Fixing Your Double Haul
Those who enjoy fly fishing regularly know that the sport is about feel and timing more than anything else. The double haul truly exemplifies this.
We've written on the double haul before, so I won’t go into great detail here on the cast itself….but here’s a link to it: Intro to Fly Fishing: The Double Haul
Mistake #1: Starting by casting 100 feet away
If you do the double haul correctly, you will have a well maintained loop during your cast creating added energy that translates into a long casting distance. A common mistake by most folks is that they immediately try to cast across the river or into a buck 100 feet away.
Like I said, getting your double haul down is about timing and feel. Play a bit of small ball first. Start with 25 or 30 feet first. Trust me, you’ll never get the feel of it if you start with 50-75 feel flying around. I’ve seen that movie before. 30 feet is plenty.
Pull the line on the back cast, feel the resistance it gives. Feel it going through your guides as you release the line in your hand. Let the line unfold and start your forward cast, give the line a nice tug. Feel the extra bend in the rod letting the line shoot forward.
Mistake #2: Ripping too much line backwards and forwards
Many folks try to rip as much line backwards and forwards through their hauls. This is a mistake. The goal isn’t to move as much line as you can through the rod during the cast. Your goal is to create line speed…energy. You only need 18”-24” of line to do that.
Remember when we suggest to put some rubber bands on your wrist and put them over the butt end of the rod to stop breaking your wrist so much? How about this, tie your hand together so there’s 24” in between. This will get you working it for sure. It will also keep your body in sync and help you get the timing without developing bad habits.
Mistake #3: Line drifting all over the place
Make sure you have good line control. You’re going to be shooting the line. You’re extra line should preferably be in a basket. If not, readily at your feet, obstruction free. Many folks when they get out on the water have all sorts of line drifting all over the place. This is going to kill all the energy you just created. You’d have better luck with a straight overhead cast.
Tight Lines and Screaming Drags