Tailing loops (the cause of wind knots)

Wind knots are not caused by the wind but by tailing loops.

A tailing loop is caused when the rod tip follows a concave path during the acceleration stoke (see definitions above) on either the forward or back casts. This creates a wave in the fly line that eventually causes the upper, or fly, leg of your loop to cross, twice, the lower, or rod, leg (see sketch). The reasons that lead to this happening are many and varied and I list below just a few:

1)      Casting arc to narrow for bend in rod - cure, reduce force applied to cast or increase width of casting arc
2)      Creep - cure, introduce drift (definition above) into your back cast
3)      Incorrect application of force - cure, use only the force required for cast and ensure it's controlled
4)      Finishing haul too soon - cure, continue hauling  into the stop on your casting stroke
5)      Slack line in the back cast - cure, remove slack
6)      Finishing the acceleration ​stroke too soon -  cure, extend casting stoke by using drift or increase stroke length

If you need help with your casting or a fault finding analysis of your casts please contact me.