The Sunday closed season casting club.

First of all blocking the back casts into the wind and creating loops in the back cast that could cut through the gusts and extended back without collapsing in a heap of slack.

(as we’ve cast with a driving wind to the side so often this winter,it’s getting stale and I wanted them to get on the attack ).

Today’s conditions were the kind many would just avoid fishing in… and miss out, or slink off to the easier casting positions and often miss the fish.

Then I turned them into the wind and had them punching snappy hauls straight at targets, pitched down  about 40-50' away. That was the aim. Which, after they couldn’t get twenty feet of line to land in the gusts at first, anything like straight, and often back towards their ankles in a heap. To achieving straight, almost sweet turnovers. it looked like a revelation had occurred on their faces. And both became studiously engrossed in perfecting the activity and getting consistency.

I F*ck’in love coaching when it’s like that!

( I did miss a trick though, I realise I could have moved it onto a range of target distances and got some adaptability in there…. I’m learning on the hoof too, and most revelations come as an afterthought the morning after… the Doh moment!).

It’s not been a huge turnout over the weeks we have run it, and I realise now where i could have recruited more had I pushed for higher numbers. But without regular coaches helping, it’s hard to take on too much. I feared a day when a dozen turned up and I was facing them alone, that was the only thing that stressed me out about it after a few sessions. Thankfully that didn’t occur, and I backed off on the weekly updates if it was likely Nick wouldn’t make it,  Most sessions were around 8 and at least two of us helping and coaching them.

Mark Surtees turning up to one of them really took the coaching quality up a notch and opened my eyes to a few things, and Nick ( Moore) when he could do it was brilliant and engaging. Edward Brassy is local and studied and practiced to get to GAIA level casting, but not taken the exam. He has been a great support and is an absolute tackle tart, so we have had a host of various rods to try, some weird and wonderful. I am hoping to nudge him towards CI. He casts effortlessly and has a great engaging manor with people…. He also spots faults.

( one pupil talked about the “friendly forgiving Nick”, and the “Strict sergeant major Chris” double act when we put him through an FFI bronze exam… not quite sure how to take that, I always thought I was laid back and encouraging).

In all we had 23 people come through with a core of 10 regulars and all but 3 came more than once. 7 of the 23  were absolute beginners ( one was punching 50' into the wind today bless him, it’s been slow progress but steady with the odd nudge out of his comfort zone for him) and another of the beginners caught his first Trout on a fly yesterday, so that’s his validation… and our celebration!

We are going to meet at a local small still water in a few weeks to put the casting lessons into a fishing situation with a local Stillwater expert Rob Edmunds, and hopefully see some smiles and more first Trout.

It’s really satisfying, the coaching, when it works, I realise I am still saying far too much,  and maybe overloading info. It’s such an easy temptation, not exactly to spread the wisdom and this new knowledge, but more to fill in the gaps of silence, that they are probably not aware of. And reluctantly, I demonstrate too often when I should talk, but haven’t the words yet. Probably guilty of getting some performing casts rather than learned casts as a result. But with weekly sessions, that feedback on your coaching is immediate from those who return. You can see when you a have missed landing the lesson.

Still despite some mistakes along the way, I haven’t touched anyone, held their hands or needed to hold a rod. I certainly haven’t put a rod down anyone’s sleeve cuff, though I have been tempted! I haven’t mentioned loading, or clock faces, I haven't gratuitously shown off and thereby make casting look intimidating for people( I don’t think). I have only referred to the 5 essentials twice, and explained them fully once, this; despite finding myself a bigger gobshite than I ever imagined ( and apparently a sergeant major type!) 

At present the biggest lesson I take away is that, I’m not Mark or Nick or Vince or Paul or anyone else, I haven’t their unique experiences, knowledge, wisdom, and abilities. I’m Chris ,and I have my own perspectives to bring and work with, and that’s what I need to develop.

Long way to go yet, but when my early attempts to teach went horribly, frustratingly wrong. Literally psychedelic loops due to an intake of magic mushrooms and copious amounts of weed,  that I was unaware of at the time when I offered to show an interested chap how to cast like me. I should have realised that anyone taking THAT much interest in me practicing roll casting had to be off their face and best avoided. But you let yourself feel flattered by the attention and fool yourself you have something to offer!.

( yet another Doh! moment amongst the litany of them dotted along the gutter of the rutted and pot holed track, that have accompanied my journey here)

But after these few months of casting club... gawd I’m looking forward to much more of it.

Sundays at two I will still be going down to practice my own casting, and I’ve told people if anyone wants to join me I’ll be there, will be interesting to see if anyone turns up. I’m just looking forward to getting on with my own growth though for now and stretching out and perfecting new skills.

For those whose seasons are about to open, we salute you! I hope your waders have survived intact and those old fish have forgotten to be wary of you. Have a great week.

Chris Avery