How do you cast without being able to stand? or more acurately fish small waters.....

[flyguy66]

Wait just a minute. You asked about getting a longer rod. You can buy a good Tenkara rod for $60-100, and a line is less than $20. I fail to see how that would ruled out based on price when you started this thread based on a question about buying a 9'6" or 10' fly rod, all of which start at more than $200. I'm not trying to talk you into Tenkara. It's no skin off my nose. But that response made no sense.

I didn't go into a lot of detail and you may not know who I am, but I am a Certified Adaptive Fly Fishing Practitioner and President of the Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute, Inc. I also am totally disabled with Mult Concussion Syndrome (mTBI), Bilateral Cervical Radiculopathy, Degenerative Disk Disease of the Spine, and am 3 weeks out of knee surgery for Osteomyelitis. That's what I meant when I said I'm familiar with what you're going through.

You've gotten a few good suggestions here from some other guys about things to try. Forget about the make/model fly line and different rods stuff for casting further. None of that makes a hill of beans difference. A longer rod will help you mend better, and different line types and tapers will mend differently. But none of that is going to make more than 5-10' difference in casting distance at the max unless you get into special purpose equipment. You casting technique is about 95% of what determines your casting distance. FYI, a perfect double haul added to a perfect casting stroke will only add a few feet of distance, too. This is another common misconception about the function of the haul in the cast. The poster who mentioned it got it right: it adds line speed. You'll need that from a seated position, and getting it by sharing the load between both hands is usually better than generating it all with one hand. But it isn't going to be a solution to the distance you lose by being confined to the bank. Tip: work on timing of a short haul vs. power in a longer haul. You'll get more mileage out of it from a seated casting posture.

To increase distance, you need to be thinking about things like: much longer rods and fixed lines for fishing small streams, spey for rivers and lakes, and integrated shooting head lines.

For things to aid you in relaxing your back waterside, there is a wide array of assistive devices to choose from. If you go on disability, some of this stuff will qualify as medical expenses for tax deduction purposes. There are even grants you may be able to apply for to pay for some things. If you become officially and permanently disabled, feel free to contact AFFI for assistance with finding resources along those lines.

[anglerdave]

Eric, if you don't already have one get yourself either a double taper or "easy mend" fly line. I can roll cast using a weight forward line but find it so much easier with a double taper.

And from one veteran to another, I know you'll do just fine. Heck you've been through allot worse experience than what you are going through now.

Dave

[Nighthawk]

flyguy66,
I own a variety of rods from 5' up to 9' in length. That is why I mentioned switching to the longer rods, not buying as I already own them. I have 5,6,7, and 8 weight lines in WF-F, an 8 weight intermediate sink tip and both 6 and 8 wt DT-F. I am one of these guys that preferred the short to medium length rods say the 5 foot rod up to and including my 7'6" 7wt glass. I may be able at tax time to pick up something off of ebay in the tenkara area but it wont be anything expensive for sure. The shorter rods worked better on the brush choked native brook trout streams in our county but my wading days are gone. I do not trust my sense of balance enough to wade.

You know what kind of pain I am in. I have bilateral facet disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, degenerative disc disease, epidural lipomatosis, multiple dessicated and collapsed discs along with two herniated discs. L4-L5 disc is partially collapsed while L5-S1 disc has totally collapsed resulting in the shifting of the vertebrae, stenosis, pinched nerves and bone on bone. Also have the same things going on in the thoracic region. I ain't complaining though just saying if you know what I mean. I am thankful just to be alive every day. Thankful to folks like you for helping me too. My dad just turned 80 on the 23rd. His favorite saying is "We're in pretty good shape, for the shape we're in".


I will say a prayer for you.

[Nighthawk]

Eric, if you don't already have one get yourself either a double taper or "easy mend" fly line. I can roll cast using a weight forward line but find it so much easier with a double taper.

And from one veteran to another, I know you'll do just fine. Heck you've been through allot worse experience than what you are going through now.

Dave

Dave,
I have just the setup. A 9 foot, 2pc, 6wt medium-fast mid flex graphite rod with a DT-6-F Cortland Sylk on it. I also have a 9' glass that is a bit slower, 7wt that I would will to try my DT-8-F on just for chuckles. Anyone that has ever seen me cast is going to chuckle at the very least.

[anglerdave]

Dave,
I have just the setup. A 9 foot, 2pc, 6wt medium-fast mid flex graphite rod with a DT-6-F Cortland Sylk on it. I also have a 9' glass that is a bit slower, 7wt that I would will to try my DT-8-F on just for chuckles. Anyone that has ever seen me cast is going to chuckle at the very least.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Sounds like you have a good set up, although I am not familiar with Sylk fly line. I thought that line was for bamboo and glass rods. But if it works, it works!

[cycler68]

Nighthawk,
I'm wondering if tenkara fishing wouldn't be a good option for you. I watched a video posted on the TenkaraUSA blog that showed an expert tenkara fisherman casting. He used much less arm movement that is necessary with a conventional fly rod. Would that help?

[DG]

Back to your original question. You don't need to stand to cast. How many of us cast in tubes and toons, without a problem? If your normal casting style is full-body movement, it may present a problem, but many people, myself included, keep the cast out in our arms most of the time. Just takes practice.

[flyguy66]

Yep. I understand your medical condition very well. Your detailed diagnosis and mine aren't that different, but yours is more severe. The nerve impingement and chronic pain, loss of control and sensitivity we deal with is probably about the same in the arms/neck. And I have a facets problem at the bottom of my lumbar spine from a motorcycle accident a couple of years ago.

Now I understand your questions a lot better. I will still say that I think you will find the Tenkara option very enjoyable for small streams when/if you can come up with about $100 to get in to it. It takes a different mental approach to use a 10-13' rod on brushy small streams than what you're used to, but it works great. Using what you've got on hand, let me give you a few tips about how to get the most of what you've got:

1. The roll casting tips you've gotten here are good advice. Take those DT lines and pair them up to your longest rods, over-lining if necessary. Try not to under-line them, as that will force you to work harder to get the same load on the rod. Over-line too much, and a rod will "collapse" or "break down" under load. That means it just loses its parabolic curvature and no longer distributes the energy smoothly along the rod blank. This will cause a serious loss in energy transfer, increased vibration, etc. You'll feel it. Learn to be a master of the roll cast and even single-handed spey casting. You will be nothing short of amazed at what you can do without ever picking up a back cast!

2. Remember: it is all technique and none of it is about power. A 4' tall, 65 lb 100 year old lady could cast a fly 100' if she wanted to. So resolve to do nothing that isn't from a totally relaxed position that is easy and smooth to execute. The key word is smoooooth.

3. I assume from what has been said in this thread that you are a disabled vet. ??? If this is true, AFFI could assist you in getting assistive and adaptive sports equipment from the VA at no cost to you. Just like anything with the VA, this process takes time, there are a few steps, and there is paperwork. But there are some pretty incredible pieces of equipment out there...they're just expensive.

[Nighthawk]

Nighthawk,
I'm wondering if tenkara fishing wouldn't be a good option for you. I watched a video posted on the TenkaraUSA blog that showed an expert tenkara fisherman casting. He used much less arm movement that is necessary with a conventional fly rod. Would that help?

You know the more I think about it the more it appeals to me. I will check it out. Thanks.

Back to your original question. You don't need to stand to cast. How many of us cast in tubes and toons, without a problem? If your normal casting style is full-body movement, it may present a problem, but many people, myself included, keep the cast out in our arms most of the time. Just takes practice.

Yeah I do too in my canoe but should I go with longer rods? That is the only time I use them because most of my fishing is wading done on small brushy streams or small still waters where I can use my shorter rods. I am pretty much resigned to giving up on wading because I cannot stand for any amount of time past a few minutes and I do not trust my balance.

My casting style is more upper body that anything. I used to stand feet shoulder width apart, left foot slightly forward of the right. Kind of like a shooting stance. Elbow tucked enough to hold the family bible against the side of my chest.

Between the pain, the pain meds and the lack of sleep I don't know if I am articulating this in a sensible manner. What is boils down to is since I am mainly going to pass from a seated position should I use the longer rods? I think I should. Thanks.