All You Really Need to Know About the Double Haul

All You Really Need to Know About the Double Haul 

Being able to “double haul” as you cast a fly rod is an important key to adding distance to your cast. 

But there’s a lot of confusing misinformation out there that only confounds and intimidates people as they attempt to learn this essential casting skill.

Myth number one is that double hauling is only for long-distance casting in saltwater situations. 

Myth number two is that you need an exaggerated, elongated pull of the fly line to make a double haul work.

Myth number three is that you sacrifice accuracy when you double haul.

Let’s set the record straight. 

The double haul is a very simple trick that involves a slight pull on the fly line with your off-casting hand (the line tending hand) as you make a casting stroke. By pulling down on the line, you add an extra “stop” factor, and decelerate the line speed on your back cast (which is good), so long as you are able to leverage that, turn the stroke and do it again as you add some extra resistance as you deliver the forward cast. 

“Hauling” is about stopping, starting, harnessing line speed and releasing the added flex to generate more momentum as you deliver the cast.

Rule number one: As you attempt to double haul, your hands should not fly far apart. Think like you have manacles on your hands, and you’re making that flex action by gently pulling on the line, no more than 18 inches in distance from the reel. If you’re pulling that line a couple feet off the casting hand, you’re setting yourself up for failure, because it’s hard to collect and control the line. It’s like playing an accordion, and leaving your hands far apart. 

Rule number two: You’ve got to learn how to give and take. Pull, hold, feel the rod flex and then turn the cast. And when you pull on the forward stroke, be ready to let fly. If you’re constantly grabbing without giving, you negate the effect of the double haul.

Rule number three: Know when to let go. You’ve made your false casts, and have added some extra “oomph” by flexing the rod by adding extra resistance as you load and unfurl. When the timing is right, let go–clinging to the line zaps all the energy and momentum from the cast.

If you’re lined up correctly, looking through your thumbnail as you deliver the cast, you will be accurate.

Double hauling is now part of my regular casting routine, whether I’m fishing a 3-weight bamboo fly rod for trout, or on the saltwater flats trying to bomb long shots into the wind. 

In either situation, you’ll never see my hands fly more than a couple feet apart. Sure, when I’m “micro hauling” on a tiny brook trout stream, that might be a matter of inches, and when I’m tossing a baitfish pattern at tarpon 60 feet away, that gap will be wider, and more exaggerated. Fly casting context is everything…

But the fundamental start, stop, feel the rod load and flex dynamic is exactly the same. And I never let the air out of the balloon by losing control of the line and the rod flex-factor.

So, if you want to double haul with effect when you take that dream trip to the flats, start by doing it on your trout river. Start small, develop the feel and it will transpose to other fishing situations. The mechanics are the same everywhere.

The double haul is 100% about feel, not power. Feel trumps everything. Build the feel of double hauling, and you can take your cast anywhere in the world.

It’s also important to think about fly lines when learning to double haul:

• Good “starter” line: RIO Elite Tropical Outbound Short (integrated shooting head)
• Good “learning” line: RIO Elite Gold (weight-forward line)
• Good “advanced” line: RIO Technical Trout DT (double-taper line)

Simon Gawesworth breaks down a simple and easy way to learn, or improve, your double haul.