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Walter & Group..
[GH] Just returned. Some of you didn't receive this one. My apologies to those of you who did.
[GH] Bob Stouffer speaks to his "high voltage" learning experiences :
Gordy
I did not go to the exam without preparation from an MCI, it just was not enough for me, a slow learner and not a good test-taker. Afterward, at Conclaves in Livingston and Loveland, I attended with great satisfaction the "Emergency Casting Clinic" now the "Rendezvous". Together with learning from my fellows in the Mid-Atlantic region (great experiences), the Rendezvous venues are the "best". How else would I ever get an hour casting with Floyd Dean (mends at distance), Ally Gowans (tracking and close mends),
Jim Valle (distance and false casting), Liam Duffy (roll casting), Al Buhr (Single Spey). All this without, for the most part, me asking. They were great venues for teaching and learning.
While I was watching others, two Loveland citizens asked me for beginner lessons. This, I believe, was offered and advertised and observed by three MCI's. The MCI's at the events were more than willing to share, they invited it.
Sometimes the casual, unscheduled, unexpected casting lessons, as brief or long as they may be, carry a high-voltage charge.
Bob Stouffer
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[GH] You had "high voltage" instructors there !
You also reaped the benefits of the "no voltage" tension and constraints of a structured course. Many learn best under such circumstances. You got a mountain of instruction and an equal dose of FUN.
Right after I typed this entry, this came in from Dave Barron:
Gordy
I would like to answer Ted Warren speaks to Len's suggestion :
Why don't we offer a multi-session comprehensive prep program for the CCI and MCCI at the national conclave?
We are having an MCI and CI examiners work shop at this years conclave, it is free to all certified casting instructors. The email went out yesterday to all certified casting instructors. The CICP is trying to get the word out about the two tests and what the examiners look for in the test; I think that is just what Ted is looking for.
Ted also asked: Finally, why don't we offer free introductory casting lessons to the public at the national convention?
We also have this covered with the casting rendezvous, which is open to everyone and is also free.
Dave
The message :
"On Monday Aug 29 2011 the CICP will be holding a CI examiners workshop At the City Park in West Yellowstone from 1:30 pm -4:00pm.
The work shop will be lead by CICP Governors Denise Maxwell, Dave Barron and Jeff Wagner.
This will be a CI test with MCI’s and Governors scoring the test, followed by a discussion of the scoring after the conclusion of the test.
Any one that will be attending please email me that you will be attending so we can have enough copies of the new test.
David Barron
Conclave casting co-chair
email: dbarron@xxxxxxxx "
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[GH] From Michael Jones :
Gordy~
In writing this suggestion for a prep course, I was reminded of some seminars I have seen offered at the national FFF conclave; not certain of their title, description, but 'You want to be a Master', this was never described as hands-on critique. Also, Joan Wulff has offered/does offer her instructor's courses, but not specifically a FFF MCI cert. prep. course.
Rather than a seminar, or lecture (conclave), my vision for MCI candidates course includes a comprehensive, back-forth, feedback course with hands on casting critique, written and oral testing, like a driver's education, driver safety, motorcycle safety course.
Go home and do a year of reading, 50+ years of fishing and travel, and consider yourself well informed for the test! Wait a minute, what leader do I use for Taimen?
Michael
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[GH] Michael,
When preparing for the MCI exam, the candidate accrues as much information, casting experience, fishing time, and time spent teaching as possible. Often this is added to years of fly fishing experience in different fisheries and venues.
Taking well organized prep courses can be of great value whether or not targeted to the Master's exam especially when these courses are given by well experienced senior instructors of proven merit.
One of the most valuable things I did, years ago, as part of my Master preparation was participation in Joan Wulff's 5 day intensive Instructor Course. No mention of either CCI or MCI exams was made. The whole idea behind the course was to teach her methods of fly casting instruction which had been successful for many years. The class was made up of a couple of MCI candidates.... the rest being non-FFF instructors, Maine Guides candidates, etc. At the conclusion of the course, several methods of critique were used including video renditions of our own casting and teaching, and individual demonstrations by each student as he/she taught certain aspects of casting to a bone-fide beginner before the rest of the group.
I don't know if Joan is offering an instructor course like that at this time. Perhaps Sheila Hassan, her lead instructor, could answer that question for us.
"Teaching to the test" is probably the least valuable way to prepare a candidate for the actual MCI exam. It is of value in that it does inform the candidate of the expectations for the casting tasks, but does not accomplish much toward having the candidate have a good foundation for in-depth analysis of casting and casting problems. This should only be added to years of prior experience with fly fishing and casting as well as lots of experience teaching.
On your question as to the leader to use for Taimen :
An experienced and well prepared Master candidate might well be asked that question. His answer could include the fact that he'd be happy to come up with the leader design even though he might never of heard of the critter..... provided the examiner would assist by answering a brief litany of questions including those on habitat, feeding, size, fighting ability, expected casting problems, etc., etc.
Tom White would sometimes ask a candidate to come up with a fly and leader or other tackle for an imaginary fish he called the "Gitzet fish" ..... same idea. Good way to test the candidate's ability to think through a set of problems.
Gordy
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