3 common fly-casting problems—and how to fix them

#2 THE FLUTTERING LEADER

Sometimes, your forward cast begins to straighten correctly, but then the line climbs and falls in a mess as though it hit a wall. This particularly obvious and embarrassing misfire is called a fluttering leader (though if you really blow it, it’s more like a fluttering line). As with the tailing loop, it happens because of power problems on the forward stroke, in this case starting your forward cast too hard, then slowing down. That’s the exact opposite of what you want. Just like swinging a golf club or throwing a baseball overhand, the forward cast should start slow and gradually power up. And keep it smooth throughout, or you’ll be back in tailing loop territory.