Distance casting - the key to more fish ;)

[Kent]

Phlyster got that fun thread on casting going - though it's been hashed and rehashed here and on other boards time & time again. Thanks phlyster, for getting it started (we can't wait to see your demo at the Fling).

Carl is right, though. We hear a 1001 reasons why people don't cast any better & don't won't to learn. Now, nobody ever said that casting 100' with a 5 wt will catch you a lot more fish.

On the other hand, I don't think the ability to cast 100' ever hindered anyone's ability to catch a fish.

And, in fact, I'd say that the ability to cast 100' will probably let you catch more fish at the 20-40' distances. "Huh?", you say.

Yeah, if you can cast 100' with a 5 wt, you have a near complete understanding of casting fundamentals and pretty good control of them.

When Gary Borger was at Callaway, I saw him make two of the most incredible casts I have ever seen. Yes, he can cast over 100' with a 5 wt. But those weren't the fish-catching casts that impressed me. These were -

http://www.surfmind.com/fish/curve_cast.gif

Curve casts with a pile (like a tuck but horizontally). And he placed the piles at will, in A - at the end of the curve, or B - at the start of the curve. And while a 100' cast won't catch a lot more fish, I guarantee that these two will.

And they come from the same place that the 100' cast does - an understanding & control of the basic casting fundamentals.



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Kent
Flyfishing West Georgia & Beyond (http://kje.home.mindspring.com)

[Robert Hafner]

Kent, the one thing I want to say about your thread is: AMEN

[Fire Walker]

That is something of greatness. I am studying for my FFF cert and have read about these types of casts. Truly awesome. Spoke with Rex at the Masters [Scott] and he told me that I am still rolling my hand on the back cast. My distance is there as well as accuracy just having a hard time "Standing the rod up" versus the partial 45/side arm. I dont seem to have the problem with opening up on the left side. My distance is less but the loops are consistently "Over the top" versus partialy tho the side. I realize its a muscle memory thing but boy am I having a tough time. On the positive side my "Book" studies have taught me many diffrent teaching styles ,as I know this is crucial to passing the exam. To all the current FFF cert holders any good books you recommend and or videos to aid in preperation? Thanks in advance and as always Tight Loops, Luke

[Warmouth]

Ahhh, this is the kind of stuff we live for! It is so frustrating trying to work out those little pesky little habits ut it keeps you getting up in the morning.

A few weeks ago I started trying to learn a new "tournament style" casting technique and nearly beat myself to death with the last 5 feet of fly line and leader. My back looked like I had been caned. I think I have identified the problem as stopping TOO hard on the back cast, causing a tuck in the back. When I come forward the end of the line is too low and whacks me in the back or the back of the head. One good thing that did come out of it is the development of a new cast affectionately called the "Power Crouch." A defensive mechanism to avoid pain really, but it generates incredible line speed. Kent summed the cast up by saying "Well you look like a big dork but it really goes."

If you are going to be at the fling we should get together and jam.

If you are working on developing a traditional overhead squared stance style I would suggest "The Essence of Flycasting II" by Mel Krieger or anything by Joan Wulff. Gary Borger's book "Presentation" is excellent as is Ed Jaworowsi's book "The Cast", although Jaworowski is more of a Lefty protege.

When are you taking the cert?

[Fire Walker]

Planning on Feb up in Charlotte. Thanks for the titles. The folks at Barnes and Noble know me on a first name basis. I usally retain more with cute girls and good java around http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif The have a great selection of Mel and Garys work as well as Walton and Wulff. Thanks again man,Luke

[The Ole Man]

Kent
You're giving me an inferiority complex.

[bbell]

A curve cast with a pile solves the basic problem of the curve cast...that it is basically a tightline approach and not too good when delivering a dry fly. How in the world do you perform the cast?

Thanks for bringing this topic up. I really need to work on my casting and you guys force me to think about it on a regular basis!

[Robert Hafner]

Fire walker, congrats on wanting to get certified. During this process of studying and casting, you will walk away a better caster, teacher and fly fisher. Just ask those that went through it. If you need any help, you sure have plenty of folks that would gladly give a hand including me. Don't hesitate to ask. There is some awesome casters and teachers out there. Like to meet you sometime.