Casting shenannigans

October 11, 2006 in Fly casting | 12 comments

The trout season is well and truly over for this year. The last week or so has seen autumn arrive properly here on the east coast, with much cooler evenings and a smattering of rain. This has provided unacustomed time to spend on other things. Such as fly casting.

I’ve been meaning to sort my casting out for a while now. By sort out, I mean improve my loops, get better and more consistent presentation casts and generally cast with about 1/10th of the effort I do now. So, I’ve got myself a long tape measure, a digital camera and a tripod. Before anyone makes the comment, yes I realise that sounds interesting to say the least.

For anyone looking to improve their casting “on one’s own” so to speak, I have some advice. Be prepared to spend time, a good amount of it, and get ready for a shock. Sleepless nights with phrases like “casting arc”, “late butt rotation” and “straight line path” wizzing around your head should be expected.


I knew some things were bad about my casting. Turns out I’m right.

It’s total pants.

Only when you film yourself doing the deed do you start to realise that you may have to try and un-learn everything you currently do if you want to really improve. So that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m starting about as basic as I can. A guy called Paul is helping me (in a round about sort of way), with some great instructions. There are also one or two kind chaps providing some pointers which is great, and really useful.

So far, things aren’t going well. I’ve realised that I am actually incapable of making a half decent back cast. It’s quite literally a mental/physical impossibility at the moment. This is SERIOUSLY PISSING ME OFF. It’s the foundation for (nearly) all you do in fly casting and I’m absolutely shite at it. Some people say this sort of stuff doesn’t matter. But to me it does. If I do something I want to do it well, and what I’m doing right now cannot be described as ‘well’ in any shape or form, no matter how many Trade Winds are involved.

This winter, come what may, I will become a good fly caster. I am determined and prepared.
If anyone is still reading this, you will be able to keep up with my progress as I link to occasional video clips in the coming weeks and months. The first ones are not pretty, though fortunately my incredible sense of fashion helps to offset the mile wide back cast loops.

Give me strength.

12 comments

  1. Anonymous’s avatar

    Anonymous on October 12, 2006 at 4:49 am

    I’ve been there Mik. Still am. I was recording my casting in June when my rod broke. Haven’t did that since. Will do again, thanks for reminding me.

    Strength Mike, strength.

  2. Mik’s avatar

    Mik on October 12, 2006 at 5:07 am

    Thanks opax, appreciate the encouragement :)

  3. windknotter’s avatar

    windknotter on October 12, 2006 at 12:04 pm

    Mik,
    I’m in the same boat. I’ve been flyfishing for a number of years now, but still feel deeply embarassed about my fly casting. Even basic questions haunt me at night, and I’ve spent far too long looking at the double-hauling Quicktime movies on Sexyloops (excellent though they are)

  4. Mik’s avatar

    Mik on October 12, 2006 at 3:07 pm

    Well I’m glad I’m not the only one then :)

    Those double haul videos actually helped me a lot. I think I’ve got a passable double haul now, it’s just the actual casting mechanics that are poor (in the back cast). Rod tracking is also a real issue. Poor tracking doesn’t matter *that* much at 30 feet, but when going to 70 or 80 or more… well it’s not pretty.

    Whether or not you’ll ever hook a fish at those distances is another matter. But that’s not the point here, for me at least.

  5. Alistair’s avatar

    Alistair on October 13, 2006 at 1:04 am

    I think the key question here is how often do you cast 70 or 80 feet ?

    Once you get good you can teach me :)

  6. Anonymous’s avatar

    Anonymous on October 13, 2006 at 1:40 am

    Casting instructor, a dominant lady – some serious teaching. That’s what we need. Not because we don’t get enough fish, but because we want to look good.

    I’d say that at least in first and second clip you would do well with more line speed [firmer acceleration and stop in casting stroke?], but I’m not good enough to judge. Mik, you cast very much like I do.

  7. Mik’s avatar

    Mik on October 13, 2006 at 5:18 am

    I think opax has it..! I wanna look GOOD. Real damn good. It’s just vanity really. I want pointy loops. They look sweet.

    That certainly is part of it for me anyway. I want to cast..beautifully. Sound lame/uneccessary? Fine by me. There’s also the very valid point that being able to cast really nice, tight loops will make casting with wind a LOT easier.

    In the long run, I want to be able to spot a nice big trout, and deliver a really good cast without entering “hyper-shitty-cast” mode. This happens WAY too much for my liking.

  8. The Mad Fishicist’s avatar

    The Mad Fishicist on October 15, 2006 at 8:24 pm

    “Only when you film yourself doing the deed do you start to realise that you may have to try and un-learn everything you currently do if you want to really improve.”

    i laughed out loud at this statement. and the rest of the paragraph for that matter. if only you knew how unattainable “doing the deed” was for me and my friends in school.

    thanks.

  9. Mik’s avatar

    Mik on October 16, 2006 at 3:57 am

    :D

    Well, that’s the thing about THIS blog, you can interpret things however you like ;)

    Thanks for dropping by.

    mike

  10. Anonymous’s avatar

    Anonymous on October 16, 2006 at 9:42 am

    Have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YanGwVzbgpk Pretty good video about casting stroke. He makes it look simple and good.

  11. Mik’s avatar

    Mik on October 16, 2006 at 3:22 pm

    Thanks for the link opax. I’ve given it a look at he seems to have a reasonably similar stroke to Paul Arden over at sexyloops. Almost totally a downwards motion on the forward cast.

  12. Jason R.’s avatar

    Jason R. on June 27, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    “Wow ” What were we…’ juz` ..readin bout?
    Interesting I ate a Banana While Reading this article so I guess im sayin my Breath dont stink.

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