1 more casting question

[THE GAME]

Well Well, I visited with larry haines the other day and we once again talked about fly fishing for tarpon and fly casting.He told me that there is no reason why I would not be able to cast ALL of my 10wt intermediat line out.That is 125 feet.He tells me I have to learn how to haul( double haul ).So I have been practicing at it.All the sudden one morning I go out to practice hauling and just like magic I can do it.Thanks to pav for some advise too.My casting distance increased at least 30 feet.Where I used to get a little over 50 to 60 feet I am getting over 80.But still no 125.The problem come on the last cast when I am shooting the line out. The line I have stripped out laying beside me gets twisted and stops the shoot from going threw the guides. I am sure that something in my casting is getting the line twisted somehow.About the only way to fix it is to remove my leader and cast the line out and reel it back onto the reel threw my fingers.Or as i am stripping the line back in I can roll it CCW between my fingers of my stripping hand and hold it tight with the rod hand fingers.
All this stuff helps but I need to keep it from ever happening.When you are casting to one of those tarpon you ain't got time for twisted line problems.
Does anyone have a cure? It seems when I solve one problem I create 2. That is probaly just the nature of the beast.

[Johnny P.]

Bare in mind that I'm fairly new to SWFF also, but having freshwater fly fished for years...
I think a lot depends on the line your using Game. I use Cortland 555 and coiling to the point that the line won't pass through the guides, rarely happens...

Unless the line is dirty! I think it's ultra-important to clean your line w/ soap and water every 3rd or 4th time out or sooner if in dirty water. Line dressing is a good idea 3 or 4 times a season. I use a product called Glide.

Also...gotta use a stripping basket in the surf; so many things can screw your line up: surf, tides, sand, dirt, scraping it on the rocks or clams (shells)...I think that all plays into it. Basket'll keep you protected from that.

Just my .02

jp

[THE GAME]

Well its not realy coiling. Its twisting. Take a piece of string and pull it tight. Then start twisting one end a bit. then let some slack in the line and it will wrap around its self.Make tight twists. I use airflo intermediate fly line.Clear. It was recommemded to me as being the best Intermediate line made. I don't know because I have never used any such until now. I was wondering about the abrasion on this line. It is clear so any scuff mark show up real well. I have used it actually fishing 1 time.It has a couple scuff marks down close to the end.I dont think it will effect the line any but I don't like it. Those colored line may be scuffed up too but I can't see it.
Thanks for the input.

[Sagebrush]

Realize this is a little late but here is one suggestion, one idea, and a bit of humor.

Are you stretching your line before you fish. These lines even more than others need a good stretching.

If it is actually twisting, perhaps you could put a swivel on your leader when your stretching it.

Finally, are you dragging your fly behind a kayak or something. Is your fly unstable and twisting? You tying your own? ; )

[THE GAME]

I have not stretched the line but I may the next time. I am sure it has something to do with my casting. Instead of the line going back and forth in a straight line duing a cast, I think there may be a slight oval/circular motion going on that is putting some twist in the line.I can make a cast of two with out the fly on, and the twists will come out. It is just about time for the tarpon to show up down here. As a matter of fact I took this rig to the beach yesterday just in case I happened to see a tarpon or jack in the surf. But no such luck.
Thanks for the advise and feel free to shed any more light on the subject you may have.

[Sagebrush]

Tarpon sounds like fun. Was planning on hitting Port O'connor to give it a shot myself.

I'd strongly suggest stretching your line every time you go out with decent pressure,- 5 pounds or more depending on your leader. I believe this has more to do with your problem than anything else. If you are casting as far as you mentioned in one post, i'd find it hard to believe that you have tailing loops that are bad enough to twist your line significantly.

You mentioned a keeping the rod on the same plane. On the water, deeper water, there is tendency to lift the elbow, bringing the forearm out of alignment with the body. The result is more likely to have a curved cast, also more raising and dropping of the wrist. I had left kreh instruct me one time I was suprised that when he put my arm through the motion it was more elbow at sides, timing and loading the rod. Not that you have to keep a book under your arm, but it might help. You might also try doing one direction at a time watching your back cast then your forward cast. I thought I remembered you saying your cast fall apart at the end. I had the same problem. You last cast shouldn't be much different from your false casts. Good casting takes a lot less effort.

As far as distance if you can get 60 ft in real world conditions that's a solid cast. I have a friend that does tournament casting who could hit 125 ft. with a standard line. More commonly few people have refined their cast to do more than 80ft in above average conditions.

Good luck.

[wittich]

A shooting basket will help your casting distance as well. I like the william joseph stipping basket 30$but the stipping aid works well also.

[wajdi]

"I can make a cast of two with out the fly on, and the twists will come out." I think that should tell you the problem right there. What ever fly you're casting is spinning in the air, maybe the water as well. Fix the fly, and that'll fix the twist.

[mdrew9]

GAME I think stretching your line is the problem. I have that problem as well until I stretch out my line. Stripping basket might also help some if your getting loops inside other loops.
Mike

[THE GAME]

Sounds like some good advice. I'll try it.
Thanks

[bones]

I'll have to agree with Sagebrush on the twisting. Need to trail the line behind a motorboat. Let all line out (nothing tied onto the tippet) and trail behind the boat for a quarter mile or so, with enough speed to really pull on the rod. Works wonders, no more kinking. I also do it to my mono baitcaster line, routinely, at beginning of every trip and certainly as needed.

Game, I'm still trying to get down your way for a Mansfield fish. Will holler.

One more thing...............cast 125ft. of line with a fly on the end of it? I'd have to witness Lefty Kreh do it before I'd believe it.

[THE GAME]

I would do the trailing line thing if I had a boat. most of my fishing is done wading and in the surf. I also have a yak but i have yet to do any flyfishing from it.
As for the long casts. larry haines at the fly shop in Port isabel told me that I should be able to cast all my fly line out on the 10 wt surf rig I use.
As for the fishing. Summer is here and the bay fishing seems to slow down in the heat. When fall gets here is will pick back up. i spend a lot of my time in the surf through the summer.

[tpoliti]

Game, what I do is hook my fly to the bumper of my truck and walk away from the truck pulling all the line out of the reel. I hold the rod parallel to the ground and pull tight. Keep it taut for 5-10 minutes this should give it a good stretching. If you have a flyline cleaner, clean it when you reel it up.

Good luck
Tony

[dereks]

One more suggestion. According to rio flylines and confirmed on the charter boat, any cast which leaves line either on deck or in your basket creates a half twist in the line remaining on deck. after repetedly throwing nearly all of the line the twist in the remainder causes the dreaded cluster. Try working with only the amount of line that you can throw so it comes tight on the reel each time. I have founr that this eliminates all twist based tangles for me and my clients. Of course this can be adapted to various necessary distances, and if you throw short a few times like in sightcasting situations, try a long one to the spool to remove any twist that has built up. Hope this helps Nat ;)

[Snuffy]

The only thing I find that helps is to make a circle with your right index finger and thumb to make a makeshift "guide" to funnel the loops through the first guide on the rod....