[Hamish Young]

As some will know, Mike, Sandy and myself hit the 'sexyloops' forum annual bash at Dunkeld  - great fun

Will post some pics of the whole event (well, the ones I took anyway) in this thread..... but to whet the appetite here is Lasse in video doing the impossible with Sandys own design split cane rod:

[Mike Barrio]

Yes ......... We had an awesome time!

Soooo much to learn

But the help and tips from fellow "loopers" was never ending and amazing













I'll post some more photos and hopefully some video too
Best wishes
Mike

[Hamish Young]

A few more pics:

Our wee B&B - not too shabby 


Lasse finds he likes casting with grass rods....... Rich goes WTF 3wts


Mike H shows just what can be done with a Barrio #5wt outfit 


And in video.....


Two guys I just happened to meet there 


Rich explains why #12wts and above rule - who would argue


Great time, great company

[Peter McCallum]

An excellent day yesterday . Well done Sandy, you didn't disgrace yourself in that shoot out, the big guns better watch out next year . Saying that Mr Arden is something else, even when compared with the other contestants . I'm looking forward to next years event if it goes ahead, but it'll take that time for me to practice verything I was told. Mind you most of it was from Rick and I ain't gonna argue with him!!

[Sandy Nelson]

 

Problem is brute force is no substitute for grace.
The guy in black is Stefan, a swede, who matches All the big guns foot for foot, but doesn't appear to be putting in any effort, Amazing.
I had some lessons off him after the event
There was a a lot of presentation casting going on as well as the distance stuff, and although the distance stuff is a great willy waving exercise, the guys with presentation skills were fantastic to watch and join in with, Proper fishing skills that can be used in the real world.

What Lasse Karlsson was doing with My Boo was astonishing, well chuffed it can do what i designed it for, even if i can't make it do that. The line was a 120ft SA med, a pure distance casting line, and it was going a long way
All in a fabulous and enlightening 3 days and one i will repeat next year, i would recommend anyone interested in casting to do the same, and we should all be interested in casting .Its not every day you get to talk to, get lessons from, drink with and then compete with, a couple of world record holders, several instructor examiners and generally some of the best caster/anglers in the world.
Imagine trying that in the golf world Drinking and talking to Tiger, Els, Singh, etc and then the next day getting to play with their clubs and them showing you how to hit the ball better, it just wouldn't happen. Anglers are great people

I reckon guys like Mr Arden and co , could wander down the river with just one general imitation fly (a hares ear) and because they can put it exactly where they want, would catch more fish than the rest of us, doing our best to match every hatch. certainly one to think about


Sandy

[Peter McCallum]

I reckon guys like Mr Arden and co , could wander down the river with just one general imitation fly (a hares ear) and because they can put it exactly where they want, would catch more fish than the rest of us, doing our best to match every hatch. certainly one to think about


Sandy

Sandy you missed the fly shootout later on in the pub . Pauls simplified royal wulff aka the royal fuckup tied to look like a burst pillow, timed against the clock. It was hilarious, rough as the proverbial badgers behind, ugly but I'm sure Mr Arden would use this monstrosity with complete confidence.



oh and catch fish too.

I totally agree about a visit next year - guys it was well worth the journey!!

Peter

[Jim Eddie]

Glad you had a good week-end guys looks like you enjoyed it.

Sandy that was great  distance casting in some pretty impressive company , 10th overall prety damm good.

Just one question though some of those pictures where the gys look like they are about to launch themselves into next week , how does that work ? does that not take energy out of the cast ?

 

Jim

[Magnus Angus]

those pictures where the guys look like they are about to launch themselves into next week

Great description Jim - you need to see them cast - they are actually very relaxed, several use different grips for the front- and back-casts, their hands are just cradling the rod. It's about speed and accelerating the tip in a straight line for as long as possible. http://www.sexyloops.com/movies/ben/127ft.wmv
The step means they can use weight transfer productively, and lets them lengthen their tip travel - have a look at Ben he shuffles forwards about 10ft in the course of that cast - throwing a #5 line 127ft.
Things to watch on that clip are how smoothly he moves, the length and speed of his haul. Most of the big-hitters now cast leading with the foot on the rod side, they arch backwards to extend the back-cast then start powering and turning the rod on the forward cast as it comes level with their ear. Most don't cast with the thumb on top of the rod.

[Hamish Young]

It was awesomely impressive and quite humbling (in a way) particularly for those of us who came *** cough*** last in the shoot-out  I can take some cheer from the fact I did cast a couple of the rods further than a few folk, but not enough If only the 9ft Helios #5wt had been in the shoot-out..... or Sandys 9ft #3wt Winston..... now I could almost cast with them 

However, it was fascinating to watch the guys at 'work' really very interesting in a geek-ish kind of way.
The 'loops bash has kindled an interest in distance casting which previously I never had  It's a very different technique which I'm keen to learn and I know I'm not alone 

For the first time in my life I'm going to have casting lessons Suspect I'll be re-learning almost everything ~ jings 

[Mike Barrio]

Hiya Hamish

You would have been placed higher up the scale ........ If I had entered