Double hauling - aerialise more line on cast?

[windknotter]

Have been trying to develop my double hauling technique. Usually, I can aerialise about 30ft of line before the rod becomes overloaded. Should I get a similar length out when double hauling, and use the extra line speed to shoot the rest? Or can I use the extra line speed to put more line out while false casting, and therefore have to shoot less?

Cheers
Windknotter

[magnus]

Hi Windknotter

I'm not really sure what you mean when you say your rod gets overloaded when you false cast 30ft of line. As a matter of interest what rod and line?

Hauling gives you options - the extra tension in the line gives more line speed usually means you can carry more line in the air and shoot - the amount of shoot wil vary with the type of line WF DT or SH

For practise I'd start by getting a comfortable length of line in the air without hauling. Then introduce a controled haul - shorter with a short line, longer with a more line. The haul must continue until the stop - the flick at the end of the stroke when the loop forms.

Adjust your casting arc - the angle of the rod at the back stop and the front stop - so you get a narrow loop - then widen the loop by adjusting the arc. Then add a foot of line and repeat. Another foot and so on.

The idea of the arc exercise is that especially when hauling the casting arc must vary - you want a narrow-ish loop to fully exploit the extra line-speed and get maximum shoot.

Magnus

[windknotter]

Hi Magnus,

Thanks for the reply. I have a 9'6" 7 weight rod, and WF7 Cortland 444. Perhaps I underestimated, but, certainly, if I exceed much beyond 30ft there's soon a point where the false casting becomes uncontrolled.

I wondered whether, with double hauling, you can have more line out before the false cast gets out of control, and whether this is in fact just what I should be doing (rather than trying to shoot the whole line with just 30 ft or so out).

Thanks for the advice. I'll give that a go. So I should try to vary the arc? Why not try to make all of the loops narrow from the first false cast until the shoot?

Cheers
Windknotter

[Hans]

If your rod gets overloede with 30 ft of line out, you can ask yourself the question if the line is not too heavy for the rod....
Double-hauling is only used to give the line more speed, and it will not have any positive influence on the ability to keep line aerialised. On the contrary, more speed will give more mass to the line, thus a sooner overloading....
My advise, have the combination tested by an expert caster, and see what he has to say....
Cheers, Hans.

[magnus]

Hi Windknotter

Losing control of line in the air is not overload - perhaps overlong

Overload means the mass you're trying to shift is too much for the rod - with carbon rods that means either the mass doesn't move or the rod breaks.

It sounds to me like you need to work on fundamental technique. Learning to control a long line in the air requires good tracking (rod path) good smooth power, and the ability to adjust the casting arc to suit the mass you're throwing.

With a WF 444 I'd be surprised if the line is overloading any rod rated #7. If its a standard WF7F 444 the head is not very long - about 38ft. That head length limits how much line even a very expert caster can carry.

For practise I'd suggest you start false casting short and increase the line in the air until you reach your comfortable maximum. Mark the line with a permanent marker. Measure it so you'll really know where you are. Work on your tracking - getting it as straight as you can back and front - and you should find you can carry more line.

The ability to open and tighten loops comes from using a variable casting arc. As the length of line in the air increases the weight increases so the bend in the rod deepens - requiring a wider arc. As you move the line faster the rod bends more - requiring a wider arc. (Adjusting the arc also makes it easy to get rid of tailing loops)

Why practice open and narrow loops? So you can adjust to the casting variables and so you can use a more open loop when fishing situations require it.

Hans
Double hauling generates more line tension, thus more line speed. That allows casters to aerialise more line.
The mass of a line is unchanged by the haul - the rod bends more if there is more tension in the line - moving the rod faster does the same.

Magnus

[windknotter]

Magnus,

When you refer to tracking and keeping as straight as possible, you mean keep the rod as near to vertical at all times, and keep the line in the same plane?

Thanks for the tips.

[magnus]

Windknotter

"you mean keep the rod as near to vertical at all times, and keep the line in the same plane?"

Essentially yes - keeping it all in the same plane.

To test yourself cast along a line on a sports field. Allow your fly-line to fall on the backcast. If your tracking is very good your fly-line should lie along the painted line. More likely, it'll be near the line and it'll curve - your job is to get it straight and parallel to the painted line. Same going forwards.

[The Handsome Stick]

It certainly sound like you're simply aerialising line beyond the head and losing loop control as Magnus mentions.
You can try marking the line with a waterproof marker at the point the head becomes running line. It gives you a visual reference. If the mark is within your top ring, you know your aerialising the head of the line and not the fairly unmanageable running line.

A previous thread on line marking and a variety of views on it: flyforums.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=casting&action=display&thread=1139222923

[guideline]

I see that RRW just about summed it up in another thread on the shoot line. To quote RRW-

Behind the head is a few feet of orange line, called the "hauling zone". This would benefit a beginner, who would be guided to where the head meets the running line. A few good hauls and its possible to get the whole line out. The line also allows quite a bit of overhang without hinging.

I use one of these lines, if you are talking about line management and ability to airielise more line without loosing loop control , both the marker and head are well designed with both in mind, may be worth investigating. I'm a convert

[magnus]

Guys

Which would you rather have good tackle or good technique? (That's a rhetorical question Ryan!)

Given that the 444 is a fine line I see no reason to suggest Windknotter buy a new line.

Magnus