Casting etc.

Switch Rod Course

20/08/16 15:42

On August 27th I'll be running a course on fishing and casting Switch rods in conjunction with The First Cast Fly Shop in Guelph. Read More...

Spring Spey Casting Tuneup

17/04/16 07:46

We were out yesterday for a Spring Spey casting tuneup organized by the The First Cast fly shop in Guelph. The Speed River was up and moving so it gave us lots of current to work a sinktip setup.
We had five in all (one escaped before the group shot) and everyone did very well.
Read More...

Skagit is not easy

13/01/16 12:14

Let’s get past the idea that Skagit is easier than the other two styles. If we want to Skagit cast well, it requires just as much skill and practice as the other two styles. It is most definitely not easier and we should stop making the automatic “buy Skagit” recommendation to a beginner based on that reason. A buy Skagit recommendation should be based on the person's likely fishing conditions and the best fit for them.
Read More...

Anchor difficulties with switch rods

04/01/16 18:08

While out fishing with a switch rod, one of the interesting things I've been playing with is the idea of relating head length to sinktip weight. In other words, I'm turning heavier tips and bigger flies using shorter heads versus using longer lines with lighter tips. The idea behind this is to make our casting as consistent and easy as possible by making anchor management easier.

Read More...

Tim Rajeff on distance casting

09/10/15 15:04

Here's an interesting video from Tim Rajeff on distance casting techniques. I do some of this stuff that he talks about and it really does work. More importantly from my perspective, I can fish all day at a 100' distance and not blow out my arms. Read More...

Relationship between running line and turnover

10/07/14 07:31

I’ve been out recently testing how light a line my NRX 15' 10/11 ca handle. I went down as low as a 7/8 Airflo Scandi 480 plus a floating polyleader. It was interesting the extent to which the running line influenced the turnover at maximum casting distance. Read More...

Lifting and Casting Full Sinkers

23/10/13 12:22

While casting full sinkers is not a problem, the lift however, can be an adventure to the uninitiated. Sometimes there's no choice but to roll cast up a deeply sunk line, but in most cases, a few techniques will get the job done quite easily.

Read More...

Armed Practice

09/07/13 14:50

Just want to talk about this a little more. Went out again today with the 15 footer, a small, unweighted fly and fished a run with little expectation of a fish -- what I call ‘armed practice’. Read More...

Getting the right long belly

29/06/13 11:15

People usually struggle when moving to their first long belly line and that’s pretty normal for just about everyone. No doubt that there’s a learning curve to be rounded, but there are a few things that can shorten the journey.
Read More...

Casting vs. Fishing

28/05/13 17:58

A couple of years ago, I bought a trout rod without first trying it. I knew the series well and liked all that I had tried so I had no qualms about buying it untested. Read More...

Double Clutching

31/10/12 11:55

Ever watch someone routinely make two casts when only one is needed. We all do it on occasion when we botch a cast, but to do it routinely? Why expend all that effort and disturb the water that much? Read More...

Distance, that bad word

10/10/12 11:10

I keep hearing the comment that we don’t have to cast far to catch fish. Read More...