It concerns me how many anglers we come across that do not know how to double haul.

The reason it is concerning is that it tells me either not enough instructors are teaching it or that there is a false rumor going around that double hauling is extremely difficult, scaring fly casters away from even attempting.

Either way, it's a problem. It's a problem because there are plenty of fish that an angler COULD catch but WON'T catch because he or she does not know how to double haul.

The reason they won't catch those fish is either because they are too far for the caster to reach or the wind is blowing too hard for the caster to make an accurate presentation.

The biggest misconception about double hauling is that it is a technique used purely for distance casting. That misconception leads many anglers to assume they don't need to know how to double haul because they feel they never need to make long casts.

True, double hauling does allow you to cast further but the increase of line speed that the double haul generates serves double duty in allowing the angler to make longer casts as well as cut through the wind more effectively, therefore increasing accuracy as well in shorter and longer casts.

Another very important advantage of double hauling that many people do not think about is that it is simply a more efficient way to cast from an energy usage standpoint. Double hauling gets your line hand involved in the loading of the rod, therefore allowing the angler to use 2 hands/wrists/forearms/biceps/shoulders instead of one.

I don't care if you only have to cast 20 ft. in a trout stream with no wind. You will still experience less fatigue if you double haul, especially if you ever fish multiple days in a row. So to fly casters of all rivers, lakes, ponds and flats.....WHY NOT LEARN HOW TO DOUBLE HAUL?

So how do you do it? Well, I will start by saying that a little hands-on professional instruction goes a long way but hopefully we can help get you started with this written tutorial.

The double haul, once again, is a technique that incorporates your line hand into the loading of the rod. It is a series of what I'll call "pulls" and "follows".

There is a "pull" and a "follow" on each back cast and a "pull" and a "follow" on each forward cast.

First, while you're reading this and with out a rod, put your casting hand out in front of you in a fist with your thumb pointed up. Now put your line hand in a fist right underneath it. As you make a mock back cast, I want you to pretend like you're pulling the line with your line hand in the opposite direction and say out loud "pull". The line you are pulling on is not line from the reel but line from the first eye (stripping guide) on the rod.

This "pull" will create a larger bend (load) in the rod and will therefore increase the amount of power created when the rod straightens (unloads). Once again, the pull should be away from the direction of the back cast. (Side note: pulling the line away at an angle from the rod will help you keep your line from getting tangled around the rod butt or reel).

At this point, your rod hand should still be stopped where your mock back cast ended. Pretend that the line is shooting behind you and wants to take the line that is in your hand. Instead of letting that line go, hold onto it and let it be pulled up toward the stripping guide.

Now, you still have your rod hand stopped in exactly the same place where it has been since you stopped your back cast but now your line hand has held on to but followed the line up towards the stripping guide as the momentum of the line unrolling on the back cast would want to pull that line from your hand.

So in this "follow" your line hand has travelled from where you stopped your "pull" back across your body now closer to your rod hand. Once again, in this back cast you have executed a "pull" that mirrored your back cast, occurring at the same time and with the same accelerated application of power as the back cast itself, and then a "follow" while the rod hand is stopped, to let your line hand drift back towards the stripping guide with the line.

You have now completed a single haul. To complete a double haul, do the same exact thing on the forward cast. Start your "pull" at the exact same time you start your forward cast and that "pull" should mirror the forward cast in both timing and accelerated power, meaning that your "pull" and your forward cast should start and stop at the same times and have identical power application.

Ideal power application in the "pull" and in the cast with the rod hand is acceleration to an abrupt stop. In other words, the most powerful part of your cast should be right before the stop, and by all means STOP, DON'T JUST SLOW DOWN!

Stop that rod like your hand hit a wall and commit to leaving your rod (freeze it) where you stopped it until you are ready to commit to your next forward or back cast. I see many people try to initiate the haul suddenly and randomly during the back or forward cast with an abrupt pull.

This is not good. Any sudden, abrupt application of power, whether from the hauling arm or from the casting arm is going to "shock" your rod tip, usually resulting in a tailing loop. Remember that a smooth accelerating application of power is essential for a controlled cast.

So now that we've covered the details about executing the double haul, it's time to practice, WITHOUT A ROD. At your computer desk or wherever else you are, make a mock back cast and say out loud "pull" as you pull with your line hand away from the rod and "follow" as you let your line hand drift back towards your rod hand that has completed the back cast.

And now as you make your mock forward cast, say "pull" again as you pull the line away from the rod hand and "follow" as you let your line hand drift towards the rod hand that has now completed the forward cast. Immediately come back for another mock back cast and say "pull" as you pull the line again away from the rod, remembering to mirror the cast in both length and power. And then say again, "follow", as you let your line hand drift towards your stopped rod hand like you did before.

Continue with your next forward cast with another "pull" and "follow" and then another back cast with a "pull" and "follow" and so on and so on. Once you get into a good rhythm doing this and don't really have to think too much about it, it's probably time to go try it with your rod and line in the yard. Make no mistake though, until you can get the hang of it without the rod, don't bother attempting it with the rod or you will find yourself quickly frustrated.

Remember that the double haul is an advanced technique. Not only does it require practice and patience but also requires that your fly casting technique without hauling be pretty dialed in. If it is not, in most cases the double haul will find your casting flaws and amplify them.

So get your cast where it needs to be and then use this tutorial to get started double hauling.

We hope this helps but would always encourage you to call Uptown Angler to set up a private session for professional hands-on instruction.