One of the biggest casting mistakes made on the saltwater flats is the dreaded ‘dropping of the backcast’. We all do it from time to time…but it sure screws things up when we do.
Dropping your backcast happens most often in an effort to add distance to a cast, and the effect is quite the opposite. Here’s the not-so-pretty sequence of events.
- A nice false cast is made.
- Angler thinks “OK, time to bomb it out there.”
- On the next backcast, angler reaches back and opens wrist downward a couple of inches, which drops rod tip down several feet.
- What was once a nice tight loop turns into a massive, open monstrosity.
- Backcast lands on the water, on the boat, on the guide, etc.
- Hopelessly overpowered forward cast (in hope to compensate) results in violent, open, low-energy loop that doesn’t go as far as the nice false cast at the beginning of the story.
How do you avoid this scenario? It’s simple to describe but only easy to execute with a lot of practice and a lot of calm.
- On your backcast, stop your wrist high. Imagine throwing your backcast high behind you.
- Wait for the line to straighten, loading the rod.
- Make a nice, smooth forward stroke.
- Catch the fish.
Don’t take our word for it though. Here’s Freddie from Andros South layin’ in down in his own words. Don’t “carry your hand back too much.”
NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to see Freddie on YouTube.
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