Well, it ends at least in the North West - now it's time to really concentrate on the "Ladies"
More on this to follow......
The BFFI is well underway - a busy day yesterday with lots of folk coming along the the GAIA stand to watch our guys, Mark Roberts, Louis Noble and John Green tying some great flies and explaining the techniques.
I will be holding a few group casting sessions over the winter aimed at 3 differant sections:
1/ Early learners - i.e. all you guys have only really started fly fishing this year and maybe had a starter lesson with me
2/ Intermediate fly fishers who have been fishing a while but could do with a little help with your casting maybe!
3/ More advanced stuff - learn how to double haul, for example.
Again more to follow but if you fancy these group sessions just get in touch for more details
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Thursday, 21 October 2010
BFFI Trentham Gardens
Martin, from Ramsbottom who was a complete beginner came to see me this week. It was a horrible day, windy and cold with the odd shower thrown in for good measure!
However the lesson went well and Martin never lost his enthusiasm and seems very keen on taking up fly fishing.
Lots of lessons with my trainees and the ongoing process of getting them all prepared for their assessments.
In addition, just making the final plans and arrangements for the GAIA stand at the forthcoming British Fly Fair (BFFI) at Trentham Gardens near Stoke on the 30th and 31st Oct.
If you haven't been to this fair over the last few years you are missing out - it's a great event and always in my calender each year. Have a look here for this years line-up.
I will be on the GAIA stand off and on over the 2 days, so come along and have a chat.
I will also have Mark Roberts, Louis Noble and John Green tying flies and these guys are really good and will show you how to tie any fly you want!
See you there?
However the lesson went well and Martin never lost his enthusiasm and seems very keen on taking up fly fishing.
Lots of lessons with my trainees and the ongoing process of getting them all prepared for their assessments.
In addition, just making the final plans and arrangements for the GAIA stand at the forthcoming British Fly Fair (BFFI) at Trentham Gardens near Stoke on the 30th and 31st Oct.
If you haven't been to this fair over the last few years you are missing out - it's a great event and always in my calender each year. Have a look here for this years line-up.
I will be on the GAIA stand off and on over the 2 days, so come along and have a chat.
I will also have Mark Roberts, Louis Noble and John Green tying flies and these guys are really good and will show you how to tie any fly you want!
See you there?
Friday, 15 October 2010
River Ribble
On the river this morning with Phil and his Dad, Bernie, both of whom are training to be fly fishing instructors.
Went through all the roll casts and spey casts that the guy will have to demonstrate during their assessment. Both did very well and Phil who is taking his assessment next month showed his ability and control to a very good standard and should make it through the assessment.
Whilst on the river only saw 2 salmon but whilst we are casting there were lots of small fish sipping off the surface, these turned out to be Dace with the odd Parr and small Trout thrown in for good measure.
So another good day all round.
Tomorrow I have all my mentoring group together for a session, off on Sunday and a full week of lesson booked Monday onwards. I hope the weather keeps up!
Went through all the roll casts and spey casts that the guy will have to demonstrate during their assessment. Both did very well and Phil who is taking his assessment next month showed his ability and control to a very good standard and should make it through the assessment.
Whilst on the river only saw 2 salmon but whilst we are casting there were lots of small fish sipping off the surface, these turned out to be Dace with the odd Parr and small Trout thrown in for good measure.
So another good day all round.
Tomorrow I have all my mentoring group together for a session, off on Sunday and a full week of lesson booked Monday onwards. I hope the weather keeps up!
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Intermediate casters
Had some lessons over the last few days with guys that have been fly fishing for a while and wanted to improve their casting techniques.
I enjoy doing any lesson but these I particularly enjoy. It is all about being very accurate with the diagnosis of what is going on with their existing style and technique.
It's very easy to jump to the obvious - too much wrist, not stopping the rod in the right place etc.
However these may not be the only things going wrong.
This is where the 6 point diagnostic technique comes into play - As an instructor I always look at what is happening to the line first - is it going out straight, hitting the water, hooking to the side or falling in a heap?
Then I look at the rod - acceleration, stops, power application?
Then I look at what is happening to the arm, hand and wrist?
Once I have these observations I can "mend the problems" in the reverse order i.e. I alter the movement of the arm, hand or wrist first - then mend anything required in the rod movement - then observe the effects on the line.
A simple formula that works well - provided you know what you are looking for ,of course!!
It certainly worked with Phil from Ormskirk and Oliver from Chorley!
Day off tomorrow but then on the Ribble doing speys and roll casts with 2 of my trainees.
I enjoy doing any lesson but these I particularly enjoy. It is all about being very accurate with the diagnosis of what is going on with their existing style and technique.
It's very easy to jump to the obvious - too much wrist, not stopping the rod in the right place etc.
However these may not be the only things going wrong.
This is where the 6 point diagnostic technique comes into play - As an instructor I always look at what is happening to the line first - is it going out straight, hitting the water, hooking to the side or falling in a heap?
Then I look at the rod - acceleration, stops, power application?
Then I look at what is happening to the arm, hand and wrist?
Once I have these observations I can "mend the problems" in the reverse order i.e. I alter the movement of the arm, hand or wrist first - then mend anything required in the rod movement - then observe the effects on the line.
A simple formula that works well - provided you know what you are looking for ,of course!!
It certainly worked with Phil from Ormskirk and Oliver from Chorley!
Day off tomorrow but then on the Ribble doing speys and roll casts with 2 of my trainees.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Technical casting
Lots of lessons this week (and next for that matter) have been with the trainee instructors I am helping.
This is a progressive learning process that requires understanding of how the rod and line work mixed with the ability to demonstrate a variety of technical casts to a very high standard and not forgetting of course, knowledge of fly fishing.
All of them are now really getting to grips with this challenge and are rising to it extremely well.
I am on the river tomorrow with 2 more going through roll casts, spey casts and slack line presentation casts.
This is a progressive learning process that requires understanding of how the rod and line work mixed with the ability to demonstrate a variety of technical casts to a very high standard and not forgetting of course, knowledge of fly fishing.
All of them are now really getting to grips with this challenge and are rising to it extremely well.
I am on the river tomorrow with 2 more going through roll casts, spey casts and slack line presentation casts.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Fly fishing Australia
Had a good lesson today with Stuart from Perth, Australia! Stuart is from Blackburn but has lived in Aussie for 17 years!
Stuart does a lot of sea fishing North of Perth and was telling me that on his last trip he caught 27 different species. Fascinating listening to him listing the many ways you can die just going out fishing - from Blue ringed octopus, Crocks, sharks, box jelly fish etc... and I thought the pontoons at Curley's were sometimes a bit slippy!!!!
Anyway we had a great day together = caught a few rainbows on a variety of methods and hopefully encouraged Stuart to have a go at Salt water fly fishing when he gets home. That's if he is feeling brave enough???
If you wade a bit deep around our coast you just get wet....................?????
Stuart does a lot of sea fishing North of Perth and was telling me that on his last trip he caught 27 different species. Fascinating listening to him listing the many ways you can die just going out fishing - from Blue ringed octopus, Crocks, sharks, box jelly fish etc... and I thought the pontoons at Curley's were sometimes a bit slippy!!!!
Anyway we had a great day together = caught a few rainbows on a variety of methods and hopefully encouraged Stuart to have a go at Salt water fly fishing when he gets home. That's if he is feeling brave enough???
If you wade a bit deep around our coast you just get wet....................?????
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Full day format
Had a great lesson yesterday with Mark from Lostock Hall, Preston. It was a full day gift voucher bought by his girlfriend, Janet.
Mark had done some maggot drowning in years gone by but had always wanted to have a go at Fly Fishing.
My normal full day lesson format for a complete beginner is:
So Mark did all of this and did it very well - his casting was excellent and he even managed to show Janet his newly gained skills as she turned up at the end of the day.
Another satisfied customer who will hopefully go on to enjoy this great sport!
Mark had done some maggot drowning in years gone by but had always wanted to have a go at Fly Fishing.
My normal full day lesson format for a complete beginner is:
- Introduction to equipment - rods, reels, lines, leaders, knots, flies and fly selection covering the basics of entomology.
- Safety - hats and glasses, waterside common sense!
- Basic casts -roll cast and overhead cast
- Variations of the basic casts - wind direction etc..
- Watercraft - where to start, what tactics to adopt, working out where the fish might be, depth of the fish, what the fish are feeding on etc...
- Finishing up with a session actually fishing.
So Mark did all of this and did it very well - his casting was excellent and he even managed to show Janet his newly gained skills as she turned up at the end of the day.
Another satisfied customer who will hopefully go on to enjoy this great sport!
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