Caster Profiles: Jeff Engel,
Rocket Scientist and FFF Certified Instructor
I fish with Jeff fairly often, and sometimes it's hard to say whether he is more aeronautical engineer (rocket scientist, when I'm being a wise acre) or fly caster. It's probably a bit of both, but I get to see more of the fly caster precision when we're on the river. When we're on a bank break, or traveling, well, it might be either guy that shows up.
On the bank, Jeff's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Kansas quickly shows in his thinking and observational skills. (Please, don't even mention basketball. Things become quickly lop-sided, near irrational, so it's best that you don't bring it up.) He's the furthest from arrogant one could be, but it's best to avoid conversations that lean toward the analytical, as it becomes a risk for embarassment due to slow thinking.
For example, here is Jeff's analysis of fly casting:
"Fly fishing is a process that includes many skill sets. Fly casting is one of the most important skills to master to be successful in fly fishing. Studying fly casting is a natural path for any serious angler that understands the beauty and science involved in fly fishing."
Of course, that's poetic to some of us, but it can be startling thrown into the run-of-the-river mix of most fly fishers' conversations.
Jeff's engineering work is primarily in the research of Hypersonics. (I know, it makes me feel the same way, and you should ask him about that when you see him next.) But, we spend most of our time on the river fishing and analyzing all the many aspects of the skills required.
Jeff's thoughts on the value of studying fly casting and its context in fly fishing overall:
"Studying fly casting has improved my fly fishing immensely. I can now confidently present the fly to fish more accurately and with the delicacy required without frustration. It is also very rewarding to be able to have complete control over the fly line, leader and flies in any fishing or weather situation! It is also very rewarding to know that with continued work there is much more for me to learn about fly casting."
Jeff helps in some of the Academy of Fly Casting's workshops, and he proves as driven there as when he's fishing or engineering. His position as a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Fly Casting Instructor helps him apply his natural analytical skills to teaching other casters. Of course, he studied intensely and cast for months before taking the CI examination, and then just blasted the test and his examiners' opinions of him into, well, space.
Jeff's fly fishing expectations are, as you might expect, based on studiousness and what he expects to accomplish as he grows:
"Being able to naturally analyze each cast and make small adjustments to account for wind or water currents results in more flies drifted through the fishes feeding window. In addition, becoming a more proficient caster gives me the opportunity to present flies to fish in very challenging locations and weather conditions that I would have passed up before studying fly casting."
That's nice to hear, but I'll play it safe and not ask him anything about the value of engineering to his life.