Hi, ol Al....
Note my comments in your text in BOLD CAPS.
It's this kind of challenge that leads to true in depth understanding of fly casting mechanics. At the same time, it points out some of the things we really don't fully understand.
Gordy
From: "Allen Crise" <flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Molly's definitions.
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 19:33:48 -0600
Howdy GordyMolly's needs just a bit of tweakingShe said:MAX LINE SPEED = Interval between the STOP and the RSP when the tip of the rod is traveling at greatest speed.
That is the rod's tip greatest speed but the line will really reach max line speed at the end of the turn over of the loop, as the mass of the line is reduced the energy will increase. The Line will reach 'Max line speed' at this time. The Crack of the whip
YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT. I THINK MOLLY MEANS MAX TIP SPEED. (I'VE BEEN GUILTY OF MAKING THAT CONFUSING STATEMENT, TOO.)
AS THAT TURNOVER OF THE LOOP OCCURS, TECHNICALLY THE ENERGY REMAINS CONSTANT, BUT (AS YOU POINT OUT) THE UNIT MASS OF THE LINE DECREASES AS THE VELOCITY OF THE FLY LEG OF THE LOOP INCREASES. IN FACT, THAT VELOCITY INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY AS THE SQUARE OF 1/2 THE MASS. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE ! (THAT FORMULA ACTUALLY DEPENDS UPON THE TOTAL ENERGY REMAINING A CONSTANT WHILE THE PARAMETERS OF MASS AND VELOCITY CHANGE AS THAT LOOP UNROLLS. IT IS THIS WHICH EXPLAINS WHY A TAPERED FLY LINE CAN BE CAST SO MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY AND FARTHER THAN A LEVEL LINE.
UNDERSLUNG LOOP = A back cast loop where the leader leg of the loop travels under rather than over the rod leg (Often used by distance casters).The underslung loop has a dragging leg or the Fly leg at the leader will drop below the Rod leg of the loop as it travels along the line path on the forward cast primarily but can happen on the back cast. I believe that this is from the front of the loop climbing while being feed line from the rod. Shooting into the loop.not just the back cast.EVEN IF THIS IS TRUE, IT DOESN'T CHANGE MOLLY'S DESCRIPTION.......JUST ADDS TO IT. YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT IT CAN HAPPEN ON EITHER FORWARD OR BACK CAST. MOLLY IS DESCRIBING WHAT HAPPENS, NOT HOW IS HAPPENS.PRE-LOAD = The slight loading of the rod at the end of the back cast obtained by shooting line with big line speed on the back cast.I got thinking on this. It is not the speed of the shooting line, just more mass of line. Once the the loop is unrolled there is no energy. The line can not push the leader.IT IS THE INERTIA PRODUCED BY THE MOMENTUM OF THE BACK CAST LINE WHICH HELPS LOAD THE ROD FOR THE FORWARD CAST . THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF BOTH LINE (LOOP) VELOCITY AND ITS MASS.THIS, "PRE-LOAD" OCCURS JUST PRIOR TO THE LOOP HAVING FULLY UNROLLED IN MOST CASES. ONCE THE LOOP HAS UNROLLED FULLY, THERE CAN STILL BE A TINY BIT OF MOMENTUM OF THE ENTIRE LINE/LEADER/FLY SYSTEM...BUT NOT MUCH.ONE EXCEPTION TO THIS IS WITH MARK SEDOTTI'S, "SAYONARA SLING" CAST WITH A LARGE, HEAVILY WEIGHTED FLY. HERE, THE FLY IS SO HEAVY THAT ITS MASS AND RESIDUAL VELOCITY DO PROVIDE USABLE MOMENTUM OR THE INERTIA OF CONTINUED MOTION AGAINST THE RESISTANCE OF THE FLY ROD.CASTING ARC/ANGLE = The angular change in position of the butt section of the rod from the start to the finish of the cast.I would hold the ARC to be the angular change of the rod measured at the rod's butt between the STOPSNot the total change, as after the stop it is drift for follow thought.But very well done in few words as could keep in correct. Way to go Molly.1.) IF MOLLY WISHED TO CHANGE THE WORD, "CAST" TO, "STROKE" OR THE TERM, "CASTING STROKE", I COULD LIVE WITH ANY OF THESE TERMS.2.) THE STOP IS THE END OF EACH STROKE FOR MOST CASTS.3.) SINCE DRIFT AND FOLLOWTHROUGH ARE NOT PART OF THE CAST, AND SINCE THERE EXISTS ARGUMENT AS TO WHETHER WE TRULY NEED A STOP FOR ALL CASTS, I THINK BOTH MOLLY'S DEFINITION AND YOUR VERSION ARE BOTH OK.....THOUGH I PREFER THE FORMER. GORDYol AlAllen Crise FFF Master Casting InstructorSOC VP of EducationHawk Ridge Flycasting School2508 A County Road 1011Glen Rose, TX 76043254-897-2045geocities.com/rrdoctorflysoup@xxxxxxxxxx