ScandiCaster

Beginners and Advanced Fly Fishing Clinics Beginners Class - Saturday Morning 8:30 AM Intermediate and Advanced Class - Saturday Afternoon 1:00 PM A Fly Fishing programs designed for new students and advanced. Minimum Equipment Requirements. What do I need for the class? Good rod: 4 - 7 weight Floating Line: 4 – 7 weight on reel with line backing Leaders: Tippet: Clothing: Cold weather clothing may be required High Rubber Boots OR Waders: - Wading Boots: Waterproof Jacket: Hat: Polarized Sunglasses: Instructor Dan McCrimmon, Is a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Board of Governors, Master Certified Casting Instructor, and a Two-handed Casting Instructor program examiner. He is the Canadian representative for Sweden’s GuideLine Fly Fishing Company and a member of their USA Pro staff. He is also a respected examiner for the Federation of Fly Fishers International Group. Dan has international warm water, cold water, river, lake and salt-water fly fishing experience. He is an experienced and respected instructor, whose goal is to have both his beginner and advanced clients meet their maximum potential. Dan’s focus has been learning from the masters in the art of underhand casting and Scandinavian style fishing with two-handed rods. ‘His precise and humorous training sessions and demonstrations deliver fly casting techniques that will stay with you for ever. Here is a true Master Instructor” Richard Wentz - Editor- Flyfisher Magazine Date: Beginners Saturday September 26, Time: 8:30 AM - Advanced Saturday September 26, Time: 1:00 PM Location: SouthBow Fly & Tackle 403-873-0744 Price: $80.00 per student or $120.00 for both introductory and advanced

See details in Special Events section. This will be fun. Dan

Scandinavian Two-handed Casting Light two-handed rod workshop An Introduction to constant tension and underhand techniques “The perfect Bow River method of fishing” Scandinavian Two-handed Casting: This program emphasizes Scandinavian two-handed casting techniques for light two-handed rods and switch rods Scandinavian style casting is “the fisherman’s choice". Fish long or fish short, this technique takes advantage of shooting heads, floating, medium sink and sink tips with weighted fly. - Learn shooting head techniques. - Compare the advantages of short two-handed rods to single hand rods. - Try out 12 foot and 13 foot Scandinavian rods - Learn about rigging up Scandinavian style. Sink tips, shooting heads, running line Reduce wear and tear on the body – fish longer fish smarter! Constant tension casting and underhand techniques give great power and distance while reducing strain on the body. Compare Multi-tip shooting head techniques to long belly techniques for fishing. “Spend more time fishing and less time casting.” Introduction Program: - Morning of Sunday, Sept 27, 2009 – 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon Intermediate to Advanced: - Afternoon of Sunday, September 27, 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Location: Below Ivor Strong Bridge (Look For Lafarge Access) Equipment: Bring your own two-handed and/or switch rod Class Size: 10 CONTACT: SouthBow Fly and Tackle 403 873 0744 Cost: $80.00 per student. To attend both classes $140.00. Boots or waders required! Instructor: Dan McCrimmon, Is a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Board of Governors, Master Certified Casting Instructor, and a Two-handed Casting Instructor program examiner. He is the Canadian representative for Sweden’s GuideLine Fly Fishing Company and a member of their USA Pro Staff power team. He is also a respected examiner for the Federation of Fly Fishers International Group. Dan has international warm water, cold water, river, lake and salt-water fly fishing experience. He is an experienced and respected instructor, whose goal is to have both his beginner and advanced clients meet their maximum potential. Dan’s focus has been learning from the masters in the art of underhand casting and Scandinavian style fishing with two-handed rods. ‘His precise and humorous training sessions and demonstrations deliver fly casting techniques that will stay with you for ever. Here is a true Master Instructor” Richard Wentz - Editor- Flyfisher Magazine

A little trick from New Zealand. According to these good folks, Mr. Fish does most of their feeding at night. The story goes that at night, fish are less likely to be picked off by raptors, and only those fish that were pre-disposed to night feeding were left to breed. Anyway, they demonstrated that Mr. trout can feel a "bug" but you can help out by having a larger than normal, dark "furry" dry. They say a dark fly silhouettes better against the night sky (from the fishes view point) We were catching fish, but I am unsure if it was the fly’s or just good ol’ hungry fish. Scandi

Just a note. The Valsesiana rods from Northern Italy are portrayed in Roman freezes from around 470 AD. There were writings about this technique in about 700 AD. (Valsesiana rods or the Japanese equivalent Tenkara rods, are rods with no reels or guides. The line is simply attached to the tip. Todays Tenkara rods are also telescoping) The description of how the rods are cast (even to this day) is constant tension casting. The line is always in motion and instruction was fairly close (I am told by the Italians) to the beloved Figure of 8 style. What is old is new again. I think when Ogar the cave man figured out that he could put a line and hook out further with a stick, he also figured out that it cast further if he kept the line moving. Just think what Grant could have done with todays rods and lines. On the other hand... why would he bother; he did great with what he had. I sometimes think we might have gone backwards. Dan

Hello all; A brief note on a misnomer in terminology. The style I like best for fishing is called Constant Tension casting. Not Constant Movement casting. What is the difference? The term “constant movement” suggests that the rod is always in motion. Hence it is always moving. The better way to look at this is as constant tension, where the momentum of the fly line keeps the rod permanently loaded. For the pureists that could read Kinetic energy. Constant tension casting is based on a series of accelerations, and decelerations, but the LINE is always moving. This means that you may pause the rod at certain locations, accelerate the rod, decelerate the rod, or on occasion stop the rod for a bit. However, the kinetic energy or momentum of the line will maintain loading or tension on the rod. The rod is never unloaded. For example on a switch cast the rod can be swung around and decelerated to form a D loop, or brought back flat and then slowly lifted to the vertical firing position while drifting back (called a modified D loop), or surprise surprise… a V loop can be formed by just changing the direction the rod is traveling in from going back, to going forward without a stop. (Technically the rod tip did stop for a nanosecond at the point of direction change) Constant tension casters tend to think "line line line" as opposed to "rod rod rod". We direct the line to where we want it, we do not rely on timing as much. Traditional casting relies on good timing, lots of practice (preferably with a good coach) the right lines and rods, and as demonstrated by Speyghillie a terrific knowledge base of traditional casts that are a thing of beauty to watch. Constant tension and underhand casting may give some traditionalists a heart attack. Surprisingly though; we can not get away from the basic principles. There needs to be an anchor, the backloop needs to be 180 degrees from the target and the forward cast is done in a relatively straight line, and there must be a stop. So "Constant Tension". is the correct term. Constant Movement is a misnomer.

Maybe another source for information might be the GuideLine site at; GuideLine - Sweden/Canada/USA These fellows have been at it since the late 60's. When we talk about "Scandi" systems these are the guys from Scandinavia that have the scoop. In Calgary SouthBow will be putting on several workshops that might help out in late september and the first part of October. ScandiCaster

I travel a great deal from country to country doing workshops and testing. I have a pretty good idea of what is happening in the different communities internationally. I want to congratulate the Calgary two-handed community on their amazing sense of brotherhood and support. Somehow you guys have made something beautiful out of our sport. 1. A willingness to explore alternate techniques 2. Supporting each other by exchanging concepts and information 3. Respecting each others opinions. 4. Understanding that asking questions and learning is the key to success Also the recognition that practice makes perfect. Cherish and build on what you have. I am proud to be associated with you. Thank you so very much for including me. Dan McCrimmon PS Thank you to Toolman for showing me how to get my boss's fly back from the big ol' Brown that broke it off. Nice for me to say, "Hey Boss, here is your fly back"

Hey guys Don't forget your gear for all weather work. Also Bhurt.... maybe this year you should lose the sun parasol... I am not sure how you got those great casts off while holding the parasol, but well it looked ..... well.... kinda weird.

Hey HeadScan This can work for a given amount of "extra line" however, at some point the extra line will of course collapse the the back loop if there is not sufficient line speed. But mostly if you think about it... what is happening to the rod loading? At some point the rod will just unload completely. Then you have to pick that load up going forward again. So it is a very fine balancing act indeed. If you feel you do not have sufficient back cast room, move the anchor out toward river center and pick up the loading by lifting your hands a little more. Or maybe use a big in-swing cast and throw the anchor out (for single ) toward mid river. It is a hell of a lot of fun experimenting like that though. Thats a great way to learn. Take things to there extremes and see what happens.

Hey Rufus Use of a two handed rod, and in particular learning to underhand cast Scandinavian style with a short stroke, can reduce the impact on your body significantly. You should also note that this style fits well with a single hand rod as well. The next step may be a switch rod for smaller rivers, or a short two handed rod. Orthopedically, my Doctor friends have pointed out, the use of the short stroke and underhand cast, can reduce the physical impact on your body by as much as 300 lbs over a day of fishing. This is calculated against single handing, and "all top hand" casting. When you lift your line out with a single hand, you are lifting the weight of the line (plus drag), the weight of the reel, the weight of the rod and the weight of your own arm. Overhead casting over a day can raise hell with arthritis, and your back, and your shoulders. Similarly using top hand only with a two handed rod can be painful. So a good approach is to use a short stroke, good underhand pull, and constant tension casting which will further reduce the "hard stop" impact of single hand or "straight line" two-handed casting. Now add the ability to use either hand as the power hand, and you can have a good day fishing without having to pray to Saint Tylenol by evening. Hope this helps. Dan

Please see full details of these workshops in the "Sponsor Announcements" Section. As we learned last year, the spaces filled up fast. This year the classes are divided over two days so that everyone can get the attention they want. INSTRUCTORS Dan McCrimmon FFF MCCI, THCI (Program Examiner) , Board of Governor and GUIDELINE ProStaff and Jack Cook famous line builder and fly tyer. There will be lots of "Scandi" gear and lines to test out at your leisure There is the begginers day on June 27th The Advanced Caster on June 28. Note: An intermediate or advanced caster should be able to do the basic Single Spey, Double Spey, Switch Cast, and snake roll. See the entry at "Sponsors events and sign up from there. WE WILL MEET AT THE END OF SOUTHLAND DRIVE, NEAR THE FOOTBRIDGE at 9:00 AM Thanks to everyone who made last years event fun and rewarding. Dan McCrimmon

Two-handed Workshop For Beginners to Intermediate to Advanced Instructors: Dan McCrimmon and Jack Cook Beginners - Limit 10 Saturday June 27, (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM) June 27th. 9:30 AM Short talk by Jack Cook on lines and fly's. Then rod and line testing and trials. Try-out all the best of GUIDELINE Lunch Break 1:00 PM Beginners lessons on shooting heads, Scandinavian style (short stroke), and constant tension casting. Covers the basic casts for fishing. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY THE BEST LINE AND ROD COMBINATIONS SCANDINAVIA HAS TO OFFER. Advanced - Limit 6 Sunday June 28, (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM) 28th - 9:30 AM to 12:30 . Intermediate and Advanced - Short talk by Jack Cook on advanced lines and fly fishing techniques . Rod and line testing and trials 10:30 -12:30. Try-out all the best of GUIDELINE! Lunch Break 1:00 PM Advanced casting theory, casting techniques, constant tension casting. The advanced class is a problem solving class with participants working as a team. This will involve learning the derivation of different styles and their present day applications. One on One casting coaching. One on one problem solving. Attendees may attend both classes if space permits. Sign up as soon as possible! Dan McCrimmon Dan is a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Board of Governors, Master Certified Casting Instructor, and a Two-handed Casting Instructor program examiner. He is also a respected examiner for the Federation of Fly Fishers International program. Dan has international warm water, cold water, river, lake and salt-water fly fishing experience, and is an experienced instructor, whose goal is to have both his beginner and advanced students meet their maximum potential. Dan’s focus has been learning from the masters in the art of underhand casting and Scandinavian style fishing with two-handed rods. He is also a proud Member of the GUIDELINE Fly Products Power Team ‘His precise and humorous training sessions and demonstrations deliver fly casting techniques that will stay with you for ever’. Richard Wentz - Editor- Flyfisher Magazine Jack Cook While my flies for Salmon and Steelhead are legendary my real passion lies in fishing them. You will find me on the water daily with excellent GUIDELINE products and often teaching and putting on demonstrations to teach techniques to eager anglers. With over 20 years fishing with two handed rod with long, medium, and short rods and lines Jack is experienced enough in casting and fishing to help you select and dial in the perfect rod and line combination. WE WILL MEET AT THE END OF SOUTHLAND DRIVE, NEAR THE FOOTBRIDGE at 9:00 AM SIGN UP AT THE WEBSITE BELOW SIGN UP HERE

Hey Nick What are you using for a single hand now? Why not learn some Spey moves with your single hand? It is a great way to learn Spey casting (either constant tension or traditional). Then make a decision on a rod. ScandiCaster

Hi folks Have a look at the Events section. There will be a Scandinavian Style casting clinic and workshop on the 16th of July at 6:00 PM at Graves bridge (Lafarge access). This will be about Scandinavian fishing techniques, and constant tension casting, underhand style. Try out the Scandi rods! If you are interested call me at 1-778-989-4327 or e-mail dan@bestgearsales.com Dan