From my experience I say skip the first time out each season, start with the second. I went out today, with flood waters just to stretch the arm. I think I had a tailing loop on every cast. Caught my line with the hook or leader about a million times. Forgot to wet my mono leader to fluro tippet knots and they slipped out “like butter”. Timing was so off that I felt like a novice. I think my longest good cast would not have reached my toes if I held my rod up straight in the air.
The good thing is that it can only get better. I did have the common sense to laugh at myself, knowing that there would be better days to come.
Hey, my first this year, a couple of weeks ago, the casting was pretty poor but only improved …as the wind picked up. I never have been very good in the wind except when I don’t want to be… Ya just never know.
