Length of Casts

Casts Fly Fishing Murray's Fly Shop VA - Big Spring Creek - Circa 1976
On Big Spring Creek, Harry Murray finds that it is often more productive to sneak in on the trout than make real long casts. (Photo Circa 1978)

Experienced anglers know it is best to never cast further than is necessary to keep from scaring the fish when in freshwater. Excessively long casts can result in a loss of accuracy, loss of drag control, inconsistency in strike detection and missed strikes. In low, clear flat sections of the streams we are often compelled to punch out long casts, however, judge this by the stream conditions.