Belgian cast .... more.

 

Walter & Group :-

 

From Jerry Puckett...............

 

Gordy:

 

How does SLP of the the rod tip apply to the Belgian constant tension oval cast?

 

Before I teach this cast a need a little clearer grasp of how this cast relates to the essentials.  Could you shed some light please?

 

Thanks, Jerry

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Jerry...

 

I don't see a straight line path of the rod tip during the back cast of this Belgian cast, nor does that appear until the caster starts the forward stroke which might be considered the start of distinct acceleration in the direction of the cast.  Then one does best with as straight a path of the rod tip as possible when a narrow loop for presentation is desired.

 

The caster still does best with as much slack eliminated as possible.

 

Pause time is not considered, here, since this is a continuous tension cast with no actual pause and no defined STOP.

 

On the forward stroke, the caster is still in better control if the amount of line carried is commensurate with the stroke length. (Actually with respect to tip travel which is the combination of stroke length and rod arc.)

 

Power still must be applied at the correct time and in the correct amount.

 

Gordy

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From Wallace Henderson (New CCI) :-

 

My comments in your text in red.

Gordy -

Thanks for adding me to the list. I have enjoyed many of the email strings that Peter was nice enough to forward over the last 6 months or so. I look forward to more ahead.

A couple of thoughts on other situations where the Belgian cast works well, at least for me.

Streamer fishing tight to the bank. Like your permit cast, the goal is to cast an often heavy fly to a small target area (such as behind a log) and have a straight line to the fly for a couple of quick strips to make the fly dart from the bank. The cast is especially effective when pounding the bank with streamers from a fast moving drift boat. 

Heavy nymphs in fast pocket water. The drift is short and fast and the key is again to hit a small target with the fly on a taught line to detect the strike.  Good one.

One that's a little off the wall ... baracuda teasing. You probably know the technique of teasing baracuda by ripping a fly accross the water in front of its nose. A belgian cast works well because the fly hits the water on a taught line with the rod pre loaded for pulling the fly fast in front of the fish. (Note, I consider this technique a last resort after the fish has refused one or two regular retrieves but is still hanging around. It doesn't always work but I've worked some big fish into enough of a lather to strike long after they refused the initial presentation.)    Yes.  I often use that one.  Sometimes with really big cudas on the flat, after doing this a few times, I follow up with a cast out beyond the critter and start a very s  l  o  w retrieve.  When the fish turns and starts toward the fly, I steadily accelerate the retrieve and then continue the acceleration with really fast rod tip motion as the leader knot gets close to the tip top.  This fish goes for ACCELERATION better than for speed, and if you start your retrieve fast, you can't accelerate it enough.

I also find the Belgian cast works reasonably well for long casts with wind from behind. I seem to recall someone saying that the cast was invented for a tail wind.

OK... unless the wind is strong enough to blow that, "D-loop" back toward you.  If that happens, you can't load the rod properly for the forward stroke.

Re the email trail below. I completely agree with your thoughts. It also seems intuitive to me. An initial translational move can take up slack, begin loading the rod or add velocity to the tip/fly line. When I go for distance, I find the key is to hold off as long as I can before rotating the rod. I focus on "pulling" or leading with the butt/elbow before rotation and it works.  It may do all of these things.

You may also recall that Phillips "Technology of Fly Rods" has some analysis of the tip speeds achievable with rotation and transaltion only and in combination. His analysis makes complete sense to me.  Yes.  See: THE TECHNOLOGY OF FLY RODS by Don Phillips, pp. 79 -80.

Congratulations on passing your exam, Wallace !

Gordy

W.

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From Jim Laing............

Gordy-

 

On teaching the Belgium Wind Cast - I ask the student to draw a semi circle with the rod tip while changing rod planes.  This is a continuous move.  Begin low on the backcast and finish high on the forward cast. 

 

Bruce/Troy - While our goal is to keep slack out of our casts, I believe we always suffer from some degree of slack.  While the correct application of power and tip path...... can create a beautiful tight loop at any distance, we always battle the effects of gravity and after stabbing the perfect back cast while carrying 90', that caster has to start fast and finish a hell of a lot faster (smooth accelerated acceleration - HA).  I have to think that some translation is wasted on fighting gravity even on the straightest backcast with slight appropriate trajectory.  Like Troy, I want to see that bend (deep in the butt of the rod ) early in the forward stroke and rotate all the way through the longest possible stroke.  That style sounds like the set-up for a perfect cast - But is there such a thing?

 

I think that Bruce is saying that there is always some varying degree of slack in every cast and with less slack you benefit from a longer stroke.

 

Jim

Jim.  You may be right about that.  Troy brought up the subject of line momentum, too.  I don't think we can ignore that or the idea that during the translational phase fly line inertia is being overcome.

Gordy

 

 

 

Power still has to be applied at the correct time and in the correct amount.