Why do so many golfers want to crush the ball, desiring maximum distance? Likewise, why do so many anglers want to cast a fly-line a million miles? Here's a tip: whether you are on the golf course or a river, master your short game before you attempt distance. During 95% of my class time, I purposely teach anglers how to be deadly accurate between thirty and fifty feet. This approach will never make me a fly-fishing celebrity instructor, but in the end, you will be greatly rewarded -- if you practice, I can guaranty it!
First of all I would like to say that I had a great time on Tuesday. I was very comfortable with you and enjoyed the company as well as the casting. I look forward to doing it again.
I did the first practice since the lesson this morning. I set up a hula hoop with a 9 inch plate in the center and dropped a plate at 30’ and 40’ to mark my standing position. I actually found 40’ easier because I could feel the line better. I practiced right and left handed and also some with my eyes closed. I had the best accuracy with my eyes closed. Strange. For now, just getting in the hoop I consider good.
This is the first practice that I can recall doing where either some or the greater part of it didn’t contain trying to cast as far as I could. I have set some new goals and standards for my practice as a direct result of your influence and instruction: I will not cast further than I can cast accurately and without crashing the line down on the water. One of my priorities in taking the lesson was to learn why I was crashing and you answered that.
R. Rosa. Kennebunkport, Maine. USA