"Does the line always follow the rod tip" ?

Walter & Group....

[GH] From Aitor Coteron on the subject of whether the fly line always follows the path of the rod tip (I, also, placed this Vimeo video by Aitor in an attachment.)

The comments which are below the video are also quite instructive :

Hi Gordy,

The line goes where the rod tip goes... only when the whole length of the line is aligned with the trajectory of the rod tip. It is explained here:

http://vimeo.com/aitorc/does-the-line-follow-the-rod-tip

Thanks,

Aitor

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[GH] From Mac Brown (I added the reference * and highlighted his question in italics) :

I do think the issue of curves in depth is understood by few. When teaching I find that breaking all the various curve methods down into either acceleration (positive and negative) of loop planes and/or transverse waves. Both of these enable loop planes to be altered in all air space around the rod tip (I am sure this has been well explained over the years).

The next topic of line following the rod tip is another antiquated belief because I personally feel it is far too vague -and downright wrong! I am sure if Mr. Newton was around still he would find problem with it as well or he would have used it somehow into his mechanics. This was one of the reasons I defined loops into 2 distinct forms in the late 80's fly and rod leg (actually main and end line -same concept). It astonished me back then that 500 years of history in our sport no one even broke the loop down to discuss it! The internet forums and this group Gordy have assisted in making tremendous advances during the last decade with fly casting. I applaud the time you freely give to help manage such a great resource for sharing these ideas! One could argue that one finite section of line right at the tip top eyelet is the only point that does(without shooting line) follow the rod tip. The direction of line in itself is even to vague overall so perhaps studying overall line layout (more common for presentation) should be the focus. The overall positioning of the fly line is the summation of various momentum's during and/or after the casting stroke. Alterations during the casting stroke tend to effect the fly leg of the loop while those done after the stop tend to effect the rod leg of the loop. These often times blend together for overall casts where it becomes very difficult to tell where the separation is even with use of high speed film. The one thing that remains common with both is that they both produce a wave.

Another book Gordy that I think would help all MCI candidates is Al Buhr's book. I know it is spey oriented but I think the spey and single handed rod are one in the same thing. They are fishing casts. In it, Al has some excellent Rules in the opening pages which I think would benefit any caster. The reason I mention it here is that the science of mechanics actually back up some sound advice for assisting those on a journey in fly casting. I think this remains a lifelong journey too! They will slap some traditional beliefs in the face but will assist those in questioning why particular casts react to modified accelerations which deviate from straight often times on the water. *

I enjoyed your post in regards to building on the foundation pillars of tradition as well- but during this journey we also have to maintain reality from fiction which can be tricky at times. I think the journey remains more enjoyable to me personally to view casting as an art form that constantly changes. This being very close to an improvisational player of whatever music one enjoys!

I think most all the waves come from a wrist shiver either during, right at the stop, and/or after the casting stroke to produce the transverse waves. The amount of curve using these depends on the acceleration one uses to make them occur. Here is an interesting exercise I used in Helen at the SE conclave for a class. I will draw the casting stroke with keyboard. For this exercise say you use a vertical rod plane and vertical loop plane right over the top.

! The rod is accelerating toward the top in diagram and then the little out (>) move occurs. This move can be before, during, or after the stop.

So the question to the group for this exercise is how can the same motion described above with the keystrokes yield 2 totally different line layouts with curves landing to the left or the right at will??

I find this cast useful on the water for whenever we desire a curve. They also offer many benefits over manipulation of positive and negative cast for dealing with wind, different obstacles, etc... The aerial mends on the new MCI test are also congruent with the subtle wrist shiver occurring close to the stop of the cast (great line control exercise too!).

Have a good weekend! Cheers

Mac Brown

* TWO-HANDED FLY CASTING Spey Casting Techniques by Al Buhr, 2006

ISBN 1-57188-395-9

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[GH] Mac,

You have posed the second key question ! Can't wait to see the results.

There is, I feel, a place for the use of some "near truths" as we teach new casters. The "STOP" is one of them. Not exactly what happens, but gets into student's brains and results in them casting more efficiently. Another is the statement, "THE LINE FOLLOWS THE ROD TIP....". Probably not something that always happens..... but useful as a teaching concept until we get into very advanced casting. Same with the "STRAIGHT LINE PATH OF THE ROD TIP FOR A SMALL LOOP" dictum. "True" at one level, yet not strictly so at another.

Fits in line with some useful direct teaching methods .... such as one which Lefty Kreh so effectively uses as he instructs a student to "try to hit your rod tip with your line". Of course, it isn't going to happen, but that student often gets the smallest loop of his casting life !