SLP- Loop / Practicing aerial mends

The picture of Troy Miller (one of our engineers) fly fishing in the Arctic didn't go through ... so I'm going to try a different way of placing it in an attachment. Gordy

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I’m not certain of what the most accurate wording of the “line follows the rod tip” rule should be. It’s far from simple to include the huge number of variations possible and demonstrate that they are all adequately described by the same few words but the simple statement “the line follows the rod tip” or “the line follows the rod tip and is sent in the direction of the tip when it stops” is fine for beginners with a short line although its clearly not totally accurate. Maybe Al’s definition is correct, looks like it could be an interesting conclave!

One significant variable is the orientation and length/shape of the line prior to eg a forward cast commencing, if it’s not practically straight your statement “You need an almost straight line path of your rod for a tight loop. Smooth application of power helps to achieve this” is not true.

Best wishes,

Ally Gowans

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Ally.... I wasn't talking about the orientation, length/shape of the line prior to the forward cast; rather during it. Here, if we have non-smooth application of power (erratic power) we will likely have a tailing loop..... G.

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PRACTICING AERIAL MENDS

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Here is a list of questions on practicing aerial mends :

1.) Before starting practice, can you answer these brief questions about in-the-air mends ?

a. How would you define the term, MEND ?

b. Name at least two uses for an aerial mend.

c. Tell us two differences between a curve cast and an aerial mend.

2.) You are starting to practice "wiggle mends". You wish to make a series of small mends and then a series of large ones.

a. How do you make the series of small (narrow) wiggle mends ? (Say 1' wide)

b. What do you do differently to make your series of wide mends? (About 4' wide"

c. You want to place a series of wiggle mends out at a distance with a straight layout between you and the first mend. How do you do that ?

d. When would you elect to do that when fishing ?

e. Now you want to place a series of wiggle mends close to you with a straight line layout between the last mend and the target. How do you do that ?

f. When would you use that technique when fishing ?

3.) You are starting to practice single mends to the right and to the left.

a. What movements do you make to form one NARROW mend ? (About 18" wide)

b. " " " " " " " " WIDE mend ? (About 5' wide)

c. " " " " " " " " LONG mend ? (About 10' long)

d. " " " " " " " " SHORT mend (About 2' long)

d. When would you use a narrow mend while fishing ?

e. When would you use a wide mend while fishing ?

f. When might you elect to use a long mend when fishing ?

4.) Would you use targets as you practice these mends ?

5.) You want to place mends at various distances. What do you do differently in placing a mend at 35' from you than you did when you placed one at 15' ?

6.) Realizing that it may be difficult, you now want to place a mend way out there at 45' from you. How would you do that ?

Gordy