The Tampa Bay Times
While giving casting lessons to a group of experienced fly casters. I asked, “Of the 5 Essentials necessary for every good cast I explained earlier, which is the most important? One finally answered, “Slack!” I then gave this example of how I deal with new clients as soon as we begin a charter. Stopping the boat in a wind-protected area, I asked each one to cast for me. Both were very poor casters, with layouts of their line not even close to being straight, ideally suited for most saltwater situations. Holding the rod tip about 5 feet above the water, when they did strip, the fly never moved. After watching each do a couple of casts and “work” the fly, I informed them their Clouser minnow fly pattern did not even move in any of their presentations. No fish would show any interest in a baitfish imitation that didn’t look real. Their stripping to give the fly appropriate action varied considerably. I showed them a proper cast with a straight line to the fly and the rod tip ending close to the water. I told them to watch the end of their floating fly line where it joined the butt section of the leader. This will give you a very good indication of what your fly is doing. Saltwater fish usually like to have the fly on their level. If they are on the bottom in 5 feet of water, a fly on the surface is rarely taken especially as the water cools. Sometimes with the tide coming toward you, it is necessary to exaggerate the long frequent strips to give the fly the desired action. Keeping the rod tip close to the water during the retrieve and at the beginning of the cast is necessary to reduce and eliminate slack.
Fly fisherman and casting instructor Pat Damico charters Fly Guy in lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpatdamico.com and (727) 504-8649.
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