How to False Cast in Fly-Fishing

In fly-fishing, it is the false cast that can get you to your desired target. It is casting the line back and forth without letting it hit the ground or the water. The key is to keep the line off the surface to avoid spooking the fish, while you build enough distance on your line to present it to the location you want to fish.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Fly-fishing Leaders
• Backing/fly-fishing
• Fly-fishing Lines
• Fly-fishing Rods
• Fly-fishing Reels
• Fly-fishing Flies

1. Practice without a fly tied to the line. You may want to use something brightly colored at the end of your line, such as bright yarn, so that you can track it without worrying about hooking something.
2. Get in a large open area and lay out 25 feet to 30 feet of line out before you. This can be practiced on land first until you have the motion down.
3. Grip the rod with your rod hand, thumb on top. Use your free hand to hold the line between your thumb and forefinger at waist level.
4. Angle your rod toward the target. Think of the rotation of your arm in casting like that of a clock. Use a swift stroke to lift the line from the ground and stop at 1 o'clock. The line should have looped behind you and straightened parallel to the ground when coming out of the loop.
5. Practice casting forward to 11 o'clock before letting the fly line hit the ground. This is the false cast. It should move between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock position, pausing in the middle long enough to let the line straighten but not touch the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider learning how to cast on grass first. Working on concrete will ruin the protective coating on your line. If you want to practice on concrete, use a piece of junk line you don't mind ruining.
• Add a piece of colored yarn to the end of your line when practicing so that you can see where your fly will end up without worrying about getting an actual hook snagged on the grass.
• The longer the line you are casting, the longer you should pause between forward and backward casts.
• Have someone watch your cast to make sure you stay between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock.
• If you can hear a cracking sound in your line, you are not pausing long enough between casts.