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January 4th, 1998
Casting Fun
Lately we have had quite a few questions
and comments about casting in our chat room, 'The Anglers Hut.'
These are from folks who are rather new to fly-fishing and fly casting.
Several feel their casting does not look good and they are intimidated
to fish with others because of it. Also they don't want to go to a park
or pond and practice as they would feel silly doing so.
That's a darn shame. Casting is fun even when
there are no fish around. Yes, you will get a few interesting comments,
but mostly they are jealous or trying in some way to be friendly. I guess
that most everyone would feel a bit self-conscious if the person fishing
next to them was a world champion fly-caster. But, that doesn't keep
guys off the golf course, tennis courts and bowling alleys. So, don't let it
spoil your casting fun either.
It doesn't matter who you are, there will always
be someone better than you are. I don't care how good you may get,
you probably will never be the world casting champion. If you do, then
you will have to always be aware that someone will eventually beat you
out. So, give it up. Go out and practice. Have fun. Get better. Practice
is the only way. You may think that you will get better at casting by fishing
a lot. Not a good bet. Then you should be concentrating on fishing. Your
casting may just become more ingrained and you may set bad habits that
will be hard to break in the future.
Here is a tip to help your casting when you practice.
First do not cast without a leader on the end of the fly line. The line won't
cast properly without one. It doesn't have to be a perfect one. An old one
will do fine. Try to have at least six to eight feet of it and tie a small bit of
yarn on the end in place of a fly. When you do practice casting pay particular
attention to how the leader goes out for you. Does it roll straight out in the air
and then drop nice and level? Or, does it shoot up too high and blow back,
or land in a mess upon itself? Can you make the 'fly' land first, before the
rest of the leader does? Try a few casts using a side-arm move, or left-handed.
It is fun; let it be fun.
If your friends give you little jibes, tell them "I'm on
a team and need to practice," or, "Ya, I got three grass carp so far," or,
"ol' Castwell says this is how he started out." That should keep them
busy for a while.
These simple things can help your casting. As you
learn to make the leader and fly behave as you want, the casting takes
care of itself.~ JC
Till next week, remember ...
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