How would I increase the distance of my casts...
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jayL
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Start out by picking up a WF line. I use a cortland WF Rocket taper on my 4wt.
Also, make sure your guides and line are clean.
Finally, go to the bookstore and look at lefty kreh's book. It'll show you many different casts, as well as single and double hauls.
Also, make sure your guides and line are clean.
Finally, go to the bookstore and look at lefty kreh's book. It'll show you many different casts, as well as single and double hauls.
OhioOutdoorsman
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Get some casting lessons.
Padraic
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That's one of those little questions that has a huge answer. There are many, many books devoted to that question. So I am sorry to say you probably won't get a good answer here, since none of us are qualified to write books.
One of my favorite books on the subject is Diagnosing the Cast by Ed Jawarski. He breaks down the types of problems most of us have, and what causes them. His suggestions are clear... and will take a lifetime of work to enact! He wrote this article:
http://flyfisherman.com/skills/ejbackcast/
So you can check that out for free. Speaking of which, check out the local library for that book!
Meanwhile, there's a technique that may help you diagnose the cast now. If you try it out, you might be able to give us a little more information to help you out. Head out to a lawn and cast a few times so you are warmed up. Then cast sidearm, as low to the ground as you can. At the end of the backcast, just where & when you would normally start forward again, drop the rod tip to the ground. This will "freeze" the backcast. Describe what it looks like, ie. the line is a squiggly line straight out behind, the line is a "candycane" with the handle up or down, the line is "checkmark". Warm up again, and do the same for the forward cast.
One of my favorite books on the subject is Diagnosing the Cast by Ed Jawarski. He breaks down the types of problems most of us have, and what causes them. His suggestions are clear... and will take a lifetime of work to enact! He wrote this article:
http://flyfisherman.com/skills/ejbackcast/
So you can check that out for free. Speaking of which, check out the local library for that book!
Meanwhile, there's a technique that may help you diagnose the cast now. If you try it out, you might be able to give us a little more information to help you out. Head out to a lawn and cast a few times so you are warmed up. Then cast sidearm, as low to the ground as you can. At the end of the backcast, just where & when you would normally start forward again, drop the rod tip to the ground. This will "freeze" the backcast. Describe what it looks like, ie. the line is a squiggly line straight out behind, the line is a "candycane" with the handle up or down, the line is "checkmark". Warm up again, and do the same for the forward cast.
Out of curiosity, why would you want to increase the casting distance? If you're fishing a 5 weight in waters around here, rarely do you have to cast more than 30 feet. Bigger waters such as the Delaware and Yough might require longer casts, but even there approach and wading are more important than distance casting.
Fish don't know the difference between a 30 foot and 60 foot cast... of course, if you're into casting for casting's sake and just want to learn how to properly cast a long line, forget what I just said. ;-)
I agree with Pad about Ed Jaworski's book. It's great. And it breaks it down into easy-to-understand and follow technique.
rising fish always
schrec
Fish don't know the difference between a 30 foot and 60 foot cast... of course, if you're into casting for casting's sake and just want to learn how to properly cast a long line, forget what I just said. ;-)
I agree with Pad about Ed Jaworski's book. It's great. And it breaks it down into easy-to-understand and follow technique.
rising fish always
schrec
JDemko
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Schrec... the reason i want to cast further is.. I was fishing a lake yesterday (Scott's Run) and everyone was catching fish and they were casting literally twice as far as me, some of them were using spinning gear but I just figured if I could have got my cast out there further, I would have been catching fish too.. Also the Delaware is about 5 min. from my school..
jayL
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Yeah, people forget about stillwater situations.
A long cast can be very important there.
The guys using spinning gear there use kastmasters or those clear bubbles which are filled with water. They are usually overloading their rod. You will be hard pressed to match them for distance, but it's worth some work on your technique to try.
If you're just on streams, for the most part, 30 feet will do ya fine.
A long cast can be very important there.
The guys using spinning gear there use kastmasters or those clear bubbles which are filled with water. They are usually overloading their rod. You will be hard pressed to match them for distance, but it's worth some work on your technique to try.
If you're just on streams, for the most part, 30 feet will do ya fine.
OhioOutdoorsman
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Work on your
Mechanics
then
Timing
then
Hauling.
Seriously, having someone else teach you who is qualified is by far the easiest way improve your casting. I was not being smart with my answer. I have watched several videos and read several books and they are probably more useful for me being able to teach others to cast than for making me a better caster.
If you can cast far, your mechanics will probably be such that you will be a good caster, period.
Besides, being able to rip off a 100ft cast is fun and impresses your friends.
Mechanics
then
Timing
then
Hauling.
Seriously, having someone else teach you who is qualified is by far the easiest way improve your casting. I was not being smart with my answer. I have watched several videos and read several books and they are probably more useful for me being able to teach others to cast than for making me a better caster.
If you can cast far, your mechanics will probably be such that you will be a good caster, period.
Besides, being able to rip off a 100ft cast is fun and impresses your friends.
flybop
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First of all, in order to cast for distance you need to understand and cast well at short range. As others have said, get a good book and videos. Even better, take a lesson from a qualified, not necesarilly from a FFF instructor though, teacher.
Once bad habbits are learned it is very difficult to break em. You mentioned stillwater, that is one area in trout fishing where distance is a big help. However, in stream and even river fishing more fish will be caught with short, accurate casts. That is true even on the big rivers here in Montana. As a guide one of the most challenging situations I face is someone who can cast 50 to 60 feet and thinks they need to out of a drift boat.
Even wade fishing the bigger rivers, short, accurate casts will be more productive most of the time. Having said that, learning to cast longer will improve all your casts. Also, do not try to compare your distance with a fly rod to guys chucking hardware, or bait, with spinning rods. They are two totally different things.
Learn the proper techniques, then practice. It is better to practice away from the water so you will focus on the casting, not the fishing.
Once bad habbits are learned it is very difficult to break em. You mentioned stillwater, that is one area in trout fishing where distance is a big help. However, in stream and even river fishing more fish will be caught with short, accurate casts. That is true even on the big rivers here in Montana. As a guide one of the most challenging situations I face is someone who can cast 50 to 60 feet and thinks they need to out of a drift boat.
Even wade fishing the bigger rivers, short, accurate casts will be more productive most of the time. Having said that, learning to cast longer will improve all your casts. Also, do not try to compare your distance with a fly rod to guys chucking hardware, or bait, with spinning rods. They are two totally different things.
Learn the proper techniques, then practice. It is better to practice away from the water so you will focus on the casting, not the fishing.
MKern
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Believe it or not, most fly fishermen (I'm guessing 95% or more) cast incorrectly.
Most people including the instuctors of lessons I've seen given on streams to beginers and intermediate fishermen. During these "lessons and instruction" most of the instructors told the casters to pivot at the elbow.
This is how I learned to cast too, but it's wrong. Arm casting is the correct method, and if you want to increase distance immediately, this is the biggest thing (easily 20 more feet). Fly Fisherman the magazine website has a good video by Lefty to demonstrate this.
The video is excellent.
Just remember, your arm has to stay on the same plane to when arm casting to not create wierd loops.
Like mentioned above, don't focusing on casting, but rather fishing. You can only catch fish when the fly is on or under the water (most of the time).
Personally, the way I fish, requires practically no casting at all, and I have no problem catching fish. The more fish you cover and the more time your fly is in the water the higher your hook-up rate.
I'm not saying casting has it's place, but casting is only a means to fish. However, knowing how to cast leads to being prepared for any situation, not to mention, makes you an all around fly fisherman.
Most people including the instuctors of lessons I've seen given on streams to beginers and intermediate fishermen. During these "lessons and instruction" most of the instructors told the casters to pivot at the elbow.
This is how I learned to cast too, but it's wrong. Arm casting is the correct method, and if you want to increase distance immediately, this is the biggest thing (easily 20 more feet). Fly Fisherman the magazine website has a good video by Lefty to demonstrate this.
The video is excellent.
Just remember, your arm has to stay on the same plane to when arm casting to not create wierd loops.
Like mentioned above, don't focusing on casting, but rather fishing. You can only catch fish when the fly is on or under the water (most of the time).
Personally, the way I fish, requires practically no casting at all, and I have no problem catching fish. The more fish you cover and the more time your fly is in the water the higher your hook-up rate.
I'm not saying casting has it's place, but casting is only a means to fish. However, knowing how to cast leads to being prepared for any situation, not to mention, makes you an all around fly fisherman.
tomgamber
Well-known member
As soon as I saw this topic i knew it would get hit hard...
My first question would be how far are you casting now?
Set up a video camera and take video of you casting...Then shoot someone who casts as far as you want to cast. Sit down with that person and see if you can't see the difference.
Sometimes the biggest reason that people don;t cast as far as they would like is that they try TOO hard. Its kind of like hitting a golf ball. Longer club, smooth stroke...ball goes farther..short club, too much power and the ball just pops up into the air. Try the video thing...
My first question would be how far are you casting now?
Set up a video camera and take video of you casting...Then shoot someone who casts as far as you want to cast. Sit down with that person and see if you can't see the difference.
Sometimes the biggest reason that people don;t cast as far as they would like is that they try TOO hard. Its kind of like hitting a golf ball. Longer club, smooth stroke...ball goes farther..short club, too much power and the ball just pops up into the air. Try the video thing...
MKern
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Tom, so true.
When I'm teaching someone, one of the first things I tell them that teh rod does most of the work and is the tool. And like a hammer does most of the work, all it needs is someoen to swing it.
If the rod does the work, you just have to move the rod.
Then I add, move the rod correctly.
ryanh
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Is this the only rod you have? Do you have the same exact problem with other rods?
You may have crappy line. I bought some cheapo SA line a few years ago and put it on an old (good) rod. I could not cast it to save my life. Try getting some better line. Also you might try going one line weight heavier to increase the loading on your rod. I know that someone will post saying that over lining a rod is bad practice but hey if it works....
With a 9 foot 5wt you should be able to get some serious line out there.
You may have crappy line. I bought some cheapo SA line a few years ago and put it on an old (good) rod. I could not cast it to save my life. Try getting some better line. Also you might try going one line weight heavier to increase the loading on your rod. I know that someone will post saying that over lining a rod is bad practice but hey if it works....
With a 9 foot 5wt you should be able to get some serious line out there.
tomgamber
Well-known member
Ryan, I fish my 5wt with 6DT and I can throw that about 20 feet further than my 5WF...So over lining does help but I might argue the taper thing.
MattBoyer
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Overlining works better for short casts, as it takes less of the heavier line to load the rod, but I have always been told that for distance you should underweigh your line. It takes a little more line to load it, but the rod has an easier time controlling all the line in the air if it weighs slightly less, and you get less wierd loops. I could be wrong, but it made sense to me. I overline my 2/3 weight with DT4 and underline my 8 weight with rocket taper WF7. I can only cast about 60-70 feet with the 2/3, and tried for years to get past 80 with the 8 and the one thing I have decided, and once again, this could be wrong, is that if I wanted to cast further than that I would need a faster action rod. Once I get to that point where I can cast no further, the limiting factor always seemed to be control. It would just start getting away from me and the loops got huge, then it would start hitting things (ground, water, brush, etc...). With a faster rod It would get back to where the rod would load slightly faster than it would fall out of the air, allowing for a longer cast, so the speed of the rod has a lot to do with it as well. Some rods are made for casting further than others. I hope this helps.
Boyer
