Lose the Tailing Loop

Lose the Tailing Loop

The tailing loop is, to a fly fisher, what the slice is to a golfer: a common problem, caused by a simple mechanical flaw.

Both can ruin your game.

If you are accustomed to playing that second shot from an adjacent fairway or you often find yourself untying wind knots on the riverbank, you probably know what I’m talking about.

Golf pros will blame most slices on open club faces. As for a tailing loop, when the fly and leader dip below your line on the forward cast (usually causing an untimely tangle), the most common cause is overpowering or punching the rod on the forward stroke.

Don’t feel bad; it’s human nature. We’ve all been there. Trout are rising, I’m making my false casts, I’ve got a nice loop going, all I need is 10 more feet, so I give it a little more oomph and–pow!–bunched up again.

In physics terms, this is actually caused when the rod tip travels on a concave path from the backcast to the forward cast. The line goes where the rod tip tells it to go, and when the rod tip travels a fairly even, flat and steady path, the loop is uniform. When you overpower the rod, however, you flex it too much and actually shorten its length mid-stroke.

That’s what causes the rod to launch the line in a flight path where the tip-end tails.

Some easy fixes…

Smooth Power Application: Focus on a smooth, progressive acceleration throughout your casting stroke, leading to an abrupt stop. Avoid sudden bursts of power or “punching” the cast.

Reduce Power: If you consistently get tailing loops, try using less force in your casting stroke. Let the rod load naturally and do the work.

Watch Your Rod Tip Path: Visualize a straight line path for your rod tip during both the backcast and forward cast. Any significant dipping or curving of the rod tip can lead to tailing loops.

Practice: Consistent practice, ideally with someone who can observe your casting, is the most effective way to identify and correct casting faults.