Tracking ... tracking ... tracking

[Lasse Karlsson]

Damn it Lasse, I do wish you wouldn't listen to me.

I always listen to my friends

How else to find out if they talk bollocks

[Phil Blackmar]

Lasse and Paul-

It would seem more effort would be put into finding an indoor venue. Sports are meant to be played outside and weather is part of the equation. Fly fishing is a sport aimed at catching fish outdoors. A fly casting competition should be geared towards that such as the first challenge Paul put out. Distance and accuracy competitions should each be conducted indoors, IMO, due to the technical nature of the each cast.

BTW, the wind is howling here right now. Practice sucked...

[Paul Arden]

Indoors is possible with a few events but it would take quite an arena for some of the Spey events. I have cast indoors a few times. There is an indoor comp in Estonia but it’s at an impossible time of year for me.

Was planning on doing the PUALD comp today but for the second time in a row I took the wrong line. That I took exactly the same wrong line just leaves me speechless. And of course I only realised when I started casting.

Heading back to the boat!

Cheers, Paul

[Phil Blackmar]

For us chumps that can't toss that orange line into the next county, a good PUALD challenge might be one that resembles a fishing situation instead and includes accuracy. For instance, starting at 60 or 70 feet, make a series of 5 consecutive PUALD casts at targets with 2 meter diameters spaced 5 feet away at a 45 degree angle. If beginning at 60, then the last PUALD would be to 80 ft., 70 would reach 90, etc, and each cast would require shooting a little more line to reach the target. It would simulate casting at a fish working away from you.

Back to the hand tracking. As the rod moves towards vertical, the hand must move down to keep the tip working level. The increasing bend of the rod minimizes the amount the hand needs to move down. Then the hand goes back up as the rod passes vertical to keep the tip level. The back cast should do the same thing, Have you ever experimented with this?

[John Waters]

I have experimented with this Phil, you can generate that movement but it is not an essential.

John

[Phil Blackmar]

Hi John-

It may not have much benefit but it has spawned an idea for a new drill. I'm going to start hammering nails backwards beside or behind me. It will work on strengthening, timing, coordination and tracking....

[Paul Arden]

I do something like that but not for distance. I basically integrate the stop and the drift - the hand stops moving backwards but continues to lift. (It feels like I’m lifting into the stop). Actual Swooping on the backcast I think would be quite difficult.

Cheers, Paul

[John Waters]

Good challenge Phil, like it.

Attached are some photos of a distance hand path without a dip. The first is at the beginning of rod rotation, midway through rod rotation and at counterflex.

John

[John Waters]

The above stills are casting a 5 weight MED, still experimenting with rods but that has nothing to do with technique. I need to keeping on both.

John

[Paul Arden]

Hi John-

It may not have much benefit but it has spawned an idea for a new drill. I'm going to start hammering nails backwards beside or behind me. It will work on strengthening, timing, coordination and tracking....

If you are redecorating your house, Phil, I want to see pictures!