I can’t hide the truth anymore. It isn’t really my fault, it’s Castwell’s. He made me do it. I wouldn’t have even tried the stuff, if it hadn’t been for Castwell. Honest!
<Here comes the sad tale.>
I went out for a little while last week. I hit a warm water stream that has been good to me in the past. I parked and rigged up. I started out with an olive woolly bugger, but the fish weren’t having any. I changed to a wingless, size 16 sulphur that mimicks a common, local hatch. There were none visible at the moment, but the fish are used to seeing sporadic hatches. I began to pick up a few 'gills etc…
Then is happened. I saw a nice red-belly (red-breasted sunfish). He was feeding. I couldn’t get to him. Suddenly it came to me in a flash, a “Man of Steel” sort of flash. With great trepidation, I took my rod in my off hand, my right hand. I peeled some line off of the reel with my left. I cast. The line turned over and the dry fly landed nicely on the water. The redbelly turned towards my fly. An unseen fish zipped over and grabbed it. I struck and set the hook. Still holding my rod in my right hand, I stripped the line in with my left. I landed a 6-8" long Coosa bass and released it. It had my first fish on a fly rod with my right (off) hand. Castwell’s lesson (plot) had succeeded. Thanks!
Who would have guessed that Superman was such an accomplished caster? Not with mighty strength, but some mighty fine technique.
Like yourself, I put that “off-hand cast” into practice on the North Branch while we were there. With a little practice, there’s no reason (short of physical limitations or talkyourselfoutofititis) you cannot be equally accomplished/impared with both hands. :lol:
Good on you for working your off side. It’s better to have that under your belt for a couple of reasons. It will get you into some sweet spots that you may not be able to get into with your ON side. The other is if your rotor cuff or elbow starts to act up, or you fall and break your collarbone, it will be the difference between being able to continue to enjoy your sport or sitting on the sidelines. THAT I know from personal experience. I learned to fish with my off side pretty quickly! Here is another one…if you have problems learning a new (or old) concept in you casting, on your ON side…try it with your OFF side. Your brain hasn’t been patterned into a bad habit on that side yet and you may just surprise yourself with how well you can learn something on that off side.
I never thought of using my left hand, because i’m so dominant right handed. What I have been doing is practicing casting backhanded over my left shoulder. It didn’t seem that hard and i’m almost as accurate and long as over my right shoulder. As long as I can do at least one false cast to get it all lined up. So far I can do a overhand, side, and roll cast that way.
Fatbill & Kaboom1 staged a 2 wt. “Shootout” at the Michigan Fish-In. The first leg was distance with your off hand! Using our fearless leaders teachings I flung that little 6’ 6" 2 wt. 43’ for the longest cast!
I was realy feeling proud of myself untill I realized it was only 11’ short of my longest cast with an 8.5’ 5 wt.!
does my left hand know more, or less, than my right hand??
I’m constantly amazed at all the things which are learned at the Fish-Ins. Some planned, some just happen. Some llittle piece of knowledge which helps to improve someones fishing (even catching). Don’t be left out, get yourself to a Fish-In, you’ll be glad you did. (And of course, everyone is welcome to the Fish-Ins.)
Here is another one…if you have problems learning a new (or old) concept in you casting, on your ON side…try it with your OFF side. Your brain hasn’t been patterned into a bad habit on that side yet and you may just surprise yourself with how well you can learn something on that off side.