Since Sir Isaac Walton and Charles Cotton penned their first lines on the subject, fly-fishing and consequently fly casting has been elevated to a god-like status, best reserved for immortals with perfect reflexes, Swiss watch like timing and a physical build that would rival Michaelangelo's David. But the winds of change are in the air, and much of the bunk surrounding fly-fishing is eroding faster than topsoil in a Nebraska blow. There are many reasons for this; more information is available than ever before, better equipment is being produced and offered at prices that everyone can afford and finally because of people like Jeff Wagner.

Jeff is the antipathy of a stereotypical fly-fisherman. He is down to earth, willing to share his vast knowledge of the sport with anyone who is ready to learn, and is as comfortable battling carp on a farm pond as he is guiding anglers to selective rainbows in the Colorado Rockies.

Aside from his vast knowledge of the sport and absolute dedication to teaching others, first and foremost he can cast. I don't mean he can simply throw a fly line. He rips out double hauls, aerial mend and trick casts in such a rapid succession that would force even Brad Pitt to pack up his bamboo Hardy and leave the set of A River Runs Through It in shame (author's note - the casting in the fabled movie was actually done by noted caster Jason Borger).

His skill with a rod has not come overnight though. He has been an avid fly-fisherman for over 14 years, has been a certified FFF (Federation on Fly Fishers) instructor for over two years (which is noteworthy in itself as over 50 percent of the people that take this test fail - currently there are only around 700 people in the world with this certification). Jeff most recently has participated in distance casting competitions, and from all accounts is off to a tremendous start; out-casting many established tournament casters. He has caught about every fish in the west, from catfish to salmon on a fly, and is currently a Retail Product Specialist at Cabela's Store in Sidney NE.

I recently interviewed him on what it takes to be a good flycaster and how he teaches his students the basic, as well as the advanced techniques involved in casting a fly.

M.S. - How do you start people off casting?

J.W. - I like to break it down to the key steps - it is easier to learn the individual components and then put them all together than trying to learn everything at once. Too much information assimilation, as well as rushing your progress creates either frustrated anglers, or bad habits that are a nightmare to cure down the road.

M.S. - Give me an example of how you start.

J.W. - First I like to show them what they are supposed to do. This includes gripping the rod, the proper stance, the right arm movements and wrist action and finally the mechanics of a backcast and forward cast. Essentially this is all there is to beginning fly casting, but it is a lot to learn at one time. At this stage, practicing off the water is paramount to success - as it is one less factor to contend with.

I show them how it is supposed to be done and how to go about doing it themselves. Then I give them 15 minutes alone to start trying it and getting the feel for it. In short, they have to be making mistakes before I can correct them and get them started down the right path. Mistakes left unchecked over time can develop into a problem, but initial learning mistakes are the only way to get the feel for the right way to do it.

After they begin casting, I start critiquing their form, showing them the proper arm movements and wrist angle. At this stage, I like them to just work on one step at a time. For example, we may just work on backcasts. Simply picking the line up from in front of you, loading the rod, and properly executing a back cast is all they need to know at first. After they learn that, we will switch to learning the front cast (exactly the same as the backcast, just in reverse). When they are comfortable with both - we can then put them together to form a complete cast (referred to as a false cast).

M.S. - What is the biggest problem most beginners have?

J.W. - Most novice flycasters don't properly lock their wrist. However, this should not be cause for alarm - it is common and luckily relatively easy to cure. There are a couple of different methods I employ to overcome these mistakes. One method of helping prevent this, for practice purposes, is to turn the reel over and place it under the casters forearm (see photo). By keeping contact between your arm and the reel, it almost ensures correct wrist form. Another great method is to use a wrist strap designed by Joan Wulff. This strap forces the caster to maintain the correct wrist angle and it can be used while fishing.

M.S. - When anglers that are becoming proficient with the basic skills want to move on - how do you go about bringing them up to the advanced level?

J.W. - Learning to become an advanced caster is just like learning to cast in the beginning; it is simply a matter of learning each new technique step by step, then putting it all together.

M.S. - The most common advanced technique most casters want to learn is how to do the famed "double haul." What advantages does this technique have for fly fishermen and how do you teach it?

J.W. - I can't even imagine casting without incorporating a double haul. Once you learn how to do it, it becomes second nature and you use it all the time - even for short casts. The double haul has two functions, it increases the line speed and puts greater strain on the rod, putting it into a deeper load.

I believe that timing is the key. The hauling hand must mimic the rod hand exactly. Both hands must have a progressive speed up and stop, followed by a tensioned follow through back to starting position. Quick jerky hauls produce tailing loops.

It can be difficult to learn, and at first is akin to rubbing your head and patting your belly - it is a strange feeling. But like all other techniques, when it is broken down into steps it can be learned relatively quickly. The easiest way is to learn the single haul first. It can be done on either the backcast or forward cast (it doesn't matter which you learn first as both movements will have to be learned before the double haul is complete).

Broken down to its basics, when the rod is approaching full load (maximum strain or bend that the rod goes through in its casting arc) a quick, well timed tug on the line is administered with the non-casting or "hauling" hand. The tug is a simple motion - just down and back up to the former position. It doesn't have to be long or powerful to work, but the timing has to be perfect and the action smooth. Once you master the correct timing for the tug on either the forward or back cast you now have the single haul down. To achieve a double haul, this tug has to be done on both casts. It can be a bit difficult to learn but once you get the hang of it, it is like riding a bike - you never will forget.

M.S. - What advice do you have for flycasters who already have a good grasp on the sport, but seem to have hit a plateau and can't seem to progress any further?

J.W. - It all comes back to three fundamental tenets of casting (or more accurately, not following these basic steps):
Overly flexing the wrist
Not stopping the rod
Not properly loading the rod

If the caster examines these three basic casting techniques in their own form and concentrates on doing everything correctly, success is sure to follow.

In addition to reinforcing the basics, when you hit a plateau, try for something you haven't been able to do before. Go for shooting a full line, or that perfect curve cast. Seek advice from the experts. A resident casting instructor from the Federation of Fly Fishers or videos or books by Mel Krieger of Joan Wulff is another great help. Like any sport practice, practice, practice is often the biggest key.

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