Task 9 Discussion 6

Walter & Group...

[GH] Paul Arden sent the link to his pullback video. I placed it in an attachment.

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[GH] From Paul Arden on the Spey tasks for the MCI exam :

Hi Gordy,

I think that it would be fair to say that in the UK the Spey casting portion of the FFF MCI exam is not held in high regard. I think that as a minimum it should involve demonstration and teaching of Single Spey, Double Spey, Snap-T and Snake Roll using both shoulders with a 90 degree change of angle with every effort made to examine over water.

Cheers, Paul

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[GH] Paul,

I think the MCI Committee may have intended the Spey tasks on the MCI exam to simply determine that the candidate has a very basic understanding of these techniques.

I recall that a few years ago, when this came up as a possible addition to the MCI exam that it was a "first step forward" since it had not even been addressed in the years prior.

For the MCI exam, it was never intended to be anything remotely as detailed as the anticipated requirements for the yet to be born THCI exam. It is a matter of history that back then there was great discussion as to whether the FFF CICP should embrace Spey casting at all.

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[GH] From Ally Gowans :

Hi Gordy,

Your understanding of a Switch Cast being without any direction change is very common in America where adoption of these casts is comparatively recent. The word “switch” in Switch Cast means to switch direction usually from close to straight downstream to a new fishing position across the river and to that extent it is similar to the Spey cast but the line behind the rod tip (D loop) is more or less directly upstream of the angler rather than being aimed opposite the cast direction as in the case of a Spey cast. The following description may be useful to those interested. I am emboldened an important sentence.

Extract taken from Salmon Fishing – The Lonsdale Library – Seeley, Service & Co Ltd - 1931

The Switch.

The movements of the rod when you are making a Switch are very like those appropriate to the Spey-cast. But the results of the two throws are quite different. The former rolls the line back, so to speak, in a plane lying at a small angle with that of the line, as it was being recovered; by means of the second it is possible to cast a far longer line, to throw it above the surface and at a wide angle, which will place the fly well across the river.

The occasions on which the switch is useful are few in salmon fishing, because it is rare the Spey-throw cannot be called in to the rescue of a tree-beset angler, although it is used frequently to clear the line and to extend it, after it has been brought in, to examine the point of the hook or to remove impaled leaves or flannel-weed. If there is a tree behind and a bastion of a bridge to the right (I can see the place now I), switching has an advantage over the other method, as the fly need not be taken upstream of your outer shoulder, that is the one next the stream. Whereas, in the Spey-cast, room is wanted a little upstream for the fly to drop, before it is swept across and forward. I have known awkward stances, where limbs of trees and other such handicaps would not permit the rod to be taken back, sideways arid round in the Spey-throw, and yet did not inhibit the use of a Switch. How to cast on any given occasion is just a matter of experience and of knowing your own powers.

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[GH] Ally,

After I offered a description of the switch cast as differing from the single Spey, I received several private messages from Spey fishers who didn't want their messages shared. These were all from North America. Basically, they all stated that a modest change of direction was expected with the switch cast.

Interesting that I have taken my information from teachings in North America as well as from the writing of Simon Gawesworth of the UK. Let me briefly quote Simon : From his Chapter 7, The Switch Cast - "This cast is not a change of direction cast, which means that you can easily practice it successfully on a lake or pond." Then, "Why use it ? Not wanting to change direction, long line, obstacles behind." *

* SPEY CASTING by Simon Gawesworth, 2004, p 51.

I'm left thinking that in the absence of formal definitions, that this may boil down to a difference of opinions. Also a different way of looking at the factors which separate the switch cast from the single Spey.

I can also understand the idea that, as with roll casting, the fisher might use it for less aggressive changes of direction.

We may be coaxed to consider it a cast without change of direction when we read or hear the switch cast also called a "forward Spey" and a "jump roll".

More important to the MCI candidate than the taxonomy, however, is that the task description and expectations be clear so that the performance for this narrow purpose be standardized.

We don't yet know which position the Two Handed Casting Committee will take on this issue of direction change as they work on their own glossary.

Gordy