What’s the greatest fly-fishing grip? The easy reply is: the grip that feels and works greatest for you. Interval. Although there could also be no fly fishing matter that earns the ire of web fly casting trolls, also referred to as the “casting police,” most of those people reside in an echo chamber the place they preach in regards to the One Strategy to fly solid. What these people fail to know is that no single fly casting type is greatest for everybody. Whereas there are definitely ways that work greatest for the lots, there’s all the time a minority in want of one other strategy.
I don’t know of something that’s extra harmful to any studying setting than being taught from a dogmatic strategy. At any time when I publish a shot on-line or in a publication of somebody fly casting with their finger-on-top or to the facet of the grip, I get a wholesome dose of messages strongly suggesting that such a grip is a horrible strategy to fly casting—all the time with none substantive reasoning. At fly fishing exhibits, I hear folks saying you may’t solid along with your finger on the grip. I’m certain quite a few these well-mannered people are certainly glorious casters, however they lack the openness that comes with realizing that what works for them could not work for your entire fly fishing inhabitants.
I ought to level out that I take advantage of a wide range of grips whereas fly casting. My chosen grip relies on how a lot energy is required within the solid, the casting distance, and the kind of fly rod getting used. Right here, I need to focus on one in all my favourite grips for brief vary trout fishing: the finger-on-top or to the facet. Word: I do use the thumb-on-top about half the time for causes I’ll focus on beneath. I take advantage of every grip (thumb or finger) in the course of the season based mostly on the variables listed above. I do what feels comfy for my rod hand and greatest suited to finishing the duty at hand.
Why is the grip vital? A great grip is the hyperlink that transfers the power created by the fly caster into the rod. In different phrases, the grip is the conduit between angler and rod. The aim of an excellent grip is to assist the fly caster effectively and precisely make the solid. A great connection happens when the rod appears like mere extension of the angler’s casting hand, and all of it begins with a grip that feels pure. So let’s focus on a couple of of your grip choices.
Photograph: George Daniel
The finger-on-top or “V Grip”
For me essentially the most pure grip is the finger-on-top or off to the facet (aka the “V grip”, a time period popularized by Gary Borger). Take into consideration your pure hand place while you shake somebody’s hand and use this similar hand place when holding the rod grip. Each thumb and index finger are positioned on reverse sides of the grip, forming a V form close to the underside of the cork. Or in order for you, the finger may be positioned extra instantly on prime. What makes this grip so useful is that your hand can journey in a easy and straight path because it permits the hand to trace straight, with out desirous to curve again to its pure place. Take into consideration the way you throw darts, with the thumb and index finger off to both facet of the item and also you launch it in direction of the goal. The one distinction is the again three fingers are holding the grip from beneath, permitting you to make a easy and correct solid. For accuracy, merely level the index finger to the place you need the fly to journey to. Though many nice fly casters use the thumb grip for accuracy, I really feel utilizing the index finger to level in direction of my supposed goal feels extra comfy.
One other benefit to this grip is it’s tougher to interrupt the wrist on the backcast with the finger grip. In fly casting, the aim is to normally get the rod tip to journey in a reasonably straight line, which implies the rod hand additionally must journey in a reasonably straight path. So, in case you are discovering that your casting hand and rod tip are shifting by means of too huge of a casting airplane (e.g. you discover your loops are tremendous huge), utilizing the finger-on-top grip can instantly assist tighten up your loop as this grip doesn’t permit for as a lot wrist rotation. Fly fishing small streams typically calls for tight loops, as you’re casting in tight quarters and below obstructions at shut distance. Utilizing the finger grip has helped me tighten my loops and get my fly into tight areas, whereas lowering the frustrations related to such casting environments.
The thumb-on-top grip
The one drawback to utilizing the finger-on-top or “V Grip” is the shortage of energy when in comparison with utilizing the thumb-on-top. Not often do I make casts longer than 45 toes when trout fishing, however once I do, I really feel the thumb-on-top permits me to generate extra energy in the course of the casting stroke. Though I do know some nice casters who use the finger-on-top when casting for distance, I discover the thumb-on-top offers much more energy in the course of the casting stroke. One other instance of a scenario which is able to lead me to go for the thumb-on-top strategy is once I need to create a tough affect on the water when fishing beetles and grasshoppers. Take into consideration these onerous bodied bugs. As they fall to the water, they create a loud “SMACK.” Usually, I need to create such a disturbance to get the eye of any close by trout and utilizing the thumb-on-top permits me to generate extra energy into the solid to create such a disturbance.
It’s additionally value noting that your rod motion additionally influences the quantity of energy wanted to make a solid. Should you’re utilizing a quick motion saltwater or streamer rod, these rods can typically really feel like broom handles with little flex. When casting such quick motion/stiff rods, the thumb-on-top is commonly the higher grip as you’ll want extra power in the course of the casting stroke to load the rod. And the alternative is true when fishing smooth motion, low line weight fly rods, or tenkara type rods. Right this moment, I do most of my trout fishing (nymph, dry, and light-weight streamer) with my 11’ 3wt Euro rod, and for that reason I take advantage of the V or finger-on-top grip more often than not with this rod. This rod shouldn’t be good for distance however it’s a smooth tip rod that excels at quick vary fly fishing, requiring solely the power of the finger to energy the solid.
My hope is that this piece will encourage you to maintain experimenting with grips and discover the one which works greatest for you. The varied kinds of fly casting remind me of a scene from the film Bagger Vance. Bagger Vance (performed by Will Smith) talks about how there’s “one genuine swing in every of us and is one thing that can not be taught to us by others.” I feel this can be a lovely option to train all of us that whereas it’s useful to study extra about any ability, it’s probably extra vital for us to apply and experiment with fly casting till we discover our personal genuine grip and fly solid. And perhaps you will discover that utilizing the V grip or finger-on-top useful along with your fly-casting pursuits. And when you don’t’, that’s high quality—as you a minimum of know you’ve tried one thing and determined it wasn’t for you. Do what feels pure along with your fly casting, keep away from listening to the noise created by the “casting police”, and also you’ll discover your genuine solid. And typically which means giving them the finger.
