Forearm only in Kreh methodology

[ShawnT]

Regarding Modern Fly Casting Method (1991) again . . .

When discussing principle 5 in the book,
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>For long or more difficult casts, you will need to bring the rod well behind your body on the back cast.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

the author states that you should only use your forearm in the cast, yet the pictures clearly display his entire arm participating in the cast -- specificially when it's clear he is extenting his entire arm behind him. Perhaps I misunderstood this but he seemed to emphasize it numerous times. What does it mean then to cast only with your forearm when you are extending your entire arm?

[dredger]

The goal is for the rod tip to travel in a straight line, except for a slight downward arc at the end of the stroke. This can be accomplished with different body movements, but few people can create this motion while involving the wrist.

Most of my motion is shoulder rotation.

[ShawnT]

Thank you dredger for the response.

Then are you saying the lower arm does not move? You simply swing your shoulder back? If so, you make the same movement forward on the forcast without really moving the lower arm?

(I can picture what you're saying better than the pictures in the book so it does help. Thanks.)

[WallyWorld]

I believe Lefty is describing two distinct elements of casting.

The first, the use of only the forearm, refers to the standard casting motion and the elimination of wrist movement.

The second, bringing the rod back behind your shoulder, refers to the anchor point of the cast. When making a short cast the anchor point should be almost stationary since you don't need to move the rod through a wide arch like you would when making a distance cast. When going for a long cast it is necessary to drift the anchor point behind you without changing the basic mechanics of the cast. This will allow you to get the slack out and accelerate the longer length of line.

As for sinking tips, you should start the cast with the end of the sinking section in your rod guides. If you try to cast with any of the running line outside the rod tip the line will hinge at the point where the two sections meet, ruining the cast. To properly execute a good cast with a sink tip you will have to learn to haul and shoot the running line.

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Enjoy and protect.

[oyster]

Shawn,

I think what Lefty is trying to emphasize is to avoid bending the wrist during the cast. The entire arm, shoulder, and even hips can be brought into play on longer casts but it is more important than ever to avoid making an arc by allowing the rod to pivot at the wrist. This would open up your casting loop and defeat your attempt at getting some real distance. To demonstrate this, you can tuck the but of the rod into your sleeve against your forearm and watch your casting loop get tighter.

Good Luck,
Bill

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Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods

[Kent]

I think you got the right answers - i.e. no wrist. The brginning of the backcast is mostly forearm/elbow, the latter part of the cast is more shoulder/upper body/whole body. The longer casts require a longer movement of the rod (principle #1).

Lefty shows a demo using a board about 2' long. Shows it positioned from just in front of body at about waist level going back to behind shoulder on a slightly upward plane. He says to envision the back of your hand following the flat pale of the board on the backcast. At the end of the backcast, you should see the side of your thumb, not the thumbnail. This stops you from throwing a curve in the line around behind you, but may also help you envision the arm movement.

(BTW, pantomining is a terrific way to practice casting. Jason Borger has a good article on VHS about it. Developing muscle memory is a big thing for flycasters, as it is so different from most athletic movements. And it's especially helpful for learning the double haul.)
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Kent
Flyfishing West Georgia & Beyond (http://kje.home.mindspring.com)



[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 03-20-2001).]