Accuracy Casting

To be able to cast a fly to an exact spot is vital to the success in catching your quarry, be it a trout or any other game fish. Placing the line straight towards a definite point is extremely important.

The majority of casts made in dry fly fishing will be ten yards or less. (I still think in yards because line manufacturers continue to work with the AFTM weights for the first ten yards of line). A permanent felt tip pen mark at ten yards down the line from the start of the increase in line diameter at the front end of the line helps gauge distance. (Other reasons for this mark will be discussed in future articles)

On the up-cast, many anglers inadvertently move the rod to the side, not only making a low back-cast but with a motion which creates a loss of accuracy. This action is totally contrary to similar actions in some other sports, for example, the darts player. Imagine the accuracy achievable if the darts player swung his arm out to the side!

No score!

Instead, he brings his forearm upwards and stops the motion alongside his eye and then pauses until satisfied that he sights exactly where the dart must travel.

Rule 1. When casting with no obstructions high to the back, the rod on the up-cast should finish vertically or just beyond to achieve real accuracy. Keep the rod tucked in to the wrist. 

Rule 2. On the up-cast, stop the rod hand alongside the eye with the rod tucked in to the wrist at the twelve-o-clock position ( or as near as we can get). Now PAUSE for the line to straighten behind you. It is a temptation to start the forward component of the cast too early but the line must straighten out behind the rod.

Because the line will always follow the rod tip direction of movement, a high back-cast is ensured as the rod has moved uphill from before the ten-o-clock position to twelve-o-clock.

Following the dart player analogy who  move the forearm only and launch the dart forward without reaching.

The angler should now tap the hand and forearm forward to ten-o-clock using the tucked wrist aiming about three feet above the target. 

  The line will then follow the rod tip in the correct direction.

When the line is in the air and travelling straight forward, slowly lower the arm. If the length of line is correct, the fly, at the end of a tapered leader and tippet, will float down gently onto the water in a straight line to the intended spot without, hopefully, frightening the fish.

Of course, an allowance for any wind should be made left or right of the intended position.

Do not rush any of these movements and do not force the rod movement in any direction. We have a saying that if you can hear your rod swishing at all, you are putting to much effort into the action!

Finally remember the casting golden rule that the line will follow the rod tip and will keep on in the same direction when the rod stops moving.

When a trout rises at an angle to where your line is on the water, point the rod to the rise, carry out an upcast in the normal way and cast to the fish.

Now go and try this on your local water or grass, casting to a definite mark. Better still, go to the local angling show and win a prize or two!