The Roll Cast is to the cast to use any time that you can’t make a backcast; i.e. rear bankside obstructions or a very strong gale-force wind from behind you. It is also useful as a casting sequence when fishing the fly to your feet. It has a further use for picking up sinking lines and it can be used – sometimes – to unhook a snagged fly. It has one other use – to hook a fish that has followed and eaten a dibbled fly!
(Dibbling is a technique of dancing a fly – normally the top dropper – causing it to scratch its way across the water surface. More info here )
Brian Henderson (Australian MCI and casting guru) ‘s method involves flicking narrow loops down the anchored line, ultimately increasing their force (and using some body) to create a tight looped roll cast. This is the teaching method I have used here.
KEY POINTS for Roll Casts.
- Form a D-loop behind you.
- Create a stationary anchor approximately 1/2 rod length off to your side.
- Tilt (cant) the rod to one side so that the rod tip is above the anchor.
- Make the forward cast using rod translation (key term “Drag“) followed by late rotation.
- Lower the rod.
You MUST learn to form the D-loop (and cast) off both shoulders.
FINALLY PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
- Slide the line across the surface to set up a Roll Cast.
- Roll cast into the air
- False Cast slipping line AFTER the stop on the forward cast and as the loop is unrolling
- Shoot most of your line on the final Forward Cast.
Got a Roll Cast question? Try asking here on the Board: http://www.sexyloops.co.uk/theboard/viewforum.php?f=42
Alternatively drop me an email: paul@sexyloops.com