I mainly have fished the salt since begining flyfishing several years back, however last year I invested in a freshwater set-up, a
5 wt. With my 8 and 9 weight saltwater setup I can manage a decent 75 ft.plus effortless cast in minimal wind but with the 5 wt. it seems I really have to work to get a 45 ft. cast.
Every once in a while things click and the line really flies. I would think because of the sometimes easy cast the problem is more than likely with my casting ability and timeing.
Is it possible for a not so balanced line to rod to cast smooth every once in a while or does the problem probably lie with my self taught bad habits?
It seems I can cast better with the wind to my face rather than at my back. I’m sure I know what your answers will be but thought I’d throw it out anyway.
Leo, first I never accept the consept of bad habits in the operation of a fly rod. A bad habit is doing things wrong with the full knowledge of what is correct and disreguarding such knowledge on purpose with fore thought. Second, your statement that your more adapt at throwing the line on a lighter set up into the wind is very telling. The likely case is, your over powering the lighter rod because you have been able to work around a lack of clear understanding easier with the heaver rods.
Thanks for the quick reply. You are probably very correct about overpowering that lighter rod. I’ll work on that. I would think a well placed cast at 45 to 55 ft. would be all thats necessary for most freshwater fishing. just trying to get it out with less effort. I’ll bet accuracy will improve with a lighter touch also.
I tried casting to some distant jumping fish today and danged if I didn’t make a mess of it! I was doing the same overpowering thing you’re probably doing and I spent more time untangling line than actually fishing.
As for balance (and I know better, but did it anyway), I was using WF6F on a 7’6" 4/5 graphite rod with a slightly oversized hopper pattern. It didn’t work, and I deserved the trouble for it, I guess.
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
I make a run up north each summer and it’s generally the same for a day or two after using primarily a nine weight for months on end. It takes about an hour at the farm pond with the five weight making myself let the rod work and cast the line rather than adding power.