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Walter & Group ...
[GH] Joan Wulff takes issue with my statement that casting with the "muscle-to-muscle" body block is good for short and medium casts. Her message to me and my return message:
[JW] Gordy,
To clarify: Muscle to muscle gives me my longest backcast strokes in the VERTICAL PLANE. It was how I cast 161 feet - with a shooting head of 54 feet.....(it was on a dock 18" above water). Remember that after the stroke is ended I drift back/up to reposition for a longer forward stroke. And I have shifted my weight to my back foot, adding more length. Both of these moves increase the casting arc potential for long casts.
I wonder why you say it is only good for short to medium length casts.
My longest backcast strokes are in the off-vertical plane and this is possible because of the body rotation on the Power Snap which increases the length of the backcast stroke AUTOMATICALLY. Then Drift repositions the rod and hand farther back for a longer stroke forward.
( Yes, it is only in the off-vertical plane with the open body stance that you can happily watch your backcast unroll.)
Maybe next time we meet we should physically compare moves......
best,
Joan
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[GH] Joan,
I'll have to qualify my statement to the Group. There are doubtless other distance casters who can do it well that way.
You see, with that muscle to muscle body block, while casting in the vertical plane, I can do it fine with short and medium length casts but I have never been able to get anywhere near my maximum distance that way. I think that is because casting in the vertical plane is not my preferred or default style. For one thing, when casting in that plane, I'm not as comfortable drifting way back and up the way I do with open stance and the off vertical plane. I don't transfer my weight to my back foot either. I can see that that would, indeed, yield an increased casting stroke and arc for the following forward delivery.
Also, I'm not as comfortable that my back cast loops are as tight as I'd like them to be when casting in the vertical plane. Perhaps that's because I can't see them.
I have no doubt that this can give you great distance, partly because it is a style which favors your body habitus and you have the experience of having cast that way for many years.
My max distance with a Scientific Anglers, "Expert Distance Line" is only 115' with a 7 wt. rod. (Not as good as it was a few years ago!)
I haven't tried it with a shooting head in a long time.
Best,
Gordy
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[GH] From Bob Stouffer:
Gordy
I try to observe the direction of the "line on tension" that the fly-line assumes during the pull (both on grass or on water) and run my rod-tip ahead of the fly-line as a projection of that line rather than as a muscle-memory. The "line of tension" changes with each distance and each different surface. I think that it was a Joan Wulff observation.
Bob Stouffer
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[GH] Bob,
A good way to describe it !
That is really what I meant when I answered Ally in my last message.* You have done it better with your addition of the concept of "line of tension".
You are also correct that it will demand an angle of trajectory which must be determined by the distance from the pickup point (fly) to the caster. (The closer the fly is to the caster, the higher the back cast pickup trajectory & vice-versa ) :
*
"The loop is sometimes too large as the caster picks up from the water in one trajectory, then tries to finish the back cast in a more horizontal line plane.
One way to avoid that, is to pick up and maintain that pickup trajectory all the way through the completion of the back cast (180 degree "rule"), then change line planes on the following forward cast as desired."
Gordy
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[GH] Here'a an exercise I've never tried ... from Joe Libeu :
Another exercise for the formation of a good back loop on the first pick up is to perform the following on grass. Start with about 30 feet of line out and slowly raise your rod to about the 10:30 position. Stop the rod at this point. Then start your back cast. This short stroke will force you to move your cast upwards and not overpower the cast thus a over flexing position and line going towards the ground and a open loop.
The importance of doing a correct back cast while testing on the first pickup can not be overlooked. It is one of the first things I look at in a candidate.
Joe
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