Nick Moore Wins UK 5-Weight Distance Crown With HOF's Ballistic 57 Fly Line
Moore’s winning cast covers an amazing 139’ 6”
When was the British Fly Casting Club’s 5-weight competition held and where did it take place?
It was held on June 22 at a place called Dodleston, in northwest England.
Why did you choose the Ballistic 57 Pro Performance line for the competition?
There aren’t many long-headed WF lines available to competition casters, and this one is excellent for strong tailwinds. Distance casting is about getting the line going as straight as possible to and from the target, and this head length is perfect for that. This sounds silly, but the Ballistic 57 also is bright orange. That allows us to easily check our tracking, and to look for the nicest, purist loop possible, with no wrinkles. Those are the casts that really fly. I’m not just saying it, the 57 Pro Performance is an outstanding line, and has two British records behind it, mine at 139’ 6” with the #5, and Bart de Zwaan’s 153’ 2” cast with the #7.
Have you won other competitions with the Ballistic 57 or was this the first time you’ve throw it?
I’ve won a few #5 and #7 BFCC events with the Ballistic 57 line, but the current British record with the #5 was the icing on the cake for me. I have thrown this line for a number of years, both inside and outside of competition.
What is it about the line that differs from others?
It’s the combination of head length, taper, and thin running line. Oh yes, and it’s also true to weight, which is very important for competition as well as fishing. I own the whole set and have multiples of each ready to go at a moment’s notice. What I like is its ability to handle a variety of overhang lengths to suit varying conditions, and the fact that it performs all casts very well, whether that be speys, presentation casts, or out-and-out distance.
Would you choose that line for all of your trout fishing needs?
Absolutely! This is my go-to floating line. I have one that I use for fishing, and one purely for competing. My competition line is kept very clean indeed, and strictly kept to grass casting. I use a variety of techniques for stillwater trout with this line--streamers, dries and small indicators. It really does do it all and is exceptional at jump rolling a very long way to get to places no one else has fished.
What is jump-rolling?
A jump roll, or switch cast, is like a roll cast, as in you don’t change direction. However, the line is lifted off the water, and an anchor point is formed around a rod length away from and to your side. With a roll cast, you can cast at maximum 60’, but with a jump roll you can cast around 85 -90’ with a single-handed rod.
Would you choose the Ballistic 57 in all weather conditions?
I would and do! It’s great in flat calm conditions, and equally as good in a strong wind. I really do like long heads, and I would feel completely lost without this line. In fact, I took the #4 on a test recently, and it was outstanding for mends and presentation casts with a strong upstream wind.
What would you tell someone who says, “I’m thinking about getting that Ballistic 57 Pro Performance line.”
I would first ask them how much line they are carrying, what fishing they are doing, and if they are interested in distance casting. It very much acts like a double-taper for the first 50 odd feet, and really comes into its own when you carry 75-80’ of this gem of a line. But it’s also a great all-rounder, and I do recommend it to many people whom I meet.
What did you throw before the 57 Pro Performance?
I was throwing a few lines, like the famous Scientific Anglers Mastery Expert Distance Competition #5, which I really like, and the old Barrio GT125.
Was the BFCC 5-weight competition highly competitive or did you win by a “landslide”?
It was quite competitive, yes, and we all knew that the day was going to be filled with decent casts, as the wind was straight and we had a period of low pressure, which meant reduced drag, which is important for us. It seems silly that we look at the weather, but it really does tell us a lot about what’s going to happen, and even then, it can be surprising! The person who marked my distance was taunting me, and kept shouting (118’!). However, I knew I hit some really good casts, as I was shooting about 45’ of backing, and it was landing nice and straight every time. Everyone performed very well indeed, but on that occasion, I did seem to win by quite a lot!
Were you surprised by your winning cast, and what is your best throw with that line, inside or outside of competition?
139’ 06’ with a #5 line is my best. Even now, I’m always surprised by how ridiculous that sounds. I think it was Steve Rajeff that said casting the #5 was like trying to throw a ping-pong ball as far as possible. Everything has to be perfect, and even then you can get it wrong. I wasn’t surprised on the day, as I have thrown 141’ in practice, and I know it can probably go a bit further, but I think that’s my limit. If the head was extended to 60’ then I think it would maybe go about 5’ farther? However, if that is a possibility, then please, PLEASE do not touch the Pro Performance taper. It’s perfect, and doesn’t need changing at all. It’s a precious line that needs to be protected!
I noticed you keep the rod very high at the end of your cast? What does that achieve?
That’s a great question, and it isn’t talked about that much. I use a technique called thrust, and it accomplishes three major things. The first thing it does is throw the rod hand away from the line hand, so in essence, you are hauling with both hands! It also compresses up the bend in the rod to the tip, and this helps avoid excessive counterflex, which opens the loop, pulls line away from the target, and reduces line shoot. Lastly, it places the line higher in the air so it has more time before it hits the ground, enabling it to go further.
You’ve won quite a few competitions. Which are the most noteworthy? Which are you most proud of?
I think earning the current #5 British record is my crowning achievement, as that is the one that everyone seems to want, and it takes such a lot of practice to cast very far! You have to be so critical of your technique and make constant improvements to squeeze every ounce out of the different parts of the cast.
Which is the casting competition you dream about most?
For me it is the world championships. I haven’t been able to attend due to work commitments, but the next one is in Italy and isn’t to be missed!
What is the world of competitive casting like? A brotherhood? Or a cutthroat, win-or-die arena?
That question made me chuckle, as we are on different sides of the pond. In the UK it is very British. We love queuing and being polite to the point of apologizing for something that isn’t even our fault. It’s very much a social gathering, and we enjoy teasing each other, especially if a duff cast is made. We are pretty much at the top of our game and represent the top five percent of casters and/or anglers in the UK, and we delight in not taking ourselves too seriously, unless we are having such a bad day that it puts us in low spirits. The kettle not being on for a cup of tea springs to mind. No, but in all seriousness, it’s a gathering that helps raise the bar. We are constantly critiquing each other’s casts, as we want everyone to do the best they possibly can. So yes, I would say it is a brotherhood/sisterhood with us. Good question!
How did you get into fly fishing and when did the competitive casting thing come into play?
Fly fishing came about quite slowly for me. My dad was very much into coarse fishing, and I went with him on many trips, catching carp, tench, pike, etc. I can’t have been more than four years old when I started, and I absolutely loved it! The only thing I didn’t like, was continually putting the bait on after every single bite. I found that quite infuriating, but nevertheless, I caught quite a few fish after my dad showed me the proper way to do it, and I am very grateful. Going into the outdoors is a wonderful pastime, and a fishing rod is a great excuse to be there. When I was about 10, I watched a program called Nick Hancock’s Fishing School. After I completed all the episodes, I was hooked (pardon the pun). I asked my parents if they could buy me a fly rod for my birthday, which was the following month, and off we went on our holidays to Dorset. I was kitted out at my local tackle shop, W.H. Lane & Son (where I still shop to this day), and only had a handful of flies. My first fish was a huge seven-pound rainbow, caught on a gold-head bloodworm. It was a magical experience.
The competitive casting came many years later, and it stemmed from a desire to cast into the wind more efficiently. Distance casting gives you the skills to deal with a strong wind, which is a huge advantage. In the UK, people tend to shy away from a headwind when fishing but being able to cast into the wind gives you a shot at many more fish. I remember going to a sportfish show many years ago and an organization called the British Fly Casting Club was there. That’s where I met two incredible casters, Tracy Thomas and James Evans. James has been my coach and mentor ever since (amongst others of course). But he was the ultimate driving force for my distance casting. James is a highly knowledgeable physicist and world-class distance caster. He’s fantastic with trout distance #5 and #7, ST27, S55, T38, T120, and accuracy. Tracy is also one of the best distance casters in the world, and she encouraged me to compete ever since I joined the club that day. I am very grateful to both, as they have made me the caster I am today.
What are the advantages of winning casting competitions? Is it lucrative? Is it simply a matter of competition? Challenge and reward? Overall, I guess, why do you like competitive casting and what are your future goals with it?
I wish it was lucrative! For us, it is bragging rights and nothing more. It would be nice if tackle companies sponsored us, but at the moment, no one is really interested in the casting side of the sport in the UK. It would be great if it went to the Olympics, as it takes a great deal of skill, but, we will see. Sorry, I digress! Winning casting competitions raises the bar, as I have previously mentioned, and when you do this, people come up to match it. So, you are constantly improving the standard. The amount of skill we have at the BFCC is ridiculous. Not only distance, but all sorts of weird and wonderful presentation casts, mends and trick shots, which you probably won’t see anywhere else in one place! My future goals include myth busting in the fly-casting world--doing away with outdated and erroneous concepts like 10-2 and the big spring myth. But this will take an enormous amount of time, and it’s an uphill battle
What is the “big spring” myth?
The big spring myth is a concept that has been perpetuated for many years. In essence, most people think that the sole purpose of casting is to “load” the rod, which is the big spring. In fact, the rod is a flexible lever that lets us move the line as straight as possible. Spring-wise it’s not much, maximum around two percent. When people think of loading the rod they tend to apply the force at the wrong point and haul at the wrong time.
Does competitive casting have any bearing on angling success? If so, how?
The question depends on where you are fishing, but being able to cast better makes fishing more enjoyable and relaxing. In the competitive world we have two main areas, trout distance and trout accuracy. The accuracy event is very difficult, but it looks easy. In this event, there are four targets made up of three rings which have diameters of 60, 120 and 180cm. They are placed at random distances from 8 – 15m, and the middle ring (60cm) is worth five points. The maximum score you can get is 80, and you achieve this by going around the whole court four times. What makes it difficult is you only get one shot at each target. If you tick it’s a fowl, and you must go to the next target. Its brutal. Oh, and you can only adjust line by false casting in the air, you can’t put the line down unless you are making a cast to a target, so there is no room for error. Your tracking has to be spot-on, and you get very good at judging distances. It’s this event that vastly improves fishing success in my opinion. Distance casting also gives you the skills to be able to deal with the wind better. If you can only cast 30’, you won’t be accurate at 30’. If you can cast 100’, then you may be down to 60’ in a strong headwind.
If someone wants to get better at distance casting, what are the most critical things they can work on? Two or three elements.
Good tracking, good tracking, and good tracking. As Paul Arden says “tracking is the bird’s-eye view of the rod tip path during the casting stroke” and the back and forward casts must be 180 degrees from each other for a straight-line cast. With all else being equal, you will get parallel loops if your tracking is true. Good tracking is essential if you would like to cast accurately, as well as throw a long way. In fact, when tracking and line speed is nailed, loops sort themselves out. Almost everyone has a tracking fault if they haven’t worked on it, so you need to stand in front of the mirror using a closed or open stance whilst holding your rod butt. You are looking to see if the tip of the butt section travels straight back and forth. If it doesn't, then you need to work on this. Play around with different grips, try the V grip if you are using thumb on top. One grip may automatically make your tracking a lot better than it was. Mimic a cast by imagining casting 60’ or so, and concentrate on increasing stroke length (distance your hand moves) and arc, etc. For a 100’ cast, you only need your hand to go back just past your shoulder on the back cast. The key to any fault-fixing is to start slowly and accurately on a problem area, and gradually build up speed using a variety of exercises (whilst maintaining the accuracy of your movements).
How should they go about practicing? Hours upon hours at a time? Occasionally? Any tips?
If you don’t practice correctly, then all you’ll ever be is incorrect. It’s much better to have short, focused sessions, rather than mammoth ones. In addition, you should be stretching your muscles before you start. With that in mind, you should build a routine like below:
Cast until you hit a snag (a problem)
Work on this problem in isolation, very slowly and accurately
Work it back into the whole cast to ensure continuity
End with a fun casting activity
One key to improving your cast is studying the shape of the loop. Before we start practicing, we need to make a schedule with realistic attainable goals. One of the main barriers of good progress is a lack of motivation and practice, and this is true for any skill. The practice schedule should have a beginning, middle and end. Make sure that you keep it short, let’s say a half-hour with a short five-minute break in between. This will keep you focused.
What is your favorite thing to fish for? Do you just fish in UK or all around the world?
I love fishing for trout on highly pressured stillwaters, as those fish can be very hard to catch. I have only ever fished in the UK, but I’d love to go all around the globe and visit some wonderful places. I have fished for salmon, grayling, trout, sea trout, chub and carp on the fly, but I tend to stick to local stillwaters.
If you could fish anywhere, for anything, what would it be?
I would love to go to New Zealand and fish for some gigantic trout in their beautiful rivers!
How old are you and what was your upbringing like?
That’s an interesting question. I am 29 years old, and I was born in Coventry, England. It’s not the most glamourous of places, but it isn’t too bad. I am an only child, and was brought up to appreciate money, and all the small things that life has to offer. I could see my parents’ success gradually building over time, as we originally lived in quite a rough area of Coventry, and by the time I was about 16, we ended up in the best part. It took my parents years of scrimping and saving to build a better life for us all, and I am very appreciative, as they have always supported me.