How to Cast Weighted Flies

Depending on your trout river, time of year and what is hatching, using a heavy or weighted fly is the optimum choice for big fish. A weighted fly adds a different angle to the fulcrum on the fly fishing cast. In addition to the cast itself, using weighted flies involves a technique known as "nymphing," in which you do not so much cast as direct the tip of the rod and line to the desired hole or eddy where the fish are hiding.

Instructions

  1. Standard Cast

    • 1

      Spool out between 12 to 16 feet of float-line, keeping a loop in your non-casting hand and your casting hand's thumb over the line as it comes off the reel. Hold the tip of the rod up at the 11 o'clock position.

    • 2

      Begin your cast. Keep the tip of the rod at 11 and then back to a 1 o'clock position, leading out the line at a rate of about three feet per pivot. A common mistake when using a weighted line is not waiting for the line to go out on its own. This is due to the feel of the fly on the line and rod. Take the time to feed out the line as a normal cast and do not be tempted to let the cast out before the line is ready.

    • 3

      Concentrate on keeping the line perpendicular to the river, and do not let the tip of the rod dip below 11 or 1 o'clock.

    • 4

      Move the rod tip in a horseshoe style shape when the line is out and perpendicular to the water. As the rod comes around on one of the "ends" of the horseshoe, which need to be facing away from your face, send the fly out as a normal cast. Aim for your hole or eddy and drop it into the water.

    Nymphing

    • 5

      Bring the tip of the rod up to the 11 o'clock position with seven to eight feet of line led out from the tip of the rod.

    • 6

      Begin the cast pivot between 11 and 1 o'clock but lead out three to four feet of the line as you do. Push the tip over the rock or obstacle in the water where the hole or eddy is.

    • 7

      Move through the water and try to stand on the opposite side of the rock or obstacle and then "drop" the fly into the eddy, keeping the rod tip up and at 11 o'clock. Think of the nymphing cast as a truncated version of the cast and as more of a fly "drop."