Teaching my 9 year old....

[aldear]

Folks, I need some advice. I started teaching my 9 year old to cast recently, and I've run into some stumbling blocks. He has some HORRIFIC tailing loops that I cannot seem to get out of his stroke no matter what I try. I'm not a professional instructor by any stretch, but I need to get him to a point where he can catch some fish with a fly rod or else I am afraid he's going to lose interest.....any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Andy

[Paul Arden]

Can you post a video, Andy?

Cheers, Paul

[Mac Brown]

Best thing is to pantomime the motion with your child first. Then graduate them to a mini practice rod with yarn fluff on the end. Play lots of games in the yard with circles, eights, and puld casts. This will jumpstart them as a fly fisher in short order. I did this with my boys at a very young age and it works great! Lastly, when you use a single handed rod it is already mastered from the first two steps mentioned.

I also have both of the kids still using a the single handed rod but with a spey grip (in other words they cast with both hands holding the rod). It is just more comfortable on them because they are still small. Good luck! Mac

[aldear]

Some updated pics...a few adjustments and he's killing it now. Took a grand slam on the flats of the Laguna Madre last weekend, and came within a half pound of breaking the Texas State record for black drum on flyrod in the youth division. Even got a wedge going today with the Austin 4wt.