BrookieChaser
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I can understand that.
I have a buddy who is a certified casting instructor and his tips have helped me develop my casting into what it is today.
I still practice my weak points.
Casting Distance
- Thread starter Ewanflyfish
- Start date
I have a buddy who is a certified casting instructor and his tips have helped me develop my casting into what it is today.
I still practice my weak points.
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
So, tally one person besides me using the technique I've been using for 30+ years? If anyone has had an official lesson, what was the basic casting mechanics taught in lesson one?
sandflyx
Well-known member
I learned from Lefty Kreh, first is the position of reel to casting hand.
I'm a self-taught fly caster (since I was 10 years old) but have had quite a few expert teachers help me along the way to correct my casting technique as well being taught new things to get me to a higher level of casting. I was lucky enough to work in the industry and received instruction for free.
I will say, starting out with good technique in a beginning makes it easier to advance rather than having to work hard to break bad habits to improve your casting like I did. I'm no where near a great caster, but I improved a lot with instruction and I believe any FFer can benefit from expert instruction. It won't make you an expert, but will help you know your faults and weaknesses to work on for improvement.
I will say, starting out with good technique in a beginning makes it easier to advance rather than having to work hard to break bad habits to improve your casting like I did. I'm no where near a great caster, but I improved a lot with instruction and I believe any FFer can benefit from expert instruction. It won't make you an expert, but will help you know your faults and weaknesses to work on for improvement.
dryflyguy
Well-known member
I'm pretty much self taught too.
Although I did get a brief impromptu lesson from George Harvey once.
Was hangin in Fishermans Paradise with a buddy, when an old fella drove up and put his window down.
And it was George.
While we were having some good fishing chit chat, I spied a fish that rose a few times out of the corner of my eye.
And went over to try for it
After watching me make a few casts, he parked the car, and came over to give me a few tips.
Told me that my mechanics weren't great, and what to do about it.
Was kinda surprised with one with piece of advice he gave me.
Most casting instructions at that time said to keep the wrist locked throughout the cast
But George advised breaking the wrist a bit right at the end of the cast, to roll the line out nicer.
Just shows that there are different ways to get things done I guess
Although I did get a brief impromptu lesson from George Harvey once.
Was hangin in Fishermans Paradise with a buddy, when an old fella drove up and put his window down.
And it was George.
While we were having some good fishing chit chat, I spied a fish that rose a few times out of the corner of my eye.
And went over to try for it
After watching me make a few casts, he parked the car, and came over to give me a few tips.
Told me that my mechanics weren't great, and what to do about it.
Was kinda surprised with one with piece of advice he gave me.
Most casting instructions at that time said to keep the wrist locked throughout the cast
But George advised breaking the wrist a bit right at the end of the cast, to roll the line out nicer.
Just shows that there are different ways to get things done I guess
I'm glad your friend has helped your casting. For fun I would like to be able to comfortably throw as close to an entire fly line as possible. While up to 50' I am very comfortable beyond that I struggle. However since probably 95% of the trout I catch are at 40' or closer my inability to throw over 50' has no bearing on my success.
I agree. In most cases having only a couple professional casting instructor lessons can make a huge difference in one's skill level. I know a couple of self taught fly casters who developed bad form early on and have never become proficient in their form or accuracy. They catch a fair share of trout but it's often painful to watch them throw.
salmo
Well-known member
So am I. Honestly I almost never cast more than 35 feet of line with about 10 feet of leader with dry flies.
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
Thats 45 feet. With your rod and arm more like 55-60. Thats a pretty far cast for trout fishing, so you must be doing something right.
Joe Humphreys also recommends breaking the wrist at the end of the cast. He describes is as "squeezing" the thumb.
I cast that way and I think it helps create extra line speed.
What do other casting gurus say about this?
wildtrout2
Well-known member
Casting skill is relative. If you're able to put a fly where it needs to be with a good drift, and you're catching trout, I don't see the need for casting instruction. But, that's up to the individual. IMO... fly fishermen tend to make things more complicated than they need to be.
Patroutfly
New member
I cast to fish, not fish to cast. Longer casts don’t always lead to a more enjoyable experience. Said best from a guy that can cast wind knots with my eyes closed!
BrookieChaser
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I break my wrist on the cast.
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
My instructor always said that piled up line and wind knots are how you know you're getting tired and need a break. He's not a professional instructor, but he has about 70 years of experience. His instruction included nothing more than me watching him cast a few times, followed by, "Here. Now, you do the same thing."
I was a decent caster on my own and caught a lot of trout, but with expert instruction I learned a lot of new things that helped my fishing. Things like, correcting casting faults for more accuracy and distance, curve casts, different aerial mends, upper downer casts under trees and bushes, hauls to shoot my line with a short back cast when backed up to the bank, Belgian casts with heavier weighted flies, sidearm roll casts for tight places and many more things.
No matter how long you fly fish, there's always things you can improve upon or something new to learn. I think it's boring to do the same thing time after time without trying to do things a little better or different. I make it my business to try something new every time out. Not just casting, but rigs, or new techniques, or flies, or new places to fish, or even different species of fish to target. That's really what makes FFing so much fun, for me anyway, a feeling you're moving forward and improving with every trip. The learning never ends.
tomgamber
Well-known member
Or lazy. Sometimes I just get a little too casual.
I have no idea how I cast or what I do to cast. I just know that I can cast a fly rod very effectively.
That's all that counts.
5footfenwick
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Funny you say this, I don’t know if I’m a good caster or not. I don’t know if I could teach somebody to cast.
Is casting distance like running from a grizzly bear? Where you just need to run slightly faster than your friend? Cast slightly farther than him?
I’m not sure about length, I honestly never really measured. I mean if I can’t get there, I just try to sneak closer. It’s only the big ones that rise out of casting range anyway.
I had a friend just about to get into fly fishing once, switch to Tenkara at the last second. His casting distance is killing me smalls.
P.s. The real question is how far can you back cast? This alone seems to affect my casting distance more than any other single variable.
~5footfenwick
wildtrout2
Well-known member
Exactly! The best way to deal with lack of back cast room is with a roll cast, which I often need to rely on since I'm usually on a tight stream. Sometimes a sidearm cast gets it done too.
