Tips on Fly Casting
Walt Robinson, Casting Master
Tug to Double Haul
Walt Robinson, Casting Master
Tug to Double Haul
An evening conversation at this last Mammoth Fishout brought up the topic of the double haul. With stripers, steelhead and Lahontan Cutthroat coming into the fall picture and we are looking for more controlled distance, I thought it would be a good time to visit this topic. First it should be noted that moving to the next level in casting with a double haul, it is important to have your loop control in good shape. Tighter loops are essential for the haul to work effectively. One of the initial problems is the coordination of accelerating the line with the line hand while making the cast with the rod hand.
A method that I picked up a number of years ago from Sage Rep, Jan Kuahara, was called the tug. This one word tends to simplify the coordination that is required in the double haul. Begin by pulling off about 30 feet of line from a 6 weight or 7 weight line/rod combination and make some short casts to get comfortable. Grasp the line with your line hand between your index finger and thumb making sure that (1) your thumb points at the first guide and (2) your line hand stays on the opposite side of your body from rod hand. For a right hand caster, this means your left hand stays to the left of your buttons on your shirt. The "Tug Technique" is applied with a short tugging motion of about 1 foot each time your rod hand initiates the forward cast and back cast. You will find that your line hand will automatically follow the accelerating line without much thought on your part.
Having a slightly heavier floating line or type II sink tip may help you feel the acceleration created by each tug. Remember that in the double haul, the power of the cast is more in the line hand, and the rod hand is more of what I call a tracking station for the cast. Avoid hauling hard and casting hard. Hauling takes some practice before you begin to get the tempo and the feel.
Happy Hauling!
