So after reading JC’s column last week, I decided to stop thinking about spending some time on the lawn and actually get out and practice for a bit. This was much easier said than done. It seemed like every day that planned on holding a fly rod was a day that I would rather be fishing than practicing (I live in an apt. so I actually have to go somewhere to even get enough lawn).
Needless to say I finally did it and realized that not only did I need more practice, but that my cast had degraded to something far from pretty. I equate this to two things 1. I “learned” how to cast from someone who I later learned knew very little about casting - I say “learned” because it was much more like imitating bad practice than a lesson. 2. I constantly fish small streams that make casting in a vertical plane difficult - I have to improvise. Now somehow my improvisation?s have given me a very successful season, but when I do get out to bigger streams I’m somewhat of a mess. The worst part is that I know exactly what makes a good cast, and have a good idea of what I?m doing wrong. Too much wrist, concave tip movement, etc. For whatever reason when I?m actually fishing I will lay out one or two good casts with focus, then ten minutes later I’m up to my old tricks. I know that a lot of this can be rectified with practice (what I really need to do is find a good pond- the surface tension on that little league field was, believe it or not, non existent), and more focus.
I was wondering if anyone has tried any of the casting aids with success. The wrist break issue is my biggest problem and I can not for the life of me figure out how to break the habit (ha!). I noticed a thing in the Cabelas catalogue that basically stops your rod at 45degrees. I was thinking about making one for myself (because I’m not paying for a piece of fabric which could easily be copied), but wanted to check and see if anyone else had used one of these and if it was actually helpful. I just think that if I?m forced into the habit I might just pick it up permanently.
I also urge anyone with similar problems to actually get out and practice?it is really, really helpful. Not to mention, watching people drive by trying to figure out what exactly your trying to catch in the middle of a baseball field, is priceless.
