Do you cast like this?

[Gary M]

Seth,

You did good!  I have a few minor comments though...

Line plane – the path the line takes during the cast, again can be described in terms of degrees above the horizon (ground or water). What determines the line plane? … try to name at least three things, four would be better! 1) Tip path 2) Stroke 3) Load. 

Tip path... the way I learned it, one expected answer was "rod plane", but many rod planes can create the same tip path, so your answer may actually be a better one.

Stroke - good!  Or, in this case, some refer to this as the casting plane...

Load - yep, the bend of the rod!

You of all, I thought would come up with a number 4!  What about gravity? 

Presentation – the way the fly is delivered to the target.   Compare this to a similar term… layout. I believe that presentation would refer to the fly, and layout would refer to the line

The way I see it, presentation can be ambiguous, but is usually an act, while layout is the result.  The latter includes the line, leader, and fly. 

Next casting??? Possibly today (with Jason?),  possibly tomorrow (with Eric)... definitely next Wednesday (third Wednesday - the 18th) with the club.  I'll send an email out.

Unlike you guys, I gotta practice my @ss off if I'm gonna pass my next test!  Everyone is welcome to join me - just call.

[Gary M]

Now that I've got some free time again, I'll try to start up the next section... the esseintials of the cast!

In the mean time, I recently came across an email discussion that is pertinent to  a question raised a while ago about the terms we were going over, and if or why they are necessary.

This is what I just found... from a FFF Master CI...

Group,

 

This subject couldn’t be more appropriate at this very moment.

 

I was asked to coordinate the testing at the Somerset show which included researching and putting together a CI workshop.

With lots of help from BOG’s around the country I put together a good program that introduced CI candidates to what it means to be a Certified FFF instructor.

One of the core concepts of my workshop was to impress on the candidates that the Federation like any large company has a “Culture” which includes definitions and terminology. This enables the members of that organization to discuss issues using these terms and know that they are understood by all in the group. These definitions and standards allow us to raise the bar in the level of our teaching because they are the foundation of any and all future refinement. And here is the International proof.

 

At the end of our testing I had made arrangements to give 2 CI candidates a courtesy performance review. Due to variety of circumstances it so happened that Liam Duffy (MCI from Ireland ) whom I had never met,  and I were going to do this session. As we got into the “explain and demonstrate” portion we were trying to impress simplicity and required elements. I did my explanation and demonstration of loops and Liam immediately followed with his. Just a few brief statements from each of us and a few false casts and we were done. Although we were not identical in every respect, the fundamental concepts and terminology absolutely were!  And at that very moment I stopped things and explained to our students while Liam and I realized the importance of the moment. “On an international level there is consistency in our Federation teaching!” This was impressive!

 

I’ll go one step further Steve Rajef was doing a demonstration an hour or so later and wasn’t it beautiful to hear the exact same terminology. The 2 candidates happened to be right up front. I later explained this whole scenario to Steve who also thought it was great. 

 

For students who will continue learning and for instructors who will ask and answer questions in the future, Our definitions are the foundation of our learning and growth.

I am not a fan of scientific terms, although understanding wrist adduction and abduction for example can be helpful when getting more precise.

 

I do however feel compelled to teach my students about SLP, Stroke Length, Rod Arc, Pause, Power and Slack, after all they are called “Essentials” for a good reason.

I use terminology as simple as possible however there are times when the students in front of you require more complete answers.

 

 

Jim Valle

MCI

 

[tarponnut]

Gary,

Does our club have the two casting videos mentioned on the FFF website?
Jim

[Gary M]

Jim,

Possibly.  Which ones are you interested in?  I'll ask Tony... he has the list of videos.  If we don't have them, I'll get them and make them available.

Gary

[Gary M]

BTW guys...

Here is a list of terms I picked up from another discussion group.  I hesitate to call it an "approved" list but it is being distributed in a MCI study group so its pretty good.  The FFF has a committee that is debating and refining these terms and will "publish" them once the comittee agrees.

Fly Casting Definitions:

SLP =    Straight line path of the rod tip

RSP =    Rod straight position.  The position of the rod tip at the point where the rod is straight,  and the loop begins to form as a result of the line just starting to overtake the rod tip.

STOP = The STOP of the hand and the butt section of the rod at the conclusion of the casting stroke.

COUNTERFLEX =   An instantaneous bend in the rod immediately after the RSP.

REBOUND = The return of the rod bend after counterflex.

ROD PLANE = The orientation of the rod from vertical to horizontal on either side of the body.

LINE PLANE =  The path taken by the fly line, same as TRAJECTORY and CASTING PLANE

TRAJECTORY = Same as line plane, could have a high back cast & low forward cast while attempting to keep approximately 180 degrees between the two for most casts.

180 DEGREE RULE = The line plane (trajectories) for the back cast and the forward cast in line with one another., 180 degrees from one another.

TIP TRAVEL = The total distance traveled by the rod tip during the cast.

CASTING STROKE = The path taken by the hand during the cast.

STROKE LENGTH = The distance taken by the hand during the cast.

CASTING ARC/ANGLE = The angular change in position of the butt section of the rod  the start to the finish of the cast.

DRIFT = Occurs after the stop, a powerless repositioning of the arm and rod during the back  stroke, increasing the available casting arc and stroke.  Drift is the opposite of creep  since the motion is in the direction of the unrolling loop.

CREEP = is the motion of the rod opposite the direction of an unrolling loop after stop.

FOLLOWTHROUGH =  A powerless motion of the rod tip in the direction of the unrolling loop during the forward stroke.

TRACKING = The SLP the rod takes in all planes.

INERTIA = Things at rest tend to remain at rest, and things moving tend to remain in motion.

PRE-LOAD = The slight loading of the rod at the end of the back cast obtained by shooting with big line speed on the back cast.

ALE = Acceleration, loop formation, and energy transfer (J. Borger)

FCS = Foundation casting stroke (J. Borger)

POWER SNAP = (J.Wulff)

MAX LINE SPEED = Interval between the STOP and the RSP when the tip of the rod is traveling at greatest speed.

UNDERSLUNG LOOP = A back cast loop where the leader leg of the loop travels under rather than over the rod leg (Often used by distance casters).

STYLE = Any modification of the method of making a cast which favors the caster’s anatomy, and does not violate the essentials.

[tarponnut]

Gary,

There were two mentioned on the FFF casting cert. area of the web-site(which has been down for a few days).
I'll get back to you when the site is back up.Thanks, Jim

[tarponnut]

Does anyone know the name of the caster at the Conclave that was running and false casting at the same time? He had some very unique practice techniques.
Thanks, Jim