Jeff.... I've come to recognize two different methods of teaching with
regard to style: 1. Have the students all conform to the instructor's
style, realizing that after the lessons, many will change as they develop a
style of their own. (Joan Wulff and others) 2. Start early allowing the
students to develop style even during the first sessions. (Bill Gammel) As
we all know, advanced casters will embrace different styles to suit varying
fishing conditions. They do, however, have a style preferred for most of
their casting and fishing. I like to call that the caster's DEFAULT STYLE.
Gordy
-------------------------
From: /Jeff Wagner <jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>/
To: /Walter Simbirski <simbirsw@xxxxxxx>/
CC: /Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>/
Subject: /Re: STYLE/
Date: /Sun, 15 Jan 2006 13:16:49 -0700/
Walter,
Interesting comments!
In conversations with other instructors the style I use is EXACTLY the
style
they teach. If you look at my style it is not as you describe being
different,
it is just exagerated. It is very similar to what Joan Wulff and many
instructors teach, just longer, more pause, etc. Actually there is very
little
rotation that happens early in the stroke, the diagram sent along with it
proves
that.
It seems as though we are on very similar planes when talking about
teaching a
style. Style is very individual so it is good to hear you may encourage
your
students to try other styles.
Actually in a conversation with Peter Lami this morning, who casts almost
exactly as I do and teaches the same style, we will be teaming to together
to
co-teach the class I mentioned on style.
Thanks for your time, this is an interestin conversation.
--
Jeff Wagner
Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor, Federation of Fly Fishers
Fly Fishing Buyer, Jax Outdoor Gear
Fly Fishing Guide, Jax Outdoor Gear
Redington Pro Staff
970-481-5887
jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.dhflyfishing.com
Quoting Walter Simbirski <simbirsw@xxxxxxx>:
Hi Jeff! This is going to be a bit long winded - bear with me.
I hope I wasn't saying your style is wrong (or gave that impression) - far
from it. Your
style is obviously working as measured by the results. I was trying
(probably poorly) to make
the same point you were making - your style on the back cast (early
rotation followed
by extended thrust) would be discouraged by most casting instructors but
it works
very well for you.
Your haul is continuous during the cast but because you rotate early and
very quickly the
haul during this part of the cast is short. It can't be any other way
because the time
period is very brief. You then finish your back cast with an extended
thrust, some
additional rotation, and the remainder of the haul. I'm sure there are
biomechanical
reasons for your particular style. The other thing about this is that you
are "casting
on the edge". You're no longer looking for ways to get 10% or 5%
improvement
into your casting. I'm sure that if you found a way to add 1% at this
point you would
be very happy. This is a basic fact in any sport where time, distance, or
height is
measured. There is a basic limit to what the human body can do. When
someone is
getting "close to the edge" of that limit then we really see individual
styles, based
on biomechanical differences, come in to play. Athletes with long arms and
flexible
joints take advantage of an exaggerated stroke. Athletes with short arms
take
advantage of leverage and explosive movement. Regardless of individual
differences there
willl always be certain things that have to remain true - muscle power has
to be applied
in a certain order suited to the athlete. You don't use the weaker muscles
at the same
time as the stronger muscles because the weaker muscles limit the stronger
muscles. An
example is a weight lifter cleaning a weight (lifting a barbell from the
floor to their shoulders).
They don't try to do this with the arms and legs simultaneously because
the arms would
limit the lifting power of the legs. The sequence of events is to start
lifting with the legs bent,
feet flat on the floor, back straight and almost upright, arms hanging
straight down. Begin lifting with
the legs because those are the strongest muscles. Next the back is used,
followed by calf muscles,
and finally the arms. There is no point starting with the arms because
they simply couldn't get the
weight moving - they are only capable of slowing down the affect of
gravity and helping the
lifter slip under the weight. Many beginners, however, start the lift with
the arms or may
even use the back in place of the legs (a sure way to get injured). You
can start with your arms
or back for lighter weights but as the weight increases this becomes
impossible.
A coach or trainer needs to help the athlete develop a style that makes
the most efficient
use of the athlete's natural abilities. In the example of the weight
lifter no coach in the world
is going to tell the athlete to start the lift with their arms but there
are subtle differences
regarding when and how long certain muscle groups are applied in a lifting
movement that
can be brought into play. Before a coach can help the athlete develop
these attributes though
it is necessary for the athlete to learn some basic truths. In weight
lifting you want the start of
the clean to be straight up - trying to lift at an angle decreases the
effectiveness of the muscles.
In fly casting the rod tip needs to move in a straight line and the loops
have to be tight or
you are not getting an efficient cast.
In your case the average fly caster would look at your stroke and, based
on what the average
fly caster is told about casting in the one or two lessons they may have
had, would say that you are
doing everything wrong. Because your cast is so fast, for example, they
would assume your
rod tip is not travelling in a straight line (how could it be with an
almost 180 degree casting
arc?) or they would say you are stopping in the wrong place and using way
too much wrist
because all of the stuff happens way to fast to see with the naked eye. I
had to slow down
your video considerably before I realized much of your rotation on the
back cast is done
early in the cast and that what may look like drift is actually thrust.
Now the real crux of the matter. If I, as an instructor, had a beginning
caster that
demonstrated similar style (ignore the haul because a beginning caster
wouldn't be
hauling - just concentrate on the idea of an early rotation followed by a
long
thrust) would I discourage him from casting this way?
This is a bit of a trick question - I specifically included the word
"discourage" because
of its negative connotation. Personally, I would never discourage a
student from trying
anything but I would certainly get them to try a more "standard" casting
style to begin
with - i.e. open the wrist only a small amount and at the end of the back
cast, not at the start.
Students should be encouraged to experiment and find what works for them
but I believe that
they should first learn the basic casting stroke.
Sorry for the long windedness.
Cheers
Walter