The Figure 8 Cast

I learned a new cast called the Figure 8, some of you may already know this
one. It's used when you have obstruction behind you and throwing big flies
or weighted line when the roll cast just won't cut it. I have also use it
for throwing dry flies as well. For a right hander, I raise the rod to an
angle and make a circular motion counter clockwise in a loop. As the line
comes around, I make the 2nd loop, sort of a sweeping motion on the opposite
side (left shoulder), underneath in a clockwise direction which anchors the
line in the water and loads the rod. I then shoot the line towards the
target. It's a variation of a spey movement, a very pretty figure 8 cast
when done right, but also quite effective.



I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.

fwiw,

-tom

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...
I learned a new cast called the Figure 8, some of you may already know this
one. It's used when you have obstruction behind you and throwing big flies
or weighted line when the roll cast just won't cut it. I have also use it
for throwing dry flies as well. For a right hander, I raise the rod to an
angle and make a circular motion counter clockwise in a loop. As the line
comes around, I make the 2nd loop, sort of a sweeping motion on the
opposite side (left shoulder), underneath in a clockwise direction which
anchors the line in the water and loads the rod. I then shoot the line
towards the target. It's a variation of a spey movement, a very pretty
figure 8 cast when done right, but also quite effective.


Isn't this the same cast they called *shadow casting* in the movie, "a River
Runs Through It?"

I generally use the Steeple cast or Sidearm cast, when I have trees or tall
bushes behind or around me. I rarely cast big flies, as my primary rod is a
3/4 weight and I fish small streams in NC.



I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.

I don't know about othere folks, but I tend to use my wrist for casting. Of
couse, I am using a 3/4 weight rod and line, so casting isn't an overly
exerting exercise.

How many of uze guyz use your wrists?

Op

fwiw,

-tom

"Opus" wrote in message
...

How many of uze guyz use your wrists?

Aye.

Wolfgang

"Opus" wrote in message
...

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...
I learned a new cast called the Figure 8, some of you may already know
this one. It's used when you have obstruction behind you and throwing big
flies or weighted line when the roll cast just won't cut it. I have also
use it for throwing dry flies as well. For a right hander, I raise the
rod to an angle and make a circular motion counter clockwise in a loop.
As the line comes around, I make the 2nd loop, sort of a sweeping motion
on the opposite side (left shoulder), underneath in a clockwise direction
which anchors the line in the water and loads the rod. I then shoot the
line towards the target. It's a variation of a spey movement, a very
pretty figure 8 cast when done right, but also quite effective.


Isn't this the same cast they called *shadow casting* in the movie, "a
River Runs Through It?"

Sorry, not even close. I replayed the "shadow cast" that was performed in
the movie "A River Runs Through it" in slow motion, and have also taught
myself that cast. It's used to bring a fish to rise. It's performed by
actually turning the wrist in the opposite direction (facing the direction
of the back cast) with an ever-so-slight haul. Once the line is loaded in
the back, it's brought foward with a long sweeping motion and a front haul.
The fly is very low to the surface of the water to attact the attention of
the fish to rise.

I do feel it's over exagerated a bit, but during that time, slow cane rods
were of choice, and casting a line was a very smooth operation. The line
actually glides slower. I never thought it was ever an advantage until I
started casting bamboo. I've read great dry fly presesnters can actually get
a fish to take the fly in the air before the fly lands. I haven't done this
yet, but I'm working on it.


I generally use the Steeple cast or Sidearm cast, when I have trees or
tall bushes behind or around me. I rarely cast big flies, as my primary
rod is a 3/4 weight and I fish small streams in NC.

3/4 oz in weight?




I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone
would like to share casting techniques, please do so.

I don't know about othere folks, but I tend to use my wrist for casting.
Of couse, I am using a 3/4 weight rod and line, so casting isn't an overly
exerting exercise.

How many of uze guyz use your wrists?

Although I don't prefer it, I've met some pretty good wrist casters. The
only time I use my wrist is at the very end of the cast to flick the tip and
it's almost un-noticeable. What that does it get the line/fly to
straighten out for a soft presentation.
fwiw,
-tom

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

"Opus" wrote in message
...

How many of uze guyz use your wrists?

Aye.

Wolfgang

We are talking about casting, RIGHT!

Op

"Opus" wrote in message
...

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

"Opus" wrote in message
...

How many of uze guyz use your wrists?

Aye.

Wolfgang

We are talking about casting, RIGHT!

Casting.....yes......among other things.

Wolfgang

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...
Sorry, not even close. I replayed the "shadow cast" that was performed in
the movie "A River Runs Through it" in slow motion, and have also taught
myself that cast. It's used to bring a fish to rise. It's performed by
actually turning the wrist in the opposite direction (facing the direction
of the back cast) with an ever-so-slight haul. Once the line is loaded in
the back, it's brought foward with a long sweeping motion and a front
haul. The fly is very low to the surface of the water to attact the
attention of the fish to rise.

I was just curious, as I haven't used the figure 8 cast, so I thought it
might be the shadow cast. It's been a while zince I saw the movie, and as
best I could remember he used a sort of figure 8 motion. Oh well, not the
first or last time I'll be wrong!

I do feel it's over exagerated a bit, but during that time, slow cane rods
were of choice, and casting a line was a very smooth operation. The line
actually glides slower. I never thought it was ever an advantage until I
started casting bamboo. I've read great dry fly presesnters can actually
get a fish to take the fly in the air before the fly lands. I haven't
done this yet, but I'm working on it.


3/4 oz in weight?

No. 3 weight, 4 weight rod.

Although I don't prefer it, I've met some pretty good wrist casters. The
only time I use my wrist is at the very end of the cast to flick the tip
and it's almost un-noticeable. What that does it get the line/fly to
straighten out for a soft presentation.

Ok, yeah I do use my arm, for longer casts, but most of my action and
presentation come from my wrist, at the end of my cast.

However, on short casts, I will use nothing but my wrist. Or at least I use
to, when my wrists worked :~^ (

Presently, I can't even grip a rod, or a pen for that matter. Tomorrow will
change that, I hope!

Op

fwiw,
-tom

"Tom Nakashima" wrote


I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.

fwiw,



The two I use most often are the Big Splat Cast and the Tangled Mess Cast
..... I don't have the writing skill to clearly explain the intricate
movements of each, but thankfully, the cast names themselves do a good job
of conveying the results.

Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.

You can do all of the spey casts with a single-handed rod. It's like
roll casting on steroids. I recommend Simon Gawesworth's video.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:40:18 GMT, rw
wrote:

Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone
would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.

You can do all of the spey casts with a single-handed rod. It's like
roll casting on steroids. I recommend Simon Gawesworth's video.


I'm not sure you can do "all" the spey cast with a single handed rod, but
you can do the majority of them.
Yes, I've met Gawesworth at the Golden Gate Casting Club, and seen his spey
videos, he is indeed outstanding.
The guy who was also fantastic was Hiro Tanaka from Japan who uses a shorter
spey rod. It's actually a 10' lightweight two handed rod. He was very
impressive with a quicker shorter rod.

I have no intentions of ever purchasing a two-handed fly rod, but I do enjoy
employing some of the useful spey techniques to the single handed rod, and
testing them on the river in a real fishing application.
fwiw,
-tom