Earlier this month we ran a post with a short video clip of Tim Rajeff telling you how to cope with wind coming from the four different directions on the flats.
Today, Tim’s back to cover the fundamentals of casting in the wind. What are the fundamentals? Here’s Tim’s outline.
- A small loop cuts through the wind better than a wide loop. Generate a tight loop by making sure your rod tip tracks in a straight line.
- There’s no substitute for high line speed. A good double haul is key – that means the length of the haul matches the length of the casting stroke, and the power in the double haul is applied at the end.
But don’t take our word for it – here’s Tim!
NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to see Tim’s video on our web site.
Brilliant!!!!
Love Tim’s casting. Good tips here.
This is interesting, though, because the first thing I have to teach my clients about casting in the wind is to slooooow down. Most of the time it’s overpowering the rod, rushing the cast that defeats anglers in the wind.
Of course, I am NOT disagreeing with Mr. Rajeff here. I’m not nearly a good enough caster for that, and in all probability I don’t have a sound enough understanding of what he’s actually saying to argue. Facts don’t interest me. Getting anglers to be better casters does.
Tim discusses (rightly, of course) that the “power should be put at the end of the haul and the casting stroke”, but I’ve found the best way for anglers to put that there isn’t to speed up, it’s to slow down. A slow start allows a fast finish and control of the loop. Having anglers speed up their cast is about the worst thing they can do. It will go to pieces.
High line speed does in fact cut through the wind… but it isn’t mandatory. In fact, you’d be shocked how slowly you can unroll a flyline into a 15-20 knot breeze, with control.
Hey WindKnot,
Kyle here with Deneki. Great points! I couldn’t agree with you more with the common fault of rushing the cast when driving into a strong head wind. The result being the caster ‘shocking’ the rod, causing the rod tip to dip BELOW the straight line path Tim is talking about, causing tailing loops, a less efficient cas, and thus less line speed.
By slowing down, often times the caster is actually able to create MORE line speed by capitalizing on the oncoming wind to place a deeper load on the rod, while still being able to control the rod enough to keep it on the straight line path.
However, if you’re able to still control the rod enough to keep the rod tip tracking on the straight line (like Tim), then increasing the acceleration on the rod will only lead to casts cutting through the wind better.
But, you’re absolutely right, slowing down is usually the fix for many anglers to reach their maximum line speed potential, as that is the speed they are able to keep the rod on a straight line path for the most efficient cast possible.
Thanks for weighing in!!
Kyle,
Thanks! Appreciate such a positive response.
Tight lines,
WK