Ok I saw someone post about long rods and how they help bow casting. I fish a lot of small heavy cover streams and bow cast a good bit. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on bow casting just so I can improve my skills and knowledge. Also what type of flies do you normally use if you know you are going to have to bow cast a lt during the day.
thanks for the info
Jason
Jason,
Bow casting is all about timing and you get that from practice.
I like to ‘practice’ by setting up some kind of overhang (I use the wood pile out back to imitate overhanging stuff, but use anything that will give you a reasonable facsimile). I then ‘practice’ by bow casting from different rod angles until I can get the fly to land where I want consistently.
Vary distances until you learn the ‘range’ of you and your rod.
Then go fishing.
Good Luck!
Buddy
If you mean the bow and arrow cast, it’s one of few that you can practice IN your home. Just bend the rod and let the energy of the rod flip the fly out there. That’s the gist of it but you can add little extra’s like holding coils of line in your hand for more distance once you get past the basics.
Beware of the hook point! Most people hold the hook by the bend.
Like Jackster said, make sure you hold the fly behind the point of the hook. You don’t want that well-loaded 5-weight pulling a hook into your finger.
Aside from that, practice, practice, practice.
Usually when I bow and arrow cast, I try to use a fly with a stout enough tail that I can hold on to that in stead of the hook itself, vastly decreasing the odds of accidently hooking myself.
Some good replies can be found here:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19755
I don’t hold the hook at all, I grasp the leader no less than a foot above the fly, and sort of fold the leader into the palm of my hand. Till I get the fly line in my fingers and fire the whole leader and whatever amount of line I need to, To get to the tight spots. Never had any prob’s or even close call’s while doing this…George Harvey made his presentation’s with the B&A cast in this same manner…I practice this out back of the house in an old dried streambed that, I am told used to be a great trout stream before an idiotic neighbor decidedly rerouted the flow when he drained and back filled his pond.
Currently having probs with the DOT over issues involving this “Ditch”…Currently Ignoreing certian “Order’s” that were stated to my wife by them…I want the oppertunity to speak with whomever came here myself!..I want this whole stream restored to what it once was…This will involve the removal of our newest neighbors home though!..as they filled in a good portion and built a home right over it…Humm sorry bout the whole rant thing…This ones got me a bit proturbed…
Bill:
Ahhh, water rights; sounds like the plot of a great western!
PM me if ya’ll need a gunslinger to roust that varmit out!
Just a side note… has anyone seen Joe Humphreys do his little 50-60’ bow and arrow cast?
He did it a couple years ago at the Charlotte fly show, turned around to the watching crowd with a huge grin and said. ‘that ones mine!’ Neat!
I am sure the type of rod may impact this question but… assuming an 8.5-9 ft rod …Just how far can the typical caster reach with a bow and arrow cast. I myself think that 50-60 ft cast is just out of the question for 99.99% of fly fishers.
How far can you B&A cast
Tom
Get a hold of Joe Humphreys’ DVD, “Casting-Approach-Tactics-Tight-Brush” to see how he does it
Considering I only bow & arrow cast at places where things are SO overgrown that a flip, roll, or backcast are TOTALLY impossible; not to mention that those places are usually tiny creeks where I may be fishing a 5-6 foot rod; I typically B&A cast about 6-10 feet.
I don’t know where people are fishing but on my “B&A required” creeks; a cast with a 8.5-9 foot rod is impossible. The rod is longer than the creek is wide; maybe TWICE as long!
IF it could be executed; a cast of ANY type of 50-60 feet on creeks where I need to B&A would put the fly in the next county. I never practise the B&A for any long length casts; it just isn’t necessary where required.
I’ve never tried for distance, so I honestly don’t know. Next time out I’ll have to take a little time and find out. For me it’s always been a close range (usually not more than 10-15’) tactic.
My practice as well as fishing with a B&A cast is in getting under/over log’s,Through tight brush tunnel’s. and getting the fly acurately to the prime “Holding water”. As most times ya only got one shot as it without spooking eveything in the pool!! In cases where I’m fishing tight stuff, I’ll opt for the 7’6" 3 or 6 wt. rods…Usually the 6 wt…
Normal fishing distance is 10 to 15 ft. max I’d want,need or ever bother atempting is 25 to 30 ft. In most normal open water situations…If you need to cast over 30 ft… I feel you should prolly try and move up a bit…I’ve caught many a trout, Within 2 ft. of my leg! I am the slow and thorough type at many things!. 8) :lol: :lol: