Welcome to another installment of “Ask an Orvis Fly-Fishing Instructor,” with me, Peter Kutzer. In this episode, I demonstrate how to make three kinds of casts with a two-handed rod. Starting with a simple, static roll cast, we increase the amount of motion, moving to a dynamic roll cast, and then to the more advanced switch cast. As we move the line more, we are able to increase the line speed, which will enable you to cast farther and more accurately
Casting a two-handed rod is not difficult, but you need to pay attention to both the movements of your two hands—the top hand acting as little more than a fulcrum, and the bottom hand tugging the butt of the rod toward your belly to load the rod—as well as the timing of the casting stroke in relation to the “anchoring” of the line on the water.
With a little practice, you’ll get a feel for both, and you’ll find that you can make very fishable casts without any traditional backcast at all. Good luck!
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