Casting mechanics question

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  • #1095

    Ausable’s question got me thinking about one of my own.  

    I’m wondering about the proper approach for effectively casting sink tips.  When streamer fishing on local waters, I typically use a 350 grain sink tip – I believe the head is 25 ft.  I am throwing this on a 9′ 8wt Sage Fli rod.

    My problem is that I throw a lot more tailing loops with this line than I do with a regular WF8F line.  Tailing loops and wind knots really become a problem for me with the sink tip, especially when there’s a little wind.  The loops are most problematic on long casts, but when you’re streamer fishing big water with a sink tip, just about all of the casts are long casts.

    After a great deal of trial and error (mostly error), I think I’m gradually starting to learn to avoid the tailing loops, but it’s hard.  It seems like I can avoid a tail if I bring my backcast a lot farther back than what I feel is natural for the distance I’m casting.  I almost have to extend the rod directly out behind me.

    This seems to cure the tailing loop, but it doesn’t necessarily feel “right.”  I may be opening my loop up too much.  I’ve also considered that maybe the act of holding the rod back further just tends to counteract “creep” in my cast.

    #10769
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Brian-

    Extending the stroke will pull open loops that would otherwise tail.

    #10770
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Allright, check this out:

    http://www.itinerantangler.com/flyfishingtoday/beginner2.htm

    The mechanical principles remain constant even across different rod weights and types, but heavier or more complicated setups can exacerbate existing casting idiosyncracies and cause trouble.

    Zach

    #10771

    Thanks.

    #10772
    bryan hulse
    Member

    bd,

    I hope this doesn’t sound insulting, but are you trying to airialize too much line? Simply leaving all but the first 15′ to 20′ of line on the water should be more than enough to load your rod, then you can shoot the rest with just a haul or two.

    This has been my experiences with sinking/intermediate lines.

    Bryan

    #10773

    I don’t think I’m picking up more than 15 or 20′ of line off the water on the initial back cast.

    #10774
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    BD-

    You are probably exactly right as to the cause.

    #10775

    Like I said before, at some point I’ll probably invest some time in some casting lessons.

    #10776

    Zach…thanks for the board.

    #10777
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Ha ha, yeah, Okieff, you’re in the right place.

    #10778

    Boy am I blind 8).  I thought I had looked at everything here.  Anyway, thanks.
    Here is my next thing I might have to do.

    #10779
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Okieff-

    If you want to mail me a video under 10mb I will help you diagnose what’s going on.

    #10780

    ;D ;D ;D yeah right.

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