The Loop
Forming a casting loop is an essential skill that is required in fly fishing for the line to carry the fly over a required distance and present it accurately and delicately on the water. This means that the fly line has to turn over from being under tension in the direction, directly opposite to that of the final cast, to being fully extended above where the fly is to land on the water (in most cases).
Acquiring the skill of loop formation requires practice, and one easy way of doing this is to cast on a playing field with short grass, using a straight line for guidance. Casting on the side enables the cast to be viewed in both directions (back and forward casts) and for the loop to be seen and analysed. It is quite a simple matter to transpose this to the upright or and inclined casting plane later. Furthermore the cast can be stopped and allowed to fall to the ground, once the line has rolled out, making it possible to perfect and inspect each individual stage of the cast.
It will be found that for a short line a rapid wrist movement and an abrupt stop, along a straight line path will be required to form a tight loop. A longer line will require additional arm movement but with the wrist action coming at the end. The timing will also require adjustment because a longer line will require more time to roll out.
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