A forward cast is only as good as the back cast.

Every rod movement has to be a smooth acceleration to a speed-up stop.

The fly line will only travel in the direction the rod tip sent it.

The elbow is a hinge joint, stand square on to the target.

Hold the rod lightly.

 

Some Overhead, Roll and Spey-cast common problems - (there are many more).

Spey casting

It is essential for safety and efficiency sake that any type of cast whether Overhead or Spey, that the casting loop is always presented on the downwind side of the angler.

Problem: The line rolls heavily across the surface of the water with a wide open loop consequently scaring all the fish, and achieves no distance.

Solution: Usually the main cause is pushing the upper arm straight this will drive your thumb down and also the rod tip. Try looking and stopping the rod a little higher on each cast (at 45-degrees) using a little more lower hand and keeping the upper arm bent on the abrupt stop until it unrolls above the surface, and drive the thumb in a straight line toward and above the target. Other possibles are no pause on the back-cast for the anchor to grip, (usually a flipping sound).

Problem: Line lands in a heap of slack.

Solution: Either you are putting too much effort into the cast too early (a clue is a long whooshing noise of the rod) and the loop is traveling upwards and collapsing. Don't put the effort (speed) in until the rod has passed the vertical (the rod noise will then sound like a short hiss). Or you are doing the cast with a constant speed and the rod couldn’t truly flex. Another reason could be that you didn’t form a good D-loop behind the rod so you need to correct that by taking and accelerating the rod back and up to 45-degrees behind. Anchor slippage and fly-line/leader not aligning with target are probables. Releasing any slack line before the stop will also cause this – remember, STOP and DROP.

Problem: After performing a Spey cast the line ends up tangled and the fly catches up on the fly line.

Solution: If you did a single Spey, you either didn’t make the end of the fly line and leader land upstream of the target line and it crossed over itself on the forward delivery, or you left the rod at a more horizontal plane as you made the forward cast. To cure this, sweep the line to land further upstream, above the target line, and bring the rod more vertical when executing the forward cast. Always face square on to the target. If you did a double Spey and it resulted in the same problem the fly and leader may have jumped above the target line on the upstream sweep and again the rod may have been too horizontal on the forward delivery. To verticle a sweep will also cause this problem, the end of the fly-line/leader are left facing downstream.

Problem: There is a loud crack as the forward delivery was made.

Solution: This was caused by making the forward delivery too early, the end of the fly-line never really got chance to anchor itself on the water, and just skidded off. Remember the timing 2/3, or splash and go. On the overhead cast, it is beginning the forward delivery before the fly-line has had chance to straighten behind.

Problem: There is a loud slurping noise of line being ripped off the water during the forward delivery.

Solution: After forming the D-loop, the ideal time to do the forward cast is while the loop is anchored to the water and the rod tip, and the loop is still trying to travel back. At this point the loop is full of energy, airborne and there is tension on the rod tip. If this movement is delayed, the D-loop runs out of steam and collapses. Watch the loop form, this will certainly help you to see exactly what is going on. Another reason may be that on the conclusion of the back cast, the rod tip was still traveling down which will throw most of the fly line on to the water. Finish the back cast with an upward accelerating movement to a definite stop.

Overhead casting.

It must be said that I rarely if ever use the overhead cast while salmon fishing, not because of the restricted space behind you usually find yourself in, it is just plain dangerous and asking for trouble with that big fly hurtling back and forwards sometimes.

Problem: On the forward cast, and sometimes the back cast, it tangles up now and again and knots appear in the leader.

Solution: This is what is referred to as a tailing loop and causes the leader to develop wind knots although it isn't windy. The main reasons for this happening are putting too much effort (speed) in too early (this can apply also to making a haul too early or to snappy), or having too short a rod arc for the length of line you have to cast (also caused by creeping forward while the backcast is unrolling), or stopping the rod too high. The rod tip takes a concave path from start to finish, a loop is formed but the upper part of the loop comes from underneath and catches up with the lower part making it tangle. To stop this happening we can do a couple of things, drift back and up after stopping on the backcast, don't put the effort in until the rod has passed the vertical on the forward cast (remember the fastest part of the cast is at the end). Build up the speed of the cast and the haul smoothly, stop the rod lower and widen the rod arc to accommodate the flex of the rod.

Problem:The fly keeps catching the grass or water behind you.

Solution: Probably the main cause is wrist break, the rod went past the ideal stopping position (just past the vertical), and the rod tip finished with a downward path behind throwing the fly line down possibly with an open loop. Could be too long a leader with a heavy fly on, or waiting too long on the back cast before commencing the forward cast. Try keeping a stiffer wrist on the back cast, make sure that your thumb was traveling up when you stopped the rod. (Think of an upcast rather than a back cast, and lift the elbow slightly on the final acceleration). If you are using heavy flies, make sure that the leader is short or stout enough to keep control of the fly. Begin the forward delivery just before the fly line has fully straightened.

Problem: The leader lands like spaghetti during the overhead cast.

Solution: Bring the rear taper back into the rod tip during casting, make sure the leader is of the correct length and diameter for the weight/air resistance of the fly, aim/look higher, put the fastest part of the casting stroke at the end and if shooting line release the line after you stop the rod.

Always wear some form of eye protection!

(waste of a good fly)