Teaching the Belgian cast

I think everyone is missing the most beneficial aspect of the Belgian… When using weighted flys and/or multi fly setups you get a heck of a lot less tangles of the flys and weights. They are always tracking in direct line with one another and don’t have the chance to go in opposite directions while in close proximity of each other… Thus, fewer collisions.

I seldom use anything but a constant tension cast when nymphing or tossing more than one fly.

Guy Manning

FFF Master Certified Casting Instructor

Moderator FFFCCI Yahoo Group

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Comment: This is a good use. Helps minimize the use of so-called, "CHUCK & DUCK" maneuvers !

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The question:

How would you would teach this Belgian Cast to an intermediate level student?

My answer: I would instruct them to make a horizontal back cast and while maintaining constant tension on the line, then make a horseshoe like curve with the rod tip and bring the rod forward on a higher plane for the front cast. As an analogy, I usually explain that the curve we are looking for is similar to an SUV pulling a camper around a corner, and then draw a rounded corner with my hand. I would also mention that if they were performing the Belgian Cast to cast with weighted flies or sinking lines their pickup would also be altered from simply plucking the line off the water - to roll-casting the fly to the surface before beginning the pickup.

I usually do not have a lot of trouble getting this cast across to students. If I have a problem, hands-on (with permission of course) almost always gives the student the feel of the horseshoe curve which tends to be the part of the cast that confuses some people

Regards,

Bob Rumpf

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Comment: Good, simple description of one way to teach this cast. The principle of constant tension with no, "turnover" as your "horseshoe like" curve is made is made clear.

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Gordy,

I teach this as a change of thumb orientation while the back cast is unrolling from a typical front to back cast. Change of plane occurs at RSP.

Using a key grip, the back cast is tracked along a side arm (about 45 degrees) to a crisp stop. As the loop is unrolling the thumb points from side to vertical (may even go opposite shoulder, if needed) without change in front to back position (save a little drift). Then the forward cast is delivered along this plane.

While the forward cast loop is unrolling the thumb turns clockwise (right hander) 45 degrees or so then, the back cast is delivered along this casting plane.

Repeat as needed.

I've taught a lot of people with this as the starting point and they smooth out about the fifth cast.

Gary Eaton

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Comment: If you do come to a crisp stop on the back cast, you are no longer performing a continuous tension cast. One might question whether or not you are performing a true elliptical cast even though you are changing rod planes between the back cast and the forward cast. What you are describing will work fine in many situations but not as well when casting heavily weighted flies. The ability to do this well is one of the atributes of the Belgian cast which I see as a continuous tension cast with no defined stop on the back cast.

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