Learning To Flycast Essay, Research Paper

The great outdoors is a provider of a vast variety of ways to relax. These methods can range from camping to hiking to even snow skiing. Though the most effective way to escape from the world and into nature is through fly-fishing. Fly-fishing can place you in the middle of a peaceful stream but yet on the outskirts of a developing world. Although learning to fly fish involves detailed steps and may be time consuming, it is guaranteed to bring you peacefulness and relaxation. The well explained steps provided will teach you the art of fly fishing in a timely manner.

First, you must make sure that you have the right equipment. You will need a fly rod, a reel, and fly line. The reel is a device to retrieve line after casting. The fly line is a stretchy elasticized material that connects the fly or lure to the rod enabling a fisherman to retrieve his catch. It does not matter what weight rod you use, just be sure that the weight of the line matches the weight of the rod. Take the pieces of the rod and put them together, arranging the guides in a straight line. Attach the fly reel and pull out some of the line. Take the line and run it though all of the guides, making sure not to miss any of them. Once your preparations are complete, you can begin the fly casting process.

Find a quiet, unobstructed place to practice. The best place to practice is on your lawn. Set the rod down and pull about twenty feet of line straight out in front of the rod. Pick the rod back up and grip it by the cork handle. When gripping the rod, place your thumb on top of the cork handle. Plant your feet comfortably on the ground with your toes pointing straight out in front of you. Hold the rod so that it is pointing straight out at

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waist level. Using your forearm, lift the rod straight up to the point just past vertical. If you were looking at yourself from the side, the rod should start at the 9:00 position and stop at the 1:00 position. Turn your head and observe where the fly line goes. The line should form a loop and then straighten out parallel to the ground. This is called the back cast. When the back cast is complete, the line should be bending your rod as it straightens behind you. Now you are ready for the forward cast, which is the most important cast in fly-fishing.

Get the line back out in front of you and make another back cast. This time, turn your head and watch closely for the instant that the line is perfectly straight behind the tip of the rod. With a slight hammering motion, using your forearm and wrist, quickly bring the rod tip back to the starting position in front of you. Do not try to throw the line, just direct it out in front of you with the tip of the rod. Let the line fall. If you made the cast correctly, the line should be a fairly straight line out in front of you. If it is not, continue trying. Your elbow should start by hanging comfortably at your side, at about waist level. When you make the back cast, it should come up to about the level of your shoulder. On the forward cast, the elbow should then return back to the relaxed position at your side. Your elbow movement should always be more of an up-and-down motion than a back-and-forth motion.

In fly-casting, timing is very important. You should always begin the forward cast at the instant the fly line straightens behind you. If you bring the rod forward before the back cast has straightened, you will hear a sharp crack, and the line will fall in a big

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puddle in front of you. You cannot get enough power traveling through the rod. After some practice, this timing will begin to feel natural. You will not need to keep looking behind you to watch your back cast. Keep in mind that different lengths of line require different timing. With a short cast the pause is very short. With a long cast, it takes longer for the line to straighten out behind you.

This cast is the most basic cast in fly-fishing. However, it is the most essential cast in order to be successful when fishing. Although fly-fishing can be a difficult sport to master, with a lot of dedication it can prove to be a great way to relax. Practice hard, and keep all of these tips in mind. If you can do this, you will be well on your way to becoming a great fly-fisherman.

Bibliography

Lindsay King