Walter.....
The point raised in your first paragraph is one I hadn't
considered......good thought. One thing I will mention, is that I have
been guilty of coaching one MCI candidate right up to the last minute before
taking the exam. This was a BIG MISTAKE ! He was unsuccessful, and
I'm sure my over-working him so late was the main reason for the result.
I'll never do that again. A few months later, he passed with
strength.
I, now, recommend that no hard practice occur within a couple of days of
the exam.....maybe just a bit of warm up. Perhaps a few minutes of, "tune
up" on any questionable cast.
Now for your question on physical training :
Years ago, I talked with Steve Rajeff, who had not done as well as he
usually does in a particular competition. His comment as to the reason
was: "I just wasn't in the buff."
While expert fly casting outside of distance competition, isn't considered
a physically challenging endeavor, and principally a matter of highly skilled
conservation of energy output with the use of sharply honed technique, I can't
negate the fact that increased strength and muscle tone has a place.
Lefty and I discussed this one day......he pointed out while we were
casting on a pond near his home, that as he reached 80 years of age, his
distance capability had diminished. I remember Jim Green saying the same
thing. I realized, at that point, that I was already in my seventies, and
trying to INCREASE my own distance capability.
Now, for years, I've made a run every morning (except when fishing at
dawn), rain, shine, come "hell or high water". To help negate the ravages
of age on my casting ability, I started making that run with a 1 lb lead ball in
each hand....working up to 3 lb. balls. Even though I don't enter
competitions, I still do this. As I swing my arms during my, "trot" (half
run and half a race walk), with each step I fully flex each elbow. Then I
use 6lbs. of lead in my casting hand, and extend this arm upward, 100 to 150
times. I do this every morning without fail. After doing this for 3
months, I had a much better and more powerful back cast. That made a
tremendous difference in my distance presentation cast !
I've come to the conclusion that while high strength is not necessary for
expert casting, that it DOES result in three things: 1. Much
greater fatigue resistance for long practice sessions. 2. Easier made
specialty casts. (because of greater control) 3. More accurate and longer
distance casts.
One reason that our "super casters" do so well in competition, I think, is
that they can combine a virtually flawless technique with strength. Their
perfection is number one in importance.....THEN they add physical strength, and
do so without losing any control. I think THAT is what makes
champions.
Others have pointed out the value of regular exercise to increase casting
capability......witness the exercise program described in Joan Wulff's book on
accuracy. Dig back into the past and note the references to he value of
regular exercise with a Hock wine bottle in Charles Ritz's book, "The Life Of A
Fly Fisher." These folks were not large powerful people by any means.....but
they go down in history as our Casting Greats !
Gordy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 1:27
PM
Subject: Re: More tips for practice
Gordy - good point on the training frequency and duration.
Again - back to the running/weight training analogy - these athletes plan
their training to follow cycles of 3 to 6 months with a peak during
competition. The cycles start with informal, low intensity training sessions
(e.g. long slow distances) and work up to very specific and intense sessions
as peak/competition nears. The cycles help prevent mental and physical
burnout.
Another question, based on your other life, are there any
strength training and flexibility exercises that would be beneficial to
improving fly casting abilities? What sort of cross training (golf, tennis,
etc.) would be beneficial? For those of us who are noted for a lack of
co-ordination and rhythm :) what would be good exercises to improve tempo
(e.g. use of a metronome)?
Thanks Gordy
Walter
-----
Original Message -----
From: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Date: Monday,
October 24, 2005 6:47 am
Subject: Re: More tips for practice
>
Walter.....
>
> I'll answer your questions between your
paragraphs in BOLD CAPS.
> AS YOU READ, BEAR IN MIND THAT NO TWO
OF US HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF
> PHYSICAL ENDURANCE OR THE SAME
MOTIVATION LEVEL.....SO MY COMMENTS
> ARE BASED UPON WHAT I FOUND
WORKED. NOT FOR EVERYONE !
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Walter Simbirski<')" >simbirsw@xxxxxxx>
> To: Gordon Hill<')" >hillshead@xxxxxxx>
>
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 10:59 AM
> Subject: Re: More tips
for practice
>
>
> Hi Gordy - a few questions on
practice:
>
> 1. How often and how long are your practice
session?
>
> I PRACTICE IN BRIEF SEGMENTS.....SAY 20
MINUTES OR SO EARLY IN
> THE MORNING, PROVIDED I
> AM NOT
FISHING EARLY. ON A FISHING DAY, I'LL OFTEN TAKE
> ADVANTAGE OF A
TIDE CHANGE OR A "NO FISH HOUR" TO PRACTICE WITH AN
> EVENT OR PROBLEM
IN MIND WHICH INTEREST ME. IT'S RARE FOR MORE
> THAN 3 OR 4 DAYS
TO GO BY WITHOUT SOME PRACTICE. EVEN ON MORNINGS
> WHEN I'M
SCHEDULED TO SEE PATIENTS AT 9:00 AM, I'LL GO OUT TO A
> LITTLE PARK
NEARBY AND PRACTICE AT FIRST LIGHT, THEN COME BACK FOR
>
BREAKFAST. OFTEN, BOB AND I WILL MEET FOR THESE SESSIONS.
>
> VERY DIFFERENT, BACK WHEN I WAS PRACTICING TO TAKE THE MCI EXAM
> ! THOSE SESSIONS WERE MUCH MORE INTENSE.....SOMETIMES 2 HOURS
OR
> LONGER. I'D EVEN TAKE MY ROD IN THE CAR ON FAMILY TRIPS AND
WHIP
> IT OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES PRACTICE IF I COULD FIND SOME GRASS AND
> CLEAR AREA WHILE THE FOLKS WERE FINISHING LUNCH OR GASSING UP THE
> CAR. SOMETIMES I HAD NOTHING BUT A CONCRETE PARKING LOT......SO
> I'D PRACTICE PUTTING LOOPS INTO MY OPEN CAR WINDOW, OR MAKE
> REPEATED CURVE CASTS NEVER ALLOWING THE LINE TO HIT THE CONCRETE,
> ETC, ETC.......
>
> 2. Do you plan your practice
sessions and, if so, how granular
> is your planning? Athletes like
runners and weight lifters will
> have a firm plan in mind
>
> YES....OFTEN BOB ANDREAE AND I WOULD START WITH A SPECIFIC GOAL
> OR BRIEF SET OF GOALS FOR THE MORNING SESSION. WE DIDN'T STAY,
> "LOCKED" TO IT ONCE THE GOALS WERE MET. IN THE EVENT A
PARTICULAR
> GOAL COULDN'T BE MET, WE DISCUSSED VARIOUS MEANS OF
ATTACKING THE
> PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT SESSION. SOMETIMES THAT MEANT
GOING BACK TO
> DO SOME READING....OR CALLING ANOTHER CASTING BUDDY,
ETC.
> before a work out of which specific
exercises they intend to
> perform (e.g. 6 quarter miles at 90 seconds
or 6 sets of squats
> with specific
weights).
> Or is it less formalized, e.g.
"today I'm going to work on my
> backcast"? At the very least this
would indictate what sort of
> equipment you need
to
> bring along (types of lines, ropes, hoops,
etc.). If you have
> a bad day in one area, e.g. I wanted to practice
distance but the
> wind is too strong
or
> my arm is tired, are you prepared to change
the practice
> session? GOOD WAY TO DO IT. HAVING A 15 MIN.
TO 30 MIN SESSION
> ON A SPECIFIC CAST OR PART OF A CAST IS
FINE.....PARTICULARLY IF
> IT'S ONE WITH WHICH YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY
AT ALL.
>
> I'D WAIT AND PRACTICE WIND CASTS AT A TIME WHEN
YOU ACTUALLY
> HAVE WIND. THIS GIVES MUCH BETTER FEEDBACK AND A
VALUABLE SENSE
> OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN YOU DO IT WELL.
>
> 3. Do you plan practice sessions in terms of time, performance
> or repetitions? i.e. I'm going to practice making tight loops for
> 10 minutes, until I
> get 75% smaller
than 1 foot, or 50 repetitions. I'm guessing
> the number of reps isn't
too useful for a fly caster other than to
> provide some
feedback
> that they may be getting too intense
on a given exercise and
> risking an injury.
AGREE. GOING BACK TO IT IN SUBSEQUENT
> SESSIONS, HELPS A
LOT.
>
> 4. You mentioned making notes - what sort of notes
do you find
> helpful? Again, with the weight lifter analogy they would
record
> the complete workout
> in terms
of number of sets and repetitions and weights used
> so that next
workout they will know if they are ready for heavier
> weights or if a
certain
> order of exercises produced better
results for future
> reference. A good example for fly casting would be
when using
> ropes spaced a certain
distance
> apart for practicing loop width -
what would be a good
> starting spacing for the ropes and length of
line to start with.
> If I practice this exercise
once
> a week I wouldn't have to remember the
info I could just
> refer to my notes.
>
>
NOTES: FOR ME, FLASH CARD NOTES HELPED A LOT.....PARTICULARLY
>
WITH THE ALGORITHMS VALUABLE FOR YOUR EXAM. EXAMPLES INCLUDE
>
SIMPLE LISTS OF THE CASTS YOU WOULD USE FOR WIND FROM YOUR
>
CASTING ARM SIDE. ANOTHER, FOR THE THINGS YOU WOULD CONSIDER FOR
> TARGET ACCURACY PRACTICE, LIKE, 1. TRAJECTORY (LINE PLANE), 2. ROD
> LOAD LEVEL ( TIP CASTING FOR CLOSE TARGET; MID TO BUTT LOADING FOR
> DISTANCE TARGETS), 3. HOVER IF NO WIND/DRILL INTO TARGET IN
HIGH
> WINDS, 4. STRICTLY VERTICAL ROD PLANE FOR CLOSE TARGETS / OFF
> VERTICAL FOR DISTANCE TARGETS. ANOTHER, IS A LIST OF
VARIOUS
> CHANGE OF DIRECTION CASTS.......AND SO ON.
>
> THEN I MADE NOTES ON A LITTLE PAD AS TO WHAT I MIGHT
CONCENTRATE
> UPON FOR THE NEXT SESSION....HOWEVER SIMPLE. AS I
WALKED HOME
> FROM MY PRACTICE SITE, I'D THINK OF OTHERS WHICH I'D ADD
ONCE BACK
> FOR BREAKFAST.
>
> THE PLACEMENT OF MY
PARALLEL ROPES DEPENDED UPON HOW PROFICIENT
> I BECAME AT MAKING THESE
TIGHT BACK CAST LOOPS. I REMEMBER
> STARTING WITH THEM ABOUT 6'
APART, THEN BRING THEM EVER CLOSER AS
> I GOT BETTER. JUST PRIOR
TO TAKING YOUR EXAM, I'D HAVE THEM ABOUT
> 18" APART AND NOT BE
SATISFIED UNTIL I COULD CONSISTENTLY KEEP
> THOSE BACK CAST TIGHT LOOPS
BETWEEN THEM OUT TO ABOUT 45', FOR
> EXAMPLE.
> THE NUMBER
OF, "SETS AND REPETITIONS" IS A HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL
> DECISION.....IT
WILL DIFFER WIDELY BETWEEN CANDIDATES. JUST DON'T
> DO THESE 'TIL
YOU, "BURN OUT", AS YOU WILL REACH THE POINT OF
> DIMINISHING IF NOT
DAMAGING RETURNS IF YOU DO THAT. ONE EXAMPLE
> OF HOW I DID IT
: ON PRACTICING DISTANCE CASTS, I'D WORK AT IT
> UNTIL I COULD
MAKE THREE 90' CASTS IN A ROW WITH A NICE STRAIGHT
> LEADER LAYOUT
CLOSE TO OR IN A 3' TARGET........I'D THEN STOP AND
> GO TO ANOTHER
EVENT TO SORT OF LET THAT MUSCLE MEMORY, "BURN IN".
> IN THE
BEGINNING, I'D DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING AT MORE MODEST
> DISTANCES,
THEN WORK UP WITH SUBSEQUENT PRACTICE SESSIONS......THE
> PRINCIPLE
BEING THAT REPEATED SUCCESS MAKES A NICE WARM AND FUZZY
> SPOT IN YOUR
BRAIN.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 5. Have you got any more ideas on good feedback mechanisms.
> Having a buddy watch, watching your back cast, casting between two
> parallel ropes
> or a hula hoop, video
taping?, sound of the rod/line...
>
> THERE ARE MANY. SOME
DEPEND ON THE PRACTICE CIRCUMSTANCES :
>
> # THE LEVEL OF
CASTING EXPERTISE OF YOUR "BUDDY" CAN MAKE A BIG
> DIFFERENCE AS TO THE
QUALITY OF THE OBSERVATIONS OF YOUR CASTING,
> AND THE SUGGESTIONS
WHICH FOLLOW. PRE-TESTING BY A CBOG OR MASTER
> WE'VE ALREADY
COVERED AS A VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PATH. PRIOR TO
> THAT STEP,
HOWEVER, IS PRACTICE.....ESPECIALLY OF THE EVENTS WHICH
> YOU FIND MOST
DIFFICULT WITH ONE OF THESE DEDICATED FOLKS ON AN
> INFORMAL
BASIS. THIS IS INVALUABLE. REMEMBER, THESE FOLKS ARE
>
WILLING AND ANXIOUS TO HELP YOU AS PART OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE
>
FFF PRINCIPLE OF IMPROVING THE VERY TEACHING OF FLY CASTING. IT'S
> UP TO YOU, AS A CANDIDATE, TO SEEK THEM OUT.
>
> #
PRACTICE IN THE EVENING, AS THE DUSK APPROACHES IS MY BEST
> TRICK TO
TAKE THE CASTING EVENTS FROM THE VISUAL TO THE
> KINESTHETIC
LEVEL. TO BECOME A REALLY ACCOMPLISHED CASTER, YOU
> NEED TO
REACH THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE GOOD DISTANCE CASTS
> AND SOME
SPECIALTY CASTS IN THE PITCH DARK. THESE EFFORTS GIVE
> YOU A
KEEN SENSE OF THE PART PLAYED BY LISTENING AND FEELING.
> IT'S
MUCH BETTER THAN USING A BLINDFOLD, BECAUSE IT TAKES YOU FROM
> THE
VISUAL TO THE "FEEL AND HEAR" SCENARIO, GRADUALLY.
>
>
VIDEO TAPING IS VALUABLE.....BUT DOESN'T GIVE THE INSTANT
> FEEDBACK
GAINED BY YOUR OWN "REAL TIME" OBSERVATIONS AND THOSE OF
> YOUR
BUDDIES. IT TAKES TIME TO SET UP, AND THE COST OF EQUIPMENT
> IS
A STRONG CONSIDERATION. OFTEN ATTENTION IS DIRECTED AT THE
>
FILMING MORE THAN TO THE CASTING WHICH IS NOT TIME-EFFECTIVE FOR
> YOUR
LEARNING.
>
> # TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SITUATIONS AS THEY
APPEAR CAN PRESENT
> ENDLESS CHALLANGES . FOR EXAMPLE, JOAN
WULFF'S, "PICKING LEAVES",
> TRYING TO PLACE A TIGHT BACK CAST INTO A
HOLE IN THE TREES,
> CASTING WITH A HIGH EARTHEN BERM BEHIND YOU (AS
BOB ANDREAE AND I
> HAD TO DO WHILE TEACHING LADIES TO CAST AT AN IGFA
EVENT), USING
> SQUIRRELS AS TARGETS AS THEY MOVE ON THE GROUND
(I'VE NEVER
> ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO HIT ONE WITH THE YARN FLY !),
CASTING TO
> PLACE THE FLY BENEATH PARK BENCHES, USING THE PARALLEL
LINES AT
> THE EDGE OF A TENNIS COURT, THREADING THE FLY THROUGH AN
EVER
> DECREASING OPENING IN A GATE (TIMED TO THE SWINGING OF THE GATE
IN
> THE WIND). FLOYD FRANKE'S TRICK OF HAVING THE CASTER PLACE
TIGHT
> ROLL CAST LOOPS BENEATH HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM........ETC.,
ETC.
> (COULD GO ON FOR PAGES !)
>
>
>
GORDY
>
> Thanks
>
> Walter
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gordon Hill<')" >hillshead@xxxxxxx>
> To: Kirk Eberhard<')"
>captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Chuck
> Easterling<')"
>creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Lawrence Baggett<')"
>
>glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx> ; Randy Olson<')" >bigfly@xxxxxxxxx> ;
Steve
> Jacob<')" >scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Rick
Whorwood<')"
> >whorwood@xxxxxxxxx> ; Dennis Grant<')"
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>flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx> ; Dan Wright<')"
>
>dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Bob Andreae<')" >sobbobfish@xxxxxxx> ;
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Minnick<')"
> >pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Marty Tannahil<')"
>martyt@xxxxxxxxxx>
> ; Jim Brady<')"
>bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Tom White<')"
>
>tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx> ; Ken Cole<')" >ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
;
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; Dave Rothrock<')"
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>
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>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 9:22 AM
> Subject: More
tips for practice
>
>
> Hi,
Group.....
>
> Here are a few more tips for
practice casting:-
>
> 1.) Minimize your
casting arm fatigue, by placing your
> rod/reel under your arm whenever
between casts....like when you
> are thinking or talking with
others. Shake out your casting hand
> as you do this.
>
> 2.) When practicing distance casts, use a 2
handed retrieve
> with the rod under your arm. It's also a time
saver.
>
> 3.) Collect your loops of line
on the grass in front of your
> zero mark....THEN take a step back
behind the mark and make your
> cast. Getting into this habit
will negate the likelihood of
> standing on your line while practicing
and (especially) while
> being tested.
>
> 4.) When sharpening your loop control skills,
do so with
> varying amounts of line out of the rod tip.
>
> 5.) Practice controlled loops using different rod
planes.
> Note the necessity to increase line (loop) speed as you
go more
> horizonal.
> 6.) Teach yourself to
make perfectly controlled loops using no
> line hand.
>
> 7.) Make these controlled loops using ever
decreasing line
> speed so that they are done very slowly without
losing perfection.
> THIS ISN'T EASY......BUT MAKES FOR MUCH BETTER
DEMONSTRATION, AS
> THE LOOPS AND ROD MOTIONS ARE SO MUCH EASIER TO
SEE.
>
> 8.) Practice your tailing loops so
that you can do them in a
> couple of different ways. DO NOT MAKE THEM
BY SHOVING YOUR ROD TIP
> UP INTO THE PATH OF THE LINE. (This is a poor
demo...because it is
> NOT the way your student is likely do do
it.)
>
> Get proficient in doing it the way
students do it......either
> by the use of a spike of power in the
middle of your stroke, or by
> making an obvious creep prior to the
spike.
>
> 9.) For MCI candidates,
practice your back cast tailing loops
> using more line out of your rod
tip than is matched by your stroke
> length, without changing rod
planes. Make sure you can do it
> slowly, with an easily seen
tail every time.
>
> 10.) In practicing wind
casts, it's best to orient your self
> with respect to actual wind
conditions, so you actually have the
> wind to deal with.
Practicing this with no wind is not nearly so
> valuable a self
teaching tool. Doing this way out in the middle
> of a grass
field, and turning to a different wind quadrant for
> each cast is a
good way to do this.
>
> 11.) Spey casting
practice on water is the only way to get the
> skill of anchor
placement and timing down.
>
> 12.)
Practice on grass can have its problems....especially if
> there are
weeds and other, "grass cleats". Not a bad idea to take
> a large
bath or beach towel upon which you can coil your line at
> your zero
point.
>
> 13.) Joan Wulff recommends that you
always cast to some sort
> of target. I think she's
right.
>
> 14.) While practicing distance
casting, DON'T MEASURE YOUR
> DISTANCE ACHIEVED BY THE MARKS ON YOUR
FLY LINE !!!!!! Always
> measure by where your fly lands in
relation to a measured target
> distance.
>
15.) With distance practice, be as critical of your leader
> layout as
with the position of your fly. Proficiency is measured,
> not
only by the distance traveled by the fly, but by whether you
> have a
neat turnover of your leader and a reasonably straight
> layout.
(Remember, a good straight layout is the product of good
> controlled
casting combined with a properly designed leader assembly.)
>
> 16.) After pleasing yourself with distance
accomplishment,
> start working at making the same distance with a LOT
less effort.
>
> 17.) We've emphasized
the point that watching your back cast
> loops is a good way to improve
them. However, there are some
> casts which MUST be done by
observing the targets....not your back
> cast. This is why you
must finally get to the point of making
> controlled back cast loops
while not observing them. For this,
> it's important to make them
while having a buddy critique them for
> you, repeatedly.
>
> 18.) It's not a bad idea to have some
practice sessions in
> differing conditions....like fog, wet sticky
grass, windy days,
> cold days, hot days.....etc. That way you'll
feel confident to
> test under any conditions.
>
> 19.) For long practice sessions, it is a good idea
to use as
> light a reel as possible. A heavy real provides
inertia which
> makes a crisp STOP more difficult, and it results in
greater arm
> fatigue. If I have a real problem with a particular
cast, I like
> to shorten my line, remove the reel (placing it at my
feet) and
> then make many attempts, until I've solved the
problem.
>
> 20.) Cleaning and lubricating your
line prior to your practice
> sessions is a very good idea. A
dirty line can cause many subtle
> casting problems.
>
> 21.) Choosing a practice site with light and
a contrasting
> background can make your observations of your line much
easier to
> see. This is particularly true for critique of your
back cast loops.
>
> 22.) Tom White
taught me to LISTEN as I practiced. By
> actually hearing the
line as it traverses the guides, this may
> well be telling you that
you are using too much power for the task.
>
>
23.) In teaching yourself to be good at curve casts to the
>
right and the left, I found that I could get a lot more casts in a
>
given period of time and with little arm fatigue, by using only
> 30'
of line out of the rod tip, and repeatedly making curves to
> each side
without letting the line fall to the ground. This
> doesn't work
with the distance corkscrew casts, but it does with
> most of the
others.
>
> 24.) While practicing your,
"explain and demonstrate" events,
> learn to express 2 things:
>
> a. A statement of the
problem. (Such as: The wind is
> blowing from my casting arm side
and will blow the line into me.)
>
> b. A statement as to
what you are trying to accomplish.
> (Such as: I need to place a
mend upstream of a tongue of current
> in order to have a drag free
drift of my fly.)
>
> 25.) Don't simply
practice perfect casts. Take plenty of time
> to practice
FAULTS. This way, you can demo to students what they
> look like,
and how they occur.
>
> 26.) As you make these
faulty casts, talk to yourself as you
> describe each one in terms of,
ERROR, RESULT, and CORRECTION.
>
> 27.) Another
way do do this, is to verbalize Bruce Richards' 6
> step algorithm as
you purposely make each faulty cast and then go
> on to
correction.
>
> 28.) Those lucky enough to be
able to practice with a buddy of
> similar or equal casting ability
have a real advantage ! When
> you help one another, you
really increase your learning !!!!
>
> 29.)
Practice sessions done when you are wide awake and full
> of energy are
much more productive than those done when you are
> tired. For
me, I find that the first light of morning after a cup
> of coffee is
best......but that's an individual consideration.
>
> 30.) Teaching is actually wonderfully good
practice. Fishing
> is not, because your attention is on the
fish....less so on the
> casting.
> 31.) After
completing each practice session, I sometimes make
> little notes on a
pad as to what I've taught myself....or what I
> need to work on at the
next session.
>
> 32.) Bruce Richards makes a
point of recommending that you
> have an outfit all strung up and ready
to go for easier and more
> frequent practice sessions. Good idea
(if you can)
>
>
>
Gordy
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