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[dave c]

Hi Guys:  After years of catching Salmon and Steelhead on my pin setups decided to try something a little more challenging.  Recently purchase an 8wt fly setup.  I've tied up some intruder and bucktail flies.  Having issues getting any distance with a weighted fly.  Definitely different than casting a 5wt with a dry fly!  I've started trying to learn the double haul but was just wondering if there are other techniques to get the fly out there.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

[psd1179]

First, you should use a heavier line to cast weighted fly. like one line or two line size heavier line. it can be achieved by chose different taper or 9, 10wt line

Second, use heavy leader and shorter leader. try 5-6 ft 30lb floracarbon leader tippet 3-4 ft 10-15lb tippet

Then, limit false cast. just one back cast and shoot back. 60 feet is way enough in river. I'd say 30-40 feet regularly. try not haul too hard and try not get a few feet further by stress yourself. with a heavy line, do not double haul.

Grip with both hands to ease the fatigue or shoulder pain

Don't choose too heavy fly like huge dumbell eye with two piece bunny strips

finally, if you try the short skagit head like trout skagit or spey lite, it will be another easy way and save energy.

[RalphH]

Lot's of good advice from PSD in the previous post.

A few things I'd add:

- slow your casting stroke down and make it a bit longer particularly on the back cast.

- feel for the weight of the fly as the line uncurls. When it's there start your forward or back cast smoothly cast smoothly. Wear a hat!

- use the amount of weight on the fly it needs & don't over weight it. In flies like the intruder the dumbbells are not so much to sink the fly but to make it swim correctly. Depends on the water but for the most part I prefer small sized dumbbells or bead chain eyes. I think it's better to use the proper density of sinking tip than an over weighted fly, particularly when swinging a fly.

[dave c]

Thanks guys. I forgot to mention it is a single hand rod.  If I can get 40ft I'll be happy.  I was finding that the more I false casted and adding length the more difficult it became to keep the fly airborne.  Thanks for the tip on the barbell eyes.  Will definitely downsize.  I am currently using SA SONIC Triple Density Line.

[Snagly]

Another endorsement of the above recommendations, with a few nuances. Shorten your leader to 3' until you get the feel. Lighten your fly (as per Ralph H) and have either a full sinking line or a Type VI sinktip to get it down.

The cast is a one-and-done. Roll cast to get your sinking line to the top. Immediately start your backcast, using the water tension of the sinking line (up top) to load the rod (a "water haul"). Keep the back cast high and then haul once (pull down with line hand) as the forward cast develops. Keep an open loop, release high and shoot the line.

Using this approach, I can cast 60' with a full sinking line with maybe 25' of line out of the rod when I launch my back cast: the rest is on the shoot.

* * * * *

The alternative is a floating line, 12' leader and heavy fly. It's an SOB to cast and there's a danger that fly ends up in your back or head, or, worse still, hits your rod and damages/breaks it.

[essyoo]

I used my 8 weight for a while before switching to a spey/skagit setup. I will say that I had so much more fun with the single hand setup when I switched to a short head and a sink tip and started using some single-handed-skagit casting techniques. I currently have a Rio skagit max short on mine at 350gr and can use up to a type 8 10' tip without much issue. if you want to go heavier/deeper then I'd suggest a slightly lighter shooting head (325 or maybe even 300gr).

as everyone else mentioned, short leader. you want the line to kind of dictate the depth in the current and hold the fly there. a longer leader will throw that off. I find it's so much more consistent to hit the desired depth with a sink tip than rely solely on fly weight, but your mileage may vary. Also check out OPST commando lines. I think most companies make a short head line these days. look for a head around 15'.

[dave c]

Another endorsement of the above recommendations, with a few nuances. Shorten your leader to 3' until you get the feel. Lighten your fly (as per Ralph H) and have either a full sinking line or a Type VI sinktip to get it down.

The cast is a one-and-done. Roll cast to get your sinking line to the top. Immediately start your backcast, using the water tension of the sinking line (up top) to load the rod (a "water haul"). Keep the back cast high and then haul once (pull down with line hand) as the forward cast develops. Keep an open loop, release high and shoot the line.

Using this approach, I can cast 60' with a full sinking line with maybe 25' of line out of the rod when I launch my back cast: the rest is on the shoot.

* * * * *
Thank you sir
The alternative is a floating line, 12' leader and heavy fly. It's an SOB to cast and there's a danger that fly ends up in your back or head, or, worse still, hits your rod and damages/breaks it.

[Knnn]

What is your set up?

I presume you are using the correct weight fly line and that you are not under weight?  Generally I fish one weight higher on my 8 wt rod, which has a fairly fast action, which makes it a lot easier to load, roll and cast big stuff with.

Also are you fishing with a sinking leader, sink tip or full float?  If you have some sort of sink tip on this will make it more difficult to cast.  A dry line with a short tipped will be easier to cast, as long as the whole dry line and tippet is weighted properly for the rod.

Start with a single haul before you try the double. 

Practice chuck and duck.

Down size on the weight, dimensions and fluffiness of the fly.  Its easier to cast a skinnier fly tied with synthetics and get it to sink deeper than a equivalently sized, full fur and feathers fly, which is aerodynamically more of a pain to chuck and gets a lot heavier once soaked.

[Snagly]

I forgot to mention that, if you're using this rig in fast water, you will want to hold coils in your hand and release them when you shoot to maximize distance and control. I might put 2-3 strips in the water and then hold three coils between two fingers and then another two coils between the next set. Release the coils when your fore cast is at the apex and the rod is fully loaded. If you avoid tangles, the line will shoot like a rocket.