My girlfriend wants to get into fly fishing, and I think that I'm asking for trouble if I try to be the one that teaches her how to cast. I could use a some additional instruction as well, specifically on the double haul.

Is there anyone out there providing lessons? I could do either the Dallas or Austin area.

BassPro and Cabelas both offer free weekend clinics

Very wise man. Both for the sport and the relationship. And yes, that is the voice of experience. I would only add a suggestion that you use different instructors and/or that you not watch or at least not comment during her lesson. Ahh yes, very wise indeed.

BassPro and Cabelas offer free casting lesson on weekend for basic casting: false cast and roll cast, which may be good enough for your lady. Both stores don't offer lesson for double hauls.

Orvis local stores also offer free lessons for starters. You may be able to talk to the instructors about double hauls when there.

RexW will have a "Double Haul Clinic" soon, but all the "seats" were filled. I, myself, missed out on it.

Rex,
any word on more of your upcoming casting clinics? Is Taylor still in town?

Lonestar,
get with a club or with Rex walker here on the site. better let Rex, Taylor, or Diane Blair give her hand in this. There are great male teachers, but there are some excellent women instructors as well...


les

There are several certified casting instructors in the Dallas area, including at least one woman. I've worked with her a couple of times, and she's pretty good and very pleasant. She tends to specialize in teaching women to some extent. Her name is Diane Blair. You can search for contact info here: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/Resources/Locate/CastingInstructors.aspx

Me and a few buds just had a lesson with Stephen at Backwoods. We learned quite a bit. My buddies are fairly new to fly fishing, and at they end they were able to cast 30-45 ft with much less effort and tighter loops. I'm also able to shoot line better and with more accuracy now with a single backcast. Stephen made it lots of fun.

Diane is also involved with Casting for Recovery, the women's fly fishing retreats.

Kirk

Casting for Recovery is for breast cancer survivors, but Diane and others do teach casting to others as well. I'd also check on the availability of Rex's daughter Taylor, on the TFO Pro Staff and also a Certified Casting Instructor.

OOPs, Sorry! I promise, I wasn't trying to imply....
I just recognized the name, and was lauding her commitment.

Kirk

Les, I've been doing a series of casting classes all year. These classes are available to the members of the Dallas Fly Fishers and the Red River Fly Fishers. Compare the cost of membership to the cost of a lesson at a fly shop, and this is a screaming good deal.

Yes, Taylor is still home for a few more weeks and has been teaching lessons this summer.

In the DFW area, there are many options available for casting help.

There are 3 fly fishing clubs in the area and all of them offer classes throughout the year.

There are multiple IFFF certified instructors in the area, including 2 master level instructors.

There are 3 instructors that do it for a living, Travis Moore at Tailwaters in Dallas, Steven Woodcock at Backwoods in Ft Worth, and Steve Hollensed at Lake Texoma, plus I think both Orvis shops offer private lessons (not sure).

I'm aware of two female instructors that actively teach and they are Diane Blair and Taylor Walker. Both of their contact information is available on the IFFF website.

Bottom line, you've got a lot options to choose from in the Dallas area.

Good luck!

Thanks for all of the help everyone.

Stephen from Backwoods is great.