I was at a fly casting clinic this past Saturday and I heard one of the instructors say that it is better to stay with one type of rod action. When I asked him why, he said you get better results when training you muscle memory. I told him I have both medium-fast and fast action rods and he just said stick with one or the other. Any thoughts?
Hi Tyrone,
I couldn’t imagine fishing the salt with
out a faster action rod, any more than I
could enjoy my pan fishing without a slower
action 3 wt. Warm regards, Jim
I have everything from an old Phillipson 6 ft. glass rod to a couple of old bamboo rods. Graphite in between. I enjoy the first couple of minutes getting into the groove of what ever it is I am using. IMOHO I enjoy what ever is the stick of the moment.
I have never had the pleasure or honor of an old Leonard or Payne, but I think I could manage it.
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 15 May 2006).]
I think muscle memory might be the answer to everything I don’t want to do.
“Honey, I can’t mow the lawn today, my muscle memory forgot how.”
“I sit here on the couch all day, flipping through channels on T.V. because that’s what my muscle memory knows how to do.”
Give me a break. What a load… How do people do anything at all. Our original muscle memory would have most likely prevented us from learning to walk, speak, eat, etc.
Use as many rods as you can learn to use and then invite that guy to fish somewhere he’ll need a different rod. Just to mess with him.
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
I could not agree more. I see a fly rod as a tool and with any tool you need to adapt in order to get the most out of it.
JC, I have to say that most of the instructors were extremely helpful, but yes there were a few that were full of **it.
Uhhh, Let me guess.
The instructor also owns a Fly Shop and can make you a good deal on one or two outfits of the same action. Right?
Let No One Walk Alone
><))))‘>------<’((((><
Bill
On a creek I want a soft rod to load easily for close casting. On a lake I want a stiff rod for tight loops in a breeze for distance. Very soft rods don?t mend well for me - when I need that. And all the other rivers and ponds in between have their own requirements. The instructor was being too simple.
I think sometimes the problem is that the instructors are so focused on casting that they forget that there’s more to fishing than casting.
George
I have told students that are rank beginners that to learn I would stay with one rod. and after they have some idea of what they were doing then it will take very little effort on there part to get the timeing of a different rod or action. maybe this is what he was tring to say.
Rich
The free casting clinic is an annual event. It is put on by the SF Golden Gate Casting and Angling Club. They call it Mel Day. Mel Krieger is the lead instructor.
There were probabaly 15 instructors. I believe most if not all are FFF certified instructors. I have to say that most were excellent, but there were a couple of loose cannons. There were two instructors I noticed that spent the majority of their time ensuring that the other instructors followed guidelines. If an instructor strayed, they were spoken too. The instructor that stated it is better to stay with one action type was approached by one of the oversight instructors on another matter.
[This message has been edited by TyroneFly (edited 16 May 2006).]
Thanks, they have a great reputation down there.
Maybe I have the answer: When you begin to learn to cast, its better to use only one rod. If you use several at first you wont learn to do it right because there are too many variables. Once you get the feel (which can take a few years) then you might start experimenting with changes. I know its hard at first because you want all the new gear, but constant changes will only frustrate you until your level of proficiency is high. I wouldnt begin to experiment with other rods until you can double haul comfortably (without even thinking about it) and when your presentation “feels” good. That said, getting some casting instruction (and lots of regular practice) is the best investment you can make. -Migs
I think Migs hit it right on!! It can be very frustrating for a beginner and trying various actions rods when you don’t know what your doing can only make a minor problem a big problem. Personally I prefer different action rods for different situations.
My gut reaction was to say what a crock; but when you think about it, he might be on to something.
How did the rest of us start out?
I’m willing to bet a majority of us had one rod we worked with through the learning bumps. As we progressed and became better able to differentiate between rod action and our fishing needs we branched off into other rod actions. The basics though were most likely driven home by that one rod.
The instructor might have felt the need to have you build upon a very solid foundation.
As for the problem with casting instructors comment, to each his/her own. Most instructors I know fly fished quite a while before keying-in on the casting portion of the sport. If casting brings enjoyment to someone I don’t think the problem is with them.
Our one day school ( 9am to 4pm) was 90% casting. By 3pm we had 14 9ft. 6wt. rods laid out. Each student went ‘down the line’ and cast each one a little. They were all ‘different’ brands and actions; but, in a way, all the same as they were all 9ft. 6wt’s. The brands were covered and each student was asked to pick the rod they liked best. They were surprised how well they could cast the variety of rods.
What is the instructor’s goal? To instruct the Indian how to USE the bow, or how to choose the bow?
Just like choosing hammers (finish, claw, peen, single-jack, or double-jack) for a specific job, until the knowledge to keep your fingers out of the way is gained, there is little need to change hammers. 
…lee s.
It is important to be smarter than a varied bunch of 9’ graphite sticks.
There is a fine line between fly fishing and standing in a river waving a stick, and YOU SIR have crossed that line!
We figured that if we had done our job (taught them to cast) that they should be able to cast any rod, within reason of course, not just the one rod they learned on. If all we did was to teach them how to cast ‘one’ rod, we felt that was not what they signed up for. They wanted to ‘learn how to cast’, not learn how to cast one rod.
Either way, it is how we did it and they seemed to like it. It was obvious they could tell the difference in the other rods at the end of the day and felt they had learned what they came for.
JC,
Would you share with us what brand and model was picked the most…if one was?