FLY CASTING BASICS #4 - The Simple Forward Delivery Cast

FLY CASTING BASICS #4

The Simple Forward Delivery-Cast

Once an angler has learned to create a good back-cast, it then becomes relatively easy to make a simple ‘forward delivery-cast’. This delivery cast has limited practical application in most angling situations, but is nevertheless useful for single short presentations or when fishing small wet flies downstream. A simple delivery cast done well however, is another key stepping stone to being able to successfully make more complex casts. So, one step at a time!

The Simple Delivery Cast follows the same three phases as the back-cast, comprising the Startup, Tip Acceleration and a Stop to finish.

The forward startup commences following the completion of ‘the stop’ at the top of the back-cast. This ‘stop-at-the-top’ is essential to allow the fly-line to unfold fully on the back-cast and maintain the tension that is essential to load the rod tip for the forward cast. From this position (and without allowing the wrist of the rod hand to ‘break backwards’), the angler now only has to direct the rod tip forward and down with a forward-snap of the wrist, in much the same way that a dart is thrown at a dart-board.

The key during this forward motion is to accelerate the rod tip from the top without trying to force the rod. All the power necessary is contained in the rod tip. Avoid trying to muscle the line forward with excessive movement of either the casting arm or shoulder. In fact trying to muscle the cast at any stage will have the opposite effect to what is needed, because it tends to cause the rod tip to decelerate rather than accelerate.

Accelerate the rod tip forward and slightly down in a straight line, to about 10 o’clock, where the casting hand and rod tip must once again come to a sudden stop. At this point the casting hand and arm should be partially extended and elevated on a level slightly higher than the original starting position for the back-cast, but still lower than the height of the shoulder. The top of the casting hand should once again be horizontal, presuming that the angler has maintained the correct grip as outlined in Fly Casting Basics #1.

It is essential not to drop the rod tip below the 10 o'clock position. Have faith in gravity and allow the line to extend outwards. Completed correctly, the fly-line should unfurl forward in a nicely controlled loop and fall down to the water without any ‘extra’ angler assistance. It will not roll over when the rod tip drops too low.

Tip: Having completed a successful simple forward delivery cast, it is now important for the angler to return the casting hand to the original starting position for the back-cast before attempting another. This is fundamental to setting up another successful back-cast which in turn dramatically influences the quality of the next delivery cast.