This is the backhand Snake Roll cast to a 45 degree angle change. It is mirror image of:
http://www.sexyloops.com/flycast/snake-roll-45/
Just as when making the backhand Double Spey, you have to pay attention so that your rod tip doesn’t drift in behind your shoulder – remember with all Roll Casts it is important that the rod is canted (tilted) during the Casting Stroke, so that the rod tip travels above or just inside the anchor placement. A common fault is to place the anchor in the correct position but then to drift the rod tip in behind the shoulder, followed by a cast close to the vertical plane. This results in the rod tip not travelling directly above the anchor, making the cast inefficient, and you may even hook your shoulder in the process!
So, as with all Roll Casts, pay attention to the anchor alignment, the rear target position for the D-loop and the forward target where you want to present your fly, and make sure that they all align.
Before we move onto our next cast let us make a quick study of the differences, as well as the similarities, between the Double Spey and the Snake Roll:
They are both used in the same scenario, ie a downstream wind. The Double Spey is a waterborne anchor cast. It is most useful for heavy flies and sink tip lines. The Snake Roll is an airborne anchor cast. It has the advantage that it is both faster to perform and it causes less water disturbance. It is most useful for single lightweight flies. For wide angle changes of over 90 degrees the Snake Roll is easiest. For very narrow angle changes close to 0 degrees the Double Spey is easiest.
Remember: if you were to spend six months just practising anchor placements it would not be wasted time.
Do you have a question? Try asking here on the Board:
http://www.sexyloops.co.uk/theboard/viewforum.php?f=86
Or send me an email:
paul@sexyloops.com
Cheers, Paul