Underhand Casting

The underhand cast was invented by the Swedish fly fishing expert, Goran Andersson. The technique uses the same D loop method a roll casts and Spey Casts. But the method of loading the rod is quite different, for a couple of reasons.

Underhand casting is best suited for using shooting heads. The idea is that you use a shooting head of the appropriate length for the rod to form the D loop. And during the time the comparatively short head is suspended between the rod tip and the surface of the water, the necessary "anchor" is provided by the fly and leader alone. As the anchor is minimised the line lifts very easily during the cast. In this way, properly executed, the process is very efficient.

To achieve a high line speed over a relatively short forward stroke you’re better to have a fast action rod. In traditional Spey and roll casting both hands deliver the energy to the rod. With the underhand cast double handed, most of the movement is produced by the lower (or under hand). But with single handed casts you need to forward haul.

More on the underhand cast for fly fishing next time.

Underhand Casting

The underhand cast was invented by the Swedish fly fishing expert, Goran Andersson. The technique uses the same D loop method a roll casts and Spey Casts. But the method of loading the rod is quite different, for a couple of reasons.

Underhand casting is best suited for using shooting heads. The idea is that you use a shooting head of the appropriate length for the rod to form the D loop. And during the time the comparatively short head is suspended between the rod tip and the surface of the water, the necessary "anchor" is provided by the fly and leader alone. As the anchor is minimised the line lifts very easily during the cast. In this way, properly executed, the process is very efficient.

To achieve a high line speed over a relatively short forward stroke you’re better to have a fast action rod. In traditional Spey and roll casting both hands deliver the energy to the rod. With the underhand cast double handed, most of the movement is produced by the lower (or under hand). But with single handed casts you need to forward haul.

More on the underhand cast for fly fishing next time.