This is the main cast used with a single-handed fly rod. If you are starting on water, use a roll cast to get about ten metres of line out straight in front of you. If you are learning on grass, just pull this amount out through the rod rings and lay it straight out on the grass in front of you.

There are three basic movements: the LIFT; the BACK (or UP) cast; and the FORWARD cast. All three phases must be accomplished properly for the overhead cast to be successful.

The three key positions can be remembered by the words: TIP, TOP, TEN

1. Tip

Start with the rod tip touching the water and the line straight. The movement begins by lifting the forearm slowly at first. When forearm (and rod) have reached about the 10 o’clock position, accelerates rapidly, then come to a sudden STOP when the thumb of your casting hand is level with the brim of your hat and pointing vertically upwards. With the thumb in this position, the rod itself finishes leaning slightly back (at approximately the 1 o’clock position). Note: the acceleration and stop are made over an abbreviated arc -barely 90 degrees- which drives the fly line high into the air behind you. The whole phase (lift, plus acceleration and stop) is usually called the ‘back cast’, but would be better called the ‘up cast’.

2. Top

Concentrate on stopping your thumb in the TOP position. If your wrist cocks backwards and the rod goes further back than this, the cast will be spoiled. Instead of the line straightening out high above the ground, you will have introduced a downward component. Allow a short pause for the line to straighten behind you, before making the ‘forward cast’. But don’t delay too long, or the line will start to fall.

3. Ten

For the forward cast, tap firmly forwards and down with your thumb stopping at the 10 o’clock position. This movement is just like tapping a tack into the wall in front of you with a light hammer. This ‘tap’ should flick the fly line out over the water, not down onto it. Once the line is on its way, rolling out over the water, allow the rod to follow the line as it falls under gravity.

The basic roll and overhead casts should be learned properly before moving onto other, more advanced casts.