In the last installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” we dealt with the most basic elements of the fly cast, but now we deal with the other end of the spectrum: an advanced, specialized cast for very specific angling situations. But just because a a cast is labeled “advanced” doesn’t mean that it’s difficult to master.
The bow-and-arrow cast is for when you are fishing in very tight quarters—where you have no room for a backcast—or for delivering a fly through a small window of space—say, between two tree branches. Those of us who love fishing for brook trout on tiny mountain streams often find ourselves surrounded by trees or bushes that make traditional casting impossible. The bow-and-arrow cast is sometimes the only way to get the fly to the fish. But the cast also has applications for warmwater anglers who have casting obstructions behind them, or even in saltwater for fishermen dealing with thick mangroves.
The key to a good bow-and-arrow cast, as you’ll see, is where you grasp the line. Once you’ve got that nailed down, it’s just a matter of point and shoot. So practice this useful cast, and you’ll find that it comes in handy.
Previous episodes:
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor I: Casting Heavy Flies in the Wind
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor II: Roll-Casting for Accuracy & Distance
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor III: Casting in the Wind
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor IV: Casting Accuracy
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor V: The Curve Cast
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor VI: Casting Angles
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor VII: How to Double Haul
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor VIII: Fixing Tailing Loops
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor IX: How to Make Delicate Presentations
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor X: The Steeple Cast
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XI: How to Avoid Hitting Your Rod with Your Fly
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XII: Don’t be a Creep
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XIII: Parachute and Pile Casts
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XIV: How to Make a Reach Cast
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XV: How to Make a Tuck Cast
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XVI: How to Make an Aerial Mend
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XVII: How to Make Roll and Switch Casts with a Two-Handed Rod
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XVII: How to Make a Tuck Cast
Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XVIII: The Basic Cast
Hello,
Firstly, I love these videos! So thanks for posting them.
Now, with this method of the bow and arrow, how do you avoid getting hit with the fly? I’ve tried this method numerous times (without a fly tied on) and I always seem to get hit with the leader. Am I trying to use this technique with too much line, perhaps? Other sources suggest holding the fly so as to not get hooked with the fly, but that limits the length of line you can ‘release’. I liked the method shown in this video because it suggests the line can be longer, however, it would seem that I would be hooking myself practically every time (if I tied a fly onto the leader). Suggestions?
Cheers,
Eric
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