Advanced Fly Casting Challenge no2

[Paul Arden]

Hey chaps and ladies too of course,

As mentioned in one of the other threads here is this month’s challenge (until Nov 15). If you can do this already then hats off to you - I can’t!

90’ carry, non-dominant hand, blindfold. Minimum 10 false casts at this length.

Of course you might not get there, so let’s see how close you can get. My wife is back around then so she can video wherever I have got to.

Cheers,
Paul

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

I still have not fully recovered from challenge #1.

[Paul Arden]

Well here is a tip for anyone struggling with this. Go right hand, left hand, right hand, left hand. Make backcasts only. Forward casts only. Use the right side to teach the left and vice versa. Since we have already done the hard work to train ourselves to cast, it’s just a process of mirroring.

I found that I’ve had to go right back to the basics. Short carry, short PUALD etc. I’ve really had to study the haul! Mostly we struggle with the non-dominant hand, not because we are not strong enough (which I often hear), but because we try to apply too much force.

Three nights ago I had a real breakthrough when I started using the left hand for backhand deliveries. This is 170 all over and it suddenly felt natural.

One of my biggest challenges has been using the forearm to brace the rod butt for the first half of the stroke with the left. But it’s getting there and it’s only technique - hand placement on the rod for example. I was up to 83’ carry but I’m now back to working on the basics again because it has to feel natural and not forced.

But it’s really given me something to play with and entertain myself on these dark moonless nights

Cheers, Paul

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

While you are filming, please document your achievement of challenge #1. It's been like a year and the only thing I've seen was from Lasse, and there I suspect some subterfuge!

[Paul Arden]

Yep will do Gary. I realise I’ve got this one to catch up on.

[Lasse Karlsson]

While you are filming, please document your achievement of challenge #1. It's been like a year and the only thing I've seen was from Lasse, and there I suspect some subterfuge!

What kind?

Cheerd
Lasse

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

Shooting head.

[Paul Arden]

I’m quite sure Lasse wasn’t using a shooting head!!!

[Lasse Karlsson]

Shooting head.

I know I refer to most lines as a shootinghead, but the comp legal MED 5 weight I used might not be a true one




Cheers
Lasse

[Paul Arden]

That’s great casting mate! I’ll make sure I get this done on film too shortly. There are a couple of places here where I might be able to do this. Anyway if you can carry 90 on the left it shouldn’t be too difficult. My left hand has really come on a long way in the last week. About 15 years ago I was playing around with the 170 on the left but it never really clicked and I always reverted to Rajeff-style for left hand competitions. I’m really aiming to change that at the moment.

Cheers, Paul