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Walter & Group...
[GH] As many of you know, Joe Libeu is Co-Chairman of the Master Testing Committee. He and I have had recent discussions over the slack line task (#7) on the CCI exam.
Joe poses some important questions. I highlighted each :-
Gordy,
Food for thought. The question says slack line cast or mend, does this include the leader and thus the leader is considered part of the line. ?
For this question one must consider the amount of line one is casting as it states that the fly must land at 25-30ft. This might change the cast or mend one chooses to make.
If we say that a reach mend is a slack line presentation, this would infer that up stream, across and down stream, across and up stream that this would be a slack line mend?
To me slack line could mean that there is slack in the line or leader and that the current can have an effect on the fly line or leader without moving or creating drag on the fly. Where is the slack in a straight line of the fly line and leader?
Now if one throws a arial mend that is placed in a position along the fly line to overcome a fast or slower current they have provided slack.
I am sure we are going to have several thoughts on this and that there will be many interpretations.
Joe
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[GH] Joe,
My thoughts are in line with yours.
These issues are emerging during our discussions.
Gordy
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[GH] While a leader designed for slack line presentations makes it easier to gain the objective, it is NOT crucial to success. Experienced dry fly fishers have learned to do it when necessary with many different leader lengths and construction. Lefty Kreh speaks to this. I added the last highlight in bold oblique:
Gordy,
I read with with interest the comments about leader taper designs to produce leader slack. Incidentally one of my closet friends was George Harvey who late in life changed his mind about a stiff butt leader.
Sometimes it is best to decide what you are trying to accomplish. If you want to develop slack in the leader I believe it is not so much the leader's constructions but HOW you are going to accomplish this.
The real mission is to have the leader fall almost vertically.
If the leader should fall truly vertical is will end in a tangled mess if it falls straight regardless of leader's construction there will be little slack. Many different leader tapers can be used to develop slack in them so long as they fall almost vertically.
I believe it is not leader leader construction that determines getting the proper slack. Instead it is the making of a number of different casts that will cause the leader to fall almost vertically. Using this concept I have made controlled desirable slack line presentations with a variety of leader designs.
All the Best Old Friend,
Lefty
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[GH] Lefty,
I really like that concept of the "almost vertical leader" for slack line presentations. I've seen you demonstrate that clearly.
This fits with Joe Libeu's comment on the reach mend not being a real slack line or slack leader presentation.... because the leader is usually not in an almost vertical position at any time and no true slack waves are produced.
OK for some drag free drifts ? yes.
A true slack presentation ? NO.
Gordy
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[GH] Mark Surtees sends answers to our first three questions on the slack LEADER presentation problem that our student had . My brief comments in italics :
[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?
Pile cast
2. What method would you recommend?
Underslung loop, tuck cast, alternatively an intentional tail.
3. Briefly tell us how you would teach this presentation.
Casting off vertical, make the forward casting stroke under the rod tip to create an underslung loop (upside down basically). Finish the casting stroke with a little extra oomph and a slight upward curl of the rod tip. When the line straightens, drift the rod down as normal, the leader will kick up and fall in a pile at the end of a wiggle free fly line. This is one of those occasions when a concave path of the rod tip during the casing stroke is desirable.
[GH] One of my favorites.
Tuck cast, overpower the forward casting stroke and make a firm stop, the leader will kick over and the fly will land on the water before the line, handy for nymphing. Watch out for tails.
[GH] Yes. Best for weighted flies and nymphs. The same maneuver done with a dry fly can yield what some have called the "fly first cast".
Alternatively make an ordinary overhead backcast, curve the tracking of the forward cast to put the legs out of parallel and put in a power spike to cause a tail, because the fly and the leader are coming up from under it too will land in a nice pile once gravity takes over and the out of parallel delivery stroke will prevent a collision between the fly leg and the rod leg as they cross. Works great so long as you remember to curve the casting stroke the right way… J
[GH] Here, the out of parallel loop leg technique is what prevents the collision. I'd call that a "controlled tailing loop" Perhaps not the best one for a CCI candidate to choose for the exam since any sort of tail is considered by many examiners as an anathema !
Jason Borger writes about Michael Maloney's use of this form of tailing loop as , "purposely created and accurately aimed tails to swing a heavy fly up under mangrove cover on the flats". Also works as a true slack leader presentation for dry fly fishing. *
I have watched many fantastic demonstrations of slack line presentations, some have so much slack that you would have to be on rails to strike into a fish that took the fly anytime early in the drift, they definitely look good though…. J
[GH] Yes. One demo. I saw, yielded enough slack .... entire line and leader in coils... that one could sell it at the flea market !
* Jason Borger's NATURE OF FLY CASTING, a modular approach, by Jason Borger, 2001, p. 76.
Mark
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[GH] Mark....
Good. We're collecting more methods for slack presentations. Also, some issues with which to contend on casting exams.
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