Gaze Behaviours in Fly Casting Accuracy

[VGB]

An interesting read and it is probably worth emphasising that the study was focused on performance not learning. Nevertheless, it is relevant to our field of interest:

https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj ... =693657513

[Paul Arden]

Walter, were you involved?

Cheers, Paul

[Stoatstail50]

Very interesting Vince.

Being prone to cherry picking I'd like to highlight this :

The process of visual search reveals massive amounts of conceptual information, which cannot all be processed at
once due to a bottleneck in our attentional system (Itti & Koch, 1999).
In order to deal with this bottleneck of visual information we select the stimuli based on what we think is
most relevant to us using a process of selective attention (Itti & Koch, 1999).
The mental ability to select one specific location/stimulus out of such a vast array
of competing stimuli requires the allocation of attention, much like a spotlight drawing
attention to the specific location (Treisman & Gelade, 1980; Corbetta, 1998).

I think this highlights something identified in other threads and that is that experts or experienced casters have learned to filter and concentrate visual attention onto the things that generate the highest value information about both the process of casting and the environment in which the cast is being made.

Beginners and novices are often overwhelmed by the sensory geography and have to be directed as to what part of it they should focus their attention upon.

If attention is directed by an instructor onto sensory sources which are not high value for a beginner then the learning process will be slowed down.

[VGB]

As usual, I start at the last page :

Fly fisherman engage in a sport where accuracy is central to their success. Many members of this sport spend considerable amounts of time practicing, and or money for lessons in an attempt to be more accurate. Unfortunately at this time few professionals in the field address the visual system and the contribution of gaze control and attention to performance when giving instruction on how to cast more accurately. By instructing fly casters to control their attention so they visually address their target in a more timely and effective manor, participants may become more accurate in their casting. They may also improve their mechanics as a consequence.

Regards

Vince

[Stoatstail50]

In 2008...

[Paul Arden]

Yes I went backwards through it too. I was wondering why the 13m target was so difficult. But I don’t think that the casting was done by hovering. Also the experiment may or may not have been done involving someone like Steve Rajeff for example.

Cheers, Paul

[Stoatstail50]

For casters who are not international competition accuracy specialists 13m is, relatively speaking, harder than 8m.

This, I think, is quite unsurprising.

[VGB]

I think that he is getting into a grey area between learning and performance in P27, where he states:

An example of an external focus of attention in fly casting would involve the learner directing their focus of attention on the target.

Although in the triangle method, I think that we are already getting a student switching focus of attention from the loop/fly leg to the intended direction of the cast.

Repeatedly using “proper mechanics” without defining what that means sets my teeth on edge, although that is a minor gripe.

Regards

Vince

[Paul Arden]

Yes but what was surprising is that it was found to be so difficult that it was suggested shortening the longer distance in the future. I just wonder if the casters involved have trained for competition because where and how to sight plays a huge part in this. And it’s not something that I find that your average CI knows how to do.

The first time CIs have a go at comp accuracy they normally score single digits out of 80. One of the best casters in Malaysia who is MCI scored low 20s and this I think was rather high. I’m not particularly good at this and expect to throw around 50. It would be very interesting to study those throwing high 70s.

But it wasn’t conducted this way and multiple casts were apparently thrown at the same target. That’s what I found confusing because once the fly is in, I would expect misses to be almost zero.

In comp accuracy there are different sighting methods. I know of four in common use, rear of the ring, centre of the ring, front of the ring and a space in the air above the ring.

Cheers, Paul

[VGB]

Trials participants were on Page 32, so possibly not versed in competition techniques:

Participants (N=7) were recruited From the Federation of Fly Fisher’s Certified Master Casting Instructors, the Federation of Fly Fisher’s Certified Instructors and professionals who have been fly casting for more then 10 years in the field of fly fishing in the Calgary region. Master Casters and Certified Instructors were recruited from the Federation of Fly Fisher’s Certified Casting Instructors directory, which includes certification levels.

I wonder if the outcome would have been different if the trial had used certification tasks instead of competition tasks? I scored nothing on the first round of a BFCC accuracy competition because I didn’t know that there was a set order.

Regards

Vince