Tailing Loops

Bob ..... As you know, Lefty is the best known and most repected fly caster in the World. His experience in teaching casters of all ranks around the Globe is tremendous.

He uses a teaching technique which is the same as his extensive writings: That of using simple language and terms which are effective in getting the job done even if the descriptions don't necessarily stand up to super scientific scrutiny. Some have criticised this as pure "showmanship". As I spent many days and hours teaching with him, however, I couldn't excape the obvious ....... HE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN VASTLY IMPROVING HIS STUDENTS' CASTING.

One example is his statement : "The size of the loop is determined by the distance that you speed-up-and-stop at the end of the cast."

Many took issue with that. When I sat down with Lefty I found that he fully realized that this was a gross simplification and that he was basically correct in that the caster has more convexity of the path of the rod tip at the end of the cast when the distance of the "speed-up-and-stop" increased since most casters tended to drop the rod tip a greater distance from the oncoming line when that occurred. Thus the size of the loop was also dependant upon the path of the rod tip !

1.) The most common cause of tailing loops is different in different localities and with different kinds of tackle as well with different casting / fishing tasks. Let me explain.

When Tom White came to Florida from Washington State, he was of the firm opinion that most tails were caused by creep. He changed his mind after coaching many salt water anglers who were using heavy rods and lines as he noted that their most common cause was pure inappropriate use of power. We both noted that the more common cause of tailing loops was different with casters who used a Lefty low elbow-on-the-shelf / off-horizontal / change of rod planes between the back and forward strokes style. Turned out Lefty was right as these casters did fail to keep their elbows on the "shelf" ! (Elevated on the back cast and dropped on the forward cast.) With these casters, we often noted a combined casting defect .... that one plus the tendency to have a spike of power during the stroke. This made the "cure" more complex.

2.) Yes. I do feel strongly that the best way to correct this fault is to evaluate the cause (s) and eliminate it (them).

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I think that your description of a caster's natural style belying his/her physiology and strength is spot on. I've written your sentiment (almost verbatim) numerous times on casting forums, maybe never on this one -- i can't remember. As we experiment with different styles, each of us will gravitate toward motions that maximize output, hurt the least, and result in the prettiest (smoothest, sharpest, most parallel, etc) loops from the caster's vantage point. If our strength changes over time, so may our predominant style. When I was 25 pounds lighter, I had very little strength in my shoulders -- I mean VERY little. I couldn't cast more than 45 ot 50 feet with a vertical casting plane. Some time in the gym and strength training intentionally aimed at strengthing my shoulders with motions that imitate Steve Rajeff's casting stroke definitely paid off. No, I'm nowhere NEAR Steve in terms of power or technique now -- but I can carry 65 to 75 feet of flyline with an overhead casting stroke today. I still cast "Lefty style" most of the time even now, since it's still the most comfortable and graceful for me. As an engineer, I feel that high efficiency = maximum output from minimum input.

Regarding "band-aid fixes" for tails. I feel like it takes an expert caster to actually apply these band-aids to his own casting, without prompting, mid-cast. How many times have you been casting, and on one stroke, something was a little different, and you just "knew" that a tail would show -- but you altered something "on the fly" which avoided the tail, and allowed you to hold it together and continue casting beautifully? Changing conditions such as wind, fly drag, length of line out when shooting, etc. will require subtle alterations from one stroke to the next. Many times, it can be hard to anticipate but mid-stroke, you just know that you have to do something. Call them band-aids, but then again, band-aids do serve a practical purpose in real life, don't they? I'll never apply band aids when stitches are required. If it's a chronic condition, you're right -- fix the root cause. But I don't agree with the notion that we should never teach our students the band aids. I just try to teach them correct form first, and then follow with a statement that even the most expert casters will have to deal with situations where they need to "save" a cast -- and that's when the band aid fixes are introduced. Right or wrong, that's how I teach.

Gordy,

A comment on the "Band aid" cures - 3 of the 4 "band aid" cures you gave as examples may actually be

legitimate fixes for a specific tailing loop problem. They may also "fix" a tailing loop without actually fixing the root

cause. e.g. lengthening the casting stroke may result in smoother power application, remove creep, or even

cause the caster to dip the rod tip more at the end of the stroke. It's the blind application of the cure without

understanding the root cause or how the change is affecting the stroke that makes cure a band aid.

In some cases it can be very difficult to identify subtle hand or body motions that are causing a problem.

One of the diagnostic aids I've found useful is to ask a student to temporarily add and then remove

band aid changes to their casting stroke and observe how these changes affect the

loop/rod tip path/body motion. The intent in this case is not to hit upon a cure without understanding

the actual cause. The changes can sometimes help to spot or isolate a subtle issue or to provide

empirical evidence to help confirm or refute a diagnosis.

I also use this method to make subtle changes that I feel might improve a student's casting efficiency

without telling them why I want them to make a change. After a few minutes I'll ask them to do a bit of

self diagnosis, i.e. tell me if they feel any difference and if they can describe it. I then explain why I had them

make the changes. Sometimes a student will unintentionally resist making changes to their stroke if they

think about it too much before trying a change. This way the body can provide unbiased feedback about

the change before the brain has a chance to interfere with the feedback.

Cheers

Walter

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Walter .... Well, if the "band-aid" fix just happens to do the trick, that is all it is. If the same fix is made for a correctly diagnosed fault, then I'd not look at it as a "band-aid" at all. G.

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What are some underlying situations behind some of the causes of tailing loops ?

# Anxiety either due to a candidate being tested or fear of not being able to reach a fish, etc.

# Angler excitement as a hundred pound tarpon gets in range. (We call that a "KK" (Knee-Knocker)).

# A head wind as the caster tries to overpower it.

# Attempting max. distance as the caster uses a spike of power on the delivery cast.

# Deterioration of casting control due to fatigue.

# " " " " due to fishing in numbing cold. (Happened to me in Alaska.)

# Poor application of power when the caster switches to a very heavy outfit.

# Lack of attention to the unfurling back cast loop as the caster creeps forward anticipating the next stroke.

# Teaching first time casters with a very soft (limber) fly rod.

# Gross mis-match between the weight of the fly line and the rod designation.

Probably many more.

Gordy