Every season there are more and more individuals getting into the sport of fly fishing. Living on the coast, the idea of stripers on the fly is understandably enticing. I mean, who wouldn’t want to catch a 30” fish on a fly rod? It really is one of the most exciting things someone can experience. A seasoned fisherman or not, I can guarantee that anyone holding a fly rod with a 30” striped bass on the other end will be grinning ear to ear.
When beginning out as a saltwater fly caster, many of us turn to the internet. Youtube videos, and fishing articles are plentiful and offer just about everything we anglers need to know to get started. They all tell us a general sense of what to get—8 or 9 weight fly rod, clousers, stripping basket and extensive practice double hauling. These are all of the things that I was told, and these are all of the things that I did. Through frustration and patience, I saw improvement. After a while, I had absorbed everything I had read and seen—I had the basics down, and my only option left was to continue leaving the spinning rod home and spend more time on the water.
I recently spoke to a friend who is interested in getting more into fly fishing. I asked if he had started teaching himself to double haul. He sort of shrugged and said “I mean, I can get it out there.” His response indicated a mindset that implied he was unaware of how becoming a better fly caster could be beneficial. Whether you’re a chronically obsessed fly guy like myself or someone who simply enjoys casting a fly from time to time, there is enormous benefit to improving your ability to cast.
Anyone learning to fly fish is often encouraged to stop worrying about how far they can cast. This is true in just about every respect and I absolutely agree with this teaching method. Mega long-bomb casts aren’t going to make you a “better” fisherman. There are far more important things that go into being successful on the water. That said, over the years I have had many experiences, that have proven the benefit of being able to make those long casts. I often think about one experience in particular. My goal here is to encourage those who have the basics down—don’t stop there! Taking the extra time and having the patience to become a proficient double hauler is worth it in more ways that I could list here, I promise.
I had an experience a few years ago that was both frustrating but eye opening. I brought a buddy out to a spot where I had been catching fish very tight to shore. He was new to fly fishing but could consistently get the fly out at least 50-60 feet. My confidence was high as I knew the fish would be within his reach. We arrived and started fishing. I made a cast and began my usual retrieve. As I neared the end of my line, I lifted my rod to cast again and hooked a fish right in front of us. I made another cast, and hooked another fish no more than 40 feet away. It was non-stop action. My buddy was using the same everything—same fly, same line, same spot, standing in the same spot, fishing the same area. The only difference was how far we were casting. He couldn’t seem to get a bite. He would cast to where I had gotten a bite over and over but just couldn’t seem to hook up.
That’s when I had this epiphany and related it to the many times I’d heard (and told others) that “you only need to cast 40 feet.” My buddy was casting 40 or 50 feet. But the fish were not sitting 40 feet away. They were hanging out in the center of the channel, and following my fly throughout the retrieve. They were seemingly only convinced to bite as my fly made its way up the drop off. It became clear—my buddy was unable to get the fly in front of the school of fish, therefore could not get their attention to entice a strike. I’ve been in his shoes, and can honestly say it’s incredibly frustrating. This is a prime example of how a 90 foot cast can catch fish, when a 50 foot cast may not.
It’s true that most of the time a long cast is not necessary. Also, I absolutely support the intention behind telling people “You don’t need to cast more than 40 feet”—we don’t want to discourage anyone. That said, it’s a skill that shouldn’t be regarded as unnecessary or not worth taking the time to learn.
My point is: don’t limit yourself with statements such as “my cast is good enough". Even if fly fishing is simply a hobby and not something you obsess about, you will benefit so much from taking that time to nail down a good double haul. It can be very frustrating at times, but trust me when I say it is worth it.
A new fishing friend that I just met a few days ago said something that rings true and is very fitting considering the experience I just shared —“the essence of the sport…there is no perfect or best fly fisherman - we're all out there to get a little bit better than we were the morning, day or week before.”
-Tight lines!