What distances would you say apply to casters described as …
Beginner
Less than Average
Average
Better than Average
Advanced
Long Distance…let’s make that the whole fly line…but no more…those folks are something else…
and
Let’s not get into the …“I only need to cast X distance to catch fish” thing.
Boy are you going to get disagreement on this one. You are asking about one half of a two pronged skill. Distance without accuracy doesn’t count for much. Lots of people can toss fifty feet but the person who can hit a one-foot circle is way ahead of the pack.
But in answer to your distance question:
Beginner 20-25 feet
Less than Average 25-35 feet
Average 35-45 feet
Better than Average 45-60 feet
Advanced 60-75 feet
Long Distance 80 to the whole line.
Just my 2% of a dollar. I’m sure that others will disagree----vigorously in this case. 8T 
hmmmm…im gald to get 25 feet. im not too great at casting, but since i only warmwater fish for bluegills and bass, accuracy isnt all too important. its not like im casting to a rising brown trout or anything.
redacted,
I’ve only cast my fly rod on my lawn (i got it right before ice up) but i can easily cast farther than the 25 feet i marked out with stakes. But i still consider myself an extreme beginner because im not very accurate??
David i’m about the same as you. At any distance a fish can hit. Your fly needs to be in the water though, not like some guys who make many false casts and keep they’re fly in the air. I fish for gills to, they’re a blast.
Here’s my thoughts:
Beginner 30-40’
Less than Average 40-50’
Average 50-60’
Better than Average 60-70’
Advanced 70-80’
Long Distance 80’ and over
Presentation, presentation.
If your measuring the cast from where you stand than I’m a much better caster than I thought I was :shock: Distance casting came easy to me, I’m more impressed with guys/gals who have good mending skills.
An almost nonsensical question.
Not only is accuracy ignored, but weight and line configuration are ignored.
If you figure a 9’ rod and 9’ leader, you’re already at 18’.
Still trying to figure out why this is in the fly tying section! 
With a standard 9’, 5 weight rod:
Beginner: 9 - 15’ (gotta be able to straighten that leader!)
Less than average: 9 - 25’
Average: 20 - 35’
Above Avergae: 40 - 55’
Advanced: 5 - 80’… on target.
Expert: 5 - 110’… on target.
Long Distance: 5 - 120’
When fishing most of my cast start about about 10 feet. I then extend them out about 5 feet at a time.
Why cast over fish that you will spook?
Rick
I believe he asked about casters.
Some of us fish but also enjoy casting for castings sake.
I can cast a 5 wt dry fly line 60-70 feet with no wind. My accuracy sucks. So you couldn’t put me in the catagory of an above or better than average caster. You’d have to add in a minus factor depending on how inaccurate a person is. I’d say in my case I would fall in the average range with above average distance.
Now you might also add in the factor of how many types of casts is the person able to do. eg. roll cast. side arm cast, oval cast, slingshot cast, etc etc. Which would bring me down a little further because I can do a normal cast and a roll cast but so far not a ovalcast, or many other types.
Mending was mentioned and I think you should also be able to mend well. Even on grass. I got a shock at the fish in when I had to mend for the first time.
There are many more variables than just distance in evaluating a caster. IMO
Plus If you get a lot of wind knots at the end of your 70-80 foot casts you still can’t cast worth a Hoot.
Beginner 30-40’
Less than Average 40-50’
Average 50-60’
Better than Average 60-70’
Advanced 70-80’
Long Distance 80’ and over
Expert 30-40’
Let’s get into the “I only need to cast X distance to catch fish” thing. With the exception of salt water and one or two other occassions (maybe steelheading?), expert fly fishermen won’t do a lot of casting beyond 50’. That doesn’t make the double haul any less useful, it’s just used at shorter distances. How anyone can get a drag-free drift with 80’ of line out is beyond me.
Yes, there are times when I’ve cast over 50’ and caught a fish. A big one on Henry’s Fork as a matter of fact. But generally, long casts I find to be counterproductive. I’m not knocking it, really, but in the vast scheme of things, I put long casting down about 12th of important skills a fly fisher should have. OK, maybe I am knocking it. Now Tarpon, or Bonefish, different story.
Eric
I still can’t help but to think most people who can cast comfortably to 90’ have the technique down pretty good and usually have distance and accuracy up to that point pretty well down pat.
There is no down side to casting well.