To use the old golf phrase, “I’ve got a hole in my swing.” Due to my schedule with the military, I had been unable to practice my casting in preparation for what little fishing I’m going to get in. So I pull out the rod and head out back to get in a few minutes of practice. Right out of the gate I realized something wasn’t right. I couldn’t do anything right. I worked out the issue of not being able to get the line to lay out properly, but I seemed to have developed a very audible snap and pop on my back cast. I’ve tried everything to eliminate it, but nothing seems to be working. Does anyone have any ideas about what I’m doing to cause this problem?
“A fishing trip, long or short, is what the man makes out of it.” “Fisherman, no matter what supreme good fortune befalls them, cannot ever be absolutely satisfied.” -Zane Grey
In a word----slow down ! I guess that’s two words. Turn sideways and look at your back cast, then wait for the line to straighten out entirly before you begin the forward cast.The speed up and stop is what makes the loop tight and propels the line, not the force of the stroke. Some people use the word whuuump to describe the casting stroke in both directions. Emphasize the uuu not the mp. Anyway thats what Mel Kreiger, lefty Kreh and other casting gurus say.
"Tap her light and she’ll always be fresh "
--------------------<(*)))><{ Paddy
the only 2 cents I can add is this. Remember you are not useing a whip, almost everyone has used a piece of rope or something similar to pretend it was a whip. You have to pull a whip hard and fast foward to get it to snap. That to me is what you are doing on your forward cast. Remember it is not a whip, so you’ll have to change the way you bring it forward. Instead of the power at the beginning of the foward cast, wait,(and as said b-4) until the line gets straight, and pull, then apply the power and speed. Hope this helps some…
Thank you for your service to our county.
Your line will snap if when practicing you
don’t have piece of yarn or fly without a hook on your leader. It will also snap if yor casts are not smooth acceleration to a stop. This will cause slack which causes knots and snaps. If you line is not going out remember to put you stops in. Start with some line out in front of you straight on the ground.Your wrist should be bent down with your rod tip close to the ground. At this point the rod butt should be parallel to your casting arm . Your hand should be comfortably relaxed. Start slowly and bring your hand straight back toward your your shoulder. This movment should be a smooth acceleration. When your hand is about ear high roll your wrist from a down position to a straight position and squeeze the rod to stop it. At this point the rod butt should make a 45 degree angle with your casting forearm and your thumb ought to be ponting up between 12:30 and 1:30. Relax your grip and allow the rod to drift back by raising your elbow . Once your back cast fly line is almost straight begin your forward cast with your wrist relaxed. Again start slowing lead with your elbow and accelerate to 10 0’Clock while rotating your wrist to a turn down position( rod butt parallel to your forearm)and squeeze to a stop. Relax your hand and let your rod tip drift down so the tip is close to the ground.
If you can get a hold of Joan wulff’s “Dynamics of Fly Casting” You will be amazed at how much she will improve your casting
[This message has been edited by okflyfisher (edited 26 April 2006).]
[This message has been edited by okflyfisher (edited 26 April 2006).]
[This message has been edited by okflyfisher (edited 26 April 2006).]
I know JC’s “How to Cast” is taken with
a grain of salt because he injected humor
into it. It does work however, and I’ve
used it often when teaching friends to fly
fish. I’ve also used it when I’ve fished
with folks that have quit fly fishing for
a length of time. If you are having trouble
try shortening your casting distance and
working on the basics. Add more line as you
become confident at a given distance. Most
likely just a timing thing and it’s easier
to work back up to distance with a little
practice. It doesn’t matter how much line
you could comfortably airealize last year.
Go with what you are comfortable with now.
It’ll come back before ya know it.G Warm
regards, Jim
JC that was just the link I was looking for. I’ve got a date tomorrow AM to teach someone to cast. She can learn all of my good habits in about 5 seconds and now I know what she can concentrate on for the rest of the time instead of picking up my bad habits.
I went out for my first lawn casting session of the season this morning myself…unbelievable how much my casting improved just by thinking about things I had read on FAOL about casting technique. The fact I actually had the right weight fly line helped, too, I’m sure(I used to use a 3 wt line with an 8 wt rod…purely out of ignorance)
Thanks for everyone’s help. Castwell’s post was a big help. To say my timing was off is a gross understatement. I’m slowly working the rust off. Thanks again to everyone.
“A fishing trip, long or short, is what the man makes out of it.” “Fisherman, no matter what supreme good fortune befalls them, cannot ever be absolutely satisfied.” -Zane Grey
“A big help.” Good; now you owe me. Here is how I want to be paid.
Go back outside with the “How to Cast” sheet.
String up your rod while holding it in your LEFT HAND ONLY.
Do exactly what the sheet says, ONLY LEFT HANDED.
Do not cheat!
You may have to talk out loud to yourself while casting, but do it.
You have no bad habits YET left handed; do not invent any!
You will, within less than 5 minutes, be able to cast batter than with your right hand.
Don’t beleive me? Only one way to prove me wrong.
