fly where you want it, even in the wind and 2) mending the line to eliminate drag as much as possible. Everything depends on how the fly is presented to the fish, regardless of its distance from you. Learn to cast over your "wrong shoulder", to throw curves (to get in front of objects), and to cast horizontally (to get under obstructions), all with accuracy, and you'll be way ahead of most "experts". I used to play a lot of golf, so here is an analogy: There are plenty of golfers who can whack the ball close to 300 yards, but if their approach shots, pitching, chipping, and putting aren't good, they won't score as well as shorter hitters. "Drive for show, putt for dough". Keep your eyes on the prize!
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Flykuni2		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 88 07/02/2009 17:40	Hat's off to you, sir, for your service. And for making the effort to help. Good advice (as usual around here) from the fellows. I will only say this -- best casters I've seen are those with good back casts. That's where it all comes from. Literally.
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bobbeegee		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2822 07/02/2009 17:45	All of the above are very good suggestions. I will only say, just get out there as often as possible and practice your cast while fishing. It will come if you are truly dedicated to the sport. That's the way I did it. Almost exclusively on my own. I'll never be as good a caster as most, but I can get it done, and you can too! Bob Go Heels!!!
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Croassed Arrows		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5 07/02/2009 17:47	I just went to the excellent website for the Federation of Fly Fishers, but should have gone sooner. Their HQ is in Livingston, MT. July 28 - August 1, they are having a big conference in Loveland, CO. I'll get down to that.
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seattlesetters		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 674 07/02/2009 17:52	The best advice I can also give is to just go fishing. Casting to fish and casting on the pond or parking lot or lawn are different things, but you can learn from all. If you want instruction, a few lessons are always good (I wish I would have done that...I'm a lousy caster and now rather set in my ways). However, after basic instruction, I'd find the best fly fisher in the area and go fishing with him/her. Have 'em critique your stroke and show you how to make your presentations more effective. Fishing, as has been mentioned, is far more than casting. The most effective fly fishermen I know make their fly land where it needs to with all the drag-preventing mends, piles, curves, etc., already in the line before it hits the water. You can't learn that on the lawn...only through experience on moving water. "You know how much I *love* a nice rack!"
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Eric Peper		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 299 07/02/2009 18:18	seattlesetters wrote: Fishing, as has been mentioned, is far more than casting. The most effective fly fishermen I know make their fly land where it needs to with all the drag-preventing mends, piles, curves, etc., already in the line before it hits the water. You can't learn that on the lawn...only through experience on moving water. Well said, Mark. I've tried to explain the above at least a hundred times. You said it concisely and precisely. EP
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nwdlj	just don't drop the "croassed"	#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 49 07/02/2009 21:50	its a great nom de plume...just my opinion but seriously, it brought a great smile to my face...and you'll probably always be known by that from now on anyway and have a funny story to boot!...dj
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canerodscom		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2192 07/02/2009 22:44 Bamboo preacher	Again, I'll be the contrarian. Do you know anyone who has improved their casting and found it made them a "worse" fisherman? Yes, you can be a good caster and not be a good fisherman. And you can be a good fisherman without being a good caster. But becoming a better caster will always make you a better fisherman. Just one more tool in the quiver to go along with reading water, mending line, entomology, etc. Harry Harry Boyd maker@canerods.com My website canerods.com My blog -- canerods.blogspot.com Ozark Rod Makers School
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mtn		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 478 07/03/2009 10:45	Take a lesson from a good competent caster and teacher, then practice and fish as much as you can. I lawn cast a lot and what that does for me is just from the repetition of doing things on the lawn, without the fish and water in the equation things become natural and sink in to the point when I'm on the water it just happens the way I practiced. Mike
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bbamboo		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 184 07/04/2009 08:26	Take is slow. There is many ways throw a fly line. Practice not just on the water but on grass too. Take a couple of lessons from a recommended fly caster in your area WHO understands bamboo. Step back and study what you have been shown. Not all good casters are excellent fisherman, Good fly-casting will help you catch more fish but it's only a very small step to becoming an excellent fly fisher. Most of all take your time and enjoy it, really the best part is the ride. Gary www.nichobamboorods.com www.nichobamboorods.com
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DrLogik		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1646 07/04/2009 11:21	Nothing beats top-notch instruction in my opinion. I to was where you are today. I made the decision to spend my money on the best instruction money could buy. My first instruction was at Kaufman's in Oregon. Dec Hogan and John Hazel were the instructor's there at the time. My skill improved about 100%. I then signed up for Joan Wulff's casting school a few years later. Again, my skill improved dramatically. After that Joan told me to practice EVERY DAY for a year...even if it's only 5 minutes. She said if you can do that, you'll develop the muscle memory to retain what you've learned. She was right, and I did practice every day for a year. I then signed up for Joan's Instructor's school and was again transformed. I could have spent all that money buying new rods and not gotten any better. Just going out and fishing a lot doesn't make you a better caster in my opinion. Good instruction THEN going out and fish a lot does. Receiving my instructor's certificate from Joan. It's hard to believe that this small woman can empty a fly line well into the backing without, it appears, any effort at all. And she can peg a teacup at 50 feet to! DrLogik.com Last Edited By: DrLogik 07/04/2009 11:32. Edited 4 times.
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Croassed Arrows		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 07/04/2009 14:06	DrLogic - I am very glad that you joined in here because I've been thinking about planning a trip back east and attending Joan Wulff's school along with my wife. We both think she is such a wonderful teacher and a wonderful lady. Now, from what you wriote, I can see that it will be worth the effort. Thanks for all the input, guys.
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bbamboo		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 187 07/05/2009 05:55	Yes I will second that spend some cash on a good casting instructer. Nice rods come later. Gary www.nichobamboorods.com
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reelhimin	This may help.	#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 464 07/05/2009 11:35	Croassed You might also think about coming to the Colorado Cane Conclave, August 2nd in Lyons. Lots of rods to try out and you probably can wrangel some wonderful casting advice from the people there. Look me up and I will point you in the right direction. All of the information is in the Forum Announcement section. Gary. Like a salmon, I need a river to take me home.
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Croassed Arrows		#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 7 07/08/2009 01:37	Gary - Thanks for the heads up. My wife and I will definitely try to make it to Lyons on 2 AUG. I just heard from Jay Edwards and he will be there, hopefully with some of his fine bamboo rods. He did a great job restoring an old Heddon for me and he makes excellent new rods for a bargain price.
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caddisman3	Re:	#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 574 07/08/2009 09:39	Crossed arrows,if you could hook up with Marshall Wardwell[lives in Westminster]and spend a couple weekends under his tutelege you will be a better caster/flyfisher for it.Come on Marshall offer your services. Karl
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