How exactly does one get coaching or instruction virtually, particularly with a physical activity like fly casting? The answer is, with a little help from technology. Over the years, I’ve coached hundreds of fly anglers of all levels. I know everyone who casts a fly rod can benefit from hands-on expert coaching and instruction.

Here’s the thing: not everyone has access to an expert coach. When COVID hit, we all began video conferencing, and a light bulb went off - could we use this virtual meeting tech for virtual coaching? Emphatically, yes.

Here’s how it works. First, we have a virtual meetup to discuss your goals. What is it that you hope to achieve? Elevate and improve your overall form? Lengthen your cast? Learn the Double Haul? Understanding your goals helps me to build a lesson plan. After we establish goals, you’ll video yourself fly casting. This can be done very simply with your iPhone or iPad. Videoing yourself and submitting your cast for scrutiny can be intimidating - I get it. But trust me, it’s a necessary and important step. Once you’ve shot some video, we can diagnose and evaluate your form together.

I use an incredibly powerful video analysis tool called OnForm, which features a suite of tools allowing me to measure and scrutinize every aspect of your cast, from casting angle to stroke length to loop size and everything in between. Armed with these data points, I can prescribe specific corrections to your form and technique. I’ll give you drills and tips for making these changes stick. One big benefit of virtual coaching? You’re not beholden to the weather or any of the distractions that can come from being outdoors. You can sit in the comfort of your own home and fully focus on the execution of your cast. This really helps accelerate your progress.

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Speaking of progress, one thing that’s important to understand - no one, and I mean no one, has a perfect cast . And we’re not here to achieve perfection; we’re here to enrich your fly fishing pursuits. It’s been my experience that everyone who undertakes my virtual coaching comes away a better fly caster and, more importantly, a better fly angler. Better casting equals better catching. And here’s a bonus - you won’t just leave with a better cast, you’ll have acquired a technical foundation that, over time, will allow you to self-diagnose your own cast. Which means you’ll be able to (pardon the pun) make corrections on the fly.

Who can benefit the most from virtual coaching? Any angler who has begun to draw a correlation between the quality of fly casting and the quality of fishing. In other words, you’re an individual who has been on the water, with a fly rod, casting to fish. And this can describe any angler, from beginner to expert. I will say this - if you’ve never once picked up a fly rod, a virtual lesson is probably not the best way for you to get introduced to the sport. I recommend that you take an in-person introductory class instead. Once you’re sure this is a sport you want to pursue, I’m happy to offer virtual instruction.