Caster Profiles: Phyllis Vinson, Tournament Caster
Phyllis Vinson is now a champion tournament fly caster, thanks to frequent practice, instruction, and a goal that surprised her. She won the 2008 Denver International Sportsmens Exposition's (ISE) prestigious Best of the West Casting Competition in January, and placed third in the April finals competition in Salt Lake City, UT.
A few short years ago, when I first met Phyllis—an electrical engineer by profession—she was, and remains, a very active member of the Colorado Women Flyfishers, one of the nation's best fly fishing organizations.
At that time, her goals did not include competing in tournaments, but just being a better fly fisher and caster.
“I started taking lessons as a way to improve my fishing,” Phyllis told me recently. “I soon found that I enjoyed casting as a separate activity.”
Since those first casting lessons, Phyllis has moved from being a pretty good trout fishing angler to being a very good all 'round fly fisher. She has now caught Pacific salmon, bonefish, redfish, and other fresh and saltwater species.
In addition to the tournament benefits, Phyllis has found that her sharpened skills add to the enjoyment of fishing. She says:
There have been several rewards from my studying casting. As expected, it has improved my fishing but it has also increased my appreciation of the process. By learning to cast better, I found that I cast more efficiently, which extends my fishing day. Casting became an outdoor activity in which I can indulge when I can’t make it to the river (after all, the secret to improvement is practicing… the right thing).
While I enjoy casting itself, I have reaped practical benefits in my fishing. Improvements in power and distance have reduced the influence wind has on my fishing day. Improvements in accuracy will better allow me to successfully target fish in challenging situations. Learning specialty casts and aerial mends has helped with those fish holding in difficult locations. Overall, casting improvements have given me a greater command of the rod and better presentation of the fly.
After her first trip to Alaska for salmon fishing, Phyllis sent to me a letter and pictures describing how she enjoyed the fly fishing exploration.
“I hope you'll enjoy reading about my silver salmon fishing trip,” she said. “More than wanting to share the story of my adventure, I wanted to thank you for all you've done to improve my casting. I got oodles of compliments on my casting proficiency and while I know that without practice I wouldn't be where I am, I want to acknowledge the huge contribution my lessons with you made to my progress.”
Of course, I am extremely pleased for the progress Phyllis has earned and made, and happy that she enjoys fly fishing even more as a highly skilled champion caster. Certainly, it is a pleasure to have her as a friend and casting colleague.
But, more than anything else, I dearly love—as any instructor would—when Phyllis says "practice (...of the right thing)" is a key element in her fly casting success.