Central Coast Fly Fishing - Carmel, CA

Fishing Tips

Marabou is an unruly material to tie flies with. Stroking it with damp fingers will make it easier to work with.

Fly casting is really the heart of fly fishing. Good casters catch more fish because they are more confident in making the more difficult shots. Good casting also means less down time picking your fly out of the trees or fiddling with pesky wind knots. Most of the students I've instructed since 1990 have the potential to be better-than-average casters but they aren't able to accurately critique their own casting without some objective input. They do, however, have full-time access to help whenever they want it. This service is designed for those who don't have the time for one-on-one professional instruction or don't live in an area where it's readily available.

Are you having problems with your cast? Don't fret too much about it because most people share the same problems. Chances are the frustrations you're encountering when casting are easily remedied. Your ability to fix those bad habits ultimately depends on how much you practice good form based on the corrections I'll provide you.

Do you want to better understand the mechanics of a good cast? I'll tell you not only what you need to correct but also why you need to correct it so it will make sense to you.

What I'll need from you is about 20-seconds of video of you casting broadside to the camera (casting arm facing the camera) and about 20-seconds of video casting towards the camera. The broadside shot should be close enough that I can clearly see the movement of your entire arm, including the lower section of the fly rod (see picture A). The shot of you casting towards the camera should show all of you, including the fly rod (see picture B). You can send your video to me via email (geoff@centralcoastflyfishing.com) in a format that can be viewed with Quick Time Player or by way of the postal service using VHS, VHS-C or DVD format. After reviewing your videos, I'll provide you with a complete description of the good and bad points about your casting and any corrections necessary to make it better. I'll also include some video of me casting for you to compare to your own. After you have reviewed the information I send back to you, you are welcome to contact me if you need further explanations about your casting.