Fly rods are essential equipment for fishing, and it’s essential to learn how to cast them correctly so you can maximize their power and success at landing more fish.
Casting requires a series of precise movements that transfer energy from your rod and fly line. Failure to perform these motions correctly can result in tangles and inefficient casting.
The Back Cast
The back cast is an essential step in fly casting. It enables you to use your rod’s line guides, making it essential for casting far. Furthermore, it keeps the tip level and prevents it from bending when you release the line.
Making a back cast begins by lifting your rod tip over either left or right shoulder (depending on which arm is casting) and letting the line fall from your side into an “D” loop behind you. After this has been achieved, you are now ready to begin your forward cast.
Anglers sometimes make the mistake of lowering their casting arm too far forward, creating an open loop which is inefficient and difficult to control when targeting fish. To remedy this, anglers should gently move their rod arm back and stop it very high after making their initial tap (at 11 o’clock).
Casting this way is an effective method when fishing for migratory species, as it keeps your fly line straight and aerodynamic. Furthermore, it makes it harder for the line to roll away from you body, allowing for longer casts.
Another common error is to draw a horizontal arc with the rod tip instead of its tip, creating too much slack in the line. This slack can make accuracy more challenging since there’s less resistance to correction.
It is beneficial to practice making a back cast in calm conditions in order to perfect your technique. You can do this by using a streamer if the water is still, or cast with a lighter line than what you are currently using.
Increase the distance of your back cast by mastering double hauling the line. This straightforward technique uses an overhead cast and involves pulling down on the line with your line hand during lift, then releasing at 10 o’clock after hearing ‘tap’ forward.
The Forward Cast
The Forward Cast is one of the most essential casts in any fly rod arsenal. It requires practice to perfect, but once you do, it becomes an invaluable tool for making long and accurate casts.
Start by taking a comfortable stance, with either one or both feet facing forward and your arm raised over and slightly behind your head. Now use no more than two rod lengths of line on the water in front of you and stroke the rod forward.
Be sure to stop the cast quickly, but not so quickly that you lose momentum. As the rod tip reaches its highest point in its arc, gently lower it back down towards the ground and watch as the line unrolls towards the water’s edge.
If the line in front of you appears to be curled up, it could be indicative of overuse during your forward cast. This common misstep can cause your cast to go awry or throw a tailing loop that ties knots in its leader and hits you square in the face.
To enhance your casting accuracy, focus on developing tighter loops in the forward cast. To do this, pay attention to three details:
Loop Formation, Power and Arm Angle
As you move the rod tip in a straight path towards the stop, apply power gradually until it bends, flattening its arc and creating the desired cast arc.
After casting, follow with a power snap that “tips” the cast over and begins unrolling the loop. Finally, apply enough force so that the rod tip returns to its starting position and points back at your fly line.
Once your rod tip has returned to its starting position, slowly begin turning your wrist into a forward cast. As your wrist snaps, both hands should pull back simultaneously; the high hand should be delayed to allow for gradual tilt of the rod.
The Half Cast
A half cast, also referred to as a splint or cast, is an immobilized body part held in place with plaster. It helps keep the injured limb in its proper position and prevents further harm. Furthermore, using a splint may reduce swelling and pain in the affected area.
Children who are recovering from an injury to their arm or leg, such as a fracture or broken bone, may benefit from wearing a splint. It’s essential for parents to follow the instructions provided by their doctor during this time.
According to the patient’s condition, they may require your assistance in applying the splint and holding it in its correct position while they apply stockinette and sheet wadding. Once in place, you can smooth over any raw edges on the cast so as to cover skin and prevent further wrinkles from forming.
Once the splint is in place, it is essential to monitor your patient’s symptoms. If they experience any difficulties with their cast or splint, such as itching or redness in the skin, they should contact an orthopedic office for assistance.
In some cases, it may be necessary to replace the splint after it has been worn for some time. You can do this by covering the splint with a plastic bag and sealing it securely; then taping the bag around your child’s arm or leg (Picture 1).
This can protect the skin and allow the splint to be worn longer without any issues. Furthermore, it makes taking off their cast easier than if there weren’t a bag attached.
Once your child takes off the splint, it is essential that they dry off their arm or leg thoroughly. Avoiding water in the cast can cause complications; water may soften or swell the plaster making molding harder.
The Full Cast
Even with all of today’s fly rod and fly line technology, many anglers still struggle with casting. This often stems from focusing on only forward casts when actually backcasting is just as crucial to successful casting.
Making a full cast begins by holding the rod with your thumb on top and forefinger underneath. Pinch the fly line lightly between these two points, and then pull an amount of line (usually three times longer than your rod length) off of the reel.
Once you’ve pulled the line, place it behind your forefinger and use the other hand to draw it out. As soon as you release your forefinger, the fly line will drop into a loose coil at your feet or in the water. Some anglers prefer keeping their fly lines in hip-held stripping baskets or weighted wastebasket-type containers onboard their boat for safekeeping.
Though not an easy skill to master, the full cast can be a helpful tool for many anglers. It helps bring flys closer to the surface in an accurate and efficient manner.
Additionally, practicing this technique before heading out on your next fishing trip will enable a smoother cast and keep the angler’s motion from becoming jerky. To ensure successful casting, it’s wise to practice before hitting the water.
If you feel your cast is becoming stiff and uncoordinated, take a break and focus on what you’re doing before returning to the group.
As you take a break, try to pause in the “D” position for a couple of seconds. Do not linger too long as this could cause you to lose momentum or miss your mark.
To continue casting, move your rod over to either your left shoulder or opposite shoulder and follow through a few feet above your target. This is an easy method for switching directions, but it can be challenging when chasing after fish.
A full cast is not only an invaluable tool, but it’s also a good way to ensure your line remains parallel and eliminate any excess slack in it. Furthermore, testing out your rod strength with this technique can be quite instructive.
