The Double Haul

[Nick Williams]

Alright, so I've been fly fishing for a few years now, and now I'm starting to get towards the big streamers and poppers and just meat in general. More or less at this point not because I am diving head first into the streamer game, but because I want to update my arsenal of tactics/skills on the water, and I just want to understand another part of the game. So, teach me the double haul. Yeah, I've read about it, I've watched videos, guides and anglers have 'shown me' how, I've had it explained in person, blah blah blah... But none of that adds up to anything in my front yard (except looking awesome to your neighbors). Knowing 'how' to do it and being able to do it are totally different things. So what can I do to teach myself this? Advice? Help? Thanks in advance guys!

[fishinwrench]

Do you understand the mechanics (science) of it? The principal is exactly the same as "flippin' with casting gear.

Are you trying to DH with too short of a line outside the guides, maybe? You have to have about as much line in the air as you can handle before executing a DH.

Try to DH your backcast first (shooting line on the backcast), then switch to doing it on the forward stroke.

You ARE using a WF line, right? DT lines don't double haul for crap.

That's all I got.

[moguy1973]

I couldn't double haul very well until I used a weight forward line. The line alone helped me cast so much better, then when I started double hauling it, I could really get a fly out there.

[Greasy B]

I see many casters DHing with way too much line hand movement and bad timing. I think less haul but at just the right instant is far more efficient.

[Lancer09]

All about the timing.

I figured it out last weekend with the guys over at plateau and it really makes a difference. Try shortening the haul up and let your line hand travel with your rod had.

Once you get the timing down you'll know and start shooting some awesome loops and stupid fast like speed.

It was easier to learn on my 8&9 weights than my five. Give it a shot with a bigger rod and heavier line.

[Nick Williams]

Yes, I have been be throwing on my 8wt and WF. At least, that's what my memory is telling me. I'm fairly certain I didn't buy a DT.... I do have problem with the timing, but the mechanics of getting the 'second' haul in there is where I seem to have the most trouble. It's like in still focused on the first haul and trying to visualize the second but then I've already pass the point when I should have hauled!

[Lancer09]

Stop your cast and just throw it off the grass so you can learn to put it together.

Back cast with your haul and let it fall. Then forward cast with a haul so you can feel it. Do that a few times and you will slowly put it together.

[Gavin]

Once you get it, its second nature...I look at my line hand as the gear shifter, the rod hand is your engine...no slack....good stops...once you get the timing down...learn to shoot line on your back and forward cast...a drift while your shooting line on the back cast really adds some range of motion and extra distance. Best to take a class if you have one available. Good luck.