How do I cast into a wind?... above all others, this is probably the most often asked question by fly fishers relating to the type of conditions they regularly face. Here's some tips on how you can apply your cast to a given wind direction...
Head, tail & side or cross winds are how we instructors generally describe the direction of the wind relating to you the fly caster, quite simple if we were to imagine you in an open location and distant from any buffer such as a tree line or rock formation. These buffers however can & will dramatically change how the wind has an impact on your cast, even seasonally, protection from a full leafed tree is very different to that of the same in winter when there are no leaves at all. Therefore the skill is not only to be able to make the chosen cast, but recognise when and how to alter it relative to the changes that can occur whilst completing any casting cycle.
Wind directions anglers commonly encounter:
Casting direction/trajectory:
For simplicity, let's assume that the wind you're encountering regardless of direction isn't swirling or bouncing off obstructions or formations mentioned at the top of this article. We'll also assume the wind is travelling in horizontal lanes as is otherwise normally the case. The animations below are generally 'the given' application as to how to perform the over head cast towards your intended target. The following do not reflect any particular angle or loop shape there in, they merely prescribe a slightly higher & lower trajection depending on the desired distance required. The shorter the line to be cast the steeper the angle could possibly be, the longer then the shallower the angle of trajectory.
Casting above and below the horizontal back and forth when confronted with a head or tail wind.
Consider the above if casting a short line, for longer distances try a parallel approach as below with a view to offering no more than the loop face to any oncoming wind. This would be my preferred option...
...below is an example of 'the given' cast into a head wind . The steeper the angle, the greater amount of any length of fly line outside of the rod tip is likely to be exposed and thus impacted upon.
As for side or cross winds persevere with the parallel approach when casting back and forth, these wind conditions can be advantageous giving your line lift as well as possibly aiding loop stability.
Safety - always keep your fly down wind of you
To cast on your opposite side the rod tip moves across to, and off your opposite shoulder at an angle that suits your style. This can be done by tilting the wrist/forearm at an angle whilst keeping your casting hand on the same side, or repositioning the arm across your torso otherwise known as the cross body position.
Presenting the fly: Firstly let's mention the number of flies. To be sending out a team of flies into a head & tail wind can be a thankless task. Don't work harder, work smarter and fish with less... casting and fishing just one fly really well is time better spent than untangling a birds nest of three.
A tail wind in some ways is easy in that it'll aid turnover of both line, leader and thus fly with no real issue, even at distance. With cross winds you'll need to compensate and cast slightly upwind sufficiently so that the line and fly drift towards your intended target.
As for a head wind this becomes more of a challenge, concentrate your aim more at your target rather than above it as would be preferred. Adjust your cast in such a way that allows you to traject your final presentation low, having the tip of the fly line touching down first can also favour leader turnover.
What can help?
The fishing tackle: The rod and line you use can by all means remain the same, relative to wind strength shorten your leader to a minimum whereby you feel comfortable that turnover and presentation are still maintained - perhaps even steepen the taper, continue to adjust this during the first few initial casts until you're happy.
The mind set: Here's where in lies the need for discipline, the temptation to apply much more power than is necessary is overwhelming, especially at the stop on the forward cast... this can be a futile exercise in itself. Focus on the smooth application of power, the omission of any slack throughout the length of active fly line at all times, moving the rod tip in a desired path that forms an efficient loop, accelerating through the casting stroke to a crisp stop... is all this sounding familiar?... it's the basis for all good fly casting - wind or not.
Forming a tight loop: This is critical to casting effectively into a head or tail wind. In the simple illustration below (A) the aim is to keep the rod tip flexing and un-flexing back & forth as close to the dotted line (A1) as possible. The dotted line is what we refer to as the straight line path. The angle of which is not restricted to being parallel to the ground, the straight line can be at any angle depending upon how you're trying to present the cast (As per 'the given' cast animations above for instance)
Loop size: When stopping the rod back or forth, the further the rod tip (A2) moves away from the straight line path (A1), the bigger (wider) the loop is likely to be.
Open loops: In the illustration (B) the rod tip is flexing and un-flexing back & forth whilst moving the rod tip in a dome type shape (concave). Look at the wide open loop, it is very inefficient and exposes more of the face of the unrolling loop (B1) to the wind, thus resistance making distance & accuracy very difficult at best.
Hauling: Amongst other benefits, single and double hauling can help you share the input required between rod and line hand to make the cast as well as tighten and speed up your casting loops, all of which can make casting in windy conditions somewhat easier.
False Casting: Keep to an absolute minimum, the longer the line is in the air the more likely the wind will impact on it. Initiate the cast with more line (weight) outside of the rod tip so don't retrieve so much, also learn to release more line from the line hand in the shoot between false casts.
The final shoot: Shooting line at the end of the final forward stroke into a head wind can be extremely difficult, more often than not if you do actually turn over the fly line you'll be fortunate to do the same with the leader and thus fly. Try not being so heroic and limit your length of cast to all that you can physically keep in the air under good control, then shoot nothing so ensuring the line extends fully to the fly with all the energy provided from the stop on the forward cast without it diminishing into shooting line. If that temptation is too much to resist then having shot line into the cast, stop the line with your line hand before the full shoot concludes thus ensuring any remaining energy extends through to your fly.
Casts to consider: Very effective in the wind is the Side Arm cast especially if used in a low horizontal plane, or perhaps this more Oval cast for distance should you be struggling to maintain tension.
If you're truly determined to fish in extreme windy conditions, try putting the wind to your back and roll cast rather than overhead cast, it's a very effective cast to fish with and one you can hit tremendous distances with if performed correctly.
Finally: I've touched only lightly on some of the many techniques and nuances to apply when casting with, against or into a wind. One thing however is very clear, brute force is not the answer, if you don't already have a foundation of casting that allows you to cast effectively out of the wind then you've very little chance of doing so within it. If you are fortunate however to have developed a good foundation and want to improve your ability to cast in adverse conditions, when confronted with such... practice casting in them.
Apologies for the limited illustrations & pictures. Having been restricted to using my iPad to write this article whilst on holiday it could have easily grown arms and legs into something very extensive and arduous so I've purposely kept it brief. A big thanks to everyone who's emailed with casting queries and questions... please keep them coming.
Jim is our ESF in house fly casting contributor and AAPGAI Master level instructor teaching full time in the Cotswold, Wiltshire & Hampshire area... visit his website.