The task

Teach an intermediate caster how to cast safely with a head wind, a tail wind, and then teach three methods of casting safely with the wind blowing onto the casting arm side. For a light wind, teach a method keeping the line on the upwind side of the caster for all or part of the cast. For stronger winds, teach two methods keeping the line on the downwind side of the caster throughout the cast. Hauling is permitted, and elliptical (Belgian/Gebetsroither), Barnegat Bay and Galway casts are allowed for this task.

Required performance standards

General performance standards apply to every task — narrow loops (≤ 4 ft, measured 3–4 ft back from the nose), a straight fly leg, loops similar front and back and approximately in-plane, a line and leader that unroll completely, no ticking, and slow to medium line speed. See the exam overview for the full list.

• A) Explain the casting problem presented by each wind direction.
• B) Explanations must describe how each demonstrated cast solves the problem(s) presented by each wind direction.
• C) Hauling is permitted.
• D) Elliptical (or Belgian/Gebetsroither), Barnegat Bay and Galway casts are allowed.

How to pass it

• Intent: to show you can teach safe casting with wind from three directions, at intermediate level.
• Start with the problem each wind creates — head wind and the loop unrolling into the wind; tail wind and the fly catching up with the line; casting-arm wind and the line being blown onto you.
• The safety element is what the casting-arm-side wind is really about, so lead with it.
• Three methods are required for the casting-arm side: one for light wind keeping the line upwind for all or part of the cast, and two for stronger wind keeping the line downwind throughout.
• This is the one Part Two task where elliptical, Barnegat Bay and Galway casts are allowed — know which you will use and why.
• Hauling is permitted, so explain when you would add it.

Drills

• Practise the three casting-arm-side methods until each is repeatable, ideally with a real cross wind.
• Say the problem and the solution for each wind direction in two sentences.
• Have a partner check hook and line safety while you demonstrate the close-wind methods.