Do not change a thing!

The Casting Connection

July 2026

By Capt. Scott Swartz

Scott Swartz founded the Atlanta Fly Fishing School, which began in 1999. It is the largest such operation in the Southeast and the only Trout Unlimited “Gold Endorsed” school in the United States. His Florida Fly Fishing Schools started in 2008, helping anglers learn to successfully fly fish in saltwater.

Teaching fly casting involves observing casts and coaching changes. Sometimes the changes require subtle tweaks and sometimes a major overhaul. Often teaching new things like the double-haul or curve casts are what is needed.

Every lesson is different, but seeing success is always rewarding. The progress and smiles make coaching fun.

Lessons always seem to be about changes. However, there is one cast where you should not change a thing! That is dropping the back cast.

Back casts are not commonly used wading streams, but step on a flats skiff or a drift boat, and it is a great skill to own. This cast comes to the rescue when dealing with contrary wind or casting around people in a boat.

It is interesting that students focused on forward casts have their back casts straighten out fine. They are not always pretty, but they straighten. Then, when asked to turn around and make back casts to the same targets everything about their back cast changes. Often, they try to help the cast so much they mess it up.

Photo by Polly Dean.

“It seems everyone can make a good back cast until they try to make a good back cast.”

The first thing to go is the stop. You know the stop-and-pause while waiting for line to unroll? For some reason it disappears, and the stop forms the loop.

Normally we stop the rod and pause a beat before lowering the tip following line down to the water. But when asked to drop a back cast many throw the rod tip straight toward the rearward target without a stop. It does not work well.

The next time you need a back cast, do not change a thing. Make a forward cast away from your target then on the back cast simply stop as if you were going to make another forward cast. Then, pause a beat before lowering the rod to follow the line to the water.

TIP: For better back cast accuracy cast a little side arm. It is easier to see your casts unrolling rearward.

NOTE: In long distance casting the stop is thought to be less critical, but for casts at most fishing distances a stop of the rod serves us well.

When you have confidence in making back casts you will use them more. Whether wind direction, trees in the way, or a fish busting behind you, an accurate back cast is a good skill to own.

Send your questions or comments to: info@atlantaflyfishingschool.com