Fly fishing varies quite a bit from the other forms of fishing.

Perhaps the most important single item to consider is the rod itself. In fly fishing, it is the rod that does the work for you.

One of the problems people first have when the take this variation of the sport up, particularly if they have spun or bait fished before, is adjusting to the fact that the more effort you put into the cast is not, unlike the other forms, the determining factor in how much distance is achieved.

Casting a fly line is all about technique. With no weights fitted to the line as in other forms of rod fishing, it is all about using the fky fishing rod in the correct manner to get the line to travel through the air.

The most important part of the cast is what is called the “back cast”, where the line is cast backwards over your shoulder. This “loads” the rod. The great temptation is to cast the line back, and then immediately throw the line forward on the forward cast. This is incorrect.

A correct back cast involves stopping the rod in the vertical position, whilst at the same time stopping the line with your free hand. What this does is “load” the rod. In other words, the line, when stopped, will pull the rod backwards. It is vital that one waits a second or so until one can feel the rod has loaded, before moving the rod forward and at the same time releasing the line.

It is therefore the action of the rod, rather than the power of the cast that is key to a successful cast.

If the back cast is not done properly and the rod is allowed to travel back further than the vertical, there is then insufficient power stored in the rod for the forward cast, and the result is usually a tangle!

During casting, there should be a number of “false” casts. This is where you stop the line with your hand on the forward cast, before it hits the water, then back cast again.

The experts suggest that you do not want to use more than three false casts. This is really down to the individual, but putting too much line into the air can result in a loss of control.

Relaxing and casting smoothly, remembering to pause at the top of the back cast are the keys to successful fly line casting.

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