Fly Casting Techniques - Where to point your fly rod when casting

Fly Casting Techniques. When learning to make a basic fly fishing cast, where should you point your rod? Straight up, sidearm, or somewhere in between. Is there one specific place you should be stopping your rod at the end of the cast. What effect does this have on your fly casting loop?
These are all important questions beginner and even novice fly fishing anglers ask.
IFF Certified Casting Instructor Capt. Chris Myers of www.orlandoflycastinglessons.com discusses and demonstrates various techniques. See different styles of fly casts being made and then choose which style will work best for you.
Fly casting lessons near Orlando - www.orlandoflycasting.com

[@TroutLodge]

Thanks Chris, I always enjoy your videos and it's good to see you back. Fishing and fly tying videos really help with boredom during this Quarantine. I hope you and your family are safe and well.

[@CaptChrisMyers]

Thanks 👍

[@gregcorralyourfishinpal9005]

Thank you

[@jennym.9099]

Thank you! I have enjoyed all of your fly casting instructional videos!

[@rubberdiscoduck]

That cleared up a ton of questions I had thanks for showing the video it was very very helpful

[@letsgobrody5608]

You're casting tips are always the best. Just moved to FL from GA. You're videos taught me to cast from scratch. Hoping I can take a trip with you some day soon

[@DwightP980]

Thanks Chris for the great tip. I'm a long time over the head caster, unless forced to go low due to the environment, and will definitely work on my side cast technique. It's a wonder I've never hooked a ear, but I've sure came close!

[@williamwojcieszek4320]

Thanks Chris. I feel most comfortable with the rod slightly angled off to the side; however, I find it very difficult to maintain a straight rod tip path. If I face the target with right foot forward and cast vertically (like I’m throwing a dart), I can be pretty accurate and stay on a straight plane. But my loops tend to be more open this way. How can I ensure a straight line path with rod tip with a more sidearm motion? Thx

[@CaptChrisMyers]

Depending on the distance you are trying to reach, when most people cast straight up and down, the range of motion going back is limited so they commonly use much more wrist to move the rod tip which results in a curved path. Whatever you have along the trop of the grip, for me it is my thumb, must travel straight if the tip travels straight. Check your stroke without a rod in your hand first to see what path you hand is taking. In this video I give a demonstration of that - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r56TaqNjoJyDp5o If you continue having the problem, send me a video and I may be able to tell you what is going on

[@williamwojcieszek4320]

@@CaptChrisMyers yes, makes sense and great video. I think what is happening is that on longer casts, I am rotating my torso on the back cast. My thumb is rotating also, causing me to get off plane. Should I cut down on torso rotation? Or push my elbow and wrist out to remain on that straight path? Thanks for your help. I did a video analysis with you a few years back and it was quite helpful. I need to dig that out again.

[@CaptChrisMyers]

I could not find your video but I see we did one in 2017. If you are twisting on your back cast, it will make loops like there - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGjKoYmMgrdre8k . If you stand with your casting side foot slightly back, you should not feel a need to rotate to increase your range of motion.

[@williamwojcieszek4320]

@@CaptChrisMyers Thank you, extremely helpful! I think I developed the bad habit of rotating my torso from looking at my back cast loop. When I rotate, my hand is also coming inside, causing that swing back cast.