Glasgow Casting Club

[scotty9]

I started with a 7wt as well.

Another thing worth bearing in mind is almost everyone seems to have some sort of rod already purchased before they ever get their first lesson. So I would presume they are going to learn with whatever that is?

I guess it depends what the pupil is looking for from the instructor... if they are a total beginner that expects to go fishing the next day with the very real possibility there will be a wee bit of wind then give him a 10 weight, teach him how to wave it and put a great big lure on the end.  :lol:

On a more serious note - on your point Malcolm.

I don't agree that it should be in the syllabus. That is where specialism comes in. Why try and make casting instructors a jack of all trades? Why not have a basic syllabus and then they develop specialisms based on their own fishing preferences. That is how you keep fun in it! What could be more fun than teaching your specialism that is developed from pursuing your interest? If I want to learn the casts I need for when I go tarpon fishing (total made up example), I'm not going to go to an instructor that only fishes for small burn trout with light rods even if at one point in his career he was assessed on casting a heavy rod. I'm going to hunt out a tarpon fisher!

I can definitely say from fishing the salt water in australia with a TCX 10, it's not just the casting, it's the fishing and it was amazing to learn from someone so knowledgable in that fishing sitution. I have to admit though, there is bugger all difference in my technique casting a saltwater lead eyed lure on the TCX 10 than when I fish a single dry on a #5 at long fishing range (not that I do that often!). I found I didn't need the technically 'correct' casts - like some sort of belgian/oval but could hit a bouncing bomb style cast from a 170 stroke and carry that beastly fly with no problems. Same as I'd do with a #5. The only difference was the extra strength needed to hang onto that rod, it's a beast!

I firmly believe that someone at the "standard of instructor" should be able to adapt to any kind of rod and the casts needed to cast and fish that rod pretty dam quickly. If they can't, I would question ability. Adaptability is a pretty key thing, all casts have the same basic mechanics.

[rabbitangler]

A cast is a cast and doesn't differ in it's mechanics no matter what a rod's line rating. An instructor should be able to cast with any weight of rod equally well, if not he/she isn't doing enough practice.

[Brian Mcg]

Last night while using the powerful sea trout rod it struck me that there is a big technical difference in using powerful rods of the type many of us used in the 1980s and the light delicate equipment mostly used for trout now. I handed my rod over to Craig so that he could show me a slightly different aerial mend to the ones I use and Craig, who is technically adept, couldn't do it with my rod although he did it very easily with a lighter rod. I've noticed this before with both Alan and Alberto. I don't think it is just to do with weight and power. I think there is a different skillset needed. Do the casting organizations recognize this?

It seems to me that the Scottish based organizations need to cater for the needs of anglers in Scotland and most of our fishing up here isn't done with a single fly and a 5 weight rod. Yet that seems to be the norm for instruction purposes.

I would hazard that at least 50% of fishing in Scotland is done with a multi-fly cast on a 10ft 7/8 weight rod fishing for loch trout or for seatrout and single handed salmon. Do you know that I have never once seen any casting instructor either practicing or teaching with this type of equipment? I think it should be incorporated into the syllabus.    

Hi Malcolm It would totally depend on who I was teaching I generally use a 9ft 5#, 9ft 6# or a 9ft 6in 7#.
We teach the different technique's to overcome any casting situation ie opening the loops for team of three flies. It would be up to the individual to then practice said cast.
If I am mucking about at Casting with yourself  I may well just use the 5#.


Brian

[Malcolm]

Bugger. I had hoped to provoke a take from Alan, didn't aim too well did I? I probably presented the fly too well. (edit: sorry missed the last post from Alan)

Craig,

It's hard to know how far we cast on the water. We use the buoy which I think is somewhere around the 17m mark as target practice for speys and rolls off the left and right shoulders. So that sort of distance is quite straightforward. Alan has a good eye for distance on the water and he would be the one to ask.

If I'm there next week I'll bring a rod for you to try that makes the Loomis feel like a 4 weight.

Rabbitangler,

As you know once a heavy rod overcomes it's inertia its momentum makes it harder to stop or make subtle movements. This was the problem. Craig was teaching me a cast I hadn't come across before which depended on a quick and subtle double movement halfway though the stroke. In the end we decided that it probably wasn't the best cast to attempt with a powerful stick.

[Wildfisher]

Makes sense to me Malclom. Anyone who doubts it should try waving a clothes pole quickly.   :lol:

[Brian Mcg]

Makes sense to me Malclom. Anyone who doubts it should try waving a clothes pole quickly.   :lol:

Whats that Fred a 5# helios tip flex :worried

Brian

[scotty9]

Makes sense to me Malclom. Anyone who doubts it should try waving a clothes pole quickly.   :lol:

I have evidence in Alex, Alberto and Alan that I whipped some guides to a woodern broomstick and cast loops about 2'' off it. It was hard but possible  :lol: See, that backs up my argument that you should be able to adapt  

[gasman]

Alan
That formula only works if you have a two tone fly line.

There is an exercise that you can do that helps to judge distance.
You will need a tape measure and some targets.
1. stretch out tape
2.Place targets at 35 / 40 /50 feet
3.Cast to targets.
This exercise helps with judging distance / accuracy and  tracking.

Gary 

[ennio]

given that in assessments only one rod can be used

I recently heard someone suggest that at assessment, candidates should be provided three rod/line setups to cast with. That would make for a tougher test for sure.
(I'm not aware anyone in the organisations is seriously considering it)

Andrew

[Brian Mcg]

I recently heard someone suggest that at assessment, candidates should be provided three rod/line setups to cast with. That would make for a tougher test for sure.
(I'm not aware anyone in the organisations is seriously considering it)

Andrew

I have not heard that Andrew but it shouldn't make any real difference. The current requirement in GAIA is a Maximum 9ft rod aftm 7#.
Lets be Honest if Candidates put themselves forward for assessment they really should be able to cast with any rod/line set up imo.
My usual set up is 9ft 4# but tomorrow morning at 7:00 I will be fishing a 9ft 8# then at 11:00 a 4#. so here's hoping

Brian