"SLIDE LOADING"

Walter & Group...

Over the past few years, I've been asked about "SLIDE LOADING" by a number of accomplished casters.  Most of these folks have either heard about it from others or have read Joan Wulff's descriptions in her FLY CASTING TECHNIQUES, pp. 107-108 & 125-128.

Some question its value.  Others wonder if this is a real casting event.  Some have even opined that it can be seen as a fault.  Still others feel that it may be a trade-off (slightly smoother cast but less distance).

Check out this string of messages before we comment and try to learn more from one another.     Gordy :-

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From Peter Lami :

Gordy,

George Roberts writes this about “Slide Loading”.

> “The textbook explanation of the double haul prescribes
> that you should execute the haul in synch with the final stage of acceleration
> (what Joan Wulff calls the "power snap" and Lefty Kreh calls the
> "speed-up-and-stop").
>
> For example, during the back cast, your rod hand and
> line hand would move together, in the same direction, during the first stage
> of acceleration (what Joan Wulff calls the "loading move"). Then, during the
> second stage of the stroke, your rod hand and line accelerate in opposite
> directions. The back-cast stroke and haul end abruptly, and precisely at the
> same instant.  Then, while the loop of fly line is unrolling behind you,
> the line hand moves toward the first stripping guide to give back line at the
> same speed that the unrolling cast wants to take it; the line hand finishes at
> a position near the reel.  For the forward cast, the rod hand and line
> hand move forward together during the first stage of acceleration (loading
> move).  Then, during the final stage of acceleration (power snap) the rod
> hand continues forward to complete the casting stroke while the line hand
> accelerates toward your thigh to execute the forward-cast
> haul.
>
> I, along with a number of other casters I’ve noted,
> practice a variation of the double haul that Joan Wulff has termed slide
> loading.  Rather than the line hand’s simply moving toward the rod
> hand to give back line while the back cast is unrolling, both the rod hand and
> line hand move toward each other.  That is, the rod hand starts forward
> through the loading move while the line hand is still giving back line.
>  As strange as it seems, during the loading-move phase of the stroke
> there is no actual load on the rod.  When the rod hand and line hand meet
> and the back cast straightens, the rod loads instantly. At this point, the rod
> hand is positioned to execute the power snap.  The power snap and haul
> complete the loading of the rod.
>
> Slide loading offers several advantages over the
> traditional double haul, including a more rhythmic cadence and perfect timing.
> I think all good fly-casters eventually fall into slide loading on their
> own.”

I’d like to know your thoughts about slide loading.

Tight loops!

Peter Lami
FFF Master

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My brief answer:

Peter...

 

Many instructors including Masters and CBOG's have said that they don't consider "slide loading" as a real casting event.

 

I felt the same way until I began to witness my using the technique which George Roberts describes to sort of smooth out my cast.

 

This can be done during back-drift.  As it is used, it serves to smoothly assist a sort of "pre-load" especially if line has been shot back.  This explains what George says, "When the rod hand and line hand meet and the back cast straightens, the rod loads instantly.....".

 

His is the best description I've yet seen.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

 

Best,

 

Gordy

I'll add this:  If you use the technique of avoiding a back drift whilst coming all the way back to a STOP with your rod tip way back, it can also be used when line is not shot by feeding a small amount of line back into the rod guides with your line hand as the back cast loop is completing its unfurling.

I don't think it gives me a bit more distance.  Smooth out the cast a tad ?  Maybe.

When this is done, I don't bring my rod hand or the rod tip forward, for this would shorten the available stroke length for the delivery cast.  (One definition of creep !)  For that reason, it won't fit Joan's description nor George's for slide loading since my two hands don't approach one another.

Gordy

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I've added an attachment, courtesy of Peter Lami. This contains Peter's question to Al Kyte and Al's response. (As you read this, remember that while most of us look at a double haul as a pull with the line hand during both the foreard stroke and the back stroke, she has always taught that it is a single haul if you don't give back line and it is a double haul if you do give back on either or both forward and back casts.)

Gordy

 

 

Attachment: Slide Loading.doc
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