Walter & Group......
From Jerry Puckett:-
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Jerry ..... Good variation on a theme. My thinking is, however, that bright color to the butt section SHAFT beyone the cork would be more readily visable to the caster while making the cast.
I was giving an exam, yesterday, to a well qualified candidate who posed the question to me of how to protect the cork grip on fly rods. I didn't have a good answer. I know that some rods are sold with the cork grip protected from, "shop wear" with a plastic coating. Keeping that in place might be one answer .... but that doesn't yield a friendly grip, in my opinion. Over the years, some catalogues have offered protective stuff to wipe on . I have no experience with any of it. We've noted that the best quality cork has fewer voids and wears better over the years.
I'm pleasantlly surprised with how well our cork grips do stand up.... especially as I have been guilty of fishing blitzes where grab the handle for the next cast after releasing fish with slime and salt water on my hands.
Gordy
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From David Lambert on testing techniques:
ordy -- Tom's 'ice-breaker' is one of the better calming methods I've
seen. Not too long ago I tested an MCCI candidate who was visibly
nervous in orals. His anxiety ripened until he melted in the
practicals. I think he was a good caster, possibly a good candidate,
but he was unable to shake the 'coach' effect, so we'll never know.
Maybe if he'd done the practical first, and succeeded???
Some candidates I've tested calm down when they get a rod in their
hands. Seems they're more confident with their casting skills than
their verbal.
Could we offer a candidate the choice of first doing the orals or
practicals. Or simply do the practicals first? Then the testor could
calm a serious candidate down using his/her own version of the White
method.
Would it be practical?
And this: Maybe how instructors handle the coach effect (i.e., students
who can perform well only when the coach/teacher walks away) would be a
topic worthy of discussion.
David Lambert
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David.... On the MCCI exams, the lead examiner (CBOG) usually decides which to hold first. I don't know if doing the casting part first would help.... perhaps it would.
I'd have no objection to leaving the decision to the candidate.
One practical consideration is that when we hold exams at conclaves, there is competition for the best casting sites. This would be eased if some of the exams were given with the casting done first.
Joe Libeu has been doing it by giving the casting part and the oral exam at the same time. I see some value in handling it this way, especially for uptight candidates. I remember, too, that Joe was not keen on testing at fly shows, either. I think one of his reasons was lack of control over the casting venues.
Perhaps Joe will come in here with his rational. We may all learn something.
Gordy
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COMMENT: On the topic of the candidate who only does well when the instructor walks away:
This would make me wonder if this individual would ever develop enough confidence to be an effective Master. As a Master, one must be prepared to be called to task to give a course or workshop at any time.
Gordy
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