New Casting Course at the Orvis Flagship Store

Above: Scott McEnaney, Truel Myers, and Pete Kutzer talk about the new casting course. The audio is a little low, and Truel speaks softly, so turn up your speakers.

My coworker Scott McEnaney came by my desk last week and asked if I’d like to head over to the Flagship Store in Manchester to try out the new fly-casting course. Seeing as it was a gorgeous fall day, it was a no-brainer. So a small group of us took a long lunch to check out the five-hole course spread out across the grounds and two ponds next to the store.

Casting courses are a lot of fun, and this one tests your skills on several levels—from curve casts to accuracy to distance-casting. There’s even a scorecard that explains each hole and helps you keep track of how you are doing. It was a bit intimidating having Orvis Fly Fishing School instructors Pete Kutzer and Truel Myers in the group, but we all did pretty well.

The course is open to everyone and is free. So next time you’re anywhere near Manchester, come by and give it a shot. You’ll find out how good you are, as well as what aspects of your casting need some work. Either way, it’s a lot of fun.

With Vermont’s foliage bursting with color, it was a great afternoon to be outside in Manchester. photo by Phil Monahan

The first hole rewquires you to cast to one set of rings in front of some trees and a second set of rings behind the trees. Brush off your curve cast for this one. photo by Phil Monahan

As Scott takes a few practice casts on Hole 1, the rest of the gang reads their scorecards. photo by Phil Monahan

The green rings are pretty easy to hit, but the pink one require some kind of curve cast. photo by Phil Monahan

Pete Kutzer lays down a cast on the first hole. photo by Phil Monahan

At Hole 2, you’ve got to throw your “fly” through a horizontal ring. This is tougher than it sounds. photo by Phil Monahan

Truel throws a tight loop right through the hoop on his first try. Show off. photo by Phil Monahan

Chrissy Penn exhibits intense concentration on Hole 2. photo by Phil Monahan

The third hole is on the water and requires you to hit close-in targets. photo by Phil Monahan

Tyler Atkins nails the 15-foot ring on Hole 3. photo by Phil Monahan

Pete drops his yarn fly in the ring on his first try. photo by Phil Monahan

Set up like a golf hole, number four requires you to get to the hole in several “shots,” or distance casts. photo by Phil Monahan

Truel shoots one down the fairway on number 4. photo by Phil Monahan

Truel tries to hit the ring on a very long shot, but just misses. . . photo by Phil Monahan

. . .which requires him to improvise a short “putt” by breaking his rod down and using just the tip. photo by Phil Monahan

Hole 5 adds difficulty by limiting your back casts and requiring you to cast lefty (or with your off-hand). photo by Phil Monahan

Pete takes a shot on number 5. photo by Phil Monahan

The wind came up, and Truel found his fly line trapped in the “Scott hazard.” photo by Phil Monahan

Truel hits the farthest ring with a sweet lefty cast. photo by Phil Monahan