Secret to a Successful Casting in The Wind/March 2011
It’s true that under normal fishing conditions a slightly larger, slower moving loop works better when casting big heavy flies and fast sinking lines or the combination of both. When fishing a fast sinking line if the line speed is too fast the loop opens too quickly before the cast can pull out all the running line. A slightly wider loop also prevents the end of the line from tumbling or piling up. Casting into the wind will slow down the loop speed and if the loop is too large the wind often stacks the loop up and it lands in a pile. When casting into the wind a tight loop and a faster casting stroke works better because it offsets the wind’s effect that decreases line speed. It also cuts through the wind with less resistance. And one of the disadvantages when casting heavily weighted flies is that the fly tracks poorly. Unless the casting stroke is very clean with a smooth casting stroke a weighted fly will kick off track. Often when casting into the wind anglers tend to overpower and hit the casting stroke too hard. This is normal because they feel the wind resistance and believe that hitting harder will give more distance. Try to keep the casting stroke smooth, throw a tight loop and pick a target just above the surface of the water to get under some of the wind’s effect.
Unless you are just dead set on fishing a heavily weighted fly here is a good line-fly combination to use in the surf. Try fishing a fast sinking line with a 25 to 30 foot fast sinking head with an intermediate running line. Use an 8 to 9 foot tapered leader and a big buoyant fly. The sinking fly line will get the fly down but the longer leader and buoyant fly will keep off the bottom. And, unweighted flies are easier to cast. This combination works well over sand and in locations with smooth boulders. When fishing over weedy, rough structure use the same fly-leader system but fish with an intermediate line. Depending on conditions adjust your retrieve to keep the fly off the bottom. Also, a good sinking line should have a back taper of a least 8 feet in length just after the head. This allows the caster to extend the head well beyond the tip and get more distance.
Regards,
Lou Tabory and the Albright Pro Staff
