Lefty's teachings / "FFF teachings"

Walter & Group.......

Working with Lefty Kreh .... by Al Crise ( His critique in blue italics,  Mine in BOLD CAPS......  GORDY ):-

Howdy Gordy and Gang.

   Gordy I am looking for some feed back  ....  here is mine.

 

 I just got home from the Gulf Coast Council Expo in Lake Charles, LA

   On Sunday afternoon most of the people had headed for the doors. Then out back on the grass was Lefty Kreh doing a little casting. I had asked Lefty earlier if he could show me a few of the casts he had used for his students of 'Adaptive Anglers'.  What took place was much like the tape he did on Teaching the Instructor.  I was the student/instructor.  He would ask if I would make a certain cast. Then he would apply his vast knowledge to my cast. On many points he was right. Some I still had a doubt on. Then I went to my 'deep thoughts' You know how scary that can be. So I am going to try to share some with you.

  Now remember this is three days latter and 500 miles. So if I am fuzzy you might understand. 'Water is good, Gumbo soup is better.'

 

  FFF= The tailing loop is caused by the Conclave path of the rod tip

  Lefty= The tailing loop is caused by the upward travel of the rod tip.

               Hey we are saying the same thing just FFF looks at the path before along with the tip. Lefty looks                 at the tip or final launch angle.

 

WELL.... AN UPWARD TRAVEL OF THE ROD TIP WILL YIELD A CONCAVE PATH OF THE ROD TIP AND A COLLISION .... BUT THAT IS NOT THE WAY THE AVERAGE BEGINNING STUDENT WILL DO IT WHICH IS WHY WE WON'T ACCEPT THAT METHOD OF DEMONSTRATING A TAILING LOOP ON AN INSTRUCTOR EXAM.  IN FACT, IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT WHEN THE NEW REVISION OF THE PRESENT MCCI EXAM IS VOTED IN THAT THE CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE 3 DIFFERENT METHODS OF MAKING A TAILING LOOP SUCH AS:

 

 1. USING TOO SHORT A STROKE FOR THE AMOUNT OF LINE CARRIED,

 

 2. CREEPING AND THEN USING TOO SHORT A STROKE.

 

 3. USING NO CREEP AND THE CORRECT LENGTH OF STROKE FOR THE AMOUNT OF LINE CARRIED, BUT TAILING BY FORMING A CONCAVE PATH OF THE ROD TIP WITH AN ABRUPT SPIKE OF POWER EARLY DURING THE STROKE.

 

(THESE ALL YIELD A CONCAVE PATH OF THE ROD TIP DURING THE CASTING STROKE.)

 

WHETHER OTHER METHODS SUCH AS TAILING BY PLACING THE CONCAVITY OF THE PATH OF THE ROD TIP BETWEEN STROKES BY MAKING AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN 180 DEGREES BETWEEN THE BACK CAST TRAJECTORY ( LAUNCH ANGLE ) AND THE FORWARD CAST TRAJECTORY WITH NO CHANGE IN THE ROD PLANES WILL PASS MUSTER REMAINS TO BE DECIDED.

 

LEFTY ALSO TEACHES THAT ONE WAY TO MAKE A TAILING LOOP IS TO, "PUSH" THE ROD FORWARD AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE STROKE.  THIS RESULTS IN A COLLISION BECAUSE THE ROD TIP DOESN'T DIP DOWN BELOW THE ONCOMING LINE.  THAT IS ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT, BUT MOST OF US DON'T SEE THAT AS THE WAY MOST EARLY OR POORLY TRAINED CASTERS DO IT.

 

 

  FFF= Casting with an overhead will give you more choices of cast.

 

NOT SURE THAT IS REALLY TRUE (?) 

 

  Lefty= Casting from a low elbow side arm is easier on the body. Gives longer stroke, greater distance.

               I have to agree with both. When asked what style I use. 'What gets the fly to the fish'.

 

EASIER FOR SOME, BUT NOT ALL.  IN GENERAL, A BIT EASIER FOR ANGLERS USING HEAVY FLY TACKLE FROM THE DECK OF A FLATS SKIFF.

 

WITH OVERHEAD CASTING USING A VERTICAL OR OFF VERTICAL ROD PLANE (IN CONSTRAST TO LEFTY'S OFF-HORIZONAL ROD PLANE WITH LOW ELBOW STYLE)  YOU CAN GET A LONG STROKE, GREAT ROD ARC AND LENGTHY TIP TRAVEL, BUT THE CASTER HAS TO GO ABOUT IT DIFFERENTLY...  ie.  BY USING AN OPEN STANCE AND LONG DRIFT MOVE, OR BY LEANING WAY BACK AND PLACING THE ROD TIP AS FAR BACK AS POSSIBLE ON THE BACK CAST.

 

  FFF= Reducing body rotation through the cast will improve the tracking.  

 

SO WILL THE USE OF A VERTICAL ROD PLANE.  THIS IS ONE REASON MANY WORLD CLASS TOURNAMENT DISTANCE CASTERS DO IT THIS WAY.

 

  Lefty= Rotation of the body will give greater stroke, rod tip travel

           I do not like to see the 'Barndoor' swing but longer strokes help.

 

JUST HIS WAY OF USING HIS OFF-HORIZONTAL ROD PLANE/LOW ELBOW STYLE TO GAIN AS MUCH STROKE LENGTH AS HE CAN ACHIEVE.

 

  FFF= Removal of the slack before the cast can be made is essential.

  Lefty=  You have to get the fly in motion before the cast can be made.

            If all the line is moving there is no slack. Lefty did not say it had to be moving same direction as the cast will be. The line is tight in a Snake roll pick up.

 

YES.  THE CASTER CAN MAKE A, "C-PICKUP" OR USE A, "HUMP MEND" OR OTHER METHODS TO GET THE END OF THE LINE MOVING PRIOR TO MAKING THE BACK CAST.

 

  FFF= The overhead cast will set the back loop higher for a better forward casting plane.

  Lefty= The overhead cast is easily made into a low back cast if the student carries the rod tip too far back.

            I teach a 'up cast- behind you' not a back cast. Lefty wanted a rising back cast all the way through.

 

REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.  YOU CAN AIM THE BACK CAST LOOP UP AND BACK ( OR WHEREVER YOU WANT IT TO BE) WITH EITHER STYLE.

 

LEFTY TEACHES THAT AIMING THE BACK CAST BACK AND DOWN CAN YEILD AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM.  WE ALL TEACH THAT.  HE ALSO TEACHES THAT YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY GET IT TOO FAR BACK FOR DISTANCE CASTING.

 

  FFF= Raising the Elbow gives more stoke, power to the cast.

 

THIS ISN'T, "FFF TEACHING" AS MUCH AS IT IS ONE WAY TO DO IT IF THE ANGLER ELECTS TO USE A STYLE WHICH INCLUDES A VERTICAL OR NEAR VERTICAL ROD PLANE.  REMEMBER:  FFF TEACHINGS ARE NO LONGER STYLE RELATED.  WE RECOGNIZE ANY AND ALL EFFECTIVE STYLES BASED UPON WHAT WORKS BEST FOR EACH CASTER'S ANATOMY AND THE CASTING/FISHING CIRCUMSTANCE.

 

  Lefty= Keeping the elbow 'on the Shelf' keeps the rod on plane.

           Keeping the rod low is important but keeping the rod path flat and in the correct trajectory is still the major factor. Often the side arm caster will make a U shape with the rod hand when the elbow is raised. AS well as the overhead caster will make the dome cast or the concaved path. Lefty gives a point to see. "Keep your elbow on the shelf."

 

YES, HE DOES.  THIS WORKS WELL WITH THE HORIZONTAL ROD PLANE/LOW ELBOW, "LEFTY" STYLE.  IT DOES NOT WORK WITH OTHER STYLES.

 

       

  Lefty and I had one student in a wheel chair come out. Unable to stand he cast from sitting down.

   Mark was willing to try Lefty's side arm with upper body rotation. Mark said the rotation of the hand to 'palm up' was uncomfortable. I thought on this for a while, remember I am slow thinker. Next day thoughts were.

  His normal arm strength was to move his wheel chair forward and backward palm down or facing himself. I should have and sorry to say I did not, have him try an overhead cast. This would have kept his hand in a more normal plane for his strength.

 

I THINK YOU MEAN A VERTICAL ROD PLANE/ELBOW FORWARD STYLE.  (MIGHT WELL HAVE WORKED.)

 

   I am still in Awe of Lefty. Still find his humor delightful. His ability stronger that ever. Never miss a chance to spend some time with Lefty Kreh.

 

ol Al

 

GORDY