The Line Hand

 

 

The "line hand" for right-handed casters is the left hand.  Vice-versa for left-handers.  The opposite hand is the "rod hand."  The two hands have complimentary yet entirely separate responsibilities during the cast. 

The line hand plays a multiple and very critical role in the cast.  Its fundamental assignment is to act as an anchor.  It keeps the line tight and under control, before, during and after the cast.  It also serves to retrieve the fly line after the cast.

When first learning how to flycast, you should not use your line hand.  Just hold the fly line against the rod grip with the index finger of your rod hand.  Put your line hand in your pants pocket.  After you have progressed to a basic casting stroke using your rod hand only and can consistently make a pick up and lay down cast without thinking about it, then begin to gradually introduce the line hand.  

What's wrong with this cast?
 

Using the line hand

Note of the line hand (left hand):
  • the steady position . . . keep your line hand roughly at waist level, parallel to the ground & perpendicular to the body
  • lack of movement . . . the function of the line hand is to anchor the fly line during the cast; DO NOT let it “ride along” with the rod hand
  • firm hold on the line . . . the line hand must not allow slack to de-energize the cast; this is avoided by keeping the fly line tight against the 1st guide on the rod during the cast
  • the "tight line" . . . without a tight fly line, the pressure it creates against the rod tip will be lost and the cast will be robbed of its energy

This video clip shows the proper position, movement and
action of the line hand during the basic casting stroke.

 As the flycaster progresses in their level of skill and desires to produce longer casts, the line hand plays an increasingly important role. 

Advanced casting techniques include what are known as "hauls": single hauls and double hauls.  Hauls are specifically-timed movements of the fly line by the line hand during the power stroke phases of the casting stroke. 

The purpose of a line haul is to "increase line speed".  It does so by putting more pressure (i.e., "bend") in the rod which increases its energy, thus making the fly line go faster when it is pushed by unloading the rod.  Because the line travels faster, it helps overcome drag and therefore produces more distance in the cast.

Previous / Next, let's review the role of the wrist in the fly cast