Hauls 2

Let's start with a little 25 question quiz. Make your answers as brief as you can while still getting the point across.

b. Single hall. A pull on the line during the casting stroke and not "given-back" after the stop

c. Double haul. A pull on the line during the casting stroke and a "giving-back" by repositioning the line hand in the

[GH] Yes. This is one way of defining them. I think this was first put forth by Joan Wulff. She takes the position that the main difference between the single haul and the double haul is that on the single haul the caster does not "give back" line. On the double haul, the caster does "give back line" *

[GH] Jason Borger and most other authors don't make the distinction based on whether or not line is given back. They describe the double haul as a haul made on both the back cast and the forward cast. **

As I see it, they are both talking about the same thing, since to make an effective haul on both back cast and forward cast, one must "give back" some line.

REMEMBER: Look for the differences, and then the similarities as you compare the words of different experts and authors !

d. Check haul . A pulling on the line after the stop sequence of the casting stroke to "check" the forward motion of the fly cast.

[GH] Yes. Almost always done on the forward cast, though not necessarily so.

2. Name at least three things a haul can accomplish. Increase line speed. Increase rod loading. Maintain tension on the line.

[GH] Yes. The haul can also divide the work load between both arms, thus lessening that of the casting arm.

3. Who is given credit for introducing the double haul to competition fly casting? Marvin Hedge.

7. Can you support your answers to #3 #4 and #5 with references from the fly casting literature?

[GH] Fly-Fishing PIONEERS AND LEGENDS of the Northwest, by Jack W. Berryman, 2006, pp. 114-115.

8. You are making a long distance forward cast. At what point in your cast do you begin your haul? Varies. At the beginning of rotation.

[GH] Most would agree. Another way to look at it is that this is really the start of effective acceleration

9. You are making a forward false cast while carrying more than 55 feet of line out of your rod tip, when do you stop your haul ? At or just after the stop.

[GH] I think that's a good way to put it for teaching and self teaching purposes. Studies with the Casting Analyzer combined with high speed (high fps) video techniques show that its closer to RSP 1 (First rod straight position)

10. When making a back cast prior to your delivery forward cast when distance casting, at what point do you stop your haul ? At or just after the stop.

[GH] Yes. Same comment as for #9. To this I'll add: Fine for practical purposes. There is usually only about 0.1 sec. of time between the start of the stop sequence (deceleration) and RSP 1. I can't imagine that any human caster can tell the difference.

11. At what point in your long distance delivery cast do you release line from your line hand after making a haul ?

12. What is your haul hand doing during the pause between the back cast and the forward cast? Repositioning in the direction of the unrolling line at a rate that does not introduce slack.

[GH] Yes. A good way to put it, especially for students. We allow the momentum of the moving line to TAKE back line. When I think of "giving back line" I sometimes wonder if that could be misinterpreted as shoving it back at a rate which might be faster than the take back speed. That would introduce unwanted slack.

13. Your advanced students have asked you to demonstrate forming a tailing loop by means of an ill timed haul. How would you do that? Finish the haul prior to the stop sequence.

[GH] Yes. For a really dramatic example, make that early, sharp haul very forceful and quick. Students will see a super tail. Repeat it and they will see the dip and return of the rod tip when you ask them to watch the tip path.

14. Years ago, the use of a "hauling tool" was outlawed by most competition casting organizations. Can you imagine what this device actually was? An extension of the arm like a spear-lever.

[GH] Yes. A stick or rod with a notch in the end in which the line hand line is placed.

15. How do you think this "hauling tool" worked to affect a long distance cast?

[GH] Increased the effective length of the haul arm which led to higher haul speed since the haul line at the notch of the extension traveled farther in the same time frame.

I never saw it used. During the late 1930's and early 1940's my grandfather used to attend the competitions and came back and taught us some of the things he'd observed and learned. He thoroughly agree with the fact that early on it was outlawed in the tournament rules.

Someone also came up with a sort of pulley device, but neither he nor I ever saw that one.

16. How do you think the haul should be timed relative to the casting stroke for best results? haul during the rod rotation.

[GH] Agree.... since most acceleration occurs during rotation, I think it would also be fair to say, "During rod acceleration."

17. Do you ever use a haul when picking up line from the water? Yes, on lone-line pickup.

[GH] Sure. Helps a lot with picking up long lines from the water, i.e. a "water haul".

[GH] True. Also provides increased acceleration to clear the water with one deliberate smooth move.

19. Back in 1991, one well known author in the fly casting literature, stated: "If you want to be a great double hauler, don't make long pulls!" In 1999, he recommended matching the length of the haul to that of the "speed up and stop". Who was this author? Lefty Kreh

[GH] Yes. I suppose one could call it a haul, but since it isn't done during a casting stroke I agree that the term, "STRIP STRIKE" is better.

21. BRIEFLY tell us how you would teach the double haul to a student who had already developed a good basic casting stroke. Pantomime. Hands-on. Verbal ques.

[GH] Many ways that work. The verbal cues are used with each method. Here are some others:

# Lefty Kreh's method of slowly side arm casting with horizontal rod plane on grass and making short/sharp pulls with the line hand. Described in detail by him. ****

# Mel Krieger's "Downup" pantomime followed by doing it while actually casting with the quick Haul & return on each casting stroke. *****

22. When do you elect to use a haul when fly fishing with a single handed rod? Most or all casts.

[GH] That would be my own answer. I'm primarily a salt water fly fisher and I look at the hauls as part of the balance of the use of both hands as I cast .... even for short casts. I note that many other "salties" do the same. Perhaps that started with the use of heavier tackle.

Fresh water fly fishers, especially trout fishermen, used to look at it differently They reserved the use of the hauls, especially the double haul, for times when greater distance was needed. Now I see more trout fishermen "unconsciously" adding a haul to all but their shortest presentations.

[GH] Well... it CAN be used to do that. A slack line cast (not mend) sometimes called the "Bounce cast". This can be done with a check haul or by making a long cast without enough line to complete the distance, but making the loop unfurl quickly and bounce back yielding slack. ****** *******

In general, however, the check haul makes the loop turn over prematurely thus shortening the cast and sometimes driving the fly leg over and down.

It an also be used to abort a long cast for earlier retrieve prior to executing a new one as when a different target (fish, etc.) suddenly presents itself.

24. What is its effect on the loop? Tightens the loop. If held, it makes the line bounce-back in slack.

25. Can it be used to increase distance? If released, may tighten loop or add speed to the fly leg.

[GH] Sometimes can add a little more distance to a short cast if line is released for a shoot.... especially if there isn't enough residual energy in the system to turn over the loop without it.

Let's start with a little 25 question quiz. Make your answers as brief as you can while still getting the point across.

d. Check haul a pull on the line just before the loop unrolls to help turn over

[GH] Yes. (I could pretend that my typo for #1 b. was made on purpose to see if all were reading the questions to the letter...... in which case your answer would be correct !!)

2. Name at least three things a haul can accomplish. control, linespeed, distribtion of workload to both arms

[GH] Agree. The haul can also increase rod load and, therefore , bend .... but it has a much greater effect directly to increase line speed. Glad you added the shared workload.

3. Who is given credit for introducing the double haul to competition fly casting? Pass on that, some guy in the earlyn 1930's

4. Who taught this technique to this competition distance caster? same as above

5. What year was the double haul introduced to competition fly casting? same as above

7. Can you support your answers to #3 #4 and #5 with references from the fly casting literature? Nope

[GH] I looked it up and placed those answers in my comments to Bob Stouffer's answers.

8. You are making a long distance forward cast. At what point in your cast do you begin your haul? After the rod has passed perpendicular

9. You are making a forward false cast while carrying more than 55 feet of line out of your rod tip, when do you stop your haul ? When I run out of arm, real question is when do I move the line with my hauling hand the fastest.

My take is that your hauling hand is moving fastest just prior to that point.

10. When making a back cast prior to your delivery forward cast when distance casting, at what point do you stop your haul ? When I run out of arm, and same as above

11. At what point in your long distance delivery cast do you release line from your line hand after making a haul ? Just before the rodtip hits RSP (Rod straight position)

12. What is your haul hand doing during the pause between the back cast and the forward cast? Moving back towards the rodhand, depending on the cast either reaching it or ending up in the best position for the next haul

13. Your advanced students have asked you to demonstrate forming a tailing loop by means of an ill timed haul. How would you do that? Introduce it at the beginning of my stroke and reaching peak speed around the middle of the casting stroke

14. Years ago, the use of a "hauling tool" was outlawed by most competition casting organizations. Can you imagine what this device actually was? A pully device doubling the haul length. A open ring held in the hand.

[GH] I've been told about that ... but never saw it and I don't have a reference to it from the literature.

15. How do you think this "hauling tool" worked to affect a long distance cast? See above

16. How do you think the haul should be timed relative to the casting stroke for best results? As late as possible, and reaching peak speed before the rodtip reaches RSP

[GH] Fits with Lefty Kreh's statement that the haul is most effective when done during what he terms the "speed-up-and-stop". As you know, not everyone agrees with that.

17. Do you ever use a haul when picking up line from the water? Yes, all the time

18. Why would you do that? Distribution of workload, increased linespeed, better control over the line, higher tension in the line.

21. BRIEFLY tell us how you would teach the double haul to a student who had already developed a good basic casting stroke. Either Mel Krieger's down up with verbal command, or Peter Hayes's painted thumbnails going apart and coming together. If that has troubles, hauling with them, with my hand on top of theirs.Usually using a shooting head outfit at the beginning for better and clearer results

[GH] Yes. That shooting head has the same effect as over lining the rod so the student can feel the load of both the cast and that of the haul.

22. When do you elect to use a haul when fly fishing with a single handed rod? All the time.

23. When would you use a "check haul"? Ensure turnover into the wind, making a tuck cast at distance, curve casting at distance etc.

[GH] Good. You've added another use.... to add to a distance curve cast. When done with side arm technique it can really kick that unfurling loop over in short order... Helps, too, to convert that curve cast to a right angle "hook cast".

24. What is its effect on the loop? Speeds up the rod leg of the line -> speeds up the flyleg.

25. Can it be used to increase distance? Only if there isn't enough energy left in the line to make the leader turn over.

[GH] Yes. "forces the issue". Why? Because if there isn't enough energy left in the system to turn over the leader, the whole thing will collapse.