Each flycaster will develop their own rod angle, and if you depart from our vertical ideal, that is fine. However, the basic principles of a flycast should not change. The key is to maintain constant pressure with the fly line against the rod tip regardless of the rod/arm angle.
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The Backcast consists of 3 phases:
Address, Pick Up, Rear Power Stroke. Each phase
has distinct responsibilities, but all are tied together in one
fluid motion. Phase #1: To be successful, the Backcast must start properly. This is established at the “Address” position: with a low rod tip, a tight line, and 3 rod lengths of line in front of the tip. Phase #2: The “Pick Up” phase is a “deadlift” of the rod upward to a range of 90°. This lifts the fly line off the water, putting pressure against the rod tip, which begins to load the rod. Phase #3: The “Rear Power Stroke” maximizes load as it accelerates the rod to an abrupt stop when the wrist is used to punch the tip. |
Backcast
(Step 3 in Cast Execution)
The Backcast is the 1st “stroke” in the 2 stroke casting cycle. It precedes the Forward Cast. Its purpose is to “cast” the fly line on a rearward trajectory and ensure that the Forward Cast is properly prepared to deliver the fly to the target in front of the caster.
The Backcast, like the Forward Cast, is accomplished by the loading and unloading of a flexible push lever: the fly rod. The foundation or fulcrum point of this lever is the elbow. During the Backcast, the forearm and wrist act as one piece and rotate on the elbow in an upward motion. (To be more accurate in describing this casting stroke, we might even call it an “Upcast”, as its direction is predominately up rather than back.)
“Cycle Time” is the period of brief hesitation as the caster waits for the fly line to unroll above and behind. As the fly line begins to pull against the stationery rod it signals to the caster to begin the Forward Cast.
The Backcast is the more important of the 2 part fly casting cycle. It "sets the example" for the rest of the cast.
If the Backcast is tentative, out-of-sync or fails to load
the rod, at best the forward cast is difficult to perform well.
Beginning casters should concentrate on perfecting their Backcast 1st . . .
the forward cast is then much easier to develop.
The wise caster will always be mindful that the better cast is one that is properly loaded by the Backcast and to not rely solely on the forward cast to produce desirable results.
Previous / Next, let's review the
address stage of the backcast 