Walter & Group.......
Questions from Dermon Sox on two handed casting :-
Gordy,
I have been re-studying an article in the Masters Study Guide, because it is an area of my least experience. But I am having some trouble with it. It is the article titled “Lines for Two-Handers” by Simon Gawesworth. It is a reprint from the December 2003/January 2004 issue of “Saltwater Fly Fishing”. It is not about spey casting, but about overhead casting in salt water with a two-handed rod. I do not know if you have a copy of the study guide to look it up. I will try to make my points so that even if you do not have it you will understand my questions.
I have great respect for Gawesworth as one of our leading experts on the two-handed rod, but my first problem with the article is that I am totally confused as to what he recommends. In the 3rd column of the first page he says, “A standard shooting head is 26 to 30 feet long. These will work on a two-handed rod, but a 36 to 40 foot head shoots much better because the longer rods are loaded much more easily by longer, heavier heads.” Then in the first column of the second page he writes, “...but if you're looking to get out on the water after a minimum expense of time and money, in my experience, it's best to purchase the so-called “Scandinavian” shooting heads. This classification is derived from the fact that Norwegians and Swedes have found that overhead casting with two-handers is best performed with short shooting heads.” Though he doesn't say what length “short” shooting heads are, one would assume that short means shorter than standard, but he has just also recommended longer than standard heads. So I am totally confused as to what length head is best.
I then disagree with his statement above that “a
36 to 40 foot head shoots much better because the longer rods are loaded much
more easily by longer, heavier heads.” The longer heads may turn over better and
therefore shoot better, but I don't think it is because longer heads load the
rod more easily. If two shooting heads have the same grain weight but different
lengths and they are each aerialized straight out behind a caster I believe they
will both load the rod exactly the same on the forward cast. Yes, heavier lines
will load a rod more easily, but he has said that for a 14 ft. 9 wt. rod he
prefers a 540 to 580 grain head, but whether you buy a 30 foot 540 grain head or
a 40 foot 540 grain head they both weigh the same thing. So it seems to me that
it is not the better loading of the rod for which he prefers the longer head,
but for the better turnover and shooting. Is my thinking correct in this? And if
that is correct then why is he recommending the short Scandinavian head?
Finally, I do not agree with his explanation of the hinging that takes place when there is too much overhang of running line. He says, “...when you attach a heavy line to a thin shooting line, there's a tremendous difference in weight at the point where the two lines join. This disparity in weights becomes an issue when you're casting long distances. As the line travels out, the rear end of the heavy shooting head pulls down the running line and the back end of the loop, causing the line to land rear-end first, which translates to a loss of distance...”
But, in my understanding, it is not “the rear end of the heavy shooting head” that pulls the running line down but just the reverse. The thin running line has very little mass, and so it has very little kinetic energy. Most of the energy of the cast is stored in the mass of the shooting head. If there is too much overhang there is not enough kinetic energy in the running line to keep it moving forward against air friction and the running line will begin to collapse, which, in turn, pulls down the leading back end of the shooting head. Again, is my thinking correct in this?
Sorry this is so long, but since this is an area of my least experience I need to make sure I get it right. What would you suggest for further help with shooting heads and lines?
Thanks,
Dermon
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Dermon...
Two handed casting is not my forte. I'd defer to Rick Whorwood , Steve Rajeff and others who have made an in depth study of this.
I will say this: I note that one can make a longer cast with a longer head of the same weight. Also, that the ability of a caster to handle more overhang can translate in to even longer casts.
Steve Rajeff has been quoted as saying that, "overhang is the barometer for the rate of turnover of the head." To me, this is explained by the fact that it takes longer for that head to turnover when it is longer and when you are casting with greater amounts of overhang. Since the loop is only traveling forward as it unrolls and can't do so any longer once the loop has straightened, the longer it takes to unroll, the greater the distance.
Let's hear from these experts.
Gordy