Paul Arden | Wednesday, 4 September 2024
Flying back from Malaysia was a long trip this time. And I am in Zombie Land. Tracy and James are away today so it’s another exciting FP from me that I’ll upload before crashing — just in case I sleep in tomorrow! Although I do plan a 20km run and a one hour swim, some flycasting and no doubt other excitement.
In Rome airport I was watching a video from my mate Morsie on leaders failing to straighten. I thought it was excellent and I enjoyed it very much. All the details were in there, I would have just reversed the order.
The first thing I always ask, when someone tells me that their leader isn’t straightening, is what exactly is their leader? So many people go to straight mono that it’s no wonder their leader doesn’t straighten! So that’s always the first port of call for me. And I have to say, in all my years on the Board, most instructors still jump straight to potential casting causes and not leader configurations.
Then, if the failure to straighten is in the vertical plane, then either the backcast didn’t fully unroll, or the forward trajectory was high (usually as a result of a low backcast), or the loop was open/ had a domed fly leg. And sometimes it’s all three!
If the cast hooks left or right, then it’s a tracking problem; either the back and forward targets were not aligned (usual culprit), or the casting stroke itself was curved. And then finally, I would look to tails.
Interesting that I go in reverse order, but I think that’s more representative of students that Morsie gets in Australia, while on Sexyloops we often get relative beginners from around the world and so I have to have a different sequence.
Anyway, it gave me something fun to watch and think about, while I sipped rather nice coffee and ate a focaccia in Rome. I must get back Down Under and have a catch up with my Aussie friends.
But first I must sleep! Have a great day!
Cheers, Paul
POD: It’s all about to happen.