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  • Task 3 Discussion 3





    Walter & Group....

    [GH]  Comments on a practice method by Bob Rumph :

    Hi Gordy & group,
     
    When practicing for this task, I originally set out two sections of rope six feet apart and two feet apart  running parallel to my targets. I worked at this until I was casting waves pretty close to those ropes while still landing my fly inside my target ring. I realized all this may not be necessary, but it sure looks good. I always approached the exam with the feeling I could never be "too" well prepared. 

    To create the waves, I move the rod itself, as I found I was never satisfied with the consistency of the waves I could make from just shaking the rod tip. I also always just assumed this task meant for you to end up with your fly approximately forty feet from the casting line. As was mentioned before, attempting six foot waves without adding line, would obviously result in a very short cast
     
    Regards,
     
    Bob Rumpf

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    [GH] From Gary Eaton :

    Gordy,
    A few points
    1) This may be the ultimate example of the value of a scale drawing of intended line layout.
     
    2) The goal being to teach, I offer the following hints for performing the task -
    a) for small wiggles, imagine tapping the rod tip on the sides beams of a ladder with the rungs removed (parallel bars or a narrow doorway) and follow the dropping line with the rod tip to prevent having straight any section near the caster.
    b) set-up a rhythm and keep the harmonic wiggle in your target zone until the line is entirely on the ground.
    c) finish the cast with the rod tip literally touching the surface, then keep it still.
     
     
    3) On the wiggle width, a clearer description would be to give feet from side-to-side or peak-to-trough.
     
    4) On the wider wiggles
    a) set-up a course with markers 7-feet wide or a bit wider and make the cast encompass them when you practice. This form of over-training will leave you with an edge in the actual test.
    b) follow the line down to the ground with the rod tip so as not to pull the part nearest the tip straight.
     
    5) On all the wiggle casts where no straight part is intended - start moving the tip side-to-side immediately after stop and continue until all  line is on the surface..
     
    6). Making the casts with mends with high efficiency, not overly powerful, - may prevent the line momentum from straightening-out the first mends you make (those furthest from the caster). This is true of the aerial mends around and object on a later task and on the curve casts if a mending method is included.
     
    These are the points my students have found most helpful in my instruction.
     
    Gary Eaton

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    [GH]  Dan McCrimmon comments :

    Sometimes called the wiggle width by us non-scientists.
     
    Dan

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    Dan,

    I like that.  Plain language.

    Problem is :   That could mean either the distance of the wiggle from a line drawn from the caster to the "target" or the distance from one arm of the wiggle to the other.  Somebody would be sure to bring that up.  One could be seen as "wiggle width" and the other, "wiggle length" !    

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    [GH]  A suggestion from Bill Kiester :

    Gordy,
     
    The curent task reads
     
    "Task 3.   Casting approximately 40 feet,  demonstrate"


    Alternate wordings:
     
    Task 3.  Using approximately 40 feet of line, demonstrate
                         or
    Task 3.  Casting a distance of approximately 40 feet, demonstrate
     
    Bill Keister

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    [GH]  Question from Mark Heritage :

     "[GH]  Mark,

    I have taken the Task description literally.

    So, while one can achieve similar layouts either with a series of S-mends made immediately after the cast, I think the preferred way of doing it would be as a true "slack line cast ".

    A true Master should be able to do it either way.

    Other examiners may look at it differently "
     
    I'm a bit baffled here Gordy, how do you make the waves as a cast rather than as a mend?
     
    Good stuff,
     
    Mike
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    [GH]  Mike,
    I make the lateral moves (side to side with rod tip) prior to the "stop" sequence.
    These lateral back and forth movements are begun as the forward stroke starts and continue throughout the stroke.
    For the small waves, I "wiggle" the rod tip throughout the cast.
    The small slack waves are much easier to make with this method than the wide ones.
    I questioned whether this cast was a misnomer because I know that what we do during the cast really affects the fly leg alone; not the rod leg of the loop.... that, perhaps, I was really doing a "cast-mend".  Then I practiced it by trying my best to place all the wiggles prior to my stop and it still worked fine.... did it again 15 minutes ago, just to be sure I wasn't fooling myself.
    Try it yourself and note what happens.  Start your rod vibrations immediately upon beginning your forward stroke, then do your best to avoid making these lateral movements after your stop.
    What I meant by the term, "preferred method" was simply that this would conform to the task description of "controlled slack line casts ".  Not that it is the best way to do it.
    Most candidates will do it as a series of mends as they consider one definition of mend as, " Repositioning the line after the cast ".  If we were all to embrace that definition, then I think the task description would have called them "slack line mends".  As it stands, I'd accept either method with the tacit understanding that in this instance the term "cast" is taken to mean either.
    Perhaps a good alternative description would be, "Slack line presentations".  That would cover both.
    A third way to do it is to start your "wiggle cadence" during the stroke and continue doing at after the cast.  A real, "cast-mend".
    Gordy
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    [GH]  A candidate's perspective, from Gary Davison.  Gary and Jim Bass are currently hosting the "Ol Al's CCI Study Group"  originally held by Al Crise :
    Gordy,
     
    My impression as a candidate regarding the task:  
     
    This task is focused on the hand, and the affective rod tip movements required to implement the task.   
     
    For the smaller applications, we are talking hand and rod tip movements that are more delicate.  For the larger applications, we are talking full arm and  rod movements, which are aggressive and demonstrative in nature.  Two major extremes showing a wide range of versatility in implementing line control.  
     
    The importance is to show this application of extremes with ease. That demonstrates good line and rod control.
     
    A plus on this task would be to have enough line pulled on both presentations to allow for the slippage of line to make sure all the intended applications take full affect when the line rests on the water or land provided at the test site.   
     
    Scope of the cast for field conditions is to allow for a prolonged drag free drift of the fly under extremely different conditions.  Slow vs fast current conditions. 
     
    The scope for the the task as it relates to the test, is to prove our ability as a Master, to be able to teach and support the application of the slack line cast under extreme conditions, so we can support the FFF CCI's in the field, who will in turn be teaching the cast to their students.   Those students will be involved in a number of settings.  As an individual instruction lesson, a Clinical instruction program, or at Conclave event.  
     
     
     
    All the best,
    Gary Davison