Let me say right off, I think it is perfectly alright and
reasonable for some to charge for fly casting, fly tying and
fly fishing lessons. There are those who actually make a living
by doing this. Others have a large investment in equipment so
as to provide good gear for others to learn on. There are many
schools that also include some pretty good fishing as part of
the course.
I also feel it is appropriate to charge for such information
when the fees are being raised for some worthwhile charity or
non-profit organization. Often these are used for stream
improvement etc.
There has been a lot of discussion on the Bulletin Board and in
the Chat Room lately about charging for this kind of thing, and
like I said, under most situations, I feel it is a fair practice.
But there is another side to this picture. It has to do with how
our society has changed over the past years. How the individual
family is constructed now compared with those in the past. How
it was tighter knit then compared to now. How family members
seem to be scattered all over the country as never before.
Uncles and grandfathers and dads were the teachers of the past.
Most relatives lived closer than a long distance phone call,
often in the same town, or at least, county. Those days are
history, long gone probably forever. So just who is left to
do this job? Good question. Is it up to you and me to take
over and spend the hours and days indoctrinating our youngsters
in the game? In a way, yes, I think it is. Why? If we don't do
it, who will? It is not so much that parents don't care, heck,
I think they care as much as at any time in our history, it is
just that conditions do not present the opportunities, or in
some cases, actually prevent them at all. There are more
single parent families than any time in our history, too.
For myself, if I owned a fly-shop I would not charge for casting
or fly-tying lessons. I think the more I could teach, the more
would buy rods and materials from me and think I was a nice
fellow. I know not all feel this way and I am not suggesting
they are wrong. But we have started something here on the
Bulletin Board they may not approve of. A new section called
Free Fly Fishing Help.
This is a place for anyone who would like to help with instruction,
at no charge, to list their names, email, city, state,
and perhaps phone number. Some of you may be professional
'Certified Casting Instructors,' the majority will not be.
However, I am sure, those of you placing your names on the
list will be dedicated and caring folks who will do a wonderful
job for anyone who decides to take you up on the instruction.
When you list the subject, add the name of your state like
this example, (Michigan), or abbrev., (MI)
It would be wonderful if there appears thousands of names, guys
and gals from not just the U.S.A. but all over the world, willing
to take a hand, and with the watchful eye of a father, grandfather
or uncle, place a fly rod in it. And teach.
As I write this I see that several of you have already listed
your name and what you are willing to help with. Our sincere
thanks, it is not surprising you already have offered. We can
do this; we can bring the family back together.
We knew that if we built it. . . ~ James Castwell
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