Walter & Group...
I'll wait for more responses to our quiz on the Salt water quick cast ... only a few in, so far. (I suspect some of you are scratching your heads over some of the answers and looking in your books for a couple of others.)
Once I have more answers, I'll send the results. I usually try to pick the best set of answers to send with my comments.
Here are some tips on practicing this cast:
# As with most casts with which we are not very familiar, it is a good idea to start your practice with a modest amount of line out of the rod tip. That translates to fewer and smaller coils to control. Don't add more line until you get really good at casting with that amount of line. Then increase it one loop or so at a time. If you get to the point where you begin to fail, back up and use less line again.
# After you get proficient at it using a yarn fly, go out and practice with a real fly with a sharp barbless hook. Doing it poorly with lack of line control may get you stuck with that hook point occasionally. This will encourage better control ! This is especially important if you are actually practicing it before making a fly fishing trip to the flats. Even if you don't get stuck, poor control of the fly may get the fly hook itself tangled with the line.
# If you elect to hold the fly in your rod hand, you may find that the hook point occasionally gets stuck in the cork handle when not held properly. That will ruin the cast in a heartbeat !
# Another hint, is to use the tackle which you will probably bring for that trip after you have mastered the techniques using much lighter rods and lines. That includes the size and type flies which you will be using. Go to the bigger flies after you have practiced well with the smaller ones.
# Once you have a good feel for this casts when casting with no wind, practice with wind from various directions. This is VERY important if you are preparing for a flats fishing trip.
While tarpon fishing this morning, I decided to try the various ways of making this cast which were different from the ways which were ground into my chromosomes for years. I learned a lot.
For example, I had not been using the method of holding the fly with my rod hand. Before I got competant at that, I stuck myself once, twice got the hook tangled with the line, and once got the hook point stuck in the cork ! Taught me that none of the methods are really safe until you have learned how to do it.
Tarpon didn't show. I think they just didn't want to see my poor performance !
(By airing my dirty laundry, I hope this will help you.)
Gordy