The Off-Shoulder Cast

*The off-shoulder cast. Photo: Mike Sanders.*

Presenting the fly with the wind blowing hard onto your casting shoulder (blowing onto your right side for right handed casters, or left side for left handed casters) is arguably the most difficult cast in fly fishing. With each subsequent false cast, the force of the wind pushes the fly line (and thus fly) closer and closer to the caster making for a difficult and potentially dangerous casting situation.

Changing wind conditions are extremely common on the flats. Therefore, its helpful to be comfortable with a variety of casts in order to deal with wind from any direction.

One of the most effective casts for dealing with wind on your casting side is a simple back cast presentation – making a forward cast directly opposite from your target and presenting the fly to the fish on the back cast. A back cast presentation is a great tool for turning over a fly in a heavy cross-wind, particularly at medium to long distances, however we find many anglers struggle to present the fly quickly and accurately on the back cast at shorter distances.

Therefore, we also recommend that anglers practice casting with their fly line off of their opposite shoulder as well using a simple cast called.. Wait for it.. The off shoulder cast!

Although it may feel a bit awkward at first, casting off of your opposite shoulder is a great tool for shorter shots when the wind is on your right shoulder (or on your left shoulder for you leftys). It’s quick, allows you to keep your eye on your target (thus making it more accurate), and keeps the fly traveling safely away from your body. With a little practice, it’s also not as difficult as many anglers realize.. Here’s how it works.

For Short Casts

Fly casting off your opposite shoulder - the off-shoulder cast. — **Step 1:** Start with the rod in your normal casting position. Notice the position of the rod hand, with the rod tip canted over the casting shoulder.

Note: Because we’re talking short casts here, stopping at your opposite shoulder on your back cast typically allows a long enough stroke for an efficient cast. However, for longer casts an adjustment must be made which we’ll discuss below.