CI written exam practice questions · a card
During the pause, the tip moves in the direction of the cast just made. What is this?
That movement is drift: the definitions reserve it for rod tip movement in the direction of the current cast during the pause.
- A. Creep by definition
- B. Drift
- C. Hauling
- D. Shooting
Answer: B. That movement is drift.
The definitions sort the movements during the pause by direction. Drift moves the rod tip in the direction of the current cast. Drag moves it in the direction of the next cast. Creep is drag that contributes to a casting fault. Option A is wrong for that reason: creep is a movement towards the next cast, not towards the one just made.
Hauling is pulling fly line through the rod guides during a casting stroke. Shooting line is releasing line after the stop to increase the amount outside the rod tip. Neither is a rod tip movement during the pause.
Direction is the whole of the distinction. Drift follows the cast just made; drag leans towards the one about to be made; creep is the drag that spoils the cast. When the tip moves during the pause, ask which way it went before you reach for one of the three words.
Source
From the FFI Fly Casting Definitions (August 2025); terms follow the FFI Fly Casting Definitions; exam details are in the CI Study Guide (2025).