Why Should I Take Fly Fishing Lessons?
It
is a long acknowledged fact that attempts at self-teaching, or receiving instruction
from a well-meaning friend often leads to less than enjoyable, even frustrating,
days on the water. It is likely that both beginners or individuals who have
perhaps fly fished a few times unassisted will unfortunately develop a whole
range of common but exasperating faults in both their casting and fishing
techniques, and as a result are forced to cope with tangled lines, poor presentation
of the fly and other problems too numerous to mention. We will eliminate these
problems and as a result you will find fly fishing more productive and enjoyable.
Experienced anglers, be sure to see my “Special Presentation Lessons”
 |
Why Should I Take Casting Lessons?
Casting is the most used tool in fly fishing, simply put; The more proficient you are, the more fish you will catch and the more you will enjoy your time on the water
My many years as a fly fisherman, observer and guide, have only served to stress the obvious, anglers who are proficient casters catch more fish. It’s a simple fact; Possessing the ability to cast your fly far enough, and with a degree of accuracy necessary to present your imitation to feeding fish, are the skills that separate successful anglers from those who are just fishing. In an effort to assist you to become better fly casters, we offer fly casting lessons designed for individuals with all degrees of skill.
 |
10 Good Reasons for Taking Casting Lessons:
1 – More proficient angling
2 – Eliminate tailing loops
3 – Desire to add distance
4 – Planning a trip
5 - Learn to double haul
6 – Learn to cope with wind
7 – Refresher course
8 – Purchased new rod with different action
9 – Learn specialty casts
10 – Improve presentation
Fly Fishing Lessons:
BEGINNER: This one day course is designed for individuals who have never fly fished, or perhaps have experienced one or more frustrating efforts and would like to learn the necessary skills to enjoy future fly fishing excursions unassisted. Starting with a thorough explanation of the gear, you will also learn basic fly casting, how to tie the knots used by fly fishers. Includes an entry-level look at entomology (the Mayflies and other insects), along with food fish important to trout. Also includes advice on wading safety, streamology (where to find fish) and how to hook, play and land fish. As the lesson progresses, time will be spent on the river learning to fish the flies discussed during the lesson. Also included will be suggestions regarding the selection of the proper equipment for the type fishing you plan to be enjoying.
INTERMEDIATE: – This one day course is designed for individuals who have some fly fishing experience but would like to fast-forward their angling skills. Includes work on improving casting, adding distance to your casts, improving accuracy, and improving the all-important drift which eliminates drag. Also includes a look at some of the more complicated knots used by knowledgeable anglers. If interested, an insightful look at nymph fishing, the use of a simple dropper fly and basic water reading. Answers to all questions you may have and includes advice and assistance in remedying problems you may presently be experiencing when on the water.
Full day - 8 hour course: $250.00 per individual, or $300.00 per couple. Up to four people. (Lunch and soda provided).
You Need to Bring (Required):
Sunglasses or other eye protection and a hatConsider Bringing:
Fly Casting Lessons:
I will also come to your location (see below).BEGINNER: Please take advantage of my “Fly Fishing Lessons” for beginners, which includes basic casting along with all other skills necessary to enjoy fly fishing unassisted.
INTERMEDIATE: One Day Course 9 am – 5 pm: This course is designed for the angler who may have a few years fly casting experience and would like to fast-forward their casting abilities. This lesson will include four hours (more or less, as deemed necessary) on the grass or pond reviewing basics while identifying, explaining and correcting any existing problems such as; wide inefficient loops, poor delivery, dreaded tailing loops and others. Also add distance and improve accuracy. Learn mending methods and improve your presentation. Balance of time to be spent on the water applying new skills to actual fishing conditions.
ADVANCED: Full Day Course – 9 am – 5pm: For the more experienced angler who has been enjoying reasonably successful fly casting for several years but would like to take the final step from good fly caster to expert. Includes a full day on the water first addressing, at your request, any existing problems presently being experienced. To include learning or improving double haul, adding distance to your cast. Learning specialty casts to cope with various trying situations, such as curve casts, slack line casts, wind casts and others. Special attention will be paid to achieving better presentations and longer drifts.. Learn advanced aerial and on-the-water mends to eliminate drag. Our advanced lessons may also be designed to fit the specific desires of the individual.
HOURLY LESSONS: Casting lessons may also be schedule on an hourly basis with an hour and a half minimum. Going over basics, or correcting all problems being experienced. Lesson may also be custom designed to your requests.
Rates:
Full day – 8 hours - $250.00
Half day – 4 hours - $150.00
Hourly rate - $40.00You Need to Bring (required):
Sunglasses or other eye protection
Hat
You May Want to Bring:
Sunscreen
Layered clothing
Insect Repellant
Cold Drinks
Rainwear
Snacks
Please note: If it is inconvenient for you to travel, I will come to your location provided travel expenses are covered.
Special Presentation Lessons
As any truly knowledgeable angler knows, you may be able to pay your way to the world’s best locations, you may also own the finest gear available, but for that all-important final 30 to 60’, you’re entirely on your own. It’s very important to remember, the only thing your quarry gets to see is your imitation. How accurately and delicately it settles to the surface and if it is drifting at the exact speed as the current is observed carefully with the inherent instincts possessed by all trout, particularly wild trout. Flies landing improperly will send fish scurrying for the depths, and any drift that deviates even slightly from the speed of the current, will have the same disappointing result.
Improve your presentation - Spend a pleasant half-day on the water learning the methods used by the experts to achieve that perfect presentation necessary to appeal to even the most wary trout. Learn casting maneuvers that will allow your imitation to light on the surface as delicately as the natural helping to eliminate refusals. By learning to improve and extend your drift, you will vastly reduce false-casting which keeps your fly on the water where the fish are. Pick up on the many little nuances which make the difference between successful angling and just fishing. Enjoy your day while taking a giant step toward more successful angling.
4 Hour Course - Because this particular course requires rather intense individual attention, it is limited to one individual, or two if couple or good friends.
Rates:
4 hour course - $175.00 per individual or $250.00 per couple.
Guided Fishing TripsI specialize in guiding half-day wading trips. I have found that most people, given four hours of instruction on where to fish, what flies to fish, and how to fish them, may then easily enjoy the balance of the day comfortable with the knowledge that they are “doing it right.” Upon request this half-day can be not only an enjoyable fishing excursion but also a valuable learning experience. Unless otherwise requested, the river fished will be selected based on current activity taking place on the numerous rivers of the area.
Rates:
4 hour wade trip 1 or 2 people - $175.00You Need to Bring (Required):
Hat
Sunglasses or protective eyewear
You May Want to Bring:
Sunscreen
Rain Jacket
Cold Drinks
Layered Clothing
Insect Repellent
Snacks
Alternative Casts You Can Learn:
Learning alternative casts that will enable longer drifts, allow for more delicate presentations or cast safely and proficiently on windy days are truly valuables assets that can be acquired or improved with proper instruction and a little effort.
Add These New Casting Skills:Learn how to cast tighter loops.
Perform slack line casts to prevent drag.
Use an aerial reach mend to achieve longer drag-free drifts.
Make windy day casting safer and more productive.
Vastly improve accuracy when casting to feeding fish.
Learn curve casts enabling you to fish behind obstacles.
Learn hook casts making it possible to drift your fly against a river bank.
Learn how to make mends to cope with almost any situation.
Learn how to cast with heavily weighted flies without tangling.
Make longer casts
Learn to haul and double-haul.
Learn the salt-water quick cast. – Cast 60’ in 3 seconds.
Learn to perform functional and fun single-hand Spey casting
Bob’s
Casting Tip of the Month
Whereas we can, to some degree, program our minds by committing things to memory, we cannot program our muscles which learn primarily by rote or repetition. After a physical movement is repeated enough times, it becomes ingrained in muscle memory and that part of the body will find it easier to respond in the same manner each time. This of course explains how serious commitment to practice equals vast improvement regardless of the endeavor.
Many anglers who have never actually studied fly casting have obviously never had occasion to learn and thus do not use a proper casting stroke which accounts for the casting problems encountered. These problems vary from individual to individual but often include tailing loops, failure to achieve distance, inability to make smooth presentation deliveries and other less than desirable results too numerous to mention.
There are 5 essential rules, originally put forth by Bill Gammel a well-known Texas instructor, that should be followed to become a proficient fly caster. If an angler is willing to work at adhering to these rules, they will experience a vast improvement in their casting skill and as a result will catch more fish. The essentials along with an explanation for each are as follows:
- Straight Line Path of the Rod Tip
- Eliminate Slack
- Short Line - Short Stroke, Long Line - Long Stroke
- Timely Pause - Definite Stop
- Proper Application of Power
Straight Line Path of the Rod Tip - This straight-line path is required to keep the energy of the cast traveling toward the target and also to avoid wasting that energy by dispersing the energy around a curve. Good loops are your indication of a straight-line path, open loops usually mean too much wrist action. Remember, lift your forearm on your pick-up, not your wrist.
Eliminate Slack - Start every cast with the rod held low, so as not to waste necessary stroke length. Starting the cast with the rod tip too high creates slack. Slack is one of the most prevalent causes of casting problems.
Short Line - Short Stroke, Long Line - Long Stroke - Watch your line to make sure your stroke is long enough to allow the line to straighten before beginning the next stroke. Best way to do this is to start with 30' and add a foot at a time, gradually increasing your stroke length. Marking your practice line helps.
Timely Pause - Definite Stop - The pause refers to the time allowed for the line to straighten out and load the rod for the ensuing cast. The stop is self explanatory but ultra-important, as it forms the loop and transfers the latent energy stored in the rod to the line.
Proper Application of Power - This point cannot be over stressed. The application of power consists of Tension followed by a Smooth Acceleration to a Definite Stop" if this is done improperly it will have negative results on the entire cast. In very plain words, apply power smoothly and end with a power surge to a stop. Trying to do all this in a straight line is difficult at first, but obviously very do-able. Doing it smoothly takes some time. Good Luck
Comments or questions welcome - caddis@tds.net
Student Comments
Author/Fly Tyer
Innovator of TruForm Hook
Bob is an experienced instructor with a impressive command of the technical aspects of fly casting. This knowledge makes it possible to quickly identify and correct any casting problems. In addition to technical knowledge, he possesses a deep appreciation for the elegance and artistry of casting a fly. Bob enjoys working with people and is committed to making his fly casting lessons a pleasant and rewarding experience for each of his students.
I enjoyed very much the time spent with you. I came away feeling confident and, with a better understanding of, the importance of presentation. I have added distance and accuracy to my cast. You showed me how to extend my drift indefinitely without disturbing my fly, which is priceless on slow moving water. Many thanks!
I learned more in a few hours with Bob than I did by attending fly casting schools for several days. Bob has a way of explaining things in an relaxed, easy to grasp manner that did the trick for me. Bob really knows his stuff.
I can't begin to thank you enough for working with me to prepare for this trip. I performed better than I could ever imagine. Whether it was too sunny, not enough sun, wind in my face, wind from the side, finicky fish, ( unfortunately we did not see any permit) weeds, or as they call it Turtle Grass, my casts were right on target and so very very long. That was the best part. I didn't have to struggle to get that fly to the fish.
My guides, yes I had two guides each trip just for me, were impressed with my quick cast and the other casts we practiced. It was a first for me having two guides at the same time. It got pretty crowded at the bow of the boat as one of the guides insisted on standing right next to me to hold the excess fly line. I also was able to wade fish the flats, again with the guide by my side holding the excess line. Made casting a breeze. I hope I didn't get spoiled.
Again thank you for your help and guidance. Your knowledge and insight was spot on, as if you had been there a few times yourself. With every cast I heard you in my ear "accelerate to a stop", "keep the rod tip down", "slack is bad", "shoot that line". The quick cast was a powerful tool to have on this trip. Not normally fishing salt water that much, I never realized the importance of the quick cast. The fact that you were able to teach it to me in four lessons was amazing. It made the difference between being able to spot, target and catch any fish I saw. The time we spent together in the cold learning that cast was well worth it.
I look forward to speaking with you soon to give you more details. I also want to take advantage of your fresh water knowledge and spend time fishing with you in the spring.
Regards,
Steve Paverman
FFF Certified Casting InstructorAs someone who has been surrounded by many great teachers in my life, I have found Mr. Rumpf to be among the very best. The first thing you notice is his ability to use humor to put you at ease. This is so important for a student since, having the instructor’s eye on you can be quite unnerving for some individuals.
From a teaching standpoint, I think Bob makes perfect use of demonstration followed immediately by practice. He shows the correct and incorrect forms of the cast being studied, and then allows the student to practice, going back and forth between demonstration and practice in perfect proportions. He makes efficient use of the combination of the basic teaching pedagogies including aural, visual and kinesthetic to correct the student’s faults.
The thing that I find to be Bob’s greatest strength is his ability to focus the student’s attention to the key elements of casting a fly rod (the essentials) through concise explanation. For example, his description of the significance of the action of the hand and wrist such that a movement of only a few inches ‘down here’ results in several feet ‘up there’ is something I still use in the first lesson of all of my beginning casting students. Some of my other favorite analogies include “swatting a fly on the wall in front of you” to describe the abrupt stop at the end of the stroke and “don’t paint the ceiling of an igloo” when attempting to ensure the straight line path of the rod tip. These are the type of analogies that will stick in the students mind.
Perhaps his best quality however, is his genuine interest in the progression of the student. Just watch Mr. Rumpf give a lesson and one will clearly see how much he enjoys working with people. He is a wealth of knowledge and I would not be even remotely the caster or fisherman I am today if it were not for Bob Rumpf. He is a gift to the sport.
Fly Fishers
Certified Casting InstructorThank you Bob for being my mentor while I was attempting to become a certified casting instructor. Your teaching abilities made me understand the fundamentals of casting and made me become a better caster. I not only took away from our lessons how to cast farther but also on how to apply the same teaching methods to my students. I highly recommend anyone who is new or even experienced at fly fishing to have Bob instruct them on how to become a much better caster and gain knowledge in the sport of fly fishing. Thanks again Bob!
Become a Casting Instructor
Becoming a Federation of Fly Fisher’s Certified Casting Instructor requires that you learn not only how to cast, but also how to teach. My success rate assisting interested individuals to become FFF Certified Casting Instructors has been 100% . Becoming an instructor will not only enable you to teach your friends how to cast and become better anglers, but it is also a marketable skill you may be able to use to create a supplementary income. It is important to fully understand that acquiring CCI status will require considerable practice and perseverance on the part of the individual.
I will initiate you on a program of casting practice pursuant to the FFF Certification casting test requirements as your present skills permit. If you have never fly cast before, it will naturally involve a little more time to develop the basic skills necessary to proceed with the program. Any and all questions will be answered upon request. Hourly rates apply. But if an individual shows promise hourly adjustments favoring the student will be considered.Hourly Rate: $40.00
How to Choose an Instructor
The most effective way to learn the basics of fly fishing, or to improve your fishing and casting skills, is to learn directly from an instructor, proficient in both fly casting and teaching.A truly competent instructor will
• have spent years studying not only the mechanics of fly casting but, more importantly, how to teach,
• be aware of current teaching methods used by other successful instructors worldwide,
• have the experience to cope with different learning curves,
• have the patience to conduct lessons at a pace acceptable to his students,
• be able to implement a method of instruction best suited to each individual and thus
• provide you with a rewarding experience and value for money.Can your chosen instructor demonstrate
• Extensive experience – has he spent years learning and practicing his craft?
• Certified skill – does he hold a recognized teaching qualification e.g. FFF CCI?
• A record of success – can he provide favorable references from former students?If so, you have chosen wisely.
Contact:
Cannonsville Spillway – West Branch of the Delaware River. – Early Spring
It is always a good idea to make arrangements as far in advance as possible to be sure to secure your preferred date/s. If I am not available, please leave a message and I will get back to you.
Ph. (607) 235-7184
E-mail – caddis@tds.net
Bob Rumpf
62 1/2 Wheeler Street
Deposit, NY 13754
