Behold! The bow-cast, the most effective way to cast into those tight, cramped spaces. It's a blast, it looks cool, and it lands those elusive trout other anglers simply cannot get to. Here's what to do.
Take Aim for the Bow-Cast
First, practice the bow-cast in the front yard without a leader or fly on the fly line. Take out about 1/2 to 2/3 rod-length of line at first, just to warm up. (When this is cast is mastered, one can become adept with more line.) Grab the tag end of the line between the forefinger and thumb. Don't leave slack line on the reel. With your rod hand, grip the fly line tightly, never allowing it to slip through the fingers.
Point the rod tip toward a good pool where the fly should land. Extend your rod arm out. Hold the end of the line tightly between the fingers. Pull the tag end back toward the chest or shoulder area, farther and farther back, until the rod tip begins to bow dramatically. The rod will look somewhat like an archer's bow ready to shoot an arrow.
Releasing the "Bow"
With the rod tip held at a slight angle upwards, without flicking the wrist, release the tag end of the line and let it fly. With practice, the line end should drop lightly wherever it's aimed. Please be cautious not to allow the line to fly near the eyes, ears or face upon release.
Next step, once this maneuver is mastered, tie on a leader, tippet, and fly. Repeat the steps, but this time, grab the fly at the shank (the straight part of the hook), with the hook point poking out the top between the forefinger and thumb. But watch it! A fly buried deep in the skin with that much pressure behind it will bring tears to the eyes of giants.
Again, if the amount of tension is decent, and the rod blank is bent back, and the rod isn't moved or thrust forward – wherever the rod is pointed, that's where it's going to land. Go ahead. Release! And keep practicing till Robin Hood would be jealous!
Hitting the Mark
It may also be necessary at times to lean the bend of the rod to the left, or to the right, or one might even need to kneel or lie down to get the fly under certain obstacles.
Try the bow-cast to get the fly into tighter spots and into tricky places, areas where less-skilled, less-experience anglers are not willing to experiment. You'll catch more trout, and it's a cool-looking cast. When there's no room to backcast, "shoot" a fly with the accuracy of a medieval archer and see what happens next!
Chad McPhail - My name is W. Chad McPhail. I teach high school English, Creative Writing, Publishing, and Journalism. In 2007 I was elected Teacher of ...
