Walter wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:22 pm
Bernd Ziesche wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:00 am
The EFFA would fail Walter when not keeping the rod hand completely on the line hand side. But I agree with Walter, that is a none smart idea, because of the limits Walter described. Mel Krieger early on recommended to just bring over the rod tip. I like that!
Sometimes I cast with my other hand or just turn around and present on my backcast. I’m guessing the effa frowns on that too.
Hi Walter,
When it comes to EFFA, GF was the main force to drive that organisation forward and develop the exam requirements. Since he wanted his powerhaul to become a famous technique, he set up a 25m back hand cast and fixed the ruls to mainly match exactly his technique. That's why several other techniques weren't accepted.
Torsten already described the requirements well.
For a distance cast (25m or more) most fly fishermen would struggle a lot with the EFFA requirements matching back hand cast. Instead I always saw much better results by using the back cast. In coastal Sea trout fishing we started to call it the beach cast. You can watch the chicks on the beach, while driving the fly to the fish as we used to say. That is what most use here. Almost never I see such a back hand cast.
Fun fact, the EFFA (GF) insisted, that the rod hand must be on the line hand side during the cast AND the palm of the rod hand must point in forward cast direction all the time, especially during the back cast. So I asked him, why then call it a back hand cast, when yet in all other sports back hand refers to the opposite: leading the movement with the backside of the hand. No answer of course.
Bringing the rod hand completely on the off shoulder side, then using the indexfinger on top causes quite a twist in the ellbow and shoulder joint. Fishing like that for 8 hours on distance is the last thing I'd ever recommend. It may well lead to injury/pain issues.
Torsten,
This doesn't mean I ever use an offshoulder cast. I do sometimes, but in an easy way. I bring my tip to the line hand side and use the cast on short to medium distance. Often I may turn my rod hand to some degree (palm to the side) in the back cast. That works very well, but in EFFA terms isn't a back hand cast. In other sports this is where the back hand motion just starts. Pretty missleading use of that term imo.
Regards
Bernd