O.K just a few days ago I bought my self a nice scientific anglers rod/reel/line combo and it works great. I was out on my front yard for an hour learning how to cast. Came back with numb fingers just 15 minutes ago. The first half I was casting great, but then my leaders loop started hitting the the snow on the ground, is this because my arms were starting to get tired or because of the cold weather. I couldn’t see my line because it was dark out. help.
Sounds like you were dropping the tip of your rod to much, or you were not letting the rod load up before moving forward or backward. Just my 2 cents
I’m not sure what you mean by letting the rod load up.
Try and stop the rod at vertical or just past on the backcast, slowly bring the line up and accelerate to a stop at around your ear or just past. Turn around wait for the line to straighten behind you and start your foward cast stop the foward cast at about 10’oclock…after awhile you do get tired and the arcs get wider. Make sure you are trying to make a small casting arc. Let the rod do the work not your arms. Keep your wrist really stiff…I’m not an expert by any means, there are people on here who are fantastic skilled casters and hopefully they will answer you, but these things have helped me. WHen you get tired and the line is hitting the ground take a break and think about it…
Good luck and have fun
Janus
Pedram,
Another reason the line is hitting the snow ( in addition to those already mentioned) is that you’re probably attempting to shoot out more line than your ability at this time. In the beginning, HOW FAR isn’t as important as HOW. In the initial learning process, don’t attempt to cast much more than about 30 feet of line. Distance will come with time.
Good luck in your pursuit.
Mark
Pedram,
None of us can really critique your casting stroke without seeing it. That being said, it was probably just fatigue. You get tired, the tip doesn’t stop as crispy, or you drop the rod a bit, and you get what you got…
Don’t sweat it unless you see it happening all the time.
Buddy
Out casting in the snow and darkness! LOVE IT! You will be just fine.
I agree with JC you will be fine.
As it was dark and you could not see the line, You were probably a good bit out with your timing and not waiting long enough for the line to straighten out back and front. Another possibility is that your wrist was getting tired and the rod was making like a windscreen wiper through the arc. No Sweat. Time is a great healer and all will come right as you make progress. Have Fun. Jax
You asked about the rod loading, and what that means. Basically as the line straightens out at the end of a casting stroke and you start the rod tip moving the rod begins to “feel” the weight of the line. As you progress through the casting stroke, acelerating to a rapid stopping of the rod tip, the rod will flex under the load of the line. This is what makes your line go.
What happens at the end of the stroke determines where your line and leader will go. If your rod tip is traveling in a downward trajectory, then your line will go in the same direction. If you do not rapidly stop your rod tip, like it hit a wall, your loop will widen.
Now is the time to not get into some bad habbits. Get a casting video by Lefty, Mel or Joan. Casting is not hard as long as you understand the basics behind it. Then, as in other sports, you can build on your advanced skills. Also, it would be a good idea to take a lesson or two. The most important advice you got here is to not worry about distance. The vast majority of trout are caught with casts less than 30 ft. (Still water is an exception) Short, accurate casts will catch far more fish than long, flailing ones.
You won’t print this out, take it outside and do it. But, if you did,you could cast.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/cst/cst3498.html
Do it!! It really works!! <the dude knows of what he speaks!!>
This is worth quoting again …I was thinking of suggesting it but was too lazy to look up the link…JC’s got a lot more casting stuff in the archieves…
I would also suggest that you do some research and get to understand loops…it will help your understanding immensely.
I remember when I was starting out I got Mel Krieger’s video and when I saw his section on loops it was one of those epiphany moments…ah, so that is what a loop is …and how they should and shouldn’t look…and why.
And understand the anatomy of your fly line[s]…stick to 30 ft of line in the air at first…don’t try to aerialize too much line …till you get better if you get into the running line your cast will deteriorate…
Take JC’s recommendation to heart. It really does work. Even Mel Kreiger noticed a dramatic improvement in my casting. Also, I find shorter practice sessons work best before bad habits set in. When I first started to learn to cast I went to the casting ponds for 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week. Met some real nice folks who helped me a lot, but it was JC’s lesson that really brought it together for me.
Thanks guys, your posts have definitly helped me out. I’m going to go out and try JC’s technique right now!
Pedram:
You’ve got a Private Message in your FAOL inbox.
Greg, in Toronto
www.winterhatches.org
If you have not cast a fly line previously then you probably think the standard ‘throwing motion’ used to launch balls of any type, or spinning lures, is the way to do it, but this is NOT the correct motion for casting. Please get back to me, I can hook you up with a good caster in the Toronto area for some coaching (free).
I’d say if you’re getting a video, get one by either Mel or Joan. Lefty is a bit too much about feel for me and not enough about actually explaining - though no doubt he’s an awesome caster! I’ve seen him in person and was more confused after watching and listening. I rented the Lee and Joan Wulff video from the local shop and it was extremely helpful. Lee explains the ‘Lefty’ technique better than he does. I haven’t seen the Krieger standard casting one, but the spey video was excellent.
Hey PEDRAM; draw a clock, from 12 - 3 ( 90 degrees). Start with your rod such that it is paralell to the ground, the rod tip would thus be said to be at 3. Go back, GRADUALLY increasing spead, then at 11, , S T O P!!! I mean IMMEDIATELY STOP. If you have to go out and get a rubber ball to squeeze with your hand to give your hand the strength to S T O P !! your rod IMMEDIATELY, then do so. Then start your forward stroke, slowly, S M O O T H L Y !! I N C R E A S I N G SPEED, then at 1, STOP!
REMEMBER THIS! CASTING IS ALL ABOUT SMOOTHNESS. TIM THE TOOL MAN TAYLOR WOULD BE HORRIBLE AT CASTING!!
Its a lot about physics… Sometimes a mental image can help. One of the epiphany moments for me was when someone compared it to a car hitting the brakes at 70mph…Everything in the car keeps moving at 70… that said… JC’s lesson would be top notch, if you are going to get a video, Look for the Orvis intro to flyfishing. I will probably catch a lot of heat for this, but the casting aspect on that tape really locked in the speed up and stop technique… my $0.02.
This came straight from Superman!
You’ll believe that a man can fly (cast). Women too!
Ed
I still have my copy in my binder and it still helps me…if this man gives you advice on casting, TAKE IT!!!