Basic Flycasting with Doug Swisher

[@rplecker]

Love that you are posting these old Mastery series videos! I remember renting these vhs tapes in the 1980’s and seeing them again in modern times is terrific. Please consider posting Advanced Fly Casting as a follow up to this video. I bought that tape and remember watching it all those years ago but wasn’t yet ready to learn what Doug Swisher had to teach me- besides, who has a vhs tape machine anymore? :-)

[@wrmyers]

I bought a vhs/dvd combo player for $5 just for this purpose. 😊

[@ScientificAnglers]

Glad you like them!

[@korifraziermorgan]

YES!! My dad loved these videos. Brings back great memories!

[@ScientificAnglers]

Glad you like them!

[@bert1234]

Awesome, some of the most informative videos I've seen on KZbin. Thanks.

[@ScientificAnglers]

Such a great series over the years.

[@lenhowl]

Awesome, loved it and learned a lot about casting. Cheers from Newfoundland

[@ScientificAnglers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wrmyers]

Great! Thanks for sharing this.

[@ScientificAnglers]

Glad you enjoyed it Bob!

[@ethandull6770]

My dad actually filmed this and he’s now showing it to me because I’m trying to learn fly fishing

[@ScientificAnglers]

Thats awesome!

[@BlueBloodCstm]

RIP Doug.

[@ScientificAnglers]

He was such a good man!

[@lenhowl]

One thing I don’t understand, he says to use the wrist when most other vids I looked at have said to lock the wrist.

[@dce21b59]

He said develop the micro second wrist, as in keep your arm and wrist locked and when you get to the end of the back and forward cast, your snapping the wrist just a bit. But not so much that you’re over extending the 90 degrees. Hope that makes sense

[@ScientificAnglers]

A little wrist motion is OK in fly casting and often very good fly casters will use some. Many beginning fly casters tend to use way too much and it’s easier to eliminate wrist all together to attain the basics, and then bring it back in with more experience. At the end of the day, the critical factor is to maintain a proper casting arc, which could theoretically be done will all arm or all wrist, but the ideal scenario uses a little of both.

[@jds4935]

Hello, I see your wrist movement and I wonder why some fly fishermen advise you to stick the handle of the fly rod into the sleeve of your shirt in the beginning??? Thanks for the help!!

[@ScientificAnglers]

In general breaking the wrist allows the rod tip to not follow a straight path which can lead to inefficient loops and decreased accuracy.

[@bryanschmidt9769]

Great video! How much line should you use to practise? Looks like he’s got about 20’ out? Is that right? Thks Scientific Angler for reposting this classic.

[@ScientificAnglers]

Bryan- How much line you use when practicing some what depends on what you are practicing. If you are just beginning 20-30ft will be enough to load the rod.

[@davidsantiago6189]

I learned from this video

[@ScientificAnglers]

Awesome glad it helped out!

[@wschield608]

I really enjoying your video. I had to pause it to make a quick safety comment. PLEASE DO NOT stand near a power line and use it to track your tip. Again, great video, thanks!

[@ScientificAnglers]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@paulobainz1210]

Good point. Anyone using a 30' rod should avoid doing this.

[@wschield608]

Around here most power lines rest at less than 20’ in the air. They are often mistaken for telephone lines. I’m guessing a fishing line wet from the dew would be a pretty good conductor. I may be overthinking this whole thing but I would never let my grandson or daughter fly a kite next to one?