Fly Casting... A few things I've learned.

 Fly casting can be fun and frustrating all at the same time!  You can start off a day of fly fishing with beautiful tight loops and soft gentle landings and really feeling great about your casts.  But, within no time it can all fall apart and leave you upset and dejected!  Maybe even to the point of wanting to crawl up into a bottle of sour mash whiskey, or even worse!  You might just have the notion to set aside the damn fly fishing outfit and pick up a spinning rod.  Wait!  Don't do it!  You can keep the whiskey, but do not put down that fly rod!

Sometimes when the wheels begin to fall off my casting stroke, I'll revert back to some of my favorite fly casting instruction books that gave me the basics to begin with.   I'll review some very simple casting principles and usually they will get me back on track. 

But, most of the time I'll refer my little cheat sheet list of casting tips and reminders to get me out of the "funk."  These are a few things I've learned to keep in mind while trying to achieve that perfect cast...

• LESS POWER!  Let the rod do the work.
• SLOW DOWN!  Feel the rod load and unload.
• Higher and harder stops!  Forward and backcasts.
• No limp wrists!  "Your a real man, Damn'it!"
• Haul straight down!  Load that rod.
• Be like Mel Krieger!  Whuuuump... Whuuuuump.
• Weighted and heavy flies = Large smooth casts.  Horseshoe casting shape.
• Shoot line on forward and backcasts... when possible.
• Do not get cocky you Jack-Ass!  Over confidence can destroy you real quick.

It's a fairly short list.  A simple list.  A list that is easy to understand.  I just wish I could remember it on every cast!  Fly fishing is like no other type of fishing.  Most of the time your fish catching success can be directly related to how well you cast.  Read and watch all you can, or take a lesson or two.  Put all that information into your brain, shake it, stir it, and blend it into your own style and technique that works best for you.  And then... the most important thing of all! Practice, practice, practice, and then... PRACTICE some more!!! 

One little item I carry with me is a wrist band.  When I feel my casting wrist getting a little "limpy" and bending more than I want, I'll slide on a wrist band as a constant reminder not to bend it as much!  It's simple and it works for me.  Try it.

No limp-wristic casting allowed!

Learning how to be a proficient and successful fly caster can really lead you to catching more fish!  Which in turn can bring about a fly casting cowboy rock star lifestyle with lots of jacked-up trucks, country girls, and all the beer you can drink. No, not really... but, it would be cool!  Seriously though it can lead to a more fulfilling life.  For me one of greatest things about fly casting is... I'll never be as awesome as I would like to be.  Fly casting is a never ending learning experience with many ups and downs.  Fly casting will always provide me the drive to achieve the never ending goal of perfection... on every cast!

WHUUUUUMP... WHUUUUUUMP!  Be like Mel!