Wind Casting quiz .... other answers

So that you can see another approach to answering the quiz questions, I include good answers by Gary Eaton with brief comments by me in bold red italics. Gordy :-

On Sat, Jul 12, 2008 at 10:57 PM, Gary Eaton <doubledok@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 11:45 AM, Gordy Hill <masterstudy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Gary & Group.....

Here is a little 20 question quiz on casting in WIND : -

1.) Tom White used to say, when teaching casting on a windy day, "The bad news is that the wind is blowing.   The good news is that the wind is blowing."

What do you think he meant by that ?

There are advantages as well as disadvantages to wind.

Some Advantages -

It breaks up the surface

It camouflages the anglers presence

It may make casting distance less

It may assist the caster - depending on direction

Some Disadvantages-

Wind can impede the speed and direction of the cast

Sighting fish is more difficult

True. Sometimes, however, sighting fish can be easier (especially in the salt) because you can get closer to them without spooking them.   Occasionally, we can spot the fish in the curl of a wave, too.  What he really meant, however, was that when it impeded the cast in one direction, it helped when casting the other way.

When casting with wind from in front or from behind, the main things you need to consider are:

1.) Trajectory (line plane, "launch angle")

2.) Loop size.

3.) Loop speed (& related rod load)

4.) Timing (cadence)

G.

2.) Sometimes I preface my classes on casting in high winds with this statement: " Where wind is concerned, I see three stages in the casting career of a fly fisherman; the first where he simply can't handle the wind; the second as he learns to handle the wind; the third, when he can use the wind to advantage.

Can you list some ways that the fly fisherman can use the wind to advantage ?

1. Sail a roll cast or overhead cast with a tail wind

2. Hover a fly in a gentle headwind for delicate placement

3. Use the surface break-up to slam a heavy fly into the water without alarming fish

4. Wind may enhance a tide depending on direction and fetch.

Yes.       G.

3.) What is the difference between the, "Lefty Kreh Wind Cast" and the, "Thrust Cast" ?

Not much - re-named by Jason Borger at the filming of Lefty's video.

Agree.     G.

4.) Briefly describe the THRUST CAST and its use in as few words as you can.

High, tight, hauled back cast and corresponding forward cast that rotates over only as you "run out of arm" and the arm ends thrust at the target in-line with the "thrusted" rod.

Good. You were able to contract it into one sentence.     G.

5.) In the fly casting literature, what author described the, "Storm Cast" ?

Joe Moulson?     Charles Ritz.   You got it right, above.

Joe Mulson is known for coming up with the, "Mulson Wind Cast" which is quite different.   (As you may remember, we had several sessions on that technique earlier this year.)        G.

6.)  You are about to take your Masters exam. The wind is blowing 15 mph, with gusts. Your examiners have given you the choice of making your distance cast :      .

Which would you choose ? . Wind onto your line hand side.      That's what I'd do.   G.

7.) Now the situation changes. You are taking the same exam. The wind is at 7 mph.The course is such that you are given only two choices :  a. Wind from in front. b wind from behind

Which would you choose ?

Wind from behind.

8.) Why ?

Not strong enough to mess up my back cast,

enhances roll casts,

straightens leaders

I think most thinking candidates would do the same thing.    One consideration, however, is that if you are not really confident in making high loop speed, well timed back casts, the wind from in front can help ..... at least for certain casts including the distance event. Remember: Your back cast is the setup for your forward cast, especially for the distance task.

Roll casts are always easier with the wind from behind.

A wind from behind can straighten out your slack line casts and aerial mends if you aren't careful.

A wind from behind can help make what many find to be the most difficult cast ...... the long distance aerial mend. Trick I use, is to make the mend early (right after the stop) and high. Have enough line out, point the rod at the target and shoot the whole thing with minimal resistance.   G.

9.) You are fishing for tarpon from the deck of a flats skiff. You are set up well for a salt water, "quick cast". A fish shows up 50' down wind from you. Wind is blowing 20 knots.

       BRIEFLY describe your cast.

Belgian cast with a higher forward delivery to target to carry the line the full distance.

Well...... if you are set up for a classic salt water, "quick cast", you can take advantage of the tail wind to make a roll pickup, then only one back cast and reach the fish easily at 50'.      G.

10. Same scenario ..... but , now, the wind is blowing 22 knots from the position of the fish right to you.

      Describe your cast.

Sqaut/ Thrust/Mulson- type wind cast - anchoring the unrolling line onto the surface tension to prevent blow back (hauled, tight loop, very fast delivery onto the surface)

That is one way to do it. Another way is to go from the salt water, "quick cast" position, make a short, quick forward roll followed by a long, high back cast.   To make 50', you'll probably need this followed by a second false cast with a high, more open (wider) loop back cast to let the wind assist, then a tight loop/high loop speed forward cast directed directly down to the fish.    G.

11. You are making a 50' cast directly into a strong wind. How does this cast differ from a 60' cast to the same target when there is no wind ?

Can throw into the wind more vertically without spooking fish -would use more side arm in windless scenario.

Must have a very tight loop (delayed rotation), with high line speed (Hauled), and low trajectory to prevent blow back in wind scenario versus more routine double-haul for the wind free setting.

OK. Also see my comment to Tony Loader's answer.

Side arm casts are less likely to spook fish on windless and cloudless days.

From a strictly casting standpoint, rod plane is mostly a matter of style.  With wind, the forward cast needs to differ from the back cast in several ways as I outlined in my comments to question 1.). With no wind, this is not necessary.    G.

12.   Now you need to make a 60' cast with a strong wind from behind. How does this cast differ from the 60' cast made when no wind is blowing ?

With back wind can loft a wider, higher, loop delivery cast and let the wind sail the delivery to the target.

True.   That is half the equation. With that strong wind from behind, I'd consider a back cast trajectory lower, 180 degrees from that of the forward cast with a tight loop and greater rod load with high loop speed to cut through that wind.    G.

13.) You are about to make a 45' cast to a laid up fish. The wind is blowing onto your line hand side at 15 mph.

         a. What problem does this cause ?

Fly blowing into the caster and his rod.

We are forever telling our candidates: "LISTEN TO THE QUESTION !"

The wind is blowing onto your LINE HAND SIDE.

It won't blow the line into the caster. It will blow it to windward, so you must compensate in order to be more accurate. G.

         b. What is your solution ? Cast to windward of your intended target. G.

Oval Cast or opposite shoulder cast

14.) There is a wind of about 5 mph onto your rod hand side. How do you handle it ?

Slight wind - so may get by with just a side arm delivery to keep fly to windward side of the rod tip.   Yes.

15.) Now the wind picks up to 20 mph onto your rod hand side.

         a. State the problem this presents.

Wind blowing hook into caster and

Wind blowing fly into rod tip (rod shear)     Yes.   G.

      b. List as many ways of solving the problem as you can. (At least 6 ways of handling this.)

All casts with hauls, tight loops, leader as thick as possible and no longer than necessary -

Elliptical Cast

Oval cast

Opposite shoulder (off-shoulder cast)

Galway Cast

Fish the back cast

Cast with opposite hand - if you can    Glad you added that last one. MCCI exams of the future (starting in January, "09 ) will include a task of casting with the, "off hand".

Your other suggestions are good, too. (See my more detailed comments in the answers by Tony Loader.)    G.

16.) You are fishing from the right bank of a river for salmon, using a 15' Spey rod. There is a strong downstream wind. What cast do you choose ?

Double Spey   Yes.     G.

17.) Fishing from the left bank; with a strong upstream wind. What cast do you chose ?

Single Spey    Yes.    G.

18.) How do you determine which bank you are on in the first place ?

Face downstream - left side is left bank and right side is right bank   Yes      G.

19.) When (if ever) would you elect to make a distance cast with a small unweighted fly using a wide loop such that the fly leg of the loop is high and the rod leg fairly horizontal ?

Strong Rear or Tail wind   Agree.

20.) How do you do that ?

Oval cast with forward cast starting low behind and, instead of SLP to a stop -> give it more rotation (windshield wiper effect) stopping wiht rod tip about head high in fornt.   That's one way to do it. Check out my comment to Tony's answer. G.

Gary Eaton