ol Al...
You are correct that the, "reach cast" as commonly taught and tested on the CCI exam, is really a REACH MEND, since the reach move is done as with any mend, after the stop.
In doing it properly, we look for a straight line between the rod tip and the fly once the target is hit. We also look for the caster to slip line as the reach move is made so that the fly is not pulled back away from the target.
An acceptable fishing technique is to aim the cast a bit beyond the feeding lane target in a controlled manner so that slipping line can be avoided and the reach move done so the fly IS brought back......but accurately to the target. Since that is much harder to do and still maintain accuracy, most fly fishermen consider this as an alternative, not a primary technique.
One could actually conceive of a true, "reach cast". Consider the side-arm cast made in the horizontal rod plane and kept way out to one side or the other. Here, the, "reach" is made before the stop.
Let me refer you to Jason Borger's Book, THE NATURE OF FLY CASTING, pp. 85 - 93 for details.
There are many modifications of reach mends and reach "casts" such as the UP reach mend, the DOWN reach mend, and combination casts such as a purposely done CURVE CAST-REACH MEND.
Many years ago, I was taught the various modifications of these by Doug Swisher. Some give him credit for describing the reach cast.....though Doug refuses to take credit for this is saying that fly fishermen were doing it long before he and Carl Richards described it in, FLY FISHING STRATEGY, 1975 ; pp. 30 - 39. This is definitely worth reading. They describe the combos including the serpentine reach, curve reaches combinations and others. The accompanying pictures are well done, too.
Doug's video, ADVANCED FLY CASTING shows this and a great deal more as he, "boxes the compass" in using many techniques in all directions on the stream.
One thing often forgotten by teachers of this reach technique is that in order to yield a drag free drift of the fly, it's necessary, after the fly has landed, to FOLLOW THE FLY DOWNSTREAM WITH THE ROD TIP AT THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT. Failure to do that negates the very purpose for the reach.
Gordy
From: "Allen Crise" <flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <stevehollensed@xxxxxxxxxx>
CC: "gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: reach cast
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 20:16:16 -0600
Howdy Steve
I was a little worried I got a lot of bounces.
Quiz, answers and my Christmas card
Ok any movement to position the line after the stop is a mend.
Any line control done before the stop is a cast.
So you might call the reach cast a reach mend that is true.
This is one of the problems in the teaching of casting. Getting all the
terms right.
After the loop is formed it is the bullet out of the barrel so to say on
it's way.
So after you have stopped the rod formed the loop there is not much you can
do but stall the travel or pull it back.
The caster can send the fly behind the loop Then dump the rod leg to stop
the cast. That is about all. Over feeding slack will foil the loop. This is
most often just a lost of control.
ol Al
Allen Crise FFF Master Casting Instructor
SOC VP of Education
Hawk Ridge Flycasting School
2508 A County Road 1011
Glen Rose, TX 76043
254-897-2045
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