The ability to cast long distances
is not necessary to sight fish, but it sure is fun.
Ladies as well as men, the mature, and young alike
can all improve there casting skills. I find pleasure and a peaceful
sense of well-being when I spend time casting on the lawn. I've
said many times, "if I wasn't going to catch fish, I'd much
rather not catch fish with a fly rod than not catch them with anything
else." Fly casting is fun. :<)
The loading and flexing of the 3 foot rod tip in the
animation above illustrates how important it is to move the fly
line on a level path. NOTE: If you'd like to see the animation again,
hit the refresh or reload button on your browser. The animation
also reveals that the rod tip moves identical for both the forward
and back cast.
Casting on a level path cannot be over emphasized.
You may not have aspirations of casting 100 feet, but wouldn't
it be nice to cast 50 feet with less effort? Fly casting
is almost effortless when the cast is executed properly. AND it's
so much fun…
The energy of an arched stroke, as illustrated above has no
direction or target. The focus of the energy is constantly
changing. The arrow depicts the path of the rod tip. But the
rod tip is not what causes the problem, it is the path traveled
by the rod hand. If the hand were to travel on a level path
the rod's tip would do the same. It might help to think of
your casting hand as the piston that powers the rod of a train's
wheels. The piston moves parallel to the track and the train
goes forward. The movements of the piston's energy is focused
straight ahead and moves back and forth with a focused purpose.
This is the most efficient use of energy because it has a
concentrated direction.
Like the piston and rod mechanism on the train's wheels, the hand
holding the fly rod will ultimately be responsible for focusing
the rod's energy and directing the path that the fly line
travels. My shoulder and elbow are allowed free and natural
movement.
There are many techniques taught that will improve your casting.
Study every technique you come across and then pick the parts
that work for you. Send e-mail with questions or comments
to Capt.
Dan.
May you find peace and a sense of well being every time you practice
casting the "long rod".
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