Ok I got the casting bug I posted this b4:

How far can you cat without hauling

I learnt to double haul. It makes all the difference. I tried to learn it for months and months and all of a sudden it just clicked. I dont know if i am doing it well but I'm definetely doing it. I haul now without even thinking.

I really enjoy the casting and find it a challenge to cast a line further than i have before.

I have been measuring all my casts.

I am using a 7 weight Cortland Big Sky as well now and can regularly get around 95ft, have had 101 ft. With the 5 weight I am getting 80 odd feet (cant remember exactly as I use the 7 weight almost exclusively now) all measurements from tip of rod to end of fly line no leader included.

I have noticed that the fly line makes HELL of a difference. My 5 weight (vision attack rod) has a vision attack line and my 7 weight has a partridge line and the partridge line 'wants' to go through the rings while the vision does not.

Anyway, my questions are:

(1) How much extra distance would a faster action rod potentially give me? Are my current distances good or could I be doing better? as I seem to have maxed out?

(2) A lot of time when I cast as far as I can the last couple of meters of fly line lands at right angles to the rest of the fly line or sometimes even ends up almost facing back toward me. Why?

cant comment on distances mate, not my area, but as for the line landing at an angle or back on itself, this is the line running out of power, basically you are just exceeding your casting potential at the moment.

Do you find that the end of your line predominantly 'falls' to the right of where it should? The probable cause is that you're throwing a 'hook', your tracking is going askew, particularly at the end of the forward cast.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Hi Tencher,

Most people quote the distance from 'feet to fly' when talking distance.
If you could post a video of your casting I'm sure you'd get much more specific feedback.

thanks all

Yeah I might try to get a video up here. I can just tell that I not a smooth caster tho think I look a bit awkward.

James (or anyone that can answer) in a casting competition do you know how they measure a cast is it from feet to fly? and if so what length leader will most casters use or is there a standard length?

Here's a link to the BFCC that will answer all your questions.

Rules | BFCC - Home Of Uk Fly Casting

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Thanks

It says minimum length of leaders but what lengths do the competition casters tend to use?

Also when a caster finished the cast does he place the rod on the floor with the butt against the measuring tape?

7' in total usually.

The cast is measured from the line you stand behind to where the fly line ends.

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No, its not rocket science, its rod science which is even more complicated.

thanks for your help

From memory leaders are 7'6'' to 11' for distance. Distance is measured from feet to where the FLY or wool tag lands. We measure carry from the feet to the end of the fly line, we don't include the leader.

For practice I suggest a straight 15lb mono, it's a waste of money using shop leaders because they get messed up quite quickly.

Those are quite respectable distances. The kicking round is caused by a tracking error. No, new rod probably won't help, a new line might. Look for a long belly WF or even a short DT (80').

You will find yourself stuck at a particular PB for ages but the improvements are usually several feet, when they come.

Mike