Having just started to penetrate the mystery of the self taught double haul I have encountered a problem. Although I can cast a reasonable loop using a straight forward overhead cast I consistently produce a tailing loop when I try to double haul. I realise that the best solution would be to go to a good casting instructor but unfortunately having Yorkshire blood in my veins means spending money on an instructor is a non starter. (plus its more rewarding to find your own solutions with the help of fellow fishermen)
Has anybody got an explanation for my ability to produce tailing loops so consistently when I add the double haul to my cast.

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All good things come by grace, grace comes by art and art does not come easy.
Norman Maclean

Too much power all at once would be my guess. Try to let the haul (i.e. left hand) speed up the rod rather than forcing it with the right hand....

(hope that makes sense)

Edit: Not to say that a huge haul is needed, rather that when the left hand is working properly then the right hand doesn't need to add extra power. In other words let your right hand do what it always has but add in a haul. Try a single haul first (on the forward stroke, assuming that is where you are getting the tailing loop) once that is sorted add it on the back cast as well.

st7 has it about right...........The tendancy is to overpower the rod because of the haul. You need to drift the rod back a little after the rear haul has been completed to unload the rod so that you apply the load again on the forward cast in a more controlled manner. Another cause of a tailing loop is to overpower the rod on release. You get a good haul going then when it comes to the release......BANG.......you over hit it to get that little bit more distance and it all goes t*ts up. Just release the line and let the rod do the work...............check out sexyloops.co.uk...............birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

I know you say you do not wish to spend the money, but an instructor is your very best choice. It's not just a question of sorting out the double haul- they will help you to fine tune your casting in general and iron out the problems - which I expect is what is causing you double haul to produce a tailing loop.

Take a look here to find an AAPGAI instructor. Just a couple of hours will help you out I'm sure:
Fly fishing instructors in the UK and overseas AAPGAI

Also, make sure you practice over grass and not when fishing.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Sound advice...................birdsnest

__________________
Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

There are a lot of different things that could cause your tailing loop when learning to double haul, it could be numerous things to do with your haul it could be to do with your basic cast.

I hate to say it but if you're unwilling to get some instruction you're off to a non starter, you will likely increase your learning time considerably and with all due respect you have a good chance of practising the wrong thing. *note in general - not directed at you!*

If you want one piece of advice just now, haul late, haul at the very end of the stroke. And practice by side casting so you can see the entire rod and line. Drop the line at the end of each stroke. Get Joan Wulff's book or DVD so you can see this exercise And get a lesson!

Have a look here


Fly Fishing Video, Double Haul - MidCurrent

Difficult without seeing you cast but generally tails while d/hauling are caused by finishing the haul too early which allows the rod tip to rise above straight line path (SLP).

You are better off hauling for too long than not long enough. Perfection is timing the haul to finish at loop formation, which is when the line overtakes the rod tip, however, in my opinion you are much better off letting the loop get away from the tip by two or three feet before you release the line.

Oh yeah, and back off the power. The point of D/hauling is to spread the workload to both hands.

How are your backcast loops? If they are not good enough to maintain tension then your hauling is a waste of time.

Mike

The problem is it is impossible to say why it is happening without seeing you cast. You are tailing because you are casting a concave tip path. This may be the product of the hauling hand or the rod hand or both. There are many causes of a concave tip path, finishing the haul to soon, to small a arc for the bend, decellerating rather than stopping...

Does the tail happen close to the leader or the rod tip?

Good luck with your practice.

Ta, Lee.

one that is very common is using the same length of stroke as you would for casting less line and/or not hauling, try lengthening the stroke,

this or the other suggestions may fix it but you will never know why without talking to an instructor, what you pay for is understanding whats going on which is what a good cast is, good luck.