Beads of Wisdom

Fly Fishing from a Paddle Craft

Casting

Adjusting to the ride

     Now you are geared up, decked out, and ready for that big fish. But you will find that casting in a paddle craft is different. So here are a few thoughts to keep in mind before you toss that fly.

● Casting from a paddle craft is an inexact skill; glasses are necessary

● Before combining the dynamics of paddling and the athletics of casting, Take a few paddle-only-trips

● And, practice casting while sitting on the ground

● The substance of your fly cast should remain the same

● Simply move your arm like you are doing a basic pick-up-and-lay-down cast

● Limit false casts

● Keep the rod tip high

● Restrict your body turn during the cast. Keep the boat under you

● Aim your casts high. You are already very low to the water

● Rearrange the extra fly line before each cast

● Casting from a paddle craft is an inexact skill; frustration is not necessary

● Wear your PFD. Some time paddling, casting, and catching from a quivering paddle craft, and you will make use of it

Grow confident with the simplicity in your cast. In the next installment in this series, we will offer that big fish a fly.