Walter & Group...........
Question on the table: When do you introduce the use of the line hand when teaching new casters ????
Gordy.
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The first english translation of Charles Ritz', THE LIFE OF A FLY FISHERMAN was printed in 1959. I don't know the copyright date of the original in French.
This offers testimony to the lack of information and awareness of the use of the line hand by many otherwise informed casters of the day on p. 15. I quote:-
(Charles was showing his parabolic rods at the Ritz-Carlton in N.Y. to an interested fly fisherman)
" Before you look at the rods, may I ask you a question ? This is necessary so that I shold be able to give you the precise information you require and make sure there is no error.
What do you do with your left hand, and in what position is it, when you cast ?
He looked at me in astonishment, placed his two hands in the casting position, moved them about, assumed a perplexed _expression_, appeared to be searching for the correct position for his left hand, started all over again several times and, finally, stopped in discouragement.
'Mr. Ritz', he said, "I can't tell you what I do with my left hand when I cast...." I politely begged his pardon for asking so indiscreet a question and began explaining to him, rod in hand, the importance of the left hand and why its correct use was indispensible if a rod was to give of its best. having done so, I handed him one of my rods, but he refused to take it and, with an appalled _expression_, said: "To think that I've always posed as an expert, and that most of the members of my fishing club have at one time or another asked me to help them choose fly rods, and that for more than twenty years I've never known what my left hand was doing !""
Charles, and other true experts of the day were aquainted with the use of the haul. The double haul, had been used by tournament casters back in the 30's and perhaps longer than that, though most fly fishermen didn't know about it until it was popularized as a tournament distance casting maneuver in 1938.
Jim's question for us, however, is not about hauls. As with Charles and his visitor, it has to do with what one does with the line hand during fly casting and, specifically, when you teach this. Also, the reason for your decision as to when to introduce this to new casters. Finally, the way you teach it.
Gordy
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