[Gertrude]

I'm in need of a casting instructor to help me work some kinks out. If anyone on this board is an instructor, a casting magician, or know of an instructor, please let me know. I would prefer to they be located close to Greenville, SC - this is something I want to work on during the week. Thanks.

[flyvet]

Go to the FFF website and you can search for certified instructors. I looked first and the closest SC instructor I saw listed was Dermon Sox in Columbia. There are some in Franklin, NC if that is convenient. I know Dermon and highly recommend him but if he is too far, then I guess I would inquire at some of the local flyshops, hopefully someone there would feel qualified. You have the right idea, Good Luck.

[puddlejockey]

I'm pointing out the obvious, but...Your best bet may be to contact your closest fly shop and see if they offer lessons and/ or can refer you to someone local.

I would also suggest you take lessons from more than one person ( NOT at the same time! lol) , as you may find that some folks have a teaching style that you can better identify with.

Good luck!

[Silvercreek]

Gertrude,

Here's another approach.

How about seeing if there is or are chapters of outdoor women chapters in your area than can refer you to an instructor? Our TU chapter gave casting lessons a few weeks ago during a Becoming an Outdoors Women session.

Becoming an Outdoors Women :

http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/map.aspx

Women in the Outdoors:

http://www.womenintheoutdoors.org/wito/?SUBSITE=wito

Women Outdoors

http://www.womenoutdoors.org/

[Peddler]

Originally Posted by Silvercreek

Our TU chapter gave casting lessons a few weeks ago during a Becoming an Outdoors Women session.

What does that have to do with coldwater conservation again?

[wilhelm]

Call FFF and ask them who is is handling membership in the SE for the FFF. With all the activity in that area over the years, I would have thought that they would have tried to start an FFF club down there.

But for your more immediate needs, Peddler is certified. See if he does lessons in your area.

wilhelm

[Silvercreek]

Originally Posted by Peddler

What does that have to do with coldwater conservation again?

Peddler,

Here's how I view our TU chapter's participation in the Becoming a Woman of the Outdoors event.

Teach a person to fly fish for trout, and they are more likely to support preservation of trout streams. But more than just another person, I believe that when we teach a woman to fly fish, fly fishers in general gain more political clout that teaching another man to fly fish.

The women of the outdoors organizations are trying to get women more envolved in outdoor activities - fishing, hunting and even trapping. I think it is a great way to get political support for all outdoor sports.

Women are gaining positions of political power in state and national politics. There are currently 7 female governors, 17 female US Senators, and 77 female Representative in the house plus the Speaker of the House. It is more effective to have women lobby women politicians for conservation than having men do so. The more a politician identifies with the person asking for support, the more the politician is likely to provide support.

Here is what can happen. Our new coldwater resources DNR person is a woman. She sets the work projects. It helped to have women from our chapter go to meetings with her to lobby for scarce DNR resources to work on our trout streams. We have commitments from her for DNR teams to work on our streams.

We are fortunate to have an active woman in our chapter that actually attends all business meetings, works on banquets, on stream projects, and is on our board of directors. We gained another woman who volunteered to teach casting at the Becoming a Woman of the Outdoors event. She has fly fished for 20 years and recently moved to our state. She has volunteered to take an active role in our chapter.

Since we only have 4 women in our chapter that is a 50% participation rate, way more than the men.

So I would say that teaching women to cast has everything to do with coldwater conservation.

[Rocketroy]

Originally Posted by Gertrude

I'm in need of a casting instructor to help me work some kinks out. If anyone on this board is an instructor, a casting magician, or know of an instructor, please let me know. I would prefer to they be located close to Greenville, SC - this is something I want to work on during the week. Thanks.

Simply join,or start up a Trout Unlimited chapter! Most are shot full of fellow F/F eager to *help a lady in distress! Some are even certified casting instructors! Contact the national TU headquarters,for the closest chapter,and dive in......the waters this year are GOOOOOOD! Regards, Rocketroy * Find a soccer field,with lines,and a few targets,and develop your stroke,and some tips on line control, before hitting the water!

[Peddler]

Originally Posted by Rocketroy

Simply join,or start up a Trout Unlimited chapter!

or better yet, an FFF chapter. One of the FFF's main missions is education!

http://www.fedflyfishers.org/