Study Buddies / Spey Quiz / Huge bow / Styles for testing

IS IT A RECORD OR ISN'T IT?

From: stu sholiton

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/biotechfishing?npu=1&mbid=yhp

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                                                        Casting Style(s) for Testing

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This just a "heads up" comment for MCCI candidates:

We've had a great deal of discussion during and since the Loveland Conclave on style of casting to be used when taking the MCCI exam. This set up lots of questions, misgivings, and rumors.

Nothing in writing for the new "expectations" as yet, though a formal notification will probably be coming forth for all of us in the next few months.

So far the impression I've gotten is that no particular style of casting will be mandated for the casting part of the exam. Having said that, I think the final recommendations may well be along these lines :

1.) Candidates should be able to briefly demonstrate if asked, the basic common casting styles such as these:

           a. Casting in a vertical or almost vertical rod plane using an "elbow forward" style as often taught by Joan Wulff and others.

           b. Using a vertical or off-vertical rod plane with elbow out to the side, rotating at the shoulder as Bruce Richards is known to use.

           c. A low-elbow "elbow on the shelf" off vertical rod plane style taught by Lefty Kreh.

Good idea to review the article a copy of which is in the Master Study Guide, entitled ELBOW STYLES by Al Kyte & Gary Moran .

2.) When demonstrating loop formation and loop control as one would do when teaching a group of students the loop shapes and sizes must be clearly seen. There are various ways of doing this. Probably the easiest is to do it with the rod in a vertical or near vertical plane. ( If asked for another way to do it, I'd consider demonstrating loops to students using an on or just above the ground method of horizontal casting. If you do that, be certain that you face the student(s) so they can clearly see what you are doing and the loops which result.)

3.) As it stands at present, the method of making the normal roll cast (Task #6 ) must be with a complete stop; not done as a switch cast with a dynamic, thrown D loop. The set up should be made with the D loop being dragged slowly into position prior to a full stop before the forward stroke is made.

I don't think this will change.

4.) For Task # 7 : Demonstrate a roll cast using a single haul, shooting line to achieve a distance of 55 feet or more.   The expectations are stated as follows: " A dynamic, thrown D or V loop, e.g., a 'flick-lift', positioned approximately 180 degrees from the target, is expected on this task. Consistent loops with the top of the loop no higher than the caster's head.

One way to practice these low egg-shaped loops, is to permanently anchor your fly/leader about one and a half rod lengths in front of you while you make loop after loop until you have every one to your liking. (By anchoring the fly/leader in this manner you can make several "casts" per minute without having to stop and set-up again for each one.)

A practice trick which I learned from Floyd Franke is this: Have a buddy stand before you with one arm way out to the side. Keep trying to place your roll cast forward loop beneath his arm.

Lefty's trick of using a hula-hoop, now used by many, will help with this practice. To teach yourself to make these loops low and nearly parallel to the ground, simply figure out a way to suspend the hoop so the top of it is at about head height.

This differs from the way Tom White and I taught many of you to do it in the past. We did so by having the caster flick a long narrow loop of line way back straight behind to lie static on the ground prior to making this distance roll cast. (Of course, the fly and leader and some fly line had to be in front of the caster.)

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS IN NO WAY OFFICIAL. THE FINAL EXPECTATIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT.

However, if I were practicing for the exam, these are among the things I'd practice.

As I understand it, candidates will have any new expectations available to them well in advance of the date of implementation. Meanwhile, the MCCI Testing Committee will be working hard on them to make them as clear as possible and fair to all.

Gordy