Probably the Best Casting Video Ever Made | Simon Gawesworth

[@attilathehamster6774]

The title WAS NOT click-bait. Clear, structured, video presented by a natural communicator.

[@carrotycoffee5732]

pun intended?

[@katbars4788]

A natural born teacher; I find all his videos to be exceptional. Thank you, Simon.

[@gavinmcewen5896]

Yeah. bloody good!

[@johnnymccann5607]

🎉I've been fly fishing and tying probably 30 plus years. self taught from the instructions on the back of the cardboard container holding the prize fly rod from kmart. i don't consider myself a good caster but the fish and memories of so many fish. i also had my share of tree and tall grass fishing. Lol.we all have . the fun and excitement unlimited. I'm disabled now and don't fish much . i really need someone to go with in case something happens. i can walk but not far without resting a bit. but it's ok, the experience and blessings I've had is worth more than gold. papa from the foothills of the blue ridge mountains in NC wishing you well 😊

[@paulcolson3220]

I hear you, papa. What a joy it has been.

[@topspeed250k5]

​@@paulcolson3220I did much the same thing, except that I bound my own rod too, as an early teenager. My Dad was a perfectionist so it ended up looking like a high-end bought rod with different coloured bindings, open spiral sections etc. I learned to cast from a book and practised on grass. I taught myself fly-tying as well, as a hobby. That rod moved with me many times for 40 years, never seeing the water because I never lived in flyfishing territory. Then I had a 3-month working trip to NZ and vowed I'd go flyfishing. I fell in with a Brit who'd done the whole fishing- guide teaching thing in England and had a $900 Sage rod. He chuckled at my homemade rod & book learned casting but I'd watched a few YT vids too so we had a casting session on his lawn. He declared me passable & we went on a day trip. I caught two fish, he caught none lol. We became good friends and did several day trips together. Some of the best days of my life.

[@hgj2019]

50 plus years of fly fishing here. Self taught from books, videos, and experience. Sorry to hear about your physical challenges now. I too am not quite as able as I once was, so I feel your frustration. May I ask, what part of NC do you call home and what is the nature of your challenges? I’ve fished a bit in north Ga and NC, and a little out west. What a great time it has been!

[@allanasp771]

Got my first rod at my 12'th birthday, a japanese " No name" glasfibre rod with steel ferrules, which I still own. I'm now 66y old and have just retired from work and that of course has opened up for plenty more fly fishing. Have never learned to cast proberly but still catch a fish or two sometimes. Nowadays I very seldom fish where there is plenty of space behind me so Spey or roll casting has more or less become the new "normal" for me and I can now roll a line nearly as long as a overhead cast. Greetings from Sweden.

[@jamesmoline4411]

Fantastic instructional video. I have been a professor for 35 years, and this gentleman is as good a professor as I’ve seen. Congratulations.

[@eedjaq02]

After fly fishing for 50 years. I still found some very interesting lessons. Great teacher. Thanks

[@TheStreamUrchin1]

I am at 70 years, rookie. Great video with lots of tips for people who have been at it for a year or so.

[@bj0ernaa]

Best casting instruction video I've ever seen. Excellent!

[@paharding]

Awesome video of an extremely important part of fly fishing. This is the finest video on the topic. Simon is a great instructor and great communicator. Kudos to Rio. Thank you!

[@lincolnprojectnemesis3253]

I was fortunate enough to have seen Simon do a casting demonstration with convention and spey fly rods. Listening to him, I found his simplistic approach to instruction refreshing. The guy is an unbelievable mover of fly line. You got to see it!

[@morgandodge5231]

Great instruction pointed for those starting out and great instruction and reminders for lifelong students- thank you!

[@newflyfisher]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chuckrhindos2166]

One of the best basic casting videos available

[@ianwoods1384]

Thank you, Simon for a great instructional film and the great way you conveyed it to us. I've fly fished for thirty years on reservoirs. I haven't done lots. I'm not a natural and at times, struggle. I love the thrill of the chase, being outside, near water and trying to master the art of casting. Like you say, if you try and belt line out, you'll probably regret it, as gentleness is the key. I read an article in Countrymans Weekly by Simon Everett regarding line care around ten years ago. Since then, I've washed my lines in the bath with soap flakes. Not washing up liquid because of the fierce detergents contained. Soap flakes are a gentle wash. I then use the line slick, line care that comes with the line. That has helped and given me confidence. I also made a big circular drum, to wrap the line around during winter, to help lose line memory that you can get off tightly wrapped line on small spools. I have nothing like your ability. I've developed some regrettable habits over the years, which leads to knots, line falling deadweight in front of you, etc. As I cast, I try to have these things in mind. A good grip of the rod handle. My rod flicking in-between eleven and two o'clock. Try and not drop my back cast by taking my rod too far back, especially at the Dam wall. Tension in my wrist to create flex in the rod, timing, line release, (other hand), and trying to present the line gently on the water with correct turn over. It's not often I do that well. Generally, there's something I don't do that frustates me. I've never been able to watch my back cast as I always feel like I'm going to fall over and completely lose my rythmn. So I have to guess my backcast timing. Thank you for an inspiring fantastic video, which has given me lots to think about as this season is just beginning. Very best wishes.

[@Walkslowlylooking]

We met at my first Sandy Spey Clave, eons ago, but I will always be grateful for it. You have convinced me to resurrect my fly fishing infancy/career, just for the challenge of maybe, one day, might happen, putting together a decent fly cast. Thank you again, Simon.

[@CommodoreMark]

The step-by-step explanation of shooting line is especially good in an outstanding tutorial. Simon is the best!

[@crazykenny1213]

This video pretty much taught me how to fly fish. At this point I can double haul and shoot my line 60ft easily. A good addition to this lesson would be explaining how the more line you have in the air, the more weight you have loaded to shoot your line out. You get a feel for how heavy your line is while casting. It allows you to adjust your casting speed with your eyes closed.

[@williamparadis3058]

Excellent tutorial - as always. I think one especially important note is in the very beginning, when Simon explains that the grip and stance aren't initially critical - what is important is to find what is comfortable. That comfort leads to confidence, confidence leads to practice, and practice quickly leads to mastery. At THAT point, you begin to refine your technique and grow your skill set. Too many people teach that "there's only one right way," when that's really not true, and especially not an effective way to teach. Really an extraordinarily well-presented lesson - looking forward to more.

[@brunomarquezan]

THE BEST. Simon always turns it so easy to comprehend... thanks so much

[@scottclement6384]

I wish I had this kind of tutorial when I first picked up a fly rod. I look forward to reviewing this and applying these principles to improve my casting. Thank you.

[@Nomad137-FJC]

Thanks for the video, picked up my first fly rod today, can't wait to start practicing.

[@coryroche7209]

This guy is great for teaching. Need a whole channel just him

[@alecstrickland7182]

I really appreciate that you told fresh beginners to just not worry about the nitty gritty details

[@davidbranquinho4796]

What a wealth of information. Greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@garynokes729]

I’ve been a fly fisherman for years and found this video informative as well as an excellent review. Thanks for posting.

[@camerong1762]

What a fantastic lesson, so easy to follow, thank you. I am 62 and just had my first lesson in fly fishing as I recently moved to Buckie on the coast and have some wonderful rivers (including The Spey), lochs and the Moray firth to fish on, so your video is helping me so much.

[@MrRanggong]

Simon does a great job explaining everything. Only thing I would add: how to know when to start your back cast or forward cast? The moment when you feel the traveling line and loop start to pull on the rod. Beginers tend to whip the rod back and forth, not waiting for the line to unroll and pull on the rod. Once I learned this my distance casting improved.

[@ValcoBayrunner]

Beginners should learn to look behind them and watch their fly line straighten before casting forward again. I learned not to cast too hard when in windy conditions, let the fly rod do the work. Also dont raise your fly rod above your shoulder to cast, keep that elbow close to the body. This is a very good video. Thank you Simon.

[@ValcoBayrunner]

It would be awesome too see you do a series showing what casting looks like with heavy weighted flys and split shot on the line. Put your hard hat on and duck 😂😂😂. Casting against a strong wind is another. Great video Simon.

[@johnaustin635]

An excellent presentation for the beginner or experienced fly fisherman thank you.

[@coinholeo2253]

Simply brilliant!You,sir are a natural born teacher.Always enjoy your videos,but this is just phenomenal.Thank You,Thank You.

[@i4bc]

I can’t argue with the title…I’ve watched a lot of fly fishing tutorials and I’ve been fly fishing for 30 years…A very well put together film that covers everything and very well presented by Simon 👏🫡

[@_garebear]

He's like having an old friend that's doesn't mind going into detail with you and every sentence is a nugget of knowledge. I could listen to this guy talk about the weather.

[@DocSalSA]

Thank you for the great video, I’m just getting into fly fishing and this has really helped out loads! His communication style and teaching method makes it all the better

[@jameswilson6717]

This is outstanding pure and simply the best instructive learning tuition fly casting video out there hands down !!!

[@swamphog77]

What a wonderful teaching video for a beginner like me and thank you, Simon!! I'm a bait casting kayak angler for many years and purchased my first fly rod from Orvis and am looking forward to starting to learn the art. Your videos are very helpful and I am grateful for the lesson value...

[@PudgyPastures]

Great instructional video and very well edited. Thank you Simon!

[@newflyfisher]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidjack6195]

I have seen a few videos on casting and I have also had lessons, and to be honest this, in my opinion, is the best video and the best guidance I have heard, or seen. Thank you Simon, and thank you New Fly Fisher. I will share this with everyone I know who fly fishes, because at the end of the day, we are always learning, there is always room for improvement, and the way this video is approached and explained is fantastic. I cannot recommend it enough!

[@nealdonlan5932]

I am new to fly fishing by which I mean I have never been but have a lesson booked in 5 weeks time. This video was excellent. I have been refraining from watching anything to avoid paralysis by analysis however this video was a real fountain of knowledge and has put me at ease. Your knowledge, communication and enthusiasm is to be commended and I look forward to watching the rest of your videos sir. Thank you

[@rwsams]

Well done! Thanks for a most useful tutorial.

[@bootdownthedoor324]

I just started after taking a beginners class with my local wildlife management organization. This video is a massive help to build on what I learned. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@newflyfisher]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RichardShackelford-w9p]

Wish I'd found this when I started. It's helped me understand my faults (many), and see the error if my ways, thanks

[@FedericoPratoFlyShop]

One of the best master at the moment and a great gentleman

[@amudlifecrisis]

Wow! What a great presentation! Phenomenal instruction!

[@romanomorelli2831]

This is king ,watching this a few times may actually cut down fly casting lessons not all but some great video thank you.

[@dangreasley7934]

I've just started to learn to fly fish. This video is brilliant. I will have to keep watching this one. Cheers

[@gagefraedrich]

No doubt the best! Thank you for such a high quality video!

[@elcorkscrew]

I have been fly fishing for some years now I have just watched this video and it was so informative, i learned so much . Thanks very much for a great video. A great teacher. Mike.

[@northeastscout2015]

You are right on target so far all of the results of the cast that you have mentioned had happened to me , back snag on grass and trees,the air knot wow what a train wreck, the crack bye-bye fly, like just throwing cash away, love it. Getting better and more confident.

[@terryasselstine6879]

Such a clear and uncluttered presentation, thanks.

[@JV44HeinzBar]

I have to agree. The best casting tutorial on YT, as far as I'm concerned. Subscribed and liked!

[@oliverwhite30]

Many thanks for this instructional video. Well done.

[@newflyfisher]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Indeed it's the best fly casting video

[@jasonhumphry5836]

Awesome video so much advice it just all makes sense peace ✌️ and much respect to you Jason

[@johnshand6176]

Great video/teacher and much appreciated down under in NZ.

[@timmyers3428]

Excellent presentation, and lots of great information, for me it brought together a lot of teaching I have had in the last few weeks, can't wait to go out and give some of this a try.

[@mikelundrigan2285]

Excellent explanations !! Wish this was available 50+ years ago! Would have saved me a lot of frustration as I figured it out myself!

[@flybookies4403]

Yes, those were the days when people went fishing with braided silk lines. Only the times and the material have changed a lot! The rods, lines and reels are made from modern materials, some of which come from space travel. Learning to throw? Still from the time of our grandfathers. Göran Andersson from Sweden is one such pioneer! With his casting style: The line in front of you, he has combined modern casting style and modern technique. With this technique you have the fly on the water 90% of the time and not in the air! And you don't have sore muscles in your arm either. It's that easy today, in the modern age.

[@savoielvis1]

Wooow just found my new favorite KZbin chanel 🎉🎉🎉. I am going to watch this video , over and over again 😂😅😊 . Thank you so much for lesson 😊😊😊!

[@r964rh8]

Wish this guy taught me on my recent beginners course, Learnt more from this video than I did on the whole day

[@PETERTRITSCH]

The best fly-casting video out there!

[@Ray-rd2sn]

Really enjoyed your video, snow is melting here be out there soon with your lesson in mind. Great video!

[@edwardlacalifornia9634]

Glad I found you, great video on Fly Fishing 101 🎣 Enjoy fly fishing very much, and enjoyed your instructional video. Its a great one for those interested in fly fishing. 👏👏👏

[@MarcTelesha]

Cast increases Fly Fishing Enjoyment so much and so few people put in the time.

[@fluxahelmi]

Great teacher. Thanks for video..👌👍

[@MangrovesToMountainsOutdoors]

Fantastic video. So well explained.

[@THUNDERCLAPPZ]

Great video my good sir! U are absolutely the best explaining teacher i have ever seen! Awesome.

[@ndavila80]

Excellent and well communicated instructional video.

[@fishduckdog]

Very nice production! I follow your work on KZbin and this is one of the best illustration and demonstration that I’ve seen of all the fly fishing 🎣 folks I follow! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I’m sharing this video with my son and grandson.

[@nologarrido1984]

Excelente clase! Muy bien explicada! Gracias!

[@williamparker6649]

Amazing video! So helpful🙏

[@charlieb5477]

The title says it all. Thank you 👍

[@johnturnbull8980]

Excellent video. Thanks

[@rangerwhite5165]

Simon is a brilliant instructor.

[@raymondmichaellarkin6455]

Brilliant Simon-thank you

[@Spoons89631]

great video with great information even for veteran fly fisherman. I do find it funny that this is a video from Farbanks and you tagged Orvis and not any of the Farbank companies.

[@huntsail3727]

Great video, subscribed. Will give these tips a try on the water tomorrow. Looking forward to more.

[@HrRossi-1]

simply great! Thank you, simply thank you!

[@hgj2019]

Thanks for a great video! VERY good info. I’d add that the cast dynamic is also impacted by your height above the water. Casting when standing from shore is different from casting when wading, especially wading deep. Casting from a belly boat or sitting/standing in a boat is similarly different. Something to consider. 😊

[@topspeed250k5]

Very good instructional video, thank you. One thing I noticed which struct me as odd, and you've never thought about: You have the winding knobs on the right hand side of your reel. That means that to wind, you have to change the rod over to your left hand. Your spinning reel is set up correctly, i.e. winding with left hand. I thought it was strange that you don't set up your fly reel the same way

[@tizzlebub]

Fantastic demonstrations and explanations

[@garygarnham1554]

This must be the best video I've watched 👏👏👏👏

[@thomasleonard9685]

Love how he talks about hooking grass. Colorado we have trees and bushes and they grab a lot of flies. Very little grass unless you’re fishing a golf course

[@garrettstrahan2218]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you.

[@robertbotta6536]

So darn good! Thank you so much. Would you consider doing an instructional video on the double haul? I sure could use it. I bet many would.

[@kroontuinverzorging1311]

Excellent video, I also kept expecting Clarice to come to the show..."Care for some casting, Clarice" ? .... But serious...really well explained.

[@denisryan8965]

The best tutorial videos - not just this - all of them.

[@mikebechtol]

Excellent presentation.

[@torman5]

Amazing video!

[@Lindholmer5k]

Barbless is an absolute winner in my book. You will hook yourself at some point, no matter the skill level! Besides, the survival rate for catch and release is better, when combined with best practices of fish handeling, or rather, the lack of handeling. Tight lines! :)

[@philipdennis-rh7uj]

Great instructions. Thank you

[@pashasvirin]

Thank you very much!

[@rrtownsend7148]

Great video... Thanks...

[@thomasleonard9685]

Love how he talks about hooking grass. Colorado we have trees and bushes and they grab a lot of flies. Very little grass unless you’re fishing a golf course When I die, heaven will be a wide river with a nice bottom and 5 pound trout that eat dry flies all day

[@alpeaceandlove]

Decent teacher thanks man

[@hectorruiz3522]

Let me see the tattoos! Also really good lecture/how to in all in flyfishing basics. Heck yeah!

[@peterschonborn3138]

you're a great teacher!

[@SD-uh4zn]

I agree with all the comments, great instructor , easy to listen and follow, but, at the very beginning he says start facing downstream with your line straght out in front of you. HOW did that line get out in front? Did he cast it out, let it out as he walks backwards, or tell a buddy to take the line and walk down stream? How much line should be in front?

[@ironforge039]

Awesome video. Thank you so much.

[@johnlunetta4917]

very nice job...

[@ChoppingBlockTree]

Cool to see a LAVRO drift boat in the video. The builder is my neighbor, really great guy, many years retired.

[@800Viffer]

Excellent video

[@berndziesche9770]

Nice teaching, well done movie! 👌 A few alternative thoughts: I recommend the open stance for starting to learn fly casting. That makes it much easier to watch the back cast, which is very helpful for learning to perform proper back casts. I would not hold the line in the line hand and move it parallel to the rod hand. Instead I recommend to hold the line in the rod hand (between the cork and one or two fingers). When learning the double hauling, the line should be hold in the line hand of course. Holding the line in the line hand, while not hauling is tricky and often leads to either the line slipping out the rings during rotation (when it shouldn't slip). Or it leads to uncomfortable positions around the line hand shoulder. One disagreement: A wide loop is not terrible. In fact we sometimes need it in fishing. Mostly I need medium sized loops. I recommend learning to shape wide, medium and tight loops. My rod tip btw. never travels in a straight path. I believe this to be impossible (the tip path for the tightest possible loops may be partially close to straight though). Regards Bernd

[@vangmountain]

Fantastic video with excellent explanations. Not everyone who can cast a fly rod is able to articulate the mechanics of how it is done or how it should be done. The reason is because they themselves don't really know. They just know how to do it, but don't really know how exactly they are doing it. For me, I learn the faults in my right hand when I decided to learn how to cast with my left as well and from this, I quickly found that my left, weaker hand, was outcasting my right, in both distance and loop formation. My left was nice and tight and my flies shot out like bullets, but with very little effort. Careful analysis showed that I had stuck to the teachings of many which is that you don't cast with your wrists. As such, my right was getting a lot of translational velocity, but it was lacking acceleration at the end phase, something my weaker left was naturally doing. This was the missing element of my right hand cast, so I had to learn to incorporate that which was a lot harder than I thought because I'd had 3-4 years of casting incorrectly under my belt. I was able to rid myself of the bad habits by returning to the basics and working on very small movements of my right hand by hugging my elbow tight to my bod preventing it from moving much forcing me to incorporate the wrist rotation at the end to continue accelerating the rod and ultimately bringing it to an abrupt stop. And that's how I improved/corrected my right hand cast. Now, my double haul is what contributes most to the loading of my rod. The final acceleration generated by the quick short rotation of the wrist loads the rod even more, and then the abrupt stop facilitates the energy transfer to the line and fly. The one thing I would add to this video which I don't recall it being mentioned, is to listen to your rod. If you don't feel a lot of resistance as you are accelerating the rod forward or back, you need to ask why? If you are properly loading the rod, you should feel more and more resistance as you try to accelerate it. This tells you, you are properly loading the rod and it's this loading of the rod that's going to store this energy in the form of potential energy to be used to launch your fly and line out. If it's not loading, there could be a couple of things you are doing. 1) dropping the rod tip before accelerating. doing this will induce slack in the line, allowing the rod to move forward without it being loaded. 2) you are not accelerating the rod at all times. Sometimes people accelerate hard at the beginning then it peaks and is under constant velocity and zero acceleration at the end. This will unload the rod. To keep the rod loaded, it must be accelerating at all times. Once started, the rod should always be accelerating to the very end where it is accelerated in the opposite direction until it comes to an abrupt end, converting the potential energy in the bent rod into kinetic energy. When I was always overpowering my rod with my right hand, I never felt the rod loading. Now I don't overpower the rod. Instead, I start it slow to ensure the rod gets loaded properly.

[@lsmalls8252]

Can we just talk briefly about how that guy drained the tennis ball in the bucket from 50-60 feet away? Amazing