The Fly Zone

It is a good idea to check your back cast. Good back loops are the key to a successful presentation. A knowledgeable casting companion is worth their weight in gold. However, most of the time we are casting by ourselves. Watching your back cast is great but it is not a great habit to develop. … Continue reading only the shadow knows…

Practice, practice, practice. It's the only way to make your casting look effortless and your loops smooth and tight. I try to cast at least once a week with my friends just to stay in shape. It is always a good idea to downsize your outfit so you can work on your technique without fatigue. … Continue reading stay in the 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 … Continue reading a few notes on double hauling…

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 … Continue reading there are no false casts when you drive a golf ball…

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 … Continue reading poetry in motion

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. … Continue reading casting in stardust

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 … Continue reading learn the surf tango…

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 … Continue reading casting a tight loop…