If you want to catch more trout, at some point you'll have to make a commitment to spending a little time watching what's happening to your fly line while it's in the air. Casting a fly is not really as difficult as many experienced fly fishers would have you believe. Actually the principles are easy to understand and a little practice is all it will take to perfect your presentation. I've watched many inept fishermen flogging the water in vain, trying to catch a trout that had run for cover from splashing line on the very first cast. You don't need this to happen to you! Learn the Basics of a Great Cast Ten and Two Trout live and thrive in a world that most of us can only imagine. Fortunately, most fly fishermen have a basic working knowledge as to where the trout will be hiding in any given section of water. The only thing that stands between the fisherman and a successful hook-up is the right cast. Ten and two refers to the relative movement of your casting hand and forearm, from ten o'clock to about two o'clock. Start by holding your rod with a relaxed handshake grip. Pull out ten to twenty feet of line and start the ten to two motion. Be sure that your rod tip is moving in a straight line with no upward arc in the middle of your stroke. The line will follow the rod tip, so if you want a cast that turns over well and heads straight for the target, keep the rod tip on a straight line that is higher at the two o'clock position and lower on the forward stroke. The final ingredient is wrist action. This is the flick of the wrist that loads the rod tip and accelerates the line on your back cast and again on the final delivery to the water. Load the rod with a flick of the wrist to change the direction and energize the line toward your target. If the line flows out smoothly and lands on the water just after it becomes straight, you've made a successful straight line cast. With practice to improve your timing and coordination, you'll be able to deliver a smooth, quiet, straight line cast with very little effort. Controlling the Line About ten minutes after you rig up your new fly rod and reel and try casting for the first time, you realize that something must be done about all this fly line that's laying at your feet. Proper line handling is a must for the serious fly fisher. It's a skill that's not difficult to master if you practice every time you cast. Force yourself to do it and soon it'll become second nature. Here's how. First, make a simple straight line cast. Then immediately place the line over the index finger of your rod hand. this is the first step to proper line control because this line-over-the-finger technique makes it possible to slide or stop the line with a pinch of the finger against the rod. Next, grasp the line between the reel and your pinch finger with your free hand. As the line drifts toward you, slack line will develop and, you'll need to begin stripping the line. That's the job of your line hand. Slowly strip in the line placing each two or three foot coil over your pinch finger. When you have completed the drift, pick up the fly with a flick of your rod and begin false casting. Each time you take the rod back get ready to release a coil or two of line on each following forward stroke. This is called shooting line and it's a very important skill that you'll use in just about every fishing situation. On the final stroke of your second cast, let the remaining coils of line slide through your pinch finger and "shoot" the line toward your target. Mending the Line If you've ever watch an experienced fly fisherman working the water, you have undoubtedly noticed how the rod tip is used to reposition the line on the water and extend the drag free drift of the fly. Mending requires an experienced wrist and a good feel for the rod that you're using. Start by making a straight line cast. As soon as the line is on the water use a wrist flick and circular motion of the rod tip to mend the first ten or fifteen feet of line upstream. The idea is to take any line dragging pressure off the fly and allow it to float without drag for as long as possible. Stacking the Bucket
Do
you enjoy fishing with nymphs? Lots of fly fisherman prefer sinking
their flies for a chance at the big guys. I'll have to admit, a good
nymph fisherman will usually hook more and bigger fish. One of the
first challenges in nymph fishing is developing some method of
getting the fly down near the bottom where the fish are. Fly Fishing Strategies That Pay Off For More Trout - Read The
Water
Nothing
beats the excitement you feel when you arrive at your favorite
stream. It’s a beautiful, cool morning, and the sun is just breaking
on the water. You can see clouds of tiny black midges hovering just
above the surface, and floating by are more than a few pale morning
duns. As you approach the river’s edge, there is a sudden and
unmistakable slashing rise, then another, and another. It’s tough to
calm yourself enough to get a fly tied on and start fishing. This
could be one of those elusive 40-fish days. You immediately wade
right in and start flailing away, casting rapidly and
indiscriminately everywhere, trying to take advantage of the rising
trout. After a couple dozen casts with no strikes, the surface
activity has virtually stopped. What happened to the fish? Is the
feeding frenzy over already? What did I do wrong?
Applying these simple casting methods and reading the water will definitely increase your catch rate! Meet The Author |