Reviewed by Pete Sutton

As someone very interested both in fly casting and the teaching of fly casting I am always on the lookout for new books and new videos on the subject, because I believe that there is always something extra to be learned. A new way of looking at something, a different explanation, or another way to communicate a particular aspect to someone else. I think this video contributes positively in all these respects.

It seems as if the video was produced in 1998, so it is quite a recent one and George looks like quite a young man (although most people are now looking 'quite young' to me), and the video comes complete with a booklet which more or less mirrors the format of the video itself but with some additional explanations on using the programme, preparation and equipment.

George begins by stating briefly the merits of being able to cast good distances and moves on to explain that although different casting styles exist they all certain constant similarities which make them effective and he describes these as being; the ability to load and unload the rod properly, the ability to form tight loops and lengthening the casting stroke when casting longer distances.

George claims that once these three basic elements are learned and refined long casts will be possible with virtually any rod and line, and without hauling. I certainly don't disagree with any of that; and it is good that he thoroughly explains the need for a smooth application of power, by accelerating the rod, rather than by 'hitting' or 'punching' it, lengthening the casting stroke by drifting, and the need for good form. I would, however, have liked him to put more emphasis on the need for the forward cast and the back cast to be in the same plane i.e. at 180 degrees to each other, for maximum power and distance. He also makes perhaps a little too much use of the well known analogy of the bow and arrow, which although useful for explaining to beginners the need for loading (bending) the rod is also an incomplete and somewhat inaccurate analogy as it takes no account of the, very important, leverage effect of the fly rod.

After this short introduction George then moves onto his 10 steps and works through them in a very clear and logical way;

1. The Back Cast
2. The Forward Cast
3. Shooting Line
4. Rod Drift
5. Distance Casting
6. Hauling, Part One
7. Hauling, Part Two
8. Hauling for Distance and Power
9. Casting in the Wind
10. Weighted Lines and Weighted Flies.

I particularly like the way George emphasises the need for mastering one step at a time. Although how many people would have the patience to actually follow his advice I don't know; most of the beginners/improvers that I have come across can't wait to see how far they can 'sling it'. It is good advice none the less.

There is a very good explanation of the dreaded tailing loop and sound advice on how to avoid and correct it with particular reference to the need to pull the line from behind, or to pull the rod into a bend. Something many instructors and makers of videos fail to even mention.

George moves logically through the entire casting routine, dealing thoroughly with each aspect before moving onto the next, dispensing lots of good advice and good explanations along the way, emphasising the need for good basic rod strokes and good form at all times and I particularly like the way he insists that a good basic casting stroke should be learned before attempting the double haul. So many people just learn to throw their mistakes a bit further by applying the double haul to a poor basic rod stroke. It is correct that 80' casts without a haul are eminently possible provided your basic technique is sound, and like he says. 'A double haul won't turn a 40' caster into an 80' caster'. So get your basic cast correct and sound before moving on to the double haul.

Are there any aspects to George's teaching that I would question or take issue with? Apart from what I consider to be the overuse of the 'bow and arrow' analogy which I've already mentioned, there is I think, one oversight or omission, and that is his failure to mention the need for the rod tip to travel upwards on the back cast in order to ensure that the line remains high in the air behind (it also encourages the forward cast to begin with the pulling movement which George does insist upon). This may stem from the fact that this is a video aimed at salt water fly casting where the back cast area is usually relatively free of trees, bushes, long grass and other obstructions waiting to catch your fly. Certainly with the type of fishing I mainly do, failure to keep your back cast high will see you spending more time extracting your flies from the grass than fishing, and of course when large lengths of line have to be held in the air, a high and fast back cast is essential.

Finally I thought that, in his booklet, he was unnecessarily dismissive of shooting heads, calling them 'Little more than a crutch to anyone hoping to legitimately improve his fly casting'. Sorry George but I think you are wrong on this point. True there are bad casters using shooting heads just as there are bad casters using full fly lines but a shooting head in skilled hands can be a wonderful and useful tool, not just for the extra distance it can afford, but also for the additional time your flies can spend in the water, because a shooting head is so quick to cast with. It is also a relatively simple matter to carry one reel and shooting head backing together with a number of different shooting heads in different densities for those occasions when they are needed.

This is a very good instructional casting video and any beginner or intermediate caster would almost certainly benefit from following the programme as set out, although I think the upward movement of the rod tip should be added to the back cast stroke. The video, together with the booklet, is obtainable from www.whitemouseflyfishing.com, but make sure your video player will play the NTSC system, as it isn't available in PAL. Even if you don't buy the video you should check out this web site if only for the fly patterns he recommends.

Pete Sutton AAPGAI.

Saltwater Flycasting - 10 steps to distance and power costs $39.95, plus $4.00 shipping and is available through www.whitemouseflyfishing.com.