649 | The Five Essentials of Fly Casting with Bill Gammel - Texas, FFI, Casting Instructor

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/649

Presented By: Stonefly Nets, Visit Helena, MT, Waters West, Togiak River Lodge

Today’s episode is special because we’ve got Bill Gammell, the creator of the Five Essentials of Fly Casting, a framework many experts swear by.

Find out how dropping your right foot can improve your timing, discover the most important variable in fly casting, and get the top drill to boost your casting skills.

Let’s get you back on track with better line speed and loop control!

Show Notes with Bill Gammel on The Five Essentials of Fly Casting.

02:08 - Bill started fly fishing at just six or seven years old, catching Bluegill with his older brother and father. His passion for fly fishing continued until college, and he recalls a time he had to switch to conventional tackle for his master's degree research.

04:40 - Bill still lives in Baytown, the same area where he grew up and where his dad greatly influenced his love for fishing. Though the area isn't ideal for fly fishing because of the murky water from the Trinity River, Bill and his family found ways to catch fish.

The Five Essentials of Fly Casting

07:18 - Bill talks about how he and his dad learned fly casting together. His dad was a natural athlete with great hand-eye coordination. They used a home video camera to record expert casters like Lefty Kreh and Mel Krieger.

Over time, they noticed common patterns and eventually put together what we now know as the "Five Essentials of Fly Casting." Bill said they didn't invent anything new but identified key principles that all great fly casters share.

11:02 - Bill started teaching fly casting lessons as a teenager, but it wasn't until they were asked to write a booklet for the Federation of Fly Fishers that they fully laid out the essentials.

They spent two years carefully analyzing videos and got input from top tournament casters. Their work was published in the late '80s and became the foundation for the FFF’s instructor program.

Check out the The Five Essentials of Fly Casting.

Tips for Increasing Casting Distance

20:03 - One of the most important lessons he learned was to focus on trajectory and to keep your cast more level, not too high.

He also emphasizes that line speed and loop control are the foundations of distance casting. Bill said if you master those two, you’ll be able to cast a full fly line without much trouble.

If you want to improve your casting, Bill recommends checking out Paul Arden's Sexyloops website. It's a solid resource with articles, videos, and step-by-step methods to help you learn to cast better.

Listen to the Episode 638 with Paul Arden Here.

25:48 - Bill breaks down the Five Essentials of fly casting and explains how they work together. He said he now teaches them in a new order to make more sense. The most important essential is the straight line path of the rod tip, which helps create a clean cast.

31:00 - The arc changes based on how much the rod bends, which can be affected by the length of the line and the amount of power used. A narrow arc is for short casts, and a wider arc is needed for longer casts.

Check out this article by Bill Gammel on Making adjustments on the fly.

35:04 - Timing and power application are important in fly casting. Bill explains that to get the best cast, your timing needs to be spot on—starting your forward cast just as the line straightens out behind you.

37:32 - He also shares his secret to power: a smooth acceleration to a stop. This means starting slow, adding power in the middle, and then stopping quickly. The stop is key because it lets the rod transfer energy to the line.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/649