The Complete Fisher Forum

[Lighthouse]

A couple of threads have recently highlighted misunderstanding and misconceptions about rods, lines, associated 'casting issues' etc which have generated well intentioned but often inaccurate and misleading comment and I wondered if there'd be any interest among members here about how one starts on the path to becoming an instructor and what it involves.

Firstly some history or background. In England there are two game and fly angling specific organisations that offer instructor certification - GAIA (Game Angling Instructors Association) and AAPGAI (Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors). AAPGAI was formed in 2001 by a group of GAIA instructors as a result of a difference of opinion about the direction GAIA was taking. Much like Brexit, at the time it was not a happy 'divorce' but time and common sense has prevailed and I have many good friends in both camps.

I am a member of GAIA and consequently can only talk about my association's certifications, procedures etc. GAIA has over 400 members throughout the UK, Republic of Ireland, Europe and the USA, we're regionally organised and I'm the Regional Representative for the Midlands. So, why and how did I start on the path to becoming an instructor. From the outset it has to be said that I did not start because I had an ambition to become an instructor but I had been fly fishing since I was 16 and wanted to make sense and have a deeper understanding of what I was doing. Certainly, in my head, I was sure I could cast pretty well . . . boy did I have a lot to learn! I've now been an instructor for some 10 years or more.

Today, the journey begins as joining as an Associate Member . . .

https://gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/join.html

. . . and working through and Game Angling Instructor Certificate syllabus for the award of GAIC and full membership. Associate members are put in touch with a mentor to help guide them through the requirements and standards expected in the various aspects of the syllabus.

What to expect? The GAIC Syllabus is comprehensive and detailed and demands that you can not only perform the various tasks but also explain and teach each aspect. For example . . .

1. a
Explain, demonstrate and teach rod grips, rod handle shapes, rod actions, strength, styles of hand, arm and body movements and efficiency.
Open and closed stances with the benefits and possible disadvantages of the various stances explained.
Explain demonstrate and teach rod loading, stroke length and arc in relation to distance and loop size including relative stroke lengths and discuss timing.

2. a
Explain, demonstrate and teach the basic “pick-up and present” cast to a distance of approx. 45ft.
The demonstration will be done with one hand only.
The cast will show consistent narrow loops front and back.
There are to be no tailing loops, front or back.
The cast will be done slowly enough to allow the observer a good view of the cast.
Variations of the rod plane from vertical and variations of style are acceptable provided that the casts are demonstrated with efficiency and the style can be transferred.
Smooth lifting of line from the surface and positive acceleration of the rod tip to a precise stop in both directions.

There are 7 tasks in Section 2 and 7 sections altogether encompassing overhead casting, roll casting, slack line and presentation casts and single handed spey casting.

I hope this goes some way to dispel the often held belief that certification involves having someone watch you cast a bit for 20 minutes and you walk away as an instructor!

The reality is that to achieve the standard takes many months of dedicated practice and involves a considerable investment in time, effort, and it has to be said, money! The sense of achievement however is worth the effort.

Cautionary word . . . having achieved instructor 'status' (?) do not expect to fund the lifestyle of a country gentleman, travelling the land and visiting fisheries in a Range Rover!
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https://gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/search.html

[drybuzzer]

It is obvious from your explanation that you need to be a very accomplished fly fisherman to even attempt accreditation and hats of to all that achieve/attempt it.
I have taught a few sports in my time on a voluntary basis and can guarantee that it is well worth the time and dedication it requires.
I have a funny feeling that fly fishing is not going to be one of the sports that I excel in but its fun and that is what its all about.
If you ever see a bloke in yorkshire casting and you cant help yourself giggling ......that me and stop it lol

[VGB]

Top post, I’ve had 2 attempts at GAIC and failed both. Just getting engaged with casting has improved my fishing no end.

[Whistlekiller]

A group of us are currently undertaking our Level 2 coaching course, which while not the specialized qualification Paul describes, is a way to legitimately work in schools and with other children or young people teaching fishing. What I've found (and this is coming from a person who'd usually describe himself as very outgoing) is that the mechanics and knowledge of the lesson plans is the easy part. Delivery is the most nerve racking aspect, particuarly in front of an invigilator. Stuff that I can do backwards without a problem under normal circumstances suddenly becomes hurried and garbled. This is easing off for me now but just goes to show that by adding the 'artificiality' to a situation, it can cause difficulties for some. Obviously, scrutiny is very important on courses but I sometimes wonder how many otherwise suitable candidates fall at this fence through their own nervousness, a nervousness that just isn't nortmally with them in the real world.


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[Allrounder]

Thanks for shedding some light on the practical and teaching skills that casting instructors need to master in order to gain their qualification Lighthouse. The introduction / history was especially useful as until now I wrongly believed that the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors was a progression route for GAIA members, rather than a similar organisation offering basically the same thing.

Rich - just out of interest is your coaching qualification the Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Angling organised by the Angling Trust?

On a general note I congratulate everyone who seeks to put something back into angling through gaining qualifications like those above. I only hope that angling doesn't suffer from some of the issues that bedevil the training sector generally where a multitude of providers and Awarding bodies sometimes offer very similar qualifications which often leads to confusion.

Alan
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Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello... from a safe distance!

[VGB]

Public speaking is a skill that not only needs to be learned but needs to be practiced regularly. Personally, I work much better without a scripted approach and with props. My casting suffered in both assessments, where I struggled to hit the required 75ft distance but was like a metronome at 85ft in practice.

I was asked a question about casting by Dartmoor Navigator on the casting in wind thread that I didn’t get to answer. Does he frequent these shores? If so, I will answer him here.

[Grey Hackle]

[Whistlekiller]

[Lighthouse]

[VGB]

[Lighthouse]

[VGB]

Your friend doesn’t work at Bedford by any chance? I used to work with an aerodynamicist that was scared of flying, he used to go to meetings in Europe by train. It’s likely that he couldn’t get his sums to add up. Oval cast gets my vote as well, it paints a picture most people can understand.

[Lighthouse]

[VGB]

The guy I was thinking of was called Dr Foster. He had a long running feud with a German aerodynamicist; sitting in a meeting with those two was like the argumentative professors in the Mary Whitehouse experience.

Back on topic, you can demonstrate the complete loss of tension on loop formation by casting over the tip, using only your rod hand, with the line trapped by your finger on the rod butt. You’ll see the line between your finger and the stripping ring go slack as the loop passes over. Instead of people tying themselves in knots by talking about tension, it’s much easier to discuss and demonstrate taut and slack line.

[andygrey]

Good post Lighthouse. From someone who has been there and done it it sums it up very well.