5. Fault identification and the Five Essentials

Understanding casting faults begins with careful observation of fly line loops and fly rod and body movements. Observations of these features of the cast can be done in real time by watching the individual’s cast, or by creating and analyzing videos of casters with smart phones, action cameras, or larger mirrorless cameras. Video analysis can be enhanced by using sport analysis apps such as OnForm.

Bruce Richards’ Six-Step Method is the recommended way to identify and correct casting faults. See A Six Step Method Richards, B., The Loop, Spring 1999. Bruce summarized the Six- Step Method as follows.

The six steps analyze the cause of the problem from top to bottom, then cure the problem from the bottom to top. The initial step of the CAUSE is to describe to the student what is wrong with the (1) LINE. The next step is to explain what the (2) ROD is doing to cause the line problem. The final step is to explain what the (3) BODY (usually hand/wrist/arm) is doing to make the rod and line misbehave.

The CURE part of the process tackles the same steps, but in reverse order (bottom to top). The initial step is to explain what to do differently with the (4) BODY. The next step is to describe how the body modifies the motion of the (5) ROD, and then how that affects the (6) LINE in order to produce the desired results.

When observing the parts of the loop using this method, it is important to recognize that the rod tip path during the casting stroke determines what the shape of the fly leg will be, and how the rod tip moves after the casting stroke determines the shape of the rod leg. As we learn to identify casting faults, we are primarily looking at the fly leg of the casting loop because most casting faults are seen in the fly leg. To learn more about loop shapes and how they perform see the article How Loops Work. Richards, B. The Loop, Fall 2022.

Using the Five Essentials to aid in Fault Identification

When learning to identify and fix faults, it’s important to be very familiar with the Five Essentials and realize how these essentials affect the cast and associated loop. The Five Essentials are summarized immediately below. Additional information can be found in section 2, above.

To form the most efficient, least air resistant loops, and to direct the energy of the cast to a specific target, the caster must move the rod tip in a Straight Line during the casting stroke.
The size of the Casting Arc must vary with how much the rod bends.
Force (Power original term) must be applied in the proper amount at the proper place in the stroke (Proper Force). And it must be applied smoothly.
Slack line should be kept to an absolute minimum, with the intended rod tip path and fly line closely aligned both laterally and vertically with the target at the start of each Casting Stroke (180 degree principle).

2 Note: Mr. Richards writes that there are only two parts to a loop, while the FFI definitions recognise three, which is the number of loop parts the CI Exam requires candidates to identify.

There must be a Pause between casting strokes, which varies in duration with the amount of line outside the rod tip and line speed.

b. Using the Essentials During the CI Performance Exam

Below we provide a summary of how each of these essentials are relevant to the casting faults to be identified and corrected in Task 19 of the CI Performance Exam.

Overhead Casting Faults

Over-bending the wrist. The size of the casting arc must vary with the amount the rod bends. Too wide a casting arc for the bend of the rod results in a wide loop, too narrow a casting arc for the bend of the rod results in a tailing loop. Over-bending the wrist typically results in a casting arc that is too great for the bend in the rod resulting in a wide loop. When applying the Six-Step Method discussed earlier to over-bending the wrist, it would read something like this: o Watch the fly leg of the loop. What does it look like? The fly leg is a big upward curve. o What was the rod tip path? The rod tip path was also a big upward curve. o What is the body motion or action that caused the tip path problem? The caster bent their wrist too much during the casting stroke. o Fix the body motion, bend the wrist less. o This will straighten the tip path. o This will make the fly leg straighter.
Poor application of force. An efficient casting stroke must have the right amount of force for the casting arc. o Force must be applied smoothly; rod acceleration must be nearly the same from the beginning of the casting stroke to the end (constant acceleration producing a steady increase in speed). If the change in force is abrupt, the rod tip may dip and rise (results in concave or tailing loop) at some point during the casting stroke. o If there is too much force for the casting arc, the rod tip will dip into a concave path and cause a tailing loop.
Failure to remove slack. In Task 19, the third fault to be considered is failure to remove slack. While slack can be caused by poor timing, it can also be present in the line just prior to the first back cast. When slack is present during the first back cast, it prevents the rod from bending properly and providing enough line speed for the cast to be successful. The caster will usually try to overcome the lack of bend and line speed by moving the rod tip in a wide sweeping casting arc creating a very wide loop.
Poor tracking. Poor tracking occurs when the rod tip does not travel in a straight line in the horizontal plane. The rod tip path during the casting stroke is curved right or left and that results in the fly leg also being curved right or left. Poor tracking is often caused by twisting the wrist or rotating the shoulder or body during the casting stroke.
Poor timing. We refer to the length of the pause between casting strokes as “timing”. If the pause is too long or too short, slack will result. When cast “timing” is correct, the cast starts when the fly line/leader is almost but not quite straight. The length of line being carried, and line speed will cause timing to vary.

Roll Casting Faults

A very common roll cast fault is a loop that is too wide, where the fly leg has a big upward curve and does not properly deliver the fly. This fault happens when the casting arc is too wide, producing a convex or domed-shaped tip path which is then mirrored in the fly leg. It is amplified when too much force is applied early in the casting stroke. Wide arcs can happen in several ways:

o By starting the casting stroke with the rod too low, e.g., when the rod tip is pointed backwards at 2:00 or lower;

o By finishing the casting stroke with the rod too low (this appears in Exam Fault Task 19); or

o By both starting and finishing with the rod too low.

When roll cast loops are too wide, examine both the casting stroke start and stop positions and application of force. The proper amount of force applied at the correct time is an essential; if too much force is applied too early in the casting stroke, a wide loop will result. Too wide of a casting arc, as well as early rotation in the forward stroke, can also contribute to a wide loop.
Roll Casts Faults Appearing in Task 19 of the CI Exam:
Forward stop too low. This fault is also known as “running the stop sign”. A low forward stop with the rod almost touching the ground or water results in a wide casting arc. The resulting wide convex fly leg causes the loop to fall in a puddle and not deliver properly. This is shown in the diagram above.
D loop placed directly behind the caster. A D loop that is placed behind the caster’s body, rather than being out to the side of the caster, creates a safety hazard. This fault is called “Hooking.” Please see the diagram below.
Delivery cast crosses the anchor causing a collision. A common fault is when the delivery cast crosses the anchor causing a collision. This occurs when the delivery cast is aimed over or across the anchored line. Think of directing the cast to the inside and parallel to the anchored line. Casting to the outside of the anchored line (over it) will result in a collision. Using the reference to railroad tracks, the anchored line is the outer track. Please see the diagram below.

As you prepare for Task 19, we recommend that you write a script for each fault using the Six- Step Method. Although only three faults will be demonstrated by the examiner, you will not know which three. Therefore, be prepared to complete each fault analysis/correction in about 1.5 minutes.

You have begun the process of filling your proverbial toolbox with tools that fix problems. It is an ongoing process that will continue as you work with more students. For instance, when adjusting the casting arc, one tool might be the use of pool noodles placed in the correct stop positions. Another tool might be clapping your hands when the caster needs to change direction. You may borrow other instructor’s tools that you find helpful, being certain to give

credit to the originator of the drill or tool, if known, as it helps keep the history of fly fishing intact. Label each “tool” as a kinesthetic, auditory, or visual teaching method.

For more information on the Six-Step Teaching Method see the article The Six Step Teaching Method. Richards, B., The Loop, Spring 2005.