Leader Line and Guides

"Ethan" wrote in message
ups.com...
Ok I have a silly little question that maybe some of you can help me
with.

Whenever I get out to the edge of a body of water, I'm all rigged up
and ready to make my first cast. I always seem to have this awkward
moment where I struggle with standing knee deep in water trying to get
the last foot or so of the leader through the last few guides and the
tip top. The connection of the leader to the fly line is a bit awkward
and pulling on the leader or tippet never seems to pull out enough line
to start a good cast.

Is there some secret to this that I'm missing out on?

I'm using a 9 ft 5 wt so I have hard time reaching the tip top even
when I holding the rod in the middle? I'm also using an Orvis
Clearwater Fly Line with the knotless loop to loop connection on the
leader.

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
-Ethan


Others have mentioned to have extra line out, looped around the reel. When I
forget to do that, I'll drop the tip so its just above the water surface,
and VERY quickly sweep the fly across the water surface. The water tension
will drag the fly and line out of the tiptop before the weight of the fly
line can pull the whole thing back.

You have probably discovered the amazing mess of tangle you can get up there
if you try to false cast and get line to escape, right?

--riverman