Distance casting problem

Walter & Group......

A good lesson, here, based upon one paragraph taken out of context from one of Dr. Shigley's messages. Blue hi-lighting is mine.: -

".....When shooting line on the double haul, I find that on the first back cast where I shoot line then execute my forward cast, that that is all I need- one back cast and the final forward cast. Is this OK? Do I need to more false casting? I feel that the more false casting I do I begin to lose control of the line."

Your opinion.

Dr. Shigley

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The two biggest problems I see with the distance casting event on the MCI exam are: 1. The candidate false casting while carrying more line than he can handle perfectly. 2. Not critiquing the back cast.

As I coach distance casting to MCI candidates, I note that some of them keep false casting until they have a bit more line out than they can handle well with perfect back cast loops. They THEN make their forward presentation cast. They fail to make their distance and the layout is poor with waves in the line.

What works best in most cases ....especially with short head lines, I note, is to have the caster false cast until he reaches the start of overhang. Then, on only the LAST back cast, I have him shoot line back with a perfect tight back cast loop for a, "pre-load" after which the delivery cast is made.

To prove the point to the caster, I make a mark on his line at the back of the head so he can feel it (a small nail knot of 4 lb test mono). I, then, have him false cast allowing no more line than that point to leave the rod and have him make his forward cast. For many, it's an eye opener.

Then I use Bill Gammel's method (Video by Gammel: Teaching Yourself to Fly cast) in having him start with 30' of line and make perfect false cast loops slowly, then faster and faster. We, then, go to 33' and do the same thing. Then 36' and repeat. We keep going until he can no longer make repetative perfectly tight and well controlled loops on both forward and back casts with high line speed.

I, then, back off a few feet until he can again make perfect loops with high line speed. Now I re-mark his line indicating that for that rod/line combo and casting circumstance, this is the max line that he should try to carry before making the presentation cast. Once he gets good at that, I introduce the back shoot again.

As we go through this teaching algorithm, I make certain that the caster is watching and critiquing his own back casts.

When the candidate leaves, I advise him to practice the same scenario on his own using different rod/line combinations and under different wind/casting conditions.

This helps get the idea across that we all have different optimum amounts of line which we should carry for different rod/line combos and different casting conditions. The expert caster gains the ability to judge this quickly.....but that takes years.