tailing loop

[PaPaDuke]

When casting out of a boat I find that I have to cast over my head in order to keep my line away from my partner. How do I stop my line from getting tangled up with fly? I believe that is called a tailing loop.

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Martie

[Scott Swartz]

Martie,
To keep from forming knots in your leader and tippet you must determine what you are doing in your casting stroke that is causing a “tailing loop” or a loop that closes with the leader dropping and crossing below the fly line. The tailing loop is what allows wind knots to form. Sometimes when casting overhead out of a boat as you described we apply greater force during the casting stroke causing the rod tip to travel in a concave path where the tip of the rod is lower in the middle of the casting stroke than it is at the beginning or end of the stroke. To better understand this let’s look at the opposite, a convex rod tip path. Fly-casters who use too much wrist can cause the rod tip to start low, go thru a very high arc, and then end low with a resulting wide loop. Conversely when a rod tip follows a concave path the result is a closed or tailing loop. The application of power during the casting stroke loads (bends) the rod so as to make the rod tip lower during the middle of the cast than it is at the beginning or end of the stroke. The most common reasons for a concave rod tip path and resulting tailing loops are applying too much power too early in the casting stroke and/or not having a wide enough casting arc (holding the rod near vertical thru the entire cast). This will result in a tailing loop on almost every cast. Try widening your casting arc and saving the maximum power for the end of the stroke just before the stop and it should eliminate most of your tailing loops.
Scott Swartz www.atlantaflyfishingschool.com (http://www.atlantaflyfishingschool.com)

[DavidEdens]

That is absolutely the best, most complete, simple description of the cause and cure of/for a tailing loop I have ever read!!
David Edens www.blue-ridge-rods.com (http://www.blue-ridge-rods.com)

[Scott Swartz]

David,

Thanks for the appreciation of our discription of cause/effect on tailing loops.

I have a similar appreciation for your Accelerator Rods...they cast great !!!

Scott Swartz

[gverholek]

Man, I love you guys! You are all so full of great information. I just got back from a 3-day trip to Michigan's Au Sable River system, where the wind and the overhanging trees caused me to adjust my cast frequently, resulting in several wind knots. I could have used this reminder. Oh sure, we've all heard it before, but not so specifically, yet eloquently described. Thanks, Scott.

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Gary