I live in San Francisco and can go to the casting ponds which have markers for every 5 feet. The physics of how that works is simple but invisible to the eye. First, and likely most important, you don’t have to make a long cast to catch fish. Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. It's easier than you think. Why is that 'bending' aspect important? Today was an amazing day for a Spey casting lesson on the Bow River. Somewhere along the line, they learn to listen. The opposing hand is the weight of the line. Well said & qualified advice. Fly Casting Basics and Where to Start. I honestly don't know why anyone would make a fly fishing film with anglers who have not yet mastered the most basic element of our sport. Straighter – Tracking is the usual issue, that’s a straight line path of the rod tip in 2 dimensions. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether you learned those mechanics from a book, a video, a friend, a guide, or an actual fly fishing icon like John Juracek or … Further – the greater the distance you can ACCELERATE something the faster it will ultimately travel. Try to cast with a pool cue.) Watching them flail away made me wonder if the reason we see so little casting in fly fishing films and videos is because the anglers simply aren't up to it. (Don't believe me? Another round of great tips. Is it reasonable to expect 100′ on a 4 weight ? When power is applied smoothly, this compression causes the tip to travel in a straight line. Today, all stocks of... I’ve always been a vest guy. How to fly cast. Once the full head is out of the guides, your rod will load much more efficiently and your line will shoot much farther, carried by the weight of the head. I’ve done it a couple times on my 6 wt. If this works for me, then yes, there is a use for a 100ft cast. Some of you may be wondering why you can't skip practice entirely and go straight to fishing. I have taken to underlining some of my rods because of this. Even... As winter slowly crawls along, most fly fishers are thinking ahead to warmer days on the water. No way around that! It’s the rod that casts the line, not your arm. It's not a dumb question and it deserves a detailed answer. Even with lots of practice 100+ cast is not easy. Get step-by-step instructions to help perfect fly fishing casting, increase catch rate. J, check out this video. Your email address will not be published. With shooting head. A cast to the other side of a 35ft river (cast at 70deg) would be about 100ft. line. Starter rod was a Fenwick HMG. You are very right Jason and although these lines are great for making the first shot from the ready position, they put you in a tough spot when you need to pick up line and shoot again. Yes, it is. Streamers are said to be most effective when fished as close to swinging across the river, 90deg from the flow. With the 4 wt. Shocking, another fly angler saying “bullshit,” the most common word in fly fishing. Thanks Louis , I appreciate G&G and your advice. To spread the love of fly fishing and help folks be better anglers. That doesn’t mean that you will read this article and instantly be able to do it. There’s no practical use for a 100 foot cast in actual fishing, but if you can consistently hit 80-90 you’re golden. I’m guessing it was not used. That’s totally doable on a long cast and I will explain how. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail. There is also a lot to be said for the confidence you gain from mastering the long cast. Decal is 100%. 2. In response to my review of the T&T Solar a reader asked, "This may be a dumb question, but how do you get 100′ of line out on a cast?" Learning how to cast with a fly rod takes lots of practice to master, but the basic technique is actually pretty easy to understand. So let’s break down those three false casts. Master the techniques and trust the process. You’ll need a good double haul. There are a few things you will have to master before distance is an issue of concern. I talk about short shots but also the ready position. You’ll be casting the whole line before you know it. That's just the way it works. It makes total sense… how could I not see that before. Practice. The front taper, the belly and the rear taper. Recent estate purchase. Lefty Kreh wrote an important book stating in the title that presentation was “the most important” aspect of fly fishing. After all, solid casting is the foundation of fly fishing success. Great summary on distance casting with a single-hand rod. How to cast a fly fishing rod. Although, I admit I have done the latter when a LBM launched on a popper stuck on a limb, as my fishing partner exclaimed, “I quit!..anybody that can catch fish in a tree is too good for me.”, Your email address will not be published. You can’t catch fish in weeds or trees. So if you're a man ... well, bummer. Headed to the lake to practice…. But good casting is its own reward. In order to make a tight, energized loop, your rod tip must travel in a straight line. This will allow you to shoot line effectively, which is key. Thanks. I agree that casting a 3wt up to a 6wt is not easy and down right impossible with cheap line and a low end Rod. In the notes I send to each student after a lesson, I find myself frequently reiterating certain basic principles. Remember this when driving the rod forward with your thumb. Shop with Afterpay on eligible items. Hurricane Maria killed mangroves months after the storm, Tell Seafood Watch to take wild steelhead off its menu. Just focus on the fundamentals and don’t try to power it out there. A 10-2 “casting arc,” or angle change of the fly rod, is generally considered best practice. Almost never. I think that is pretty damn good for 5’7″ 65 years old! Golden rules of casting further – move the tip of the rod; 1. G. Loomis NRX+S Saltwater Fly Rods - NEW!!! Making A 100 Foot Cast Is Easier Than You Think. 60′ of 12 wt. Good casting requires good line management, and that means your hands have to work together, in concert. Men, however ... nope, we don't listen. Again, don’t get worked up about the numbers. Here’s the good news. Any high school coach will tell you, it’s fundamentals that score points, not heroics. MEGHAN Markle's multi-million brand will destroy Prince William and Kate Middleton's own A-list appeal, an expert has warned. As most anglers can attest, beautiful casting does not always translate to effective fishing. Fly casting is no exception. Practice. When you are casing at distances under forty feet you do not have access to the full weight of the head. It’s far more important to master these than to cast any given distance. Oh, and practice. It’s not a dumb question and it deserves a detailed answer. On my Nautilus G8 that five feet of line left on the reel. I can't say that enough, but I'll try. Your comment is neither. I can hit 100′ if all the stars align correctly but they rarely do on the flats. Because it sure did to me. Bend the rod naturally with your thumbs as if you were going to snap it. Makes a lot of sense to reset and load the rod properly Yet there they were ... two folks decked out in the latest gear, and smiling into the camera, and casting like they had absolutely no clue. Even if you don’t have time to get out on a lake or a river for a full day of fishing, as little as 15 minutes of practice on a lawn somewhere is an enjoyable way to participate in your favorite sport. high end orvis line 6wt 100′, Bam, 75-80ft., good form and accurate. $805.00. If you try to carry the head with the running line for very long you’ll be in trouble. Don’t worry about that either. G. Loomis NRX 9 foot, 12 weight Saltwater Fly Rod, No Reserve . I think it will help. The people in front of the camera were poor casters. That’s never more true than in distance casting. Thanks for the tip about only false-casting with the head-section. When teaching fly casting, I emphasize casting accurately to short and intermediate distances, that is, less than fifty feet. The key is in having nice tight loops, good line speed and a clean double haul. I hope they’ll stimulate you to think about your own casting. Too bad I only get to the salt 1 week a year. I just picked up a 5wt dually switch rod to give this a try (and to learn scandi casting). I’ve been following U two for awhile now and w/the tips and vids I can say Chard and the other young man who wanted to jump on a Hammerhead and w/lots of practice has done more for my cast than anything else I’ve followed so thanks. Went to a med. John Juracek leads the fly casting instruction for School of Trout students on the Henry’s Fork (photo: Todd Tanner). It’s made for just what you’re talking about. There are no shortcuts to improving your fly casting. (Or bass, or pike, or steelhead, or salmon, or bonefish, or tarpon, or whatever else it is that you fish for.) Just don’t. This means if your rod were the hands of a clock, they would go between 2 o’clock for the end of your back cast, and 10 o’clock for your forward cast. It’s in you best interest to present the fly with no more than three false casts. Secondly, let’s not get hung up on the number. When you are ready to start the back cast for what will be your presentation cast you should have about fifty feet of line out of the guides. You have 9′ of line out in front of you to start. Very clear and concise. First let’s take a minute to talk about lines. There will always be slow days. Just off the top of my head, I can tell you that your casting will improve if you practice, and your fishing will also improve, and you'll likely catch more, and bigger, trout. Learn to cast effectively. Solid advice. The 8 really helps, and that’s why I chose the 5wt switch over the 4wt, with a 5 being closer to a conventional 8wt. Distance casting is not for super humans. http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/fly-fishing-tips-technique/the-finer-points-of-the-ready-position/. Your casting hand should now be in a normal grip position. It’s easier than you think. In trout fishing the long cast is almost non-existent and can even be a liability. The line straightens out fully and you come forward for a forward cast and shoot 30′ (false cast #2). I’m gonna say BULLSHIT. It will always be a little less than your maximum distance. I watched a fly fishing film the other day and I was struck less by the size of the trout, and by the gorgeous scenery, and by the anglers — who were young, attractive and flashing great big toothy smiles — than I was by something that seems to fly under the radar on a pretty regular basis nowadays. Creep, moving your rod before the line straightens, is a killer of good loops. Making a long cast requires good technique and there’s no downside to being a better caster. I love to cast and can honestly say w/the right fly line on my 8wt I can make a 100′ cast w/the right wind maybe 110′. Thanks for this… I’ve been beating myself up tying to pick up and recast When you cast the rod bends, compressing the path of the tip. The last false cast straightens out and you accelerate forward to a stop and shoot pretty much whatever amount of line your line speed will give you. It is thin and supple compared to the thicker, heavier head. Practice your casting. Required fields are marked *. Back when I was guiding on the Henry's Fork and the Madison, I spent a ton of time talking to my clients about casting. There are several different methods you can try while learning how to cast a fly rod, as they all follow the same basic principles of moving the rod and line. Just want to make sure I got this right before I go home and practice on the lawn… You can learn more about the school at SchoolOfTrout.com. Thanks for this. FLY LINE RATINGS. Casting a fly rod isn't quite as difficult as swinging a golf club or hitting a baseball, but it does require that you understand the basic mechanics. I hope this helps! Your job is to bend the rod, it’s the release of that bend that throws the line. 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Up regularly among my students hands have to admit: shooting line on the flats deep holes.A of! 75-80Ft., good line management, and... 5 things you need to in! Reset and load the rod forward with your thumbs as if you 're out.!