Walter & Group...
Answers from Bob Hansell (My comments after each answer in bold blue italics ) G. :-
Gordy,
Tried to look up some stuff and failed. Looking
forward to your comments.
Bob
Bob .... I think you did very
well !
Gordy
1.) Do you ever hold the fly in your rod hand when setting up for the salt water quick-cast ? Yes
As you know, there are those who do it that way and those who insist upon holding the fly in the line hand. G.
2.) Why ? Keep fly from crossing your body (on same side as the cast). keep line hand free in a bouncing boat to grab something.
Good to have a reason for things which represent differences of opinion.... especially for MCCI candidates who are preparing for their exam..... G.
3.) How do you position the hook relative to your hand / fingers ? In between the thumb and forefinger at the curve in the hook shank with the point of the hook facing away from you .
Good way to do it. G.
4.) Why ? Easy to have fly plucked out of your hand. Faced away so you do not hook yourself Agree.
5.) Do you ever avoid holding the fly, and hold the leader instead; allowing the fly to dangle ? yes
Sometimes I do that when wading .... allowing the fly to dangle in the water at my feet. I have not been stuck by doing that. I don't do it when on the deck of a skiff since I'm afraid it may get out of control. Some other excellent casters do allow it to dangle, however. I see that method depicted in Jason Borger's book, THE NATURE OF FLY CASTING, pp. 211, 212. G.
6.) Why ? Wading, current coming toward me using the tension of the current to hold my fly.
Works with current going away from you, too. G.
7.) Do you consider this cast strictly for salt water use ? No
8.) When (if ever) would you use it when fishing fresh water venues ? Fishing for carp on a river or stripers in a lake
Good examples. G.
9.) List a minimum of three reasons for using this cast when fishing from the deck of a flats skiff.1. quickly getting a fly in front of a fish. 2. using the least movement as to not spook the fish. 3. keeping your eye focused on the target.
#2. includes making as few false casts as possible. G.
10.) After reading our messages on this subject, and going to the fly casting literature, list the number of noted casters who sometimes hold the fly in the rod hand when using this cast. Lefty Kreh (pg 373 Casting with lefty Kreh - his new book)
Yes. All should see the detailed description of three variations of this cast : Lefty Kreh, CASTING WITH LEFTY KREH, pp. 373-384. The photographs are great and compliment a clearly written text ! G.
11.) In the fly casting literature, there is one author who has described three different variations of this cast. Who is that ? (Could not find in my limited reference guides)
Lefty Kreh. (See, above.) On these ll pages, he demonstrates the SPEED CAST, the LONGER SPEED CAST and the LONGER SPEED CAST WITH EXTRA BACK CAST. G.
12.) If you were able to answer question 9.), cite your reference including page numbers.
My comment after the ans. to question 10.) G.
13.) Would you ever modify your salt water quick-cast because of wind direction and strength ? Yes
14.) If you answered YES to question 11.), tell us when and how. Change the fly to the rod hand if the wind is blowing from my line hand side to my rod hand side .
Several changes to consider including making a "reverse roll cast" with a strong wind from behind. (Here, your D-loop may be blown in front of you on the set-up.) G.
15.) Craig Buckbee has called attention to what he calls a "clearance cast". What do you think that might be ? Clearing line from a stripping basket so you can set up a Saltwater quick cast.
...... or clearing it from the deck by making a cast and then retrieving it as the set-up for the Quick cast is made. G
16.) Why do that ? So tangles from the basket do not hit the stripping guide and effect your cast.
A clearing cast gets the line out of the skiff which makes it a lot less tedious and less messy a job as you prepare the set-up for the quick cast whether or not you are using a basket. G.
17.) BRIEFLY list the challenges or difficulties you would face when using this cast while wading a flat. Little room between your hand and the water. Typically you have less distance between you and the fish. Current. weeds or other obstructions. stepping on the line while moving towards a target .
Less distance to the fish is not a challenge (unless you are thinking that it might make it easier to spook the critter) The other things you cite are challenges. G.
18.) BRIEFLY list the basic changes you would make when leaving the skiff deck and wading a flat and using a modification of this cast. Less line outside the rod tip. smaller loops in my hand. Set up the fly before putting the loops in my hand. perhaps even letting the fly dangle in the water.
Agree. G.
19.) Name one author who uses a different name for this cast. Jason Borger
20.) What does he/she call it ? Speed Pick up cast, Speed cast, boat cast (pg 210 Nature of Fly casting)
Yes. Also, Lefty.
21.) When fishing from the deck of a flats skiff, would you use this cast for all fishing situations ? No. heavy wind, in front of boat with other anglers, I may choose Barnegat Bay cast.
I don't use it if I'm staked out or anchored in a situation where I can see approaching fish from a great distance, especially on those days when fish are few and far between. Reason is that this set-up is very fatigueing. (You can get a cramp in your hand by being "at the ready" for long periods of time.)
22,) You are set up for a salt water quick cast, and are looking for bonefish to your left. Suddenly, your guide tells you that there is a fish approaching rapidly from behind you. Your guide has no time to turn the skiff. What do you do ? Turn around if you can. If not, present fly on the backcast.
Sometimes turning around puts you in a position to make the cast over the skiff ..... not good. Better to make a back cast presentation or Galway cast (forward cast in each direction.) G.
23.) List 3 different ways to position and control the line out of the rod tip when using this cast from the deck of a skiff. 1. fly in line hand between thumb and forefinger, 3 coils looped around the last three fingers in your line hand suspended above the deck, 2. fly in line hand between the thumb and forefinger, 3 coils in line hand with one around each remaining finger. coils draped on the deck with line hand holding the line; fly in rod hand
Yes. G.
24.) List at least 3 different ways to control the shooting line between the reel and the first stripper guide in this situation. 1. fly and loops plucked out of hand then pinch the line with line hand. 2. fly and loops plucked out of hand then circle the line with line hand. 3. fly and loops plucked out of hand, let go and reach for the line to begin a haul
Best read this question again. I highlighted in red.. The fly line to be shot may be coiled on the casting deck, placed in a basket, placed in a "Line Tamer", or (if windy) placed on the lower deck (floor) behind and below the forward casting deck.
25.) We have been talking about flats fishing. Would you ever use this cast when fishing from a skiff in deep water ? (no experience) But I think you could use once you have teased up a bill fish close to the boat.....
Yes. Although, usually the billfish is teased up close so that a very short "chuck-and-duck" cast is all that is required. There are times, however, when it is best to be ready with a quick cast as surface fish such as bluefish, striped bass, little tuny (Albies), etc. suddenly appear on the surface chasing baitfish. Another example, is when drifting along a weedline in the ocean spotting dolphin (dorado).