When starting out, it is important to focus on your back cast.
The back cast is the basis of a good casts as it provides the
platform for shooting forward again. Be careful not to overcast but
you should give ample time for all of the line to go fully out
behind you.
Take care to frequently clean your fishing line. It seems
mundane but lines that are dirty with algae etc are less easy to
cast with. After cleaning your line dress it to keep it nice and
smooth for easier casting. Dressing your line more frequently will
also improve the floatability of the line which will help with roll
casts.
Start out with a "double taper dry line". This kind of fly
fishing line is the easiest for beginners to get to grips with
because a stiffer line glides through the eyes of the fishing rod
with more ease and does not get tangled as easily. When starting
out, it is important to focus on your back cast. The back cast is
the basis of a good casts as it provides the platform for shooting
forward again. Be careful not to overcast but you should give ample
time for all of the line to go fully out behind you.
Roll casting is a valuable technique in trout fishing. This
technique is used when there is no scope for backcast, or when the
wind is hostile. This casting method can also be used for picking
the line off the water. In the roll cast you can adjust the loop
size by adjusting the angle of the rod and also the speed.
Here is how it is done. Tilt the rod slightly from your body;
lift your hand to bring the rod tip to 1 o’clock position, keeping
the line behind the rod, forming an arc behind the rod. Now force
the rod sharply in forward and backward direction, accelerating to
the 9:30 position, and stop suddenly. The forward motion will roll
the line forward and straighten it.
Another casting method is a false cast. This method is used to
change the directions of the cast. This is done by a combination of
pickup and lay-down cast without allowing the line hit the water
If the line does not get straightened completely: Apply
power on the cast again and make sure that the belly of the line is
behind the rod, making it moving downward, not straight out.
If a tailing loop is formed: A tailing loop is formed when a
sudden application of power happens in the forward direction. To
avoid this, move forward forcing yourself with the rod in the 10 o’
clock position and stop abruptly.
If the line is slack and loose: The problem here is with your
line speed. In order to get a tight cast, the leader has to be
unfolded at least half the way before your next casting motion. Make
sure you maintain a constant speed allowing the leader to speed the
line up before the next casting.
When the line hits the rod: This happens very often in the windy
conditions. To avoid this, slant the rod about 20 to 30 degrees away
from your body, and do the casting. If it still does not work,
follow the Opposite Shoulder Casting, i.e., casting by placing arms
across your body.
When the line clutter at the end of the cast: This is often
caused by the hasty casting. You should allow the line to go only
after the rod turns to the 10 o’clock position.
Always make sure that the rod tip is along a straight line.
The size of the casting arc should be changed according the
length of the line outside the rod tip.
The speed of casting should be adjusted according to the length
of the line. As the line gets longer, the time span between two
consecutive castings should also be more.
Make the back cast more powerful to ensure a long front cast.
Apart from learning these tactics, a systematic practice is
required to change you to a professional trout hunter. Try your hand
at it now.
