Casting Question

[THE GAME]

I have been fishing for 35 years but Fly fishing is rather new to me.I am getting casting down fairly well but after a day of practice or fishing I end up with knots in my leader.I watch the back and forword cast and can not see this happening.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

[Johnny P.]

Tailing loops may be the cause game. Meaning the leader and tippet are not loading correctly in your backcast. As you forward cast the slack in your line whip around itself and creates a mess.

You might want to try and trim your leader back. That'll sometimes solve the problem. Also really make sure your line is parallel to the ground and stretch all the way back before snapping it forward. That should help to load the rod correctly.

In my opinion, the more slack the more problems. Also, try and minimize false casting to as little as possible. For one thing it can freak spooky fish and second, the more the line is air the more your rhythm can get funky and knot you up.

just my 2 cents...good luck man.

JP

[THE GAME]

JP You may be exactly right.I had someone tell me today that my back cast was not streightning out all the way.I guess I just wait until I feel the rod load a little and start forward.I'll have to pay closer attention.I use store bought 9' tapered leaders.I bet I have bought 10 of them this year.I am bad about false casting.I guess it is the kid in me that likes to see the line sailing back and forth. LOL

[AlderBrookFarm]

Have you ever bought or rented & watched any casting videos? Sometimes they can help immensely. I have one by Lefty Kreh. He suggests thinking of your arm motion as throwing darts. If you try and think about your cast, most people cast more like throwing a ball with a huge arc and lots of wrist action rather than the straight line action of throwing darts. He also has a little saying for when you start your backcast. Lefty uses Maryland, but you could say "South Texas is a nice place to be from." and on/after the word from you start the forward cast. It doesn't work as well once you get a lot of line out but it sure can make you not start your forward cast as fast as you might without saying it.

[THE GAME]

Now thats one I have not heard of.But I can see how it would work.Thats kind of like when i used to run every day.To get your breathing pattern down I would say a little phrase on the out breath and one on the in breath.Each breath consisted on three strides.
Things are getting better with my casting.Now I have got my tendons sore in the top of my forearm.