Casting is one of the basics of fly-fishing and if not learned properly in the beginning of a fly-fishing life it can become one of the frustrations of fly-fishing.Improper or uneducated casting techniques often can lead to a new fly-fisher giving up and that is always such a shame.
First, we need to pick an appropriate rod to start out with.I recommend a 5 or 6 weight graphite rod with WF line, 3X leader and tippet.Two of the best starter rod and reel sets are the Dogwood Canyon or Hobbs Creek rods with matching reel.These combo kits are basically cheap and can be ordered through Basspro.com The second thing we will need is a good place to practice cast.A smooth lawn, yard, or park is ideal.You will not need a fly on the end of your tippet but rather a piece of yarn will do quite well.
Pick up your rod with your favored hand, in other words if you are right handed grasp the rod cork handle with your right hand.Your right hand will become your rod hand and your left will be your line hand.However, right now your rod hand or your right hand will become both your rod and line hand…so hold the line against the cork grip with your rod hand also.
Now, it is time to position your feet and your upper body.You should be slightly bent at the waist with your eyes affixed at a target in front of you.If you are right handed your left foot should be slightly advanced or in front of your right foot.This is good casting position.Now take your line from you rod hand and hold it with your line hand or your left hand for this exercise.
Since this is the beginning we are going to practice a backcast and a forward cast.In position, as you are, your rod should be parallel or run horizontal with the ground or water.The rod tip should never be pointed up!Notice your grip!Your thumb should be on top of the cork grip with your fingers wrapped around the grip pointing upward toward you.Your casting hand should be slightly angled so you can see the palm of your hand.
The cast will be made with the forearm, keeping the wrist straight.Do not bend your wrist!The elbow should always be tucked and never brought up above the shoulder.If you allow your elbow to come up above your shoulder you might as well be chopping wood.
Now, we are ready to cast.Keep in mind that the rod tip during the backcast must be kept in line with the target in front of you.In other words where the rod tip goes in the back and forward cast is where your fly will land.In our backcast there must be a stopping point and for this exercise will be try twelve o’clock.Imagine a large clock on the side of you and the position of the big hand on the clock setting at twelve o’clock.When you reach the twelve o’ clock position, make a sudden stop and you will feel a tug on the rod tip and it is time to make your forward cast. One good exercise is to say "one Mississippi" as soon as you make the sudden stop and then proceed with your forward cast. The importance of the "sudden stop" cannot be overlooked. The backcast should be a smooth progressive sweep not only backwards but also upwards.Later on we will talk about casting narrow loops and wide loops.
Now it is time to make the forward cast.At the sudden stop of your backcast and you start your forward cast your wrist should slightly rotate counterclockwise all the way through your cast.Now speed up your action and make a sudden stop at the ten o’clock position and the lower your casting arm.Your line, leader, and tippet should roll gently over on the grass, water, or whatever you are practicing on.Often time there is a tendency to put too much power in our casts.Practice, practice, practice will teach you more and more as you go.Don’t give up!There are three P’s to learning to fly-fish…. patience, persistence, and practice.
