Caster Profiles: Gordon Bissett, Spey Caster
I am the Operations Controller for two greyhound tracks in the UK, both owned by Ladbrokes, the biggest bookmaker in the world. I have been with Ladbrokes for thirty years in a variety of operational roles, and in greyhound racing for nearly twenty of these.
I fly fish in Scotland for Atlantic salmon and sea trout, and fly fish in England for brown and rainbow trout, mostly in stocked reservoirs. I have also fished in the sea in and around Scotland for cod, haddock, pouting and flatfish. On vacation I fish wherever I am, so I've fished for marlin and tuna in the Canaries, for trout in France, and for shark and rays in Portugal. My most recent adventures in the spring of 2007 and '08 have been for steelhead in Canada.
Fly fishing is, to me, one of the most technically challenging styles of fishing. Not only do you have to get the line out, but you need the fly to be presented correctly. And most of the time you are fishing sight unseen, so you don't even know if you are casting to a fish, or to empty water. So you need to be able to read the water, to find the most likely spots to cast, then to cast well enough not to spook any fish that might be there. How much more challenging does it get ?
I find it very rewarding to cast to a rising fish, and tempt it to take the fly. That has to be the peak in terms of satisfaction. To have the fly land gently enough, in the right place, on the correct line, and get that solid take is just fantastic. You can forget bait, and spinners, and spoons and all that stuff. The fish has gone for an man-made copy of a fly or nymph, and you have been able to place that copy on the nose of the fish. What skills !
As a direct consequence of my fly casting instruction I've been able to understand the methods available to me to cast that line better, further and with more accuracy and less effort than before. I've also been able to develop options for fishing on either bank, and still more options depending on whether the wind is upstream or downstream. The increase in casting methods through instruction has meant I have the confidence to flyfish in any weather conditions, and has meant that I have the technical ability to cast well enough to thoroughly cover the water where fish may lie. I believe that the rest of the improvement comes through practise, and with that practise comes consistency.
I would recommend Dan. Not only is he so knowledgeable about the technical improvements he can make to your casting, but he has a humorous delivery that is guaranteed not to cause offence. A good teacher with a good delivery method. That's why I went back for more, and will go back for even more next time I'm in Denver.