Elliptical Haul
Traditional instruction on the double haul describes a sharp “down and up” motion. Rather than such direct movement, which requires a stop, I prefer an elliptical path of my haul hand. A narrow elliptical path allows for continuous movement and promotes a smoother cast overall. Match the size of the ellipse with the length of the cast—a larger ellipse for long casts and smaller ellipse for short casts. Keep the line and haul hand generally in line with the rod blank. (Joe Mahler illustration)
April 20, 2023
By Joe Mahler
The most common requests I get as a fly-casting coach are to learn or improve the double haul . When I ask why, the responses almost always are “To add line speed” or “Get more distance.”
While those are both reasonable answers, they reveal that students may not fully understand how this peculiar and versatile technique can affect the cast.
The double haul is perhaps the most written about, argued about, and misunderstood aspect of fly casting. Yet, in reality, double hauling is simply pulling the fly line, at the appropriate time, to increase the load on the rod. When well executed, it appears as natural as breathing out and breathing in. The hand and line artfully and rhythmically glide back and forth like a violin bow.
Why would you want to learn and master the double haul? My answer is that it makes casting easier on the casting arm and it helps you to sculpt your loop.
The range of uses for this technique is impressive. You can use it to open the loop, tighten the loop, apply it to your roll cast, achieve greater distance, help throw bulky flies, and even to shorten your line in midair. You apply variations in these sculpting movements mostly on the forward, or delivery haul. The back haul and pickup haul remain, for the most part, constant, regardless of the desired effect.
Sculpting the Loop The straighter the rod tip moves, the tighter the loop will be. For example, if you are making a 40-foot cast and casting with one hand, it will take about 9 feet of rod-tip movement to deliver the fly. Any less, and the line will not unroll. If you do half of that work with your line hand, you will be able to deliver the fly with 4 or 5 feet of rod-tip movement. Moving the rod half as much allows you to more accurately control the tip and achieve a straighter path, resulting in a tighter and more efficient loop.
Use Hauling to Shorten Line As strange as it may seem, the best way to shorten the line while in the air is by hauling. This is a high-level technique that will improve your hauling skills and give you a few
extra shots at close-cruising quarry. Start with the line under your stripping finger. At the end of your backcast haul, pinch the line against the cork and drop the line with your line hand and repeat this “gathering haul” on each false cast. Essentially, you are stripping in two feet of line on each false cast. Notice that both your stroke and haul get shorter as the line length decreases. Want to double it? Try gathering line on both the back and forward stroke.
Stumbling Blocks Although adding the double haul to your repertoire can take your cast to new heights, a poorly executed haul will be ineffective, even detrimental. First and foremost, the haul hand must start the stroke at, or near, the reel and return to the reel at the end of each stroke. It is a common mistake to haul on the backcast and return the haul hand to the reel on the forward cast. This does nothing more than feed slack at the worst possible time. The result is a collapsed forward presentation. After you make your backcast and haul, allow your haul hand to drift back to the reel while the rod is still angled behind you.
The next most common mistake is using the haul to rip the line off of the surface on the pickup. Remember to lift the line smoothly for the initial load and only “supercharge” it with the haul after liftoff. If your line resembles a zipper going across the surface, your pickup haul is probably too hard and too early.
Last, make your haul efficient. Hauling to the side of the rod (forming a right angle) creates unnecessary friction and tends to make you pull harder than necessary.
Be sure to keep your haul hand moving generally in line with the rod blank and make a haul that glides back and forth without resistance.
Match the Cast In general, the haul should match the stroke in length, tempo, and intensity—but not always. The double haul is a tool that can be used in small or great measure. For example, tight quarters may require a short back and forward stroke with a long haul on the delivery stroke to “zing” the fly into a narrow pocket.
Or, maybe make a long, leisurely haul early in the stroke for a soft dry-fly presentation. There are myriad combinations. This is where you experiment. Make a series of false casts, applying the hauls early and late, soft and hard, long and short, fast and slow, and so forth. Observe the effect each variation has on your loop, and you’ll develop the skills that allow you to customize each cast to obtain your desired result.
Pickup Haul Using a haul helps efficiently lift your fly from the water, and the pickup is the foundation of a complete double haul. Get this right, and the rest of the cast will follow. First, hold the line in your line hand. If you hold the line in your rod hand the haul will be ineffective. This can be a tough habit to break. Start the pickup by lifting the line smoothly off the water until only the leader or fly is still on the surface. Try keeping the rod nearly parallel to the ground as you lift. Next, simply “pluck” the fly from the surface with a wrist snap and a downward haul with your line hand. (Joe Mahler illustration)This Standard Haul This is your garden variety, everyday double haul. A standard haul makes the casting motion easier on your casting arm, not harder. The standard haul, when done properly, adds power and loop control with little effort. Hauls should not be used to create the initial load during the stroke, but rather enhance it. The timing for the standard haul is precisely in the middle of each stroke. Fly casting is basically bending (loading) and unbending (unloading) the rod, using the weight of the line. The more you bend the rod, the more it will unbend and propel the line with more energy. The stroke (in either direction) should begin smoothly and begin to flex the rod. As the rod continues to flex deeper, apply the haul to “supercharge” the load. It is important to note that your wrists work in tandem, separating to increase tension, then coming together smoothly at the end of each stroke. (Joe Mahler illustration)Early Haul An effective double haul is a matter of timing. Exactly when in the stroke you execute it makes all the difference. Unlike the standard haul, the early haul opens the loop, but in a very controlled way. This is the method that I use for my most delicate short-line presentations—whether when casting dry flies for trout or shrimp patterns for skittish bonefish. Apply the early haul while the rod tip is well behind you, traveling in an upward trajectory. This propels the line upward, resulting in the softest landings, and allows plenty of time for aerial mends. Make this haul slow and long. (Joe Mahler illustration)Late Haul The late haul is the solution when you want to deliver a fly under docks, tree limbs, or into a 20-mph headwind. Probably the hardest variation to master, it is a powerful and effective solution to some of the toughest casting challenges. The key to getting the best result is to move the rod tip in a downward trajectory, delaying the wrist turnover and haul until both hands are well out in front of you. The haul is then applied briskly, sending the fly directly to the target. (Joe Mahler illustration)Distance Haul The distance haul is different in that it requires much more rod tip movement—up to 20 feet total—to allow for maximum rod load. Greater distance is a goal of many of my casting students. A distance haul energizes the line and delivers the fly at long distances with only slightly more effort. The key points here are to keep your haul hand 180 degrees from the rod tip to achieve the maximum haul length. An upward trajectory of the rod tip allows the line to go farther. Add a bit of body glide and torso rotation with your haul to achieve maximum distance. (Joe Mahler illustration)Backhand Haul The backhand delivery is an outstanding solution to tough wind directions and tight quarters. The cast requires more body rotation than either the overhead or sidearm style casts. Due to the body rotation, make the first haul shorter and the forward haul will tend to be longer. Once again, pay particular attention to keeping the haul hand 180 degrees from the rod tip. (Joe Mahler illustration)Joe Mahler (joemahler.com ) is an author, illustrator, and casting instructor based out of Fort Myers, Florida. He is the author and illustrator of Essential Knots & Rigs for Trout and Essential Knots & Rigs for Salt Water (Stackpole Books). Even though he lives in an area known for saltwater fishing, he loves freshwater fishing for bass, bluegills, peacocks, and other exotics.
