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and the fly line are tapered, the smaller
amount of mass will reach high speeds
as the waves in rod and line unfurl. The
waves that travel through the fly line are
called loops. Determining factors in reach-
ing the highest speeds are the basal frequen-
cy of a rod and the transfer of the speed from
the tip of the rod to the fly line. Now the rod
tip reaches its highest velocity the direction
of the cast is deter-
mined.
The type of cast
used when fishing
varies according to
the
conditions. The
most com-
mon
cast
is the for-
ward cast, where
the
angler whisks
the fly into
the
air, back
over the
shoulder until
the line
is nearly straight, then forward, using
primarily the forearm. The objective of this
motion is to “load” (bend) the rod tip with stored
energy, then transmit that energy to the line, resulting
in the fly line (and the attached fly) being cast for an appreci-
able distance. However, just bending the rod and releasing it
to jerk the fly line forward (like a bowstring or a catapult) will
not propel the fly line and fly very far. More important is the
movement of the rod through an arc acting as a lever, magnify-
ing the hand movement of the caster (of about a foot) to an arc
at the rod tip of several feet. Here the rod acts as a lever. In fact,
one of the Class 3 types of lever, where the force is applied
between the fulcrum and the load (like tweezers). The fulcrum
in the fly cast is below the caster’s hand gripping the rod; the
load is at the rod tip; between the hand exerts the force. The
caster’s “stroke” backwards and forwards, for the back cast and
the forward cast, operates the rod as a (slightly flexible) lever.
Casting without landing the fly on the water is known as ‘false
casting’, and may be used to pay out line, to dry a soaked fly, or
to reposition a cast. Other casts are the roll cast, the single- or
double-haul, the tuck cast, and the side- or curve-cast.
Dropping the fly onto the water and its subsequent movement
on or beneath the surface is one of fly fishing’s most difficult
aspects; the angler is attempting to cast in such a way that the
line lands smoothly on the water and the fly appears as natural
as possible. At a certain point, if a fish does not strike, depend-
ing upon the action of the fly in the wind or current, the angler
picks up the line to make another presentation. On the other
hand, if a fish strikes, the angler pulls in line while raising the
rod tip. This “sets” the hook in the fish’s mouth. The fish is
played either by hand, where the angler continues to hold the
fly line in one hand to control the tension applied to the fish, or
by reeling up any slack in the line and then using the hand
to act as a drag on the reel. Most modern fly reels have an
adjustable, mechanical drag system to control line tension
during a fish’s run.
Reach Casting
The Reach Cast involves casting the fly over flowing water,
such as a stream, and then just before the fly lands, moving
the arm and fly rod in the upstream direction to arrange
the fishing line so that it produces less apparent drag in
the water. This technique is commonly called “mending”
your fly line. Reach casting also allows an experienced caster to
pitch curved casts in order to get the flies into difficult places.
Spey Casting
Spey casting is a casting technique used in fly fishing. Spey
casting requires a longer, heavier two-handed fly rod, referred
to as a Spey rod. Spey casting is essentially a large roll cast,
developed on the Scottish River Spey where high banks do not
allow space for the usual back cast.
Spey casting is used for fishing large
rivers for salmon and large trout
such as steelhead and sea
trout. Spey technique is
also used in saltwa-
ter surf casting. All
of these situations
require the angler
to cast larger flies
long distances. The
two-handed Spey
technique allows
more powerful casts
and avoids obstacles
on the shore by keeping
most of the line in front of