RELAX!
Disclaimer: I am FAR from being an elegant caster. None the less, the fly will go where I look, so I guess I can venture an article about casting. Not a comprehensive article, - just a few things to think about.
A funny thing happened on my home waters last season. A local shop opened and they sold a whole load of high end rods. Not just performance rods, REALLY expensive rods. Mostly Stream dances and Native Runs. Then I started seeing some weird if not amusing stuff on the river.
Anglers were just cranking on the rods. Not just exaggerating the arc and tempo, but down right HAULING on the rod, - thinking that a $800 rod would cast a line farther under such abuse. After a few weeks, they seemed to get the idea. Casts were slowing down, the rods got time to do their thing and lines started to fly!
Here’s a ‘lil secret: Relax and let the rod work for you and your casts will get out there all by themselves.
Ever notice on the river some casters just seem to loft a tight loop 60 or more feet and it just looks EFFORT LESS! The reality of the physics is that they truly are using less effort than you may imagine. Sure it LOOKS like they are hauling hard and pushing even harder.
The mechanics of a long cast are the same as any medium distance cast. In my case, I think clients believe I’m working harder because my stroke opens up in the back cast. I guess it’s a bad habit of shooting line on the back case.
Not very good form but it works for me!
On my back cast, the rod has already been stopped and unloaded and now I’ve lowered the tip and I’m waiting for the line to unroll properly behind me.
Pascal showing us how it’s done right
So what’s the quick and dirty on distance casting? In my honest opinion, it’s a question of timing and getting the rod to load properly. How do you load a rod?
A nice easy and comfortable cast starts at the pickup. Keep your rod tip low (mine is usually in the water). This way, when you start the pickup, the line will be straight and start loading the rod the very instant that you start your lift.
Pascal is fishing the swing, following the line with the rod tip and holding ready to pick up (or strike).
So what happens when you start your pickup with your rod tip too high?
By the time my client here picks up the slack in the belly of the line hanging off of the rod tip, his rod and whole arm will be at least vertical over his head. The rod will not have even started to load.
This leads to the age old (and sickening) feeling of the limp rod which is not loaded properly. We’ve ALL felt it, and we’ve ALL done the same thing. Whipping the rod back and forth faster and faster, trying to FEEL the line, trying to get the line to fly!
When this happens STOP!!! Start over again with the line nice and straight out in front of you and the rod tip low. A soft roll cast will often help to get the line out straight in front of you.
So try to relax when the trout rises 60 feet out on the far side of the seam. Slow down, let the rod work for you and you’ll be surprised just how close the fish really is J
When it’s going right, it’s just a joy to watch a nice cast.
(Pascal P and Pascal M – Both Pro Staff for Sage)
Then again, even the FAOL gang makes it look easy!!
Jed! – Making it look easy on a cool windy summer day.
The season is just around the corner here in Quebec. I have a new day job, so I have literally HUNDREDS of miles of new rivers to explore.
Tight Lines! – Play hard and come home safe!
Christopher Chin – Proulxville, Quebec