Lesson 1: Introduction and Must Knows

I’m Lindsay Kocka, founder of The Wade Well Method. This offering has been many years in the making. I’ve been teaching this method through fly fishing schools, retreat groups, and angling organizations since 2019, and I’m thrilled to have finally brought it to life in an online format. Feel free to explore the various pages of my website to learn more about my background as an angler, educator, and trainer, and to browse publications where Wade Well (formerly known as Fluent Movement on the Fly) has been featured. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

The course is organized into sequential chapters. While I recommend moving through them in order, you’re welcome to skip ahead or move back and forth between lessons as you see fit. Wading Strong is designed to be revisited long after your first completion. The curriculum includes a series of short videos that offer experiential tutorials and classes. Each lesson blends written instruction with physical practices to explore. This course asks you to take action and move your body. The concepts are best understood through direct physical experience.

Throughout the movement and mobility practices, you’ll work with combinations of positions including standing, seated, quadruped, and lying down. While it’s impossible to create a single method that is perfectly accessible to every body at all times, I do my best to offer options that allow you to customize the practice. That said, this course is not a substitute for in-person, one-on-one instruction within a dialogue-driven setting. A digital course has inherent limitations. Please reach out if you have specific questions about modifying the material to better suit your body. Keep in mind that this offering is designed for individuals who will be standing and moving while wading in the water.

In terms of gear and equipment, a few simple items will enhance your experience. Set yourself up for success with the following:

• A tennis ball (a myofascial release or massage ball is also appropriate; avoid lacrosse balls or anything firmer than a standard tennis ball)

• A blanket or full-size towel

• A cushion, pillow, or yoga bolster

• Two yoga blocks or similarly shaped objects (blankets or pillows can substitute if needed)

Thank you for joining me on this journey. My sincere hope is that you leave with greater knowledge and skill, along with a robust toolkit that allows you to approach fly angling with more ease, enjoyment, and empowerment.

Onward.