Posted by Robert McMahan (64.217.24.24) on September 11, 2003 at 18:35:45:
In Reply to: Tip of the week posted by Jim E on September 11, 2003 at 14:10:41:
Jim,
Great tip, thanks. There are, however, a couple of exceptions to your admonition against water hauling. The first is when you are casting sinking or sink tip line to deep fish that aren't as likely to be spooked by the surface disturbance. Water hauling in this situation, I have found can be very effective, less tireing and less dangerous than false casting sink tip line. Several water hauls accompanied by shooting is a good way to get distance on your cast without having to false cast.
Another exception is when you are fishing from a boat with a very strong wind in your face. By water hauling, you keep the line on the water and out of the air where the wind can play havoc with the line. With the wind in your face you want a high backcast and a low forward cast driving the fly to the water in an attempt to defeat the wind. Also, if you're facing the wind, as the boat drifts, it pulls additional line out thereby increasing your distance with every subsequent water haul and if you're shooting some line, 2 or 3 water hauls usually gets you out where you want to be. If you're worried about lining (spooking the fish with the fly line) the fish, make your water hauls to the side of where you want to make your final cast. This method applies mainly to open water lake fish. Having said all that, though, I agree with you that in your typical shallow water trout situation, false casting is the way to go.
Also, what about roll casting or spey casting, aren't those just forms of water hauling?
Robert