When we started our fly casting lessons we had the line lying nicely on the lawn.
It was easy to pick it up and get it moving. But if the line is buried in the water
this pick up becomes impossible. We need to get the line out of the water before
we start the pick-up. With your rod pointing down to the water so that the rod and
line are in a straight line, gently move the rod from pointing to the front to pointing
to the side and then pointing at two o'clock behind you, drawing the line out of
the water as you go. The tendency is to lift the rod tip upwards and this is just
what we want. You should end up with your upper arm horizontal and your forearm and
the rod in a straight line pointing at that two o'clock position. If you get your
retrieve right, this action should bring the rest of the line and your leader out
of the water. Now an over arm roll will bring the rod back down to the nine o'clock
position and the line will follow it in an arc to lie on the surface. This technique
should be all that is required to lay the line back onto the water when fishing at
close quarters.
The biggest problem that the novice has to overcome is the innate desire to use the
wrist in all of these actions. There is nothing more certain to mess the sequence
up than a floppy wrist! So let's sort that problem out. Hold your rod ready for casting.
Now get a friend to snugly tie your rod to your arm just above your wrist - it doesn't
have to be too tight. Sounds ridiculous - but it works! A handkerchief or similar
piece of cloth will do the trick. The idea is to be able to hold the rod in your
hand but not be able to move your wrist. It is effectively locked in place. You can
buy a little gizmo that locks onto the rod and then straps round your arm - but I
think a strip of cloth is just as good - and you should only need to use the technique
a few times to help you get the idea of what it feels like to hold your wrist stiff.
Now go through the casting exercises. You'll be amazed at how it all works for you.