Doug Swisher Casting Outline

PRESENTATION                                                                           

                                                                                

A.              Casting Basics

   1.   Loop size – straight line rod tip travel produces the tightest loops.

2.     Loop shape and direction – straight line relationship between front and back loops produces efficient well-shaped, non-fouling loops

3.   Line should be straight in one direction before applying power (wrist) in the other direction.

B.               Stroke

1.     Grip – thumb on top, 180 degrees from reel – loose!

2.     Stance – sideways for practice – to watch back cast.

3.     Arm/wrist movement – pull arm, then snap wrist for back cast. Push arm then snap wrist for front cast.

4.     Arm/wrist functions – arm “sets up” cast (straightens line and starts loading rod). Wrist snap is the power of the cast (quickly loads and unloads rod).

5.     Practice all planes, forehand to vertical to backhand.

6.     Timing tip-practice to music.

7.     Visual checks: 1) straight line rod tip travel.  2) “Piece of Pie” 90 degrees. 3) Elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, rod, and loop in flat plane.

C.               Shooting

1.     Keep loop tight – release line during wrist snap.

2.     Don’t change technique between final false cast and delivery cast. False casting right at target will help.

3.     Three shooting exercises:   1) Long shoot forward.  2) Short shoot forward.   3) Shooting to the rear.

D.              Stream Casts

1.     Straight line – low profile – aim below horizon right over water.

2.     Slack line – beginning:  aim wide loop high then drop rod tip to water. Advanced: Tighten loop, aim lower and snap back with line hand.

3.     Reach – with even power, change rod direction 90 degrees during cast – high back cast, low front cast. Learning tip: combine straight line cast with dragging motion.

4.     Curves – positive: sidearm, powerful, tight loop, then, stop rod quickly – add pull with line hand. Negative: sidearm, wide, lazy loop, high back cast and low front cast.

5.     Squiggle – wiggle wrist horizontally during power stroke to give desired effect.

6.     Roll cast – slowly raise rod tip over head, wait till line slides past shoulder and apply basic arm/wrist stroke, emphasizing wrist.

7.     Steeple – shoot back cast as high as possible, raising wrist straight overhead – drop rod tip to water during front power stroke – wide loop – shoot as much line as possible.

E.               Line Manipulation

1.     Stripping – try to strip whole line in 10 –12 seconds to improve dexterity.

2.     Feeding extremely important to downstream presentation – left hand to right index finger, then snap wrist vertically.

3.     Mending – repositioning line on the water – emphasize wrist action, not arm – right and left.

4.     Stack mending – critical to deep nymphing – practice throwing small loops of line into the same segment of current the fly is in – “stack” in right behind fly using the wrist only.

5.     Roll pick-ups – for change of direction – same as roll cast technique only keep cast in the air – go directly to new target from roll.

6.     Skitter – high rod – “strip and flip” at same time.

 

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