I don't know much about fly fishing, but I do know about good education. I found this DVD to be excellent. After reading a negative review, it compelled me so much that I wanted to write a few words recommending the video. I was looking at fly fishing books and came across "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fly Fishing". Now that I have seen this DVD, I have no need to pick up any other books. For me, this video makes a fly fishing book seem weak in comparison. Remember the old saying; a picture is worth a thousand words.
What first comes to mind is a word from the title of the video: "basics". In a nutshell, this is what the video does well because it is supposed to be a basic fly fishing video for beginners. I am a beginner in fly-fishing and don't know hardly anything about the sport. I have fished before but fly-fishing was always a mystery to me. Well, this video solved that problem very quickly. Concisely, this is a basic course in fly-fishing that is taught from the ground up.
The video starts out with Basic Casting Techniques then moves into Knots. From the beginning I learned a lot, there is a cast called the Roll Cast and this is essentially what most of the other casts are built upon. What is so beautiful about this DVD is how simply they teach about fly-fishing. It can be very hard to find good instructors for any subjects that are able to teach, and teach well. Kelly & Jim Watt as commentators and instructors do a spectacular job. The video then moves onto tying knots then to equipment. Progressing further to the advanced techniques, then even how to tie your own flies. This is a broad overview of the DVD. Please check below as I have all the areas outlined on the DVD, which is considerable.
From the video, I also learned about a fish in Argentina called the Dorado or even the Golden Dorado. These fresh water fish put up an amazing fight. The video did a great job of giving me good basic fishing techniques as well, from the DVD "Lakes, Streams, Rivers & Entomology". How to look for fish, what bait to use, where to find the fish, different lakes, even fishing for the Dorado. The different types of fly-fishing lines seemed a little mind boggling between all the different types and objectives to what you are fishing.
There are many tricks on the DVD as well. There is even a way to do practice fly-fishing at home. You take the tip of your fly rod and use a long piece of yarn as your line. Set up some objects to aim for and you can let the kids practice at home. And it's fun. Many, if not all of the casting tricks are in the slow motion on the video. The producers really know how to teach people this subject and it shows from the many slow motion & graphic presentations in the video. As I am a quick learner, I found the advanced techniques insightful as well. The whole video flows nicely and only a couple of times I was left scratching my head because I did not understand something, usually from the commentators speaking too quickly.
Overall, I would suggest that the video is mainly for beginner fly-fishers. However, it seems to me to be some intermediate & advanced stuff thrown in as well. I would recommend this video to anyone or even a friend who likes to fish and wants to learn how to fly-fish. Yes, it would make a great gift, pretty much for anybody, any age.
Here is what is contained on the DVD. Happy fishing!
Basic Casting Techniques
-Roll Cast
-Simple Pick Up/Set Down
-False Casting
-Shooting Line Cast
Knots
-Nail Knot
-Leader To Leader Knot
Double Overhand/Surgeon's Knot
-Leader to Fly Knot
Improved Clinch Knot
Equipment
-Rods
-Reels
-Fly Lines
-Leaders
-Flies
-Stuff
Waders, Vest, Tools, Etc.
Basic Fly Tying
-Fly Tying Tools
-Vises & Hooks
-Learn to tie a: Nymph, Woolley Bugger, Basic Dry Fly
Basic Fishing Techniques
-Lakes, Streams, Rivers & Entomology
Advanced Techniques
-Double Haul
-Open Loop Cast for Nymphing Sink Tip Lines
-Reach Cast
-Slack Line Cast
-"S" Cast
-Jump Roll Cast w/ Andrew Ryan
-Mending
-Downstream Drift
-Wind Casts:
Font
Rod Side
Behind
Roll Cast
Backhand
