I know it may not happen this way, but I feel......

[VGB]

I think weed might be a contributor to the flow, allegedly

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

Phil,

Sorry... as to feel... and maybe still not what you are looking for.

After your visit, Walt and I hooked up for a day of casting... and '"feel" was one of the topics. (Of course, since it was Walt, comp distance took center stage. )

Whenever someone wants to explore "feel" I bring out an old Orvis graphite that dates back to the late 80s. Its a 2 piece 9' 7wt that I swear they were trying to mimic bamboo with.

After begging Walt to go easy so as not to break it, when I got my turn I ended up trying throwing the whole line with it anyway. And to my surprise, I could. It took a completely different stroke from the other rods, of course, and the outstanding "feel" of that rod was how and when it unloaded.

Slow easy stroke with lots of translation... match a slow haul... then just let the rod do the rest... and definitely do not try to narrow the loop.

Someone once said there is magic in flyrods? In this case it was more about the rod presenting a feeling back, instead of feeling what I put into the rod - if that makes any sense?

Ya just can't help but smile when they do that!

[John Waters]

Great topic Phil.

The "zone" is a skill that can be learned. Being relaxed is an important "feel" needed to make whatever the caster wants to happen, happen in casting. We describe the fly rod as a flexible lever and that is exactly how the body should work when casting. An often used analogy in other throwing sports for the desired movement is be a fishing rod. Your fly rod exemplifies proximal to distal movement patterning.

John

[Phil Blackmar]

After begging Walt to go easy so as not to break it, when I got my turn I ended up trying throwing the whole line with it anyway. And to my surprise, I could. It took a completely different stroke from the other rods, of course, and the outstanding "feel" of that rod was how and when it unloaded.

Slow easy stroke with lots of translation... match a slow haul... then just let the rod do the rest... and definitely do not try to narrow the loop.

Someone once said there is magic in flyrods? In this case it was more about the rod presenting a feeling back, instead of feeling what I put into the rod - if that makes any sense?

Ya just can't help but smile when they do that!

Gary

I love your comments. In fact, there is a saying in golf "Does the swing create the shot or does the shot create the swing?" While the sport is driving more and more towards the former, I feel the beauty of the game is in that the shot creates the swing. It sounds like we have something in common.

Phil

[Paul Arden]

Does the swing create the shot or does the shot create the swing?

That’s also an example of external focus vs internal (or at least closer to home) focus, Phil.

I like “do anglers create flies or do fish create flies?”