| Michigan's Pere Marquette River is a world renowned | | | | right, essentially casting parallel to the water. It's a great |
| fly fishing destination for anglers in search of trophy | | | | way of throwing narrow forward loops, but most |
| brown trout, as well as migratory salmon and | | | | useful for casting in tight spots, like under overhanging |
| steelhead. A barrier free, spring fed river, the Pere | | | | branches on the Pere Marquette river. One of the |
| Marquette flows over 150 miles from its origin east of | | | | greatest benefits in utilizing this cast is that you don't |
| Baldwin, Michigan before emptying into Pere Marquette | | | | bring the rod vertical and therefore don't hit the |
| Lake which then flows into lake Michigan. The river is | | | | overhead branches in such tight quarters. Additionally, |
| named after a Jesuit missionary, father Jacques | | | | you can watch your back loop to determine the |
| Marquette, who spent the later portion of the 1600's | | | | amount of line you can actually "cast" , as well as |
| exploring North America, specifically the shoreline of | | | | having the forward loop comes to the side of your |
| west Michigan. | | | | target fish, therefore never putting it in the fish's |
| The River | | | | window of vision and possibly spooking it. |
| The Pere Marquette is a rather small river that takes | | | | The Reverse/Backhand cast - To execute this cast, |
| on its "switchback" appearance soon after its | | | | simply rotate your body, make your "forward" cast |
| numerous feeder springs emerge from the ground to | | | | towards your backside and deliver your line and fly in a |
| form the main flow of the river. As the river travels | | | | backhand fashion. To do so effectively, it's important to |
| west toward the lake Michigan shoreline, it widens, | | | | actually deliver your cast with your forearm and rod |
| picking up speed and volume along the way. It is joined | | | | hand facing up. Much like a tennis player does with |
| by other creeks, rivers and "branches" of the main | | | | their backhand stroke, your body may be facing |
| river, as it meanders west towards the town of | | | | perpendicular to or even slightly down stream from |
| Ludington, Michigan. Along the way, is passes through a | | | | your actual "target". It will take some casts to get used |
| mixture of meadows, deep swamp and rolling hills, with | | | | to it, but once done so correctly, you will inadvertently |
| both coniferous and deciduous trees dotting the | | | | convert to this modified cast as though it's second |
| landscape before joining Pere Marquette Lake in | | | | nature. The most notable benefits to employing this |
| Ludington, Michigan. | | | | modified cast include better coverage of water and |
| Obstacles to Overcome | | | | more precise timing in the subtle changes of your |
| For those who have fly fished the "PM", you know of | | | | whole casting stroke. Now you can get your fly to key |
| its sharp bends, rushing tailouts, steep banks, | | | | holding spots you only wished were possible before |
| overhanging trees and sandy ridges, as well as the | | | | AND do so with ease and rhythm that makes you a |
| fishing challenges that come with such surroundings. | | | | better caster who is able to cover more of the river |
| For those who have lost their fair share of flies to | | | | effectively with less effort involved. |
| such angling obstructions, you have probably learned | | | | The Hookup, Battle & Landing |
| how to adapt to the ever changing environment. For | | | | Casting to a fish feeding on the surface is one thing, |
| those who haven't, it can be learned but does take | | | | getting that fish to bite is another, however playing |
| some time and the willingness to donate your fair | | | | AND landing that fish is the cherry topping! When |
| share of flies to the cause. | | | | fishing a river like the Pere Marquette, and their aren't |
| Nearly everything about fly fishing takes on a more | | | | many like it, it is necessary to factor in the river |
| compact presence when fishing such a small and | | | | itself.......a log jam filled, switchback river that has large |
| winding river. Like aspects of many other sports such | | | | and slippery rocks, just over the edge of that loose, |
| the bat swing in baseball, as The traditional overhead | | | | sandy drop-off. Hydraulics play a very big role in |
| cast is rarely used, instead replaced with casts that | | | | fighting and landing trout in a setting like this and it's |
| require less room to execute and fish affectively, such | | | | best to understand them before you have that bruiser |
| as the Roll cast, Side cast and Reverse or Backhand | | | | of a brown trout on your line. Logs are one thing and |
| cast. All are rather basic and should be used in their | | | | you can plainly see most of them, simply keep an eye |
| most simple form while fishing a river like the Pere | | | | out while playing your fish and try to steer them away |
| Marquette. | | | | from such obstacles. One thing that's not nearly as |
| Role cast - Side cast - Backhand cast | | | | easy to "see" are the forces within the flowing water |
| The Roll cast - The key to a good Roll cast is to | | | | that change considerably at each bend, gravel bar or |
| KEEP the fly line in/on the water during the "lift" and | | | | fast water chute in the river. At each point in the river |
| "load" portion of the cast. Begin with elbow close to | | | | where depths change quickly, so too does the flow |
| your body, start an accelerated rod lift motion WHILE | | | | and this is where many quality trout can be lost. If your |
| slowly dragging fly line on top of the water back | | | | quarry takes a run downstream and gets below the |
| towards you. Pause briefly when the rod angle passes | | | | head of such a drastic change in the rivers current, get |
| vertical, then propel rod tip forward with a "wristy" | | | | yourself below the fish if possible. By trying to bull dog |
| snap (like a short tomahawk chop). This is best done | | | | the fish back up through the fast, choppy water you're |
| with your rod tilted somewhat side arm. It's not a side | | | | only increasing the odds for the fish and decreasing |
| arm cast, nor is your rod straight up and down, but | | | | them for you. |
| instead is locked in throughout the entire motion at | | | | The Pere Marquette River is a fantastic river for both |
| about a 15-20 degree side angle. By stopping rod tip | | | | beauty and outstanding opportunities for the fly fisher. It |
| high enough at the end of your cast, about eye level, it | | | | boasts some of the largest and smartest brown trout |
| will allow the line to gain forward momentum, pick the | | | | in the Midwest. The "National Scenic River" designation |
| remaining line up from the water and "roll"" it, leader | | | | given to it by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and National |
| and fly out in front of you, landing gently at your | | | | Forest Service is most certainly warranted. Although a |
| desired target. Most often used when fishing around or | | | | true challenge for the fly fisher due to the unique |
| under overhanging tree branches or shrubbery, it can | | | | nature of the river and its classic "switchback" path, |
| be a lethal cast when executed correctly. | | | | the Pere Marquette River is a true Blue Ribbon trout |
| The Side cast - To make a side cast, simply tilt the | | | | stream that should be experienced by all who wield a |
| casting plane of the overhead cast to the side of your | | | | fly rod. |
| body. For a right handed caster, this would be to your | | | | Fish on! |