[speybum]

Walt Whitman once said, “Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.”


A young man came to my shop the other day and asks me why he could not throw constant cast with his Spey rod.
I took time out went with him to the River.
He was quite an accomplished caster and had been to all the classes.
I revealed to him, the consistency that he was striving for would only come with dedicated practice.

This led me to a thought Spey casting is mostly about Consistency of movements.
I have always tried to get my students to complete 5 connective casts to my satisfaction; off each shoulder and each side of the river.
In other words five Singles and Five Doubles from both sides of the River.
To complete my course.
For some this is a real struggle and have to work fairly hard.
Am I asking too much of my students?
Have I set the goals too high?

 

[Rick Whorwood]

Speybum

Start with a game plan, but be prepared to deviate. I try! to stay with the program, but some students want more, others are more than overwhelmed with what your giving them.
I'm amazed at some of the questions the students come up with, some are quite happy to except what ever you say, others challenge you on every move. We all learn different, mechanic's and academic's, (practical or theoretical) This is what makes teaching and learning so much fun!!
If I can give you any advise, it would be not to fall in the trap of thinking that my way is the only way! Keep the door open.
Thanks Rick

 

[SparseHairHackl]

Once the mechanics are well-honed, consistency is bedeviled by challenging wading. The awkward stance to get a firm foothold, and especially varying wading depths, is very tough for a newbie. On rivers with classic gravel bar runs, this is not an issue, but on bedrock canyon rivers with giant boulders and depth near the bank, it can be the major issue.

 

[flytyer]

I also make sure anyone I teach spey casting to makes 5 consistent casts witht he same line length before I teach the next cast. In other words, 5 switch casts, 5 double speys, and 5 Snap-T's and for each of the three type of casts, the student needs to make 5 consistent casts of that type before the next type is introduced.

I guess this is my long-winded way of saying that I don't think you're asking too much.