Caster Profiles: Dave Lovell, Certified Instructor
If you first meet Dave Lovell at his work in the plush surroundings of the Orvis Shop in Denver's high rent Cherry Creek neighborhood, you might misunderstand the seriousness of his fly fishing JuJu.
It would be easy to mistake Sales Associate Dave as a fly fishing wannabe. After all, he works in an air conditioned environment of fly fishing's glossiest and most expensive toys; the kind of place, frankly, that can harbor much wishful thinking.
But, when you talk with Dave, you will quickly discover that he understands the ever-present nature of wishful thinking, and works to replace wishfulness with hard work and high quality tools and techniques.
For example, he might mention, if you ask, that he is a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Fly Casting Instructor. Further, if it is part of the casual conversation, he would tell you of his years of saltwater fishing, and his weekly fishing days on some of the Rocky Mountain's best trout streams.
Likely, he would not mention that he became a fly casting instructor and Orvis shop associate only after giving up a job that most people work a lifetime to acquire. Dave was the former director of recreation for the city of Parker—formally, the Assistant Director of Facilities—and gave up that work to pursue his fly fishing passion.
About the time he was considering that life change, he began studying casting with Dan for months at a time.
"I knew there was more to learn about fly casting, and fly fishing, too," he told me. "I worked hard to find the right coach and, when I did, I practiced often to make it part of how I cast and fish."
The results of his study were that he successfully passed the strenuous FFF Certified Instructor exam. Further results are his current position, and the endorsement of the Orvis Cherry Creek Shop to teach fly casting on its behalf.
Each Sunday morning, for no charge to Orvis customers, Dave meets and teaches fly casting to beginners at Washington Park. The 9 a.m. session is available to those who've signed up at the shop.
Despite those accomplishments, Dave still continues to study fly casting.
"Before each Sunday session," he said, " I work on the details of my own casting, and practice to improve my weaknesses. I'm not where I want to be, but I will get there if I keep practicing, and the chance to teach is helping me speed up my own learning."
Continuing to study and practice is the mantra of all good fly casters—and it's certainly a roadmap for all quality musicians, athletes, and students of all disciplines—and Dave is no exception. His intent to understand fly fishing and fly casting is already paying off, and that is likely to continue for both him and Orvis Cherry Creek.