Sage Advice SaturdayPosted by admin on November 28th, 2009
Time Over Target
Ever say to yourself, wow I wish I could cast like that, or I wish I could tie flies like that, or I wish I could read the water like so and so? I have. I decided I better do something about wishing that I could do certain things and start bettering my skills. Practice, practice, practice. As cliche as it sounds it applies to us as anglers. The 0nly way to get better at casting is to cast, the only way to get better at mending is to mend, the only way to play fish better is to hook more fish, the only way to catch more fish is to fish more often. So budget in some time, and go fish!!
Royce Klingler
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December 14th, 2009 at 11:34 am
You are so right Royce. I know many many fly fisherman who get off of work or have free time and they end up cracking a cold one and sit down in front of the boob tube or computer screen and end up callin it a night before they have a chance to string up there rod. I have my practice rod strung up and ready to go right next to the back door, heck in the summer I leave it on the picnic table on the patio. In the evening after work or when I go out to pick up after my dog I like to spend 15-20 minutes casting or working on my reach, steeple and backwards casts. I went to Walmart and bought 3 hula hoops and have em ready for practice right next to my rod. I’m lucky enough to have a fairly large backyard, but i am really only working with 30 ft of line. I throw out the 3 hoops in random array and try to cast to them in 3 quick successive “sets” of casts. I try to keep my false casts to 3 and then deliver, 3 false and deliver to the next hoop, 3 false and deliver to the last hoop. I then mix the order and do it again, reverse the original order and hit it one last time. I’ve found that 30-40 ft is an ideal casting distance. It’s right in zone as far as making me work my muscles but not to far, making me really overwork my self. This in turn gives me the ability to really focus on my mechanics. It’s also long enough to be able to look over your shoulder and observe your back cast if you are relaxed and methodical in your rhythm. If you don.t have the room don’t sweat it. I have a friend who has a swimming pool in his apartment complex. he sits on the edge of the pool and tries to cast to the lifeguard float at 15 to 20 feet! He has a fence behind him and chairs and a table to contend with but an obstacle is an obstacle. I’m gettin long winded but the point is practice makes for a better experience on the water. I know that my time on the water is cherished and when I am in tune with my cast I find it’s easier to focus on the fish , the river and the beauty around me and less on my back cast and the infernal wind knots I have to sit and untie.