[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"learn-card-the-overhead-cast":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"applyCta":6,"authorId":10,"body":11,"cardType":65,"description":66,"difficulty":67,"discipline":68,"editorId":10,"extension":70,"glossaryRefs":71,"hook":75,"meta":76,"navigation":77,"path":78,"publishedAt":79,"readingSeconds":80,"regionTags":81,"relatedCards":82,"safetyDisclaimerRequired":85,"seo":86,"status":87,"stem":88,"track":89,"updatedAt":79,"version":67,"__hash__":90},"learn_cards\u002Flearn\u002Fcards\u002Fthe-overhead-cast.md","The Overhead Cast",{"label":7,"action":8,"target":9},"Practice on the Provo","open_water","provo-river",null,{"type":12,"value":13,"toc":61},"minimark",[14,23,26,55,58],[15,16,17,18,22],"p",{},"A fly rod casts the ",[19,20,21],"em",{},"line",", not the fly. The line is heavy enough to load the rod and unfurl forward; the fly is just along for the ride. That's the single biggest mental shift coming from spin or bait.",[15,24,25],{},"The motion:",[27,28,29,33,40,46,52],"ol",{},[30,31,32],"li",{},"Start with about 20 feet of line on the water in front of you.",[30,34,35,39],{},[36,37,38],"strong",{},"Lift smoothly to 10 o'clock"," (your rod tip pointing slightly behind your shoulder). Stop hard. The line lifts off the water and shoots back behind you.",[30,41,42,45],{},[36,43,44],{},"Pause."," This is the hard part. The line needs time to straighten behind you before you cast forward. Count one Mississippi, two if it's a long line.",[30,47,48,51],{},[36,49,50],{},"Drive forward to 2 o'clock."," Stop hard again. The line shoots forward and unrolls. Let the leader land first, then the fly.",[30,53,54],{},"Lower the rod tip as the line settles.",[15,56,57],{},"The two killers of new fly casters: starting the forward cast before the back-cast straightens (you'll hear a whip-crack — that's your leader breaking), and bending the wrist at the bottom of the stroke (the line piles up).",[15,59,60],{},"Practice on grass before you practice on water. Twenty minutes in a backyard saves an hour of frustration on the river.",{"title":62,"searchDepth":63,"depth":63,"links":64},"",2,[],"technique","A fly rod casts the line, not the fly. The line is heavy enough to load the rod and unfurl forward; the fly is just along for the ride. That's the single biggest mental shift coming from spin or bait.","1",[69],"fly","md",[72,73,74],"leader","presentation","dead-drift","How to make a fly land where you want it without hooking yourself in the ear.",{},true,"\u002Flearn\u002Fcards\u002Fthe-overhead-cast","2026-05-07","130",[],[83,84],"your-starter-kit","the-dead-drift",false,{"title":5,"description":66},"published","learn\u002Fcards\u002Fthe-overhead-cast","first-cast","91NYC-5mvPEVDO5c3fDVQHXDbwkUlGGi9Xi2RGZ3EOs"]