Molly
Good answers. My comments in BOLD CAPS.
As usual with Dennis, he gets us really thinking !!!!!!
Gordy
From: "Molly Semenik" <mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: hillshead@xxxxxxx
Subject: Questions from Dennis
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 07:59:08 -0800
1. Rod Plane: Name a STYLE of casting where 2 casting planes are
taught. Is there a cast (s) when the rod moves through 3 planes?
Elliptical/Steeple (two planes) and Circular casts (multiple planes). ONE EXAMPLE OF A STYLE IN WHICH 2 ROD PLANES ARE EMPHASIZED, IS THAT OF LEFTY KREH . HERE THERE IS A MORE HORIZONTAL PLANE BACK CAST AND A LESS HORIZONTAL ROD PLANE (OFF VERTICAL) FORWARD STROKE ROD PLANE, DONE WITH A, "LOW ELBOW".MULTIPLE ROD PLANES ARE USED IN SPEY CASTING AND SOME CURVE CASTS. (SEE BELOW)
2. Line Plane: How would you describe the line plane during a Belgian
Cast (oval, swing around)? A Belgian Cast starts with a horizontal
rod plane on the back cast, pause (hand/rod repositions to a more
vertical plane) forward cast in a vertical plan. A Circular cast has
very little pause, continuous tension, and travels through many planes. I AGREE.....EXCEPT FOR THE PAUSE. IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THIS IS A FORM OF, "CONTINUOUS TENSION CASTING" (EUROPEAN SCHOOL). ON THE BACK CAST OF A BELGIAN CAST, ONE HAS CONTINUOUS CURVING MOTION DURING WHICH THE ROD PLANES CHANGE.NOW THE LINE PLANE (TRAJECTORY) IS A DIFFERENT MATTER. IT CHANGES, ALSO, DURING THE BELGIAN CAST FROM BACK CAST TO FORWARD CAST, IN MOST INSTANCES. ONE CAN HAVE A LOW LINE PLANE ON THE BACK CAST AND A HIGH LINE PLANE FOR THE FORWARD CAST OR VICE-VERSA. IN DOING THE LATTER, IF THE ROD PLANE WERE KEPT UNCHANGED, WE'D HAVE A RECIEPE FOR A TAILING LOOP.....BUT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE WE'VE CHANGED BOTH.
3. SLP: Is there a straight line path of the rod tip during a curve
cast? Yes/No With the overpowered/positive curve cast or
underpowered/negative curve cast a SLP does occur. What makes the line
curve is the application of power the line trajectory and if desired a
wrist flip or twist. Exception would be if you did this same curve
cast but used a Belgian or circular cast rather than a SLP cast.
Tricky question! On the Yellowstone, I often use a Circular,
overpowered curve cast when using weight.COMPLICATED ANSWER TO A COMPLICATED QUESTION. LET'S TAKE SOME EXAMPLES:
1.) THE CORKSCREW CURVE CAST USES NO SLP.
2.) AN OVERPOWERED CURVE CAST USUALLY DOES USE SLP.
3.) WHEN THIS OVERPOWERED CURVE CAST IS EXAGGERATED BY HIGHER LOOP SPEED, AND A MANUAL, "RETURN" IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STOP, WE GET A DIFFERENT KIND OF CURVE, CALLED A HOOK . THIS IS WHAT I CALL A, "CAST/MEND". IT IS STILL BEST DONE USING AN SLP FOR THE CAST PORTION.
4.) WITH AN UNDERPOWERED (DECELERATING) CURVE CAST, AN SLP MAY DO THE TRICK, BUT IT'S MORE EASILY DONE WITH A CONVEX ROD TIP PATH.
5.) THE CURVE CASTS (AS DESCRIBED BY ED JOWOROWSKI IN HIS BOOK, "THE CAST") USE A RAPID WRIST TWIST JUST PRIOR TO THE STOP WHICH DISTORTS SLP, AND A RAPID TWIST IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AFTER THE STOP. THESE TWIST MOTIONS ARE MADE SO CLOSE TO THE STOP AS TO APPEAR, "AT THE STOP".
4. SLP: Is there a straight line path during a ?S? (wiggle) cast?
Yes, the wiggle occurs after the stop. MY WAY OF DOING THE WIGGLE CAST IS TO MAKE THE LATERAL MOVEMENTS OF THE HAND AND ROD TIP AFTER THE STOP, AS YOU INDICATE. IF WE EMBRACE THE DEFINITION OF A MEND AS REPOSITIONING THE LINE IN THE AIR OR ON THE WATER AFTER THE CAST, THEN THE TERM, "WIGGLE CAST" BECOMES ONE OF MANY CURRENT MISNOMERS.........RATHER A, "WIGGLE MEND." I AGREE WITH YOUR ANSWER, THAT AN SLP IS DESIRABLE THOUGH NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY. (YOU CAN STILL DO IT WITH A MILD CONVEX ROD TIP PATH.)HAVING SAID THAT, I CAN MAKE A SLACK LINE CAST BY PLACING THE WIGGLES BEFORE THE STOP.....BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME THING. WITH THAT ONE, I HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER WHERE THE WAVES OF SLACK WILL LAY OUT. THAT EXAMPLE WOULD BE A TRUE WIGGLE CAST.
Is it important to teach new casters to have the reel in line with the
target? Would you consider this question relates more to STYLE or
substance? Showing how to line up the butt of the rod with a target
can be very helpful for beginners. As to how the rod plane is oriented
relates to style or fishing conditions. AGREE.
Molly
Molly Semenik
mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.tietheknotflyfishing.com
406-220-5234