Walter & Group.......
From Michael Jones:-
All of this discussion about teaching the DHaul, makes me want to boil
it down to an easy definition. In reading Bill Gammell's description
of the single haul vs. the double haul (The Essentials of Fly Casting,
Gammell & Gammell 1993), I am reminded of a conversation I had with
John Gayeski about this topic. John maintained (at the time) that the
single haul is defined as the downward pull, and the double is the
rebound & return-up motion that can follow the single haul.
John asked me to demonstrate two single hauls instead of a traditional
DHaul. After a little head scratching, I found myself using a
technique that we all reach for when we have picked up too much line:
a line-hand pull followed by another line hand pull further away
(down), without returning the line to a position near the rod. Again:
One single pull down on the backcast (no return of line to the rod),
forward cast with more down-pull. This also helps in casting into a
stiff breeze where returning the line (and shooting) are not
preferred. The problem, is this does not agree with Gammell's
definition. Can the definition by Gammell be restated or added to to
include a SOLID definition of what a single & double haul is, rather
than what it does:
"The single haul is just one haul on either the backward or forward
cast, but not both. (Gammell, 1993)"
What is a 'haul', only down, or both down and up? What is a 'double
haul', by definition? It sounds like a simple question, but I would
be interested in knowing the level of understanding, and if there is a
shared and clear definition in our community.
Can you do a single haul on the backcast, and finish with the double
(return) on the subsequent forward cast? I think yes, by John's
description.
Michael Jones
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Mike...
I'm glad you brought this up .... it needs clarification, particularly for any MCCI candidates who may be examined by, "disciples" of the Joan Wulff camp. No, "right or wrong", here ..... just the way the terms are used by different authors and fly casters.
Joan teaches and has written that a single haul is when you pull with the line hand and do not give back line in either the forward or the back cast, or both.
All the other authors of fly casting literature which I've checked, look at it this way:-
A single haul is the pull with the line hand during either back cast or forward cast, but not both.
A double haul is the pull with the line hand during both the back cast and the forward cast.
(The giving back of line is not part of the equation. )
Then there is the, "check haul" :-
A check haul is a pull with the line hand immediately following the delivery cast.
(One use is to rapidly and forceably turn over a leader. Another is to magnify the effect of a Tuck cast when fishing pocket water. A third is to make a sinking line perform like a floating line when casting a fly into very shallow water, as it allows you to start your retrieve before the fly has a chance to sink, etc,etc.)
And the so-called, "TRIPLE HAUL".
One definition favored by most, is:-
The triple haul is a pull with the line hand on the back cast, the forward cast, and a, "check haul" immediately following the delivery cast.
For intelligent discussion as well as exam taking, it behooves educated fly casters to know and understand the differences.
Gordy