Acronyms / Substance & Style

Walter & Group...

From Liam Duffy:-

Hi Gordy,
             Just reading recent emails and I see Dennis a nice acronym (I'm fond of them1) Here's one I came up with for my  students that works well especially with beginner/novice casters.  No doubt most people were involved in sport in school/college.  Whatever the sport running is always used to improve fitness and we all have run laps of the track.  So most people are familiar with the term LAPS and I use it:
L. = LINE
A. = ARC
P. = PAUSE
S,= STROKE
 
Line length governs the size of casting arc, the pause and the stroke So."Long line,= longer (wider) arc, longer pause and longer stroke.  Short line = short arc,shorter pause, and shorter stroke
 
That's it for what its worth but it works for me.
 
Liam Duffy

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Liam...    Glad to see that acronyms are alive and well in Ireland !!  

One we could add:  "Faster cast = shorter pause.  Slower cast = longer pause"   Somebody smarter than I am will be able to fit that to the present acronyms.  

Perhaps you could put that one first and have:  F.L.A.P.S.  ....... call it   FASTER LAPS !

     Gordy

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Jerry Puckett comes in with an interesting variation :-

and Al:

 

Capt. Bert Barkus who guides in the south western everglades of Florida, 10,000 Islands, uses this style, elbow firm in the waist with relatively stiff wrist, mostly wrist.  It is most assurely a side arm type cast.  He is a joy to watch placing the fly under the mangroves with accuracy with excellent loops.

 

He tried some years ago to get certified as a CCI but to no avail for what ever reason, I suspect this style being one.   He looked surprised when I told him I really enjoyed watching him cast. 

 

I have practice this style thinking it a great style if someone has shoulder problems.

As mentioned in an earlier e-mail, it would be very easy to recognize Bert casting at a distance because of his unique style.

 

Jerry Puckett CCI.

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Jerry,         I've never seen that done, but I can picture it.  In fact, I'll try it today.

 

Lefty introduced me to Rod Harrison of Australia.  He goes by the pen name of "HARRO".  Rod fell in love with Lefty's style years ago and passed it on to other salt water guides and teachers whom I had the pleasure of meeting when I fished there.  Hardly a fishing magazine or fishing news article was printed without an article by him or something about him.  I invited him to fish for tarpon with me in the Keys.  I was amazed by his powerful yet accurate casts with a low elbow style even lower than most who use this way of casting.  (He quickly became expert at fighting large tarpon even though he'd never done that before.  He introduced me to the Australian STRUDWICK fly rods which are very powerful, indeed.)

 

One of the problems with most FFF teaching years ago was our failure to recognize the concepts of Style and Essentials.  Fortunately, instructors now are understanding and tolerant of various styles as long as the style doesn't breach the essentials or principles and allows the student or candidate to cast with ease as he/she meets the casting objectives.

 

A LOT has changed over the years .... for the better.

 

Gordy

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