1st Place in California Fly Shop Casting Contest
by
November 2008
It was Saturday November 3rd and as usual I was on my way to my children’s sporting events but in the back of my mind I had the email correspondence that I had received earlier in the week from The California Fly Shop. It had something to the effect of free casting lessons from the famed Steve Rajeff, free BBQ, and free drinks, casting contest, prizes and games for the kids. “Wow”, I said to myself, maybe after the kid’s games I can swing by? At my kid’s volleyball games images of fly casting were dancing through my head. After the games which coincidentally ended at noon, I said to my family let’s go out for lunch today. They said where we are going daddy; I said it’s a surprise. Well, I got some strange looks from my family but I continued to drive undaunted by their looks. As I pulled in to the fly shop I was asked all sorts of questions by my wife and kids; I relayed what was in the email to them “there are food and games” so we parked and walked over to the entrance. Out in front of the shop there were people BBQing and coolers of refreshments sitting in the shade. We were greeted by friendly people and told that there were donuts and coffee inside. Outside the famed Steve Rajeff was giving free casting lessons on new, not yet released G Loomis 2008 fly rods and I must say they are well balanced and cast like a dream. After having a few donuts and coffee my kids and I were charged up and ready for the casting lessons and games. Steve gave my girls and some of the other kids’ lessons as the adults browsed through the fly shop and new demo rods.
Later while eating BBQed hamburgers, potato chips and drinking great imported beers I was asked if I wanted to partake in the casting competition that would be held after lunch. I tried to pass but my kids had already signed up and they think that I’m a pretty good caster so I got talked into giving it a try. There were four rings at different distances the farthest being about 80 feet. After I saw some of the other contestants cast I was glad I entered. I was relaxed from the beer so my casting was oh so smooth. All the lessons I had received from Wayne Taylor in the past had paid off. Wayne’s words of casting still echo in my head and I was able to win the contest. I had 2 close landings and 2 perfect landings. The two furthest landings were perfect. I won a $100.00 gift card and was also a hero in my kid’s eyes!
