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Group....
After watching some of you (and others) practice casting, as well as your,
"explain and demonstrate" tasks while getting ready for either the CCI or MCI
exams, I've noted some problems. Reaching back to my own experiences, and
noting the response of others to coaching, I've got some suggestions which I
hope will help.
Many of these recommendations are made with the idea of allowing maximum
practice time while minimizing fatigue. Fatigue, you see, can lead to
sloppy casting results. This, in turn, can diminish the acquisition of
good "muscle memory". This problem is most likely to occur with MCI
candidates who are so highly motivated, that they practice for lengths of time
far in excess of the 15 to 30 minute intervals recommended for their
students.
1.) Whenever I try to teach myself a new cast, mend, or casting
trick, I find that I do best by starting with no more line out of the rod tip
than necessary......say 30' to 40'. This doesn't apply to distance events,
but for most specialty casts and mends. I only increase distance after
getting really good at it at short range. Some examples include: Curve and hook
casts, "cast/mends", aerial and on-the-water-mends, slack line casts, tuck
casts, most "pickups", basic single and double hauls, single distance loop
control, and the various methods of purposely creating tailing loops.
2.) Learn to critically WATCH your back casts.
3.) When doing casts which may be harmed by watching these back casts
(such as accuracy casts to targets) have someone else who knows what to look for
observe and critique these.
4.) It's a good idea to start each session with casting loops of
various sizes and in different rod planes as a, "warm up".
5.) You might consider saving the tailing loops for last.....so that
you don't waste time dealing with tangled leaders and wind knots.
6.) Many of us tend to avoid the casts which we don't do well.
These should be practiced most....and, preferably, right after your, "warm up"
period, when your casting arm is, "fresh".
7.) When practicing for good distance casting, I like to start with
good basic technique followed by attempts at ever increasing distance pretty
much as Bill Gammel describes in his video, "Teaching Yourself To
Cast...".
The basic idea, is to pick a length of line out of the rod tip with which
you can make really perfect loops and perfect leader layouts with moderate loop
speed, then learn to re-time these casts as you increase loop speed up to
max speed without destroying those tight loops and clean layouts.
Only then, go to the next line length, and repeat the process. If
you reach the point that you now have enough line carried that you can't
maintain loop and layout perfection, then go back and practice with less line
out of the tip.
Having done this repeatedly, you will arrive at the maximum length (and
wt.) of line that will allow you to consistently make really nice distance
casts. At this point, I like to mark the line with something that I can
FEEL.....like a 7 turn nail knot on the fly line using 4 lb. test mono.....not
too tight, so you can lubricate and slide it up or down the line as your
capabilities change.
Now, I like to stay at this range to hone the cast to perfection.
After doing so, I add about 4' to 5' of line and observe my imperfections.
I practice with this amount of line just a bit beyond my best capabilities,
while I concentrate on one "distance requirement" at a time, bringing each one
to perfection:-
a.) Loop b.) trajectory (line
plane) c.) Deep loading the rod d.) Timing /
acceleration of the haul e.) drifting after the back cast f.)
Shooting line on the back cast (if this becomes your style) g.) Maximizing
tip travel by increasing stroke length, rod arc (casting arc), body motion, and
(if needed) a step forward on the delivery stroke.
As I get near the end of my personal max achievement, I try to do the same
thing with less and less power, until I fail.
Then, I try some slight changes in style. For me, for example, I
found that making the back cast with a rod plane way off vertical, shooting line
on the back cast for a, "pre-load", then making my forward stroke with a more
vertical rod plane, gave me the best result. BUT THAT WAS FOR
ME.....IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME AT ALL FOR YOU !!!
8.) For roll cast events, I found it best to concentrate on basic technique
first, then to hone my loop down to a neat tight egg shape that I could repeat
at short range.
For me, the best way to do that was to plant the leader to the grass with a
little spike, place a folded towel in front of the spike (to avoid fracturing
the tippet), then step back, strip out line, and practice doing nothing other
than throwing increasingly controlled loops at varying distances and with
varying amounts of line in front and behind me.
THEN go to practicing without having the leader planted, using varying
amounts of line in front of you and behind you.
For distance roll casting, I suggest you practice this way on different
surfaces, including water. That way you will have an appreciation for the
length of line out in front of you as well as the amount behind for different
distances and differing resistances offered by surfaces like water, different
grasses, sand, slick gym floor, etc, etc.
When you get to distance roll casting, the trick is to get sufficient line
STRAIGHT behind you in a tight loop on the grass.......NOT a wide loop, and NOT
a loop curled around behind you. Before you start your forward stroke, the
rod tip should be pointed way back at the very apex of that loop with NO
SLACK. This demands that the rod plane be horizontal with that rod tip
low.
You, then, need to practice a good rod load, straight line path of the rod
tip, and late application of a spike of power after smooth acceleration to a
point where the butt section of the rod is about 90 degrees with relation to the
target followed by a good followthrough.
9.) If ever you find that you are reaching the point of diminishing
capability with one cast, go do something else.....and return later to that
event for a, "fresh start" .....and carry less line.
10.) Some candidates found that making little outlines on 3x5" cards
helped. You can carry them to your practice field and use them as
reminders. Some examples include a list of the various change of direction
casts......or a list of the various ways of handling wind from the casting arm
side, etc, etc. Practicing these algorithms as you describe each out out
loud, can help a great deal to smooth out your presentations for
teaching......or for taking your exam.
GordyT
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