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----- Original Message -----
From: JFV
To: 'Gordon Hill'
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 2:42 PM
Subject: RE: More tips for practice Hi Gordy &
Group, It is amazing when I
read Gordy?s and Al?s account of their practice routines how similar they
become. My Masters practice
encompassed almost 2 years (CCI about 1 yr) sacrificing fishing for
casting practice. I would practice every
day (even if I had to leave work a little early). I practiced for 2 -3
hours every chance I could get. (might be considered a little heavy, but I
needed it!, actually I enjoy it.) Before or in between
lessons I would practice. Every demo I gave was a practice session.
Stood in snow and
stomped down a place to stand (which on the distance casts could be slippery!)
Fly lines also really
scoot across the snow. Even took the test once in the
snow! Rain and Wind didn?t
matter. As a matter of fact if the wind was really blowing I could practice my
wind casts. I too took my fly rod
to family gatherings and if there was a place I was out there
casting. There is something to
be said for the idea of exercise and building strength.
My casting arm is much
stronger now than when I first started the Masters training and that extra
strength becomes control on longer aerialized lines.
When you can keep 50?
of fly line (WF-7-F) in the air without hauling and throw tight loops your arm
is getting there. (One examiner insisted
that I be able to throw tight loops at this distance, even with some wind and
With One Hand? NO Hauls!) (Make sure you practice
this) I also took the
requirements shortened the wording to 1 typed page and kept a copy in my rod
case, car, on my desktop etc. Had one basically everywhere!
I always set up targets
according to the test criteria first. I would warm up, work
on loops and control first with ever lengthening line out to the 50?
Learned that if I did
some off hand casting (which is by nature more technical, no muscle memory to
screw things up!) it would slow me down and I would kind of force my dominant
hand to do it ?just like that!? Then I would go through
the entire test. Some days I would have
a specific cast I wanted to work on, I would work on that first (after warm-up)
and then if time permitted do the rest of the test. When it came to the
explain and demonstrate I would talk out loud repeating my presentation until I
got it just right. (don?t recommend talking too loud if people are around)
One examiner suggested
I use a tape recorder, which helped (Good idea to listen to what you are
actually saying) (Did I say That?) Had my son in law video
my presentation and casts (That was winter and he got pretty cold but hung in
there) (I got pretty hot when I played it back, that really solved some
problems!) I always tried to end
on a positive note, it didn?t always work out that way especially when your arm
feels a foot longer, eventually it all comes
together. I also mark my lines at
30,40,50,65, and 85 feet, I do this with all my students also, it is easier to
get to the exact distance where things break down etc. adds consistency to
the exercise. And then when it is all
coming together I believe it is Essential to do a practice test,
get a review lesson or whatever, with a BOG or
Master ? someone who has
been down this road him/her self, it is a Unique
Experience! This Masters isn?t
easy, it takes Determination, Lots of Teaching, Practice, Exercise, Study and
Focus, but it is worth it! Hope this helps with
your learning to be a better caster. That is the real
reward! I?m still practicing
and learning although I have been able to squeeze in a little more fishing now
! Jim
V From:
----- Original Message
----- From: Allen Crise
To: Gordon Hill
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
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 |