The waters around Denver and the Vail Valley offer the best fly fishing in Colorado. However, every mountain stream presents its own fly fishing challenges. Working in tight quarters or hampered by overhanging bushes and trees requires carefully thought out approaches. Often the roll cast will be the most appropriate. Being skilled in performing the roll cast before fly fishing Colorado will help ensure successful fishing no matter what the weather or surroundings.

The roll cast is easy to master, as it only has a single forward stroke. This is the cast to use when there is little space behind you because of boulders or brush, or if a strong wind might interfere with a cast. Using a graphite rod for its effective loading:

• Hold 15 to 20 feet of line tightly in front of you
• Slowly lift the rod to a position just behind your head, with the fly line hanging down like a capital D
• Use a smooth, hard, forward cast to send the fly in the desired direction
• Make sure the fly line rolls in a loop over the water surface, laying out over the water as it moves to the target
• As the line straightens out and the rod reaches a horizontal position, it will drop lightly to the water surface

The roll cast works because of surface water tension on the line that allows loading of the rod when making the forward cast. This means that you should be practicing the roll cast on water instead of grass. And it is the practice that makes perfect!

If you are new to this fly fishing cast technique, one of the easiest ways to learn is to engage the services of an experienced fly fishing guide. The friendly and knowledgeable professionals at Minturn Anglers can not only help hone your casts but also bring you to the best waters to test your new skills.