How To Cast A Fishing Rod: A Beginners Guide To Fly Casting

Hi, how are you today? Great! I am hopefully writing this article on a nice day. Sit back, relax and enjoy reading this!

An important piece of gear that some people enjoy using is the fishing rod. It’s always a thing of joy when you finally get to catch your first fish. However, casting these rods can be tricky.

You want to know how to cast your fishing rod properly so it flies the way you want it to. There are many tips and tricks to throwing a fishing cast, but I’ll be focusing on the best and most important ones.

Getting Ready To Cast A Fishing Rod

Don’t be too quick to cast, patience is a virtue!

We believe that before you learn the perks of how to cast a fishing rod, you should be ready! In this section, we will cover a couple of things you need to ensure just before you cast. We want a perfect cast and that would not be complete without prerequisites.

What you’ll need：

1. A Fishing Rod, Reel, & Line

You can get this from your local fishing hardware store. Get all three individually or in a package. The easiest to use is called the spin casting rod, if you are a beginner, this should be your option.

2. Live Bait or Fishing Tackle

You will also need bait, you won’t be catching any fish without this. There are different baits used for different fishes. Live bait includes real worms, nightcrawlers, and more, while fishing tackles are unreal baits made to resemble actual fishing bait, they usually come in different forms.

Find A Spot For Casting: Identifying Sandbars

At this point, I believe you have all the necessary materials required to fish. However, you shouldn’t just go anywhere to fish! Finding the right spot on the bank is very essential if you really want to get a good catch.

Here are a couple of tips for finding the best spot;

• Watch for birds; They have good eyes and can spot fishes in the water better than you.
• Watch for sandbars; They form underwater. You should find 2-3 separating the shore from the open sea.
• Target the channels; These are openings that break sandbars allowing current to run out.
• Troughs: These are deep waters between 2 sandbars, also called sloughs.
• Target the edges of sandbars.

Types Of Fishing Casts: How To Cast A Fishing Rod

As a newbie, it is important to know the various fishing casts techniques out there, don’t worry, I’ll try to make it brief and exciting as you read along.

Understanding all of these would give you an upper hand, however, I would suggest that you pick one technique and master the tricks before moving to another.

These are only a few casting techniques, there are other ones out there, but we prefer these because they are beginner-friendly.

1. Overhead Cast
2. Reach Cast
3. Tuck Cast
4. The Sidearm Casting

Overhead Cast

The overhead cast is the basic fly fishing cast. This is one of the most common casting techniques in the world of fishing. It delivers distance and precision.

As a beginner, I would advise that you learn this casting technique first before trying out others. Check details below on how to perform a unique and precise overhead cast.

Note: Your off-hand should be almost at the end of the handle and your strong hand will be just right above your off-hand.

1. Get your reel ready for casting, ensure that everything is in place.
2. While in position, grab the lower part of the rod with both your hands. (don’t overlay your hands, keep them apart)
3. Move the tip of the fishing rod back just over your head (the same position you would be in while chopping wood). Do not go farther than 2 O’clock.
4. Don't throw it so hard that you snap it before your lure moves forward!
5. Now, pull with your off-hand while keeping your strong hand still, and using it as the pivot which the rod moves around.
6. Release the line when the tip of the rod is directly above you. Just about 12 O’clock.
7. Follow through till about 10 O’clock, watching where the rod is headed.

Advantages	Disadvantages
It delivers distance & precision.	Getting the timing right is difficult at first.
It is easy to master.	Water splashes when the line is lifted off the water.

The Reach Cast

This is yet another casting technique used in fly fishing. It basically involves casting the fly or bait on flowing water. Doing the reach cast makes the fly perform a less apparent drag in the water.

With this technique, no underwater mending is required. This means that you won’t need to adjust the positioning of the fly while it is on the water. The mending actually takes place before the fly hits the water.

How To;

1. Locate a good fishing spot with flowing water (a stream is fine).
2. Attach the bait.
3. Draw out a good amount of fishing line.
4. Hold the fishing rod in the 12 O’clock position and cast, then reach out by widening your arms to the far right or left. Do this while the line is unfolding, just before the fly hits the water.

Advantages	Disadvantages
You won’t have to make an adjustment as it happens on its own. The fly performs a less apparent movement in the water.	It is quite difficult to master.

The Tuck Cast

This is yet another useful fly-fishing technique and has proven to be very useful especially when fishing with nymphs. Using this tuck cast will enable the nymphs to sink quickly. All you have to do is apply a little quick lift with the rod after casting and this would cause the fly to kick, and then sink.

However, your fly has to be a little bit weighted which would cause it to sink. Performing the tuck cast isn’t as easy as it may seem, but with practice, you will get the hang of it.

How To; (In an Upstream Situation)

1. While gripping the fishing rod firmly.
2. Let’s say your fly is downstream and you are ready to cast;
3. Go ahead and cast, giving a strong push with your strong hand at the 12 o’clock position.
4. Apply a subtle and quick lift that will allow the nymph or fly to sink.

Advantages	Disadvantages
The technique allows your fly to sink a lot faster.	The wrong lift could shoot the fly right back at you.
Perfect for upstream situations	Takes a while to master.

The Sidearm Cast

Here’s yet another useful technique in the fishing world. Now, this method is ideal for fishing situations where there is an obstruction like a tree above you or something else hindering you from performing the overhead cast. Sidearm casting is also very useful in windy situations.

This method is also great for reducing splash and can give you a very good distance if you have practiced well enough. Performing it isn’t difficult, you are basically doing almost the same thing with the overhead cast, the only difference is, this time your hands are sideways.

How To;

1. Prepare your reel for casting.
2. You can use both hands for this technique, but I would rather use just one hand. Two hands however, can give you more power.
3. Keep your arms in a sidearm motion (like you are about to hit a baseball with a bat)
4. Swing the rod backwards but not too far away.
5. Release the line almost immediately you swing pointing the tip of the rod towards your target.

Advantages	Disadvantages
It is useful in windy situations	It is less accurate.
It is easy to master.	Releasing late would cause the fly to drift away.
It can be used in tight fishing situations.

Do’s & Don’t While Fly Casting

Have you ever wondered how many types of mistakes can occur while fly-casting? As it turns out, there are quite a few. I like to think of fly-fishing as an art form, and like all art forms, there is much room for improvement.

Here are some of the things you should and should not be doing while fly casting.

1. Do not slap the water behind you with the fly.
2. Don’t rip the line, it’ll make you tired fast, pull instead.
3. Do not start with the rod tip too high.
4. Do not use too much muscle when casting.
5. Be patient.

How To Claim Your Prize

If you have gotten your prize (fish) and you have no idea how to reel, you might end up losing the fish. Don’t worry, reeling isn’t difficult. We have found one of the best videos that teach you how to reel in your prize.

Conclusion

Thanks for stopping by to read this article on how to cast a fishing rod. I hope this guide has helped you understand some basic things about casting a fishing rod.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get it on the first try. Practice makes perfect! Keep going at it and soon you will be a pro in casting. See ya!