Casting Tips

Nine times Australian Casting Champion, Peter Hayes believes a little bit of work and concentration on casting techniques makes a lot of difference when fishing. "Good casters get to cover more fish more quickly, and consequently get more chances" he says.

Steeple Cast

This cast is used when a very high, and or, accurately placed back cast is needed. The thing to understand about this cast is that there is no back cast but rather two forward casts. With about 25 feet of line on the water in front of you turn the rod upside down by rotating your hand anti clockwise half a turn. Turn and face (aim) where you want the back cast to go, then cast in that direction. Because of the turned hand and side facing position this is now a forward cast in the backward direction if you get what I mean. During the dwell at the top of the stroke, and while the back cast is unrolling, rotate your hand clockwise the half turn then throw a forward cast. Tricky isn't it?

With a little practice you can throw the line almost vertically above you in this manner and you will have a much better chance of positioning the line in the desired alignment behind you. Try this same principal to back cast between trees ect.

Variable length back casting.

This is a really cunning trick to shorten the length of your back cast while giving you a very powerful and long shooting forward cast. Imagine standing 20 feet in front of a cliff face. A fish is rising steadily to everything in sight 70 feet in front of you. There is a cast you can use to catch this fish.

With 40 feet of ling out the end of your rod hold your fly in the line hand. Now start false casting gently with the rod tilted out at about 45 degrees to the side. False cast using just enough power to get the loop moving fully forward and backward. Understand, and see, that by holding the fly, your back cast length is not 40 feet but 20 feet. Let the fly go on the final delivering forward cast and shoot line as you do. You can achieve very good shooting as it is possible to load the rod with the weight of 40 feet of line. In effect this is a glorified, aerialised, roll cast.   

To obtain an even shorter back cast length leave the first 20 feet of line on the water in front of you. Hold the line at this point with your line hand and false cast 20 feet of line from the tip (this will produce just a 10 foot back length cast). Again, you should, with a little practice be able to shoot to the 70 foot target. Not bad for a 10 foot back cast.

Peter Hayes