Fly fishing is both a sport and an art form. Your rod serves as your arm’s extension and presentation is a critical aspect, starting with the cast. Casting might seem simple, but for fly fishing, it requires some practice and skill. The back cast you are familiar with might not be the best for every situation, so you still have to learn other fly fishing casts to present your flies well under any circumstance that comes your way. Here are six common casts you should consider mastering as an angler:

1. Double haul

Singularly the most used cast in the sport. From getting distance to turning over large flies, this is a cast you need to master. This cast creates extra load on the rod, so you can control the flies and make them reach longer distances.

How to execute it:

• On your back cast with your line hand elevated, give a tug downward on the slack line to tighten the line and give more bend to the rod.
• Do the same motion throughout the forward cast. Flick your wrist forward and at the same time, tug downward on the slack fly line to tighten the leader and line.
• Repeat the process until the cast is at your desired distance.

2. Roll

One of the tried and tested fly fishing casts, the roll cast will let you cast in close or tight quarters and enable you to successfully get your flies in the water in tight spaces where you are limited in your back cast.

How to do it:

• Have the line on the water and the rod tip behind you.
• Your hand must be positioned across your ear and shoulder, with the rod tip turned outward.
• Make sure the line is pointing in the direction where you want to make the cast.
• When loading the cast, make a D-loop with the fly line, pause across from your ear, and flick your hand and thumb forward.
• Keep the rod tip at eye level when the cast is executed.

3. Reach

This is one of the most versatile and most crucial among fly fishing casts, especially on streams where the current differences can affect the regular overhead cast. It aims to prevent lining the trout when you fish directly upstream. When you fish downstream, the fish won’t take the fly and you can pick up the line without spooking it, since the line won’t be over its window. Moreover, it places a stretch of line upstream to the fish to prevent drag.

Procedure:

• Use a right reach cast if the upstream is to your right, and the left reach cast when it’s to your left.
• Strip out six feet of extra line to compensate for the reach and make a false cast over the target with a normal back cast.
• On the next overhead cast, complete the cast normally with a stop to shoot the line.
• When you make the stop, bring the rod to the left or right as the line is shooting in one fluid motion.
• Follow the movement of the fly and line with the rod at the same speed as the current for a drag-free drift.

4. Bow and Arrow

Joe Humpfreys came up with this fly fishing casting method that lets you reach areas of streams and rivers when a typical back cast won’t suffice. It can be challenging to master, but with practice, you should get it right.

There are different techniques for Bow and Arrow fly fishing casts. One is where you will be holding directly onto the fly, and another is the ‘Joe’ method where you coil or bunch the fly line into your hand, so you can reach further in the water column.

How it’s done:

• Grab the fly line slightly above the cork grip.
• Point the rod tip at the target and pull the line back to your ear to create a bend in the rod.
• When you’re lined up with the target with a nice bend in your line, release the grip and the line should jump out towards the target.

5. Tuck

Are you excited to use the nymphs you got from RiverBum? Practice the tuck cast using them. This fly fishing cast will let your nymphs sink rapidly and effectively. As you may already know, the faster nymphs reach the bottom, the better hook up rates you have. The goal of this cast is to make the nymphs hit the water before the fly line. It’s also a good technique to use with Euro nymphing where weighted flies are typically used.

Executing the tuck cast:

• Make a basic cast up stream, and as you do, apply a slight lift to the rod tip at the end of the forward cast.
• Make sure the nymphs hit the water before the fly line.
• To improve the presentation of nymphs, use a delicate lift and avoid an abrupt lift to your rod tip.


6. Steeple

When the usual back fly fishing casts are not practical in small or tight rivers and creeks with obstacles, you can do the steeple cast. It’s a vertical rather than a horizontal back cast where you have to do a very high trajectory on your back cast, then change 90 degrees to send the fly out!

How it’s done:

• Start with your back cast in an almost 90 degree angle.
• Abruptly stop the rod tip around eye level for effective presentation.
• Lower the rod tip down to let the fly line fill out the cast.
• Avoid powering the line or slapping it on water.

About the Company:

This article is written by Ricky Martin, Pro Staff at RiverBum. RiverBum offers premium quality flies and gear at highly competitive prices. A family owned US business, RiverBum promotes the sport of fly fishing to all folks from every walk of life.