Casting A Fly Rod
Fly fishing is a little different to bait fishing or spinning.
It’s important that you choose the right fly fishing rod, as this is the piece of equipment that is the most crucial to your success.
One of the problems people first have when the take this variation of the sport up, particularly if they have spun or bait fished before, is adjusting to the fact that the more effort you put into the cast is not, unlike the other forms, the determining factor in how much distance is achieved.
Casting a fly line is all about technique. With no weights fitted to the line as in other forms of rod fishing, it is all about using the fky fishing rod in the correct manner to get the line to travel through the air.
The most important part of the cast is what is called the “back cast”, where the line is cast backwards over your shoulder. This “loads” the rod. The great temptation is to cast the line back, and then immediately throw the line forward on the forward cast. This is incorrect.
When you back cast, you should stop the rod just before it hits the vertical position and wait. It’s only a second or two, but the pause is vital, as is the “stop” at 90 degrees. This is because as the line goes back and reaches its limit, the rod bends back as well. This is when the rod is loaded and ready for the forward cast. The forward cast should not be too aggressive and the rod tip should end just above the water.
This allows the line to flow freely through the rod rings, the impetus caused by the springing action of the rod. The temptation is to back cast violently and with the rod ending 90 degrees to the ground, then throwing the line forward as in a bait or spin fishing cast.
The problem is, if you let the rod travel more than the vertical on the back cast, the rod does not load, and therefore does not spring forward to cast the line effectively. Indeed sometimes all that happens is that the line lands in a tangled heap around you.
If you watch people casting a fly line, you will notice that they appear to cast several times without the line hitting the water. This is called “false casting”.
The experts suggest that you do not want to use more than three false casts. This is really down to the individual, but putting too much line into the air can result in a loss of control.
Relaxing and casting smoothly, remembering to pause at the top of the back cast are the keys to successful fly line casting.
Zac has been a steady fly fisherman for many years, and loves to pass on tips and advice. When starting fly fishing Zac recommends buying fly fishing combos. The fantasticthing about fly fishing combos is that you get all the main elements, rod, line and reel at a discounted price.