Jeff.....
My personal, "definition" of a HAIL MARY CAST is what some call the "Hero cast".......it's a distance attempt beyone the actual capability of the caster. Usually not pretty. In tarpon fishing, it's different. Here, it's a long cast directed at fish which are going away from you at a good clip. That layout can end up on the backs of the fish, blowing out the whole pod !
I remember back when Bill Gammel was testing me for the MCI.........when I got ready to do the distance event, he said to me, " I'll be more impressed with an 85' cast done perfectly than I will with a 100' cast done poorly". I suspect many examiners think in those terms.
When I am testing, and the candidate makes a cast way beyond the target, but the layout is nasty, I can't help asking for a repeat cast......and I'll often make a simple statement as Bill did for me. When I'm coaching, it's different, of course. In that event I can often improve the caster's achievement by doing 2 things. 1. Saying, "watch your back cast," and 2. "Try to hit the 85' target." That usually prevents him/her from going way beyond it to the point of loosing some control.
Gordy
From: Jeff Wagner <jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
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Subject: Re: FW: Re: Observations of MCI candidates at Conclave
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 20:19:22 -0600
Al you said, " MY ADVICE MAKE
>GOOD LOOPS NOT LONG CAST. MAKE NEAT MENDS AND GREAT HOOKS. WORK ON
>LOOKING GOOD AT CLOSE DISTANCES. THE HAIL MARY CAST IS FOR SHOW. THE
>CONTROL OF THE LINE IS FOR MASTER INSTRUCTORS." OL AL Allen R.
Not to split hairs but the long cast is a controlled cast, actually showing a
great deal of control as errors on the short line are compounded on the long
line! An error at 40 feet of casting may be almost imperceptable, but at 80
feet is showing its ugly head!! A master should be able to do all casts
equally well!
Jeff Wagner
Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor, Federation of Fly Fishers
Fly Fishing Buyer, Jax Outdoor Gear
Fly Fishing Guide, Jax Outdoor Gear
Redington Pro Staff
Quoting Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>:
>
>
>-------------------------
> From: _"Allen Crise" _
>To: _"Gordon Hill" _
>Subject: _Re: Observations of MCI candidates at Conclave_
>Date: _Fri, 26 Aug 2005 10:50:49 -0500_
>
> HOWDY GORDY, I JUST READ JIM\'S TEST RECOUNT. I HAVE SEEN ONE
>THING HAPPEN EVERY TIME TO EVERY CANDIDATE. THE WALL. I KNOW OF NO
>OTHER NAME FOR IT. THE CANDIDATE IS RUNNING ALONG DOING EVERYTHING
>RIGHT. GIVING CORRECT ANSWERS, MAKING GREAT CAST TIGHT LOOPS. THEN
>BANG JUST LIKE SOMEONE SLIPPED A MICKEY FINN TO THEM. NOTHING BLANK
>NO THOUGHT PROCESS. JUST A BLANK WALL. HOW THE MASTERS AND TESTERS
>HANDLE THIS WALL IS OFTEN THE MAKE OR BREAK POINT IN THE TESTING. WE
>HAVE ALL SEEN IT HAPPEN. HOW WE AS MASTERS HELP OR END THE TEST IS
>SOMETHING WE EACH HAVE TO DECIDE AS MASTERS. SOME TIMES LITTLE
>HINTS.
>RESTATING THE QUESTION. MOVING AROUND TO DIFFERENT PLACE SO AS TO
>RESTART THE CANDIDATES BRAIN. I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENS AND IT HAPPENS
>WHEN I AM TEACHING. SOMETHING WILL SLIP IN TO MY HEAD STIR UP THE
>CONNECTIONS AND THE WALL IS HIT. HOW A CANDIDATE WILL HANDLE THE
>WALL
>IS ALL PART OF THE TEST. BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN ON THE DEMO OR
>LECTURE
>TOUR. JIM DID GIVE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT OUT. AFTER
>YOU
>ARE A MASTER. YOU ARE ON A DIFFERENT PLANE, LEVEL OR WHAT EVERY YOU
>PLACE YOUR SELF ESTEEM ON. YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST OF THE CASTING
>WORLD. YOU WILL CARRY THIS WITH EACH CAST YOU MAKE. YOU WILL HOLD
>YOURSELF TO HIGHER LEVEL OF CASTING. BECAUSE YOU ARE A MASTER
>CASTING
>INSTRUCTOR. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT MADE BECAUSE YOU PASSED THE
>TEST.
>FORGET IT YOU ARE TESTED EACH TIME YOU PICK UP A ROD. MY ADVICE
>MAKE
>GOOD LOOPS NOT LONG CAST. MAKE NEAT MENDS AND GREAT HOOKS. WORK ON
>LOOKING GOOD AT CLOSE DISTANCES. THE HAIL MARY CAST IS FOR SHOW. THE
>CONTROL OF THE LINE IS FOR MASTER INSTRUCTORS. OL AL Allen R.
>Crise FFF Master Fly Casting Instructor
>Hawk Ridge Tackle & Flycasting School
>2508 A CR 1011
>Glen Rose, Tx, 76043
>
>254-897-2045
>
>
>
>Links:
>------
>[2] mailto:flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx
>[3] http://www.geocities.com/rrdoctor
>