The Game Angling lnstructors' Association

ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL GAME-ANGLING INSTRUCTOR

APGAI

SYLLABUS for: Category 2. Salmon (two-handed rods

Tests will be carried out in accordance with the conditions and advice set out in the GAIA’s booklet ’Taking Assessment Tests for Award of Qualifications’ (TATAQ) and the schedule of casts, techniques and topics listed below. Two hours will be allotted for your assessment. Please bring with you (Both spinning outfits must have an appropriate line and casting weight) :

• A double-handed fly rod with reel, line, leader and tag or wool to suit.
• An alternative rod for teaching and demonstrating the Roll and Spey casts if required.
• A double-handed spinning rod with fixed spool reel
• A double-handed spinning rod with a multiplier reel

When casting, a high level of technical excellence achieving accuracy and good distance with fluid performance and flexibility in application should be evident. Identification, demonstration and correction of faults in technique are essential parts of APGAI skills. Throughout your assessment, identify and show safe casting with all techniques, emphasising safe action and use of personal protection in all situations. Take care at all times to promote awareness and practice of safety issues for anglers and bystanders. Required casts must be demonstrated either right- or left-handed and from the appropriate shoulder, altering techniques for given (although not necessarily existing) conditions or alternative banks of a river. Variations in casting style are fully acceptable providing that casting is effective and can be taught from the style shown. GAIA recommends that you plan much of the time allotted as ‘lessons’ of about twenty minutes each, separated by short breaks (TATAQ paras. 13 to 20). Aim each at a different type of target client (as stated in your presentation notes). You have to decide the content and arrangement of each ‘lesson’ so that your presentation covers this syllabus. Leave at least 45 minutes unscheduled to provide for assessors’ questions and any topic or cast that you choose to show after your planned sessions. At least 21 days before your assessment, submit notes giving a brief summary of your presentation to GAIA. These will document your ability to plan classes, but will also be used by your assessors to help you to present your abilities effectively and to minimise interruptions. Also submit your written course plans. Topics and Casts: double handed fly rod

• Basic overhead cast and basic roll cast, as for beginners. (Note - as you have covered this in taking your entry qualification, as briefly as you can show and explain the essential tackle features, fundamental casting mechanics and the performance of the basic skills needed for a beginner’s first introduction to using fly rods. Do not take too much time here.)
• Overhead cast: longer casts (unaided), head wind, side winds, following wind, shooting line and changing direction; casting with sinking lines and heavy flies .
• Line mending techniques: upstream mend, downstream mend.
• Roll cast: longer casts (unaided), head wind, side winds, following wind, and getting more distance (minimum drag techniques).
• Single Spey: right bank, left bank.
• Double Spey: right bank, left bank.
• Snake Roll: right bank, left bank.
• In all casts: casting with sinking lines and heavy flies

Topics and Casts: double handed bait casting (spinning) rod

• Descriptions of bait casting tackle.
• Casting with fixed spool reel: Plain cast: Pendulum cast.
• Casting with multiplying reel: as above, casting heavier baits.

Topics and Casts: theoretical topics. You will also be tested or asked questions on other aspects of:-

• Spring and Autumn salmon fishing - sunk lines
• Summer salmon fly-fishing on large rivers - floating lines
• Summer salmon fishing on spate streams or lochs
• Bait fishing for salmon, both natural and artificial

with specific reference to choosing a suitable rod, reel and line for each. You will also be required to discuss the merits of:-

• different fly-rod lengths and actions, reels and line tapers
• different bait casting outfits relating to bait weights
• how you would fish a theoretical salmon pool with fly or bait whilst bank fishing, wading and or boat fishing and what methods you would use to control fly or bait speed and depth.
• essential knots, including Double Turle, Water knot, Grinner, Nail (needle) knot, Tucked Blood etc and their uses
• hooking and playing of fish including use of side strain and walking-up, landing techniques and the safe and proper handling of fish.
• the life-cycle and habitats of salmon and sea trout and recognition of parr, smolt, kelts and baggots, the common enemies of the Atlantic salmon and sea trout and current conservation initiatives
• basic water safety and recognition of common angling dangers including tetanus and Weils disease
• fishing law and etiquette
• the role of the main organisations within game angling
• suitable books or reading matter that you would recommend