The Finger

Courses Home Knots Equipment Fly Reels Fly Lines Leaders Fly Rods Insectology Flies Fish Casting Reference library Course map   Course subjects Home Grip Rod hand Line hand Wrist Elbow Address Pick up Backcast Forward cast Letdown Line control 10 to 2 The finger False cast Cast the line Load Casting faults & remedies Assessment

A key final step to any forward cast is the placement of the fly line by the line hand into the index finger of the rod hand.

This must be done immediately at the end of the forward power stroke.  At the same time the caster releases the fly line toward the target, the line hand, holding the fly line, moves toward the rod hand.  The fly line is placed into the index finger from just below it as the rod is being lowered during "let down" to the "fishing plane."

If the rod finger does not receive the fly line, the caster has virtually no means of controlling it.  With the fly line held securely against the rod grip by the finger of the rod hand, line can be “stripped” by the line hand, i.e., retrieved, thus “fishing the fly” and preparing for the next cast.  And, when a fish strikes the caster’s fly, the fly line will be straight, thus avoiding deadly slack and giving the angler leverage to raise the rod and thus set the hook.

Biggest little thing . . .

Previous / Next, let's review the technique known as "false casting"