Common Casting Faults – And How To Correct Them
1. Line Drops Too Low Behind (Perhaps Hitting Ground or Water) Causes:
- Too late an application of power on back cast
- Too long an application of power
- Insufficient power to straighten line behind
- Wrist allowed to “break” during back cast.
- Slack line at start of cast
- Rod tip too high at start of cast
Corrections:
The arc described by the rod tip when applying power in back cast to lift line off the water should be 9.00 to 12.00 on the ‘clock’ (see diagram 1 – points A to B ), keeping wrist stiff or locked throughout the cast and do not ‘swing’ or rock your upper body backwards or forwards with the casting movement. Line must be taut before you ‘lift’. so that rod movement affects fly immediately. Also at least 4 to 5 metres of line should be ‘out’ to flex rod properly.
Comments:
Back cast is an upward, rather than backward movement. (Go in direction of arrow C in diagram 1). ‘Breaking’ or unlocking wrist makes rod tip go back too far. Once back cast is correct, many minor faults will disappear.
2. Line won’t ‘go out’ – or won’t land straight
- Incorrect kind of impulse on forward cast
- Insufficient ‘zip’ during forward cast
- Snatching or jerkiness during back or forward cast
Corrections:
Apply a firm, crisp impulse forward as if driving a nail in with a hammer at eye level and avoid sweeping rod down or ‘swinging’ your body with casting movement. Power arc from 12.00 to
10.00 on the ‘clock’ (Diagram 2, D – E) imagining your elbow as the fixed point (F) of backwards and forwards movement of casting. Since exaggerated snatching or jerking results in a crooked line, accelelerate all power strokes smoothly, bringing them to a crisp stop. (at 12.00 on back
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cast and 10.00 of the ‘clock’ on forward cast). As line completely
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straightens out above the water, gently follow it down to the 9 o’clock position. (see diagram 3 G-H)
Comments:
Remember that if the back cast is done correctly, a perfect forward cast is far easier to achieve. Often too much power goes into the forward cast – when all that is needed is more power in the back cast so that the rod is correctly ‘loaded’ when it comes forward. Important Reminder: RELAX! RELAX! RELAX! The rod, not you, must do the work!
3. Leader and fly are blown back – or land in a heap
- aiming forward cast too high
- Twisting wrist sideways
- Releasing slack line too soon
- Same causes as fault No.2
Corrections:
Line, leader and fly should straighten out half a meter or so above the water surface. If forward cast is too high the wind is able to blow the leader and fly about or back on itself before they drop. If wrist is turned sideways leader and fly will lose momentum. When ‘shooting’ line, release slack line only at last minute. Make sure that velocity of forward cast is adequate, with wrist turning down afterwards (see diagram 3, G – H)
Comments:
Although power arc should be short, line, leader, and fly needs to be ‘controlled’ through whole backwards and forward casting movement. Cast should not be made parallel to water surface or somewhere in between, but at an angle of 90 degrees to it, that is, rod going straight up past your ear (see diagram 3, G – H), with business end of forward cast about half a meter or so above the water surface. You can tilt it forward a little more (to 9.30 of the clock) in a head wind to straighten leader, or a little back (to 10.30) in a following wind to avoid splash.
4. Fly hits rod or line on forward cast, or wind knots occur
-fly travelling through air below tip of rod
- Too weak a back cast
- Too long a pause before forward cast
Corrections:
Remember that all winds flow parallel to the water surface, making line travel faster and lower. Take extra care to keep back cast up – aim back cast higher in head wind, apply some extra [power in following wind – then make pause (at 12.00 of the clock) just short enough (especially in a head wind), for fly not to drop below rod tip.