Backcasting haul - My forecast okay, backcast rubbish.

[Rod Humphris]

Hi All,

My first post.

I'm relatively new to flyfishing (3rd year) and most of my fishing has been flicking a fly under the bushes on a small stream for small brown trout. Mostly side casting a few feet. I've started to branch out into bigger waters and discovered that it would be really really useful to be able to cast.

I've been spending time out in my field with a 9' 5# discovering just how little I know. At the moment it seems that the more I look at my casting the more it falls apart.

Anyway the bit bothering me at the moment is my backcast. I think I'm casting okay but when I try to haul I find out I'm not. On the forward stroke after I haul the line flows smoothly out through the rings. On the backcast it is as if I'm trying to push the line out. It isn't pulling itself out. Nothing happens unless I've got a lot of line out. It feels as if there is no energy in the line. Or as if the bit of line I'm holding has got disconnected from the bit flying out behind me.

I've practiced pick up and lay downs, I've concentrated on keeping my palm down and the but of the rod tucked into my arm and I've concentrated on a sharp stop. The sharp stop actually seems to make the situation worse as I get a bounce which means that I can see a slack bit of line happen near the rod tip. I've concentrated on sending the line up and on having a slp (as best as I can see).

If I stand sideways and morph my stroke into two forecasts the problem goes away, but that's not really a solution.

I've looked at videos and I see people doing what I think I'm doing, but obviously I'm not. I guess I must get a camera and get someone to video me but for now could anyone suggest what I'm missing? Is there an exercise I can do that will force the cause of this into my awareness?

Cheers

Rod

[TrevH]

Have a look at yourself in a mirror to see what your tracking is like on the back cast. You can probably do this at home with the but section of your rod. See what straight tracking feels like.

A common fault also is a lack of force in the back cast. Try giving it a bit more of a whuuUUUMP! (with the emphasis on the ...UUUMP!). Concentrate on starting the stroke slowly and finishing it fast, but although slow, the start has got to be confident and firm. No hesitation.

Forget the haul and try simply shooting line on the back cast. Make your forward cast your back cast and make your back cast your delivery cast. When you are shooting line consistently, you can bring the haul back in.

Hook up with a casting buddy. They will be better able to see what's going on with your cast. In some ways you are standing in the worst place to observe your own casting. The positive aspect to that is that your casting looks a helluva lot better to an onlooker than it does to you!

Best of all, spend a bit of time with an instructor.

Oh ... And if you post a video here, you will get an unending stream of useful advice.

[Rod Humphris]

Hi Trev,

Thanks, I'll go and look in the mirror!

(and do the other stuff)

Rod

[Paul Arden]

Hi Rod, welcome to the Board. The problem is likely to be too wide a backcast loop, but also your comment that the problem goes away with a longer carry, so I'm guessing that the problem disappears when you've reached the running line outside the rod tip.

A couple of quick questions, what line are you using and is it clean? These can make a big difference.

Next we'll look at your backcast loops. Then finally haul timing!

Cheers, Paul

[Rod Humphris]

Hi Paul,

weight forward Rio floating 5#

Is it clean? Never thought about it, probably not!

Cheers

Rod

[Rod Humphris]

Ah Ha! I think I've got it. The problem is that it hurts.

I took a rod out into the field this afternoon and put an imaginary fish on the grass a few yards behind me and tried to present to it. Initially the result was pathetic so I concentrated and did it properly and it hurt. I've not got much cartilage left in my right elbow and I think I must have got into the habit of protecting it from the jarring it gets when you put a bit of effort into the stroke and the stop. Can't do it straight and snappy with a pen, never mind a rod.

Explains why I'm happy with the forecast, I'm mainly using my shoulder and it doesn't hurt. I'll work on finding a way round it. Or take drugs. Or move South.

Thanks all.

Rod

[Paul Arden]

Hi Rod,

now this is an area we'll need some specialist help! However I do know that when we haul we don't normally make an aggressive stop like we do when we cast without the haul. I'm fishing the Baltic Coast at the moment, but will try make a short video next week when I'm back.

Cheers, Paul

[Eugene Moore]

Rod,
Like you I have aches and pains that come with age.
Try wrapping your elbow with a snug ace bandage for support.
When lifting for the backcast use your forearm for a slow lift then flick the rod quickly with your wrist to the stop position.
Like a backhand slap to one of your kids. The haul can be perfomed during the fore arm lift to minimize load on your elbow.

[Marc LaMouche]

Like a backhand slap to one of your kids.

:glare: .......

[Rod Humphris]

Hi All,

Amazingly someone I happened to know near me and who is doing their AAGPI?? (oh, you know fly fishing instructor training) saw my post and offered to have a look. We spent this morning out in the field with a few rods. (me included)

First off we got my back cast to improve a lot by me holding my right elbow with my left hand to support it and to get my tracking more on track. Then we got me not bending my elbow joint so much but raising my whole arm up into the stop. My hand ends up quite high but that doesn't seem to matter too much.

Interestingly after that I found that keeping my wrist kind of locked slightly forward seems to make it more comfortable too. I remember that you mentioned that one Paul.

We did a bit of hauling too and guess what; I've been hauling way to early on the back cast. Timing all to cock.

Amazing how someone else can see what you're doing that you don't know about and how you can see it yourself when they show you.

I've got a lot to practice now. I'm going to be out in the field to make sure I don't loose it. Assuming it's not actually pissing down.

Or I could practice on the kids.

Rod

[TrevH]

Well done Rod! Keep it up!

Cheers
Trev