Video Tuesday Tip: How to Make a Water Haul Cast

Written by: Peter Kutzer

Welcome to another installment of “Ask an Orvis Fly-Fishing Instructor,” with me, Peter Kutzer. In this episode, I demonstrate how to make a water haul, which uses the water tension and the force of the current on your line to load the rod. By loading the rod this way, you can make a quick, accurate upstream presentation without false-casting at all. This is great for two reasons: first, it gets your flies back in the water faster; but perhaps more importantly, it means you can cast complex rigs (two flies, plus an indicator and split shot, for example) without fear of tangling.

There are a couple things to keep in mind when you’re making a water haul. You need to break the surface tension of the water by lifting the rod slowly at first. Otherwise, you might make the line snap off the water, creating an unholy mess. Once you’ve got the line moving, rotate your hand, so your thumb is on the top of the grip. The thumb is how you’ll aim the cast. When you’re lined up with your target, accelerate to a stop as you normally would.

Practice this a few times, and you’ll see how useful the water haul can be in many angling situations. 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

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XVII: How to Make Roll and Switch Casts with a Two-Handed Rod

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XVIII: The Basic Cast

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XIX: The Bow & Arrow Cast

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XIX: The Basic Cast

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XX: The “Ready Position” and Fishing from a Boat

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XXI: The Basic Back Cast

Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor XXIII: How to Use a Stripping Basket