In 1974, when Jason was four and a half years old, I gave him a 6-foot, 5-weight, glass rod that I had built for him. But because his hands were so small, he had trouble using the standard Thumb on Top Grip or Trigger Finger Grip employed by most fly anglers of the day (including […]
Many have used this grip, including tournament casters, but perhaps the greatest proponent of the Finger on Top Grip was Hans Gebitsroither, the highly renown Austrian guide and casting instructor that promoted the Elliptical Casting Stroke. Others, of course, have used the Elliptical Stroke, but Hans developed an entire school of casting built on it. […]
Start with standard V Grip and then pinch the thumb and rear part of the forefinger tightly together on the top of the handle. This movement simply brings the position of the thumb and lower bone of the forefinger closer to the top centerline of the handle., making the grip just a bit more secure. […]
When one stands relaxed with hands at the sides, it is not the thumb that is pointing directly forward, nor is it the forefinger. Rather it is the space (the V) between the thumb and forefinger that points directly ahead. The V Grip is built on this anatomical feature. The rod is held as for […]
This is the Thumb on Top Grip modified by sliding the index finger forward along the lower side of the handle as if reaching for a trigger. This is also a superb grip for Wrist Casting and Arm Assisted Wrist Casting. Because the forefinger is more forward than with the standard Thumb on Top grip, […]
Similar to the Free Wrist Grip, it varies in one important aspect. Rather than wrapping the thumb around the rod in the classic “suitcase handle” style, the thumb is shifted onto the top of the grip. The four fingers still wrap around the handle in a relaxed way. This grip is a very positive one […]
This grip was promoted as a very relaxing, easy-to-use way to hold the rod. It is used for wrist casting or arm-assisted wrist casting. One merely grasps the fly rod like a suitcase handle. The fingers and thumb wrap around the rod in the most comfortable position for the caster. While this really is a […]
Arm Assisted Wrist Cast is the one I use when making the “Flick,” “Flick” style cast. This style developed after fixed rings were added to our rods. Because the line slides up and down easily in fixed rings (guides), stopping the rod in the vertical position with the simple Wrist Cast allows line to slide […]
Fly casting did not begin as we know it today. It has gradually evolved, each step in its development firmly linked to concurrent developments in tackle. Fly fishing started as a “pole and string” sport, and only developed into a “rod and line” sport within the last 150 years or so. Certainly the progenitor motions […]
The Three Point Grip, the one Jason and I both use, is not our invention. We have simply adapted it, with slight modification, from others who have gone before, most notable, my old friend, Lee Wulff. Lee claimed it was the strongest way to hold a fly rod and used this grip even on his […]