Fly Fusion Field Editor Jeff Wagner and fly-fishing icon Bruce Richards cover various topics in this informative fly-casting series that is packed full of cast-changing tips. In this Episode Jeff Wagner covers the fundamentals of distance fly casting. With these simple techniques you can add distance to your cast for that next saltwater fly fishing trip for bonefish.
Fly Fusion Field Editor Jeff Wagner and fly-fishing icon Bruce Richards cover various topics in this informative fly-casting series that is packed full of cast-changing tips. In this unit of Fly Fusion’s Cast Like a Pro Series Bruce Richards discusses basics of the cast.
Tip #2 for the Guide: Servant Heart
Hands down, the best guides I know on the river are those who truly care and serve their clients. Having a servant heart means leaving your ego at the door. Being cognitive to your clients needs in every aspect of their experience is so important and knowing that your actions are serving your client will help shape your attitude throughout the day. The best compliment that I receive from my clients, is when they tell me that they felt we took care of them all day! Approach your day with a WE not a ME attitude.
Photo & Tips: Dana Lattery @flyfishingbowriver
Tip #1 for the Client: Manage Expectations
So, now we know that when you are booking a guided trip, the outfitter should ask you what you want out of your trip. And wether it your first trip or your 100th, this is a very important step to making your trip successful! Yes, it’s a fishing trip, but the outfitter needs to know what’s important to you so they can properly prepare and design your trip to meet your needs.
Discuss your skill level, special skills you are fine-tuning, fishing styles or species you are targeting. And, just because you went over these when booking your trip, don’t assume your guide is aware. This is your most important conversation of the day. Don’t get in that boat without having gone over your expectations!
Guide, Outfitter, and all round great guy, Dana Lattery @flyfishingbowriver shares some sage advice in the winter issue of Fly Fusion. But…with more great material than the pages of the mag would allow, we thought it would be fun to share a series of his top tips here.
Guide Tip #1:
Manage Expectations: Observe, Shape, Perform
This is our clients day on the water, not ours. Our first conversation should be in order to figure out what they want to get out of their day…which isn’t always the same as what we want. I can’t stress this enough. To ensure a successful day, we need to be on the same page as our clients.
We can assume that they want to catch fish, but it is always appreciated when you are clear about how the fishing has been. Never tell your clients “ you should have been here yesterday”, this is just an excuse and is not fair to them.
Following is a simple summary of expectations from one of my clients: “My goals for the day are as such, Good times, big smiles, fish, and great memories”. Easily laid out, now it’s my role to shape these and expand on the details; conditions, techniques, seasonal considerations etc.
Suggest, but never trump their desires. I have an annual client who who only wants to use a dry fly. We know that this isn’t always a possibility, but together, through proper scheduling and concerted effort we make for a higher probability of success.
A straight-line cast is often the best way to present a fly, but sometimes you need to change your location in order to get the drift you want. When you’re able to move, you should. But if trees, currents, the position of the fish or the position of the sun won’t allow you to move without spooking the fish or getting into wading trouble, the best option is often to use a mend. Read More
Throwback to the first season of the Fly Fusion Series with Al Ritt on the vise. Filmed on location at Island Lake Lodge, nestled in the heart of the Rockies in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.
A basic mend involves moving the rod tip in a half-circle motion that positions fly line upstream of the leader, flies, or indicator. This removes the tension applied by the moving current and helps you improve the depth and control of your presentation. The downside of the basic mend is how long it takes to perform, and the water-disturbing and fish-disturbing movement it imparts to the fly.
When I was younger, I not only spent as much time on the water as I could, but I read every fly-fishing book on the shelf over and over again. I also watched instructional videos. Doug Swisher, who presented his Mastery Series of videos with Scientific Anglers, is one of my teaching idols. In his video on selective trout, he demonstrates the stack mend for use with sinking flies. It’s performed by throwing a mini-cast with a “micro-second wrist” toward the flies or indicator. This places slack line out near the fly where it is most beneficial. Several stack mends are made in quick succession, which allow the fly to sink quickly and drift naturally.
Years ago I started using the same method with a sideways approach to replace the standard mend. I call it “shoot mending.” I make the same micro-second-wrist cast with the tip of the rod moving forward only one foot. I then lift the rod up two to three feet to allow clearance for the line. Then, by quickly making one or two mends while the line is in the process of shooting, I get a mend that’s already in place when the line lands on the water. It’s also a very effective technique for shooting mends through wind and over chop in still waters without taking the indicator or dry fly away from the target.
