Rolling…Rolling…Rolling
The Casting Connection
October 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.
Often the first question asked at our school is, “How do I cast a fly rod.” After learning the overhead Pick-Up-and-Lay-Down cast, that question is quickly followed by, “What do I learn next.”
There are so many choices. There is mending, curve casts, curved mends, tuck casts, slack line casts, change of direction casts, wind casts, cross body, hauling and more.
One great choice is the roll cast which has multiple applications. Plus, if you can cast, you can roll cast! A roll cast is essentially used to cast your line forward without the need for a back cast. Some of the uses of the roll cast include…
• Tight Spots: When trees or high banks are behind you blocking a normal back cast.
Tight spots often call for using roll casts. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
• Heavy flies and sinking lines: Repeated roll casts will lift weighted flies and sinking lines toward the surface for another cast.
• Reducing slack: A roll cast can remove slack and reset your line for a new presentation.
• Wind at your back: Wind at your back makes overhead back casts difficult, but helps a forward roll cast.
• Fishing wet flies: Overhead false casting sheds water from your fly, but a roll cast helps keep a wet fly wet.
• Dislodging a stuck fly: When your fly is caught on debris you might be able to dislodge it with a roll cast if you can roll line past where it is stuck. This cast works by pulling the fly away from you rather than toward you.
• Fishing up stream: This is my favorite use of the roll cast! After a cast is made upstream, the current naturally brings your fly back. Raise your rod tip keeping pace with the current. Keep slack to a minimum, and be prepared for a strike. As the fly approaches you a D-loop of line naturally forms beside and behind you setting you up for a roll cast back up stream.
Step-by-Step Roll Casting: Roll casts are best practiced on water rather than grass because the surface tension of the water is needed to anchor line and load the rod. Start with your rod tip low. With the rod slightly to your side, slowly lift and draw it back to form a “D-Loop” of line beside and behind you. Keep part of the fly line on the water. Accelerate the rod forward smoothly the same as any conventional forward cast.
PRO TIP: Beware the most common fault is sweeping the rod tip in a circle which creates fat loops of line that go nowhere. Instead, keep the rod tip moving in a straight line toward the target for an oval loop with the energy directed toward the target. In order to gain distance, it is important to stop the rod while the tip is still moving toward the target. The better you can roll cast, the more you will find yourself using this great cast.
Send your questions or comments for Scott to: info@atlantaflyfishingschool.com
