Casting | The Confident Cast

By Jeff Wagner

We all want to cast better, but no matter how smooth our stroke is, how far we can throw a hopper dropper rig into the wind or how few false casts we require to lead a moving fish at distance, there are always things we can improve upon.

One of the most telling signs of a great caster is how well they respond under pressure. Recently, while involved with a Casting Instructor Certification event, I noticed that once the pressure ramps up, the casting performance usually takes a nosedive.

I passed the Casting Instructor test in 2001 and the Master Casting Instructor exam in 2004. At the time, I was teaching and presenting and practicing regularly with the goal of competing in casting competitions. Those experiences have given me insight into what it takes to lay down a consistent cast, no matter what the conditions, and to do so under pressure—whether it’s making a good presentation to the fish of a lifetime or delivering what you’re capable of when a member of the Casting Instructor committee is taking notes.

Here are a few ideas to help you perform under pressure, a collection of tips and tricks that I categorize under improvements to our “mental game.”

Consistent equipment, consistent performance

Too many times I’ve watched Casting Instructor candidates score an “own goal” on themselves because they swapped out elements of their equipment just prior to taking the CI test. This is classic over-thinking and should be eliminated from your preparation process. Find a rod, line, leader and yarn that you like and stick with it. My own setup for the CI and MCI exams was the same 5 weight rod with the same 5 weight line with the same leader and yarn attached. This primary outfit became an extension of my body and thus allowed me to feel confident. When it was test time, using my primary outfit made casting second nature.

Get your reps

While this probably falls into the “tell me something I don’t know, Jeff,” category, there is truly no substitute for regular practice. Don’t start erratically and then try to cram in a month’s worth of practice a week before the test. Cast consistently. Dedicate at least three days a week to your routine, and make sure you’re taking at least one day off to rest. The week prior to the exam, to avoid the pre-test jitters and to keep yourself physically fresh, taper off your regiment. If you don’t have the physical and mental game to diminish your reps in the last week, I’d suggest you’re not yet ready to demonstrate your casting proficiency to examiners.

Competitive confidence

Nothing will make your quick-action rod feel like a wet noodle faster than trying to hit a number of targets while under a timer with people watching. Reflecting on my success in test situations, I know that casting, teaching and presenting has allowed me to feel comfortable casting in front of others. Most of us shy away from being put on display, but if you want to mimic the stress of performing under an examiner’s eye, I suggest entering into a little friendly casting competition. You don’t need to sign up for an American Casting Association tournament, perhaps you simply set up a little backyard target practice with friends. The point is to get in front of people with your cast. The CI track record shows that those with high pass rates are those who’ve had competition and presenting experience.

Learn through teaching

While you may not yet be certified as a casting instructor, if you’re on the path to taking a test, you’re surely qualified to practice your teaching. I can appreciate the sense of humility that anglers might feel and can empathize with someone who assumes they shouldn’t be teaching until they have their accreditation. However, as Tom White used to say, “it’s only fly fishing.” Practice teaching like you practice casting. Your friends won’t hold it against you if you offer advice that might not be as well-articulated as that which is offered after passing the test. Life long teachers are also life long learners.

Write It Down

Different people learn in different ways—whether it’s learning by doing, listening or watching, how we get information to stick is as variable as the individual angler. Having said this, my advice to aspiring casters where there is a lot of information to retain is to reinforce your learning by writing it down. Writing down, then condensing, the lessons that will help you become a better casting instructor, will help crystallize the most important points. Let a trusted advisor read your answers, and then work to refine them. As the good Rev. Maclean imparts on his boys in our opus, A River Runs Through It: “Again, half as long.” Write down your lessons, reduce them, and like the sharpest hooks in your fly box, make sure they stick.

Don’t tell me no lies

No one likes a mealy-mouthed critic. It might give us the warm fuzzies to hear we’re “doing great,” but if we’re trying to improve our skills, we need honest feedback. Everyone can find ways to improve, so if you’re casting with someone who suggests you have nothing to work on, you might consider finding a new consultant, one who is willing to push your boundaries. Too often prospective casting instructors practice to exactly the distances required. Sure, they’re dialled-in on days when everything is in their control, but what happens if there’s a slight breeze on test day? For that reason, I recommend aiming for a standard that’s above the passing grade. If your loops can be up to four feet, you should shoot for two-foot stingers. If you are required to launch a 75-foot cast, be comfortable hitting an 85-footer. By soliciting honest, constructive feedback from trusted fly fishing allies, you might not get the warm fuzzies today, but by tomorrow you’ll be a more capable caster.

The ripple effects

For many anglers, fly fishing is merely a hobby—and for those folks, treating it as such is perfectly fine. For an increasing number of us, however, the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom that can improve our skills and techniques is a way of life, one which has many ripple effects, including increased awareness about our natural resources and a subsequent interest and investment in conservation values. Casting is an element of the sport that we can take into the realm of competition and adjudication, but when we do, there comes an added element of stress. It’s my hope that what I’ve learned about “the mental game” can help you on your own journey to mastering your cast, wherever you choose to lay it down.

Jeff Wagner

When he’s not fishing or casting you’ll find Jeff hiking or biking the back country with his family. They also volunteer their time to conservation efforts with groups such as Fly Fishers International. Oh, and during business hours Jeff does business stuff.