VARIABLES - More / Rudd's diagrams-comments

Short answers here Gordy, sorry, and some I need to do more research on.

Mark.

1.) What do YOU consider variables to be ?

All casts and the motions that generate them, in the abstract sense, are potentially variable, and in the practical sense all casts are almost always different although we strive for homogeneity in the basics.

Variables in the way that I think you have asked these questions are modifications of what might be considered a standard set of casts or casting components, though I would be interested to know what different people consider that standard set to be.

Good way to express it.

2.) Can you define "variables" ?

Variables are alterations to elements of a cast which generate outcomes different to that intended by the original standard cast. Yes.

3.) How do they impact the essentials of fly casting ?

Not in any way, they employ the essentials of fly fishing as I understand them to create new solutions to circumstantial challenges on the water. Agree

4.) How do they fit the concept of style ?

Style is a variable. We could look at it that way. Then there could be variables within a particular casting style..........

5.) Can you come up with some examples of Variables ?

Mends in a PULD, curves. Curves and mends.... yes. Please help educate me. What is a PULD ?

6.) How do these variables enter our World of fly fishing ?

Good casters are creative in trying to resolve specific casting challenges so if the standard cast doesn?t put the fly on the fish then varying elements of the cast may do. Good anglers look and learn and many share their skills with others so the techniques spread. Yes, indeed.

7.) How do they impact our teaching ?

They make my teaching way more interesting but I would normally only consider adding variations to a casters bag of tricks when they had good basic control over the rod and line.

Good point. Getting into variables might will confuse the early caster.

8.) Should the family of elliptical casts be considered as a set of variables ?

Not unless we have established from what they are vaying ie is there an abstract idea of the ideal elliptical cast in an agreed set of ?standard casts?

We can look at this in two ways. Those who are dead set on straight line overhead casts as the "norm" might see other ways of casting as belonging in the realm of variables. The reverse might also apply.

Then we can take a typical or "classic" set of elliptical casts (whatever this may be) and consider any deviation for a purpose to be a variable.

9.) Would you include casts such as the "bow & arrow cast" or the "underpowered curve cast", the "Maloney cast" or the so-called, "helicopter cast" be considered as variables ?

Yes. Agree.

10.)Do you think the "River Dump & Pump" is a Bone fide variation ?

I?m an ignorant Brit?I?ve never heard of it?..

Not really a fly cast at all. See my comment in Mark Milkovitch's anwer sheet.

11.)How about "dappling", "blow-line casts" or Tankara fishing ?

I don?t really count these as ?casts? but that is an entirely subjective position, they are certainly fly fishing.

Perhaps we could look at these as lying in a "gray area"

12.)What about SNAP CASTS ?

These are not really a variation of a standard loop generating stroke because they use a slightly different method for accelerating the line. In fact I?ll have to go away and find out exactly how they do work?..rapid shift of mass from the line under tension to the rod leg apparently?.is this correct Gordy ?? I may have misunderstood the physics here.

Some look at the snap casts or snap moves as a "cast within a cast". In most instances, the line / leader is on the water. A lift is made, then the rod tip is accelerated beneath the line causing a wave of energized line to result in propelling a loop in the opposite or nearly opposite direction. (The angle can be determined by the direction the tip was travelling as the loop began to form at RSP.)

To my eye, it becomes even more of a "cast within a cast" or even a violent disruption of a cast when I practice by making a forward cast..... then before the loop has fully unrolled, I make the "snap" by drawing the rod tip back and then suddenly accelerating it just beneath the travelling loop. The wave thus produced results in the line forming a second loop which is propelled in the opposite direction.

Is this a variation ? I think so.

13.) .... and Hugh Falkus' "Two way fishing" ? I interpreted this as a series of mends designed to swing a salmon fly in each of two directions one following another.

14.) .... Joe Shedlock's "Sky Writing" ? Joe gave some workshops at conclaves a few years ago with this as the title of his presentation. The concept was to imaging drawing or "writing" an image in the sky with the rod tip as the prelude to a particular desired layout.

15.) The "Salt Water Speed Casts " ? I'd classify these as variations

16.) On and on........................................................................................................................ Endless !

As you do this, allow your minds to leap beyond the standard fly casts !

Gordy