THE FLYCASTING MODEL
An introduction to our definitions
Our objective was to define a set of terms for motions of rod, line or hand that can help to describe, as simply as possible, the elements that go together to make fly fishing casts.
Wherever possible we have used terms that are in common use by instructors and professionals within the wider fly fishing community and sought to maintain the meaning of those terms as understood by expert practitioners of our sport.
We have retained as key, the general objective of delivering a fly to a fish using a fly rod and a fly line and for the purposes of this exercise we accept that this activity is commonly described as a Cast or Casting.
THE WHOLE CAST
We have divide our cast into two elements differentiated between those motions whose purpose is the repositioning of rod and/or line and those whose purpose is acceleration of the line in order to make a loop.
The Casting Stroke covers only those motions whose purpose is to allow acceleration of the whole line in the direction of the target by means of a Loop.
The Overall Stroke includes this and may also include all other motions of rod or line repositioning that set up the Casting Stroke and motions of rod or line repositioning after the completion of the Casting Stroke.
We therefore arrived at the first key definitions:-
Stroke
(or Overall Stroke): A coordinated series of movements which includes a Casting
Stroke.
A Stroke starts when the rod first moves in the casting direction and can include
rod and line positioning actions before and after the Casting Stroke.
Casting Stroke:
When
the rod accelerates the line in order to form a loop.
The Casting Stroke begins when the line is first accelerated in the casting direction and it ends with loop formation.
I have been struggling with
this, whichever way I turn these definitions it leads to bloody trouble, they
potentially have a common start. I need a think….and a drink.
With simplicity in mind we then defined a loop as :-
Static Loop: A length of line formed into a D under the rod tip.
Having taken the position that whenever line passes the rod
tip there is a
Finally, to complete the cast we need one of these:-
Pause: Period between Casting Strokes.
THE CASTING STROKE.
The casting stroke contains two key elements, a rotational element, the change of angle of the rod during the casting stroke and a translational element, the change of position of the hand during the casting stroke.
These have been traditionally described as :-
Casting Arc: Change of rod-angle during a Casting Stroke.
Casting Stroke Length: Distance the rod hand travels during a
Casting Stroke.
We could see no good reason to change these definitions. We are aware however of the controversy surrounding the relative contribution of energy to the cast around the rotational and translational elements. So, without reference to energy contribution, we have introduced the term Drag simply to describe the translational motion of the hand/rod during the casting stroke, this is essential as it is this translational movement that allows us to adjust the length of the stroke to enable maintenance of straight line path of the rod tip for longer lengths of line or higher speed casts and plainly happens during the rotational element of the Casting Stroke. We therefore now have :-
Drag:
Rod translation during a Casting Stroke.
(The inclusion of drag does not preclude any argument being right or wrong on the matter of power but precludes a set of definitions based around the premise that the argument has already been won.)
THE
OVERALL STROKE.
Included in
the Overall Stroke are the Casting Stroke and those motions required to
reposition rod and line before the Casting Stroke begins. These elements are
split into rod positioning motions (which have little or no effect on the line)
and Line positioning movements. While line
positioning may mean moving or accelerating the line it does not involve or
include forming a loop and they therefore fall
outside of the Casting Stroke.
.
We have
therefore employed the following terms for rod positioning:-
Drift:
To position the rod between casting strokes.
Moving the rod to adjust Casting Arc, Stroke Length or
Casting Plane. Drift applies little or no force on the line.
Casting
Plane now needs to be defined. And we need a definition for a snap.
Slide: A
form of drift where the rod is moved freely along the line towards the line
hand.
For rod
motions which are only intended to reposition line we have adopted the term Sweep. Many
parts of the cast are Sweep: the lift on a pickup and lay down; setting up a
static D-loop; many motions in Spey casts and aerial
mends are all examples of Sweep, so we have employed these simple terms for
line positioning:-
Sweep:
To position the line.
Sweeping or pulling the line into position.
and
Mend: A form of Sweep after the Casting Stroke.
A mend may be made, either while the line is in the air (aerial mend) when
the caster moves line in the rod-leg of the loop, or later when the line has
straightened or fallen.
FAULTS
We believe
that this is the most common understanding of the meaning of the word Creep in
a fly fishing context.
Creep:
Unintentional movement of the rod in the direction of the next Casting Stroke.
Creep is a persistent casting fault where the rod is unintentionally moved
so the Casting Arc and/or Stroke Length of that cast are reduced.
CONCLUSION
We believe that this simple set of definitions will adequately describe most if not all commonly used casts. By adding each descriptive element in a modular fashion a basic description of the actions in a cast can be constructed.
The definitions are neutral on outcomes, meaning that the common fault finding processes can be applied to each element making the definitions not only descriptively powerful but analytically powerful too.
The definitions retain the common understanding of the
terminology used by most casting instructors, they
therefore do not require a re-education process and are consequently more
likely to be accepted by a broader base of instructors worldwide.