MCCI exam: Casting tasks

Tony Loader has asked some very good questions on the interpretations of the casting tasks for the MCCI exam.

Here are his questions. My answers are in his text are in blue. Dusty Sprague, Present head of the MCCI Testing Committee ran this by Joe Libeu (Former head of the committee.) They also gained Bruce Richards' input. Bruce, as you know, is Chairman of the CBOG.

Note that while I suggested that the, "flick lift" would not be allowed on the distance roll cast, they felt that is should be allowed and encouraged.

Their comments on the, "wiggle cast" v. the, "wiggle mend" are to be heeded. I learned how to do this from Gary Borger and it took a LOT of practice. Not likely you would be asked this on the exam.

A good idea for you MCCI candidates to print out or archive this one for future reference. We've put a lot of thought into it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Demonstrate a normal roll cast in which the leader straightens completely at 50 feet"

Must the fly remain in or on the water/(grass) at all times during the "lift"? I would say, yes.

Agree

Is it allowable to "flick lift" line onto the grass behind the caster? I have allowed that, some examiners don't. Frankly, I don't see the need to do it if your distance requirement is only 50'. For 55' or more, it will definitely help (especially when roll casting on grass, because you don't have the, "line stick" or water, "anchor" that you have when casting on water.)

I agree, no "flick" of line, this should be a static set-up

Is it allowable to reach the rod far back to place line onto the grass behind the caster? I would allow that as a good technique for making the distance roll cast. Tom White also coached MCCI candidates this way.

Agree

Is it allowable to walk backwards to place line on the grass behind and then walk forward again prior to making the forward stroke? I would NOT allow that

Agree, no walk back...

Is there an accuracy component or is the requirement simply to make a cast of 50 feet or longer? Strictly speaking, this is not an accuracy task.

Agree, no target, simply a technique task

Noflick.

"Demonstrate a "shooting" roll cast" to 55 feet, using a single haul."

Is this a "normal" dead line roll cast with the addition of a haul and shoot? Yes. (I think most examiners look at it this way.)

I view this as both a long distance roll with haul and shoot. "Flick lift" allowed and encouraged, in my opinion, that is one thing we are trying to acknowledge they can do.

Is a Switch (Jump roll? Forward Spey? Dynamic Roll?) cast acceptable? No. Disagree

Is there an accuracy component or is the requirement simply to make a cast of 55 feet or longer? Not an accuracy task. I look at it this way: It should be a good demonstration of the multiple components of a well performed distance roll cast including the rod load, SLP of the rod tip, a small loop, and and efficient single haul.

Agree

"Demonstrate positive and negative curve casts at approximately 40 feet"

Is a positive/(negative) curve one which is made with positive/(negative) force or one made towards/(away from) the caster's body? I think the candidate should clarify that with the examiners before making the cast. .... something like this: " I'm fully aware of the different ways to describe these casts. Do you want me to have my fly curve to the right ?"

Agree, positive and negative are terms that should not be used in any curve cast task. Until we get the test wording changed the examiner should simply ask for right and left curves.

Is the requirement one curve made to the left and one made to the right? (2 curve casts) No. It is to use 2 different METHODS. Not different directions. You may be asked to do each in either direction, however.

Agree

Is the requirement one positive force and one negative force curve made to each side? (4 curve casts) Not written that way, but this would comply with the 2 different method requirement, as I see it. (A well prepared candidate will have at least 2 more methods in case of dispute.)

Agree

How much curvature is required e.g. must the leader and some line lay out at right angles or is a more gradual curve acceptable? Gradual curve, though DISTINCT would fly just fine with me. I look at the right angle layout as a, "hook cast" (Ok, though, since it is a type of curve cast... just a bit harder to perform ) If I have a candidate who is really super good at all tasks, I might explore the depth of his expertise by asking him to do a right angle hook cast. I couldn't flunk him on that one if he couldn't do it, however, since that is not a listed tas k.

Agree

Is the requirement to make the curves lay out at 40 feet from the caster or to make them with 40 feet of line? As I see it, it means to place the curve around an object (target, cone, etc) which is placed at a 40' distance.

In my view, we are simply asking for curve casts made where the fly lands approx. 40 ft. from the caster. The committee is addressing this in the rewrite of the masters performance test.

Is there any requirement to make these curves from a vertical casting plane? No. Agree

Is a "corkscrew curve cast" (after Jason/Gary Borger) acceptable or would you consider this a "curve mend"? I see this one as a curve cast. When I do it, the corkscrew move is performed PRIOR TO THE STOP. You can also do it with at least part of the maneuver performed after the stop. In that event, I see that as a, "cast mend". Open to discussion as to whether it would be accepted. If the entire corkscrew maneuver is performed AFTER the stop, then I'd consider it a men d, not a curve cast.

Agree, a curve cast must be made entirely with rod motion prior to loop formation

In the past, Gary Borger was very strict about that. On MCCI exams, I'm aware that he will sometimes ask the candidate to make a slack line cast such as a wiggle cast (serpentine layout). If the candidate makes the, "wiggle" movements with the rod prior to the stop it passes. If made after the stop, he considers that a wiggle MEND.

Doing the "wiggles" prior to loop formation would put the slack in the top leg which would normally not end up in any sort of serpentine delivery. I've never heard of this before and doubt that it is all that possible, certainly very difficult.

++++++++ Regarding the positive and negative curve casts at approximately 40 feet.

For the positive curve we expect a right-handed caster to make a horizontal overpowered cast to the left with the line and leader laying out in a distinct curve to the left. Some examiners require the fly land at 40 feet or more from the caster; others simply require a curved layout of line not penalizing for less than 40 feet. Both are reasonable expectations. Make sure you understand what your examiner expects.

I agree, 40 ft. is actually rather long for this task, 30 ft. would be more reasonable and requires the same technique

For the negative curve ...The main thing here is the size of the casting arc, in my opinion. The loop must be big and wind resistant which will prevent it from straightening before it hits the ground. Acceleration must be matched to the size of the loop to insure that the loop drops to the ground before it straightens.

These are true curve casts; not aerial mends -- rod motion prior to the stop should be used to form the curves. No targets involved. The line should lay out in distinct curves.

We're clarifying requirements for this task in a revision to the masters performance test. +++++++++++++++

"Roll cast to a target at 50 feet (Starting with less than 20 feet of line. Shake line out and have line land close with 3 tries)."

Is this a requirement to start with 20 feet of line once and try up to three times to roll cast this line to the target? That's a good one for Dusty and his committee. My own take is to have the candidate repeat the entire scenario in the event it is not done well on the first of 3 allowed try's.

Or is it a requirement to commence with 20 feet of line on each of up to three tries?

++++++++ We expect the candidate to start with 20 feet of line, shake out line, and make a roll cast to the target hitting the 30inch target within three attempts. One technique is to toss a D loop to the rear, making a live-line roll cast to the target. If the rear toss includes enough line, is in alignment with the rod plane going forward, and its in alignment with the target ring, reasonable accuracy is possible. ++++++++++++++++

Agree.

"Demonstrate aerial mends at approximately 15, 25, and 35 feet..."

How "saucer" shaped as opposed to "cup" shaped is the mend allowed to be? The mend should be distinct and go around each target or cone, etc. I'd make allowances with respect to the length and depth of each mend as the candidate goes for the 35' target .... but not allow one which requires some head scratching as to whether it is or isn't a definite mend.

Agree...

+++++ Gordy say it well....++++++++++

Must all of the leader/line ahead of the mend and the line behind, lay out essentially straight? I think it should. A little deviation probably allowed by most examiners. My thought is that it should serve as a good example to a student or class.

Agree

Gordy