Paul Arden | Tuesday, 5 November 2024
It’s very interesting for me how much my coaching has changed over the last five years or so. I see it really as coaching nowadays and not instructing. I think that’s because nowadays I have long term students instead of one off lessons. That totally changes my outlook. If I’m going to see someone two or three or four weeks later, I want to set a training plan for them, one that will give them their best bang for their buck in training time, specific to what we are working on at that juncture.
It’s really been very fascinating because there are not actually very many drills in flycasting. Which is bizarre really. So I have had to create many and assess how effective they are over time. I have scores of them and I usually set 7 or 8 in any given lesson. I order them in terms of importance and try to put a time slot around them eg practise this one for 5 minutes every session. I believe that is how to make long term improvements. Not just casting casting casting, but very specific drills to improve pattern, position and/or power application.
For the first time in my life I actually go into lessons now having a pretty good idea of what I’ll be doing, what drills I’ll be teaching and how things are going to go. And it’s only taken 28 years! Nothing ever happens quickly around here.
One of the most important things that students must understand is that changes take a while. You don’t go into a lesson and come out a world champion. If instead you think in terms of 9-12 months, then you can become a really excellent flycaster. Typically if you come in maxing around 70’, which is where most self-taught casters plateau, then after one year you can be truly exceptional. And it’s great to watch the transformation.
The big change I see is usually about 10 months in. I don’t know if it’s the Speys or the Presentations or the 170 stroke. Or a combination of everything coming together maybe. But we always get to a point where we suddenly both go “wow”. Many of the people I teach go on to be instructors, guides, competition casters. Basically anything they want. One thing that they all have in common is that they are all serious fly fishers to begin with.
It really is a great job. I think what I love about it the most is that I’m learning all the time. That and those moments when a student just puts it all together. Those “wow” moments blow me away every time.
Pretty hectic over here. Lots of web stuff going on. Not enough fishing. I have to make a truck service (there was a time when I never serviced my truck) and beer supply run on Thursday. Then immediately after I’m going to fish hard for a week. I need to get the Sexyloops videos back up on a weekly basis again. I would like to have some more drills available for my students to review after their lessons. And then at the end of the month, I actually have a guest and am guiding again! I’m going to need to get a new fridge for the Battleship before he arrives because my fridge is freezing everything, which makes it very difficult to drink beer. Important details like this are very important.
Have a great week!
Cheers, Paul
Today’s POD: “Fig Time!” - a Giant Gourami about to eat a fig the size of a ping pong ball. The Gourami is around 4KG. I know what I’ll be tying tonight.