Am hopefully off to the US this summer and my American pal who is a golfer has just advised that due to an injury that happened a few years ago will not be able to take part in the fishing. He tore his bicep five years ago and will be unable to cast. He states that when he plays catch with his youngest son he has to return the ball under hand.
Now if he were younger I guess the answer would be to use his other arm but he is at an age whereby learning new things doesn't come easily.
I am wondering if he could still flick a two weight on a six foot rod so that at least we could share some time fishing in some of the streams.
If anyone has any ideas would be much obliged.

Thanks for viewing in the meantime.

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[COLOR="Blue"]"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"[/COLOR]

He will still be able to cast quite well by not casting "by the book" what I mean is he doesn't have to move his arm atall , keep the elbow locked into his side and don't move the forearm and do all the casting from the wrist I know wrist break is frowned upon but ..... You will never hit the horizon like this but is fine for short to medium casts .
So should be ok on rivers at average range .

You think about it , there are times when you would cast like this anyway , when it a confined space . Well I do anyway

Will mostly likely get shot down by the experts for my reply but hey ho

Cheers

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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Have a look at the way Lefty Kreh casts, he is side arm all the time, maybe worth trying that, also, do whatever it takes to get him fishing

I have fished with people that do this, once you master the wrist control then casting is good

The left handed stuff, he could be competent with 3 months, just needs to stick at it and practice, maybe start him off and see what happens, join in, it is always interesting, I would assume that he has had to do other things left handed already due to this injury?

Chris

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If you can get him a long double handed rod (preferably not too heavy a line rating) he can simply lay the line out using the set up like a fixed line. This works very well in a boat. It is a good way to get someone fishing who cannot cast at all.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Hello Loopy

All been said really but I fully support the other hand suggestion.Your pal might be suprised if he is a regular fly fisherman how easy it is with a little perseverance especially at close range with lighter outfits.Well worth a go looking at your time frame.

Best JP

Bubble float and powerbait

How about a czech nymphing type of approach, close range and casting style can be adapted to suit ?
Hope you have a great trip and it all works out for your friend.
Andy.

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if he has tore his bicep without surgical repair (assuming it is a full rupture) he has lost the prime elbow flexor ( bending the elbow) so any casting movement the involves elbow flexion will be limited. there are breces availabe that are used with stroke patients which limit elbow extension/flexion thus keeping the elbow in a flexed position (bent) which may allow him to cast reasonably well, just putting more onous on the shoulder during casting.. this may involve a change in technique but should allow some degree of mobility

this is the brace i'm talking about. it can be set to limit elbow movement to what every you desire.

Physio Needs Ireland - Online Shop - Orthopaedic Supports - Physiotherapy Supplies

I tore my casting arms bicep a few years ago (in the gym), had it surgically reattached and was good as new. If he has lost full use of it thanks to not getting surgical attention it will be difficult to cast, maybe he could learn to cast with his other arm?

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Hi' Loopy, sorry to read about your mate, but all is not lost. Richard's idea is sound, especially if you and your pal have access to still waters, and on a decent-sized river the long rod could give a definite advantage.
Re swapping hands, it's not as difficult as some make it out to be. It might help your pal to try holding his normal choice of rod using both hands. If he has fished before, he will still have a sense of timing, and his right hand will cope with that side of things. Once he is comfortable with using two hands, get hime to remove his right hand, and if the timimg starts to go ragged, placing his right hand on the grip will get him back in tune. Eventually, he will need only the index finger of his right hand resting on the ball of the thumb of his left to keep the timing in check. He might, surprisingly, find that getting his right hand to handle the line more difficult than casting 'cack-handed.' It does work, I have taught others to do it. Good luck.ja
Let the forum know how he gets on, it could help others who have similar problems.

Sorry to hear about your mate. Get him to try roll casting if fishing rivers and if you are heading into the Rockies a lot of the fishing is just High Stinking anyhow which doesn't really need a cast as such.