In a video clip from his DVD Casts That Catch Fish Carl McNeil, a Federation of Fly Fishers Master Casting Instructor, demonstrates how to make a tuck cast.
This is an essential cast when nymphing, in particular when using a heavily weighted fly rig, that allows you to get your flies to enter the water vertically and enables the flies to sink quickly to where the trout are feeding. The importance of the flies entering the water vertically is that the flies hit the water first before your leader or fly line. This eliminates drag and allows the flies to sink quicker.
Think of it this way. When you drop a fly from your fly box while standing in the water, what happens? That fly sinks to the bottom of the river like lighting, right? No chance of getting that fly back.
Well, that’s what we trying to do with the Tuck Cast. Get your flies to enter the water vertically so they can sink quickly. This is especially important when fishing pocket water with short drifts.
Another Take on the Tuck Cast
Central Pennsylvania fly fishing guide Eric Stroup demonstrates a slightly different style of how to make a tuck cast.
What both techniques have in common is the high abrupt rod stop that initiates the tuck and gets the flies going vertically.
It takes some practice but give it a try and you’ll see a difference in the number of fish you catch when fishing nymphs. Guaranteed!
Enjoy!