Increasing casting distance in stillwater

Oh Grasshopper,

The age old problem of reaching my target.  Stillwater or wading the cast you talk about should be the same. Properly cast line should travel almost as far as FATC grasshopper on an “out of state” trip (hee, hee, kidding I am).

But to your problem I go back. Over weighting your line will not necessarily increase this distance that you ask for. If a fast taper rod you use then it might but many of my students have over-weighted their rods and the outcome they did not like. Recommend I do, these things for you.

1. Load your rod with proper technique by acceleration and stop! Make sure your rod tip is bending/loading on each acceleration – turn sideways and watch it!

2. Haul you must! learn to not only single haul but double haul for loading of your rod

3. When you “cast” your line work to get your best “energy” i.e. just cast enough line to get your best “load” and then SHOOT the rest of the line. You must have mucho line out of your reel to shoot it. Cast then shoot (allow the line to “flow” through your hand until it hits your target).

So my grasshopper, distance you want? Good casting technique with good “loading” of your rod you must have. Learn to “double haul” for greater distance but only use as much fly line as you are able to keep full of energy. Then grasshopper – shoot – your line on your forward cast. Allowing the line you have off the reel to flow through your non-rod holding hand.

This you must try before bothering the Sensei again!

Hi Jim,

When fishing streamers on small alpine lakes out west from the shore I use a 5 wt rig with  matched weight fly line but add a fast sink leader. The leader is 9-12 ft in length and will sink approx 5 “/ sec. Depending on what I think the water depth is, I’ll experiment with the time lapse of when the streamer hits the surface and the point that I start stripping. This tactic allows your streamers to get down quickly to make the most out of the distance that you do get on your cast.  Shorelines can be tight with trees so I will use a roll cast when restricted from a good back cast.
The leader will run about $15 (RIO or SA) so way cheaper than a full sinking fly line.
Also suggest using a non slip loop/knot to attach the streamer for a more natural action when stripping with the weighted leader system.
Good luck.
Will