Casting Accuracy Part II – Common Mistakes & Solutions

This is part of a series about Improving your Casting Accuracy – Part I can be found here.

In this post on casting accuracy we want to eliminate some obvious errors in technique that we see on a daily basis.  If you can fix any of these issues your casting will improve in a single day!

Problem #1 – Breaking your wrist
This is a loop and distance killer.  Remember casting the fly line is all about controlling the line in the air.  So having good loop control starts with not bending/braking your wrist – especially on the back cast.
Solution – if you just can’t seem to fix this is to stick the butt of your rod in your long sleeved shirt.  Try it and you’ll be amazed!

Problem #2 – Bringing the rod back too far on your back cast
Again that’s another loop killer.  Many of our fishing guests come from parts of the country where a windy day is 15 mph.  Well, welcome to the West where that’s pretty much our normal breeze.  Hence the 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock technique taught by many does not work in a stiff wind.  I tell all my beginner anglers that if you can’t see your rod hand in you peripheral vision you are going too far back.  If you must think of it like a clock face then 9:30 to 12:30 would be a better example.
Solution – have someone stand behind you for a few minutes and physically stop your hand if it goes too far back. You can also watch your cast, stopping your hand before it goes too far back.

Problem #3 – Trying to cast too far
This is where all anglers eventually breakdown.  Fortunately, this is easily solved.  It’s as simple as moving closer.  If you can move closer to a trout do it.  Casting 35+ feet for a trout is only for specific scenarios, the closer you can get (without spooking the trout) the better your accuracy will be.  To get distance and accuracy is all about having good technique and practicing at it.
Easy Solution – stop casting too far and move closer!  Remember a 30 foot cast is only about three times as long as your nine foot rod.

Problem #4 – Not practicing or practicing incorrectly
Solution – As we’ll continue to harp on, practice in your yard, driveway or local park after walking the dog.
Better Solution – Move to Montana where you can fish about 9 months a year.  We promise you’ll be an expert caster in just one year. 

Problem #5 – arises from the aforementioned ‘solution’ – you get fired from your job, have no money, your girlfriend/wife dumps you, you end up working in a fly shop for pennies and have no time to go fishing.
Solution – just come fishing with us for a few more days a year.

Yellowstone Valley Lodge – Updates & Improvements

While the mild winter settled over Paradise Valley these past few months the Yellowstone Valley Lodge has been a fury of activity. Our new owner has shown his passion for the property by making several major improvements. These much needed upgrades have touched nearly every building on the property and are certain to enhance our guests experience.

The home of Paradise Valley Grill has been completely renovated and will be virtually unrecognizable to former guests.  Some of the improvements include more seating, larger bar area, a beautiful wine rack, open kitchen design and much more.

The larger restaurant and full menu is a bonus that not many fly fishing lodges can boast, but we also wanted to make sure the intimacy that our guests have come to appreciate wasn’t lost.  In order to maintain the relaxed feel we’ve converted the fly shop into our Montana Fly Fishing Guides’ Cutthroat Lounge.  Some of the features include a new deck and seating area off the back of the lounge, beer kegerator included!  We’ve also retooled the interior with an entertainment center and comfortable seating for watching those late season MLB games or that instructional fishing video you should have watched before you came to Montana.

All of the cabins have been redecorated with new beds, headboards, and linens.  The interior and exterior seating areas have also been replaced with new furniture.

The main office and the manager’s quarters in the main lodge are being completely remodeled with a new entryway and more obvious signage for new guests.

We are excited about these new improvements and are eager for you to see them as well.  As soon as these projects are completed we’ll post some photos.