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Walter & Group...
[GH] From Walter Simbirski,
Gordy,
During my journey from uncertified to CI to MCI I've heard a lot of strange interpretations of some of the tasks.
My first reaction is that these strange interpretations don't make sense but in some cases, after rereading the
task description, I can see where the misinterpretation comes from. I may not agree with it but I can see where
it comes from.
I don't know if it would be a useful exercise to capture these misinterpretations somewhere and then explain
the errors for potential candidates. I know it may not seem useful to examiners and others who have already
passed the test but it could save some candidates from needless effort. As an example, I have heard from
more than one CI that they thought that during the accuracy cast they were limited to three false casts between
picking up the fly from one target and laying it down at the next. I even had one candidate tell me that they
practiced for months to make each of their strips identical in length so they only had to count the number of
strips they made between targets in order to shorten the amount of line they were carrying by exactly 10 feet
in exactly 3 false casts. While I don't see anything "illegal" or "unethical" about doing this according to
the requirements of the task I felt badly that they had wasted so much time simply because they had
misinterpreted the task. A quick explanation could have saved this fellow some time and effort that could
have been used more profitably in other areas.
The other thing I wonder about would be to capture some of the tricks of the trade that many of us have
picked up that help to perform a task. We've had some excellent discussion on the roll cast about optimal
anchor placement, for example. Other tricks I've been shown are the use of a reverse haul to help hover
the fly over the target during the accuracy task, shooting line into the last back cast before the presentation
cast in the distance cast, and turning the rod to reduce line slap in the distance cast. Capturing this sort
of information would not only make us more knowledgeable as a group but might give us a chance to discuss
what sort of things would be considered unacceptable during the test. An example would be the use
of pullback during the curve cast which is definitely a good thing to know but not acceptable for the test. On
the other hand the use of pullback during the roll cast can tighten one's loop significantly...
Gordy,
I also noted in my previous email that pullback can also be used to tighten up the loop significantly in a roll cast. What I forgot to mention is that the pull back may be so slight as to be undetectable from the point of view of an examiner.
In fact, the pullback may not actually exist. I often perform both of these tasks (roll cast and curve cast) by visualizing an infinitesimal amount of pullback at the end of the forward stroke. I do this in order to get the most pronounced stop I can make and thisin turn gives me a more pronounced curve or a tighter loop. Just another one of those "tricks" that I've learned along the way.
Cheers
Walter
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[GH] Walter,
That is exactly what we are doing here.
300+ interested parties will be reading your message alone. As you know, many of these things have been addressed by this Group previously under various headings. That's a start.... but it can go "viral" as these things are discussed by others including candidates, MCI's and MCI examiners.
Your final comment on "pullback" being used to tighten roll cast loops is interesting and true... same with overhead straight line casting.
Is it always a mend ? Or not really a mend ?.... Or are you simply altering the STOP sequence ? or, perhaps both ?
Having no formal definition for "pullback", can we use the term also for what many call a "check haul" or the "triple haul" for distance casting ? Can we also call the "reverse haul", "line feed" ?
I think we CAN agree that these things are variables. The never ending list of variables is, to me, one of the fascinating aspects of fly casting.
Food for thought !
Gordy
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