Roll Casting

[Greg H]

I didn't realize that you weren't supposed to be able to change direction with the regular roll.

I don't understand the "can't change direction" comments in this thread. A roll cast fails when the intended forecast crosses over the returning line on the water.

Notice in the video that the caster draws the line back to his right and casts 'up the middle' which is a bit to the left of the backcast (every time). There is a V between the direction of the backcast and the forecast when viewed from above.

If he had wanted to cast to the right he would need to make the backcast off his left shoulder so the "D" loop would be on the left and the space for the forward cast would be open to this right and the line would not cross itself. The caster would be drawing back on the left branch of the V and casting up the right side.

Of course currents can confuse the line on the water prior to initiating the D loop and so I agree with RonEE that a single-handed spey cast would be the next talent to learn. But for calm water and casts that are mainly directly upstream or downstream, the change of direction is not too hard as long as you don’t make the forecast cross the backcast.