The Pick Up
(Step 2 in Cast Execution)

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The Pick Up is the 2^nd step of the Backcast.  It is characterized by:

• The back of the elbow being thought of as the rod butt
• From there to the tip of the rod is a straight line
• With the forearm and wrist flat and essentially a “part” of the rod
• The rod tip begins from a position 2” above the water
• Slack has been removed from the fly line, but 3 rod lengths (approx. 25’) remain in front of the tip

The Pick Up is the 2nd and most critical step in the casting cycle.  It follows the Address.  It initiates the rod loading phase of the Backcast.  It sets the tempo for the entire cast and determines its eventual outcome.  

The purpose of the Pick Up is to begin loading the rod by putting pressure on the tip as the rod is lifted against the fly line.  The slower, more deliberate this motion, the better the straightening fly line will pull against the rod tip, thus bending the rod during the complete Backcast.   

The Pick Up begins with 3 rod lengths of fly line on the water.  As established at the Address, the rod tip should be about 2” (yes, inches) above the water.  The fly line must be as “tight” as possible, laying in a straight line in front of the caster, with no slack.

In a “dead lift” motion, raise as much line as possible off the water, using the elbow as a fulcrum and “stiff arming” the rod to a point about 90° from your starting point.

Note in this video clip:

• the Pick Up begins from below the horizontal . . . this insures that the fly line will be as straight as possible so that it begins immediately to pull against the rod tip as soon as the rod is raised, thus initiating the loading or energizing process

• the fluid, continuous uplifting motion . . . smooth, steady and at an ever-accelerating pace

• the straight line from elbow/forearm/wrist/rod . . . to do otherwise invites reduction in the pressure against the tip and hence less load on the rod, resulting in a poor cast

• at about 90 degrees from the start, the Pick Up continues to accelerate into the Rear Power Stroke

A slow, deliberate pick up avoids a common learning mistake . . .

that is, starting the backcast with all the fly line on the water. 

This results in a lot of disturbance on the water as the caster struggles to lift a long length of fly line that has to overcome friction with the water to become airborne.  And, it generally leads to an out-of-synch casting cycle.

A gentle lifting of as much line off the water as possible before applying the power stroke of the backcast eliminates these problems.  It also makes for a fluid acceleration into the backcast.

How much fly line should be out there to pick up?  About 3 times the length of the rod.

Previous / Next, let's review the rear power stroke portion of the backcast