Loading (and unloading) the fly rod....

My favorite clip from my favorite casting instructor and his best casting video. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq9PYeXtH8I

Love Mel Krieger. He's probably my favorite instructor as well. I was teaching someone to cast (one-handed; I have no business teaching Spey casting) on Monday, and I actually caught myself enunciating "WUMP, WUMP" as I demonstrated the hard stops Mel is teaching in this video. Seems he has made a lasting impression on me.

As for this video, Mel shows even more "color" than usual. I especially like how he expresses his frustration with adult men and how hard it is to convince them that a short, firm casting stroke is better than the wavy, limp-wristed flail every man tries for several hours before he finally decides to listen. I wonder, however, if the Swedish (I think) captions in the video literally translated "You old fu*kers...."

Thanks for posting the link! Mel Krieger has to be one of the most energetic fly casters that I have ever seen. (In his case, only on video).

I have the original video in VHS.

He doesn't say the f word.... he says "You old cockers..."

And oh so true about the 10 yr olds instantly grasping the concept of "unloading" the rod... if you want to make the line go out... STOP THE ROD

WHUMP.... WHUMP....

Yeah, even my kids still say it. And to this day they still make fun of old Joe Schmaakopop!

Tip cast... wee little WHUMP
Intermediate cast.... medium WHUMP
Now lengthen that casting stroke for a little more power and distance. "Think of spelling WHUMP with several more U's"

W-H-U-U-U-U-M-P......

On her last visit with me, I had 11 yo LMWS out on the lawn learning to fly cast. A smile and a tear for sure.

Same "STOP THE ROD" concept was applied when I taught them to cast a spinning rod as well.... only a more compact stroke with a faster cadence.

Load the rod on the backcast... STOP.... unload the rod on the forward cast..... and watch the line go out!

I have forgotten more about Fly-Fishing than most. Been using a Fennwick 8'6" since forever. As well as the original floating line, probably a Cortland 6wwf. I used to clean it occasionally but what the H. Anyway now that I have become an older less aggressive individual I was thinking that I might change that line.

Question: If I go to a 5w will it be easier to throw?

Chasbo,

You'll do best to use whatever size line is marked on the rod blank just above the cork grip. The way to make any fly rod or line cast well is to learn how to fly cast. I see guys spend thousands of dollars on new rods and lines in the mistaken belief that it will help them cast better, when they'd be far and away better served by spending a couple hundred on fly casting lessons. For that investment the ability to cast any rod and any line and a lifetime of enjoyment awaits.

Sg

what I have learned:

Never underweight the line.
And change your flyline every thirty years or so.