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Walter & Group....
[GH] Some elements of judgement which came to mind as we all took a shot at analyzing the casts in Jeff Wagner's pictures :
1. As Jeff pointed out - We saw those casts at only one point in time. Judging a cast in this manner is not an easy task. The conclusions; suspect.
2. We didn't really know the details of the "rules of the game". The fact that Jeff was bound to conform to these made a huge difference :
a. His cast had to be placed in a narrow corridor (about 48" wide). No part of the line/leader could be outside it.
b. The cast had to fall into certain time constraints.
c. He was bound to use the line and leader provided. This included an abnormally short leader and no fly.
3. There was a swirling wind of about 10 Mph. (We didn't think to ask about that.)
4. All this required a distance cast which had to be made as an accuracy presentation(at least from side to side.)
5. #2 a. & # 4. placed expert tracking at the top of the agenda. This was one reason he used a vertical rod plane. (If he had used an off-vertical or off-horizontal rod plane, either he or his rod tip would have been outside the narrow corridor.
6. Our job was made even more difficult considering the fact that these single photos were taken obliquely from the side of the back cast loop.
7. Many of us (including me) concentrated on the many things we thought were "wrong" about that cast. Only then did we find out that THIS WAS THE WINNING CAST !!!
8. After all is said and done, Jeff met the objectives of this competition event.
9. Jeff met another objective. He got us to think !
This brings to mind something I learned years ago.
Be always careful to avoid criticizing a caster on the basis of what you see with a single cast until you know his objectives, the built in restraints, and the environmental conditions !!!
One other caveat about judging someone's casting ability : "Just at ladies have "bad hair days", and bridge players have "bad card days", casters can have "bad casting days". I'm not immune.
Gordy
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[GH] From John Bilotta :
Thank you Jeff. I got a lot out of that.
John
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[GH] From Walter Simbirski :
Gordy,
Server's explanation about the velocity components in different regions of the line explains many
of the strange behaviors that we see in fly line. He has certainly taken a difficult concept and stated
it very clearly in a few short paragraphs. I think the physics seminar/class at the conclave is going
to be very interesting.
I also have to say that Lefty's powers of observation are amazing.
I remember a few years ago that you were thinking the group discussion had pretty much run its
course. It has certainly come roaring back with new and interesting information.
Thanks and please keep up the great great work!
Walter
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[GH] Walter,
That is one of the amazing things about fly casting and fly fishing. The variations on a central theme are endless. This is especially true as we teach one another new concepts and new ways of viewing the old ones.
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[GH] From Paul Arden :
Hi Gordy,
I believe that this dangling part is a result of a transverse wave that was put in early during the stroke and has travelled along the rod leg. Lefty is correct that it may be possible to eliminate it but it's not a result of the rod tip dropping, rather the path the rod tip follows throughout the Casting Stroke.
I don't agree however that modifying the stroke to remove it would necessarily be a good thing; I don't know any competitive distance caster who throws off the side and I've cast with most of them. I can't do it but I wish a few people here would give up their vertical loops and throw off the side, especially the Swedish. And maybe a couple of the Australians.
One possibility would be a longer leader and a larger bit of fluff. With no resistance at the leader end this type of flap is extremely pronounced. Try casting a line with no leader for example.
Gotta run. Last day in Australia.
Cheers, Paul
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[GH] Paul,
When I fished in Australia with some of the salty fly fishers there including "Harro" (Rod Harrison}, Graham Williams, Alan ("Fish") Philliskirk, Craig Jenkins and many others, I noted that they almost all used a modification of the Lefty Kreh style of casting for most of their fishing.
Years ago, they had learned this off-horizontal / off-vertical, low elbow style in preference the vertical casting plane style they had been using. NOT for competition distance casting, but for their everyday fishing in the salt using salt water equipment. Harro, Williams and others felt forever indebted to Lefty for teaching them this style which had made their fishing and teaching so much easier for them.
Harro came to Florida to fish big tarpon with me a couple of times. I was amazed at both his distance and accuracy presentations to these fish using the lowest elbow/ almost horizontal rod plane style I've seen before or since. This style fit his short, powerful, stocky body habitus very well.
When making short accurate casts in the billabongs for saratoga, they would sometimes use a strictly vertical rod plane style as they cast to openings in the dense lilly pads and pandanus trees.
Gordy
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[GH] Our next topic : CCI CANDIDATES .
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