David Siskind | Sunday, 26 July 2026
Since most of what we do with a fly cast (and throws to any target more distant than a dart board) is converting rotation to linear motion, training swings seems to be on point. So now with the permission of the Docs, it’ll be clubs and kettlebells again. I’m persistent if not strong or skilled.
I’m emphasizing inside and outside circles, shield casts, pull overs, eventually graduating to inside and outside mills. After getting “really good” at the movements (there’s as much nuance there as in the flycast itself) I’ll move up in weight, probably capping it at 20 to 25 lbs but that’s at least a year or two or three off. I’m also working toward rolling kb kips and Turkish getups as it seems to me that the key to surviving fishing adventures is to fall well and get up easily.
I was brunching with some former coworkers last Saturday. We’ve had a longstanding conversation around which of us looks down while descending stairs and who doesn’t. Chris doesn’t - wife Renee does - I do but aspire not to. Chris believes he has excellent balance. I would never say that about myself. My old brother-in-law, Rodney was also a natural balance athlete who could ski difficult slopes backward. I’ve watched Chris on stairs and Rodney cross country hiking. Both could trip without stumbling, unflustered, and upright, recovering without incident or fear. I was once at LAX walking behind Fred Dryer - a 6’6” Rams defensive end. He displayed super-fast feet flying down each short staircase in the airport concourse, barely touching the ground. I felt lead-footed watching him. Some just have it. I’m trying to train up. When I last visited Paul he opined, out of the blue, as I recall, that of course he would take spills - that the key is surviving them. Hear hear.
So in addition to training the neuromuscular coordination for the cast, I’ll be learning to fall. Why CAN’T I get better at everything?
Check these out:
BRB Stumbling - this popped up, algorithm driven. Good drill for fast feet - it’s in FB hope you can see it.
I never got to the river. El carro negro was in the shop - needed-differential oil - I diagnosed it myself. The mechanics were suitably impressed. Other obligations arose, so no river - I’ll go to the beach on Monday.
Because of the heat, this week’s practice efforts were confined to three dawn sessions on what is now parched crabgrass. I’ve been working on
- Hauls, varying timing from too early to too late;
- Speys, review to remember them all;
- Roll casts - I stink really.
My roll casts are the dullest tools in my box. I suck. So just now I watched Paul's Lesson . It’s a good one and there’s a lot in there to practice. I know that this is where all nimble loop control originates. This learning should be impactful. No excuses.
So nuff said. Cheers. Pray for peace.
David Siskind