2torial #0959:
Learn2 Cast a Fly Rod

Something fishy's going on

The key to successful fly fishing is tricking fish into believing your man-made bait is a real insect. Choosing the right fly and presenting it to the fish with a skillful cast are two crucial ingredients to this task.

While there are many effective styles and kinds of casts, the roll cast is a great place to start. It'll give you a foundation of skills from which you can move on to other, more intricate casts. You can use it equally effectively with nymphs, wet flies, and dry flies. Plus, it's easy to understand, you can practice it on your own, and once mastered, it'll help you catch fish with flair.

To get the feel for imitating a fly, spend some time watching other anglers. Pay attention to how they stand, how they grip their rods, their casting form, and how they play with the line. Or, seek out some videos on casting a rod. Just watching will provide you with a model to copy until you develop the nuances of your own form. Ask at a local fly fishing store or consult a guidebook to discover a local fishing spot.

Note: The illustyrations in this 2torial represent to left-hnaded version of the actions described.

Stand correctly

From either water or land, there are two ways to stand:

Closed body stance. Your feet and body face the target (the place in the water where you want to cast). Keep your knees shoulder-distance apart, and slightly bent. This stance is used for short casts (about 15 to 25 feet, or 4.5 to 7.5 meters).

Open body stance. The leg on the same side of your body as your casting hand is turned 90 degrees behind you, so you're facing sideways to the target. Keep your knees shoulder-distance apart, and slightly bent. This is used for longer casts (about 25 to 40 feet, or 7.5 to 12 meters).

Whether you cast from shore or while standing in the water depends on how wide the body of water is and where the fish are situated. Either way, move around as quietly as possible; fish can "hear" vibrations from heavy footsteps and talking--and even a change in water current (caused by a few careless steps) can alert them to potential danger.

Get a grip

Just as in other sports--like tennis and golf--the way you hold the equipment is crucial. In fact, the way you grip a fly rod is similar to how you hold a tennis racket during a forehand swing, and the position of the lower hand on a golf club.

Place your thumb straight along the shaft, so it's flat against the top. Grip the shaft with your pinkie, ring, and middle fingers to support the fishing rod's weight. Your index finger should extend past the thumb along the side of the shaft, lightly wrapping around the shaft's back for extra stability. Keep this finger movable, though, as you'll use it to maneuver the fishing line later in the cast.

Work out some line

To prevent accidental snagging, practice with a piece of yarn tied to the end of your line; you don't need much, just a small wad that approximates the size and weight of a man-made fly. Put it into the water by turning the reel in a clockwise direction until about 15 feet (4.5 meters) of line is floating right in front of you. Keep the elbow of your rod side straight, and the rod's tip pointed down diagonally toward the water at a 45-degree angle.

Vibrate the rod back and forth in small, quick movements to work the line out into the water current. You can also jostle it up and down. The idea is to get the line spread out in front of you. To foster this, you can also take a step or two backward. With the middle finger of your casting hand, catch the line closest to the reel against the rod handle. This will provide more control when you cast.

Note: The amount of line you let out depends on how far you want to cast and what's situated behind you. For example, if there's a tree 15 feet (4.5 meters) directly behind you, don't let out 20 feet (6 meters) or so of line.

Lift and spring the rod

With your rod-side elbow straight, extend your arm out fully and point the rod slightly down toward the water at a 45-degree angle. Bending your elbow, lift the rod slowly back until your thumb is just above your ear and the rod's tip is at a 45-degree angle behind your head. Leave a space of about a foot (30 centimeters) between the rod and your head to prevent getting in the way of the line.

Once the rod is at its highest position and all the line feeding off it is behind you, hesitate for a moment. Release the line caught between your middle finger and the rod, then snap your arm forward as if you're throwing a dart. Use your thumb like a lever to push and guide the rod forward. The line should spring above the water in an oval-shaped arc and land gently upon its surface. Your rod-hand elbow should end up straight, with the rod's tip pointed slightly down, diagonally toward the water.

Note: To prevent the line from tangling, always cast to the opposite side of your rod hand. For instance, if you're right-handed, try to cast over your left foot.

Pull the line

Even after a perfect cast, your fly has to move in the water like a real insect would. You'll get better control of the fly--and be ready to cast again a lot more quickly--if, instead of reeling in, you pull the line.

After the cast, your rod elbow will be straight, and the rod itself will be pointed toward the water, with the line straight out in front of you. With your opposite hand, take hold of the line close to the rod's shaft and hook the line behind the index finger of your rod hand to make sure the water's current doesn't pull more line off your reel.

Pinch the line a couple of inches (about 5 centimeters) further up the shaft with your opposite hand, and then gently pull on it, slowly moving your fly in the water.

How you pull the line depends on what type of fly you're fishing with and how that fly's real counterpart would act in water. The best way to learn this is by talking to other anglers or through trial and error. Consider, though, that insects are fragile creatures who will struggle briefly, then drown. Your movements should echo this: Pull your fly quickly after casting before letting it "die" and drift with the current.

After a minute or so, cast again. Release the line with your opposite hand, then use that hand to unhook the line from behind the index finger of your rod hand. Keep in mind that during your last cast, you probably let out some extra line. So reel in a bit before you cast again. Repeat the roll cast.

Use the roll cast your first day out and, if possible, have a more experienced angler critique your form. Concentrate on getting a feel for the rod and the line. This hands-on experience is invaluable, and before long, you'll be ready to move on to other, more advanced casts.

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