Into the wind [Versión en español]

In the case of the traditional overhead cast, we are aiming for the loop to straighten out, on the forward cast, at a height of approximately 3 to 4 feet above the surface of the water and then, lightly descend as one, landing ever so gently upon the water. This is an ideal world of course, and so everything is possible.

Bung this into the wind and it's another story. The line straightens out, and before it has a chance to land, the wind whips it up and delivers it straight back to your feet.

Brute force follows shortly after.

I did a truly fantastic demo with Karen (even if I do say so myself) where by applying superior force (and most importantly a large rod arc) I demonstrated how the line would end up in a crumpled mess at my feet, and then with the lightest of touches and a narrow loop, I sent the line out straight as a die into the wind. Of course I normally get paid for this sort of thing (I think she was impressed!)...

Anyway the real issue is angles. We want to angle our forward cast low so that when the loop straightens the line is on the water, and not some 3 to 4 feet above it. If you do this with a horizontal backcast, you throw an open loop on the forward cast. Bad move. The backcast and forward cast should be diametrically opposite.

This means that in order to cast the line onto the water, one must angle the backcast so that it straightens at an angle above the horizontal.

The best way to do this is to 'tuck up'. Instead of making the lift element by lifting the hand and elbow forwards as one normally does, try hunching the shoulder and lifting the elbow directly upwards. This changes the angle the hand makes during the backstroke, and therefore the angle the rod travels.

I have also made a short 10 second movie...