I bought a two hander with a shooting head a few months back, got some instruction, and have practiced a few times a week. I am suprised that basically the limiting factor to distance is keeping from stepping on the shooting line. This is good but basic equipment, not the most expensive equipment on the market, and I am by no means an expert caster, so I assume that anyone with a fatter wallet, and more time on their hands, can easily exceed what I can do. I would expect that each and everyone who reads has equipment at least as good as this, and is far more experienced and better at using it.

So, finally my question (s) - has easily obtainable casting distance exceeded the distance at which a fisherman is in close contact with the fly? How far does one really need to cast to catch a salmon? Is there an instructional DVD that offers especially keen insight into how to turn such distance into fish?

Grant you have a PM.

This is an interesting question. I'd always thought that your chances of loosing a fish, or even of hooking up successfully, go down with distance. The more line that's in the water, the more that can go wrong.

I'll be interested to see what the salmon guys have to say about this.

Grouse

that just about sum's it up for me FG.only cast as far as you absolutely have to,i caught some salmon last week that were no more than 15' away.
on bigger rivers you have to think 'do i want to cast a long line at 45deg,when a shorter line square to the river,with a good mend might do just as well'

jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I don't think casting length matters too much as long as it's reaching fish but I think the angle between the rod tip and the fish might matter, also the stiffness of the rod.

I hooked in to a good salmon last week working down a pool using short casts from a 10ft rod that's pretty bendy. The fish was off quite quickly. I noticed that all the fish but one that I and others fishing nearby caught last week were hooked in the top of the mouth either at the front or to one side, so the fish weren't turning much on the fly. When this happens it helps to have some good leverage. I was wondering if a lack of angle of leverage might have shortened the odds on landing a fish.

The two fish I did get - both good fish - took small flies on maybe a 20 yard cast but they were held well with a strong 15ft rod - the Sage Z-axis. The reason I used a single-hander some of the time is that I think it covers a channel effectively and fast. You can put three or four casts out, moving down the line in the time it takes a 30 yard cast to swing around over the hot spot. Also, the fish doesn't have as much time to see the fly and I think that can help. For hooking and quick playing of a big fish, a bigger, stiffer rod is better I think but it doesn't give you much sport on grilse. The trouble was that big and little were mixed together last week.

I noticed that the grilse were sometimes playing with the fly - plucking or shaking it, rather than hooking themselves. Length of line doesn't matter so much in such situations. I would rather have a well hooked fish on a long line than a poorly hooked one on a short cast.

regards,

Richard

Thanks, and it confirms my belief that being sneaky catches more fish than making monster casts. I think that they impress people watching a lot more than they impress the fish.

The other thought that I am left with, is that even a moderately priced rod is ORDERS of MAGNITUDE better than the fiberglass stuff I grew up with.

Alot of rivers here in Ireland including the Moy, Foyle and Blackwater your standard 15 foot 10wt is almost too much beef... even in flood.

Keel hawling grisle of 3-4 pound with over powered gear is not sporting at all.
Especially when in alot of rivers the average weight last year of grisle was 2-3 pounds... Longer double handed rods give you more control and 'hang time' as the fly swings around with a mend, enabling you to stear your fly through eddies at short to medium range. Most situations call for no more than 30 to 40 foot of line before your on the other bank... so staying in contact/control with your fly/flies in still on the healthy side.

Afraid this year it's the 10 foot 8-wt that will get a work out on the Mourne and the Moy, ant the 7wt on the speight waters, where reading the water and presentation on the fishes nut, far outway distance or even pattern choice.

It is no disadvantage being able to throw a long line

I used a 10ft 8 weight single hander on the Maine this year. It pulled the ******* hand off me, constantly casting with it....consequently, it went on death row on Ebay..

I was never a big fan of double handed rods, but bought a guideline Lpxe 12ft 6 8/9 weight double hander and now love using it. It takes all the effort out of fishing and the line control is superb.

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Ryan

Where did you buy your Guideline? - I might buy a LPXe 14' #9/10 if I can get one worth the money.