Chris always preaches an efficient stroke. It has become my Holy Grail. The quest, however, has evolved into an obsession akin to a desert mirage. No amount of progress makes the water seem closer.
With the least amount of energy, I am trying to get from the starting position of the back cast to the ending position of the back cast, and then getting from the starting position of the front cast to the ending position of the front cast.
While I wait for the fly line to straighten between casts, I work on keeping the rod tip still and resting as many muscles as possible.
Lastly, I never want to create slack or allow slack to form while casting because slack requires movement – and thus energy – to regain tension in the fly line to make the next cast.
The Starting Position of the Front Cast
If I don’t shoot line, the starting position of my front cast for accuracy is the ending position of my back cast. Chris calls it, the Top Resting Position.
The Top Resting Position is like the position that a waiter would adopt holding a heavy tray. The upper arm is hanging from the shoulder, the elbow is folded, the forearm is vertical, and the hand is just outside (but very close to) the shoulder.
When I am fly casting, I’m not serving anyone, but I need to hold up my arm (which weighs approximately 10 lbs) for a substantial amount of time (cumulatively) over a day of fishing. I can’t think of any other starting position less tiring – and more efficient.
The Top Resting Position varies slightly with casting distance, becoming higher than the default waiter position for longer casts.
The Ending Position of the Front Cast
The ending position of my front cast for accuracy is the starting position of the back cast. Chris calls it, the Bottom Resting Position.
The Bottom Resting Position is like the position that most people would adopt holding a coffee cup: upper arm vertical and my forearm nearly horizontal.
Since I don’t want to be impaled by a hook, instead of holding the rod in front of my belly button, I hold the rod by my side, upper arm dangling from my shoulder and the forearm pointing straight ahead.