The roll cast is a wonderfully useful cast. It is especially useful for beginners since it comprises a few simple steps that don’t require any precise timing. You can use a roll cast to:

1. Straighten an untidy line prior to an overhead cast.
2. As a cast in its own right when you have no room behind for a back cast.
3. For safety, when casting from a boat in a high wind.
4. To bring a sunk line up onto the surface of the water.

The basic movements of the roll cast are: Lift, Sweep, Hit.

1. The Lift

Start with the rod tip touching the water and then raise the rod tip, lifting slowly but smoothly up to the 10 o’clock position, and pause.

This lifts the line nearest you off the water and the rest feathering along the surface towards you.

2. The Sweep

Now, maintaining the rod at the same angle to the water/horizontal, sweep the rod tip out to the side (to the right if you’re right-handed; to the left if you’re left-handed) and smoothly backwards, round in a wide arc; eventually, bring your hand around and up until your thumb is level with your right ear, with the rod leaning back in approximately the 2 o’clock position. Pause again.

At this point, your wrist should be cocked back slightly. The line should be hanging down from the tip of the rod, with the tip portion of the line and the leader lying in the water beside you. Looked at from directly side-on, the rod and the line hanging from the tip ring is a bit like a capital letter ‘D’ lying slightly backwards.

3. The Hit

Drive your thumb forward in a firm flicking movement -straight at the target - stopping sharply at the 10 o’clock position in front. Imagine you are swatting a fly! This should literally flick the line off the water and roll it through the air towards the target. Once the line is on its way, allow the rod tip to drop, following the line as it gently settles onto the water. Remember, roll casting is technique, not power.