Haul : A different perspective

Walter & Group...

Answers to question as to how to classify the HAUL (I have hightlighted key words in the answer texts) . 

From Al Crise :

Hauling is a variable as it only adds just over 10% to a cast.

 it is more for control then an Essential.

  You do not have to haul to make most cast.

   Adding will tighten loops and increase line speed but a good caster can do the same.

 

ol Al

Allen R. Crise
FFF-Master Casting Instructor
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From John Hand :

 

I WOULD CONSIDER THE HAUL A VARIABLE.

IT CHANGES WITH THE LENGTH OF LINE CAST.

SHORT CAST/ SHORT HAUL/SHORT STROKE

LONG CAST/ LONG HAUL/ LONG STROKE  

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From Thomas Berggren :

 

Hi Gordy,

 

My point of view to this:

 

The haul is a style as long as we agree that the essentials are 5?..

If we add a six:th essential..  ?To make the line travels faster than the rod tip during the translation/rotation, you have to make a haul?.. It would possible though be considered as an essential.

We don?t need the haul to make a proper cast regarding to the essentials, but the Style of using the haul makes everything much easier for controlling and adjusting rod bend and line speed, and of course increasing line speeeeeed for distance, smoothen out the turnover with the up feed when using heavy flies and so on and on?.

 Regards//

 Thomas Berggren, Certified Instructor
 FFF -  Federation Of Fly Fishers,
THCI - Two Handed Certified Instructor.
MCCI - Master Certified Casting Instructor.

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From Michael Jones :

 

D) Other, Augmentation best describes the attributes of a haul. 

A haul is not essential by virtue of it not being absolutely necessary or fundamental to a good cast.  The haul is more substantive than stylistic, and when executed most efficiently, the motion/action does not differ enough in its' fundamental elements to be variable in description.

 

Augmentation:  aug·men·ta·tion n

 

1. the increasing, or growth, of something in number, amount, size, strength, or intensity, or the amount by which something grows or is added to

2. the technique of varying a theme by increasing its note values proportionally.

Michael Jones

Maine

 

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From Walter Simberski :

 

Gordy -

 

I would call a haul both an essential (i.e. substance) and style.

 

To understand we look at what a haul does - it increases line speed, it allows one to cast farther

with less casting arc and helps to control line tension resulting in a tighter loop, it reduces stress

and effort on the rod hand/arm.

 

So for maximum distance casts or for a tight loop at distance it is essential. When used for

short casts a haul isn't necessary for achieving the distance or for loop control so it would then

be style.

 

Thanks!

 

Walter

 

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From Doug Swift :

 

 

Here is something to consider:

 

QUESTION:  Would you call a haul :  

 

               a. An essential ?  NO, if you consider the " 5 essentials."   YES, if it is a necessary part of the casting stroke to accomplish the task at hand   

 

               b. Style ?  Not by the strict definition of style, however it could be necessary, to include some  form of substance to the cast.  

 

               c.  A variable ?  YES, depending on what you wish to accomplish with or without it.  

 

               d.  Other?   Can,t think of anything other than  a. b. and c.       

 

Gordy

 

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From Rene Hesse :

 

Wow, great question.

 

My short answer would be D. Other

 

I would call the haul a 'technique'.

 

It will aid in some of the essentials; Removing slack

                                                     Allowing a shorter stroke to achieve the same line speed

                                                     Aid in applying the proper amount of power at the proper time to load the rod.  

 

The movement of the arm and  line hand while doing the haul, will be the style.

 

The haul can modify some of the variables; The stroke and arc- length and degree of angle

                                                                     Timinng (not so much)

                                                                     Power- balance the power between both hands

                                                                      Trajectory (not so much)   

 

Rene

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Now we have added : OTHER (TECHNIQUE).

 

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From Troy Miller:

 

A complement. 

 

Regards,
Troy Miller
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                                                                        SO

 

Interesting !   So far we have the haul classified as an ESSENTIAL, an element of STYLE, both  ESSENTIAL AND STYLE, a  VARIABLE, an AUGMENTATION, a VARIATION on a theme, a TECHNIQUE  and a COMPLIMENT  !    

 

Now, suppose I had asked that question on a Master's oral exam ?

 

Frankly, I think each of these answers are correct, since most of them bear a logical explanation for each classification. Those that were laudable "short answers" would have been followed by explanation upon request.

 

My thoughts turned to this subject as I considered the fact that as part of their "default style" of casting, some salt water fly fishers make a haul with every cast, short or long.  They use the haul as part of the balance between the the expended efforts of both rod hand and line hand. This in particular with the use of heavy salt water tackle.  It is "ground into their chromosomes as part of their very DNA".

 

Some, as Lefty once put it, ".... use their hauls the throw their mistakes farther."   True.  This is one reason most of us do not teach hauling until the basic casting stroke has been mastered.  It is also one reason that we require certain tasks on both the CCI and MCCI exams to be carried out without hauling.

 

We all know, that an ill timed haul or one made with power disproportinate to that employed by the casting arm can be a detriment to the cast. It's one way of forming a tailing loop even if the casting arc matches the line carried, no creep is present, there is smooth application of power with constant acceleration of the rod hand, and no angle less than 180 degrees between the trajectory of the back cast and forward cast exists.

 

An angler who devotes all of his time fishing for brookies on small mountain streams may have no need at all for a haul.

 

Dapplers and Tenkara fly anglers can't haul.

 

Spey casters don't haul.

 

Going back through the answers, we find that our responders have covered the basic achievements of the haul :

 

 1. Increase in line speed . 

 

2. As an aid to increase rod load.  

 

3. Sharing of the work performed by the rod hand. 

 

4. Taking up unwanted slack. 

 

5. Summation leading to greater distance achieved.

 

So here we are with the haul which has morphed in our collective minds into many different things for different casters !

 

Gordy

 

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