Kent
01-04-04, 08:38 AM
I just got what is one of the best (and cheapest!) books on casting (and fly fishing too) - Fly Fishing for Trout, Salmon, Bass & Panfish by Frank Steel.
Steel addresses many specialty presentation casts, different casting styles, and modern techniques for distance casting. Steel has the credentials - he was the 1st ever to record a perfect score in the National Fly Casting Tournament's Dry-Fly event and his daughter won three national championships.
His explanations of various casts are simple and concise. He covers curves, mends, and one I had never seen until a couple of weeks ago (the Grasshopper). In distance casting, he gets virtually all of the modern (so I thought) techniques including hauls, drifting and the thrust.
His take on improving one's cast may be the best I've ever read -
"In learning to cast well, the first thing to do is to think through every correct action you are going to make in one complete cast. This is good common sense if you remember one basic thing: every physical action you make is performed by muscles that are either consciously or subconsciously controlled. Before a muscular habit is learned your mind must consciously be educated by mental consideration of the exact movement, or movements, that will correctly execute the physical action you want. After the conscious mind has been correctly trained, it is then easy with a little practice to train the subconscious mind to take over the job; in a very little while, you have the habit formed of doing this physical act correctly and without thinking about it."
Oh, yes - the book was published in 1948. Currently out of print, it is available used from many dealers. Mine was about $10, including shipping. So much for the modern advances in fly casting....
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Kent
Flyfishing West Georgia & Beyond (http://www.flyfishga.com)
[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 01-04-2004).]
Steel addresses many specialty presentation casts, different casting styles, and modern techniques for distance casting. Steel has the credentials - he was the 1st ever to record a perfect score in the National Fly Casting Tournament's Dry-Fly event and his daughter won three national championships.
His explanations of various casts are simple and concise. He covers curves, mends, and one I had never seen until a couple of weeks ago (the Grasshopper). In distance casting, he gets virtually all of the modern (so I thought) techniques including hauls, drifting and the thrust.
His take on improving one's cast may be the best I've ever read -
"In learning to cast well, the first thing to do is to think through every correct action you are going to make in one complete cast. This is good common sense if you remember one basic thing: every physical action you make is performed by muscles that are either consciously or subconsciously controlled. Before a muscular habit is learned your mind must consciously be educated by mental consideration of the exact movement, or movements, that will correctly execute the physical action you want. After the conscious mind has been correctly trained, it is then easy with a little practice to train the subconscious mind to take over the job; in a very little while, you have the habit formed of doing this physical act correctly and without thinking about it."
Oh, yes - the book was published in 1948. Currently out of print, it is available used from many dealers. Mine was about $10, including shipping. So much for the modern advances in fly casting....
------------------
Kent
Flyfishing West Georgia & Beyond (http://www.flyfishga.com)
[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 01-04-2004).]