10 Tips to Improve your Fly Cast Before your Next Fishing Trip

Proper grip on a fly rod is the foundation of a good cast, and making sure you have this part down is crucial to success. Grip the cork with a relaxed, yet firm grip. Start with your thumb on top of the rod grip, but if you want to add some more power to your cast, you may want to try rotating your hand over so your knuckles are on top rather than your thumb. Combined with a proper wrist snap, and lots of practice, you can increase your line speed and more accurately target fish upwind from your position.

We’ll focus on your non-casting hand for this tip. Double hauling is a casting technique that involves using your non-casting hand to increase your line speed during the backward and forward strokes of your cast. A quick tug on the line is performed with the non-casting hand, adding extra line speed and loading the rod more efficiently. This can help you increase your casting distance and fish during windier, challenging conditions on the water. 

To practice, you may want to consider working on your single hall during your forward and backward casting motions respectively. A single haul involves a single abrupt tug on the line during either the backcast or the forward cast. A double haul combines two single hauls into one supercharged casting system. Hauling is useful when casting longer distances and generating greater line speed.

When fly casting, the shape of your fly line in the air can make or break the entire presentation. Focus on controlling a tight loop to deliver flies with greater accuracy. Tighter loops enable you to present flies while cutting through the wind and tracking straight through the air. 

To cast with a tight loop, focus on keeping your rod tip moving in a straight-line path during your casting stroke. Any deviation or wobbling in the casting motion will ruin the integrity of your loop, and weaken your cast. Keep your movement smooth and consistent, evenly transferring power from the abrupt stops at the beginning and end of each casting stroke. With some practice, you will be able to control the size of your loop at will. This will help immensely during times when quick, accurate casts are necessary.

Experiment with different casting strokes to find the balance between loop size and accuracy that suits your fishing needs and casting style. Find an open space — such as your backyard, park, pond, or sports field — and work on fine-tuning your casting stroke to master loop control. Mastering this technique will certainly pay dividends on the water.

When fishing on rivers and streams, mending the line is a technique used to reposition the fly line and leader on the water's surface during the drift. Proper mending allows you to control the behavior of your fly on the water, ensuring it either drifts naturally and drag-free, or swings with the current. Picky trout may spook or reject your fly if it isn’t moving like the natural insects floating through its feeding lane. Alternatively, large steelhead, trout, and salmon often prefer a fly swing on a tight line through downstream current. Mastering upstream and downstream mends gives you the ability to adjust your fly's position and presentation with precision and manage the drag on your line.

Mending is crucial when you are fishing across currents of multiple speeds that cause unwanted drag that pulls the fly unnaturally. Here is a brief overview of use cases for the two primary types of line mends:

• Upstream mend: Cast towards your target then raise your rod tip high, lifting the line off the water before flipping the belly of your fly line up current of your fly. This will help maintain the position of your fly in the fish’s feeding lane without imparting drag. Upstream mending is useful when dead drifting dry flies and nymphs. It is also a useful tactic for getting large streamers to sink quickly in current.
• Downstream mend: Make your cast, then lift the rod tip off the water before flicking your line downstream of the fly.. A series of downstream mends creates a natural drift if your fly is in faster water than your fly line. Downstream mending is also an important tactic when swinging streamers, wet flies, or dry flies for trout, salmon, and steelhead. Creating a downstream belly in your fly line allows your fly to swing across the entire river, maximizing your coverage of water on tight line presentations.

Checking your form for a well-grounded stance can make casting and presenting the fly much easier. Your stance will vary based on the type of ground you stand on (the deck of a boat, the stream bed, etc.), so know your bearings when adjusting. Relax your body and distribute your weight evenly. Avoid locking your knees as well, as this can restrict your range of motion and the fluidity of your cast. 

It’s important to note that your stance should adjust according to your surroundings. If you find yourself in a drift boat, adjust according to your vessel's movement. Orient yourself slightly downstream of where the boat is drifting so that you may optimize your presentation in terms of drag and the length of your drift. If you’re casting from a skiff or wading a flat, avoid moving your feet as much as possible, as the sound may spook wary fish in shallow water. Practice casting at home and pay close attention to your feet. Try your best to keep them about a shoulder’s width apart and firmly planted throughout your cast. You may want to experiment with different stances — either directly facing your target or slightly quartered away. You’ll soon find what feels most comfortable and effective for you. You’re better off figuring this out at home than waiting until the next time you’re on the water.

The fly fishing leader is the length of monofilament or fluorocarbon that connects the fly line to the fly. Selecting the appropriate leader length and thickness of your leader depends on a multitude of factors. For delicate presentations and easily spooked fish, a longer, lighter leader may be necessary to provide a more subtle approach. In windy conditions or when casting large flies, shorter and more stout leaders that taper aggressively can help maintain better fly control and turnover at the end of your cast. Water clarity, fish behavior, and the presence of underwater obstructions can also affect your decisions regarding leader thickness. In the end consider your target, conditions, and the fly you are using. Try not to compromise the natural presentation of your fly.

Knowing when to replace your leader is also important. Continuously cutting and replacing flies will shorten your leader and affect your cast. Replace or add tippet to your leader if you feel your cast changing. Regularly check and replace leaders that show signs of wear or damage to maintain optimal turnover, presentation, and integrity while fighting fish. Lean on a selection of pre-tied leaders of varying lengths and thickness to quickly adjust to changing conditions on the water. If you are using a heavier fly or streamer, a backup leader for a lighter fly should be ready to go.

Back-casting is a crucial skill to master for versatility on the water. This involves presenting the fly on the backward motion of the cast, rather than the forward motion. Back-casting is extremely useful for dealing with crosswinds and obstacles in the way of your cast. It’s also extremely useful when fishing from a drift boat or skiff, and can even increase your casting distance if done properly.

To practice, orient your body perpendicular to your target. No need to forgo any of the basic casting mechanics of a forward cast. You may want to stop your rod tip slightly lower on the delivery of a back-cast to improve your accuracy and presentation, ensuring that your rod tip comes to a complete, abrupt stop.

If you’re looking to take things one step further, try learning to cast using your dominant and non-dominant hands. This allows you to deal with wind and obstacles much like a back cast does, while also maintaining a forward casting orientation. This may also save your trip if you ever injure your dominant casting hand.

The alignment of your upper body will allow you to maintain your bearings when casting. Messing with different alignments of your shoulders with your feet can allow you to cast in different variations. A square alignment (keeping your feet pointed straight and shoulders square to your target) is quite stable but adjusting can lengthen your distance or change your loop in a style best suited for your target. Try experimenting with your orientation in your backyard, open space, or nearby pond:

1. Start with your fly line and leader laid out in front of you on the ground. 
2. Begin the backcast by raising the fly rod smoothly and progressively, accelerating to a stop around the 1 o'clock position (if you imagine a clock face).
3.  Allow the fly line to straighten behind you, forming a loop in the air before the line touches the water or ground.
4. For the forward cast, initiate by moving the rod forward, aiming the fly line where you want to cast.
5. Accelerate the rod smoothly to a stop around the 10 o'clock position, unrolling the fly line and leader in front of you.
6. Keep your casting stroke in a straight line, minimizing unnecessary wrist movement for better control and accuracy. Then, try this and turn your shoulders to the right, to the left, and see how your loop changes.

We can't stress this enough. As fly anglers, we are at the mercy of the elements when on the water. Wind patterns are seasonal and can be somewhat predictable, but no wind forecast is ever a sure thing. Fish still move and feed in the wind, especially just before a new low pressure system or weather front. It's important that you work on developing your casting skills in the wind to maximize your effectiveness and success on the water. Plus, it's fun. Try practicing all of the above casting improvement tactics on windy days in an open field or pond. Remember, if things seem a lot tougher, focus on the fundamentals of an effective fly cast.

Remember to make abrupt stops after the forward and backward motions of your casting stroke. Focus on the movement of your rod tip as it moves through the air. It should not curve around your body, but rather move in a straight line as you cast. Think about it's motion as smooth, strong accelerations to abrupt stops at either end of your cast.

Maximize your practice time by orienting yourself in different positions relative to the wind direction. You can sometimes use the wind to your advantage and cast with it to extend your range. When casting into a headwind, use a low, side-arm casting angle to cut below the wind and reach your target more effectively. Side winds onto your casting shoulder may require you to turn your back to your target and deliver your fly with a back cast. If this is new to you, just apply the fundamentals of an overhead cast at a lower angle.

Practicing your fly cast in the wind will pay dividends on your next trip when the casting conditions aren't ideal.

A fly casting lesson from a certified casting instructor is an investment in your fly fishing career. An instructor or guide’s expertise and guidance can lead to significant improvements in your casting technique, leading the way to more successful and rewarding fishing trips. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced angler seeking to fine-tune your technique, a casting lesson from a certified instructor can be highly valuable. Here are some of the great fly casting clinics on AnyCreek to learn more in person:

• The Angling Company (Key West, FL)
• Tall Tides Charters (Savannah, GA)
• Blue Quill Angler (Evergreen, CO)

One of the significant advantages of professional casting instruction is the personalized feedback you receive. An instructor can identify specific areas of improvement in your casting technique and provide tailored advice to address them. They can observe your casting motion, grip, timing, and line control, and offer real-time corrections and guidance. In the end, this will significantly improve your confidence and performance as an angler. Your local tackle or fly shop will often have resources available for casting instruction.