Lots of tailing loops when casting larger flies...

[dogman]

like saltwater crab patterns in heavier winds. Without seeing a video I know am asking a lot, but any ideas what faults I might be making? Or better yet what are the typical faults seen when casting that type fly?

Happy New Years!!!

[Marc Fauvet]

hiya,
for some reason i'm thinking you're mostly used to casting smaller flies, maybe typical trout-type flies and you don't have TL issues there ?
if so it probably comes from casting loops that are too tight. open them up !
cheers,
marc

[WJC]

Or better yet what are the typical faults seen when casting that type fly?

I think there is a self-preservation tendency to rush the forward cast with heavy permit crab type flies.. So, with the fly leg not completely unrolled, an early forward cast causes the heavy fly to swing down too low before changing direction. By the time it gains altitude, you wind up with a tail.

Watching your backcast will tell you if this is the problem. A lot of guys change casting planes between forward and back casts or use constant tension casts when fishing those flies.

Cheers,
Jim

[Paul Arden]

This is a difficult question, Gary, because it may not be what we think of as a tailing loop (ie a wave in the rod leg) and it might just be that the heavy fly is travelling below the rod leg, which isn't actually a tailing loop, although the result may be the same!

I think with a really heavy fly such as a crab pattern, you're best to tilt the rod and loop over to the side and speed up a little bit. I fished some crab patterns in Exmouth that were no fun to cast!

Cheers, Paul

[Lasse Karlsson]

Slack line.

Does your backcast straighten?

Cheers
Lasse

[andrewparkeruk]

Is your leader too long: could you successfully fish that crab-pattern on a shorter leader?

Andrew

[dogman]

Thanks for the advice. In terms of shortening the leader, I really want to target permit, and they just seem damn finicky. Somethings I have read say 15 FT leader, minimum.

[Paul Arden]

15ft is around what is comfortable, for casting anyway. Interesting stuff...

[dogman]

I feel like casting to permit and actually getting a take is the peak of the fly fishing mountain. Its always windy, the crab flies are usually bulky and heavy, the fish I have cast to seem to vanish in a few seconds, much like most of the "fish" I have chatted up in a bar. LOL.

[Paul Arden]

Very heavy flies can have a nasty kick to them after the loop straightens on the backcast. This is definitely a case for opening up your loops and using a Belgian Cast. I hope to get some shots at Permit next week, or in fact by Friday afternoon!