The Fly Zone

I think I will rename this cast to the “Cry Me A River” cast. I do not mean to be harsh but I have watched so many casters over the years throw their rods in frustration because they cannot manage the double haul. Here is the problem in a “nut shell” – they cannot cast a good loop without hauling! They have too much slack in their loops and you can drive a UPS truck through them.  Cure – take casting lessons from The Fly Zone and correct your basic casting stroke. You need to understand loop control and line speed before you step into the “black hole” of the Double Haul! 

Here is a great exercise to try and master:  Determine how much fly line you can false cast with good loop control and a smooth stroke. Then increase your stroke speed while maintaining a good loop.  Once you are proficient with this cast, see how much line you can shoot without hauling! You will need to false cast approx. 3 to 4 times with smooth controlled loops before releasing the line that is pinched to your grip. Keep your left hand in your left pocket. You don’t need it. Next, increase your line speed while maintaining controlled loops and let the line fly. I bet you will cast farther this way than with a bad loop and a double haul.  At the FlyZone, we specialize in correcting bad casting habits and teach you the right way to cast. 

– Jim Solomon

“MOST FISHERMEN USE THE DOUBLE HAUL TO THROW THEIR CASTING MISTAKES FURTHER.” – Lefty Kreh

I was having a conversation with my friend Jim Solomon the other day and he made this wonderful analogy, “there are no false casts when you drive a golf ball!” I thought this was great, and he was right! A great cast requires one good backcast and one good forward cast, period. We have a cool casting exercise where we try to throw maximum amount of line with one back and one forward cast. The way to do this is to allow the proper amount of fly line (head with overhang) laid in a straight line in front of you, with rod tip down, make one pick-up and backcast/haul, and one forward/haul release. Try to shoot as much fly line as you can throw, with no tailing loops. Sound easy? This is a great exercise for distance casting. This exercise leaves you little room for error, you must deliver a solid back and forward cast with a smooth, powerful acceleration to a distinct stop or you will not be able to throw that eighty foot cast. We often rely on many false casts to mask our casting mistakes, then deliver the one to the target that feels the best. Unfortunately we do not have that luxury when fishing, especially when a fish is tailing at 60 feet and our knees are knocking and the guide is telling ya to throw. Remember driving a golfball long…learn to make a quick, long cast to a bonefish or tailing permit with no false casts, it requires practice.

Try it!

Al is right on about the pick up and lay down cast, especially on the flats. Fly casting to a moving fish on the flats, especially in the wind, is combat casting but not with a machine gun. Minimizing your presentations ups the chances for a hook up. The more you false cast in the air the more chances of spooking your prey like the shadow of a bird. Think like a golfer – one shot!

Being able to pick up and quickly and softly lay down is money! And being able to change the direction of your cast is double money! Belgium casts, opposite hand casts, off shoulder casts and spey casts are in my tool box.  Especially on windy days. We focus our teaching around these casts. Learn these casts and deliver your fly COD!

-Jim

I love watching Andy Mills cast to bonefish.

Number 1:  He is totally focused on the fish. His eyes never wander or lose sight of the fish.

Number 2: He instinctively knows the distance of his cast and is unconscious of his casting stroke and loops.

Number 3: His shoulders and body are square to the target. His body is quiet – not twisting and turning to watch the back cast.

Number 4:  When he stops the rod the tip is in alignment with the target, like throwing a dart.

How can you cast like this? Practice! And practice the right way. This is what we do at the Fly Zone.

I love listening to Nat King Cole sing “Stardust Melody”. Smooth and with perfect timing. He doesn’t force the lyrics, they just flow like a spring creek. I especially like the words “Love’s refrain” at the end of the song.

Here are some “Stardust Melody” pointers for you fly casters, especially you salty ones:

1. The casting stroke must be Smooth with beautifully timed stops on the back and forward casts.

2. Refrain from overpowering your cast. Reduce your power by 50% but remember to stop and I mean stop the rod.

3. Refrain from rushing the cast. Let your backcast unroll before you start the forward stroke. If you don’t you will creep forward, reduce your stroke length and tail your loop.

3. Relax your hand in between the back and forward cast and only grip firmly at the stops.

4. Sit down, pour yourself a nice glass of wine and listen to Nat sing “Stardust Melody”. This will be your new casting mantra – Smooth, Less Force, Smooth, Less Force just like Nat’s singing.

On this Saturday, October 21st, Al Q, Jim Solomon and Nicholas Blixt will demonstrate how to cast a shooting head in the surf using the “Surf Tango” a five-step technique for beginners and novices alike. Its free and we will have handouts for those that attend. It will all take place on the beach at 6am prior to the start of the Riptide Rendezvous. Check in early so you can join us…

Simply put, where the rod tip stops at the end of the back cast and forward cast will determine the size of the casting stroke. Generally, if the rod tip stays on a straight line during the cast and stops just below the fly line, the result will be a tight loop. Same for the back cast. If the rod tip tracks a convex or bicycle wheel shape the loops will be wide. Think of your rod tip as an anchor point for the fly line – where the rod tip stops will determine the shape of your casting loop.   –Jim Solomon