YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
outdoors
Ask the casting instructor
- Updated: June 29, 2010 - 11:16 PM
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Bob Nasby of St. Paul is a professional fly casting instructor.
Q Fly casting for smallmouth bass and muskies is popular in Minnesota and Wisconsin. How does this differ than for trout?
A It's similar to fly casting for saltwater fish. Casts are longer, so the caster's skills need to be better. You can't learn to cast long from a book or a video because you can't see yourself as you cast. And you don't have anyone to correct you. Knowing where to stop the rod on the back cast and the forward cast. The back cast is critical; it's the foundation for the forward cast.
Q For smallmouth fishing, how long does the fly angler need to cast accurately?
A About 30 to 40 feet of line. Any more than that, if you're in a canoe, for instance, and you'll get a big "belly'' in the line, and the fly won't be presented correctly. These casts can be made with practice, but good habits have to be added to good habits for progress to be made.
Q What weight fly rod do you use for smallmouth?
A A 7 or 8. And I won't use a tapered leader with poppers. If you do, you'll dissipate the cast's energy.
Q And for muskie?
A A 9-weight, with an 8-foot leader. Muskie casts are longer, because a muskie will track a fly. So the angler needs to learn to haul the line on the backcast to gain more line speed and, ultimately, greater length. Also there's the double-haul on the forward cast to learn, as well.
Nasby can be reached at 651-730-5284.
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