Loading Move with Pulling the Rod Butt Straight Versus Forced Turnover?
Many anglers attempt to perform the static roll cast with more of a pushing stroke, rotating everything right at the end of the stroke (\\\\\\\\\|/). This approach is commonplace today, with many fly casters hitting the cast at the end of the stroke. Many fly flingers believe that pushing the rod straight during the loading move equates to a late rotation. This dilemma creates wasted residual energy in waves traveling down the rod leg and disregards keeping the traveling loop legs non-parallel, which also wastes energy. The result is often a line that lands in the middle, like an upside-down St. Louis arch.
Al Buhr often refers to this as the "forced turnover" crowd—a great description! In discussions, we sometimes refer to the "forced turnover" crowd as the "flat Earth" thinkers. Pulling is often incorrectly referred to as delayed rotation, but it is not! In fact, pushers typically rotate all at once toward the completion of the roll cast. This is exactly the main problem that hinders making it appear easy. Lunging forward more than downward is also a dead giveaway of forcing the turnover. The concepts of pulling and pushing can be traced to the Jimmy Green Fenwick schools in the 1970s.
The Casting Stroke
Figure 1 illustrates the key position for beginning the static roll cast. If you need to go farther, you can use more body lean forward to initiate the same motion. Figure 2 illustrates the elbow dropping back to the body. The real magic of all fly casting lies in using as minimal power as possible to achieve your distance. This is best learned in clinics by having folks pantomime the motion so you can visually inspect the pullback. When the grip remains relaxed through the flick of the rod, there is a noticeable change in pressure on the casting hand.
The fingers pull through mainly the pinky and ring finger, which creates a longer lever as well. This pulling motion is similar to how we drive a large spike with a hammer. We pull the hammer using large muscle groups of the shoulder, a bit of elbow, and an even smaller tap of the wrist for completion. Another analogy is the motion used to throw an ax in front of your position. Figure 3 illustrates a flat fly leg with a narrow loop directed toward a target out and away (imagine eye level for trajectory). Figure 3 also illustrates the follow-through in stages with the rod position. As the loop straightens out, the rod will be pointing straight down the line.
(Fig. 1) Static Roll Cast Setup (lift fly line s l o w ly into position)
Positive Stop and Pullback
The casting hand is held at ear level with the elbow pointing in front, and the rod is dropped first by the shoulder muscles. The static roll cast completes with the rod held high to maintain a narrow loop. Jim Green described this process as a POSITIVE STOP. Pull back in fly casting is like flicking paint off a brush. Few people need a dissertation on how to do that. The greater the squeeze during the stop, the greater the pullback. The three-point grip promotes a relaxed hand position for using a greater pullback. The more positive stop you have, the greater the pulling back move becomes.
(Fig. 2) Launch Angle, Positive Stop & Pull Back Produces Narrow Loop (Notice Flat Fly Leg Trajectory)
A greater positive stop (pullback) actually reduces the rod counter flex and rebound. The rod assumes a quick "S" shape during the unloading. Observation of the rod unloading move in very slow motion reveals this subtle "S" shape, which magically increases line speed. Pressure on the rod hand should come from the pinky and ring finger pulling the rod quickly toward the positive stop. My friend Eric Cook and I often discuss the differences in leverage used in fly casting. The classic thumb-on-top grip is often more difficult for folks to rely on the small fingers pulling the rod. It can be done, but it's often more of a struggle during a lesson to achieve a great pullback.
(Fig. 3) Flat Fly Leg Trajectory Makes for Great Distances with Ease!
Flip the Tip Drill
This casting drill helps roll casters progress more quickly than most. Carol Green is credited with developing this brilliant technique. However, Hugh Falkus was also using the "flip the tip" lingo on film in the late 1960s.
Using a very small wrist flick motion combined with squeeze, positive stop, and pullback (a by-product of the stop), send a small wave down the line with the rod held high. Intentionally do this so slowly that the wave only travels halfway down the line. Add just a tiny bit more flip to create the wave until it jumps and travels outward. A few inches of this exercise can send an amazing amount of line forward. A forty-foot roll cast becomes a cinch!
Delayed Rotation or All at Once?
This topic leads to much confusion about late or early rotation and pulling versus pushing all over the globe. They are two different things and should remain distinctly separate, even though some commonalities and differences occur. Pulling the rod butt straight implies a rate of rotation from the beginning in a downward fashion. One of the biggest differences between elite roll casters is that they have mastered pulling the rod butt straight for greater line speeds. The slash should be dropping down (\|/) more than out and away—difficult to convey with text. It is not delayed or late rotation. We start with a rate of rotation to get maximum speed in a short downward motion.
Tension Goggles
"Tension goggles" was a fun topic that my friend Lee Cummings and I discussed many years ago. The concept uses the color red for the highest tension acting on the unrolling line, with the color scheme descending from highest to lowest in red, orange, yellow, and blue for the least amount of tension. It would be great to figure out how to create glasses that actually accomplish this in the near future. Futuristic fly casting at its finest would lead to greater understanding of loop morphing, especially useful for diagnosing advanced fly strokes.
Static Roll Casts
It will take hours of practice to perfect your loading move for the best results with a static roll cast. The key here is PRACTICE! Static means you lift the rod into position slowly and pause before going forward. The better your static roll casts become, the more easily your dynamic roll casts will develop! Dynamic implies a "V" or "D" loop that is swept well in the back of the rod. Check out the definitions page if you become curious about other casting terms. Your aerial distance cast will also improve because you will have learned the "key to the kingdom" in fly casting: rod loading and an appreciation of very small loop efficiency.
My friend Leslie Holmes has a saying that "Less is More." I use this often in teaching lessons. What it really means is that most people come from a background of throwing things (projectile motion syndrome). Want to throw it really far? Throw harder, right? A traveling loop of the fly line is actually accelerating throughout its flight. This phenomenon is counter-intuitive unless folks really become casting geeks.
Static roll casts really help open the door for fly casters' understanding of rod loading. This concept is definitely in the minority presently on a global scale, even among instructors. It is my belief that the burden of proof comes from the ease of making these casts travel great distances with little effort. Happy fly casting!