Jeff....
Good grist for the mill !
When making 2 or more aerial mends irrespective of the direction (both in the same direction or one to the right and the other to the left), the time interval during which you are shooting is determined by the distance between your two targets. The distance between the closest target and the caster will determine the length of time taken to shoot line after the second mend.
Your point about shooting the mends is a good one. In the event that you don't shoot, even slight resistance at the rod tip may straighten out and ruin a good aerial mend, and it's even more likely to do this with more than one mend.
Shooting a distance mend is another reason for reducing friction as much as you can by pointing the rod tip forward as the casting arm is raised during followthrough. Some feel that one can reduce this friction even more by twisting the rod 90 degrees in its own axis as this is done, as this is felt to reduce the liklihood of line-rod-slap.
Gordy
From: Jeff Wagner <jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: hillshead@xxxxxxx
Subject: Mends
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 15:59:28 -0600
Gordon,
With discussion of the aerial mends and such I have attached a course setup that
I use with notes below.
A good question to ask might be: How do you perform an aerial mend in two
directions (mend right and mend left at different distances).
My preference for this is to make the first mend, then shoot a little line while
reaching to the second mend direction and then back to center (if desired).
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