Bob....
You have it down very well !
My own, "definition" of a Spey cast is: "A live line, CHANGE OF
DIRECTION, aereolized, modified roll cast."
I only emphasized, "change of direction" because is is one of the most
important aspects of this casting system.....and so often missed by candidates
who try to come up with their own, "definition". I wouldn't think it would
matter if, "live line" is changed to, "active line".
While taking a Masters exam, the candidate would be well advised to
understand that not all Spey folks agree with calling a Spey cast a roll cast at
all. For years, for example, Mike Maxwell would become angry at the very
thought. His writings contain statements like, " If............., the cast
will degenerate into a roll cast." That is why I added the term,
"modified". I could have said, "roll type cast".
Memorizing the exact wording is far less important than understanding the
concept of what it's all about.
The styles you describe are only the ARM STYLES recognized and described in
the article by Al Kyte some years ago. Remember.....that style has been
called, "self-optimization", meaning that it embodies certain changes in the way
the angler casts which make the best use of his or her body.
A deeper understanding of arm styles is gained by looking into each
"guru's" default cast. (The cast he or she most often makes.) That is
explained by the kind of fishing each does most, ie., Joan Wulff does all kinds
of fly fishing, but principally, trout fishing. Lefty honed his skills
early on the deck of a salt water flats boat. Bruce Richards has done a
great deal of float tube fishing and deep wading. Looking at it THAT way,
blends an appreciation of different forms of fly fishing with style in addition
to body description.
While Joan is known for, "her style", I assure you that when she fished
with me down in the Keys, she was quite expert at changing her, "default style"
to anything the salt venue required !!! While I have a low elbow style
similar to Lefty's, if I'm chest deep fishing for salmon in Alaska, you can bet
I'll be using an, "elbow out to the side" style like Bruce Richards. On a
trout stream, I'll go more, "elbow forward", and change my rod plane to a more
vertical one.
If asked to describe a, "good style", I'd say that it is any change in the
way a caster performs so long as it helps the caster make the best use of
his/her anatomy and remains inclusive of all the essentials.
As I'm sure you know, style can refer to many things....not simply what is
done with the arm. I'd include, as style, GRIP, STANCE, USE OF THE WRIST,
and even CERTAIN VARIATIONS IN MAKING THE CAST, ITSELF. One example of the
latter, is the angler who makes a distance cast by carrying his ideal length
(wt.) of line on the last back cast, as compared with the one who elects to
carry less line during false casting, using a line shoot on that back cast, etc,
etc.
Gordy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 5:38
PM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips for
practice
Hi Gordy,
Firstly, I have to tell you the hilarious story about your son and your nephew
turning Venezuela upside down with the new dance; "The Double Haul" belongs in
a book somewhere. If you fish long enough and seriously enough, it would not
be difficult to fill a book with the ridiculously funny things that
happen over the years..
A
question or two if you will: Would you consider this as a correct
definition of a Spey cast? - "An aerialized, active line, change of direction,
modified roll cast." I'm pretty sure it can be defined as "active line", due
to the fact that the line, although forming a temporary "stick" never comes to
a complete stop. What is your
opinion?
Also,
when discussing guru styles, such as - elbow forward - Joan
Wulff, Floyd Franke, Jerry Siem, Tim & Steve Rajeff, Gary Borger, Mel
Kreiger and the late great Jim Green.
And - low elbow - Lefty Kreh, Ed
Jaworoski, Chico Fernandez, and Jay Clark
The only two I have for - elbow up and out
- are - Bruce Richards and Dan Blanton - do you think that will
suffice, or can you think of others? I can't think of any others
off-hand.
Getting down to the nitty-gritty,
Thank you,
Bob Rumpf
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 7:11
AM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips for
practice
Bob....
Here's another example of fishing dedication: Back a few years
ago, a couple of guys from our S. Florida fishing clubs decided to try to
win the prestigious Miami Met. Fishing Tournament. This is a 6
months event. These guys actually quit their jobs to literally fish
full time. As I recall, neither actually won it, but had some
astounding catches along the way........and a lot of, "catch up" to do,
afterward. One of them became a guide at Key West after his wife
divorced him.
At one of our fishing club meetings after that, when intraclub
competition had become fierce, and we were discussing the club roster, got
up and said: "I'd like to make a motion that we pencil in the wives
names."
Gordy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005
3:23 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips for
practice
Hi Gordy & group,
In
a recent message you alluded to the degree of commitment
and resulting total involvement of some Master's candidates.
Along this line of thought I'd like to relate something to you and the
group which my wife and I found very amusing. She is always good naturedly
telling me that if I'm not studying for the exam, I'm out
casting, or visa-versa. I keep telling her she's exaggerating.
The other night I fell asleep with the TV tuned in to the Discovery
channel while she was reading in the same room. I awoke and jumped
up with interest when something was mentioned on the program, she
started laughing out loud, and said, go back to sleep. She said what you
heard was "double hull", not "double haul". Apparently they were
explaining the problems with the tanker; the Exxon Valdez, which was
responsible for the disastrous oil spill. After she finished laughing at
me she said, "See, I rest my case, you do have casting on the brain." I
just went back to sleep, I need my rest, I have to cast and study
tomorrow.
Regards,.
Bob Rumpf
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005
7:29 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips for
practice
Jeff...
I know the term, CYBERNETICS and the concept....but not the book,
itself....or the author.
This is aprapos. The Oxford dictionary defines cybernetics as
derived from a Greek word meaning , "to steer"......"The science of
systems of control and communications in living organisms and
machines."
I'm up on Long Island, waiting for things to clear up before going
back down to the keys. My neighbor, Cush Read tells me that the
whole area is a MESS but the house is still standing, and the roof still
intact. He says my deck is overturned and there was 2' of water in
the downstairs, which has now been reduced to a layer of thick black
mud. My dock survived, but the deck was turned over. No
power or water on the island and a lot of tree damage.
Until this past Nor'Easter, the striped bass fishing was great,
here.
Gordy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005
8:58 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips for
practice
Gordy,
A good friend of
ours up here in PA. Marc Billitt a CCI and world class high school
wrestling coach has mentioned on nunerous occasion a book that he
refers to often about "visualazion". I can't remember the
author's name but I think the book's title was "CYBERNETICS" It
not only deals with visualation but focusing on the positives and
learning to get the most use of mistakes or failures. Have
any of you came across this book?
Jeff
P.S. Whats the damage report at Coral Way?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005
2:15 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips for
practice
Walter....
That visualization factor can be a very important tool.
Over the years, I used it before doing a complicated
operation. Many a time, I did the same thing; "mental casting"
to help solve some fly casting problems.
Gordy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, October 25,
2005 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: More tips
for practice
Yes - another thing that a common trait with top
athletes and musicians - visualization. Before executing a task
they think their way through it. The visualization can be very
lengthy or concentrate on a single point needing improvement.
Pantomiming is also an excellent learning tool (as mentioned in
Jason Borger's book and as shown by Mel in teaching the double
haul).
----- Original Message -----
From: Gordon Hill
<hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Date:
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 6:40 am
Subject: Fw: More tips for
practice
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Allen Crise<')" >flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Gordon Hill<')" >hillshead@xxxxxxx>
>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 9:31 AM
> Subject: RE: More
tips for practice
>
>
> Howdy Gordy &
Group
> Most do not know that muscles learn when resting. To
just keep
> casting and casting is not the best on the body
at all.I have
> found that brief stops and resting after a
set of cast. i.e short
> cast to a 20 ft target. Then just
contemplate the cast for a
> minute or two. making 'mind
cast' if you will.
> My practice is to run my targets 20
twice, 30 twice, 40 twice 60
> and then 80 twice Then one
more for pure distance. Hail Mary cast.
> Then go to
the Task list for the TEST.. I carried the list out
> with
me for about one month. each day I ran the test. This took
> all together about 25 minutes. That left about 5 minutes
for a
> problem area. Like maybe a right hook from
vertical. This I would
> do for a short time. Run the
targets one more time.
> Then wind in on the reel Often
wiping the line as I came in on a
> cloth. I felt that this
would remove the grit and dirt that I did
> not want on my
reel. This I did every day. Rain, sun, fog, wind,
> it did
not matter I was casting. In the 18 months before my test I
> missed about 3 days of casting. Fishing did not count.
Teaching
> did not count. This was MY time. Now during the
day I might answer
> some of Gordy's questions. reading
about casting. Videos were
> studied with the control in
hand. I will tell you I lived Fly
> Casting. I have found
that the early mornings were the best for
> me. Not when I
was physical tired in the late afternoon. (My
> casting was
better too.)
> I do work a rotating shift that lets me cast
in different times
> of the day. Here in Texas it is often
hot and dry. So I seldom had
> to don my rain gear but I
did on a couple of times. IF not
> lighting I was casting.
I was an love obsession that has not let
> up
much.
> Sometime Gordy or one of the other students
would voice a
> problem in a cast. I would pick up my rod
and work through the
> cast. Then come back to the computer
and put it in words. Gordy
> and I would hash it over.
Thanks to Gordy for all the time he as
> spent in teaching
me how to type....
> Have a great day.
> May God
protect the storm ravaged.
>
> ol
Al
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