There is a statement to set the pundits talking

There is a statement to set the pundits talking! Seriously, if you watch a really good caster in action you will see everything done smoothly – very little fuss and certainly not much force. The whole process is about timing and having even an hour with a professional casting instructor can be beneficial for us all. I spent a few hours working with an A.P.G.A.I. casting instructor a couple of weeks ago and I really couldn’t believe how many little tips I picked up. The letters stand for Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructor and Peter Giles, with whom I worked, was himself instructed by one of the father figures of casting in this country – Peter Mackenzie-Philips. It was only by working closely with such an expert that I realized that I had so many problems, albeit mostly minor ones. I guess you could compare casting with driving a car in that everyone can do it; however, once you have passed a test the bad habits develop. Try telling anyone that they are a poor driver and see what reaction you get! Nevertheless, the fact is that the vast majority of people would fail a driving test if they had to take one tomorrow! So it is with casting: once an angler is able to land more than just the odd trout then that is generally good enough. However, as I said earlier, we can all benefit from some fine-tuning and there are a few places that you can go to for that help.Firstly, you could try one of the STANIC representatives in your area. STANIC stands for Salmon and Trout Association National Instructors Certificate, and any member who has passed the trout qualification should be able to advise you on your casting technique. You will find a list of instructors if you join the Salmon and Trout Association, though if you are not inclined to become a member then look in the back pages of the “Fishtec” catalogue that is given free with “Trout Fisherman” magazine. Any of the instructors will be pleased to help – they are all just a phone call away!I have already mentioned the APGAI qualification, but I should qualify this by saying that holders of that label are in reality one step up from the STANIC members. Many APGAI instructors advertise in the back pages of “Trout and Salmon” and other magazines. Another body that you may see advertised is REFFIS – that is the Register of Experienced Fly Fishing Instructors and Schools. As with APGAI these instructors may well be able to give a higher level of instruction.Of course there are many excellent casters who have no initials after their name and who are more than capable of giving instruction on how to improve your casting, which ultimately can only help you in your enjoyment of the sport.So, go on – if you have ever had a niggling doubt about your technique, or you want to master the cast that will get the fly to land in just that awkward spot, get on the telephone and have a word with a professional!Tight lines and tight loops,

Martin Cottis