RE: Overlining/Underlining

ol Al....

As you point out, the angler may well have a good reason to overline a rod.  Little back cast room combined with the need for distance is one of them.

Some tarpon fishermen in the Keys elect to match a 10 wt. fly rod with a 12 wt. line.  This was even more true before specialty lines with different forward tapers came on the market.  The idea is that they anticipate having to make short to medium distance, "quick casts".  By overlining their rods, they can load the rod sufficiently with little line out of the rod tip which negates the need for multiple false casts when the fish suddenly comes in to view as it moves across the flat.  This is especially necessary on poor viz. days when we get, "cloud clobbered".

Here, multiple back casts to get enough line out of the rod for a good load take time.......by then the traveling fish is out of range or at an unfavorable travel angle for the opportunity for a good chance at hookup.   As with many fish, the multiple false casts very much increase the chance that the fish will be spooked.

Often, with this kind of sight fishing on the flats, the angler uses this arrangement along with the "salt-water-quick-cast" to make an accurate 40' to 60' cast with only one back cast move.

Exactly how he/she does this will depend upon the skiff's deck situation and the direction of the wind and that of the travel line of the fish.  One common denominator, however, is that the angler should be able to handle, say 30' of fly line already out of the rod tip while awaiting the appearance of the fish. 

Few anglers or guides do this as well as Bruce Chard.  He taught this and other salt water fly casting techniques at the last Conclave at Livingston.......well worth attending for those who want to learn these things.

 

                                                                       Gordy

 

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From: "Allen Crise" <flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Overlining/Underlining
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 06:19:06 -0600

Howdy Gordy

 I very well remember what happened to me at Idaho Falls and my Masters test.

Joe and Tim both knew that my GLX was underlined. I had gotten the XXD 6 wt and my rod was a 7 wt

 I could not get a load for the short cast. It did Ok on the long cast if I had more backcast room. With a short back cast the 6 was a killer.

  This happen at one of the Casting competitions last year when they did not have the room to backcast. The light lines were at a disadvantage.

 

ol Al