Fly fishermen need accuracy, confidence when casting line

By BOB PUCCINELLI

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 16, 2000

Stu Apte, one of the legends of fly fishing, shared what he felt were the most important qualities neededto become a successful fly fisherman.

Be accurate. If you can't put the food on the table you're never going to get the fish to eat. But accuracy alone won't cut it; you have to deliver the fly quickly.

Life on the flats is sudden. A redfish tail will pop up here, a tarpon will roll there, and you never know when a snook will be traveling down a shoreline. These fish don't normally give you a lot of time, and seldom give a second chance, so you have to make every shot count.

The only way to take advantage of these opportunities is by practicing. The problem is most practice the wrong way. We go out in the front yard and try to pitch the line 100 feet. This is impressive but using 17 false casts and not aiming at a specific target will not make anyone faster or more precise.

Start by stripping out whatever amount of line you're comfortable casting. Next, you need to form two loops.

The first loop should be 15 to 18 feet long. It's created by holding the fly with thumb and forefinger of your non-casting hand and placing the fly line between the ring and little finger of that same hand. The second loop consists of the fly line from your non-casting hand to the rod tip and should be between 12 and 15 feet long.

These lengths are guidelines; the loops are going to vary depending on your height and if you're casting from a platform.

Just remember, the more line you carry out of the rod tip, the fewer false casts you'll need to make, resulting in a faster delivery. Also, when you're creating these loops, make sure that the first one hangs lower than the second one to avoid tangling them.

To start casting, begin by making an aggressive forward roll cast letting the energy from the line pull the fly out of your fingers. Once the line straightens, come back with your normal back cast shooting some line using a double haul. After the rod loads up from your back cast, simply make a forward cast, once again utilizing a double haul, and let it fly.

This is going to feel odd at first and you're not going to get the distance you think you'll need. But keep working on it, in a matter of days you'll be casting at least 70 feet, which is plenty since most fish caught on flies are within 60 feet of the boat.

Once you're comfortable with the speedy delivery start working on accuracy. Use the same method trying to hit different targets at varying distances.

Don't cast to the same target 10 times in a row; hit one at 35 feet first, then 70 feet, and so on. You're trying to duplicate real life situations and fish rarely stay in the same spot for any length of time.

You also need to practice in every conceivable wind condition. The wind dramatically affects the way your fly line travels, and if you don't know how to compensate, you're going to be humbled quickly.

Fly fishing and golf have a lot in common, you try to build muscle memory and create rhythm and timing through repetition. The physical aspect in both is important, but probably pales in comparison to the mental aspect. Be positive when you're practicing, convince yourself you're a good caster and build your confidence.

Confidence is the one trait that every successful fly fisherman has and with the proper practice you will gain it too.

- Bob Puccinelli is the co-host of Let's Talk Fishing on WQYK-AM 1010.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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