Casting for Distance

[Sea Foam]

Scott

In the most recent issue of Fly Fisherman there is an excellent article on fly casting . There is a new instrument that measures rod speed and distance traveled. The article compares the graphs of beginner, average, and expert fly casters. Anyhow, there is one part I did not understand. The expert or advanced casters had a drift at the end of the forward and back cast. In both casts there was a hard stop at 50 degrees (measured from the ground?) and the the rod tip would drift after the stop to 20 degrees. The author descibed rotating the rod to 20 degrees. My question is, do they mean the angle of the rod tip to the ground? ie. a 90 degree angle would be the rod tip straight up I think. Using the word rotating the rod confused me (which doesnt take much anymore)

Thanks Jeff

[Kent]

"Drift" is the extension/tilting of the rod after the stop to lengthen the stroke. Because to make a longer cast we have to make a longer stroke.

But note it is not a "rotational" drift where the wrist flops and the loop widens (& the loop probably tails). Rather the hand reaches back and up so that the rod tip path remains near straight, and the rod is ready for a long (straight) path on the forward cast (perhaps followed by drift if it is not the last).

http://www.surfmind.com/fish/cast_drift.jpg

Take a look at this article on the biomechanics of the cast (http://home.att.net/~slowsnap/biomechanics.htm), which FFer pubed a few years back.


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Kent
Flyfishing West Georgia & Beyond (http://kje.home.mindspring.com)



[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 10-19-2003).]

[Kent]

Oops, I'm (of course) not Scott & I'm sure he can add some more. I've just been out casting this afternoon for fun, and broke 100' with the 5wt for the first time. So I'm pumped!!

Definitely would not happen without the drift. I'm stopping high on the backcast, drifting way back, tilting the rod to near horizontal as I raise the rod butt. This leaves the tip at nearly the same vertical height as it was at the stop so the loop doesn't open.

[Scott Swartz]

Jeff, Kent covered what drift is and how it's executed (great job). I would only add that when you start to drift with your casting stroke you start with a small amount and work toward the long 30 degree drift you read about. Remember it comes after a hard stop and is not part of the power stroke. It is a second seperate motion repositioning the rod in preparation for the forward cast.
Scott

[Sea Foam]

Thanks Kent and Scott http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

The article on biomechanics was very informative. When you say keep the rod tip on a straight path, do you mean the distance of the rod tip from the ground? Also, if I get this right, Stopping the rod a more perpendicular point allows the rod to more fully load, then allowing the drift increases the lenght of the casting arc? Should your elbow remain at the same spot through the cast or do you have to raise it to allow drift and keep the rod tip straight?


Thanks Jeff http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[Kent]

Jeff -
Here's my take on this. `Hope Scott, & maybe Robert & Carl will chime in on this.

"When you say keep the rod tip on a straight path, do you mean the distance of the rod tip from the ground?"
The fly goes in the direction that the rod tip accelerates & stops. So for a horizontal-to-the-ground cast, yes. But more generally, it is a straight line pointed at the target.


"Also, if I get this right, Stopping the rod a more perpendicular point allows the rod to more fully load..."
Not exactly. Stopping the rod more perpendicular will tend to tighten the loop. The load is determined by the bend that is forced into the rod with the acceleration , and accelerating all the way to the stop (or the unloading of the rod) makes sure none of the load is lost.


"then allowing the drift increases the lenght of the casting arc?"
Yes, but maybe we should say that it increases the length of the stroke, not the "arc." We don't actually want the arc to increase, as then the rod tip path becomes circular. But with a longer stroke, we can bend the rod more while flattening the arc, and still get the straight-line rodtip path.

"Should your elbow remain at the same spot through the cast or do you have to raise it to allow drift and keep the rod tip straight?"
You might get some varying answers here based on casting style. I cast straight up when going for distance and I drift up & back. (Then the elbow drops again on forward cast - unless I forget, get focused on slamming it out there, & blow the whole deal http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif )


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Kent
Flyfishing West Georgia & Beyond (http://kje.home.mindspring.com)



[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 10-21-2003).]

[Scott Swartz]

Again, Kent has explained this idea of drifting the rod perfectly. If it still doesn’t make sense call me and come by AFFS and I'll show you. It will take less time to show you than to put it in writing. We're actually going to have the author of the article you read and the computer analyzer hear at my school next week to work with AFFS instructors and the Callaway boys. Should be very interesting. It's the fly-casting instructors version of continuing education.;)

Scott

[Sea Foam]

Thanks Kent, it is making more sense. This is a lot of fun when I am not able to fish. Scott - Thats really cool that they are coming to your place. I am due for a lesson, I learned a lot last time.


Thanks again Jeff