Don't Be In Such A Rush

Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last.

-- Paul Simon
The 59th Street Bridge Song

I've no idea whether Paul Simon has ever held a fishing rod, but his lyrics are good advice for fly-casters.

Too often, we rush our cast. Sometimes, we rush because of excitement, as in a fish just showed itself. Sometimes, we rush for fear of letting the fly hit the ground. And sometimes, we rush ... just because.

Whatever the reason, the result is a less-than-perfect cast.

Sometimes, you will hear a loud crack as the unrolling line suddenly changes directions before it has straightened properly. That's the sound of your line actually breaking the sound barrier. Yes, a sonic boom. And the acceleration is so severe that it can fracture the end of your leader.

Another possibility is that you rush a lot. In that case, the cast will probably collapse to one degree or another. That's because you have introduced so much slack that it becomes impossible to maintain tension on the line.

What should you do?

• Your goal is to pause at the end of each stroke just long enough to let the fly line straighten in the air, and it's often enough to measure that pause by saying, "One Mississippi." This works well for short to medium casts. But remember that as your casts get longer, the time needed for your line to straighten also gets longer.
• Another common technique is to actually watch your back cast. Just use an "open" stance, meaning your dominant foot is slightly behind you. That lets you turn your body at an angle, so you can look back easily to see the moment when the line straightens behind you. This can be very effective in practice, but don't make a habit. It's also important that you learn to keep your eye on your target.
• A third method is to judge the pause on your back cast by watching your forward cast. In other words, the time it takes for your line to straighten on the forward cast is pretty much the same as on the back cast. I happen to think this is the best technique, but I also think it is the most difficult. So be patient, especially if you're a beginner.

Are you doomed to forever worry about your back cast? Luckily, no. As you gain experience, good timing will become a part of what you do. Just remember to slow down when you move too fast.