Paul Arden | Wednesday, 8 January 2025
I had an early morning Zoom casting session today with one of my favourite athletes (ok they are all equally favourite!). “Athlete” is usually a bit tongue in cheek when describing flycasters, but in this case it’s not, because she competes at the highest level. I do enjoy working with high level casters and in many ways it’s actually easier than teaching beginners via Zoom. If it wasn’t for a constraints-led approach I don’t think I could actually teach beginners via Zoom in the first place. It would certainly be very challenging. And with advanced casters it just makes more sense. That’s not to say that we don’t suggest changes to pattern, of course we do, but we do that by creating challenges that allow changes to be explored.
An alternative option when developing the stroke is, if say we think the power application is too early (it’s almost never too late!), then we create a drill for exploring power application timing, gradually making it later in the rotation and to the extent where it actually occurs too late. This is important, not only to find a better timing, but also because we need to have control over variable timing in different wind conditions. We can use loop shape and measured carry lengths to tell us what is working most effectively for the caster at the time. This doesn’t happen in one session or overnight, but is a long gradual development process. To me that's not the same as using constraints but in this case I haven't come up with a suitable set of constraints to build this development!
Today I’m working on some of the Sexyloops rod prototypes, while moored up near Ant Island. I’m working on the HT9 as you know. I need to really dial in what I want to change here. To do that I’m going to cast the 8, 9 and 10 back-to-back later tonight when it’s not so hot. I think I need to have the lowest section, or the one above, or indeed probably both, ever so slightly stiffened. It’s one of the hardest areas to get right. I find most other rods too stiff here, and quite a few nowadays to be too soft. My testing for this is fast shots at 70-90’ targets. If the rod butt is too soft it feels like the rod “buckles” in my hand and I lose accuracy when applying power. Too stiff and I don’t have the feedback I need for control. This lower section has an interesting effect on damping as well, but this rod already damps very well.
I also have an 8’6 prototype accuracy rod that is softer in the butt and stiffer in the tip. In fact it has two mid sections of different stiffnesses. I’m not sure we will sell it that way but it would be an interesting idea! This is going to take some work. I’ve been listening to competition accuracy casters talk about this preference for softer rods for years, and again recently in Chris Korich’s podcast, and have decided to test this out for myself properly. I only have two floating accuracy rings assembled however and will assemble the other two tonight (with glue and duck tape… only kidding; it’s much more exciting and involves drilling holes through wood and filling the gaps with silicone sealant. It’s hard to believe I’m not a professional cabinet maker sometimes).
The past two evenings that I’ve fished I’ve found Snakehead babies. But the adults haven’t been rising/breathing! Which has been very strange. I can only assume that this is because we had some heavy rain a few days ago and it oxygenated the water. No doubt they will remember to breathe soon and then I can catch them again. I certainly hope so and I’m sure they do too.
Have a great day.
Cheers, Paul