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Walter & Group....
[GH] Pat Blackwell sends answers :
Hi Gordy,
QUESTION 1.) CAN YOU CAN TELL US HOW YOU HAVE HANDLED THIS SITUATION IN YOUR TEACHING EXPERIENCES?
If there is a nearby tall object ( a tall tree, power line or pole, building, etc.) that the student can point the tip of their rod at on the stop. I have them watch their rod tip and stop it pointed at the top of that object. If there isn't anything tall enough in front of the student, I stand in front of the student (on the inside of their casting stroke, perhaps two rod lengths away) holding my rod straight up, again have them watch their cast and stop their rod tip pointed at the tip of my rod. This seems to work, although it may have too be repeated several times during a lesson. I prefer a tree line etc., thus having an idea of a reference point, that the student can use, when practicing on their own.
QUESTION 2.) WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD YOU MAKE TO A STUDENT ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK OF ADJUSTING LOOP SIZE ?
My first concern is, can the student make reasonably consistent loops of approximately the same size on several false cast. If so, then it is usually not to difficult to teach them to increase or decease the size (angle) of the casting arc, changing the loop size for the length of the cast they are making. If their loops are not reasonably consistent in size, we need to correct this fault before attempting to change the casting arc, possibly adding too what ever problem is causing the inconsistent loop size.
QUESTION 3.) IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE UP TO 6' WIDE LOOPS WHILE MAINTAINING PARALLEL LOOP LEGS ?
Yes; after breaking a rod with a 1/0 Clouser, I found it not only possible but desirable.
The major issue I've had is getting the student to watch both their forward and back cast. When we are able to resolve that issue, we improve the stops, resulting in more consistent loops. Success breeds success, I believe when a student can see the result of their efforts and the improvement it brings, they will be more inclined to practice.
Regards,
Pat Blackwell
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[GH] When we are dealing with a caster who has no idea of how to adjust loop size, it might be well to consider the use of ground casting.
Lefty Kreh introduced me to this method, years ago. He began by having his students cast along a single line stretched on the ground. Later he used two lines and had the students make loops which were to stay within these lines. One advantage of this method was that the student could easily see the loops being formed on both backcast and forward cast.
Joan Wulff has used her method of teaching loop control with horizontal ground casting for years. It is worth reviewing. *
Sometimes I'll adopt a "back to basics" lesson when casters get sloppy with their loop control.
I get out those lines and we do some ground casting. Once back into "muscle memory", we go airborne. Then progress to a less horizontal casting plane.
* Joan Wulff's FLY CASTING TECHNIQUES, by Joan Wulff, pp.56-58.
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[GH] Our next message on this topic will contain a range of contributions all the way from casting mechanics theory to practical solutions for solving the problem brought up by David Eden.
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