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Walter & Group...
[GH] Let's look at some answers to our quiz on slack line presentations :
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[GH] Comment by Paul Arden:
Great topic and questions. Looking forward to reading this one!
Paul
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[GH] Answers from Gary Davison. His answers are very good ... so I picked his for my comments in bold italics as I play the "devil's advocate" with some of the concepts and terms ... especially as they might be a bit confusing to both CCI candidates and examiners alike, especially as they reach Task 7.) on the exam :
Gordy
Here is my input.
[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?
Gordy on this situation, I would guess that the student is wanting to make a Pile Cast. If this is indeed the case the above situation would suggest that the cast may have turned into a bounce cast due to excess force being applied by the resulting line lay out described.
[GH] That may well be the case. Often, the pile cast results in lots of line coils in addition to coils in the leader.
A well controlled "bounce cast" (also called the "kick-back cast"), however,may do the trick if not excessively overpowered. *
If you adhere to a description of a mend being manipulation or change in position of a segment of the fly line ....i.e.. repositioning the line after the cast .... then the bounce cast could be considered a slack line CAST ...If you purposely pull back, they you are considered to have made a mend. Either way, if done with just the right amount of force, the line may pull back into coils while actually straightening out the leader. With too much force, line and leader may land in a heap of coils. Not easy to control..... takes lots of practice.
2. What method would you recommend?
Ease up on the cast and allow the kick on the Pile Cast to take effect evenly and smoothly so the cast can develop as needed for a good lay out at the leader end of the line. Plus work on the rod movement to re-enforce the lay out of the line on the cast.
[GH] Yes.
3. Briefly tell us how you would teach this presentation.
Make the cast with a higher casting plane slightly off vertical in a smooth over powered vertical curve cast. Hold the rod slightly up and slightly back after the stop which re-enforces the kick downward for the line at the leader. Once you see the line turn over moving down toward the ground or water depending on the conditions. Maintain tension in the cast and move the rod tip back down slowly to allow slack line to accumulate at the leader and at the end of the fly line while the rest of the line lays out straight with little or no slack.
[GH] That will work.
Things to consider...
- I'd start by teaching to make a low trajectory back cast followed by the high trajectory forward cast. ("180 degree rule.")
- The concept of this being a vertical curve cast, i think, is valid. That's the way Gary Borger described it. **
- While called the Pile CAST by most, some will take the position that rod fade (slowly moving the rod tip or whole rod down ) is a repositioning of the line after the cast and therefore a mend !
Calls to question whether simply dropping the rod to accommodate a line which is already falling is a form of, "repositioning the line". I don't know what to call it !
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More questions on slack line presentations :
1. What is the primary purpose of making slack line presentations?
Drag Free Drift of the fly.
[GH] Agree.
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?
Pile cast 3 to 4' above the rise, and let the fly work the rise area.
[GH] Yes. The coils of line on the water will allow the fly to drift naturally as they expand.
3. Is there another method you would consider ?
Parachute mend. Same tactic 3 to 4' above the rise.
[GH] Yes.
Another method: Make the slack leader presentation upstream toward but not all the way to the fish. Then make a series of small vertical hump mends to feed line at the rate of the current flow.
Others will undoubtedly point out some additional methods.
4. What is the main difference between a slack line MEND and a slack line CAST?
A mend is the repositioning of the fly line after the forward stop of the casting stroke. It can be administered in the air while the line is in route to the target, or can be made after the line is on the water.
[GH] Most experts, I think, will accept that description of aerial and on-the-water mends.
A slack line cast is where all the rod movements are made in the forward casting stroke to the stop. Which results in a slack line layout of the line, without any repositioning of the line once the stop has been made on the forward cast.
[GH] Yes. (Some hard core casting mechanics experts might prefer, "...after loop formation". I'd be OK with either.
5. How would you classify a so-called PILE CAST (AKA) PUDDLE CAST, DUMP CAST, TOWER CAST, STACK CAST) ? * ** ***
Slack line presentation casts can be re-enforced with mending to enhance the slack line presentation. These casts and mends complement each other so well that sometimes it is hard for us instructors to identify if they are casts with or without mends, as it should be, when executed well by a good fly fisher. The main thing is they all work so well !
[GH] AGREE !!!
A. Slack line cast. B. Slack line mend. C. Slack line cast/mend.
Depends on the caster and what he does with the rod after the stop!
My input would be both A & C.
[GH] ONE COULD MAKE A CASE FOR ALL THREE !
I would classify these as Complimentary Casts, with the mend being the compliment to the cast which makes them so effective in the field.
[GH] A refreshing way to look at it.
6. Briefly describe at least three methods of making slack line mends.
Reach Mend
Curve Mend
Parachute Mend
[GH] Yes.
NOW... Let's take a look at Tasks 4 and 5 (Left and Right reach mends) on the CCI exam. Both call for a straight line between the fly and the rod tip. If performed that way, I'd ask, "where is the slack line/leader presentation ??
Of course, one can do it with or without slack.
(Food for thought).
7. Briefly describe at least 3 methods of making slack line casts (with no mend(s)).
Curve Cast
Pile Cast
Hi Trajectory Roll Cast
[GH] Yes. One could add a cast made with a high trajectory back cast followed by a low trajectory forward cast with a large loop which is directed down onto the water. Once the rod leg of the loop hits the water, a lot of the energy is expended and the remaining fly leg and leader collapse for a slack presentation.
Gary Borger once taught me to make a true wiggle CAST. Trick is to make the wiggles just before loop formation, then let her fly. No mends.
I'm sure some of you will come up with other slack line presentations to add to our bags of fishing tricks.
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?
Curve Cast
10. Why did you pick this one?
Because it will provide that the fly & leader is in front of the fly line on the lay out. Plus is can be controlled better in windy conditions being as it is a cast the requires an over powered presentation.
[GH] OK for a drag free drift. An examiner might argue that it doesn't really produce a true slack leader or slack line ....!!!??? .... or is that single curve out at the leader to be considered slack ...????
NOW : Suppose the CCI candidate makes a simple wiggle mend for the slack line mend requirement. Then simply places the wiggle movements before the stop for the slack line cast.
OR: Makes a Pile cast without doing anything such as dropping the rod after the cast for demonstration of a slack line CAST. Then, does the same thing, but purposely drops the rod or the rod tip down after the cast to demo. a slack line MEND.
Should we pass on those ????
11. Which slack line MEND(S) would you recommend?
Reach Mend
[GH] Same argument may emerge if the candidate does it as directed on Tasks 4 and 5. Might this confuse a candidate ????? (no slack waves actually produced.)
12. Why did you pick this method?
Because the fly & leader will always be in front of the fly line for the drift. Slack will always be present on the cast.
[GH] Always ?
All the best
Gary Davison
* In The RING OF THE RISE, by Vincent Marinaro, 1976, pp. 34-37.
** PRESENTATION, by Gary Borger, 1995, pp. 235-236
[GH] Gordy
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[GH] More answers for our next message. Something to learn from each.
Gordy
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