"Joe McIntosh" wrote

them hooks are really BIG and I still have memories of catching my
tongue
one day

Disclaimer: I am FAR from a good caster.

I do a little Striper fishing with big flies from a kickboat or even a float
tube and this helped me. Assuming you are using shooting heads, get one a
couple sizes too heavy for your rod ( I got 10s for an 8 rod ). Now, rig
it all up with a short leader and fly like you want to use on your rod.
Next work out some line and keep varying the amount in the air until it
'feels right' to you, i.e. you think the rod loads well and should shoot
well with a haul and throw ( no need to actually 'cast' you only want the
rod feeling good with the amount of line out, ready to shoot ). CAREFULLY
mark the amount of line OUT of the tip and then cut it back to that length,
re-rig and go fishing. You end up with a shorter line to keep in the air
but one that still works the rod and shoots well. I've also found that
timing is the key, the casts that shoot like a rocket and threaten to jank
the rod out of your hand as all the loose shooting line is used up are not
the "big muscle" efforts, rather the ones that get the haul at the right
split second .... about one cast in 43, for me ..... the haul to the rear is
also very important.