Rickard Gustafsson | Saturday, 24 October 2026
I don’t remember if it was a study or just an article that suggested that biceps curls was a very important exercise. Not for any physical reason but a psychological reason. The reasoning was something a long the lines of, if you add something rewarding or fun in an exercise program the client was more likely to actually follow the program. But it had to be in the end of the schedule and the “boring” things had to be done first.
So the client knows that there will be something done that is fun/rewarding. So the client actually gets to the gym and does the more important things first. The fun/rewarding thing suggested was biceps curls. What does that mean for the fly caster? That you should bring some dumbbells to the field? No not really, but you should bring a plan to the field. Many fly casters are self coached so they have both a moron as a coach and is coaching a moron. That is true for part of my own training even if I have Paul to help me. So when the moron/you is out on the field casting, you know how it goes. Hours can pass without noticing and what have you been doing? Probably doing what you do best, whatever that is. Without a plan and not doing what you really need to be doing to improve.
But what would happen if you had a plan to do at least a few minutes first of what should be doing to improve? Maybe you could even trick yourself a bit more by having a warmup you do every session also, with some things that you normally skip. The warm up could be some walking and short line drills. Walk around and cast a bit and do some casting in all planes. That can be done with any kit. After the warm up, something you find less exciting, pick two things you find less exciting that you really should be doing. Spend five minutes on each of them or do ten casts of each, then go crazy on whatever you usually do.
To work on what you need and not what you like can force you to bring more than one kit to the field. That can be a hurdle that stops you from following your plan. But your coach, (yeah you the moron), has decided that you should do it. This opens up a new possibility. It can stop you from mindlessly switching over to the fun exercise. You do a bit of focused work on what you really need, then you can switch kit and play around.
The switching of kits will also remind you to take some breaks in your practice. That is good for both your body and your mind. And it might even help your strong, fun exercise. Banging your head against the wall without any breaks is not the way to progress. I can promise you, I’ve tried many times. It just doesn’t work.
If you are reading this and not practicing your casting I am a bit surprised but you are so welcome here. Fishing becomes so much more enjoyable if you do practice. What the excuses might look like for you if I may guess is that it feels weird, someone can see me. Yes they will but you get over it, and I rather look like a fool in the park than on the water. You might think that you need lessons before you can practice, or “you might learn bad habits”. Well bad habits usually beats no practice and it will make you familiar with the equipment. I think that learn bad habits is more than an excuse than something instructors would say. And you have the answer right in front of you if you are doing bad or good. Is the line doing what you want it to? Then you are doing alright. If not you have to try to figure out what to change. That can be harder. But a good start is usually to shorten the line.
This popped up in my feed recently and I think it ties in quite well with Pauls Monday FP.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeyxMI_imxH/
If you cannot see it, this is the outline. It’s is satire of the world right now. It’s like a radio host talking to a caller:
Host: So just to check, who keeps all the wealth while the cost of living gets worse?
Caller: Billionaires
Host: Who owns the utilities, the corporations and the media?
Caller: Billionaires
Host: Who lobbies the politicians to work in their interests and their interests alone?
Caller: Billionaires
Host: Yes, who buys out rivals to stifle competition ultimately reducing customer choice and making the product ever worse for everyone?
Caller: Billionaires
Host: Who drives the fossil fuel industry, which causes climate change and makes the planet more difficult to live in?
Caller: Billionaires
Host: So why is everything so bad at the moment?
Caller: Immigrants
Just missing one thing that the billionaires owns, AI. Which is my biggest fear with AI. Not that it will decide to kill humanity. There are many risks around AI, that is hard to deny. And there are many problematic usages of it. But one problem that is given is that it is owned and controlled by the richest persons. It will make them even more powerful than they already are.
PoD: The last view of my boat this year. I just leave it there and then magically it appears there in the spring time. Serviced and ready for an other season.