FREE ESSAY ON LEARNING TO FLYCAST

LEARNING TO FLYCAST

The great outdoors is a provider of a vast variety of ways to relax. These methods can
range from camping to hiking to even snow skiing. Though the most effective way to escape
from the world and into nature is through fly-fishing. Fly-fishing can place you in the
middle of a peaceful stream but yet on the outskirts of a developing world. Although
learning to fly fish involves detailed steps and may be time consuming, it is guaranteed
to bring you peacefulness and relaxation. The well explained steps provided will teach
you the art of fly fishing in a timely manner.
First, you must make sure that you have the right equipment. You will need a fly rod, a
reel, and fly line. The reel is a device to retrieve line after casting. The fly line is
a stretchy elasticized material that connects the fly or lure to the rod enabling a
fisherman to retrieve his catch. It does not matter what weight rod you use, just be sure
that the weight of the line matches the weight of the rod. Take the pieces of the rod and
put them together, arranging the guides in a straight line. Attach the fly reel and pull
out some of the line. Take the line and run it though all of the guides, making sure not
to miss any of them. Once your preparations are complete, you can begin the fly casting
process.
Find a quiet, unobstructed place to practice. The best place to practice is on your lawn.
Set the rod down and pull about twenty feet of line straight out in front of the rod.
Pick the rod back up and grip it by the cork handle. When gripping the rod, place your
thumb on top of the cork handle. Plant your feet comfortably on the ground with your toes
pointing straight out in front of you. Hold the rod so that it is pointing straight out
at 
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waist level. Using your forearm, lift the rod straight up to the point just past
vertical. If you were looking at yourself from the side, the rod should start at the 9:00
position and stop at the 1:00 position. Turn your head and observe where the fly line
goes. The line should form a loop and then straighten out parallel to the ground. This is
called the back cast. When the back cast is complete, the line should be bending your rod
as it straightens behind you. Now you are ready for the forward cast, which is the most
important cast in fly-fishing.
Get the line back out in front of you and make another back cast. This time, turn your
head and watch closely for the instant that the line is perfectly straight behind the tip
of the rod. With a slight hammering motion, using your forearm and wrist, quickly bring
the rod tip back to the starting position in front of you. Do not try to throw the line,
just direct it out in front of you with the tip of the rod. Let the line fall. If you
made the cast correctly, the line should be a fairly straight line out in front of you.
If it is not, continue trying. Your elbow should start by hanging comfortably at your
side, at about waist level. When you make the back cast, it should come up to about the
level of your shoulder. On the forward cast, the elbow should then return back to the
relaxed position at your side. Your elbow movement should always be more of an
up-and-down motion than a back-and-forth motion.
In fly-casting, timing is very important. You should always begin the forward cast at the
instant the fly line straightens behind you. If you bring the rod forward before the back
cast has straightened, you will hear a sharp crack, and the line will fall in a big 
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puddle in front of you. You cannot get enough power traveling through the rod. After some
practice, this timing will begin to feel natural. You will not need to keep looking
behind you to watch your back cast. Keep in mind that different lengths of line require
different timing. With a short cast the pause is very short. With a long cast, it takes
longer for the line to straighten out behind you.
This cast is the most basic cast in fly-fishing. However, it is the most essential cast
in order to be successful when fishing. Although fly-fishing can be a difficult sport to
master, with a lot of dedication it can prove to be a great way to relax. Practice hard,
and keep all of these tips in mind. If you can do this, you will be well on your way to
becoming a great fly-fisherman.
Bibliography
Lindsay King