Casting Quickly on the Saltwater Flats

Jon Covich of Cuba Fishing Outfitters has been to Cuba over twenty times, as well as many of the other premier flats destinations around the world. There are lots of things to do to prepare for the saltwater flats. Distance casting, improving your accuracy, etc. But casting quickly so that you do not lose the chance at a fish is one of the most important things angler can learn. In this video, learn some of the techniques in order to improve your success on the saltwater flats. To learn more about Cuba, please visit www.cubafishingoutfitters.com

[@Tydyjav]

Good tips, thanks!

[@joncovich712]

You are welcome! Glad you found it helpful

[@FratBoyFishing]

Your explanation on the urgency is incredibly relatable. I fly fish and I’m a mediocre caster but capable, used to doing soft hackle casting for trout. Went to Hawaii for bonefish and was so caught off guard at the urgency of casting and the speed needed to get the line moving I failed miserably.

[@geraldbarcode]

Very helpful indeed - thanks!

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

Thanks very much Martin

[@rschmidl]

Great Instructive Video Thank you. Very helpful

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

Thank you very much! Glad that you enjoyed it. There are 2 other instruction videos in this series and hope you might learn something from them as well. Thanks again....Jon

[@TheDarienJIm]

Really great tips

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

Thanks very much!

[@sydneyfishingstory]

Great , Nice video very good

[@JohnDoe-jn3es]

Nice info thanks

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

You are very welcome!

[@RSdd11]

This is a great video, especially the parts on quick casting and re-casting. A lot of the species specific tapers and modern lines are over weight and have aggressive front tapers with 30 foot or less length of head. I have found that with a medium fast action rod paired with a true to weight infinity taper line or bonefish taper (40-45 foot head) allow me to carry more line in the air on the cast and really help out on re-casting when necessary. I definitely will carry more line out of the end of the rod now before my first cast.

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

Sorry for this late response. Yes, I think you are spot on and I do just about exactly as you do. Thanks for your nice comment

[@jakefinn7905]

All good techniques. I will add to never let go of your line. create a circle w/your index and thumb to let the line slip thru. this will help with braking a too powerful cast and allows you to begin you strip immediately. hope this helps. v/r jim b.

[@jondangelo1523]

Yeah, great info… and thanks for showing that you can (should) let line slip through your fingers on each cast after you haul…. Amazing how many casting videos don’t mention that critical part. Many people only haul and don’t let any line slip through…. What is the point if you’re trying to cast with any sort of distance?? Thanks much!

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

Thanks Jon. I couldn't agree more!!!

[@cachi-7878]

Very nice, Jon. Do you have a video doing the same thing but when the fish are at two o’clock and you can’t cast over the boat? Generally speaking, the guides won’t turn the boat for you so you have to do a backcast release. Thanks.

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

I am sorry if I somehow missed replying to this. I do not have this as part of a video, as I generally find that guides will get the boat positioned for the front angler. However, you are right that there are times when they cannot (maybe because of wind), or when things happen too quickly and the fish is there and you have to cast now. I would give two tips if you could not cast over your right shoulder. The first would be to simply tilt your rod left, until you are casting over your left shoulder. This works very well, with your casting motion remaining close to the same. It only becomes difficult when the cast needs to be long, as your casting motion is somewhat restricted. The other is to simply back cast. In saltwater, being able to cast forward in this case towards 8 o'clock, and then release the fly on the back cast at 2 o'clock is extremely important and with practice is not overly difficult. Hope this helps!

[@drewbillstein4812]

That lines shoots so smoothly! Nice work. What line is it?

[@joncovich712]

Hi Drew.....That line is an SA Amplitude Bonefish Taper. Great line....

[@cachi-7878]

It’s not so much the line as it is the expert hands it’s in.

[@backcast4220]

Speaking from experience I would suggest never wearing shoes when casting from a skiff. Go barefoot or wear light socks so you can always feel if you’ve accidentally stepped on your line.

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

Thanks for your comment, and I know many people who feel the same as you. I just can't do it:). My feet get very sore standing on that flat surface for a long time. AND, I tend to slide around if any water gets on the deck. For myself, I try and find shoes without anything to catch a line, and that are very flat. But again, I agree with what you are saying and know many people who do the same.

[@MM-tt3np]

65-70ft no way *LOL*

[@joncovichofcubafishingoutf7657]

??? Are you doubting my casting prowess? :) Ok, maybe I am a fisherman at heart and I exaggerated a bit. But if I tried to, I could certainly cast 65-70' with two back casts. No problem. I am sure you could as well.