Walter & Group...
Quiz answers from Tony Loader. My comments in italics G. :
List as many change of direction cast as
you can. ( At least 6. )
Wye Cast
Roll cast
Tension cast
Snap cast
Circular cast variations e.g. Open
Figure Eights, Belgian cast variations
Circle Spey
Snap T
Single Spey
Double Spey.
Snake Roll
Good. I count ten. I can think of a few more.... Including a couple of 180 degree change of direction casts. G.
2. Give a brief description of
each.
Wye Cast: Multiple, sequential, overhead false casts, each with a small angle change, ultimately enabling a delivery cast at any desired angle.
The only detailed description I could find in the fly casting literature, was in FLY FISHING by Frank R.Steel, 1946, pp 46-48. Since few of you likely have access to this rare book, I'll quote from it:
" Suppose you are casting down-stream and want to make our next cast across-stream at a right angle to the left. Make your pick-up and back cast just as if you were still goiing to cast your fly straight down-stream. This brings the line, leader and fly off the water in a normal manner straight in line with the way you have been casting, with none of the disturbing side-slash that comes from a side-wise or curving pick-up of back cast, turn both your body and feet at a right angle to the LEFT, leaving your rod and arm stationary in the old plane in which you have been casting. Then move your arm and rod around in an acceleratng motion at the same level, keepiing the rod pointed upward at the same angle, until your arm and rod are facing in the new direction - across stream and at a right angle to where you want the fly to light.
From this point, you now make a normal forward cast. This can be either a false cast or a delivery cast in the new direction.
These three movements - the back cast in the old direction, the turning movement of the body and feet, and the horizontal side-wise swing of arm and rod to the new direction -should be first practiced separately, then blended into a smooth and perfect sequence. "
My own short description: CHANGE OF DIRECTION ON THE FORWARD CAST. G.
This brings us to yet another (in my hands more efficient )change of direction cast :
CHANGE OF DIRECTION ON THE BACK CAST.
This one is utterly simple. 1. Point your rod at the new target. 2. Make your back cast from the NEW target, 3. then a forward cast to it. G.
(Frank Steel then goes on to describe a variation of the Wye cast done side-arm. He called that one, the "L-
Turn Side Cast." ) (p. 48.)
Roll Cast: Forward overhead cast made from a static D-loop and a waterborne anchor, enabling a relatively small change of direction to the caster?s body side of the anchor.
Yes.
Tension Cast: Overhead forward cast utilising water loading to effect approximately 180 degrees change of direction.
Yes.
Snap Cast: Deliberate reversal of an airborne loop to form a second loop propagating at 180 degrees to the direction of the original loop.
Yes.
Circular casts: Overhead casts incorporating continuous tension and tip repositioning through as much as 270 degrees during pauses or drifts. May include changes of plane.
Yes.
Circle Spey: Repositioning of line, say from downstream to upstream, by deliberate, wide, circular tip movement followed by D-loop formation, anchor alignment and a forward roll cast to a cross-stream target.
Yes.
Snap T: As for the Circle Spey but making a snap instead of a circle to position line upstream initially.
Usually used as part of a Single Spey cast as one means of placing the anchor.
Single Spey: Repositioning of line, say
from downstream to upstream so as to sequentially and dynamically form a D-loop,
align and set an airborne anchor and fire a forward roll cast at a cross-stream
target.
Yes.
Double Spey: 1. Repositioning of line, say from downstream to upstream so as to form a waterborne loop with the nail knot lying downstream within a rod length of and in front of the caster?s body then
2. Sweeping the rod tip around, back and up so as to sequentially and dynamically form a D-loop, pirouette the anchor into alignment and then fire a forward roll cast at a cross-stream target.
Yes.
Snake Roll: Repositioning of line, say from downstream by spiral rod tip movement so as to sequentially and dynamically form a D-loop, align and set an airborne anchor and fire a forward roll cast at a cross-stream target.
Yes.
3. A new caster changes direction from a downstream layout to a 45 degree across stream presentation. How is he likely to accomplish this ? Wye Cast
According to your description of the Wye cast, yes. However, while Frank Steel may not have been the first to describe the Wye cast, most have gone by his description. True that the beginner fly fisherman does usually make a series of false casts while turning a bit toward the new target as this is done and only then makes the delivery cast. G.
4. What (if any) are the disadvantages of doing it this way ? Slow, inefficient, requires open back cast area, spooks fish, can be dangerous in wind or with weighted terminal tackle.
Agree.
5. You wish to change direction after your weighted fly and sink-tip line have sunk downstream 50' from you to a depth of about 4'. How do you do that ? Strip in any running line beyond the rod tip. Roll cast the remainder to the water surface. Without delay, commence a change of direction cast appropriate to the conditions e.g. a Spey cast.
Agree.
6. You are wading a bonefish flat. Your presentation at 35' has resulted in a spooked fish. You turn and see that a bonefish is approaching from behind at only 20'. Now you need a 180 degree change of direction cast while doing your best not to spook this fish. What do you do ? Present a snap lift.
Yes. I have actually done that and gained a take by a bonefish which would likely have been spooked by any other cast as the rod passed high in his direction. Done correctly, the rod need never cross your body nor be raised. (This Snap Cast, can be done as a Snap C as well by making the snap move over rather than under. Ally Gowans has a unique way of looing at this as forming a dynamic "air pulley" as the rod tip comes around for the "snap move". I asked him what would happen if we tried this while standing on the moon with no atmosphere. We came to no agreement ! ) G.
7. When roll casting with your right casting arm, you tried to change direction 30 degrees to the right, but ended up with a tangle. Why ? Casting across the anchor caused a ?collision loop?.
Yes. Avoid the "CROSSOVER" ! G.
8. After undoing the tangled mess, you try again. This time, you were successful. What did you do ? Cast over the opposite shoulder or used the left hand.
Sure. You
avoided the deadly crossover. G.
9. Now you made a roll cast over your right shoulder with a change of direction to your left. Worked fine. How is it that you were able to do that with no line collision or tangle ? No prospect of collision as the loop legs did not cross.
Thus emphasizing the point in #'s 7 & 8. G.
10. Your student makes a presentation at 60' while using a 9' single handed rod and floating WF line. He tries to pick up line for a change of direction cast but cannot do it. How do you teach him to make this work ?
Ensure that there is heavy line in the rod tip. No slack. Rod tip low to maximise available rod arc. "Shotgun" lift initially then smooth rotation. Ensure rod tip rises throughout entire rotation. Incorporate a long haul. Monitor ?waterfall? at line/water junction for correct acceleration. ?Power snap? when the nail knot leaves the water. Stop all motion when the fly leaves the water.
One good way to do it. (I can read Joan Wulff's description in your words. She and I discussed this very issue 2 days ago.) While not all would agree with the wording, the concept remains valid. I think Tom White once put it very well when he said, " You can't get skinny line to alter the position of fat line." G.
11. What is the basic difference between a SWITCH CAST and a SINGLE SPEY CAST ? The Single Spey incorporates a change of direction.
Agree. That is the way most of us look at it. Ally Gowans and Joan Wulff and I were discussing these things before dinner last evening. Ally and his Scottish instructors take a different view. They look at the Switch cast as one which yields a SLIGHT CHANGE OF DIRECTION while the Single Spey yields GREATER CHANGE OF DIRECTION. Ally is convince that the word "switch" was originally used by Alexander Grant to meay a "switch of direction".
Be that as it may, most now use the term SWITCH CAST to mean a single Spey with no change of direction. Some have even called it a "Forward Spey".
Many, if not most, Spey casting and Two handed instructors with whom I've spoken, take the position that this is a wonderful cast to teach prior the the Single and Double Spey casts because it embodies most of the same principles of execution without the student being burdoned with change of dirction. G.
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Juergen Friesenhahn is our newest member, from Germany. He presents a refreshingly new word picture for some of these answers :