Walter & Group...
I feel that I learn so much by learning the various descriptions of the "elephant" from different acclaimed teachers of fly casting around the world ..... comparing their thoughts, looking at their differences... and then learning a great deal more by studying their similarities !
Here is an example :
More of Ally Gowans' line diagrams (I placed his message in the attachment). We've labeled it, "Thumbnail guide over Lefty's Line."
The first one depicts a rod arc (the angular change in the position of the butt section of the rod from the start of the cast to loop formation ) which is too short for the length of line carried out of the rod tip. Ally calls this, "short arc misalignment".
The second one shows a rod arc too long for the length of line carried out of the rod tip. Ally correctly notes this as, "long arc misalignment." This is an error often caused by wrist twist when casting in the horizontal or off-horizontal casting plane. When this happens, the thumbnail is likely to turn from direct alignment with the targets.
Using entirely different word descriptions yet arriving at the same lesson, Joan Wulff comments on the horizontal cast relating the misalignment over the horizontal line on the ground to stroke length. (JOAN WULFF'S FLY CASTING TECHNIQUES, pp. 57-58.) (Joan has always looked at stroke length as the distance moved by the hand from the start to the end of the cast.)
In Joan's, FLY-CASTING ACCURACY - pp. 35 - 40, she relates the loop position to the line-on-the-ground, not only to stroke length, but also to timing, power, and line speed.
Now, let's go to page 30 of Joan's book. Here you will note her diagram which depicts a similar malalignment when casting in the vertical to off-vertical rod plane. Here, the misalignment is caused by rotation ... not of the wrist, but by the rotation of the shoulder ! I see this most often in vertical casting plane casters who cast with their arms up and out. Not only does this cause the condition which Joan depicts so well, but it is very tiring for the caster, and stresses the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. In addition, that big sidways directed loop is a form of slack which must be taken up to the following forward stroke, thus effectively shortening the available stroke length, rod arc, and tip travel for the presentation cast. In turn, it encourages the caster to exert inapproprate application of power which can result in anything from failure to make the desired distance & layout or even a tailing loop.
If this caster had a marked thumb nail, you can bet it would depart from the straight line relationship to the targets.
Note the position of the observer in Joan's diagram. (Imagine yourself in a helicopter above her.)
This is sometimes difficult to diagnose. Here are 3 ways to do it;
1.) Note the arm way out and up. This is a tip that the problem exists.
2.) Stand (or crouch ... even lie down ) in front or behind the caster. You'll see that loop curving around behind the caster. (This may be one of the reasons Jason Borger often has his students around in a circle casting toward him. He'll pick up faults which cannot easily be appreciated from the side.)
3.) Better, yet: Climb a tree, stand on a balcony .... or anywhere where you can have the luxury of being above the caster.
Should you really want a brain teaser, note Mac Brown (CASTING ANGLES, pp.40,42.) relating the position of the loops related to a line on the ground to the amount of force used. (Of course, this would translate to the amount of bend or load of the fly rod.)
So many variables !
Gordy
Attachment:
SPAMRE Thumbnail guide Horizontal casting over Lefty's line.oft
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