Marked lines for testing & practice

Walter & Group........

From Ally Gowans on testing with marked fly lines:-

Hi Gordy,

 

In talking to some FFF CCIs here I discovered that whilst being tested (in Ireland) they were able to use lines that they had marked with the accuracy distances. My understanding was that no marks that mighyt assist them are allowed on candidates lines. Could you please clarify this point?

 

Best wishes,

Ally Gowans

 

See my web sites http://www.letsflyfish.com and http://www.flyfish-scotland.com

Trout fly fishing and fly casting school "Tackling Trout" at The Kenmore Hotel May 16/17/18. Spey Casting and Salmon Fishing School at The Kenmore Hotel June 13/14/15. See my web sites for more details of schools.

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Ally...

 

Good point !  For candidates, I'll expand greatly as a practice/teaching/coaching exercise: -

 

I am not aware of that rule.  When I went back to review the written requirements, I found nothing on the subject, either.

 

Many of the candidates I have tested over the years have had marked lines.  We encourage their use for practice. Some have used the same lines to test.

 

The way I look at it is that it becomes pretty obvious when the candidate is using them to some advantage while performing the casting tasks.  (Doesn't make for confident good casting.)

 

In teaching distance casting we are all aware that one of the problems (especially with Master candidates) is that they tend to carry more line than they can handle well for the ambient circumstances.  Some mark their lines with a permanent marker at the point they find as the average length of that line that they can carry with that rod.  Of course, this will change with wind and even with their, "expertise of the day".  (Ladies have, "bad hair days" ... and I have, "bad cast days"...... same with candidates.)

 

I coach them to carry ever increasing lengths of line as they speed up and make high speed tight loops.  When they get to the point that the loops start to deteriorate, I have them back off a couple of feet or so until they have the length of line that they can carry perfectly with good tight high speed loops.  I have them hold the line at that point and that is where the mark goes.

 

When testing, adrenalin is pumping.  Less than truly expert casters will tend to try and carry more line than their expertise and circumstances permit as they try to make a, "hero" cast to go well beyond the 85' mark.  They often don't reach it ..... and if they do, the layout is an embarrassment. ( 100' or more line is out of the rod tip yet they haven't reached the required 85' distance.) This is the second most common fault with this task .... the first being (in my experience) a less than perfect back cast loop as they concentrate on the distant target and place their psyches into the forward loop.

 

If my candidate has made an almost perfect cast within inches of the target and has done every thing else on the test flawlessly, I'll sometimes stop him, have him try to relax, and I give him one command.... and one only:-

 

"Watch your back cast."   Under those circumstances, I have never had a failure.

 

As they cast for distance, they really can't see the black mark .... so I think it is of limited value.

 

Because of this, I have coached several to place a not overly tight 8X simple nail knot of 4 lb. mono at the point on the line where they have it in line hand and can still make good tight loops with very high loop speed.  They can feel this ..... if missed while false casting, it clicks in the guides and is an indication that they probably should not exceed that length prior to the delivery cast.  This can be repositioned as the candidate gets more proficient and can effectively carry more line.

 

With a tight knot, it dents the coating on the fly line.... so even after removal it still can be felt by the line hand but cannot be readily identified by the examiner.

 

I did not see any harm in allowing them to keep that knot on the line while testing, though I must admit it is a bit of a, "crutch".

 

With accuracy casting, it can be a big help from a distance standpoint.  Having said that, however, I find that it really doesn't help me a bit. (I tend to get thrown off if I look at my line.)...... so, for some, it may well be a disadvantage.

 

When I reviewed the ACA competition rules, I saw nothing on the subject.  That is timely, since I just got back from an ACA competition event at the IGFA and read them thoroughly.

 

One thing that bothered me, personally, is that I noted some examiners on a CCI exam in the past allowing the candidate to make the first accuracy cast after placing and dragging the fly to or near the target, then picking up from there and delivering it.  The MCCI exam rules preclude that, by stating that the cast must begin with fly in hand.

 

Since finding nothing more in the rules to guide us, I'd see value in bringing this up to the CCI and MCCI testing committees and finally to the Board.

 

Dusty Sprague is head of the MCCI Testing Committee and Chuck Easterling is head of the CCI Testing Committee.

Both are in our Group.  Perhaps we can engage their input.

 

Gordy

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