January 02, 2025
By Ed Jaworowski; Filming by Ben Annibali
EDITOR'S NOTE: Casting master Ed Jaworowski takes a deep dive into the fundamentals of fly casting in his five-part series “Functional Fly Casting,” a series that runs in each issue of Fly Fisherman in 2025. In the Feb-Mar issue, Ed examines the critical aspect of acceleration. Some people confuse “speed” with “acceleration.” The difference is all in the timing, and it happens in less than one second. For the full story you can subscribe at flyfisherman.com (they will send the previous issue and you will get the five part series for $15) or you can find the magazine on sale nationwide at fly shops, Barnes & Noble, Hudson News, Walmart, and many other vendors.
Regardless of the waters we fish or the species we pursue, casting is the essential skill that defines fly fishing. Yet there is much misunderstanding and many misconceptions about how casting works.
A fly rod has only one innate power: When bent, it can straighten. The caster’s task, in the simplest terms, is to bend (load) the rod, then allow the rod to straighten. A rod does not bend backwards when we cast. Regardless of where the tip of the rod is at the start of a cast, it will never go back any farther. Rather, the hand applies force to the grip, moving it forward, while the line offers resistance to the tip’s movement, holding it back, which creates the bend.
It’s vital to understand that, since fishing conditions and situations change endlessly, there can be no rigid or fixed rules or instructions for casting. You cannot specify where to start, move, or stop your arm or rod, or the direction and distance to move them, before deciding on the result you want from the cast. You must take various factors into account, including the fly being cast, the desired direction and distance, wind, any obstructions—whether overhead or to the side or rear—and more.
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For the full story you can subscribe at flyfisherman.com (they will send the previous issue and you will get the five part series for $15) or you can find the magazine on sale nationwide at fly shops, Barnes & Noble, Hudson News, Walmart, and many other vendors.
