I personally would never pay some random dude over the internet to tell me his opinion on my casting. And $35, that's a little cheap for a good lesson. I bet the guy says three words then off-line he goes. If your casting is that bad to where you would do this, I say just go on You tube and watch some of the hundreds of "how to" videos that already exist then grab your rod and go.

Why pay for it when you get it from Fly Talk for FREE!!

Lol, this actually made me laugh. Don't guess it was supposed to though. I flyfish for panfish in North Alabama, so needless to say, I get alot of people coming up to me and talking about the art and I have never refused to give a free lesson to anyone. I think the best way to spend your 35 bucks is to buy lunch for a fly fishing buddy and then go hit the water.

Learn how to click on the Orvis site. Lots of great flyfishing info, U-tubes that are exceptional value, all for free. And the Orvis cable tv. series is exceptional with Tom Rosenbauer. He is one of the very best at describing good flyfishing technique, and Orvis has their own fly casting instructor that is exceptional as well.

Even reading this article was a waste of my time. Most times the best way to do something it try till you figure it out. Sharpening a knife comes to mind...Cleaning fish is another...Tying shoes another.

Ha!

For $35, you could join Trout Unlimited or Federation of Fly Fishers and learn from the best...those that do it all of the time!

...or just visit Orvis.com and check the casting instructional videos from Pete Kutzer. There's a guy that can cast!!!

Dear Tim,
I read your blog about my Skype fly casting lessons with interest and think your readers will enjoy a response.
So you know a little about me, I am a fly fishing activist who lives and breathes this sport every day by teaching six classes a week to college students who have enrolled in my “Introduction to Fly fishing” classes. I developed the curriculum for the classes, which are offered through the physical education department at several of our local colleges. When I am not teaching college kids how to have fun and the importance of protecting our environment, I am teaching one of my 200 pre-paid and booked lessons that I will teach before next spring. I don’t think there is anyone in the US who teaches more students than I do.
Now I don’t claim to know it all, but I do know that I love to share my passion for the sport and if growing the number of students you teach is the measure, it is fair to say that my enthusiasm is contagious. I have a pretty good track record of students who now enjoy the sport more than they did before we met. I realized through my journey of becoming a certified casting Instructor with The Federation of Fly Fishers, that in order to bring the sport to more people, especially young people, I needed to join the world of modern technology. I had an epiphany after teaching a casting workshop in Denmark at the European Conclave last year. So many people from England, Scotland, Germany and other countries wanted to take lessons from me, but distance was a game stopper. Technology has now allowed me to teach not only stte-side, but to go global.
You were concerned about the concept of using Skype to teach. The reason is because Skype is the next best thing to receiving an in-person private lesson. The internet provides us with the opportunity to observe students and answer their questions on a one-to-one basis, even if that student is located in a different state or country. What a great way to spread the love of fly fishing and benefit a student who has no casting instructor or coach nearby to learn from. The problem with fly fishing is most people get frustrated trying to teach themselves and quit. That is not good for the sport. Instructors like me give their time freely to help those interested, learn how to cast through YouTube videos, but for people who want a personal critique of their cast and pointers designed to meet their individual needs, a Skype lesson makes that possible for people who want to learn from someone with my skill and ability but don’t live in the Richmond area. The clients I serve are no different than those that take a golf lesson from a pro on Skype.
Concerns about using the internet are legitimate and there are a lot of scams out there. My offer to teach via Skype may seem a little “fishy” unless you consider the safeguards I put into place to protect my clients. First, all transactions are performed through PayPal, which is an expense to me but gives my clients guaranteed protection and recourse if they are not happy with my lesson. Second, I advertise a 100% satisfaction guaranteed refund policy which PayPal will enforce. I offer this service because I know that what I have to offer is valuable and thus far, I have never been asked to give a refund. You noted that the price I charge for a lesson is low and you are correct. My passion is sharing my knowledge with others for their education and enjoyment, to the benefit of the environment and the guides and businesses that support fly fishing. The price I charge is break-even and I am clearly not in this business to get rich, but I am a professional and professionals should get paid. My hourly rate for a private lesson is $85.00 dollars and I have never had an unhappy student, so the Skype lesson is a real value.
Thanks for the blog and I hope all readers will understand what it’s all about.
Best Regards and Tight loops,
Andrew Stiles flystiles.com

test