October 20th, 1997
2001 COMMON CASTING FAULTS
and how to fix them all.
If you have EVER cast a fly rod and the above title didn't get you to read
this, how did you get this far? Ok, I'm not one for gotcha-journalism, so I
apologize.
Do you really think there are that many casting faults? Do you think you
may have, at least, some of them? Do you really believe that I, the humble J
Castwell, could possibly know how to cure that many casting faults? Well, I
can.
Those which did not read this far are doomed to go through life
repeating the same old mistakes. No hope for them anyway. Instead of
twenty years experience, they will have one years' experience, twenty times
... However, you have made it this far, so I better tell you how to fix 'em.
I have heard that one of the definitions of 'insanity' is "repeating the
same action over and over, and expecting a different result." Let's mix in
with that frustration, disappointment, anger, impatience, and mis-matched
equipment. That should complete the picture of the average fly caster having
a problem. Oh, no, I forgot one little thing; now he adds, trying harder!
So there you have it. The single most common casting fault is "trying
harder." You can repeat it 2001 times and you will get no better. The
inevitable result of doing something wrong, and doing it harder is ...
'wronger.'
Introducing, "Less." Actually, Less Effort is his full name. One of my
best casting helpers. Time after time, I have said to students, "less effort,
use less effort. Just use the tip of the rod. Stop the rod sooner in front and in
back. Relax, use less effort. Make the rod do the work. Now, make every
cast count. Every single one of them. Loop control in front and in back,
accuracy, presentation."
So, consider taking my helper, "Less," along when you go out to
practice casting. He could change things for you. Whatever you do, please
don't repeat the same old casting faults 2001 times and expect different
results. ~ JC
Till next week, remember ...
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