Overall Tips, Points and Advice

1. The casting stroke is a smooth accelerated movement ending in a sudden stop. At first, the rod is accelerated slowly; then it smoothly increases until the power stroke ends with an abrupt stop.

2. At all times the line must be straight to be cast. The forward cast starts when the line is straightened by the backcast. All slack coils have to be eliminated before you can get the end of the line moving.

3. Observe how the line unrolls during all casting strokes. A caster’s goal is to control loop size, line speed, and direction.

Summary Points

1. The smooth acceleration with an abrupt stop is essential to the casting stroke. Tight loops are created by having the elbow pass through a straight horizontal path. Wide loops are made by making an arc in the elbow’s path. Tight loops are faster and more aerodynamic than wide loops; they allow for longer casts. On the other hand, wide loops are slower and delicate. Wide loops are used at times when a delicate delivery is needed. But most of the time a tight loop cast is best. It’s imperative to develop a smoothly accelerated stroke by passing the elbow through a straight horizontal path. Finally the casting stroke ends in an abrupt stop.

2. Forearm movement is made from the elbow and shoulder joint for both back and forward casts. This motion is similar to driving a nail with a hammer. Visualize a double headed hammer used to pound nails on both the back and forward strokes. This same smooth acceleration stroke that efficiently drives a nail drives the cast. THE SUDDEN STOP TRANSFERS ALL OF THE ENERGY TO THE LINE.

3. Clock positions: long casts correspondingly require longer rod arc strokes than shorter casts. Many short casts can be made between the 1 and 11 o’clock positions, while longer casts are between the 3 and 9 o’clock positions. Conserve your energy when casting by not expending any more motion than is necessary.