Left handed instructors, more / Book review

Gordy

As a lefty I have taught myself to cast with my right hand, but what was in some way more challenge at least for me, was learning how to guide another caster?s hand using my right hand. So, I?ve use this as an excuse to torment my daughters. ?Come here, Dad needs to practice something.?

In terms of teaching during a lesson, I have had some students practice their casting stroke with the non-dominant hands mirroring the dominant hand. Then I have moved the rod to the non-dominant hand and let them practice and experiment. Usually, I am not expecting tremendous development, but want them to experience the possibility.

John

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From Jim Gill :

Gordy, Although I'm right hand dominant there are some tasks I can do left handed too - one is casting. I regularly practise with my left hand;

1. I agree with Liam as this practise really gets me to focus on just what it is I'm setting out to achieve.

2. As it still seems strange it does give me some experience of how ALL beginners must feel when picking up a rod for the first time.

3. I can demonstrate to a candidate that left handedness is not a barrier to good casting - there are no right-handed rods!

Regards, Jim.

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Jim ... For instructors this can be a humbling experience. Not always bad.

I suppose controversy will always exist over the effect upon the student.

Gordy

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From Tom Zacoi :

A Most Gracious Good Morning Dr. Hill,

As I sit at my computer looking out the window at a foot of snow on the ground and it's still coming down! I am grateful at 62 to be able to close my eyes and see myself on Captain Lenny Moffo's skiff fishing the flats off Big Pine Key. I also remember damn near falling off the bar stool trying to staple a five dollar bill to the ceiling at the No Name Bar! Thank God for good memories and the ability to remember them!

I've not thrown my hat into the conversational frey because I stopped having the Masters School I taught with Lefty on Spruce Creek for 26 years. Anyway, the members are so intelligent and accomplished, and the discussions are so cerebral they often times are overwhelming!

Regarding this topic (I'm sure you and others have done this), you recall the sympathetic system we have built into our body. When I taught others (especially children), to use their non dominant hand, I asked them to wear a long-brimmed hat and start casting in the vertical plane, with both hands on the grip. Their dominant hand behind the hook keeper; their non dominant hand behind it and in front of the reel. After two dozen or so casts I ask them to make a series of casts reversing their hand position. I ended the session by asking them to cast in the vertical plane with their non-dominant hand only. The technique worked for some; for those it didn't, we simply started over. By the way the long-brimmed hat made them stop sooner which helps prevent bending the wrists too much! You may be interested to know I use the same technique teaching lacrosse and it works there, too!

You may recall Ms. Joan Wulff taught us casting two rods simultaneously helps prepare students for switching to their non-dominant hand. I use that technique in lacrosse, too!

I appreciate your time and effort with the group, and hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday and a New Year filled with good memories, big fish and great health.

Respectfully yours,

Thomas Neil Zacoi
CHARTIERS VALLEY
HIGH SCHOOL
Head Coach-Girls Lacrosse
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Tom,

As you pointed out, works for some students ... not for all.

Many young students are up for almost anything which is done in such a way as to make it FUN.

Lessons learned from one athletic discipline are often valuable for others. By sharing what works with lacrosse on your fly casting instruction, you help make this point.

Gordy

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From Ralph Tomaccio (I transferred his attachment to this message) :

Hi Gordy,

Regarding learning to cast with one?s opposing arm, I came up with a description of methods I provide my students for doing so. I have attached the PDF of what I give my students. If you feel it?s of any value to pass along, please feel free to do so. It?s not totally comprehensive and wasn?t meant to be. It was designed to get beginning casters interested in learning something new and challenging.

Ralph Tomaccio

CCI

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BRIEF BOOK REVIEW - A KID'S GUIDE TO FLYFISHING by Tyler Befus

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I just finished this book. I promised you a review :

Tyler was eight years old when, with the help of his grandfather and father, he started fly fishing. Now an adult, he writes it from the perspective of his childhood as though he IS the eight year old of his memories. As such, it may be unique.

It is written in simple easy to understand language using adventures and descriptions with which a youngster can identify.

Without going into so much detail that it would lose a young reader, he covers various kinds of fly fishing, the fish (both fresh water and salt), the basics of tackle and a primer on casting. There is a section on things upon which fish feed, flies and entry level fly tying.

To help the young flyfisher identify, almost all the pictures include himself somewhere between eight and ten years of age.

In a few days, I'll give it to my 9 year old grandson along with a new fly fishing outfit. For me, his is take will be the book's "litmus test".

Gordy

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