Texas FlyFishers of Houston

Casting Instruction Class Descriptions

Dates for all casting classes are posted on the Home Page. This page provides a description of what you can expect to learn at any of the classes offered by the Texas FlyFishers.

Beginners Workshop

Beginners are encouraged to participate in the Fly Fishing Academy. Refer to the Education page for more details on the Academy.

Intermediate Fly Casting – Learning the Essentials – Where do tight loops come from?

The intermediate casting class entitled Learning the Essentials is typically limited to 10 students. Details on dates for the class are captured on the home page of the website.

The intermediate level casting class builds on the initial essentials taught in the Beginning Fly Casting class and expands to include all five essentials of fly casting. It’s a relatively technical class with an emphasis that is chosen because it lays the fundamental building blocks required to perfect most casting skills and to make you a better fly fisherman. This intermediate class must be completed before participation in other intermediate or advanced classes. In this series of classes you will learn:

The five essentials of fly casting:

The rod tip must travel in a straight line path.

Vary the size of the casting arch according to the line beyond the rod tip.

Pause between each cast; vary the stroke length and the timing.

Power must be applied at the proper place at the proper time.

Keep slack to a minimum.

How to analyze your cast and make adjustments to correct common problems.

Practice drills that will help you build your casting skills in a step-by-step manner.

This course is taught in two or three 2-hour sessions: one indoor classroom session and two or three outdoor sessions. The club will provide 5 wt rods, reels, fly lines and leader for those who don’t have their own gear (not likely at this point). Because safety is extremely important, everyone will be required to wear eye protection and a hat. We are in Texas, sunscreen and insect repellant are always wise.

Intermediate Casting – Double Haul Clinic: The beginning of an addiction for which there is no cure

One of the essential tools needed by most flycasters is the double haul. Its power in increasing line speed and distance to the cast makes it the cast that flycasters ultimately need to be able to perform to achieve greater control over their fly line. Once learned, many experience casters find it difficult to stop hauling.
Details on dates for the class are captured on the home page of the website.

This short clinic is designed to give the intermediate casting student the ability to use hauling techniques in their everyday casting and to start casting greater distances than can be achieved with a single hand cast. You will learn to:

Single haul, used to increase rod load and line speed in one direction; the

Double haul, which is a haul on the back cast and a haul on the forward cast; and

Shoot line properly in conjunction with the haul to get the desired results – a well directed, tight loop at a greater distance than could be achieved without the haul.

Because this technique requires casting skill and coordination, the student must first complete the Intermediate Casting Class, Learning the Essentials. Class size limited to 6.

This is a single session 2 hour clinic conducted outdoors near water. The club will provide 5 wt rods, reels, fly lines and leader for those who don’t have their own gear (not likely at this point). Because safety is extremely important, everyone will be required to wear eye protection and a hat. We are in Texas, sunscreen and insect repellant are always wise.

Distance Casting Clinic

Most fly fishermen become interested in improving their casting distance shortly after they've learned basic casting skills and once they find a need to cast beyond their distance abilities. The core principles used to cast 30 feet are the same as those used to cast 100 feet. Increasing casting distance requires learning and applying a core set of principles and following a disciplined practice routine. Details on dates for the class are captured on the home page of the website.
Developing the skills to cast longer distances will result in a greater ability to cast well in most situations.
In this casting clinic, the student will learn the fundamental principles needed to cast longer distances including:
The five essentials of fly casting

mastering stroke length adjustments

mastering proper timing

mastering proper use of power
Loop analysis

analyze a loop and learn to adjust your cast based on the character of the loop configuration.

Importance of loop shape and line speed
Use of the double haul

techniques to fine-tune hauling speed and line carry.

Proper use of line hand

Shooting line

Importance of drift

Timing of rotation

Relaxing while casting

Step by step practice method
Who should participate

TFF members who have attended the TFF Intermediate Essentials class and/or TFF Double Haul clinic

Must be able to cast reasonably tight loops at least 40' in both forward and back cast.

Must be able to effectively shoot line
Your ability to cast fairly well will help you get the most out of this workshop.The Bill Gammel “Teach Yourself to Flycast – Learning the Essentials” video will provide excellent background for the workshop. To order or if you have questions, contact David Lemke at the following e-mail link Distance Casting Clinic

Your Instructor

David Lemke, Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, has put together a set of casting clinics and classes that provide something for everyone - from novice to the guy trying to throw part of his backing. He has laid out a number of programs for the Fall that are briefly defined below.

Fees

Casting classes are offered free to Texas FlyFishers members in good standing. Exceptions, if required, will be indicated when a class is scheduled. Classes for non-members are $50.00 a course.