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Dear LF, We both know that fly fishing is the sport of sharing and it is a wonderful sport. I share all I can for free and even Fly Casting instruction at times(like at the Fish-Ins). But when running a business as a professional, free does not work! My statement was made for people looking for a professional to provide a service. Best Fishes, Mike
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I suppose it depends on what you are looking for, or what you need. The free lessons I got at the shop helped me to go from very sloppy short casts to longer. Though I fished when young, I was a begginer for sure. A few minutes with Mike, helped me cast farther but more importantly to do it with half the effort! Mike does have a very good way of teaching and getting the knowledge across in a way that is easy to understand. at the time, the shop lesson was what I needed to get me on the water, but I think if I were to seek more advancement I would seek a pro like Mike. There is room for both I think, if a shop sells a rod to a new fly fisher and just sends them on their way a lot of them will not enjoy it and give it up. A few lessons can lead to a lifetime customer for the shop and the pro instructor.
Bill
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Well put mike. LF knows that this site doesn't run for free either. They wouldn't be selling advertisements like the one Chota has at the top of the screen. Or those silly bumper stickers.
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I don't teach fly tying or casting since I consider myself only at the intermediate stage. But as a certified Hunter Ed instructor (3 states) and an NRA certified firearms instructor, I have charged small nomial fees. California allowed for the recovery of expenses, MO and MS do not so any expenses are mine. In my NRA classes I charged by the class (not by the hour). This was neccessary to pay for range time, targets, ammo etc. I can say that I have not made any personal income from these teaching activities. In fact I have given many lessons with out charging simply because I was there and people asked questions or asked for help with problems.
Some may argue that by not charging you leave it open for the criticism that by not charging you are not a Pro. What ever that may mean. Any way I am always pround to have the help formal or informal from anyone that can increase my knoledge.
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Michael (Wooly) Woolum
State Certified Hunter Education Instructor
Hickory, MS
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I think anyone could go out and make money off teaching someone how to cast. And if they haven't done much of it would learn a great deal from the preson teaching them. And if they like the way you teach them then thell be back. I'm not FFF cert and never plan to. This goes back 8 months to a year ago or longer. If you know what your doing you can get people to pay. I've had people ask me to teach them who to FF and cast as most have never picked up a Fly rod. I told one lady I couldn't take any money from her but would be glad to help get her . Started and she could join me anytime and I could teach her everything I know. Plus gave her some book titles to read. To me the Cert FFF gives most a piece of paper and a big head that they are better then those without. And if you don't like the so called silly bumper stickers you don't have to get one but don't knock those who do. It's one way of knowing other Fly Fisher people who belong to FAOL.So as my SIG. says to each there own. Later Matt
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To each there own !
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Wow. Interesting discussion.
There are without a doubt a lot of great casters and great casting instructors out there that don't have the FFF certification. There are also a lot of great casters out there who have trouble explaining the act of casting to others when they teach. I have had casting lessons from both.
And this is where I think the strength of the FFF certification lies. Certainly you must have good casting skills to pass the test, but the emphasis at least in my FFF experience has been effective instruction. Throwing a perfect loop to 30 or 40 feet is one thing. Explaining how to throw that loop to a novice is entirely something else. In preparing for the FFF test, you are forced to develop and hone your teaching skills. It was frustrating to me as new flyfishing angler to take lessons from fantastic casters who were not effective teachers. When I later took lessons from FFF certified instructors I found that they all had one thing in common - they could teach.
Do you have to be FFF certified to be a great casting instructor? Absolutely not. But the FFF certification has value and I know that when I take a lesson from an FFF instructor that person has worked at being a good teacher as well as caster.
I received my FFF certification nearly a year ago and I do charge a fee for a one-on-one lesson. I also do a lot of free casting clinics for groups like the Boy Scouts and Trout Unlimited.
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It was like that when I got here.
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My best lessons have come from testing fly rods. I really look like I need help and am a willing student. Folks want to help so they don't have to look at it anymore.
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MikeMV this is probely not going to go over well. But If Im to follow your drivers license example. Are your saying that certified casting instructiors should not be teaching by virtue of the fact that you dont feel they are yet qualified? Or is it that they shouldnt be chargeing to teach as they have not yet reach that level of professionalisem.
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Captn. Paul Darby
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Dear Capt Paul, JC and All, this discussion goes over well and I never take offense to comments here. Sometimes we all get too sensitive about this stuff. Capt Paul, I was just pointing out that a new driver may have a skill but it will be a growing skill and the same with an instructor. A new instructor must progress and develop his teaching skills. Being FFF Certified does not mean that someone will be a great instructor 3 or 4 years down the road if they do not apply themselves in the Learning Process and try to develop. Also, this truly is the sport of sharing! I thank you all for sharing it with me. As to charging or not and Professionalism, what professional in our everyday life do we hire to perform a service for us(plumber, electrician, etc. do we not EXPECT to pay?) If someone wants to teach fly casting for free, that is wonderful and a great part of this sport. The most important part of the professional Fly Casting instructor is to possess the casting and teaching skills to effectively make the behavioral change in a student. Let us all enjoy our sport, help each other and smile a lot. Best Fishes to you all, Mike
[This message has been edited by Mikemv (edited 10 February 2005).]
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Hi group,
I thought I'd weight in again after reading all the comments. I had avoided talking about a payment structure because sometimes I charge and other times I don't. It depends on the situation. I'll use this example. After 30 plus years in the telephone business I will from time to time take a contract job to install a communications system for a business and charge the going rate. On the other hand the other day I purchased, donated, and installed a system for a senior center near my home. (I'm getting close to being one myself so maybe my donation will be something I use in the near future.) I do the same with my fly casting lesson.
Regarding whether FFF certified instructors are qualified: Looking back over the years with a lot more than a passing knowledge of the Certification Program I'd have to say there were times in the past when instructors were certified who should not have been. In today's world I see a much tougher test than in some past years. When I took the test I had been an instructor for better than 20 years and considered myself quite competent. I took the test to prove (to myself) I was as good/bad as I though I was. Take care & ...
Tight Lines - Al Beatty [url=http://www.btsflyfishing.com:8bcaf]www.btsflyfishing.com[/url:8bcaf]