Correcting casting Faults

42-45 fly caster (kw)

21/6/05

3:58 pm

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Game Fishing

Fly

Caster

Fact File Name: Andrew Ryan Qualifications: Approved Professional Game Angling Instructor (APGAI) and US Federation of Fly Fishing (FFF) Master Instructor Contact: For more details on Andrew’s courses, call him on 00 353 (0) 52 36765 Web: www.flyfishingireland.com

Part Four – Correcting Faults Andrew Ryan helps to sort out six of the most common casting faults that affect fly fishermen.

42 Irish angler

n the last three articles of this series, I have explained some of the basics of fly casting. In essence, the basic casts are easy to execute, yet many anglers run into problems when trying to perform them. In this piece I would like to highlight common faults most fly anglers suffer from, in an effort to help correct them.

I have been giving fly casting lessons and courses for the past 12 years and in my opinion there is no substitute for qualified

I

42-45 fly caster (kw)

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Six Common Faults 1 Breaking the wrist 2 Not pausing long enough on the back cast 3 Going back too far on the back cast 4 Tailing loops and wind knots 5 Reaching on the forward cast 6 Forward creep There are, of course, lots of casting faults in addition to the six I have outlined. In my experience, though, these six are very common and prevent many anglers from getting the distance, presentation and maximum pleasure from their sport that they deserve.

FAULT

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Breaking The Wrist

When anglers first begin casting, some find it very difficult to maintain a stiff wrist. It is essential to ensure that you maintain a stiff wrist, as it allows you more control over power application during the cast.

If the wrist is weak you will be unable to stop the rod on the back cast. This means that your rod will drop and your line will hit the ground or water behind you. Note how the line is hitting the ground on the back cast.

To correct this fault, I recommend that you use a wrist support. I use a strap that the rod butt tucks into, which stops the wrist from ‘breaking’.

If you are disciplined you may be able to keep your wrist straight, but it is difficult.

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casting instruction. However, these pointers may help you to notice common faults in your own casting and then address them. I recommend that, if your casting is not as good as you would like, you should seek some casting instruction from an APGAI qualified instructor.

During my casting clinics and lessons at Clonanav, I have found casting faults crop up regularly. They are easy to spot, but if left uncorrected result in very poor casting.

Breaking the wrist results in the rod falling too low behind you. Your line will catch on the ground as a result.

Follow Andrew’s advice and your casting will improve, especially if you see an APGAI qualified instructor, too.

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42-45 fly caster (kw)

21/6/05

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Game Fishing FAULT

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Fault Two Not Pausing Long Enough On The Back Cast

This is also a very common fault. The line needs time to straighten out on the back cast before you proceed with the forward cast.

Depending on the length of line you are casting, the time for the pause varies. I usually suggest counting to three, then applying the power for the forward stroke. If you do not wait the line will not have had time to straighten out.

The result is a heap of line landing on the water in front of you, or a tailing loop.

To correct this fault, make sure to count to three on your back cast. Many beginners turn their head to watch when the line straightens out.

However, this method is not ideal, as the caster tends to twist his back as he looks behind to watch the line straighten out.

Another way of correcting this fault is, on the back cast, to wait for the line to ‘pull’ at the rod.

When you feel this pull as the line straightens behind you, it means you can execute your forward cast.

FAULT

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Wait for the line to straighten behind you!

FAULT

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On this occasion the caster executed the forward cast too soon.

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FAULT

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The wrist breaks… resulting in the rod going too far backwards on the back cast.

FAULT

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Fault Three The Rod Goes Back Too Far On Back Cast

In the overhead-casting article, I stressed that it is essential to stop the rod at the 1 o’clock position on the back cast. This is just past the vertical (over your head).

Going back too far with the rod means that your line will drop behind you. This is often related to the first fault mentioned here, breaking the wrist.

The result of this is that the angler tends to throw the forward loop too high; therefore the line will straighten out too high above the water and will not land straight. Note that the line in the photo has straightened out too high above the water.

To correct this, ensure that your rod stops briskly at the 1 o’clock position. Often, the cause of your rod going back too far is a weak wrist. I suggest looking at the rod as you cast, to ensure that it stops at 1 o’clock. Many anglers stop the rod at 2 or even 3 o’clock, letting the line drop behind them.

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Fault Four Tailing Loops And Wind Knots

Tailing loops, resulting in ‘wind knots’, are the bane of many anglers’ lives! They are very common and occur for several reasons. In fact, an entire article could be dedicated to this topic alone.

The main cause for tailing loops is the concave (or downward) path of the rod tip during the cast.

There are several other causes for tailing loops, but ‘concave-rod-tip-path’ and ‘creeping’ are the main causes. Over-powering the forward stroke also causes tailing loops, as this creates a lack of ‘smoothness’ that is crucial to good casting.

To correct this fault, adopt a ‘straight-line path’ with your rod and line in your forward casting stroke. This takes practice. If the problem persists, seek instruction from an APGAI instructor, preferably one using a camcorder as the problem can be identified using video analysis.

42-45 fly caster (kw)

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Keep the rod going along a straight ‘path’ and you should reduce the amount of wind knots you get.

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You need a nice loop on the forward cast to help avoid wind knots.

FAULT

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Fault Five Reaching Too Far On Forward Cast

In the overhead-casting article earlier in the series, I explained the forward stroke as being a downward arm movement. This is a smooth, short, downward stroke with the arm, which will give you a straight path for the rod tip.

If you, as many anglers do, push your arm outwards on the forward part of the cast, you will also get tailing loops. I try to teach students to perform a downward ‘chop’ on the forward stroke of the cast, thus using the rod tip more as you pivot the rod, allowing the tip to do the work.

To correct this, getting the rod tip to work when casting is essential. If you reach, or push your arm, forward you are not using the rod correctly. To correct this fault it is essential that you perform a downward chop, or hit, on the forward cast.

This means that the line has not extended fully, and therefore the back cast straightens – pulling the rod tip under the ‘straight-line path’. You throw a classic tailing loop, resulting in a ‘wind knot’! This is usually down to lack of patience by the caster.

The best way to correct this fault is by stopping the rod and holding it at the 1 o’clock position before starting the forward stroke. The forward ‘hit’ should be a clean hit from the 1 o’clock position, stopping at 10 o’clock.

Don’t start the forward push until your line has straightened behind you (right).

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FAULT

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Fault Six The Forward Creep

Creeping forward begins when the line is still travelling backwards (the line has not fully straightened).

The caster begins the backward stroke, stopping the rod at 1 o’clock, and slowly creeps the rod forward to the 12 o’clock position before inserting power into the forward cast.

Oh dear. This angler has reached too far, meaning the rod isn’t used to its full effect (above).

The End! These are only simple guidelines to help correct common casting faults. However, I do suggest that if you have serious casting issues you should seek some casting lessons from an APGAI instructor.

In the next feature I will try and explain ‘hauling’, which will increase your line speed and therefore the distance you’ll be able to cast a fly.

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