Walter & Group...
[GH] One of the prime reasons for starting our Group years ago, was to make it easier for Master Candidates to be successful on their exams thus improving the dismal failure rate which prevailed. I felt that we could add greatly to candidates' store of information along with other preparation techniques.
That remains a focal point for me in addition to our own continued education as we teach one another without regard for "status or rank" .
Len Anderson addresses this well :
Gordy, Thank-you so much for heading in this direction, while the other discussions were ok, I know I will get a lot more out of hearing from the masters on what they did to prepare for the MCI exam.
Sincerely, Len Anderson
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[GH] Len,
I plan a series of topics on and related to Master preparation including discussions on the exam itself.
Years ago when I was preparing for my Master exam, I sought out those who had just gone through the process at conclaves, fly shows, and council meetings so I could talk to them about their experiences both good and bad. I sure learned a lot !
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[GH] Question on the table, from Tony Loader :
1. What was the single most important thing that you did that was most helpful in preparing for the MCI test?
2. What was the one thing that you spent time doing that was not very helpful in preparing for the MCI test?
3. If you had to pick the one thing that gave you the most trouble on the test what would it be?
Jim Valle's answer :
Gordy and Group,
My memories of MCI Prep,
1. What was the single most important thing that you did that was most helpful in preparing for the MCI test?
For the MCI, Teach!...Without a doubt the one thing….we have all heard this before, I don’t think candidates take this SERIOUSLY enough. At face value it sounds like a platitude… the fact is the more I examine the more I understand this. It shows loud and clear when a candidate answers ANY and EVERY Question. It’s how you handle it not just the knowledge but the experienced smooth and easy flow into the answer, it is a controlled response, what you would give to a student … just enough to answer the question (our short answers are the training for this) NOT a diatribe of all the information possible on the subject that would absolutely confuse a student. Think about the Short Cast…Short Stroke, Long Cast… we discussed recently… Is that really how you would answer a student… ok Maybe we would blurt that out but an answer to a student has to make more sense than that …. Might be more like Well it depends on the amount of line you are casting … we normally say Short Cast… Short Stroke… because and so on….. If you really consider this it is a subtle thing it is about the “Smoothness Ratio” or a “Teaching Index” of a candidate’s answer … and it is a direct reflection of the amount of teaching he or she has done.
Questions don’t throw the candidate into a tailspin, it’s conversational because the candidate is comfortable and confident, can think on his feet… because… he has been there before. Bottom line Experience becomes Confidence. Nervousness is understandable and not an issue, you can be nervous and confident at the same time however confidence will ultimately take over.
As I tell my MCI Candidates “When you step up to the line you must be a Master, the performance test is just a check ride”.
2. What was the one thing that you spent time doing that was not very helpful in preparing for the MCI test?
Worked on distance casting with my arm rather than working on loading the rod deeply.
3. If you had to pick the one thing that gave you the most trouble on the test what would it be?
When I was ready nothing was a problem … when I wasn’t ready I didn’t have the necessary confidence.
Hope that Helps,
~ Jim Valle ~
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[GH] Jim...
Teaching; especially instructing groups of students is important for many reasons. One is that this goes a long way toward mollifying or eliminating the apprehension which affects so many candidates as they take their exams. Public demonstrations help in that regard as well.
re. your #2. Makes me recall Lefty Kreh teaching the two of us of the value in learning to use the body properly when distance casting in preference to strictly "arm casting". He recently also pointed out that this becomes more important as we get older. I'm now old enough to know what he means !
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[GH] Bob Stouffer sends his answers :
1. What was the single most important thing that you did that was most helpful in preparing for the MCI test? Practiced and Taught skills to others Particularly those skills and teaching scenarios where I had weaknesses in either experience or ability experience. These weaknesses became my strengths during the exam(s)
2. What was the one thing that you spent time doing that was not very helpful in preparing for the MCI test? Flying or Driving to Livingston, Boston and Loveland.
3. If you had to pick the one thing that gave you the most trouble on the test what would it be? Giving a short concise answer which satisfied the curiosity of the lead, the second and the observer simultaneously.
Bob Stouffer
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[GH] Of course, the flight and driving times are "down times". However, the information gathered at the actual events is in direct proportion to how the candidate acquires knowledge and sharpens casting techniques once there.
My offers to assist senior instructors with their workshops were never refused. This went a long way toward helping me with my MCI preparations.
In return, I have honored every similar request as I give my Workshops. The candidate helps me as I teach, and I make sure he/she learns as much as possible.
I even learned a great deal by being a good "listener" as fly casters who know a lot more than I did conversed.
In education circles, some call that, "learning by osmosis". At the Conclave, its happening.... and you are there !
Gordy
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[GH] From Gary Meyer:
Gordy
In response to Tony's 3 questions on the MCI exam...
1. Aside from eagerly reading , then contemplating ,every post to this discussion forum I would have to say the thing that helped me most was (forced) patience. I had planned to take the test one year at a conclave. I felt I was ready, but something came up and I had to bail out at the last moment. The “next year’s “ conclave ended up more like 18 months later. In the interim I just kept practicing and studying. When I eventually did take the test I felt I was so ready I was more relieved than nervous.
2. I would say I spent too much time delving deep into cold water techniques and entomology. As a Florida native I knew my limited experience with cold water fishing was my weakest area of knowledge. I probably over compensated.
3. The toughest part of the exam, for me, was definitely the contrived roll casting. Whether on grass or wet plastic I just could not perform the casts like in real conditions. I lacked confidence and the results reflected it. Recently I had to walk out into a “casting pond” to free a snagged leader from a decoy… I got half the way there and roll cast the line free. What a revelation! I would suggest to anyone taking the test over a plastic sheet to get their feet wet! Why didn’t I think of that before?
Gary
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[GH] From David Lambert :
Gordy
Helpful -- I took the time to outline casting books, then referenced them -- all on paper, not the computer.
Not so helpful -- I took the masters the first time to see what I didn't know. Turned out to be lots. Now that I'm doing the testing I realize that was probably not appreciated. But that was before the group and pre-testing materials and such.
Most trouble -- keeping the brimming knowledge at bay. Answering just the question asked.
David
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