So I’m tooling around casting into the Mangroves from the sea wall under my condo with a 7 1/2’ 8wt I built over the winter. A young guy comes over maybe 14 yo, is intrigued by the idea of a fly. He comes from a long line of bait fisherman and wanted to try. After some discussion on explaining the visual, we walked over to my condo to grab 16” rings. I tossed them out in a 1/2 moon about 40’ semi circle. I tied on some fluff and started pickup and lay down drills with him. That young man was putting that fly in or close to the rings within 20min.
I think he’s hooked. The dad’s coming over to talk about a rod. It’s nice to teach, I wish I could do more of it. If ya don’t give away what you know, when you’re gone so is your knowledge.
Just thought I’d share.
Man - that’s what it’s all about. You just saved that young man from having stinky bait fingers for the rest of his life.
You done saved that young man’s soul! Great story!
He’s fortunate to have never tried to learn on his own and develop bad habits. I’ve taught a few people fresh and they were easiest. The hardest to correct were people who had done it own their own for years.
Related story - ages ago I was developing my saltwater cast at a local school’s football field that has a walking track around it. It’s a great place since there are distance lines already made, and straight lines to practice laying out the line. I was having some issues getting my leader to turn over straight at distance. A girl around 14 years old walked up to me, watched for a minute and said “you need to snap your thumb more at the end of the cast.” Sure enough, it worked. She said her dad fly fished and she learned from watching him practice, but didn’t fish herself. She could have charged me that for advice!
Smart girl, she’s right!
When I’m casting well the only difference between a 60’ cast and a 90’ cast feels like the speed of that snap.
When I’m not, I feel it in my rotator cuff.
Thats awesome, good job!
That’s awesome, but now you’ve gone and sent the poor kid down a long, deep, dark rabbit hole, and poor ole dad may have a heart attack once he starts realizing the cost compared to chucking scrimp with an Ugly Stik 
.
You’re giving free lessons? Sign me up! JK, that’s cool of you. A few days ago my daughter asked me how I cast a fly rod. I told her I’d show her. Oh boy, here we go…
Way to go. But agree with you causing the dad to either die of heart failure when checking out of the fly shop or him living but being driven to the poor house.
Scoring some points with that one!
@rovster mine has feinted some interest as well. Lately she’s been throwing my baitcasters, and surprisingly decent with them.
She really does enjoy tying though, and she’s not bad at it. She’ll see a pic of one she likes, sit down and make it happen, no videos, no instructions.
Good medicine for both of you! Show him some knots
Sometimes that’s the best part. Just “winging it” and letting your creativity guide the way!