so just an update, I tried the same pond again last evening and tried to put all your advice into practice. What a difference! I can't tell you how much everyone's advice helped. I still definitely need to find someone a little (read: ALOT) more nknowledgable about casting to give me advice, but it was night and day! Thanks to everyone who replied with advice and help.


p.s. I got a couple of rises, including a very large trout, on a fly I tied. 2 victories in one evening