Walter & Group...
Many quiz answers received ! I picked three good ones. The word differences are refreshing .. Gordy :-
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From Tony Loader. My commets in red italics .... Tony has some VERY good concise answers ! :
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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 ? Repositioning of line to achieve a desired layout/float/swim
OK... Even better: "Repositioning the line AFTER THE CAST to achieve ............ " G.
b. Name at least two uses for an aerial mend. Promote a drag free drift. Adjust the swim/float of a sunken fly. Avoid an obstacle. Combat wind. Avoid lining a fish.
Yes. One might add : To counter a tongue of current (although this is one reason to gain a drag free drift, as you said.) G.
c. Tell us two differences between a curve cast and an aerial mend. A mend is made using rod movement after loop formation and can be placed anywhere in the layout. A curve cast is made using rod movement prior to loop formation and always affects the distal end of the line.
Agree. Dennis Grant and I were critiquing mends and curves a short while ago. He emphasized your last clause, "and always affects the distal end of the line."
My KISS PRINCIPLE way of looking at that it this. With a curve cast, the fly and leader should be part of the curved layout. With a mend, you should have a "bump" in the line along the course of the layout, but the fly end of the line should be straight beyond the "bump" (mend). G.
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) After the loop has formed, move the rod tip horizontally 1” either side of the loop plane for the desired number of times. Slip line as required to ensure that the fly reaches the target.
Yes. Key word, here, is TIP. KISS ans: "Wiggle the tip fast but not very far" (More tip than whole rod.) G.
b. What do you do differently to make your series of wide mends? (About 4' wide" Move the rod 4’ either side.
Yes. Key word, here, is ROD . KISS ans: " Move the whole rod back and forth farther with your arm " (Dennis also reminded me of this ! ) G.
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 ? Stop. Make the required mends. Cease mending before the loop unrolls completely.
OK. I like to add this: To place the mends way out at a distance, start wiggling IMMEDIATELY after the cast. Do it early and high. G.
d. When would you elect to do that when fishing ? Presenting across a tongue of turbulent faster current when fishing a mostly even flow.
Yes. Might also consider using it if you are standing in slow water fishing downstream, when you have faster water farther down river. G.
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 ? Stop/Wait/Wiggle
Agree. Do it LATE. Helps, too, to wiggle the rod LOW, closer to the water. G.
f. When would you use that technique when fishing ? When the close line will be affected by that faster current
Yes. G.
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) Narrow (18”) horizontal deviation then return of the rod tip
Yes. Move the rod tip just a short distance to one side, then back to the midline. G.
b. " " " " " " " " WIDE mend ? (About 5' wide) Wide (5’) deviation and return
Yes. Move the rod a greater distance to one side then back to the middle. G.
c. " " " " " " " " LONG mend ? (About 10' long) Tip deviation followed by a delay then a return
Agree. the LENGTH of the mend is controlled by the time spent with the rod tip out to the side before bringing it back to the middle. G.
d. " " " " " " " " SHORT mend (About 2' long) Tip deviation followed rapidly by a return
Yes. Return should be to the midline. (As you know, if you return too far ... say beyond the midline, you end up with an "S" mend. G.
d. When would you use a narrow mend while fishing ? To prolong a drag free drift when casting across a narrow faster current. To avoid a small obstacle.
Agree. G.
e. When would you use a wide mend while fishing ? To prolong a drag free drift when casting across a wide faster current. To adjust the drift/swim of a sunken fly. To avoid a larger obstacle. When fishing to the bank from a drift boat.
Agree. G.
f. When might you elect to use a long mend when fishing ? To place all of the layout on water flowing at the same rate.
OK. Some might argue that a reach mend would be better for that. I'd answer: To counter a wide tongue of current. G.
4.) Would you use targets as you practice these mends ? Yes
That's what I'd do. Takes the guess work out of it. G.
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' ? “Stop/Mend” as opposed to “Stop/Wait/Mend”
OK. Also: Make that mend low and later for the 15' mark. Make it higher and earlier for the 35' one and consider slipping line. G.
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 ? Good loop, high line speed Stop/Mend/Shoot.
You got it ! Carry more line, sufficient line off the reel, high line speed, make it early and high, THEN SHOOT THE ENTIRE THING OUT THERE. Helps to aim and thrust the rod directly at your target to minimize friction between the line and the rod guides as you shoot so the mend isn't pulled straight with that high line speed. G.
Gordy
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Hi Gordy!
This is my first reply so I hope I´m not too wrong with my answers.
Please find them attached as a word-file
Kind regards
Christian
--
Christian Strixner
Gespliesste Fliegenruten
Siedlerstrasse 77 a
85716 Unterschleissheim
Tel. ++ 89 / 317 30 60
Fax. ++ 89 / 317 17 85
web:
www.split-the-cane.com
My brief comments in his text in red italics .... G.
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 ?
A Mend is a change of position of the line before or after power application
I see it as performed after the cast. G.
b. Name at least two uses for an aerial
mend.
Kompensate currents
or to avoid that the line falls on obstacles (rocks, weeds) in the
water Yes.
G.
c. Tell us two differences between a curve cast and an aerial
mend.
A curve cast is made during the phase of powerapplication. You can´t affect the timing like you could do with an arial mend (can you?, not sure) The curve cast IS made during power application whereas the mend is performed after the stop of the cast.
You are correct that the timing is different. Why ? Because movements made during the cast mainly affect the fly leg of the loop whereas movements made after the cast affect the rod leg. EXAMPLE: If you wish to place a tail way out at end of the line, you make the error DURING the cast and LATE.
If you wish to place a mend way out there, you make the move AFTER the cast and do it EARLY. G.
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)
Move your rod tip in
short series of wiggles (
b. What
do you do differently to make your series of wide mends? (About 4'
wide"
Same
as above with wider movements (4’wide) Yes. (Best to move not just the tip, but your arm and the
whole rod.) G.
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
?
Perform your wiggles
right after powerapplication Yes.
Helps to have a bit higher trajectory, too.
G.
d. When would you elect to do that when fishing
?
When I have a faster current to the far side Yes. G.
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
?
Perform your wiggles dalayed after powerapplication Yes. Helps a bit to do it low, also. G.
f.
When would you use that technique when fishing ?
When the current is faster to my side Agree. G.
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)
a
small and fast movement of about 18’’ Yes. (from side to side.)
G.
b.
"
" "
" "
" " " WIDE mend ?
(About 5' wide)
a bigger and fast movement of about
c. " "
" "
" "
" " LONG mend ? (About 10'
long)
a bigger and slower
movement of about
d.
"
" "
" "
" " " SHORT
mend (About 2' long)
a
fast movement of about
d.
When would you use a narrow mend while fishing ?
slow flowing water Yes ... or a narrow tongue of current. G.
e.
When would you use a wide
mend while fishing ?
Fast flowing
water Yes.
G.
f.
When might you elect to use a long
mend when fishing ?
When the current
between me and the target is more even
OK .... or to counter a wide tongue of
current. G.
4.) Would you use
targets as you practice these mends ?
Yes
Yes.
G.
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'
?
I
perform the mend earlier after the powerapplication as I would do with one at
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
?
The principles stay the same! Correct ! However, you might wish to consider shooting the mend. (An option). G.
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 ?
A mend is made in the line POST RSP.
b. Name at least two uses for an aerial mend.
Positioning the line to overcome currents and avoid drag on the water.
Positioning the line to avoid an obstacle on the water.
c. Tell us two differences between a curve cast and an aerial mend.
A curve cast is created during the stroke and can even be enhanced post rsp when a mend is included.
Mends are best created in the vertical, curves are best created in the more horizontal.
Mends are best made with relatively “normal” line speed for the distance and conditions, Curves are best made with underpowered and overpowered casts.
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)
Move the rod side to side in approximately 1’ wiggles post rsp. Best controlled by doing these through the butt of the rod rather than just wiggling the tip. Don’t be too vigorous!!!
b. What do you do differently to make your series of wide mends? (About 4' wide"
Move the butt of the rod side to side but also move the tip – you will need to move the tip to create wide wiggles but don’t do it with JUST the tip, control it through the butt. You must shoot line to prevent the wiggles (and therefore the fly) from springing too far back at you.
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 ?
Throw the wiggles required in the line immediately post rsp as you lower the rod, stop wiggling when you have enough wiggles and shoot the remaining line. The earlier post rsp you do this the closer to the leader/fly they will be in the line.
d. When would you elect to do that when fishing ?
When you are making a cast across still or slow flowing water into faster moving water. When you are casting across land into flowing water, no point in lying wiggles in the grass. Making a downstream presentation.
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 ?
Make the cast and delay placing the wiggles in the line until the line has almost straightened. Shoot line as you do it to prevent the fly from springing back at you or make allowances for it springing back and cast longer.
f. When would you use that technique when fishing ?
When casting across a complex current to put the fly into a calm backwater. Making a downstream presentation.
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)
Short sharp sideways movement with tip of the rod to the side post rsp – think tight loop.
b. " " " " " " " " WIDE mend ?
(About 5' wide)
For larger mends I prefer to do a single corkscrew action with the tip of the rod ie the letter “C” to the left or a backwards “C” for a mend to the right. The faster you do it the narrower the mend, the bigger and slower you do it the wider the mend.
c. " " " " " " " " LONG mend ? (About 10' long)
Long slow letter “C” in the air left or right early or late depending on where you want to place it.
d. " " " " " " " " SHORT mend (About 2' long)
Brief sharp sideways movement of the rod tip.
d. When would you use a narrow mend while fishing ?
When you wanted to throw a mend across a tight little seam of current.
When you had to throw the mend into a wind.
e. When would you use a wide mend while fishing ?
Across a wide seam of strong current.
f. When might you elect to use a long mend when fishing ?
Across a wide seam of slow current.
4.) Would you use targets as you practice these mends ?
Absolutely
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' ?
The 35’ mend is done much sooner post rsp than the 15’ mend. To prevent the 35’ mend from straightening out and or throwing the leader and fly off the target you will need to shoot some line into the cast.
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 ?
High stop overhead, early mend immediately post rsp, shoot and drop to target. I would even reach into the shoot to prevent the mend from being straightened.
Alternate method is an overpowered side corkscrew for a right hand mend, I haven’t quite figured the backhand version of this one!!!