Teaching kids how to fly fish

[ness]

6 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Exactly.  The concept that there's only one way to properly cast is what's wrong with fly-fishing.   

Well, I'm going to respectfully disagree again -- and no I'm not picking on you. Nobody said there was only one way to cast. The point is, there are better ways to cast, and teaching yourself may not ever get you there. Sure, years of trial and error will get you somewhere, but a teacher or good experienced fly caster can get you there a heckuva lot faster. They'll know the little nuances and teach/correct them -- something you won't get from a book or video. I started out self taught, and read and watched a ton of material. Didn't really have a mentor or teacher in the family or circle of friends. So I did OK but not good for the first few years. 

The first guide I hired was about 3-4 years in. Since then I've hired a number of them (typically on a family vacation when I had 1 day to fish and wanted the most out of it). Some are better than others, but I've learned something from every one of them. One, in particular, that guided around North CO/RMNP, was really good and I've used him multiple times. One summer I asked him if he'd want to do a trip with my 11-12 year old boys, and he said sure. Before hitting the stream he took us to a park to work on casting. I sat my butt down on a bench to watch but he said get over here -- we're gonna work on your cast too. Anyhoo -- he gave me a couple tips that just made things work better. But, the bigger and better story was what he accomplished with my boys -- at the park, and later on the stream. By the end of that day they were all smiles and pretty much doing everything on their own. After that they told me to mind my own business a couple times, because they had it handled. That was pretty gratifying and they really remember that trip.

So, I can tell you from first hand experience that getting some professional help (I mean with fishing) can accelerate learning. And, when you're working with your own kids, it's sometimes especially beneficial to have a non-parent step in because there isn't all the baggage.

 

[BilletHead]

                 I don't have really any input on this. I seeing it work both ways. I taught myself and then  taught Pat. That may not be saying much but it worked. I continually Give input to Pat's casting and in turn she watches me as we fish critiquing me. It works for us. We never stop learning. I will be watching this thread closely. We have two grandchildren in Springfield. Neither so far has shown much interest. Cooper the grandson is like most nowadays has a game stuck in his hand, Emma the granddaughter not as much and is even in school this year taking an outdoor class and will be shooting and getting her hunter education card. In the class there will be fly fishing. I am getting giddy thinking I can pass on what we know and hoping both kids take the bait. We as fishermen and parents /Grandparents need to get this done. We are loosing the hunting battle and need to keep the fishing battle alive and healthy,

  BilletHead

[JestersHK]

I started my oldest early, on an 8'6 5wt.  She was I think 6 when she started using a spinning rod.  I think I put her on the flyrod when she was 11 maybe?  Its documented on here somewhere in one of my trips as her first trout came from Taney.  I took her into some flat water and basically showed her the mechanics of it.  I'm an awful teacher, but like most things she picked it up pretty quick and was off to catch her fish.  She's got a knack for her fishing methods that just seem to work.  I'll tell her to slow down or speed up and she'll just ignore it do her thing and out fish me...  Blue gill are also a good way to keep them going and interested too.  They are a little more forgiving and usually cooperate.

Daughter is 13 now, and she gets mad at em like I do... She's getting her hunter safety card this year too, and although she's still on the fence I'm hoping to have a successful deer harvest with her this fall.

 

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, ness said:

Well, I'm going to respectfully disagree again -- and no I'm not picking on you. Nobody said there was only one way to cast

Oh I'm not saying that someone who is already good at it can't help you.  My point was simply to wait until help is wanted, or asked for.    Don't school someone on tailing loops until you hear them say "Goddammit why does my hook keep slapping my leader?"

[dnj21]

I appreciate everyone's input, ton of good info in here. 

I am going to make sure she has access to gear when she wants it and if this is more than a passing phase, set her up with one of the kids outfits and find some lessons.  I just realized I have had my own fly rod for 38 years now and in retrospect really wish I had taken lessons at some point.   

[Flysmallie]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

  We as fishermen and parents /Grandparents need to get this done.

 

I have failed.

But I gave it a hell of a shot. Tiffani will still fish but it's not on her list of priorities. 

[BilletHead]

3 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

 

I have failed.

But I gave it a hell of a shot. Tiffani will still fish but it's not on her list of priorities. 

           No you have not failed, the seed is planted and I should redo my remark,

 We fisherman as parents and grandparents should try to get this done. 

  Just talked to BilletHead Jr. He said she picked this course instead of art and the little gal is quite and artist. I have so much hope!

[ness]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

 

I have failed.

But I gave it a hell of a shot. Tiffani will still fish but it's not on her list of priorities. 

It ain't over yet.

All three of my babies got introduced to fishing and hunting and got to where they liked doing it. Then teenagery hit -- cars, opposite sex, freedom, college. Haven't been able to pin anybody down for a few years to do about anything, especially fishing or hunting. Then I get a text...'Dad, what kind of fish is this?' Seems ness 2.3 and some buddies went out to a local lake and got into some crappie. And, he wants to go hunting this fall. ness 2.1's boyfriend wants to learn to fly fish...

I use the same expression BH did above when I talk about this -- it's planting a seed. And about the best advice I could give to the original poster is to make time to plant that seed. Read your kid and adjust things as you go so that they're having fun. Don't do it too long...bite your lip when they hook the same $%^&* tree limb for the zillionth time...praise their successes and give them some love when they screw up. And, enjoy it while you can.

[Johnsfolly]

I hope that my two oldest get back into these outdoor activities. My oldest has a boyfriend that will soon replace me in my friendship with Marty  and my son knows more about military firearms that I will ever know. So they haven't gone too far astray. My youngest has the fever, but is just getting to the "I'd rather hang out with my friends" than you dad stage. Good thing that we are moving so it takes her a while to get some local friends .

[BilletHead]

54 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

I hope that my two oldest get back into these outdoor activities. My oldest has a boyfriend that will soon replace me in my friendship with Marty  and my son knows more about military firearms that I will ever know. So they haven't gone too far astray. My youngest has the fever, but is just getting to the "I'd rather hang out with my friends" than you dad stage. Good thing that we are moving so it takes her a while to get some local friends .

                    Yes and I bet he will argue less with me about fish species and natives vs non natives. Still have some flu-flu arrows and some aerial targets for him. Not sure if the targets are good still but the bucket of arrows is.  I will undo everything you have taught him and fix it . NOT really,

   BilletHead