An accomplished fly-fisherman can cast from almost anywhere in a stream, place a fly just where he wants it and lay it so delicately on the water that it won't startle a fish lying just beneath the surface. The ability to cast accurately and present the fly in a manner that's enticing to fish is what makes for a good fly-fisherman. Perfecting those techniques can be a lifelong endeavor, but the basics can be learned in an afternoon.
The first step is to gain familiarity with the fly-casting equipment -- the fly-rod, fly-reel and fly-line (figure A). The fly-line is made so that it floats on the surface of the water. At the end of the fly-line is a thin and tapered line-leader to which the fly itself is tied (figure B).
Learning to cast is something that's hard to learn by reading a book or watching TV. The ideal situation is to learn in person from an expert who can demonstrate techniques in detail and offer you advice on your technique (figure C). As a general rule, people who fly-fish like to spread their expertise.
One of the best ways for a beginner to learn is to take a guided fishing trip. The guide should be able to work with you on mastering your casting technique. Many fly shops and fishing outfitters offer lessons and workshops, sometimes in nearby parks or even parking lots.
To get an idea of the principles of casting, start by practicing the basic technique using a length of ordinary light rope that's about 10 to 15 feet long. This exercise helps demonstrate that casting is really "line-casting" more than it is "fly-casting."
Simply drop the rope in a pile behind you, holding one end in your right hand (or, if you're left-handed, in your left). Using a forward and backward action with your forearm, attempt to "throw" the length out in front of you so that it lands in a straight line (figure D). The back-stroke portion of the cast, in which the line extends straight out behind you, is critical in making the line land in a straight line in front of you.
Once you've mastered the technique with a piece of rope, you can move on to practicing with a rod and reel. In our demonstration, we observed the casting technique of an experienced fly-fisherman.
The fisherman begins with a length of line already extending out in front of him a short distance. He holds the rod in his right hand (since he's right-handed) and uses his left hand to pull in a length of line to take up any slack (figure E). His right forefinger holds the line in place. With his wrist locked, he moves his forearm back in a smooth motion. The back-cast lifts the line out of the water and stretches it out behind him. In a continuing, fluid motion, the forward-cast (figure F) then brings the line forward and lays it on the water. The fisherman may repeat a sequence of back- and forward-casts to get the line laid out straight and place the fly in the desired location.
With the back-cast, the fisherman pulls the rod straight back, rather than up. The rod tip moves in a straight line, and as it pulls back, the tip bends. That bending action is called loading, and it adds spring to the cast. The arm movement in the back-cast in combination with the loading pulls the line off the river and straightens it out behind. At the instant when the line extends fully to the rear, and the rod begins loading in the other direction, the fisherman begins his forward stroke. As the forward stroke continues, the line extends forward in an unfolding "J" before it comes to rest on the water.
Taking a closer look, the fisherman's casting technique can be broken down into distinct elements: - At the beginning of the cast, the rod is at a 10 o'clock position, pointing at about a 45-degree angle behind the fisherman (figure G).
- The rod is brought forward to about a 2 o'clock position as the fisherman whips his arm forward, similar to a painter flicking paint from the end of a brush (figure H).
- The alternating push-and-pull action for 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock is what allows the line to go back and forth from straight back to straight forward.
- The back-cast portion of the stroke is critical, and it's something that must be learned by "feel." The back-cast ends when the line is straight out behind you and the rod begins to load. With some practice, you'll learn to watch the line straighten as you feel the rod begin to load. Waiting just a second too long before beginning the forward stroke will result in the line falling into the water (figure I). Starting the forward stroke too early can result in a "cracking whip" effect that may result in your line snapping.
Consider practicing your cast on land, using an old fly-line and leader and no fly or hook. Look for an open area in a park or an open area of lawn to practice casting and developing your technique. Once you begin to master the back-and-forth technique of casting, you can begin to work on accuracy -- laying down your line so that the end lands in a precise location.
Tip: For some indoor practice, try tying a piece of yarn to a straight stick and practicing the back-cast and forward-cast motion. Work on developing a smooth, even stroke using the same techniques used with an actual rod and reel.
DIY Family Tip: To help keep kids interested in developing their casting skills, make a game of it. Allow them to do some dry-land casting practice while trying to lay the end of their line in a target laid out on the ground. The target can be made from an old tire, a hula-hoop or simply a loop of rope or twine that's big enough to be visible on the ground.
RESOURCES :
Kids Book of Fishing
Model: 0894808664
Author: Michael J. Rosen
(June, 1991)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Workman Publishing Co. Inc.
New York, NY 10003-9555
Phone: 212-254-5900
Fax: 212-254-8098
Federation of Fly Fishers
P.O. Box 1088
W. Yellowstone, MT 59758
Web site: www.fedflyfishers.org
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fly Fishing
ISBN: 0028629531
Author: Michael D. Shook
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.)
A comprehensive site with equipment and clothing for camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, paddling, fly fishing, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
REI
Sumner, WA 98352-0001
Website: www.rei.com
Fly Rod & Reel magazine online
The online version of Fly Rod & Reel, the magazine of American fly fishing.
Web site: www.flyrodreel.com
Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine
The online version of the fly-fishing magazine, Fly Fishing & Fly Tying .
Web site: www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk
flyfishing.com
Comprehensive online resource about fly fishing and related topics.
Web site: www.flyfishing.com
The American Museum of Fly Fishing
Web site: www.amff.com
Fly Fisherman: The Virtual Fly Shop
Informational online resource about fly fishing.
Web site: www.flyshop.com
The Complete Book of Fly Fishing
Author: Tom McNally and Tom Beecham
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP) Web-site -- fly-fishing
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP) is an informational Web site about outdoor activities.
Below is the link to their section on fly fishing.
Web site: www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/fishing.htm
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