On 12-Oct-2009, Family-Outdoors wrote:

Spent some time teaching my youngest some basics. Started on grassy
field and worked about a half hour as he was pretty adamant about
wanting to get on water. He is 16. We tried this process several
years ago but he really was not ready. Did not have patience to
contend with various aspects of process and learning curve involved.
Also, like his Dad was (me) at that age, he was a little lacking in
the coordination department. It went much better this time.

He really wants to learn. He wants to guide some day and has the head
knowledge to do it, but knows he must learn to handle a fly rod in
addition to spinning gear. It seems like the hardest thing for me to
get across to him is the feel of allowing the loop to roll out behind
him. We got it down a bit, and then we went fishing. He'd go good
for awhile, then start regressing. He would then ask me to look and
see what it was he was doing wrong. Except when he asked, I tried to
not even watch him.

If anyone has any tips on this process I'd love to hear.

Paul

When I teach a relative newcomer I stress the timing in terms of beats and
clock movements

Up to 11:00 - be firm w this
Then up to 1:00 not 1:30 ,2:00 or 3:00 - 1:00 it is and allow an ectra beat
for the loop to firm
Then forward to 1:00 again not 2:00 or 3:00 biut 1:00 and an extra beat as
you follow your fly by pointing the rod where it lands or where you it it ti
land on the water

So
ready and Up to 11:00 boom,
then to1:00 boom with extra beat for the loop to form - boom:

back to 1:00 boom

Follow your fly with the rod tip as it lands boom fadout on next boom

If you can't crtique your son ( I can uderstand that- I have the same
problem w my wife) you ay then want tio get an outside instructor

But any decent flyshop will let him play & practice w ctitique - if they
think you may buy a rod

Fred