"wristing" / Mulson cast

I just had a great casting lesson with Gary Borger at the Somerset, NJ, Fly Show. One of his methods he uses (actually developed by Jason when he was young) is to extend and place the pointer finger of the casting hand to the outside of the rod grip. The wrist naturally does not as easily over-extend backwards as when the pointer finger is gripped in the traditional underneath the handle fashion. Additionally, students can visually focus on keeping their pointer finger directed skyward at the end of the casting stroke next to their ear.

Always love the "Bag of Tricks" that come to me through the Study Group! When explaining to a student that is breaking their wrist in the back: I explain to them that when they break their wrist an inch in the back the rod tips breaks three feet (creating too large of a casting arc for the amount of line being cast resulting in a wide loop). Think about not breaking your wrist in the back. At that time I use one of the many bag of tricks that where in the last email.

One of the explanations that I will sometimes use that I did not see here is: think of using a dynamic wrist when accelerating back - Think of holding a lit candle with wax about to drip off it. If you where to break your wrist in the back the wax would burn your arm. (I understand that if you literally did this it would burn you in most circumstances but it works as a good mental visual for some).

Kevin Bonasera
Turneffe Flats General Manager
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gordy,

... casting in a ball park/field setting there may be a perimeter fence, not toooo high

that the caster can stand a bit in front of, back to fence. the fence becomes an

'object of concern'.

if the fence is low, sitting or kneeling may be put the caster at the correct height

in relation to the fence. basically something to cast up + over.

a shrub or a car can also do the trick.

craig

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Here is one (# 20) I'd forgotten, but have used in the past along with Yarn rod casting .... from Capt Joel Dickey :-

Gordy - One way I have addressed this is by taking the bottom half of the rod off and just letting them cast with the tip half of the rod.. I think this eliminates the initial awkwardness of first picking up a rod. This allows them to control the tip much better.. I have gotten alot of positive feedback from students in that they can find the stroke "straight line rod tip path" much better... Just my little way of doing it what do you think??

Joel

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From Phil Gay (CBOG) on the Mulson cast:

Gordy,

Although I haven't used this cast specifically I often use a low roll cast that stays in contact with the water. Great wind cast as well.

Phil

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Phil.. Glad you pointed that out. The basic concept behind these casts is water contact with the line belly which is part of the lower leg (rod leg) of the loop. You remind us that there are various ways of accomplishing this, the roll cast being one of them.

Gordy

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