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Walter & Group...
This is our 18th message on the subject of CASTING PRACTICE.
To recap:
We have discussed casting practice in general terms including information on the discovery that practice can yield very good fly casters even if the caster isn't particularly "gifted" or athletic.
The "secret" lies in amount of time devoted to practice and, more importantly, the way we do it.
The greatest and most rapid accomplishments are made when we :
1. Practice to a purpose.
This has been called "deep practice" or "concentrated practice" by some authors. Others have used the term "problem solving" to describe what happens with this kind of practice.
The caster tries to analyze each fault or problem occurring with each cast and uses various methods of correction along with a certain amount of trial and error to come up with solutions which work best.
2. Minimize "casting for the sake of casting".
Simply casting for the pleasure of it has you doing it .... sort of on "autopilot". While it does help solidify casting technique to a degree with what many call, "muscle memory", and (according to research done by one author) probably helps by wrapping more insulation called "myelin" around the new nerve circuit pathways developed by purposeful casting practice, it is a slow way to learn. *
3. When possible, practice with a "casting buddy".
By sharing casting problems with someone else and critiquing one another, casting expertise is accelerated.
4. Gain the assistance and guidance of a mentor.
Practicing with or after working with a person who knows more than you do and has far greater fly casting and teaching experience elevates the experience and helps to make you a better caster. Sharing your casting problems with this person and learning from him/her will go a long way toward helping you meet your goals.
5. Devote the most time and effort into practicing the casts/tasks you do least well.
Students tend to want to make the casts they've already mastered well. This is fine, but it doesn't get you closer to your ultimate goals as well as practicing the casts which give you the most trouble.
6. Practice OFTEN rather than long sessions to the point of fatigue.
7. Conclude our practice sessions with a few successful casts.
8. Practice with the ESSENTIALS of fly casting in mind.
9. Are quick to go back to basics.
Going back to the basics of casting while carrying less line to help solve a casting problem can teach us a great deal. Follow this with incremental increases until the objectives are met.
Example:
Problem: When practicing distance casts, my back cast loops are too large and poorly controlled.
Solution: Go back to basics, making great tight loop back casts while carrying less line. Then gradually adding small amounts of line carry while paying close attention to the size and quality of the back cast loops.
10. Compare our casts with those studied on videos made by World class casters.
11. Leaving a difficult to solve casting problem 'til later.
Rather than becoming frustrated over a problem we can't solve after much concentrated effort, take a break and perform some easier casts before re-addressing the "monster". Sometimes, we can come up with a solution while "sleeping on it" and returning to it on the following day.
12. Actually measure our distance casts.
13. Practice roll casts and Spey casts on water as well as on grass.
14. Practice the technique of coming to a crisp STOP.
15. Practice using different styles of casting.
16. Practice with our non-dominant casting arm.
This is one way of forcing us to "go back to basics", because it is necessary for most of us to think about each and every move when we do this.
17. Pay attention to our practice tackle.
Easy to get into a "practice rut" by forgetting to frequently clean our lines, check our leaders, etc. Sometimes helps to change practice lines to appreciate the differences that makes with certain casts. Especially the roll casts.
18. "Practice" when we fish.
It's been said, many times, that "casting while fishing is not practice". Sometimes, however, when we make carefully planned presentations repeatedly before turning and actually presenting to a large fish, we are, in fact, practicing.
When, while fishing, we take the time and effort to critique our casting presentations, we are actually practicing. I've taught myself a great deal that way.
19. Practice multiple cast scenarios such as change of direction casts and casts made with wind blowing onto the casting arm side with the help of written plans based on algorithms.
The change of direction techniques, for example, can be based upon differing degrees of change. The wind casts might be selected on the basis of progressively increasing wind velocity.
20. Heed the words of accomplished experts.
Experts and authors often use different words and different methods of description and teaching. Compare them as you go to the literature to help solve a problem. Before practicing after you have done this reading, go back and note their DIFFERENCES. Then do it again, and note their SIMILARITIES. If the least bit confused, go with advice I once learned from Lefty Kreh: "Listen to the one who makes the most sense to you".
21. Speak out loud to ourselves while practicing.
This is one way of helping to solidify casting ideas in our brains and have them connect with what we are actually doing as we cast.
22. Use video feedback.
As we've seen in our past messages, some of our members have found great value in using video renditions of our casts and techniques as we practice.
23. Teach someone else.
Taking time from practice to teach someone else to cast can also help to firm up and even improve upon what we have learned during practice.
24. Use super slow pantomime practice.
Very slow pantomime of casting strokes can help us learn. The acclaimed golf teacher, Harvey Penick taught us that method. **
25. Practice further to do accomplished tasks more easily and with less effort.
We've just learned to cast 90 feet ten out of ten times. Now let's try to make the same distance with half the effort.
26. Learn what is actually meant by teaching phrases such as, "No Power until midnight" or, "Squeeze to a stop" before taking them literally as we practice.
27. Pay attention to and try some of the "practice tips" and "Hints" we've learned from our Group messages.
28. Take a break from "deep practice" to participate in challenging casting games. (Casting Practice 9).
29. Look at casting videos on the Web critically before taking the information as gospel prior to practice.
30. Practice casting faults.
Understanding them and being able to reproduce them is the best way to avoid them.
31. Keep a practice rod strung up and at "the ready" to take quick advantage of any opportunity to practice.
32. Practice in adverse conditions including high winds.
33. Use an indoor "yarn rod" when outdoor conditions are so bad as to preclude decent practice.
34. Stay in good physical condition with directed exercise (Casting practice 4).
35. Are pro-active.
Whenever at gatherings of fly casters, by quick to grab a rod and cast with them. Don't be bashful about doing that. It's a great way to learn.
Gordy
* THE TALENT CODE, Greatness isn't born. It's grown. Here's how. by Daniel Coyle, 2009, Publisher: Bantam Dell, a division of Random House, inc., N.Y., N.Y., ISBN 978-0-553-80684-7.
** The WISDOM of HARVEY PENICK, by The Estate of Harvey Penick, Bud Shrake & Helen Penick, 1997, Publisher: Simon & Schuster, ISBN 0-684-84508-3.
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