Walter & 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 ?
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 ?
3.) What is the difference between the, "Lefty Kreh Wind Cast" and the, "Thrust Cast" ?
4.) Briefly describe the THRUST CAST and its use in as few words as you can.
5.) In the fly casting literature, what author described the, "Storm Cast" ?
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 :
a. With wind from in front b. Wind from behind c. Wind onto your casting arm side. d. Wind onto your line hand side.
Which would you choose ?
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 ?
8.) Why ?
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.
10. Same scenario ..... but , now, the wind is blowing 22 knots from the position of the fish right to you.
Describe your cast.
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 ?
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 ?
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 ?
b. What is your solution ?
14.) There is a wind of about 5 mph onto your rod hand side. How do you handle it ?
15.) Now the wind picks up to 20 mph onto your rod hand side.
a. State the problem this presents.
b. List as many ways of solving the problem as you can. (At least 6 ways of handling this.)
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 ?
17.) Fishing from the left bank; with a strong upstream wind. What cast do you chose ?
18.) How do you determine which bank you are on in the first place ?
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 ?
20.) How do you do that ?
Take your time, and have fun with these questions !
Gordy