Just as a baseball player can throw a curveball by applying a spin on the ball before it leaves his hand, a golfer can make her ball curve to the right or left by altering her grip, stance and swing path, which in turn modifies the angle at which the club face hits the ball.

Georgia fly fishing guides can teach a fly fisherman to cast by throwing a curve line so he may cast around logs, branches and rocks put some slack into the line for drag-free floats or retrieves flies from the left or right.  Curve casting requires practice but is easier to master than most anglers can imagine.

Many people who do not fly fish believe that the line goes in the direction the pole is pointing; however, that is not the case. The line continues going in the direction the tiptop is moving when the rod shaft is straightened after it has been bent or loaded as some people say.

At that point, all energy stored in the rod has been transferred to the line, which continues to unfold in the direction of the tip, traveling up, to the side or down. Any overswing of the tip may send a shockwave into the line but this does not change the basic direction of the cast – understanding this is very important if you want to control the direction of your casting.

Fly fishing guide Georgia says to get started throwing curves, begin with a simple curve. Make a sidearmed cast and the rod should be in a horizontal position – parallel to the water, then overpower the cast and check it abruptly. The line should travel ahead and continue turning to the left (if that is the direction you set it out toward).     

Numerous fly fishing anglers use barbless hooks which causes them to rely on their casting skills to maintain the right amount of tension on the line as they reel in a fish; many believe that’s a fair fight, if the fish gets off the line, then the fisherman needs to practice more to become a better angler.