Now that the post has been arround the topic for a while, I will like to get some advice and may be finally getting an old idea running.
I live in Colombia, some of you already know that, and fly fishing here is just as strange as a purple dog. However I have been asked many times to teach somebody. But the best idea that was ever suggested was to teach kids. An idea came to me and it was to set a week long general fishing course. That is from what’s a hook and a bobber, to fly fishing and maybe tying.
Just an introductory course and then going from where we left with whom ever may want to. And hopefully it will be teaching him or her more about fly fishing.
I have been fishing all my life and only in the past 2 years took fly fishing but I dedicated exclusively in the past year.
I don’t consider myself even an intermediate caster (have no one to compare to) but still can cast 50ft of line and hit the spot where I want my fly presented and have it “accepted” by the fish and eventually catch them. I have tied all my flies almost from the beginning and consider myself very proficient at it.
My point is that I will love to help expand fly fishing in my country and what could be better than starting with the future of the sport? I know there’s interest in the sport as it is kind of strange around here and no one can deny the fact that it is a very beautifull sight to see someone fly casting and that attracts people.
How ever I don’t consider myself a candidate for teacher, at least not for a while but also consider a duty to try and teach what I have learned. and keep learning.
I would like to hear if I should teach the “general course” I described here and only in the end teaching the basics of FFing (a little about the rod, the reel, the line, the flies, tying, etc.) and let the more “advanced” aspects of the art for when I have mastered them a little more. Or should I go with the idea of expanding the sport and try to teach what I know to every one who’d ask?
From what you describe, imho, … I’d go the Fly fishing route.
General fishing is such a vaste field. (well, … “just” fly fishing is too) .
There is a small shop here. Gutsy guy who opened a shop when fly fishing wasn’t even on the map here.
I try to promote the sport as much as posible (office, meetings, at the local park when I practice) … So much so, that the owner called me up a few years ago, just to find out who I was.
Seems, … new clients were coming in and mentionning that they were in for a full rig since they met some strange chinese guy in the park casting to en EMPTY pond.
Curiosity will get 'em every time
You don’t have to be a Pro with more sponsor patches on your vest than Mario Andretti to promote a sport. Just stay within you competences, don’t be shy to refer people to established Pros, … have fun meeting people.
Well that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Refering every body to FAOL and giving everyone who asks a xerox copy of “Fy Fishing Strategy” (Carl Richards & Doug Swisher with illustrations by David Whitlock) from where I learned all the basic skills when I started. But as far as getting payed for teaching wouldn’t it be a little dishonest if I teached something I don’t really master?
That’s why I thought of an introductory course to fishing in general.
As for stores there are some general sports stores that carry a rod or two and maybe some line but they don’t even know what they are for or what the … “wf5f” means.
Dave
[This message has been edited by dphotoco (edited 09 July 2005).]
I love these threads aboaut teaching (and learning).
I think a teacher is someone who can teach something to someone else and at the same time learn from that experience. You may not be able to teach as well as a “professional”, but if you can pass on knowledge and get someone started or advance them, that is better than the alternative if the alternative is for the person to not learn at all.
I am teaching a father and one (or two) of his young sons to flyfish. I am not a great fisherman or caster, but if I can get them started and if I did not they would not get started at all. So I will be their teacher for as far as I can take them, with my warts and all.
The salmon rivers here are getting less and less anglers.
This makes it tough for the non-profit River Associations to keep up the fine work they do. The more folks that come out to enjoy the rivers here, … the more resources they have to look after the real resource.
We used to, in the “good ole days”, have over 30 waredns on 60 km of river, … they’re down to 3 this year
So spread the word, … I can’t think of a more fine sport around. A day on the water, methodically sweeping a run or sitting back with a cup of Java and listening to the trout and salmon playing in a pool, … well, … life doesn’t get any better.
Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 09 July 2005).]
Well, lets say I choose to teach a group of youngsters to fly fish. What would be a good point to start?
I don’t want the kids to become bored with too many tech specs but surely won’t like them to think that the sport it’s all aboutcatching fish. Kids attention can disperse if they become bored.
I will vote for an “anything goes” morning, even with worms!! if that’s all the kids can think about fishing (remember, fishing is not a big sport 'round here, needless to say FFing), just for them to getthe feel of it, and then progressing into the philosophy behind using artificials on to the “culmen” of it that I consider to be fly fishing all on a weeks long period.
I will try to use a little of the competitive spirit kids have to get them to get the catch of catching a fish with a fly. If they know that it is not the easiest way and that it takes a bit more than a hungry trout and a worm to play the game they may get more interested in spending time casting to a hula-hop on the grass!!
What do you think? How will you aproach such a challenge?
ps. my original idea was to teach school kids (10-16) during their vacations but will love to have the means to teach as much of the empoverished kids that live near some of the streams and lakes as possible for two reasons: They may become a sort of guides if the sport some day becomes big enough and they may let the “worm” behind and our rivers will have a better population of fish.
Jed:
I am a photographer and I have to say that most of the skills that are more deeply carved into my brain cortex are the ones that I have teached to my few (but hopefully happy) students!!
I read the post in full. I’ve had the thought of the fishing course around my mind for a few months now and only after reading that post and the ones that were about casting and instructors, the good ones the bad ones, etc. I decided to let the idea run a little here.
I will start a new post, I hope to get things as clear as possible before committing to the challenge of teaching.
[This message has been edited by dphotoco (edited 10 July 2005).]
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