ok. so ive been practicing casting for about two weeks. every time it think ive caught on, i forget everything the next day. however, today i watched a few videos on youtube and that really helped. anyway, do you guys have any suggestion on what are the most common mistakes for biggers. too much wrist? letting the rod drift too far? not stopping the rod fast enough during the backward and forward power stroke? too long a power stroke? am i on the right track? i figure as long as i can diagnose the problems eventually itll work out. thanks guys , hopefully ill be ready to scare some reds come spring
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go see josh at chas angler and get on the sage cast analyzer machine. you cast a few times then plug the rod into the machine and it analyzes your cast and the best part is its FREE!
strip…strip…FISH ON!
thats awesome. i have the sage launch rod. i forgot all about that dang machine. ill have to slide in there after community service monday and tuesday. oh by the way…and places to throw the fly up near pigeon forge? going up there the 9-12 next week.
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USC just think about the physics of the cast. the line is being thrown and needs to stay moving to transfer energy. the rod is flexing on an extended loop, absorbing the energy, before the forward cast which, when the timing is correct, will keeep the line moving w/o any drop (tailing loops). This direct transfer of energy through the rod is what throws tighter loops and therefore, longer and more accurate casts. acceleration w/ direct stop also increaser line speed. Think about how a hammer drives a nail, u start slow, accelerating until a defined stop. also try wearing long sleeve shirt and tucking the rod but into your cuff. this will hold the wrist still and allow you to feel the cast progress. casting instruction/ videos will help alot too- chas. angler
USC
Start small. Put out 20-30 feet of line and pick up, back cast once and lay it out on your forward cast. try to get is to lay out nice and straight and aim for the hula hoop I talked about a couple of weeks ago.Then pick up, false cast 2 or 3 times (back, forward, back, then lay down your cast). Again lay it straight and hit the hoop. Laying your cast out straight develops muscle memory for the right amount of power.
You’ll develop a feel for the line tugging on the rod as it starts to load. You really want to feel it on the back cast. Add false casts to help develop muscle memory for the rod loading.
When you get ready to go long, you want to be able to keep 40 or more feet in the air, then shoot line through the guides for extra distance.
with decen timing you can put 50 feet in the air without a single or double haul.
So much water, So little time
thanks scotty and Too. good tips. going to practice here in a minute, i’ll give an update on the progress. theres no reason to practice and practice if im doing it wrong/not making any progress. with my work schedule ( which is where i get to practice every day, luckily ) i can never get by the angler. so any good videos online or at the bookstore?
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also, im practicing on the water. ive heard people say that its better to practice on the water because of the resistance and added weight, but also where instructors say to practice on grass beacuse its easier to pick up the line at first.
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Both scotty and too busy have given great advice. Don’t wait until spring to get out there, practice with the reds they are really schooled up nice right now and are hungry, there are plenty of them out there if you accidently spook. Besides, you’ll learn from any mistakes.
Sails Pitch
196 CC Sea Pro
150HP Yamaha
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Practice, practice, practice. I am going on my third year and I still suck! Hince the name Rookie. Try the Cataloochee River or the Nantahala. I believe both are within about an hour of Pigeon Forge. You’ll probably see some elk if you go to the Cataloochee.
I’ve been fly fishing for about 20 years on and off. I put a lot of wrist into my cast. Don’t worry too much about having wrist in your cast as opposed to “hammer style”. I and can get down to the backing (90feet) on my 7foot 5 weight
Remember on your forward cast you’re not aiming at the water. Aim about 3 or 4 feet ABOVE where you want the fly to land and let it settle. If it overthrows and slaps the water, you’re casting with too much force for the distance.
keep at it.
So much water, So little time
USC- Im fishing w/ a friend in Cola. this sat. am. if you wanna join, holla back. where are you stopping the rod on the forward cast? is it a different speed than your false casts, ie more force?
scotty- i wont be getting back until saturday afternoon or night. but school starts up again monday so i’ll be in columbia for good for a while. i’ve only fished under the blossom street brdige for small mouths on light spin gear. but it would be great to get out there and practice scaring some stripers on the flyrod ( i assume thats what yall are fishing for ) .
as far as stopping the rod…in general ive heard/read start at 9 go back to around 1 and then stop at around 10. i seem to be having better luck casting at more of an angle than a strait up and down plane. im pretty sure my back cast is fine. nice tight loop and i can feel the rod load and know when to start my forward cast. i’m sure more practice is the key. going to take the anglers class on the 19th and try to go by tommorw and get on the cast analyzing machine. is it in the west ash or mt p store?
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The best 2 DVDs that I have seen are:
- Joan Wulff’s dynamics of fly casting
2)Flycasting faults and fixes with Mel krieger
Both were of a big help to me and I still get something out of them every time I watch them. Also remember, you have to run before you walk. Too Busy was dead on with his advice, try to start out small and acurate and then work your way to more distance. I used a tape measure to mark off distances and place targets at various spots on the field starting the targets close and then placing them farther out. Doing so helps out your timing alot and you will soon begin to feel the rod load and unload. When this happens you can then start going for distance. If you can find these DVDs try them I promise you will not be disapointed.
2005 1442LW Alumacraft With Camo Clad System
2006 25hp Yamaha Four Stroke
USC - I’m really busy today, but might be able to get with you tomorrow afternoon to help you out some. I’m still no expert, but it always helps to have someone else watch your cast.
Let me know what you’ve got going on tomorrow afternoon. As of right now, I should be able to slip out of the office to run some “errands.”
And to echo everyone else, go see Josh at the CA in WA. Very nice guy, and I’m sure he’d be willing to help you out and get you on the analyzer. I haven’t had time to try it out yet, but may go by sometime soon as well.
Josh is the man and one of the best fly-casters and fisherman I have ever fished with. Fresh or salt he knows his stuff!
Frenzy- i get off tommorow at 4. i’ll be down in the charleston area if that helps. if we cant work something out i’ll definitely go over to the ca. i dont remember if i have your number or if ive given you mine. let me know.
thanks everyone else. hopefully this posts helps out some of the other rookies as well . ive learned alot from other guys asking questions that i was to embarassed or couldnt think of myself. so thanks again
Go Cocks
quote:
Originally posted by USCinshore
Frenzy- i get off tommorow at 4. i’ll be down in the charleston area if that helps. if we cant work something out i’ll definitely go over to the ca. i dont remember if i have your number or if ive given you mine. let me know.
thanks everyone else. hopefully this posts helps out some of the other rookies as well . ive learned alot from other guys asking questions that i was to embarassed or couldnt think of myself. so thanks again
Go Cocks
Shoot me an email - I can definitely be out by 4. Let me know what area you work in - there’s probably a field near there that we can use to practice. Just let me know.
Try to find a friend or an experienced caster to help because by watching you cast they can diagnose a lot of problems with rythm and overpowering the rod but the most important thing is to practice practice practice
One thing that has helped me was to whip a short indicator section on the fly line. I whip about an inch long section with brightly colored thread at about 30 feet from the end of the fly line. This gives me a bit more consistency on how much line I have to pick up off the water and leaves the right amount of line to load my rod without a lot of false casting. You can also do it with a marker but the thread gives a tactile indicator because you can feel it going through the guides without taking your eyes off the target.
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