[dougm]

Salmo is right on! Both are good questions…

Mending is nothing more than a casting technique for the standard overhead forward cast that delays the belly of the line from overtaking the fly on a downstream drift. Simply follow this guide: once the fly has passed the rod tip and the rod has been stopped, you are free to simply lay the rod over to the upstream side. The fly will continue onwards to its target. Don’t forget the rule: where the rod tip stops, the fly will follow. With the belly now upstream of the fly, you will be drag free longer. Repeat the mend as necessary to prolong the drift.

At the end of the drift, allow the fly to swing down and across stream. Many times this is where the trout will take the fly.

Find yourself some water and practice this technique to develop your timing.

Doug