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Walter & Group...
[GH] From Jonathan Walter. My comments in italics :
Hi Gordy,
Here is my response. There are some clearly incorrect or questionable answers (after reading other responses sent), but I don't learn as much unless I commit to answers and learn from feedback. I clearly had a different interpretation of slack line mends than other respondents. Thanks for the references---will study and learn!
Best,
Jonathan Walter
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[GH] Your student is attempting a slack LEADER presentation such that there is little of any slack in the fly line, but lots of slack in the leader. Try as he does, he simply cannot do it without lots of slack loops and curls in the fly line as well as the leader.
QUESTIONS:
1. What method(s) do you think he's using?
I suspect he's trying to make a "puddle" cast or mend and trying to involve the leader only.
{GH] Might well be the case.
2. What method would you recommend?
I would have the student use a cast of about 30 ft. and cast with a downward forward cast trajectory. I would recommend a fairly wide loop aimed at or just short of the target. In her book, Joan Wulff called this the "plop cast". I'm sure there are plenty of other names. She also describes a method for longer casts that I've always called the parachute cast. For this one uses a higher forward cast trajectory and after the stop lower the rod tip quicker than the fly line is falling. I have found that the faster one lowers the rod tip the more slack is in the fly line. Slower lowering of the rod limits most of the slack to the distal end of the line and even just the leader.
[GH] Reasonable choices.
"Plop cast "and " High angle Cast, Parachute Type" *
3. Briefly tell us how you would teach this presentation.
See above
* Joan Wulff's FLY CASTING TECHNIQUES, by Joan Wulff, 1987, pp. 160, 161.
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More questions on slack line presentations :
1. What is the primary purpose of making slack line presentations?
Drag free drift
2. You are fishing a small trout stream. You see a rise about 30' directly downstream from you at the tail out of a small pool. How would you present your dry fly to this trout? My favorite is the parachute cast---high forward presentation and drop the rod tip. The disadvantage is that you are directly in the fish's cone of vision---always a problem with downstream presentations. My alternate approach would be a curve cast sidearm from across stream.
[GH] Those will work.
3. Is there another method you would consider ? See above, and also consider the wiggle mend
4. What is the main difference between a slack line MEND and a slack line CAST? With a slack line cast, slack is thrown into the delivery to provide a drag free presentation from the start of the drift. With a slack line mend, one puts slack into the mend as the mend is made.
[GH] Putting it another way... One popular description is: The slack line CAST is done before loop formation. The slack line MEND is made after loop formation.
5. How would you classify a so-called PILE CAST (AKA) PUDDLE CAST, DUMP CAST, TOWER CAST, STACK CAST) ? * ** ***
a. Slack line cast. b. Slack line mend. c. Slack line cast/mend. I would call this a slack line cast as the motion of the cast is what creates the slack and therefore the presentation.
[GH] In most cases, I think that is so. Others will take the position that if and when you drop the rod, you are manipulating line after loop formation thus creating argument for looking at the whole thing as b. or even c.
6. Briefly describe at least three methods of making slack line mends.
Roll cast--as one is raising the rod for the roll cast motion, slip line to form the D loop. Then roll cast this slack where you want to place it. Second, slip line into the mending motion you are making your mend. This mend moves the line and lengthens it at the same time without disturbing the fly. Third, one can lengthen the line/drift by simply shaking slack line past the rod tip.
[GH] Well... one can make many of the slack line casts combined with roll casting .... or add one of the slack line mends after a roll cast.
7. Briefly describe at least 3 methods of making slack line casts (with no mend(s)).
First, after the stop move the rod tip side to side to make the line land in slack waves. Second, aim down at your target with a fairly wide loop so that the line leader connection hits the water before the loop unrolls. Third, aim the forward cast high and drop the rod tip to the water after the stop. The line and leader land with slack.
[GH] Your "first" is a mend ... made after the cast. Your "second" is a cast. Your "third" could be seen as a slack line cast, a mend (because of the rod drop after the stop) or a combination, i.e. slack line cast/mend.
8. You are a well seasoned CCI or Master and are mentoring a new CCI candidate to help her prepare to take the exam. You are using the new Fly Casting Instructor Performance form approved for use starting Jan. 1, 2012 and are coaching her with respect to Task 7 :-
Task 7.
Make two slack line presentations with the fly landing at approximately 25-30' (7.6-9.1m).
One presentation is to be made as a slack line cast with no aerial mend. The second presentation is to be the result of an aerial mend(s)
Expectations: The slack would achieve a drag free drift and the fly and leader must land in front of the fly line.
(____) Did not create slack that would result in a drag free drift.
(____) Did not create slack in two different ways.
(____) Fly did not land in front of the fly line and leader.
Comments: __________________________________
9. Which slack line CAST would you recommend she use for this task? Aim with downward trajectory at the target and make the leader land in a pile.
[GH] Yes. The line lands on the water first, some of the energy of the cast is used up, and the leader unfurls incompletely ahead of the point where the line touched down. If your "target" is a rise or fish, you would probably elect to aim so that the line touched down first well short of it, especially if fishing downstream.
10. Why did you pick this one? Fairly easy to master, reproduce and good for this distance.
[GH] Agree.
11. Which slack line MEND(S) would you recommend? or Aerial mend? For the aerial mend I would recommend the wiggle cast.
[GH] Well.... we asked for slack line MENDS. So I'd want a wiggle MEND for that.
The true wiggle CAST is not so easy to control, especially as the distance increases, because with manipulations during the casting stroke you are really altering the fly leg of the loop since the rod leg hasn't formed yet.
I'd think more of the candidate's ability if he/she chose an entirely different one for the slack line CAST even though this scenario would pass in most cases is we take the wording of the task literally.
12. Why did you pick this method? Ease of performing and a very useful cast
Gordy
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[GH] Jonathan,
Don't "fall on your sword" over your answers. In my opinion they are good. Much of this boils down to matters of choices, opinion and interpretation.
Gordy
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[GH] Here is a link to a source for Vincent Marinaro's book. Some fly casting history, here. Includes a classic description of several slack line presentations as well as what may have been the first description of effective rod length. :
In The RING of the RISE, by Vincent C. Marinaro, 1976.
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