Listening to the cast, cont'd / Salmon flies / Two new questions

Walter & Group...

From Phil Gay :

   This is a good string and I will join in.

 

    I encourage my students to make the rod noise go away except for the Mel Krieger "switt" at the ends of the strokes. I tell them that if they are hearing rod noise during the stroke they are moving the rod too fast.  I tell them that the only part of the rod that ever needs to go fast enough to make noise is the tip.  (This is for a nominal 25-40 foot cast.) I also encourage my students to make the forward and back casts sound the same.  So many snatch back and then make a better forward cast.

 

    One of my students who you certified, John Bilotta, responded very well to the rod noise corrective technique.

 

    Just my thoughts.

 

Phil

 

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Phil...

 

Good point.  That "Switt" of Mel's happens during the brief time of max acceleration at the end of the stroke.

 

Gordy

 

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From Jerry Puckett:

 

Gordy,

 

Timely info, just for the information I have been practicing at night in a very quite place without the yarn indicator--the cracking noise is a great teacher regarding impatience on the pause! 

From this string and your time with Tom White I am doing a lot of closed eye casting and listening to what I hear. 

 

Just a thought--has anyone had the experience of teaching a blind person to cast and fish?
If so there might be some useful teaching information.  As I said just a thought.

 

 

Thanks

 

Jerry 

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Jerry...  I was waiting for someone to bring that up.  I HAVE had the pleasure of teaching a blind student.  Bottom line was that however much I may have taught her, I learned  a great deal from the experience.

 

G.

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In a private message to me it was stated that some terms are better or more descriptive than others when applied to the sounds made during Spey casting.

We recall Ally saying that the sound of a "splash down" might be considered a fault.  Understandable.  More than once, I've heard it said that the term "anchor" might not be the best to describe the resistance of the water to the fly/leader/line.  That of "line stick" may not be better..... this despite the fact we all know what these mean.

In essence, this was my answer :

 

"Frankly, I agree with you.  Especially in light of the idea that the sound of a splash down might be considered a fault.

 

I have always liked the term 'kisses the water' anyway.  Don't know who wrote that, but to me it is more descriptive.  I heard that term years ago.

 

Never thought of the term 'anchor' as suggesting some permanence .... but you are correct, it does have that connotation. To a sailor it means fast to the bottom.

 

The term, 'LINE STICK' leads me to think of something which has to be plucked out of the mire.

 

 It seems, however, that these have gained their own literary 'permanence'  in Spey language long before I, as a "johnny come lately" to the field, started thinking about it.

 

Gordy "

 

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From Ally Gowans:

 

Hi Gordy,

 

Glad you can?t hear a ?splash down? because there shouldn?t be one! The leader/fly and maybe some line should gently alight in a straight line pointing practically to the target direction.

 

Next time we meet you can remind me about rod noises if the group haven?t figured out the answer. It?s very difficult to ?word picture!? noises!

 

Best wishes,

Ally Gowans

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Ally...   I happen to know that those who did use the term "splash down" didn't really intend more than the use of what may be an unfortunate term ....

I've heard Simon Gawesworth use the term, "splash and go".... but that isn't what he really did.  More of a "kiss and go" or, perhaps a "touch and go".

We'll have fun working on that.  I'll learn a lot.

Onomatopoea is the quintessence of auditory wordsmithing !

To derive good "word pictures" from noises demands an onomatopoeic mind.  Not sure I qualify.  An example being, "tintinnabulation" (Poe) to describe the sound of bells.

Gordy

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                                                              SALMON FLIES

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From Lou Bruno :

Gordy,

I have been tying spey, steelhead spey and salmon flies to use when I pick up the long rod. I went to Ally?s web site; I noticed with his on line brochure the pictures of his flies. He ties in rather long tails for his flies, this is the first time that I have seen anyone do this?interesting. I was thinking about purchasing ?Tying the Classic Salmon Fly? by Michael Radencich. I would like to hear Ally?s thoughts on why he ties long tails on his flies and if the book is worth the investment for a beginner.

Thanks,

(Recouping from the flu)

Lou 

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Lou...

First, let me wish you a speedy recovery !

I'm certain Ally can tell you a lot more than I can as my experience is limited.

21 years ago, I fished the Laerdal River in Norway for Atlantic salmon.  During that trip the only fish taken were caught on a modification of the original SUNRAY SHADOW.   This is a long tube-fly with a treble hook.  This version was tied with 6" long black bear hair.  I have no idea what it may have represented to the fish ... perhaps some sort of eel.  Just a guess.

I've since learned that in Europe, long flies are commonly used for salmon.  I have not seen them in use on the few trips I've made to New Brunswick and one to Nova Scotia.  Dennis Grant may comment, since he lives and fishes there.  Rick Whorwood undoubtedly knows more than I do about this. He fished salmon in Scandinavia this year.  I'm certain Elie Beerten and Thomas Berggren can shed light on the subject.

 When fishing the Tay in Scotland many years ago, I didn't run across anyone using these long flies...... but things may have changed over the years.  The fact that these are noted in Ally's writing suggests to me that this is the case since he lives there and fishes the Tay.

Robert White wrote about the use of this fly in Scotland while fishing the River Dee.

I tried ones I brought back from Europe in Alaska and caught a couple of King Salmon (Chinooks) on them.  Also caught striped bass in the salt off Long Island on one of them.

Then I looked it up and found that credit for the original fly by that name went to Ray Brooks who was said to have actually patented the design.  It is said that he tied it with white tipped squirrel, peacock herl, and the long black hair from the Colobus monkey.  Later, others tied it with other materials including goat hair, and hair from the tail of a border collie dog.

You can find an article on this fly Martin Joergensen by Googling : Sunray Shadow+salmon fly.

Gordy

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                                                            NEW QUESTIONS

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Questions :

1.)  Can your headwear (cap, hat, etc.) have any effect on your fly casting ?  (From Kirk Eberhard)

2.)  Does the direction in which you make the haul have an effect on your cast ? (From Ally Gowans)

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