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Episode Show Notes
Tom Rowland, professional fishing guide, TV host of Saltwater Experience, and podcast host, teaches a simple casting drill he used to keep his sons Turner and Hayden engaged in fishing when they were very young. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom reveals the Ring Game—a practice technique that transformed his kids from beginners into accurate casters while teaching life lessons about perfect practice. He shares how this drill works with a quarter ounce weight, a canal or swimming pool, and how it progresses from basic accuracy to speed drills that helped his boys excel not just in fishing, but in wrestling and schoolwork too. If you've got young kids and want to keep them hooked on fishing even when the fish aren't biting, this fifteen-minute episode delivers a practical system you can start using today.
What is the Ring Game for teaching kids to cast?
The Ring Game is a casting drill where a child throws a weight into water, creating a ring, and the instructor must cast into that ring before it disappears. Tom Rowland used this technique with his sons Turner and Hayden using spinning rods, a quarter ounce weight or jig head, and access to a canal, though it works in swimming pools or any water. The game teaches accuracy, speed, and water reading skills while keeping kids engaged.
Who is Tom Rowland?
Tom Rowland is a professional fishing guide, TV host of Saltwater Experience, and podcast host who shares practical fishing tips, casting techniques, and family-friendly approaches to getting kids hooked on fishing through his How 2 Tuesday series and regular podcast episodes.
This episode is brought to you by Star brite—the marine care products Tom relies on to keep his boat ready for days on the water with his kids. Whether you're teaching the Ring Game or heading offshore, Star brite's boat care solutions keep your gear in top condition.
Shop Star brite →How the Ring Game Started With His Sons
When Tom's sons were very young, keeping them interested in fishing was critical. They didn't always have time for a full fishing trip, but they had a canal right behind their house. Tom explains how he built this drill around immediate access to water—it could be a swimming pool, a lake, or any body of water. The setup was simple: his boys would use SpongeBob rods or little Zebco push button rods with a quarter ounce weight tied to the end. They'd stand on his left while he positioned himself to swing the rod to his right for maximum accuracy. The first version of the game had his son cast anywhere, creating a ring when the weight hit the water, and Tom had to cast his jig into that ring before it disappeared. What happened next turned a simple drill into something his kids wanted to do for hours. Tom breaks down the exact setup and positioning at 1:54.
Why the Disappearing Ring Creates Perfect Practice
The genius of the Ring Game isn't just about hitting a target—it's about the race against time. Tom describes how when the weight hits the water, it makes a visible ring like a hula hoop. If you cast immediately, the ring is very visible. But as you wait, that ring gets smaller and smaller. When wind is blowing, it becomes more and more difficult to see. Tom compares this to spotting a bonefish tail that comes up, makes a slight disturbance, and then the visual clue fades until the fish tails again. This wasn't just casting practice—it was teaching his sons how to read water, one of the most critical skills for flats fishing. The drill forced both Tom and his boys to cast accurately and quickly, and when he had both Turner and Hayden out there, they'd alternate casts, forcing him to reel in super fast and be ready again. The connection between ring visibility and reading bonefish water starts at 5:35.
Hear exactly how Tom set up the Ring Game and why his kids played it for hours
When the Game Flips and Kids Want to Be the One Hitting the Ring
As Tom's sons got better and better at the basic version of the game, something shifted. After watching their dad hit ring after ring with precision, they wanted to be the one doing it. Tom describes this progression as the natural evolution of the drill—suddenly, instead of just throwing out to no particular target, his boys wanted to prove they could hit Tom's ring just like he'd been hitting theirs. The roles reversed. Tom would cast out, create a ring, and Turner and Hayden would try to hit it with their rods. This is where the real skill development happened. Tom reveals they literally played this game for hours and had as much fun with it as they did actual fishing. The competitive element, the desire to match their dad's accuracy, turned practice into play. The moment the game flips and why it matters starts at 6:49.
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SubscribeLife Lessons Beyond Fishing That the Ring Game Taught
Tom gets reflective about what the Ring Game actually accomplished beyond making his sons accurate casters. He explains that the drill taught how to be good at anything—through practice, and specifically through perfect practice. If you're just casting to no particular target, you might get more familiar with the rod, but you're not really improving. It's only when you cast to a particular target and do it intentionally that you have perfect practice, and that's where real improvement happens. Tom found that this lesson translated far beyond the water. It showed up in wrestling practice. It showed up in schoolwork. His boys learned that they became very good at something, which meant they could become very good at anything. The Ring Game became a vehicle for teaching discipline, focus, and the relationship between deliberate practice and mastery. Tom's reflection on perfect practice and life lessons begins at 7:29.
Don't miss this one.
A fifteen-minute drill that changed how Tom's sons approach everything from fishing to school.
Key Takeaways
- The Ring Game uses a disappearing water ring as a target, forcing casters to develop both speed and accuracy while learning to read water like they would when spotting bonefish
- Tom's setup required nothing more than a SpongeBob rod or Zebco push button rod, a quarter ounce weight, and access to water—a swimming pool, canal, lake, or ocean all work
- The drill naturally progresses from parent hitting the child's ring to the child wanting to hit the parent's ring, creating competitive motivation without forcing it
- Tom and his sons literally played the Ring Game for hours, having as much fun with it as actual fishing—it became the go-to activity when fish weren't biting
- The concept of perfect practice versus general practice translated from casting into wrestling, schoolwork, and other areas where Tom's sons learned that becoming very good at one thing teaches you how to become very good at anything
- Gene Jensen's alternative drill using a quarter ounce nut and a five gallon bucket works when you don't have water access, giving parents multiple options for keeping kids engaged
- Positioning matters—having kids stand on your left allows you to cast to the right for maximum accuracy, but you can increase difficulty by having them stand on your right to practice overhead casts
Final Thoughts from Tom
This Ring Game changed everything for me and my boys. It gave us something we could do together that didn't require perfect conditions or cooperative fish. Some of my best memories with Turner and Hayden happened during these practice sessions, not on big fishing trips. We'd be out there for hours, laughing, competing, getting better together.
What I didn't realize at the time was how much this simple drill would teach them about life. Watching them apply the same principles—intentional practice, focus, repetition—to wrestling and school showed me that fishing can be a vehicle for so much more than just catching fish. It's a way to teach kids how to get good at anything.
If you've got young kids and you're wondering how to keep them interested in fishing, or if you just want to spend quality time together while actually building real skills, try the Ring Game this week. Grab a rod, find some water, and start throwing. Send me an email at podcast@saltwaterexperience.com and let me know how it goes. This one's worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment do you need for the Ring Game casting drill?
You need a spinning rod (Tom used SpongeBob rods or Zebco push button rods for young kids), a quarter ounce weight or jig head tied to the line, and access to water such as a canal, swimming pool, lake, or ocean. The drill can also be adapted for bait casters or fly rods.
How does the Ring Game teach kids to read water?
When the weight hits the water, it creates a visible ring that gets smaller and smaller over time, especially when wind is blowing. This mirrors spotting bonefish tails or other subtle disturbances in the water that become harder to see as time passes, teaching kids to identify and react to visual cues quickly.
At what age can kids start doing the Ring Game?
Tom used this drill when his sons Turner and Hayden were very young, starting with basic push button rods. Any child who can hold a fishing rod and make a basic cast can participate, with the parent initially hitting the child's rings before progressing to the child trying to hit the parent's rings.
Can you practice the Ring Game without access to water?
Tom mentions that guest Gene Jensen shared an alternative drill using a quarter ounce nut tied to the line and casting into a five gallon bucket for situations where you don't have water access, though the Ring Game itself requires water to create the disappearing ring target.
Why does Tom position his kids on his left during the Ring Game?
Positioning kids on his left allows Tom to swing the rod to his right, which is where he can cast most accurately. To increase difficulty and simulate obstacles, he can have them stand on his right, forcing him to make an overhand cast instead.
Related Episodes
Tom references Gene Jensen's appearance where he shared the five gallon bucket drill with a quarter ounce nut—an alternative indoor casting practice method
More strategies for parents who want to build lasting fishing memories with their children without requiring perfect conditions
Building on the Ring Game foundation with drills that take accuracy and speed to the next level for serious anglers
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Shop GORUCKGene Jensen (Fluke Master) — mentioned for his five gallon bucket casting drill using a quarter ounce nut
Turner Rowland — Tom's son who practiced the Ring Game
Hayden Rowland — Tom's son who practiced the Ring Game
Download the Tom Rowland Podcast Knot Guide — essential knots every angler should know.
Tom Rowland
Tom Rowland is a professional fishing guide, TV host of Saltwater Experience, and podcast host who shares practical fishing tips, casting techniques, and family-friendly approaches to getting kids hooked on fishing. Through his How 2 Tuesday series, Tom breaks down actionable techniques that help anglers of all skill levels improve their game. Living on a canal in South Florida, Tom developed the Ring Game as a way to keep his sons Turner and Hayden engaged in fishing while teaching them life lessons about perfect practice and discipline. You can reach Tom at podcast@saltwaterexperience.com.
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