Iv'e heard this term before, but never reallty got to grips with it. I don't think I do this during short range casting, but on Distance Casting someone once said that's bad tracking mate. Does he mean the rod path during the cast?

Regards

smudger564

Not just distance, any straight cast should follow the 180 deg rule.

Mike

It's more noticeable for me during distance casting. On short range work I never even notice it. It was only because I was told about it, that I knew I was doing something wrong.

Regards

smudger564

Tracking as Mike says is moving back and forward in a straight line (ideally) any deviation from, if not intentional, could be 'bad' tracking (I presume what was meant).

If you think about this logically, if you deviate very slightly from a straight line back to forwards or forward to back on a short cast the effect may be small. It could be a slight outward swing of the loop just as it turns over for example. On a long cast, the speed is going to be higher, your error will probably be greater and it will be a whole lot more noticable. You'll be robbing yourself of line speed, tension and distance. (My current situation! )

If your loop travels perfectly over the top of itself in a perfect straight line between a target in front and target behind then your tracking is perfect, if not then I think you know the answer

Most people who strive for distance have run into this problem at one time or another. The problem lies in keeping the front and back casts diametrically opposed as you lengthen the casting stroke - navigating your hand past your shoulder (assuming an open stance) tends to throw the back cast slightly off. A right handed caster aiming north will have a tendency to throw the backcast south-east - this will become evident when the loop delivers from the left on the forward cast.

Try casting along a straight line e.g. on a football pitch and drop your back cast occasionally to see where it sits. Also try picking a target for your back cast that's in the right place - your hand tends to follow where your eyes are looking.

James.

Hi, I like the sound of that, sounds like good advice. I'll give it a whirl. Thank You.

Best Regards

smudger564

I didn't even know I was doing this, but on my forward stroke, I'm bringing the tip around in a small semi-circle rather than straight over the top. It was only because someone was watching me, that I found out, otherwise I would have been oblivious to it.

I'm now more conscious of this and concentrate on not doing it. Thanks lads.

smudger564

My bad tracking's cured my tailing loop tangling my droppers

Take a garden cane and make an imaginary cast tracking the rod against the wall any deviation from a straight line will show by eyeballing the distance the hand and rod is from the wall thought the casting stroke.
The longer the casting stroke the more difficult it is to keep a straight line.
Casting flylines around curves always looses power because the energy it not totally directed at the target.

Another way to check is to have someone stand behind you and watch the rod tip movement it should be straight inline with the target.
If the winds blowing across the body I will let you off...

Gary (nicho)

Bamboorod maker

Practice/pantomime in front of a mirror with a but section of a multi piece rod with the reel attached. In extremis try the artext or peeble dashed wall method (more for the aesthete). Tracking problem create slack the curese of good casting.
TK