What is an ideal loop?
Short answer.
An ideal loop is the appropriate loop size, shape, and orientation for the presentation that is required.
Long answer.
Examples.
Casting with the wind is best accomplished with a tight loop on the back cast into the wind and a more open loop on the forward cast to utilise the wind.
Large heavy flies or a string of droppers require open loops for various reasons, to avoid hitting the rod, to avoid tangling the leader to avoid a savage “kick” on the back cast in the case of a heavy fly.
Tight loops allow us to throw flies tight into cover but an “under” loop allows us to skip flies under cover.
There are many situations where the loop size, shape and angle of attack need to be varied to give us creative solutions to various presentation issues.
Peter
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I highlighted Peter's "definition" because I think this is the best one yet. I'd say, almost what I had in mind. G.
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From Gary Davison,
Question: What is an "IDEAL" loop ???
Short answer: The Ideal loop is a loop that can convey the fly to the game for the ultimate goal and pleasure of the sport based on the fishing conditions faced.
Long answer: The Sky is the limit with regards to this topic. Salt water, Fresh water, Still water, Running water, Small Steam, Large River, Texas tank or pond. Two handed or Single hand presentations. You name it the possibilities for the ideal loop are endless and that is the wonderful thing about this sport.
The vast amount of loop options one has to present and approach a body of water with fly casting is only limited by your imagination and creativity. The bottom line for all of us Fly Fisherman is to convey a fly to the Game and achieve the ultimate goal of getting that strike.
The ideal loop is the one that conveyed that fly to achieve that result! Most of us instructors really push the basic fundamentals (essentials) for the cast which are very important to know and learn. We instill these into the student so they can indeed go out and address these fishing conditions that we are faced with. This can only be achieved by practice, practice, practice.
So the ideal loop: Is a loop that can convey the fly to the game for the ultimate goal and pleasure of the sport based on the fishing conditions faced. And that is saying a lot!
Gary
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Gary ... That's a good one. G.
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From Steve Hollensed:
When we use the term, "ideal loop" we must remember that this is only ideal for some but not all circumstances.
If I ask candidates the question: WHAT IS A "GOOD LOOP" ? The answer I'm looking for is this: A GOOD LOOP IS ONE DESIGNED FOR THE CASTING OR FISHING TASK UNDERTAKEN.
Examples :
When distance or casting into a wind = A small, sharp, tight loop. (Made with an almost straight line path of the rod tip to which may be added a tiny upward and outward thrust at the end of the cast.)
When casting a weighted nymph = A well controlled wide loop with the fly leg fairly straight and the rod leg lower. (made by placing additional convexity of rod tip path at the end of the stroke, even just past RSP)
When casting with the wind to take advantage of a "kiting effect" = A wide loop with the fly leg high and the rod leg straight. (Made by placing the convexity of rod tip path at the start of the stroke.)
When flipping a fly beneath a deep overhang on the river, the "MALONEY CAST" employs an out of plane tailing loop = A purposely done tailing loop with a side-arm (off horizontal rod plane) cast made with a concave rod tip path and control of power application such that the concavity is placed late in the stroke. (a super specialty "way out" cast rarely used.)*
When "designing" your loop to fit the task at hand, remember this: What you do prior to loop formation (at RSP) determines what happens to the fly leg. What you do after loop formation, determines what happens to the rod leg.
That "ideal" loop for a particular circumstance and task, may well be purposely designed with loop legs which are not parallel (as in the last three examples.).
The difference between things we do before loop formation and those done afterward also explains why we make a mend move early after the stroke to place it out at a distance.... whereas if we want to place a tail way out there at the end, we make the convexity in the rod tip path late and within the stroke.
* THE NATURE OF FLY CASTING, Jason Borger, p. 76.
Gordy
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Teaching Trick
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From Kirk Eberhard :
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Hi Gordy,
Thoughts for you on two hand instruction. Slow is
good. Students like to rush through the casts.
For hard core/Rambo types I have them hold/cast
two rods/reels/lines at the same time. Identical
lengths of working line. This slows them down, allows better feel of
rod tip movements and timing. Especially good for the double spey. A
fun diversion. Spey waltz timing also slows the pace.
Male steelhead on redd in my front yard, No octopuses!
Kirk
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