Fly Casting- Accuracy vs Distance

Much has been said recently regarding distance fly casting, with some big names in the industry really putting down the need to cast at distance. One very well known name in the industry even went as far as to say of fishing with a 5 wt fly rod  “its absolutely stupid to throw a 40 foot cast with the goddamn thing, its just stupid, you’re going to fish 20’ away from you”, which inspired me to write this article. The truth of the matter is that it depends on the situation and having the ability to cast distance will put more fish in the net, but what is more important?  

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I’d venture a guess that none those reading this article live on the Madison River in MT, known as the 50 mile riffle, and fish exclusively from a drift boat. Perhaps in that situation we could get away with throwing 20’ casts. For the rest of us, a solid cast that will put a fly where we want it at close and intermediate distances (around 50’) should be a reasonable goal. 
In most fresh water fishing scenarios getting close enough to the fish to make an accurate short to intermediate cast should be the goal.  That could mean putting a nymph in a 1’x3’ pocket in a small stream from 12’ away, casting 35’ to a rising fish without spooking it, or hitting a 4’ lane in a riffle at 50’ because the inside bend is too deep wade closer. In all of those scenario’s accuracy is more important than distance.  Miss the pocket small pocket and your fly hooks a branch or a rock, land the fly on the rising fish and spook it.  You get the point.  

There are times however when distance is necessary and you’ll be happy you spent the time mastering the fly cast.  For instance this past year in a large fly fishing only bass tournament, I discovered that the largest smallmouth bass were very boat shy but willing to eat a top water fly.  It was necessary to double haul 80-100’ casts to catch the largest fish.  Sure the smaller bass would eat the fly closer to the boat but not a single large bass.  My partner in the boat could only cast 50 to 60 feet.  Fishing the same fly, I was able to win the tournament, while he placed around 15th overall, we both caught fish but my 7 highest scoring fish were much larger than his 7. Low river levels and big rivers also make distance casting necessary.  Fishing the famed upper delaware river for large wild brown trout on a low water year recently was tricky because as soon as the drift boat got anywhere near the fish they stopped rising.  There was little hope of catching one on the dry fly if you could not bomb an accurate 75’+ cast.  Then there is always the far side of the river, too deep or fast to wade closer, that pocket on the far bank you know is holding a big trout, if only you could reach it.  I’ve pulled many a fish from the far side of the river by casting at distance.  Sure, with conflicting currents and obstructions the efficacy of the drift is diminished,  but perhaps a reach cast and a quick mend can give you the 4 second drift it takes to fool that trout on the far bank.  I’d rather have the ability to give myself a chance, than never be able to try at all.  

So what is more important?  Accuracy for sure.  Most of our freshwater scenarios will allow us to get close enough to make the cast, but accuracy is what will be the difference between catching the fish or not.  One lesson I like to teach while guiding is fishing a very easy wide riffle where clients can hook a fish anywhere in a large area.  Working on technique we get the drift right and hopefully put some fish in the net.  Next I bring them to a smaller, broken section of river where suddenly just putting your fly on the water will not work.  Now they have to focus on accuracy above all else to catch a fish, it really drives home the point that casting accurately is vital even if you’re fishing at close range. Once you have mastered the near and intermediate casting skills, then it’s time to give distance casting some attention.  After all, there is always a giant lurking on the other side of the river.