LORI’S CASTING SEMINAR AT ASU BY JOHN BERRY

As many of you know my wife, Lori Sloas, is a gifted instructor that loves to teach fly casting. This month she is scheduled to teach a fly casting seminar at Arkansas State University Mountain Home. We have been teaching a Basic Fly Fishing Class there for the last four years. She has led the fly casting portion of the class at all of the class meetings. Although, I have assisted, particularly with some of the larger classes, she is the principal casting instructor. This seminar will be held on the ASU campus on Saturday, April 26 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. There is a nominal fee and you can register by contacting the Continuing Education Department at (870) 508-6280.

Lori has designed this seminar for the beginner novice fly caster. It would benefit a rank beginner or a caster that has struggled with their cast and needs a pro to help them fine tune it. She will concentrate on casting fundamentals and give each student close personal attention. She will evaluate each caster and work to improve any faults. At the end of the seminar, each student will understand what areas can be improved and understand how to do it. This is all done in a comfortable non threatening atmosphere. The class is limited to eight students. If you don’t have your own rod or would prefer to use one of ours, she will provide one to you. We have over a dozen rods and she will bring all of them to the seminar.

I met Lori almost fourteen years ago when I was teaching a fly fishing class for the Mid South Fly Fishers and we have been fishing together since. I must say that she was a quick study and progressed as an angler rapidly. We began teaching together about a year later. At first she observed how my brother and I were teaching casting but was soon helping us with the students. She was an immediate success and was quite popular with the students. She immersed herself in fly casting and worked with professional instructors like Lefty Kreh to refine her cast and instructional techniques. As a result, she has surpassed me in her casting abilities and teaching acumen.

We then began teaching classes at venues like the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, Mississippi County Community College, Home Waters Expo, Becoming an Outdoors Woman and the Sowbug Roundup. She also gives private lessons to clients who want more personal attention or might be uncomfortable in a group setting.

Whenever we attend a fly fishing show, she is outside with the fly casters while I am inside with the fly tyers. She loves the art of fly casting. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend this seminar as I am scheduled to guide that day. One of the things I love to do in life is watch Lori teach casting. 

If you would like to fine tune your case with a fly casting professional, this is an inexpensive and convenient way to do it.