Bahama Momma
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My hard ass husband stays on me about bending my wrist when I cast. He says that is a big no-no yet I frequently see other people do it. Its very difficult for me to not bend it. What do you think?
Bending My Wrist
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Chris Hewett
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I think he should be watching where your fly lands. If lands where and how you want it to, your wrist should not be an issue. If it doesn't.......well, it might be, but I would look elsewhere first.Bahama Momma said:
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You can purchase a strap that attatches to the end of your rod, below the reel and then wraps around your wrist. Or you can use an old shoelace. These help alot. But, I tend to bend my wrist as well and as many people have told me, "Hey Mike, you have the lousyest casting style I have ever seen..." But hey, my fly lands where I send it and I can sucessfully throw all of my line and some backing. So I say "To hell with it". Do what feels right for you.
Cliff Hilbert
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The fish don't care whether you bend your wrist or not.
BigCliff
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There's lots of reasons not to bend your wrist, but in some situations, I don't think it causes any problems.
Here's the reasons why you shouldn't:
Your arm is stronger than your wrist.
Wrist bending often contributes to wide, inefficient loops.
Wrist bending often contributes to tailing loops.
Wrist bending often contributes to less casting accuracy than a firm wrist.
Wrist bending can accelerate the progression into carpal tunnel syndrome.
However, when making short casts with a light rod, you're not likely to do any harm to your wrist or your cast by bending your wrist. I recently fished a one fly tourney on a smallish river and probably did almost all of the 400+ casts of that day with only my wrist. I also didn't cast more than 15' of fly line all day, however.
That being said I must emphatically emphasize that one is much better off to emulate the casting style of Lefty Kreh than that of Tom Skerritt's character in "A River Runs Though It"
Here's the reasons why you shouldn't:
Your arm is stronger than your wrist.
Wrist bending often contributes to wide, inefficient loops.
Wrist bending often contributes to tailing loops.
Wrist bending often contributes to less casting accuracy than a firm wrist.
Wrist bending can accelerate the progression into carpal tunnel syndrome.
However, when making short casts with a light rod, you're not likely to do any harm to your wrist or your cast by bending your wrist. I recently fished a one fly tourney on a smallish river and probably did almost all of the 400+ casts of that day with only my wrist. I also didn't cast more than 15' of fly line all day, however.
That being said I must emphatically emphasize that one is much better off to emulate the casting style of Lefty Kreh than that of Tom Skerritt's character in "A River Runs Though It"
dougm
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Hi Momma,
Most folks use their wrist when casting ... It's also true that many are not even aware of the wrist's action. For many like me, the snap of the wrist is the power stroke in casting. However, it's critically important that the wrist's movement be controlled within a very narrow angle. The following pictures depict the two positions of the wrist during the cast: the top is the decocked position ... it is the wrist's position that begins the backcast and stays in that position until you apply the power stroke at the end, and that snap places the wrist in the cocked position, shown at the bottom. The wrist retains this position until called upon to make the power stroke at the end of the forward cast.
To get a feel for this use of the wrist, grip a pencil as you would the fly rod and practice flicking the pencil between the two positions ... decocked/cocked/decocked/cocked. Note the pencil tip moves through a much greater arc then is your wrist ... If you stretch this to an 8 or 9-foot rod, you can see why this little flick is called the power stroke. This flick of the wrist really moves the rod's tip -- fast.
Be warned that either further movement of the wrist, or a failure to make that little snap, will ruin the cast ... I call it the floppy wrist syndrome.
If this is the problem your husband is referring too, I do recommend using Joan Wulff's Wristlok ... It's available from Cabela's for $11.95. It's worked well for my clients who suffered from the floppy wrist madady.
Hope this helps,
Doug
Most folks use their wrist when casting ... It's also true that many are not even aware of the wrist's action. For many like me, the snap of the wrist is the power stroke in casting. However, it's critically important that the wrist's movement be controlled within a very narrow angle. The following pictures depict the two positions of the wrist during the cast: the top is the decocked position ... it is the wrist's position that begins the backcast and stays in that position until you apply the power stroke at the end, and that snap places the wrist in the cocked position, shown at the bottom. The wrist retains this position until called upon to make the power stroke at the end of the forward cast.
To get a feel for this use of the wrist, grip a pencil as you would the fly rod and practice flicking the pencil between the two positions ... decocked/cocked/decocked/cocked. Note the pencil tip moves through a much greater arc then is your wrist ... If you stretch this to an 8 or 9-foot rod, you can see why this little flick is called the power stroke. This flick of the wrist really moves the rod's tip -- fast.
Be warned that either further movement of the wrist, or a failure to make that little snap, will ruin the cast ... I call it the floppy wrist syndrome.
If this is the problem your husband is referring too, I do recommend using Joan Wulff's Wristlok ... It's available from Cabela's for $11.95. It's worked well for my clients who suffered from the floppy wrist madady.
Hope this helps,
Doug
Bahama Momma
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Thanks guys for your help. I suppose as long as I catch fish I'm OK.
sandi roberts
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well, my husband, a fly casting certified instructor says that I don't bend my wrist enough! So, I would have to say that there is a "happy medium". We compete in casting, ( I am fairly new to competitions). He says that sometimes my wrist is just too stiff, which does not allow me to load the rod well! He says, although relaxed, the wrist should be "firm"! Now, I must have listened to something he told me, because I won 2nd place in the Best of the West Fly Casting Distance Championship! 2005
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Did Lance E of Utah take first again?sandi roberts said:
sandi roberts
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Rick Hartmen won for the men, with Jim Gunderson in 2nd.
Wendy Gunn won for the women, with me in 2nd.
Wendy Gunn won for the women, with me in 2nd.
Fish Bones
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:thmbup: Congratulations Sandi!!!
piledriver123
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a couple of thick rubberbands!!!
what I did at the beginning of my casting journey was to put on a thick rubberband on my wrist. Next I would grab my rod and hold it the proper way that you would hold a flyrod and then just slip the rod butt in the rubberband, this will really help getting your mind to bend your wrist in the cast. I sometimes still wear one just so I won't commit to a bad habit. Try it it work for me.:army:
what I did at the beginning of my casting journey was to put on a thick rubberband on my wrist. Next I would grab my rod and hold it the proper way that you would hold a flyrod and then just slip the rod butt in the rubberband, this will really help getting your mind to bend your wrist in the cast. I sometimes still wear one just so I won't commit to a bad habit. Try it it work for me.:army:
Fish Bones
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Hmmm... rubber bands... good idea piledriver...
For my casting students who have trouble with severe wrist bending problems, I have them wear a long sleeve shirt and stick the butt of the rod just under their sleave. That holds the wrist pretty firm. They do make special velcro wrist bands just for that purpose. You can also buy velcro straps for wrapping up water hoses and such. You can get these almost anywhere. They will wrap around the wrist and the rod for good support.
OK now let's refresh our memory on my position here. A little wrist bending is not necissarily a bad thing. A lot of wrist building is always a bad thing when it comes to good fly casting. Doug said it best in an earlier post... "Most folks use their wrist when casting ... It's also true that many are not even aware of the wrist's action. For many like me, the snap of the wrist is the power stroke in casting. However, it's critically important that the wrist's movement be controlled within a very narrow angle."
For my casting students who have trouble with severe wrist bending problems, I have them wear a long sleeve shirt and stick the butt of the rod just under their sleave. That holds the wrist pretty firm. They do make special velcro wrist bands just for that purpose. You can also buy velcro straps for wrapping up water hoses and such. You can get these almost anywhere. They will wrap around the wrist and the rod for good support.
OK now let's refresh our memory on my position here. A little wrist bending is not necissarily a bad thing. A lot of wrist building is always a bad thing when it comes to good fly casting. Doug said it best in an earlier post... "Most folks use their wrist when casting ... It's also true that many are not even aware of the wrist's action. For many like me, the snap of the wrist is the power stroke in casting. However, it's critically important that the wrist's movement be controlled within a very narrow angle."
DAVY WOTTON
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Some interesting conclusions here so far as wrist bending is concerned. No doubt at all the wrist plays a very integral part in casting efficiency.
And in my book the best casters l have ever known, and at one time l was in to tournamnet casting all have a 100% wrist control.
My style is a very short arm movement with as Doug says a sharp wrist snap, that can send a fly line one hell of a long way with no need of either a single or a double haul, which in the case of trout fishing l hardly ever use any way, as most effective fishing ranges are within 50ft.
I always loved accuracy events, and for the most part it was the wrist that did the work, and it has to be if you wish pin point accuracy.
Your movement has to be replicated the same way, as would a dart player if he wished to be consistant at hitting the target, same also for a skeet shooting.
I personally have never seen a good accurate caster that was all arm !! and for that matter overall generall casting.
But ok if that works for you no problem, just go and enjoy fly fishing, but there will certainly be times that a lack of wrist control will limit what you can do with that fly line, be it dealing with accuracy, wind and a host of other things you will have to deal with.
Davy
And in my book the best casters l have ever known, and at one time l was in to tournamnet casting all have a 100% wrist control.
My style is a very short arm movement with as Doug says a sharp wrist snap, that can send a fly line one hell of a long way with no need of either a single or a double haul, which in the case of trout fishing l hardly ever use any way, as most effective fishing ranges are within 50ft.
I always loved accuracy events, and for the most part it was the wrist that did the work, and it has to be if you wish pin point accuracy.
Your movement has to be replicated the same way, as would a dart player if he wished to be consistant at hitting the target, same also for a skeet shooting.
I personally have never seen a good accurate caster that was all arm !! and for that matter overall generall casting.
But ok if that works for you no problem, just go and enjoy fly fishing, but there will certainly be times that a lack of wrist control will limit what you can do with that fly line, be it dealing with accuracy, wind and a host of other things you will have to deal with.
Davy
Joni
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Old post but I just saw it and wanted to pass on what I have learned in teaching new flingers.
Put your pointing finger on top of the rod instead of thumb and point to where you want the fly to go. If you try it you will see the wrist doesn't go back very far at all. A little ridged at first but gives you the idea of the way it is suppose to be (again like mentioned, whatever works....WORKS):icon_wink
Put your pointing finger on top of the rod instead of thumb and point to where you want the fly to go. If you try it you will see the wrist doesn't go back very far at all. A little ridged at first but gives you the idea of the way it is suppose to be (again like mentioned, whatever works....WORKS):icon_wink
BigCliff
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Thumb on top definitely gives more power, and for me at least feels more natural. I can't imagine casting a big rod with my index finger only.
I also find that if I'm throwing tailing loops and just can't shake it, switching off to the pointing grip helps. Its likely because I'm less abel to overpower the rod at the beginning of the casting stroke.
I also find that if I'm throwing tailing loops and just can't shake it, switching off to the pointing grip helps. Its likely because I'm less abel to overpower the rod at the beginning of the casting stroke.
Fish Bones
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Oh... I forgot to mention... I sure would like to see the Triple-Toe Monkey Haul...:icon_bigg
dougm
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This is a true story about the great trophy trout that lurked beneath the huge boulder in the tiny little creek somewhere in North America.
“With his tiny rod, a wispy 6-foot 1/2-weight, Hermann Smuck made his final cast. It was effortless - for Herm’s technique embodied his recently perfected "triple-toe barefoot monkey haul.":icon_bigg The Gossamer Thread Tippet, some 45 feet in length, followed the thin line subscribing a perfectly formed loop. Hermann could barely see the fly, a number 64 Black Wasp, tied to the tippet’s end. Upward and outward the fly soared moving majestically as if blown along by a soft gentle breeze. Farther and farther it carried until finally it began its decent to the target, an oak leaf floating some 245 feet away. The tiny fly settled softly into the surface film through a small hole in the leaf. Hermann's accuracy was right-on as usual. He twitched the fly once, twice ... then the water exploded! Throughout the valley Hermann’s cry of excitement echoed, "Fish ON!"·
"Old Crusty"
P.S. :icon_bigg The triple toe harefoot monkey haul requires the caster to have prehensile toes -- sort of like the Hobbit.
© Copyright: Douglas G. Macnair, 1997-2006.
“With his tiny rod, a wispy 6-foot 1/2-weight, Hermann Smuck made his final cast. It was effortless - for Herm’s technique embodied his recently perfected "triple-toe barefoot monkey haul.":icon_bigg The Gossamer Thread Tippet, some 45 feet in length, followed the thin line subscribing a perfectly formed loop. Hermann could barely see the fly, a number 64 Black Wasp, tied to the tippet’s end. Upward and outward the fly soared moving majestically as if blown along by a soft gentle breeze. Farther and farther it carried until finally it began its decent to the target, an oak leaf floating some 245 feet away. The tiny fly settled softly into the surface film through a small hole in the leaf. Hermann's accuracy was right-on as usual. He twitched the fly once, twice ... then the water exploded! Throughout the valley Hermann’s cry of excitement echoed, "Fish ON!"·
"Old Crusty"
P.S. :icon_bigg The triple toe harefoot monkey haul requires the caster to have prehensile toes -- sort of like the Hobbit.
© Copyright: Douglas G. Macnair, 1997-2006.
Fish Bones
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OK folks... this one has gone on long enough... so stop it.
I have deleted several posts in this thread... even some of mine. If I deleted your favorites response... well I'm sorry. But I deleted every derogatory post aimed at any forum member... and then some.
I've said it many times. I will not allow personal insults on this forum. None... period. Not from anyone. Not from a registered member, not from a corporate member, not from a moderator, and not from an administrator. It doesn't matter who started it... this forum's moderators and admins must raise themselves above that level and attempt to calm the situation... not add fuel to it.
It is perfectly OK to disagree with any post. It is perfectly OK to post your own opinion. It is strictly prohibited to insult a poster during the process.
On this thread, that started out friendly, insults have flown from all directions. Not many folks are free of blame here.
Most of the time I try to remain neutral and keep an open mind to all opinions. Most everyone on this thread made some good points... but the argument went too far.
We're a good family here. Like all families we will, sooner or later, disagree. Lets hang in there together and make the most of our community.
I have deleted several posts in this thread... even some of mine. If I deleted your favorites response... well I'm sorry. But I deleted every derogatory post aimed at any forum member... and then some.
I've said it many times. I will not allow personal insults on this forum. None... period. Not from anyone. Not from a registered member, not from a corporate member, not from a moderator, and not from an administrator. It doesn't matter who started it... this forum's moderators and admins must raise themselves above that level and attempt to calm the situation... not add fuel to it.
It is perfectly OK to disagree with any post. It is perfectly OK to post your own opinion. It is strictly prohibited to insult a poster during the process.
On this thread, that started out friendly, insults have flown from all directions. Not many folks are free of blame here.
Most of the time I try to remain neutral and keep an open mind to all opinions. Most everyone on this thread made some good points... but the argument went too far.
We're a good family here. Like all families we will, sooner or later, disagree. Lets hang in there together and make the most of our community.